The "to be quilted" list!

The last day of this section of the marathon! Then, after two days of mini madness, I'll be back on the road! If you live in Penticton, BC, or the area around, come out, as I have a great event planned. Then I'll be in Chilliwack and Surrey for more great events. If you live in those areas, check out the shops. Tom's Sewing Center is in Chilliwack and Surrey, and Black Rabbit is in Penticton! I'm going to make it!!

Here's a couple of observations before I share my photos with you. Is your mouth as sensitive as mine? Why can we eat almost anything, but when something long and skinny is in our mouth, we can feel it, and it's yucky? I'm not talking about hair, but that would be the same. It was a skinny string from a banana, and I couldn't swallow it. It's crazy! 

The second is the continuation of the Tim's story. Some Tim's are notorious for slow and sloppy service. Then, there is one specific Tim's in my neighborhood. This is not the closest one to me, but they are notorious for their speedy service. I don't think I've ever waited much in line—maybe two minutes? It's a crazy place. 

There is a gentleman—I do not know if he is the owner, manager, or employee—who keeps the drive-thru line moving. So the other day, when I tried to pay with the app, and it didn't work, he said I had to turn on the scan and pay feature, which was easy to see when I wasn't in the line. But he is the most efficient person I've ever seen, even when he passed that information to me. 

I am NOT a regular customer, and the app incident occurred two days ago. Yesterday, when I sped through the line, I used the app, got points, and paid with one scan. Can you believe what the guy said to me? "Yes -- it worked today!" Managing his busy line and only seeing people through the drive-thru window, he remembered. I call that exceptional skills. I will stop in one day when it's not busy and tell him that I think he's the best employee/person to ever work at Tim's. He is that good!

And he's been like that for years. When the service was terrible at the one closest to me, I'd drive an extra few km and go there because I knew the service was always the best. I'm sure he knows, but he needs to have it said in person! I was so shocked when he said that, that I didn't have time to react before I needed to get my butt out of the line! 

AHA—I had some extra time yesterday morning, so the girls and I walked through the forest. Look what I spotted!! Yep—they planted grass on the dirt beside the path, and it's starting to grow. That's good because the roots will help to keep that dirt in place. I should have realized there was a plan! 

Grass growing in the dirt by the path

Oh gosh -- this girl needs grooming so desperately!!! Maybe tonight. 

A fuzzy butt

I spent the day cutting kits and helping people with their projects when needed. It was a great day, and the dealers are just that much smarter with their machines!

Cutting kits

When I got home, I felt great, which was a positive thing. So great, in fact, that it was a challenge to get to sleep. I finally got a chance to hang up that piece of artwork for which I had found the sawtooth hangers. It has been sitting around, waiting to be hung for years—so long that I don't even remember where I acquired the piece. That's very bad. 

My new artwork is hung

And now it hangs on the wall with another piece of thread artwork. I have another piece sitting here that needs a sawtooth hanger, and then I have to find a home for it. That's a job for October when I have time to return to the office to continue the tidy-up. 

Thread artwork

We were playing fetch, and Murphy was getting lazy. She sat all pretty by the pond and attempted to ask me to get her ball. I mean, really! I can see the pink ball sitting on the rocks; she has no problem climbing over them to get it! Silly girl!!!!

MOM -- help me!!!!!

This got dropped on my doorstep - a belt bag that was part of some promotion. I was asked if I wanted it before it came my way. You could see me for miles wearing this one! It's a bit larger than my other ones, so this will be perfect when I need to carry a few more things. I do NOT like wearing those belt bags as cross-body bags, even though I do. It looks so darn awkward to have that bag right at your breast. And the straps are not at an angle, so the bag doesn't look nice at all!! So the "fanny" pack is out, and the belt bag is in!!!  Thanks for the bag! You know who you are!

A new belt bag

I needed a minor adjustment on my sewing machine yesterday, and that got done so I could bring everything from the meeting home. It came into the house and even got brought downstairs. Then, I had something to sew. However, it certainly helps to plug in the foot pedal when you attempt that!! 

It won't sew without the foot pedal attached

Then I got in my head that I needed a certain book. Oh, what a nightmare that is. I'm pretty sure I know what the book looks like, but could I find it? I searched the entire bookcase but did not find the darn thing. I can find the information online, but having the book would certainly help. 

Searching for a book

As I went through the books, I found so many projects or techniques that I want to spend more time on, but there's not enough time!!! It's really sad, to say the least! The books need to be in better order and cataloged, so I have a complete list of them. While the list won't tell me where they are, it should help. 

So yes, ALL the books need to be removed from the shelf, sorted by technique, style, or topic and then put back on the shelf. What a fun job that will be!

A couple of rolling carts sit in front of the bookcase in one spot. I spotted this on the floor when I pulled the cart away from the bookcase. What the heck is it? 

A mystery part

It looks like the base of something. It's black and shiny, and I'm sure it's metallic or at least substantial plastic. And it's broken off a corner. Now, what the heck could that be from? I have no idea!

