Stuck at home...

Archive Fibre Week photo 2007 - Felting by Foot

Today is an unusual "Judi Day." It is my day off and instead of going on a road trip or some other whimsical fanciful spontaneous adventure, I'm stuck cocooning at home. I have 2 plumbers downstairs jackhammering the concrete floor to bits. They are fixing a pipe which has collapsed. It's a big honking old thing which apparently they don't even make anymore (just in case ya wanted ta know).

I'm also waiting for 10 books (Icelandic Fleece - a Fibre for all Reasons) to arrive so I can get them up to Fibre Week tomorrow. ( I'm so desperate to get my books that I ran out the bread store yesterday to accost a postal guy in his truck just to ensure he wasn't going to my house next).

So what does one do when they're tied to their house for the day?

• I could clean the house - but there's no available water for the next 3 hours - yippee!
• I could do some sewing but all my stuff is set up downstairs and I'm just too lazy to haul it upstairs (because that would entail putting away all the stuff currently piled on the kitchen table from 5 days at Fibre Week, which I plunked there and announced "I'm beat!" and popped a beer).
• I could actually start unpacking - but it's far too early for that. I generally don't unpack for a good couple days after a trip. I like to lay a little "I haven't made up my mind if I'm staying yet" fear into the troops.
• I could kick back and watch TV - but I'm a bit of a "silence is golden" freak in the morning.

So I think I'll just work on a few things that I've been putting off. Things like:

• Figuring out how Picasa works and deciding if I really wanna go down that road. I already have Flickr but can't get the hang of all the sets and groups and tags and bla bla bla.
• Cleaning out my Inbox, Outbox, Delete box, and Spam box.
• Downloading my pics from Fibre Week and writing up some stuff for the blog (it was a great week).
• Checking out metronome apps for android (I'll tell you more about that later). 

So... I guess I'm having a technology day - not sure if that's a yip or a yuck.

Dealing with pressure...

This upcoming week is going to be a busy one for me. I have alot of projects requiring my attention and they are all time sensitive. And of course it's all self inflicted. This is where I should have kept my big fat mouth shut... but instead I said " I'll do that..."  or "No problem, I can look into that" or "Hey wouldn't it be great if...."

And the "To Do List" just keeps growing.

And worst of all - the way I deal with pressure (or stress) is avoidance. Hence the whole revamping of my new blog(s) this week. Granted, I'm very pleased with them. And yes, in the long run I can buy 2 more lattes per month, or 2 fat quarters, or 1 ball of yarn with all that "extra dough" I'll be saving someday in the future - when I actually close down my other account.

But... in the meantime - it's Father's Day. The Old Guy (who really keeps the whole place running) will have supper prepared by Youngman 1. Youngman 2 will hopefully be home from a road trip. And me? Initially I said I'd make an Apple Pie - from scratch. Then I modified the plan to read  Apple Crisp (no crust to fiddle with). I keep telling him "I'm making this from scratch you know." But as the clock ticks nearer to dinner my mind wanders.

Do they sell Apple Crisp in a Can?

Moving on over....

So - sheepless (which is moi) has decided (after much deliberation) to move to blogger. When I first started blogging - back in the old days (2004) I started on blogspot. But then I wanted something else (not sure what) and moved to Typepad - which I've been very happy with overall (over the years). But... I have to pay for that service. And I didn't mind when I was emoting ad nausea - but I don't seem to say much these days.

But moving is difficult! Especially when I have 6 years worth of "heavy thinking" invested over there ie: "Life is a Fridge Magnet".

I've spent alot of time redesigning the old blog over the years. I pay extra to have the little perks of building my own "themes". But most recently when I had to upgrade one more time to move my banner to the centre of the page... (which I did momentarily) - and spent an entire morning trying to figure out the CSS or CCS HTML custom editing doohickey - I still couldn't move the $#&* thing.

And that's ... when I moseyed on over here. So we'll see how it goes. I have lots of myself over there but I'll slowly copy it. Some of it's worth saving - and some of it ... not so much.

Stuck in a love - hate relationship...

Meet Sally - aka Mustang Sally aka Pawnshop Sally aka that #*!!* Sally. Many of you have already met her on my other blog here.
Sally and I are having a tumultuous relationship. It seems that everytime I think "okay today's the day I get sewing!" Sally thinks "Maybe if I hide in the back under the stash, she'll decide to knit instead..."
And if I insist that no this is indeed a sewing day (as in I pull out the cutting board, iron, pressing board, assorted cutting implements, patterns and fabrics) Sally pulls her trump card... and breaks down.
Now - let me be perfectly clear - I am not blaming the Bernina people who built this machine. Each time a switch pops off, or an internal whatchamadooey blows I have to remind myself - that this is a machine with a sketchy past. The machine that may have been gutted for parts. The machine that sat for months admist dusty pawned electric guitars and snowboards and TV monitors. Memories of "The Brave Little Toaster" movie have haunted me...

