Binding A Quilt

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with lots of north wind. The high got to 2C. This morning it is cloudy and 2C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with wind and a high of 3C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I scrubbed the floors where I had painted and then washed the wall I am going to paint next. It was a full morning's work but it felt good to have it done so I can paint tomorrow. 

The wind has certainly been howling and I watched a piece of lattice roll down the side of my neighbour's front porch. It was still attached this morning and moving around in the wind. I haven't seen any other items blowing around but I am sure there is some in our area. 

I did 2 loads of laundry yesterday. I tried something different this time as my clothes are looking dingy. I used hot water for the towels and warm for my clothing. I added oxiclean to the wash cycle and vinegar to the rinse cycle. It certainly helped a lot. I also put them on to a longer wash cycle. It took a lot longer to do the 2 loads than normal but worth it. I won't do this regularly but every 3 - 4 weeks. 

Sewing

I got the binding sewn together for the Scandinavian Winter quilt and then sewn on to the quilt. It is now ready for me to hand sew it down. 

The backing is quite warm when you have it on your lap while sewing on the binding. That will be nice for this winter. 

I also sat and measured the donated fabrics. I have donated 13.5 meters and have set 2.25 meters aside to see if I want to use it for doll quilts or pyjamas. If I don't use it before the end of the year, it will be donated. 

The sewing room closet is looking much better. It is nice to know there is less in each tub. I also know if I don't use the items, they will be donated. I am allowing myself to let them go over time. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater last night. This is before I divided it so I can finish the body. 

And after I divided it. 

I said I hadn't knit this one since testing it. I was wrong. I had knit it in yellow to go with the Nova Scotia plaid skirt I had made. 

Thoughts

    The wind is starting to get on my nerves and is suppose to blow for a couple of more days. It is blowing in a rain storm which will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully it will stop blowing on Saturday. On the plus side, this wind didn't bring snow flurries like forecasted. 

    I am starting to enjoy decluttering the sewing room closet. The more I dig, the more I am ready to let go of. It is time for others to enjoy the "stuff" I won't use. I am also looking forward to tackling the rest of the room so it will be an organized and tidy space for me to create in. Right now, it feels like a storage room. I am beginning to fully understand that I don't need all of what I have in that room. I am starting to enjoy sewing what I want to vs sewing up the stash. This is what is driving me to do a big declutter of the sewing room. I want to repeat this feeling in the family room. 

    I have been working on my thoughts for 2025. I chose the word focus to help guide me. At first it was focus on sewing down the stash and using up the craft supplies. Now it is to focus on doing what I enjoy doing. It is more of letting go of what I don't enjoy doing. The second word I chose was calm. I want to have a calm environment to live and work in. I know letting go will bring calmness and it will allow me to focus more on what I want to do. I will have to say, working on my thoughts has really been a journey. 

Today

I have osteopathy this morning and will do a few small things before I have to leave. I want to go and look at vacuum cleaners and make a decision on which one I want. When I get home I need to pick up my prescriptions. I may get to hand sew on the quilt for an hour. I want to knit on the doll's sweater tonight. 

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

A Day Having Fun

 Yesterday's weather had it all but snow flurries. Wind, rain, sunshine, and clouds. The high got to 12C. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 1C. Today is suppose to be cloudy, windy, and maybe snow flurries. The high is suppose to be 1C. 

Lifestyle

Daughter-in-law and I headed out to shop before her physio appointment. Our first stop was to our favourite dollar store. We usually wander it a couple of times before Christmas and love looking at the huge selection of items they have. We got a few items one of which is a solar powered tree that wiggles when charged. 

Our next stop was Walmart for gift cards. We also snooped through the Grinch clothing looking for something unique. We found it. 

I bought it for daughter-in-law for Christmas Eve. Now they all have a Grinch shirt to wear. 

After a quick lunch (which was delicious), daughter-in-law had her treatment and we headed home. Once I got my stuff put away, I headed out to get my prescriptions filled which I will pick up on Thursday. 