On my way home, I noticed the gas prices were relatively low—just under $1.40 a liter. I would need gas in the car to get to and from the technical course today, so I made a mental note to return last night. It was even lower when I remembered and I actually got to the gas station. This morning, I bet the price will be about 5 - 10 cents higher, so it's always worth it to get your butt out of the house after dinner and fill up the car. This was the price at almost 9 PM. 

Gas price is LOW

Here's another moment of not trusting my organizing system.  Some people would say this is why they do not organize. I decided that I have two small quilts that MUST be in my suitcase next week. One I stumbled upon as I was searching the tubs in the "to be quilted" area to find a couple of quilt tops to take next week. This should be a sign to me -- if I remove a quilt from a "to be quilted" tub, it should go in the queue for quilting. I might just do that because this one top has been pulled multiple times. 

That triggered my memory of another quilt that I wanted to pack. I knew that it had been residing on the old messy table of half-finished projects. So, I searched for that quilt top but couldn't find it. I saw many other things that were in the same box as that quilt top, but not that quilt top. 

I had glanced at the list of "to be quilted" projects, but I was in a rush the other day and didn't take the time to scan it properly. I went back late last night and spent a bit more time perusing the list and there it was. It was in a "to be quilted" tub, but it wasn't in the tub with the most recently added items. I had found some holes in some of the other tubs, so it got shoved into an older one.

I must learn to trust my system and then take the time to read the darn list. If I had done that, I would have found the quilt in a minute, several days ago. Once I know which tub it's in, it's a breeze to locate the quilt. Hence, the list. So, now that I'm organized, why am I not trusting myself? Or am I just in too much of a hurry? 

Well, I'm off for the day. Wait- there's a virtual retreat this weekend. Here are the links. 

Saturday, September 21 - starts at 6 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89816483795?pwd=Mjc3M3pvVmZPdjdsQzlHS3Zhck52dz09

Meeting ID: 898 1648 3795
Passcode: 248667

Sunday, September 22 - Starts at Noon

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82983517671?pwd=ODdsa1FJenQwdFNaQWFTNGd4bEhPZz09

Meeting ID: 829 8351 7671
Passcode: 117636

If you want to take an in-person machine quilting class or attend a lecture on improving your sewing habits, be sure to sign up for those classes, which take place tomorrow at The Hobby Horse. 

Have a super day!  I hope you are all remembering your commitment (OK, so I committed you) to cleaning up/tidying up your spaces! All it takes to get started is a drawer! That's easy, and it shouldn't take a lot of time. So hop to it!!!

Ciao!!!!

Quilt pattern controversy

 Let's start with the classes before I get lost in my thoughts!!! 

There are TWO more classes at The Hobby Horse, so I will post that link again. There are the October to June monthly one-hour lectures on finishing your quilt. There is so much to share in that! And there are FOUR in-person sessions—two of them are on machine quilting, and two of them are demos on various topics. Angie and I will be doing those two sessions as a team. It will be super fun, a chance for you to get out of the house and learn something new WITHOUT starting a new project!! 

I'm also teaching a couple of classes at Thimbles and Things. They are now offering quite a few in-store classes, but the three that I'm teaching are all on Zoom!! Here are the links to the three Zoom classes I'm teaching. 

Dear Jen, I was silly enough to go another Jen Kingwell quilt! This runs from October to June. 

Orchid Mini (Legit Kits) is a "new" way to paper piece! It's a two-part class. 

Saturday Sampler - this session runs from October to December and covers three topics

There is also Spice Market, which I'm teaching on Zoom and is not associated with a store. For those of you who have signed up, you have received an automated reply and are in the class. I should be sending more information in a couple of weeks. 

I'm teaching machine embroidery software classes (mySewnet) at two stores, and I'll post the links tomorrow. 

So that's a very doable list of classes! And they mostly start in October, which is good because my September is a complete write-off. I'm excited about them and need to start the homework prep, but I have other things on my plate. 

I almost had an applique "fail" yesterday. I got part of the daily quota of applique done in the morning and then went to the optometrist in the afternoon. They dilated my pupils, and I couldn't see a thing in the afternoon. But after dinner, things were back to normal, and I persevered. It would NOT have been the end of the world if I didn't get it done, but after all the work I've done in the past couple of weeks and not get the assignment done? I could NOT let that happen. So it's done, and I'm all set to continue today. I tell you, this seems like a never-ending applique project. There is a LOT of applique, and while I'm much closer to the finish than I was, there's still a lot of applique! 

Then the quilts have to be sewn together and binding and backing made, so I'm not out of the woods yet, but I should be able to finish them by the September deadline. That is going to be a happy day!!!

Speaking of going to the optometrist -- yikes -- she was young! I almost mistook her for the receptionist! But at least I wouldn't have to worry about her retiring! All seemed fine, except they wanted to give me a prescription for readers. I'm not keen on it as I'm super hard on glasses, and having only one pair of readers means I'll be running around the houses looking for that pair. I think I'll hold off for a while before I go that route. Does anyone have experience with prescription readers? 

