July 4, 2024

I came up to my sewing room this morning without a real plan on what I would do. There are so many choices; most of them don’t require a decision so I don’t know why I don’t pick something and just get it done.

I really thought I was finished with this project and washed it in order to remove all the stitching lines. As I was putting away my threads I found a black and white picture of the pattern and realized I had a few spots that needed to be brown that I’d done in green. There were also some spots that were done in brown and should have been green. I worried about how I would make the corrections without the stitching lines; Stacia came to the rescue – stitch beside the wrong colours and once the wrong colours were taken out no one would know. Both she and Deloise said I should leave it but …

My UFO for June was my Farmhouse quilt. It had been sandwiched for ages so quilting was the plan. I finished the large stars without too much difficulty and moved on to the aprons. Because I used Steam-a-Seam there was no way I could quilt over the top of them. I did a few lines of stitching on each of them; when I quilted the background I had to stop at the edge of each apron and start again on the other side. Now I have the formidable task of tying the ends and burying them. I’ve only shown three of the aprons here, but there are ten in all; each apron has approximately eleven ends (on each side) so I’ll be at this for quite some time. July’s UFO will definitely be delayed!

The pieces for my last two chicken blocks have been traced and cut out. I need to prep the background and then get busy whip stitching them down and adding the “fancy” stitches. My stitches aren’t particularly fancy but done is better than worrying about them. It makes a good project for the evenings when we’re watching TV.

I’m anxious to get these finished so I can start on my “real” yo yo project which will required 365 of them. These are my practice pieces and I’m getting better with each attempt. Eventually these will go on a summer wreath but as I make more and more of them I think the wreath might be quite small! I’m anxious to get going on my temperature quilt. Gail and I are making yo yo’s at our Thursday sewing sessions so I’ll get more done this afternoon. These too are good projects for the evening.

And if those weren’t enough choices I’ve been looking online for a dress for Madison’s engagement party.

June 22, 2024

While we were on Texada I had a phone appointment with my oncology doctor in Vancouver. He arranged for some blood work and a bone scan. The scan was originally scheduled in Vancouver but when we saw the cost for a one-night’s accommodation I called back to see if I could have it done in Comox. I was waiting all week for “the phone call” booking me in for an appointment. Late Thursday afternoon the hospital called. They had slotted me in for the scan in the middle of July but they had a cancellation for the next morning if I wanted it. I said yes, knowing that Pat had some commitments. Although I’ve not done it before, I knew I was capable of getting myself to the appointment. Pat responded immediately that he would do the driving and I hurried up to the clinic to get my TAP form (free ferry if you are travelling for medical appointments).

We left on the first ferry and went straight to the hospital when we got off. Although I was a bit early for my slated time I didn’t wait long before they called me in. The scan is a two-part process; first they inject you with radio active dye and then you come back in a couple of hours for the actual scan. I had a scan prior to my treatments so I knew it wasn’t scary. I failed, however, to take into consideration that finding a vein to inject the dye would be challenging. After an initial look and a poke the technician got warm blankets for both arms to see if she could find anything. A few minutes later she was back and after a couple more unsuccessful pokes she found a spot. She said she was pretty sure she got enough of the dye into the vein before she lost it again.

While we waited for the second part of the appointment we hurried over to Costco – just a block away. Before we took the ferry I printed out my list and checked the cupboards to see what we needed. For the first time ever we walked up and down every aisle on one side of the warehouse without adding anything to our cart. I remember the first time we went to Costco we hadn’t gone down more than a couple of aisles before we went back for a second cart. We got everything on the list, although there were a few things on the list that they don’t carry (I’ll have to update my list). We even found ginger beer which was something I added not really expecting to find it.

After we finished at the checkout we stopped for lunch – a Costco hot dog and drink. Since we still had a bit of time we stopped at Home Depot because it was on the same block between Costco and the hospital. The scan went well although it brought back some memories of my radiation treatments. I managed to pull myself together and they were very kind when they saw my tears. We weren’t even home before we got a call from the oncology doctor saying the radiologist had read the scan and everything was fine. When it works, our health care system is wonderful. We were home, unpacked and with the groceries put away before the puck dropped on the hockey game.

Now that I know there is nothing wrong with me it is time to “suck it up” and quit babying myself. That being my state of mind, this morning I did the vacuuming and then Pat and I moved a bit of furniture around (a chair from downstairs to upstairs and a chair from upstairs to downstairs). I’ve done a bit of sewing this morning and I’ll continue for a bit. I’m unlikely to finish anything but I’ll keep going.

Monday, June 17, 2024

I settled in to work in my sewing room this morning and realized I have several projects ready for the next step.

I have a couple of birthday cards that need to get finished up. I have one trimmed to size and another one that needs a bit of hand stitching to finish the top. Then they have to be sandwiched and quilted.

I need practice on making yo-yos before I start my temperature quilt so I cut some squares this morning. I’m going to do my practicing on a yo-yo wreath for the back door. I have a sewing date with Gail on Friday and we’re going to be making yo-yos.

I have birthday gift that requires more work. I cut out the fabric I need for it but I think I’m going to have to piece batting. Hopefully I have enough batting to finish it. If not, I’ll have to arrange to purchase more.

Although it didn’t take any effort I have my Tuesday sewing project packed and ready to go for tomorrow. I’m hoping to walk if the weather cooperates and I’ll try out my new-to-me fabric shopping cart. I’m ready to start a new colour on my Manx blocks.

I’ve made a start on this month’s UFO – quilting my Farmhouse quilt. It is slow going with a lot of thread changes and there are still a lot of spots that I haven’t a clue how to quilt. Hopefully as I move along I will be inspired.

I have two other projects sitting on my cutting table – another chicken project and fabric for making the covers for Elizabeth’s screen (one that Dad made). She picked out the fabric when we were in Calgary. I have to keep track of how I do it (step by step) because Kathryn wants to make one for her screen.

Lately I’ve been hooked on hand stitching – my Sashiko project and my chickens. I’m almost halfway done on my Sashiko panel; I have no idea where I’ll put it when it is done but it is mindless work for the evenings. I have my fifth chicken block almost finished – one more to go before figuring out how to put it together. I need to get them finished before I start on the temperature quilt which will mainly be done by hand.

May 28, 2024

This stitch-along came out in 2022 and I made a start at it fairly quickly. It was close to being finished when I started thinking about Asher’s grad gift. I originally intended to do a different project but it didn’t go well so I decided I’d finish this one. There were a few things about what I had already done that I was satisfied with; when I thought I was keeping it for myself I wasn’t going to change it. But since it was a gift I started taking out the sections I didn’t like and the sections that didn’t line up exactly. I had Kathryn send me extra floss as with so much green I was concerned about running out.

When it was finally finished we started thinking about the framing. Pat suggested that it would be easier to transport to Calgary if I had it framed there. We found a shop and although they couldn’t promise to have the framing done in time for the ceremony they said they would try. We chose a very simple mat and frame and everything they needed was in stock. They promised to have it completed by the close of day on graduation day. That morning though they called to say it was ready and we were able to pick it up in time to present to Asher when we were at his celebration dinner.