When I got home, I was exhausted to the point that my energy level was low. I sat and vegged wondering why. I realized that I had got hot twice during the day and it sapped my energy. My internal temperature was high. I drank a lot of water and cooled down in a cool house. By bedtime I was fine and slept well. 

I did not sew or knit yesterday. It was a day I could have made huge mistakes. 

Thoughts

    I wore a hoodie I bought in Denmark. It is lighter than the one I bought for grandson but it is much warmer than the ones I buy here. I overheated wearing it in stores and the car. Outside it was perfect. 

    I am enjoying looking at Grinch stuff. There is something for everyone. Son started it 2 years ago by buying a shirt to wear on Dec. 24. He and a friend wore Grinch shirts last year. It has now grown to son, daughter-in-law, and grandson wearing them this year. Daughter-in-law bought napkins with Grinch on them and I will make bags with Grinch faces on them for gifts. We might just as well relax, embrace the Grinch, and have fun. Who knows what else will appear for us to have fun with. 

    Daughter-in-law and I planned the Christmas Eve get together with friends and most of Christmas Day meals. This year it will be kept simple so everyone enjoys the both days. We are even cutting way back on baking this year. And we are even bringing out paper plates for Christmas Eve. They can be composted. I am going to make sure that I am more involved as I am not sore this year. 

Today

I am going to prep my bedroom to paint on Friday. I will try to do some cleaning in the rest of the house and do a load of laundry. This afternoon I will be in the sewing room doing the binding for the quilt and then measuring fabrics to donate. Tonight I will knit. It is a stay at home day. 

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

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..............................................................

Two Place Mats Completed, Two Tubs Sorted

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 9C. This morning it is cloudy and 6C. Today is supposed to be wet this morning and cloudy this afternoon with a high of 14C.

Lifestyle

I headed out to New Minas and got one Christmas gift which was on sale for 40% off. I then went to Home Depot and bought more paint plus a Christmas LED projector. While in the paint department, I met two ladies who live about an 8 minute drive from me. One of the ladies was buying paint for her cupboards and the other one was going to paint them for her. We had a lovely discussion on fixing up our homes at our age. 

Once done my shopping, I headed for home. I had a lovely drive both ways and enjoyed it very much. The fall colours are almost gone but there is still enough to make it look pretty. Soon it will be bare. 

Sewing

I went down fully prepared to put the binding on the second placemat only to find it was on. I pinned it in place and spent part of the afternoon hand sewing it down. 

When done, I spent some time organizing the beads more. I know I could let go of some but will do that the next time. At the moment, I may need them if I make another Renaissance outfit. I do know all the beads will go when I stop sewing doll clothes. 

The next tub I hauled out was the flannel for doll's pyjamas. I did a hard start on that. Some of the flannel is saying it could be backing for quilts so it sits until I decide if I will use it or donate it. What was put back into the tub will make pyjamas for the dolls. 

The last tub I played with was the largest and full of fabrics for fancy dresses, tulle, and winter coats. I sorted, I folded, and I know I kept more than necessary. But, what I kept along with the flannel fits in one smaller tub. The big tub is empty!!

I was mentally tired when I got that job done. I still have to put three pieces of Halloween fabric into the donate pile as we have decided that we have enough Halloween decorations. Then it will be sorting through the tub of cottons and a basket of miscellaneous fabrics. When done, I will have two medium sized tubs of fabric for the dolls and a small amount of fabric for doll quilts. 

My last little job was to figure out how to use up the last of the pink and white fabric daughter sent me. I will be making her an extra large hot pad. I have enough fabric for the hot pad and binding in pink and the backing in white. What is left over will go to the quilting group. I have the batting also so this is a happy project. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater until I ran out of yarn. 

I am going to set it aside and decide if I will buy another skein to knit me socks and finish the sweater or if I will not finish it. Decisions, decision. I will cast on another sweater and knit it next. 

Thoughts

    I am slowly getting Christmas presents bought. It has been hard this year as no one has said what they wanted. I am grasping at straws. I do have an order to place at Amazon but am still short on gifts. I have sat quietly thinking and will be doing two more shoppings and call it done. Gift cards will be added to the parcels going west. 

