Catchup - Nov 2nd - 5th

Nov 2nd

Today both Sylvia and I took part in the Trapunto from the Front class at ACQ facilitated by Jackie J.  It was awesome, even if I diverted from instructions so I could stretch it onto a painting canvas frame, naturally larger than planned.  Hopefully I've not bitten off more than I can manage!!!  

So in class I got all the trapunto sewn in, the 1/2" diagonal quilting lines in the squares marked and all sewn, even in one pass somehow!!!  Then I diagonally marked my 1" grid for the borders before packing up to go home.  

At home I finished off marking one corner that got missed and finished off the quilting but took two passes around and then two for the inner sashings.  I was so proud of myself as normally I'd stop at each seam, cut, tie and bury ends!  Jackie showed us how to travel from one section to the neighboring lines and I was very impressed!!!  So I've learnt a few things in this class.  ❤️

Nov 3rd

WOW!!! Yesterday at ACQ Janet N gave me two baggies stuffed full of 1" and 1.5" squares and widths of various length of strips. And today I decided to match up and mark the 1.5" squares for my next mini project!!! Not sure when it'll be a finished project but thank you Janet!!! I can't believe they are so precisely cut ready for me to use!!!

OHHHHH HOW TRUE!!!!

So three or so hours later I've emptied the dressmaker pins container and maybe half the 1.5" scrappy squares prepped into 189 squares to sew up 378 HSTs. Once sewn up I'll dive back into this baggie and start again, the are lovely fabrics and totally different from my stash, which is very good!

Nov 4th

Had a lovely lunch with Aruna at PF Changs, awesome food and company, and she again settled my anxiety about my flight confirmation and answered my queries!

Hey hey hey, it's finished! Oh not labeled as yet! Sylvia helped me with the measuring and trimming of the batting/backing then refreshed my binding knowledge. Once sewn together the two of us stapled the binding to the back, I then used her Tacky glue and anchored the edges around the frame. I LOVE IT!!!

Also a UFO of fabric bought 5 plus years ago, set aside for something special and now it's finished from the Trapunto from the Front class at ACQ past Saturday.

Nov 5th

Lovely visit with Edna at Oakwood for borscht again, then picked Sylvia up and checked out Mook's and Fabricland's sales! I bought 3 pieces for kids quilts for borders n bindings. Then coffee break with the girls before taking all home and now trying to relax.

Not sure how much as things are moving fast in booking my Toronto escape! Sure looking forward to seeing Nancy, Maria, Deana (maybe Ginny n others) and relaxing with Yvonne n John before returning home!!! 🥰

Honestly, I hate "online" registering, buying or booking whatever!!! Yeppers I did good booking my Aeroplan flight and FlixBus from Toronto to London no problem, nervous as hell though. Then feeling relieved, I tried booking my ParknFly.ca with a corporate coupon I was gifted and totally screwed up. I've emailed for help and hope that comes tomorrow!!!

Catchup - Oct 31st

Happy Halloween 

WOW!!!  I don't think I've seen this before!  Nice early morning surprise when opening my curtains!

A quiet Happy Halloween 🎃 for me!!! Ran some errands, lunch and visit with Sylvia and more fall colours. 

I finished off a pincushion, supposedly for swapping but it didn't turn out as I wished so I'm making a different one that is more to my liking (glad I've time before gifting).

Catchup - Oct 15th-29th

Oct 15th

Yeah after picking up Sylvia and Edna we got two fabrics each for our two ACQ BOM quilt project, now to wash and be prepared for the next steps. Then over to Edna's to help with her turtles tote, it's a fussy pattern for her. Then cross country to Mook's and the missing fabrics. YEAH!!!

Once home I finished off the 10 starched snowflakes ready for mail out and then sewed up the second kit I'd bought from Jackie for the ACQ Meals on Wheels program for Christmas. Not sure which is up or down!

Oct 16th

Today was errands and helping Edna finish her turtles tote. The pattern instructions could have been easier but we managed! Ohhhh she also finished off her large makeup bag! And thank you Edna for Original Joe's supper afterwards. That moon tonight was huge too!!!

Oct 17th

WOW!!! I honestly thought with the cooler temps and wind the last couple days that there'd be nothing left on the trees! Nature fooled me and we still have a lovely autumn day, maybe more?

I just love having in an out good dental checkup!!! Then off for a sewing afternoon with Sylvia, yep sewed up a set of 4 stack n whack placemats and once home turned them ready for quilting. And I also cut ot two sets of 6 stack n whack placemats, hopefully sewing them tomorrow!!!

Oct 18th

Another lovely fall day and visit with Sylvia and Edna! First checked out OMA's pop-up shop at CanadInn on Pembina Hwy, then Fabricland before stopping into Marilyn Stother's destash sale. There I found a little something but really a big something for Monica Smith. On our way back we picked up Chinese supper from China Garden, ate at Sylvia's and it was pretty good!!! Then took Edna home before heading home too!

An apartment balcony at Edna's block.

This is in Monica's treat bag.

Quickly I finished quilting my set of 4 stack n whack placemats, just in time to hand over to Jackie at Assiniboine Circle Quilters gathering tomorrow!

My stack n whack placemats. 

Oct 20th

Another lovely day in PARADISE!!! And I end it with Sashiko hand stitching!!! Perfect!  

I'll post pictures once gifted!!!

Oct 21st

This morning I joined a few ACQ members to serge up some Bonding Buddies for preemies and had a nice productive few hours. Then joined Edna for a walk along the Sturgeon Creek then back through the street due to construction blockage on the path. I think that was the first time in AGES that I walked without pain but did use both walking sticks.