Really - what could I do???? Someone just had to step in. The only thing both the clerk and I agreed on was "yes the light bulb works" and "yes the needle goes up and down". Both good signs in my book (I was so naive back then).
But back to the matter at hand. Last week after seriously considering selling her (her photo appeared on kijiji briefly until I had a panic attack) Sally broke down again - this time she blew her power board. She has really thrown me for a loop this time.  "Is there no depth so low that you won't stoop to avoid sewing???" Apparently not. Needless to say she has rubbed my face in it. She's back at the shop sulking while I pretend I may not bail her out this time. I've had a serious conversation with the tech about when euthanasia is appropriate. If she doesn't get her act together she's on borrowed time. In the meantime I have signed up for "Mastering Your Bernina" classes... also known as "How to be the Alpha Dog" in sewing machine land...
Sally be forwarned - I'm tired of riding in the B*tch seat.

Stuck in a love - hate relationship...

Meet Sally - aka Mustang Sally aka Pawnshop Sally aka that #*!!* Sally. Many of you have already met her on my other blog here.
Sally and I are having a tumultuous relationship. It seems that everytime I think "okay today's the day I get sewing!" Sally thinks "Maybe if I hide in the back under the stash, she'll decide to knit instead..."
And if I insist that no this is indeed a sewing day (as in I pull out the cutting board, iron, pressing board, assorted cutting implements, patterns and fabrics) Sally pulls her trump card... and breaks down.
Now - let me be perfectly clear - I am not blaming the Bernina people who built this machine. Each time a switch pops off, or an internal whatchamadooey blows I have to remind myself - that this is a machine with a sketchy past. The machine that may have been gutted for parts. The machine that sat for months admist dusty pawned electric guitars and snowboards and TV monitors. Memories of "The Brave Little Toaster" movie have haunted me...

Really - what could I do???? Someone just had to step in. The only thing both the clerk and I agreed on was "yes the light bulb works" and "yes the needle goes up and down". Both good signs in my book (I was so naive back then).
But back to the matter at hand. Last week after seriously considering selling her (her photo appeared on kijiji briefly until I had a panic attack) Sally broke down again - this time she blew her power board. She has really thrown me for a loop this time.  "Is there no depth so low that you won't stoop to avoid sewing???" Apparently not. Needless to say she has rubbed my face in it. She's back at the shop sulking while I pretend I may not bail her out this time. I've had a serious conversation with the tech about when euthanasia is appropriate. If she doesn't get her act together she's on borrowed time. In the meantime I have signed up for "Mastering Your Bernina" classes... also known as "How to be the Alpha Dog" in sewing machine land...
Sally be forwarned - I'm tired of riding in the B*tch seat.

And I stitch...

  
So, despite the fact that I do have 2 sewing machines (3 if you count an old White "Jeans Machine" that lives in the bowels of the basement with the other relics of ventures past) I have been drawn to the pursuit of mastering some form of "elegant accomplishment" (which after a brief googling of the term I have discerned to mean dancing, needlework, drawing and music).

 And so I am hand sewing my pieces together.  I am using Jinny Beyer's book Quiltmaking By Hand. It's a terrific book that helps the complete needle newbie get started. Everything from thimbles, thread weight, needle types and sizes, to cutting techniques, templates, and of course the "simple running stitch" is reviewed. I always enjoy reading books that include a bit of history or trivia about a technique or practice of the time. It amazes me that there can be such strongly held views about the proper way to hold a needle, or mark a seam. Having said that I do understand having preferences. And I'm probably developing all sorts of suboptimal habits already - but the practice of elegant accomplishment usually began when girls were 4 and 5 years old. Having said that I am an ancient knitter and only recently switched to "continental style" technique because it made more sense to me. So what does all this blathering mean? Only that it is never to late to teach an old broad a new trick...

I had read somewhere that using painter's tape (which is sticky but peels off easily, is a good alternative to marking 1/4 inch seam lines.  I also read online another person who suggested placing the tape on your thumbnail instead of the fabric and using this as your marking tool.

