A Large Hot Pad Made

 Yesterday was rainy with a high of 14C. This morning it is cloudy and 9C. Today is suppose to be mainly cloudy with a high of 12C. We may have snow flurries tonight. 

Lifestyle

I spent the morning painting the second coat on the wall in my bedroom. I tried a different sleeve on the roller. A lady suggested microfibre ones and I had something similar in the painting supplies. I was surprised at how much I liked it over the foam one I had been using. Her suggestion and why won me over. The suggestion of using a foam roller was good but I like the microfibre one better. I was done in a little over 2 hours. 

I will have to say that my hip is doing great when I paint. I think the muscles have relaxed more and are getting stronger.  I hope this continues as I am enjoying have less pain in my life. 

Sewing

With pink and white fabrics left over from the placemats, I made daughter a large hot pad for her sewing room. I didn't put 2 layers of batting in it so it is for sitting a sewing machine on or covering a dresser. 

The size is 13.5 x 19.5" and if you use two layers of batting or Insulbrite in it, you can put a 9' x 13" pan or two smaller ones on it. 

There is enough white fabric left (I used it for the backing) to make piping for daughter. The pink scraps are in the tub for the quilter's group. 

I did some more work purging. I got out the tub of Halloween prints to discover it had only 2 pieces in it. I put both into the donation tub as I no longer need them. I am getting more empty tubs. I need to measure the fabrics I am letting go of so I can record how much is leaving the sewing room. I did peek into a basket I have in the sewing room and it really needs to purged. 

While playing with fabric from yesterday I photographed this piece of lace. It is black with a silver thread running through it. I also had a pattern piece cut out of it at one end.

I sent this photo to daughter and I could hear her squeal with delight right across Canada. The piece cut out is a yoke which she has in her "scraps". This piece will be sent to her to use in a shirt. I don't know why she has the yoke piece and I have the fabric but they will be reunited in the next box. I am very happy about this as it will make a gorgeous shirt she can sell. 

Knitting

I cast on for another sweater for the dolls. I got 10 rows knit and 2 rows unknit as missed a step in the pattern. 

I am making it long sleeved and will pair it with a skirt. I haven't knit this pattern since testing it several years ago. Not sure why but I think I was testing a lot of knitting patterns when this one was tested. I do like it and it will be back on the list for the future. 

Thoughts

    I did spend a bit of time thinking about those who gave their lives during the two world wars. I appreciate those who sacrificed their lives to allow us to have peace. I appreciate those who returned to live their lives coping with severe mental and physical injuries. I appreciate those who are serving today and those who want to serve when they finish school. Thank you to all those people past and present for keeping us safe. 

    My plan for 2025 is progressing and will continue to progress as I declutter the sewing room. My vision of how I want the room to look is fairly clear in my mind. How much "stuff" I want is firming up. It is way less than I had thought when I started the process. There is still some emotional attachment to fabric but I keep asking if I will sew it up or move it around. The Halloween fabrics had emotional attachment but I realized they were bought prior to all of us moving to Nova Scotia. They are no longer needed for how we celebrate Halloween. Let someone else enjoy them. 

     Though the family room is still a mess as I sort through my sewing room stashes, I am starting to feel content with where I am at. I no longer stress about going to the basement to sew or declutter. I know it has to get worse before it gets better. I am feeling happy with my choices to have less and to only do what I want to do. I have crafts I tried and they weren't a fit for me. I have fabrics and notions I will never use and they are being let go of. There are no sewing or crafting police saying I have to keep all of this. I can let go of what I don't love and move forward to do what I love. I know this isn't for everyone but it is right for me. 

Today

I am heading out to Bedford with daughter-in-law this morning to shop for Christmas presents. We should be home in the early afternoon so I may measure the fabrics in the donation tub. Tonight I plan on knitting more on the sweater. 

Until the next time..............................................................