August Miniature

August 10, 2021

~ 13″ x 16.5″

Another sewing day with Stacia and Deloise. For the very first time I was able to keep up to them thanks largely to the fact that they each had long telephone calls in the morning.

I enjoyed making the log cabin blocks; I had strips already cut in my scraps so all I had to do was find pieces that were long enough and then trim the blocks down after each round. Deloise has given me a new (to me) tool that has my seams straighter and the right size. For every project I’ve used it on it has saved me tons of time.

I wanted to try a couple of new things for the quilting. The log cabin blocks are quilted with a clamshell pattern on the diagonal. This was a pattern that came with my quilting rulers; I used the rulers to mark my lines but I used my walking foot for the quilting. I need more practise but I’ll definitely use this idea again but I’ll work on clamshells on the straight lines next time.

I also wanted to try feathers in the larger border; I had a stencil and I used it to mark the quilting lines. But when I got to the machine I wasn’t able to tell where to go from one feather to another so I stopped and ripped it all out. Then I tried to freehand draw some feathers but what I ended up with are more like leaves but that goes okay with the fabric I was using. I will try this again but do some practising on how to draw those feathers.

A full day of sewing

Monday, August 9, 2021

I’ve had a full day of sewing. I thought about going out to the yard this morning but it was rather cool and since I was already dressed for my video chat this morning I didn’t feel like changing into my yard clothes.

I marked and quilted one side of the border on Super Nova. It goes fairly quickly and there are fewer ends to tie and bury than I thought there might be. Since the border went so well, and I have lots of time to finish it before the end of the month, I decided to move on to something else once that one side was done.

I’ll be sewing with Stacia and Deloise tomorrow so I got out the fabrics I’ll need for our miniature project. The pattern calls for strips and I just happen to have a bin of strips already cut; they will need to be trimmed once they are on the block but it is a bit of a head start. Not that I expect I’ll win any races against Stacia and Deloise; I’m lucky there are only the three of us as I’m guaranteed the bronze medal!

Just in case I finish my miniature early I decided to cut out another project. I cut out the pieces I thought I needed but when I read through the pattern I’ll have to cut another set because I want the project quilted. I’m making a cover for my Kitchen Aid mixer; if it turns out I’ll make one for Christy as well.

Another clue was released for one of my summer mysteries – I’m calling mine Lemonade as it is done in yellows and oranges. The clues usually only take half a day but this one is going to take a lot longer. We need to make 30 blocks. The good news about that is the end is in sight – maybe next week. I don’t want to fall behind this late in the game so I started putting my blocks together.

I’ll get back to it now until supper.

Quick job

Sunday, August 8, 2021

After being so un-motivated on Friday I got down to business on Saturday and almost finished quilting my Super Nova. I finished up the quilting this morning and made a small start on the borders. The quilting is very simple and it will end up being a nice summer-weight quilt. Because the centre was so simple and fast, I’ll do a little extra work in the borders. I have the pattern sorted but it will take some time to complete and I expect there are likely to be a number of threads to knot and bury.

I think I stuck to it so long yesterday because it was a cool and rainy day. I didn’t mind having the quilt draped around me as I did the stitching. We had quite a downpour last evening after several light showers during the day. There were reports of thunder; when we heard noises outside during the downpour we thought it was the eaves trough overflowing but maybe not. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough rain to stop any fires.

We had the Song Circle this afternoon but, again, a poor turnout. Three local performers, two from the US and only me in the audience. I admit I had my camera off and worked on some cross stitching during the event. I’m going to miss being able to do that when our events become live.

I’m getting ahead of myself by a few months but I started crocheting some Hallowe’en pumpkins for Kathryn. Last Hallowe’en she was caught off guard by neighbours who were out trick or treating (after saying they weren’t going out) and she had to give all of her original batch away. The pattern came from Jody’s wedding and I don’t know how many I’ve made over the years since then but I know it is a lot. Kathryn sent me yarn to make her some more and I thought it would be a good idea to have them ready when we go to visit next month.

So I better get back to that particular project for the evening.

Unsettled

Friday, August 6, 2021

I spent all morning working at my computer, mainly catching up on Cranberry Hall business. We actually had two meetings last week – one was our AGM and the other was a regular Board meeting. I had to-do lists from both meetings and some updates I needed to make to both the Facebook page and the website.

After lunch I headed out to return my library book but I also had a couple of items for the mail as well as a list of groceries we needed. The post office is less convenient now without the drive-through, especially on a day like today when it is raining off and on. I’m happy to have the outdoor book return at the library in operation again but it means parking the car and parking is at a premium anywhere close. And speaking of parking, the lot at Quality Foods was nearly full; I found a spot at the very far end of the lot. Of course that many cars was a clear signal that the store would be crowded. Maybe the crowds there today are typical but I’ve been shopping at seven in the morning when there might be one or two other people in the store.

I fully intended to work on something sewing-related when I got home but I just didn’t have the motivation. It’s a good thing I still had plenty of paper and computer work to do. It is a little early for me to quit for the day but I’ll either read or cross stitch before supper.