Saturday, December 2, 2023

I have a lazy afternoon ahead of me.

I have three items to hand stitch the bindings on and buttons to sew on a few other items. Those will be the last of my cards for this year and I can start sending them out next week, provided I can find them all in the mess that surrounds me in the sewing room.

I still have plans for a few more items. I always had a plan to make “something” but now I’ve decided what it will be and hopefully by the time the last of my purchases arrive they will be done and it can be a quick turn-around.

There is a little more shopping to do and I really should go out and do it today while the sun is shining. It was supposed to be a rainy weekend but so far it hasn’t happened.

Should a miracle happen and I get all that stitching done this afternoon I have a library book that is due next week so I need to get it read. If I don’t get everything done this afternoon there is a hockey game tonight.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

I was busy sewing binding on a couple of cards this morning when it dawned on me that I should double check my card list. When I did I realized I had missed some very important people.

That led me down the rabbit hole to find another pattern to use for a few more cards. I’ve found one I really like and I’m hoping I can figure out how to do it without having to purchase the pattern. I’ve come a long way in my quilting journey to even think I could do that.

My last 12-Days package went in the mail this afternoon; the post office is getting busy. Every time I congratulate myself on how well I am doing getting gifts organized I run into another snag. I think I have the solutions I need though and I’ll be out shopping again tomorrow.

I’ve had a lovely afternoon of hand stitching and I’m going to return to it now.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

I took another look at my Christmas card list and realized I didn’t need as many more cards as I thought. I got started on the pattern that I took to Texada; I’m glad I decided to do a prototype rather than start a production line. I’ve made the card before but I don’t remember it being as fiddly as this one turned out to be. My choice of fabric wasn’t great and the prototype ended up in the bin.

Not to be discouraged though I found another way to get a very similar-looking design but in a much easier way. I have the tops done, except for a bit of hand stitching. I’ll get them finished and bound tomorrow.

My other idea for a line of cards was thwarted by the lack of shopping in Powell River. I wanted some felt; my only choice was Walmart and they don’t carry the felt squares I wanted (as I write that I’m thinking I should have also checked the dollar store). I have some felt that I use for my chickens but I don’t have much of it. If I can’t get any more I’ll take another look and see if I can spare a sheet or two so I can carry on with my plan.

My second 12-Days box went into the mail today – both say they will arrive by December 1st. Pat took care of a couple of online orders for me so I’m better prepared than I have ever been. I may even have time to clean up my sewing room before Christmas.

The Canucks are playing a game tonight so I’m off to find some hand stitching to keep me occupied while the game is on.

Monday, November 27, 2023

I only lasted a day and a half at the Guild’s Community Quilts weekend. On the plus side though, except for borders, I finished the project I took to work on. It was a totally scrappy pattern and, to be honest, it would have been nicer if the fabrics hadn’t been quite so ugly or so similar. The fabrics were all donated to the Guild, some many years ago, and I was trying to use them up.

The Guild weren’t sandwiching quilts this time but I brought four of my donation quilts to leave for the next time they sandwich. I had another one that will be a donation but, at the last minute, I decided it was too small and I needed to add borders. I brought home a sandwich to quilt and when I got it home I remembered I already had one to quilt. I’ll get to them eventually and no one seems to be keeping track of where the quilts are or how long they have been out.

I wanted to get so much done today but I really haven’t accomplished much. I finished wrapping the last of the 12-Days packages and got one off in the mail this afternoon. I’ve sorted through the box of Guild fabric and picked out almost enough different strips to make another quilt top. There are still lots of strips in the box but I’ll find another pattern that will work with them.

I would have liked to have some cards to hand stitch tonight but I didn’t get that far. I think I still have time to mark some fabric circles and I can cut them out while I relax tonight. I’m making good progress on my crocheted tablecloth but I feel like I should be working on something that actually needs to get done.

Speaking of which, I did laundry today so I’d better put some clothes away and make the bed.