After relaxing some I pulled out the two pieces of flannel I took home, found a filler in my stash and cut out "48" Bonding Buddies. These are ready for sandwiching, then curve corners marked and serged before handing over to someone to bury ends. Not sure when I'll get to the other stages but they are ready!!!

Oct 22nd

So I'm moving along nicely! All 48 Bonding Buddies are sandwiched. Also the Sashiko mug rugs are also sanwiched, just finished the quilting and ready for the November 23rd Mug Rug Mixer meeting! YEAH!!!  

Now I'll clean out my sewing machine after all the flannel stitching. Then set up my serger and finish off the Buddies!!! Guess I'm feeling good and getting lots done!!!

Okay I'm done for tonight!!! Feet are up and watching the Jets hockey and burying ends! GO JETS GO!!!

So I decided to finish off the Bonding Buddies and vacuum both the sewing machine and serger, ready for the next project. Here's 48 Bonding Buddies ready for drop off this week!

Oct 23rd

Today I joined Sylvia at St Vital for some unsuccessful shopping, then car maintenance before heading to her place for afternoon sewing. She prepped for some landscape art pieces and I sewed together a set of 6-cut stack n whack placemats. So one of 3 sets are ready for sandwiching and quilting!

Then she asked I stay for supper, yummy, and like she says so nice to have company for a meal!!! I know exactly what she and Edna mean, even though I am just so used to it.

Oct 24th

Look what arrived today, my PFA Swap Crazy Background postcard from Veronica M of Portsmouth RI (in an envelope). Love the blues and pop of colour too. Thank you.

Oct 26th

It looks like another lovely start this morning. Good thing as it's Sylvia's birthday and we're going out for some fun hopefully this evening!!! First it's the Aurora gathering at Pat's again! 💞

Welcome back to Manitoba Norma!!

A too busy of a day for me but it ended on a nice note. After the Aurora gathering I picked up Sylvia and off to Club Regent for our shrimp supper together and hopefully some fun too. We split up to our favourite machines and let the fun play out.  

Sylvia said she broke even so that was 1.5 hours of fun. I exchanged my big bills ($90) for $5s and left one $20 intact. So I've a ticket for each $10 except the last $10 that was at $0.30 that I inserted my last $20 for a final peanuts payout. That dang blue fish was overstuffed in the cracked fish bowl but would not burst for me! I gave up and let a young lady have the machine and she burst that bowl but not a big payout! So my total payout was $271.50 from $91.45 put in! That's $180.05 in winnings!!! WOW!!! I ❤️❤️❤️❤️ that Fish Bowl game!!!

Oct 28th

WTF!!! I'm totally annoyed with all this streaming, Apple and now it's Amazon Prime to have the rights to sports games, not on normal TV channels? It's bad enough there are 2-4 duplicate viewings of baseball, basketball and/or hockey games but not the one you want to watch or curling games! We all pay enough for cable TV and/or additional channels to hopefully catch the sports one wants to watch!!! We shouldn't have to be restricted with these NEWER fangled options! Totally annoying!!!!!!!

I think it may be an early evening. Was a busy start, picked up Edna and both of us got our Covid and regular flu shots, lunch at Oakwood Cafe before taking her home. Then out to get Sylvia and take her to London Drugs and help with some of her pictures she wanted developed, Staples for Christmas letterhead and stopped into Save on Foods for a couple items before taking her home and me to put feet up before supper. Finished off the evening listening to the Jets losing and tatting an item I needed!

Oct 29th

Thank you Adele for the awesome and much needed pick me upper!!! All set for TO!

Catchup. - Oct 10th-14th

Oct 10th cont'd

Hmmmm many said to go out and look at the sky!  Well I did and saw some greenish streaks and on the way home just after snapping Cooks Creek Grotto I finally see some pinkish ones.  Now I really am tired!!!

Oct 11th

Ohhhhh another beautiful day in store for us!

Thank you Aida for the invitation for a walk, coffee, cinnamon bun and your company! I probably walked too much but with the few rest stops it was good, no issues! Now I'll catch up with stuff!!!

And finally shots out my window! I totally LOVE our autumnal season especially if it lasts for a few weeks before frosty temperatures end it all!

Oct 12th

Oh oh it's getting crisper morning temperatures!!!

So today is MPQ and both Sylvia and I have ABC quilts to donate. Sylvia's two, the blue alphabet child's quilt and the larger horses quilt were from fabrics given to us by Angela's Mom Joan in her down sizing. I contributed the quilting by Lori Suss Night Owl Quilting & Dye Works. 

We've lots more to sew up. The other square one is also Sylvia's. 

These two small ones are mine.

Oct 13th

Ohhhh feeling sluggish today but decided to haul out my Oriental fabrics and decided the plan of action for the ACQ BOM that's just started! I've decided it'll be a scrappy with a creamy or minty green background with dark blue/green inner borders and binding - that's all I have to buy for this next donation quilt! YEAH!!!  

Then I used the special focal fabric ruler I just bought from Lynda K of ACQ and totally enjoyed the unencumbered view of the block before cutting, all in one step! AWESOME!!!

Tomorrow I'll sew up the first step!

Oct 14th

This is a sad Happy Thanksgiving for many, but we still have much to be very thankful for too! I'm especially thankful for my family, friends, and my good health to enjoy nature and my many hobbies and activities! Hugs to all!!!

I went for a brief stroll and took these pictures!

I had a quiet day and worked on my Assiniboine Circle Quilters BOM Economy blocks, first steps! Okay maybe I should have checked out the sample pictures provided and I'd have used a lighter gold next to the accent Oriental blocks as I was supposed to do!!! But I do like my flukey end results too. I'll see what they look like when the other pieces are finished, maybe I'll change the outer triangles then.