And here's the other thing. I know that this store has bargain frames. The last time I was there, the bargain frames were in a drawer. This time, they are on the shelf, but in the back corner, along with the children's frames. I want the kids' frames!!!! 

Cool KIDS glasses

Those are funky glasses, and if I'm going to get readers, they should be funky! Can I get a kids' frame to fit me? 

She wants to refer me to someone else because she saw something in my eye, so I guess I better follow up with that. 

I had two phone calls to make in the morning, and I thought both would take forever, but both were quick, and I got what I wanted. My old dentist (at least 20 years ago) keeps sending us birthday cards. Why? So I finally called and the receptionist said, "Oh, your accounts were never flagged as inactive." So that has changed, and I hope to never get another birthday card from them. 

The second was to change an airplane ticket that I knew would cost me money as I had "bought" it cheap through points. After a short wait, I got the BEST call center person ever. She was determined to get my ticket changed without me paying for the change. She tried to sell me on flying at a different date and time than I wanted, but I was firm on when I wanted to fly. Then she tried a couple of other things, and then she tried what I wanted, and lo and behold, it went through without a fee change. 

Now, that could very well be because of the upcoming labor action, but my flight was outside the parameters of that. I won't ask questions - just take the new ticket and run!!!

I had a hot date yesterday with my steam press! I had a lot of fusing to do, and it was so easy and quick to use. The fusible fleece and heavy-weight interfacing aren't going anywhere! It's so much faster than a regular iron. 

The steam press

One more customer quilt is done. This is the same person as the previous one—she loves this style of fabric. Again, it wasn't super large, but the quilting is dense, so it still takes time. The next one (also from the same person) is loaded and ready to go later this morning. I'm right on track!!

Customer quilt - DONE

Murphy and I sat outside in the morning and enjoyed a cup of tea. She only wanted to sniff everything or get as close to me as possible, so she was a royal pain. I'm sure Lexi would be much quieter! 

MOM -- new smells in this corner!

I'm browsing through some old quilt magazines, and while they are old, there is so much in them that's applicable today. They over-bought fabric, had trouble finding places to store it, had too many UFOs, started too many projects, etc. I'm reading these old magazines as part of cleaning up the shelves in Studio B. It's an extremely slow process. Instead of reading a book when having my tea, I need to be reading those magazines. I paid for them and will read them, so don't tell me to toss the old ones. I have a plan! 

But I got a chuckle out of this ad. 

Do you know what those rectangles are?

Do you know what that is? How many of you had quilt-themed cheques? OK—what's a cheque? I had someone do some work several months ago, and I didn't have cash, so I gave him a cheque. I think it was the first cheque he received!

Here's something controversial I found in the magazine (dated Summer 1999). What are your thoughts on the design? 

Baltimore Brides Quilt (designed by Patricia Cox

Did you see anything amiss? How about in this picture? 

Do you like this design?

I remember when things like this caused considerable discussion in the guilds. The ladies who had been quilting much longer than I would think this is proper. Myself? I find it unsettling!!! Can you spot what I'm talking about? This is one thing that relates to "we've always done it this way!" There is no right or wrong in this situation; it's what makes you happy!

Something was weird at the gas stations yesterday. There are two kitty corner to each other, and they are usually POINT 3 cents different in price. Yesterday? They were FIVE cents different, with the other one being 148.6. GASP --- Perhaps someone made a mistake? I think this one is the correct price, but it fluctuates throughout the day, so it's anyone's guess as to the gas price. 

The price of gas is down!

And when I was out reading in the afternoon in the backyard, Yep—big slacker that I am!!! Miss Murphy was being entertained by something in the forest. At least she wasn't barking!!! 

MOM -- there's a good show on the forest channel!!!

And then it was dinner time. DH is still not feeling well, so I wasn't sure he would make it to the table, and I couldn't start the game alone! But there is the EXIT game!!! We whipped through the first two puzzles like they were nothing!! Did we get lucky? Or is the game an easy one? Or are we just that much more intelligent? 

The latest EXIT Adventure Game

Either way, it was fun to get back to it!! 

I can keep Studio B relatively neat and tidy, considering that I'm currently working on a few projects. But when I had to use the steam press, it was a joy to simply plug it in and turn it on. I wouldn't have been so happy having to make room on a table for it, dig it out, etc. So, the bottom line is that it's better to keep your tools out than your projects. So the serger, the steam press, the sewing machine - whatever tools you have. I'd make room for those and find tubs to put the projects in. You can only work on one of them (or two or three) at a time, so put the rest away to prevent them from distracting you. 

That's what I've done, and I'm shocked at how much it has changed the way I work. Yes, I still have Mount Projects in the room, but it's easy to ignore because it's out of the way. I have space to work, and it's fabulous!!!!

Well, it's another day to progress on the sewing stuff, so I'd better get started! Remember to check out the classes above, and if you have questions, let me know. 

Have a super day!!! 

Ciao!!!