    I was surprised at how easy it was to let go of the doll's fabric. I am still thinking about the fabrics I set aside for backing on doll's quilts. One part of me says use it as I have it and the other part of me says to let it go. I wait and see for a few days. The rest of the fabric will be boxed ready to be donated or sold at the garage sale. Once done the fabrics, I will wash the closet floor and put the few tubs back in there. I will add the tub that I am putting the doll's quilts into. 

    I am still working on my thoughts and plans for 2025. It is hard as I know what I want to do but some of the plan keeps changing. I am struggling as I want my work spaces to be minimal, tidy, and calm to work in. I think part of my struggle is trying to figure things out while I am decluttering, cleaning, and trying to finish up projects for gifts. I will continue to work on it as I don't need to have it posted until mid December. 

    I am also struggling on how to balance sewing, knitting, crafting, and housework. I also want to find time to just relax and enjoy doing nothing or very little. I have always been busy and want to know that I can do nothing if I want to. It will come as I get closer to my goal. I know keeping busy is good for me mentally. I think what I am looking for is to be able to do things knowing that I can do them vs having to do them. I am also working through this as I get my thoughts in order. 

Today

I am going to paint the wall in my bedroom this morning. This afternoon I will work on the large hot pad and will knit tonight. It is a stay at home day as nothing is open here on Remembrance Day. 

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

Decluttering, Sewing, and Knitting

 Yesterday was cool with sun and clouds and a high of 5C. The wind blew from the NNW all day. This morning it is clear and -1C (windchill -4C). Today is suppose to be sunny with a high of 7C.

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I had 2 hours to clean in. I spent it tidying up my area of which I had ignored. The fabric and ribbon I was sent was put at the top of the stairs. Next up I got out the cross stitch stuff and had a hay day. I cleaned out a basket and a shallow tub of stuff. I had a keep pile, a put away pile, and a toss pile. I found rhinestones and in with the cross stitch stuff. I was a bit miffed with myself for having craft stuff where it wasn't suppose to be. I gathered up the garbage and tossed it. The rest went on top of the fabric to go downstairs. I then polished the side table. I looked at some journals and need to make a decision on them. One will become my next knitting book, one will be tossed and one kept for ??. I ended up taking the pile of stuff to the basement and put them into the sewing room and on the coffee table. I had run out of time. 

I went in for my Covid vaccine. I was in the midst of a rush of people. I checked in, sat down and waited. I was called in about 10 minutes later. I had to wait 15 minutes and as I sat, the numbers dwindled off as it was near noon. I left and talked to family in the parking lot. I did go and get a few groceries and then home. I had no real effects from the vaccine. My arm was a bit sore and I was a bit tired but nothing that had me sleeping on the couch. 

Sewing

I did sew yesterday and got the binding on one of the placemats. I sat and hand sewed it down. 

The second one is ready to have the binding sewn on and then hand sewn in place. 

I did deal with two containers. The first one was the cross stitch container. I wanted to have it down to one small tub. It will be once I have an empty pill container to put the needles into. 

This is the pile I let go of. And the bonus -- an empty bin.

I also did the basket of beads and got rid of a few vials of beads. What I kept is what I would use on fancy dresses for the dolls. I did find a container of rhinestones in that basket. All the wandering rhinestones are now in their proper tub. I need to find the rest of the beads and put them all together in one bag. It wasn't done as it was time to make dinner. Elliott had come to let me know the afternoon was gone. 

Knitting

I worked on the Gotz doll sweater last night and I will not have enough yarn to finish it. 

I am going to see where I get to and decide if I will put it away until I get another skein of yarn to make me socks or if I will ditch it. 

Thoughts

    I was happy to get the counted cross stitch and beading bins purged. I am going to do a bit of organizing of the beads so they are in containers vs bags. I would like to put them into a small tub and onto the shelf. Next up is the doll's fabric bins. I am a bit stressed about them. I know there is some emotional attachment which I am trying to work through. 

