Wednesday, November 8, 2023

I think I have everything sorted out and packed for the Texada Retreat. I could spend a week on retreat and probably still not get everything done that I’ve packed but if it doesn’t get done on Texada it will be ready-to-go when I get back home.

I found another hand sewing project to take with me. I tried a bit of it last night while Pat was on an open mic and I was so excited about it that I already have the whole thing planned out. It is a traditional pattern from the Isle of Man called a Manx quilt. The measurements are all based on different parts of your hand so every quilt will be unique. I dug through my scrap bins that had already been sorted into sizes and came up with more than enough strips for four of the colours. I have a good start on the other two colours and I haven’t even gone through the bins of scraps that haven’t been sorted. I had to order just a bit more background fabric this morning – I might have had enough but I didn’t want to run out with only a couple of blocks left.

Stacia has me excited about a new quilt project that we’ll start in the New Year – a temperature quilt. I don’t have the pattern but I think we figured out how to do it based on a photo Stacia took at the quilt show. It too will require a fabric purchase. I’m so excited that I’m already imagining showing it off at the Guild and I know exactly where I’ll hang it. As you can tell I’m not exactly sticking to my plan of not starting anything new.

I’ll make a couple of shepherd pies tomorrow – one to take across for supper on Texada and one to leave at home for Pat. I still have to pack up the bit of food I’m taking and anything else that I might remember between now and when we leave.

For now though I’m going to have a nap.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

I was off to the Guild bee this morning. I didn’t take my machine but had a bunch of hand work to do – cutting appliqué pieces and cutting squares of fabric for a couple of projects I’m taking to Texada with me. I thought I had everything I needed but left home without my paper scissors and my rotary cutter. Luckily I didn’t actually need my paper scissors and I was able to find a rotary cutter in the Guild cupboard. When I put it away I hid it really well so hopefully it will be there the next time I need it.

Seeing that I forgot those things today I’m worried about what I might forget when I go to Texada. I told Moreen (who is driving and staying at the studio with me) that I’d just have my sewing machine and a bin of projects. Since that conversation I’ve realized I’m taking over supper for Thursday night, some breakfast foods, and some snacks for our days of quilting. I’m also taking my yoga mat, a pillow and a quilt so if I need to have an afternoon nap I’ll be comfortable in a quiet corner. Fortunately she has a van so we’ll likely have lots of space.

I only lasted with the bee until lunch. I’m not sure how I’ll handle a full day and evening of sewing but I’m looking forward to it. As much as the sewing will tire me out it is the socializing that might be an issue – the noise and activity tire me out.

I still have a few things to prep for our weekend but I hope to be ready by tomorrow afternoon so I’ll still have a day to remember all the things I forgot in my first packing.

Monday, November 6, 2023

I had to get serious today about getting projects sorted out for the Texada Retreat. I did a bit of work yesterday but I got distracted by a number of things and then spent most of the afternoon working on some appliqué which definitely won’t be going with me. I’d love to take it, and it would be very relaxing after a full day of sewing, but there will be too many opinions on what I should/could try to do for the fancy stitches. Better that I figure it out for myself on my own.

I got six small Christmas projects ready to go and a couple of birthday cards that I need for December. I’ve started putting together Christmas card projects; there is still some prep work to do for one of the patterns but I’ll take it to sewing tomorrow – just cutting and cut outs so I won’t need to take my machine.

I have another card pattern that I’d like to take along with me but I’ll have to see how my time works out. That one needs a lot of circles cut, as well as some extra fabrics and bias tape and I’m not sure I’ll have time this afternoon to organize it enough to take with me tomorrow.

I’m concerned that I’ll forget some of my notions and tools that I’ll need to have with me. On the other hand I don’t want to take my entire sewing room with me. Some of the rulers I already have on Texada but I’ll have to take an assortment of threads with me and trying to figure out the right colours for each project might be tricky as I often change my mind based on the quilting pattern I come up with.

I’ll spend a bit more time sorting out some of those circles and then I’ll get ready for my Book Circle.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

• Signed up for another stitch-along
• Downloaded a couple of Christmassy projects
• Cleared my desktop
• Prepared for the Book Circle that starts tomorrow night
• Started collecting projects for the Texada Retreat

Obviously I didn’t do all of that in an hour but it seemed like an exceptionally long morning so I got a lot done.

I’ll do some hand stitching this afternoon.