Friday, January 20, 2017

There hasn’t been much sewing done in the past couple of days, but I’m making progress and I’m still on track for a finished top by early next week.

Yesterday was paperwork and, because I’d done an entire day of it last week, I didn’t expect it would take long this week. Boy was I wrong! I’ve been bouncing back and forth regarding insurance for Cranberry Hall and I finally got the second quote yesterday. Sadly, after all my work, the quote was higher than we are paying now. It was a good exercise to go through; I dug out some of the history of the hall, I measured, I took photos, and found the age of various pieces of equipment in the hall. It will all be kept for the next time I (or someone else) think a competitive quote would be a good idea.

The files I received when I took over as Treasurer for the hall were in a cardboard box – bigger than a shoe box and crammed full. Whenever I have to look something up I have to dig through the box to see if I can find a piece of paper that might relate in some way to what I’m looking for. While looking up insurance-related information I knew I needed a better method. I remembered that we had a small, empty file cabinet in the furnace room and, with the new layout in my studio, there was room for it under the corner of my cutting table. Pat and I moved it upstairs this morning and, once everything is sorted, it should make my life much easier.

But back to yesterday’s paperwork. I know it was a good thing that I started the day by going through some photos. I’m trying to scan and consolidate many, many boxes and bins of photos and by doing a bit at a time I’m making some progress. By the time I sorted my way through one envelope of photos it was almost noon. I needed to make a Cranberry Hall deposit so I got that ready to go. Next I did a few updates to the Guild website and then it was on to Pat’s accounting.

I took a break early in the afternoon – I went to the bank, had some routine tests done at the hospital lab, and then picked up some groceries. I had volunteered to take treats to last night’s Guild demo; I knew I was going to be baking for the weekend so I decided to go easy on myself and took some cheese and crackers and some fruit. I finished off the paperwork when I got home, had a quick supper and was out the door again by shortly after six.

Last night’s demo focused mainly on methods to make flying geese. Some of my quilts have them as part of the pattern but for the most part I don’t make a lot. I have a special ruler (which I’ve never used) so I expected to pick up a few hints on how to use it. The timing was perfect for a lesson though because I’ve just decided to join a free quilt-along called Wild Goose Wednesday; 33 weeks of flying geese in various sizes and colours. I’ve done challenges from this company in the past so I know it will be fun.

And today has been very busy as well. Pat and I started the morning at his computer looking at bathroom vanities. We are (finally) going to remodel the ensuite and our choices locally are pretty limited. We will still go out and look at Rona and Valley Building but may either order online from Home Depot or take a trip to the Island. We are also considering having something custom made using a counter in the basement that isn’t being used. We’ll talk to Trevor (the fellow who did our maintenance work in December) next week and see what he thinks.

It took the rest of the morning and a good part of the afternoon to get some baking done for the concession this weekend. I made cookies from a Shirley Bone recipe in the 2nd Wartime Church cook book. They turned out well and with the other cookies I have in the freezer I think that’s enough cookies. I also made an Applesauce Loaf; it looks good but what I’m dreaming of is Mum’s Applesauce Cake with the chocolate icing! We’ve had icing in the hall before though and it is way too messy.

I managed to get a bit of sewing done this afternoon; I put the last set of borders on the centre medallion. When Pat was helping to bring the filing cabinet upstairs he saw my Celtic Crystals on the design wall and suggested I just finish it off and not add the blocks; he thought I could make a second smaller quilt from them. I thought about it and rather liked the idea; at least we had a place to hang a smaller piece. I decided to lay out the blocks around the medallion and see what we thought then. The consensus is that we will add the blocks and another border, but leave off the final border the pattern calls for. The fabric for that border really doesn’t seem to match the colours in the blocks so I don’t think it will be missed.

I’m exhausted and my back is aching from all the standing so I think I’ll see if I can find something relaxing to do – maybe find some needles for a new knitting project (yes Christy, you may get that sweater by Spring).