    I am trying to reach some goals in getting this house in order for the future. I am pleased with what I have got done but know I will be busy for a few more months. Once I get a few more items sewn and the memory book done, I will spend the afternoons cleaning up the downstairs. I will need to get some boxes to put donations into, bags for trash, and use some of the empty tubs for what I want to keep. My goal is to have very little left so I can enjoy calm spaces to work in. 

    Our weather is going to be the usual for November. We have rain in the forecast which is normal for this time of the year. I have decided that I will get the burlap for the rose bush and cover it on the next nice day and call the yard done for this year. I know we haven't had enough frost but I am hoping that I will not kill the bush wrapping it this week. I see others have done their shrubs already so fingers crossed. 

    I am still working on how I want next year to look for me. Some times I am grasping at straws, other times I think I have it figured out. What I want is to do things that I enjoy, feel interested in my activities and feel like what I do matters. Pleasure, engagement and meaning are three elements I am striving to obtain in my life. I will be repeating these as I work through my stuff both upstairs and downstairs. Right now I am feeling like I am accomplishing tasks that make me happy  and am working towards an environment that I can be happy and calm in. 

Today

I am heading out to New Minas to get some things I need (house and Christmas). Once home, I hope to bind the second placemat and finish it. If time, I will do some more work on the beads so they can go into a small tub. I hope to knit tonight. 

    

Working On Projects

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 11C. This morning it is cloudy and 4C. We are suppose to have some sun, showers, and flurries with a high of 3C. 

Lifestyle

I got busy early washing the wall I wanted to paint. I left it to dry for 15 minutes and then started painting. I was at that job for the rest of the morning; 3 hours or more. 

The room definitely brightened up but it is also looking huge. It also may look huge as I moved two pieces of furniture into from the walls into the room. As I finished up, I realized I don't have enough paint to do the second coat of paint on the wall. I have decided to paint the window wall before I buy more paint. I think I will have enough paint for the first coat on it. 

Having the room bright and light has me excited. I will be ready to make the quilt and two or three runners. I know this room needs another colour so am thinking which colour I would like to add. So far it will be grey wall with a navy and white quilt and runners. It may come to me when I start hanging pictures later on. 

I was out to dinner at family's last night. We had pork loin with a mustard/horseradish gravy. It was delicious. After dinner daughter-in-law and I sat in the hot tub for a good 45 minutes. We had 30 minutes of it running so the jets could do their job and 15 minutes of quiet afterwards. It was a nice way to end the day and I slept well last night. 

Sewing

I sandwiched and quilted the second placemat and it is ready for binding. 

Strangely enough one placemat is a tiny bit longer than the other one. It is all in the seam allowances. 

I have decided that I will cut out one large sized hot pad from the remaining fabric and send it to daughter for her to use in the sewing room. She can put it on the dresser or under a sewing machine. Once they are done, I will be batch cutting a few items to make for the rest of the month. I want to do some decluttering in the closet. 

Knitting

I knit on the doll's sweater and am now on the body. I am a bit worried I won't have enough yarn to finish it. It may sit until I get another skein to knit myself socks. 

I wait and see what happens as this sweater is suppose to use 19 grams of yarn which I had just a bit more than that. 

Thoughts

    With the box of fabric and leather gone, I am ready to bag up the faux suede pieces and put them into a box to go. Then it will be back into the closet to do more decluttering and purging. My goal is to get it done and down to an amount I know I will sew. I do not want family to have to deal with large amount of fabric I have. 

    I made a decision not to put up outdoor Christmas lights this year. We can get them up easily on a warm day but taking them down is something else. I have to do it when it is cold and windy and I hate that. I have decided to buy a Christmas led projector for outdoors. I can put it out and take it in easily on my own. I will look for one on Tuesday when I go to buy paint. 

    I did a bit of cleaning up yesterday. I sorted through the pattern design materials and it is all downstairs to deal with. What I borrowed is bagged up to return when my friend comes home. I can get out what I need when I have to make a pattern for the dolls. It was an easy project for me to clean up as I know it is not something I will do on a regular basis. 

    I am working on my thoughts for sewing in 2025. It has been hard as I am at a stage in life where I want to focus on what I need to do and feel calm. I am working through emotions and figuring out what I want to make in the next year. I own the fact that I have too much in the basement and need to work on that. It is tiring as I go through my plan and figure it all out. 

Today

I am going to clean the living room this morning and get my Covid vaccine at 11:30 am. I hope to sew the binding strips together for the placemats and the quilt so I can sew them on. If I am able to, I will knit tonight. It depends on how hard the vaccine hits me. This one usually makes me quite tired for a day. I will try to push through and get things done. 

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

The Scandivian Quilt Is Amazing

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 9C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 2C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 12C. 

Lifestyle

I did a bit of puttering before going to get my hair cut. Once that was done, I went to New Minas to pick up my quilt. I did look around the store for fabric for a tree skirt and found three I liked. I now need to do some planning. On the way home, I stopped at the other quilt shop to look around and bought some Best Press to starch fabric. I like it when I do projects like bags. 

I was out mid afternoon to ship a parcel to daughter and then rested. I am still not sleeping the best at night. I didn't nap which does more harm than good when I am not over tired. 

The Sewing Room

I had stalled in cleaning up the sewing room closet. In actual fact, I closed the doors to the mess. The leather was holding me up. Emotional attachment? Yes. It owning me? Yes. I could not let it go to a stranger. I was really struggling with it. 

Daughter started talking to me about buying leather to make fringe for rodeo queen dresses. I told her about the leather (she sent it to me about 4 years ago). I took pictures of each piece and sent them to her. I finally packed it all into a box along with 5 meters of expensive faux suede and 6 meters of black cotton. The box is on the way to her house. All this fabric will have crossed Canada twice. But, I feel good about sending it back to her. The emotional attachment is gone as I know it will be used for its original purpose. It is no longer owning me. I am a happy person now that it is out of the house to its proper destination. 

Sewing

The quilt I picked up looks amazing. 

The long arm person had never used the snowflake pattern before and it turned out perfect. This design is a winner. 

The navy backing is darker than the picture. And it is cuddly warm. 

I will have to block some time to bind it and then enjoy cuddling in it. 

The next quilt top is booked to be quilted on December 19. I have to figure out how much backing I need for it and have it up there by December 15. 

Excitement and drooling over how nice the quilt is, I got the first placemat ready for binding. 

I now need to sandwich the second one and start quilting it. 

I pressed a piece of fabric using the Best Press starch and it is hanging to dry. I am going to make an extra large hot pad out of it. I have everything I need for it in the sewing room. 

Knitting

I realized that I had missed knitting a row on the sweater (row 4) and ripped it out after row 16. I cast it on again and knit to row 16 last night. 

On the positive side, I got to practice the one row of increases I hate to do. It was quite easy to do as I think I have done that row 5 times now. As I have no more gifts to make, I can take my time and redo projects until I am happy with them. 

Thoughts

    I am happy that I have sent the leather back to daughter. I can now start cleaning the closet again. There will be more stalling as I sort through the doll's fabric stash. It still owns me and I need to work through that. 

    The weather is cooling off again. There will be warm days and rain. As the hair dresser said, it is November and we can expect this type of weather until January. The forecast was for an early winter but that has disappeared from the radar and we are back to a normal winter. 

    I am going to have to spend a few days packing boxes to go to daughter. I am behind on shipping to her as we wait and see if Canada Post is going to go on strike. It has been tense for us. So far so good but it could change in the blink of an of an eye. 

    I am working on what I want to accomplish in sewing and crafting for 2025. I am using the words "focus" and "calm" to help me plan what I will be doing. It will also help me let go of what I don't want to do. 

Today

I plan on washing the next wall in my bedroom and painting it. This afternoon I want to work on the 2nd placemat and see if I can have both of them ready to bind on Saturday. I will knit tonight. If I am lucky, the sweater may almost be done. 

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