I'm working diligently to make my stitches small and uniform. The book says to always do a backstitch every 4 - 5 stitches to anchor the row.The blue painter's tape is working out very well - it sticks when I need it to and peels off easily without leaving a residue. It's not fraying the fabric edges.

   
I can readily see a number of benefits with stitching by hand. For starters, I have much more control over my joins where several seams are butting up against each other. I am also able to store my block in progress, needles, thread and scissors in a little box and keep it handy - I've been sewing in the evening while I watch drivel on TV (I am addicted to competitive Reality TV shows such as Chopped, Top Chef, Project Runway, Amazing Race and yes I still watch Survivor!)

Me: So ... what did you do last night?

Colleague: Oh I flopped out on the couch. How about you?

Me: Oh Me? (smugly) I worked on my elegant accomplishments.

Happy quilting!

And I stitch...

  
So, despite the fact that I do have 2 sewing machines (3 if you count an old White "Jeans Machine" that lives in the bowels of the basement with the other relics of ventures past) I have been drawn to the pursuit of mastering some form of "elegant accomplishment" (which after a brief googling of the term I have discerned to mean dancing, needlework, drawing and music).

 And so I am hand sewing my pieces together.  I am using Jinny Beyer's book Quiltmaking By Hand. It's a terrific book that helps the complete needle newbie get started. Everything from thimbles, thread weight, needle types and sizes, to cutting techniques, templates, and of course the "simple running stitch" is reviewed. I always enjoy reading books that include a bit of history or trivia about a technique or practice of the time. It amazes me that there can be such strongly held views about the proper way to hold a needle, or mark a seam. Having said that I do understand having preferences. And I'm probably developing all sorts of suboptimal habits already - but the practice of elegant accomplishment usually began when girls were 4 and 5 years old. Having said that I am an ancient knitter and only recently switched to "continental style" technique because it made more sense to me. So what does all this blathering mean? Only that it is never to late to teach an old broad a new trick...

I had read somewhere that using painter's tape (which is sticky but peels off easily, is a good alternative to marking 1/4 inch seam lines.  I also read online another person who suggested placing the tape on your thumbnail instead of the fabric and using this as your marking tool.

I'm working diligently to make my stitches small and uniform. The book says to always do a backstitch every 4 - 5 stitches to anchor the row.The blue painter's tape is working out very well - it sticks when I need it to and peels off easily without leaving a residue. It's not fraying the fabric edges.

   
I can readily see a number of benefits with stitching by hand. For starters, I have much more control over my joins where several seams are butting up against each other. I am also able to store my block in progress, needles, thread and scissors in a little box and keep it handy - I've been sewing in the evening while I watch drivel on TV (I am addicted to competitive Reality TV shows such as Chopped, Top Chef, Project Runway, Amazing Race and yes I still watch Survivor!)

Me: So ... what did you do last night?

Colleague: Oh I flopped out on the couch. How about you?

Me: Oh Me? (smugly) I worked on my elegant accomplishments.

Happy quilting!

A big surprise!

  

I have to confess that it did require a wee bit of liquid courage to pull out the rotary cutter and start whacking through my fabric. After months of selecting, sorting, washing, starching, pressing, culling, revising, and just delighting in these lovely little bits of pink cloth, I finally had to just "get it done". One of my Sunday morning walking buddy's had laid down the proverbial gauntlet, that fabric would indeed be cut - within 24 hours.

Under the template is 20 layers of fabric - all in a variety of pink hues - randomly alternating from dark, light to medium

  

  

... and so I did. After cutting, I was to remove the top fabric "ribbon" layer which was under the freezer paper. After that each "block" would "miraculously" appear. It was a delightful surpise! As you can see into the pictures below The "ribbon" fabric from block A (below) becomes the background fabric in block B.

When the A-B block is removed  - the B - C block is revealed.

 When the B-C block is removed, the C-D block is revealed...

 And so on...

And so on...

And so on.

Until, finally 20 unique blocks have been created.  And none of them required a hands on design plan - they just revealed themselves as each layer was peeled back - it was a thrill! It was liberating!
And as a bonus, a little packet of strips and fluff... just to enjoy.

A big surprise!

  

I have to confess that it did require a wee bit of liquid courage to pull out the rotary cutter and start whacking through my fabric. After months of selecting, sorting, washing, starching, pressing, culling, revising, and just delighting in these lovely little bits of pink cloth, I finally had to just "get it done". One of my Sunday morning walking buddy's had laid down the proverbial gauntlet, that fabric would indeed be cut - within 24 hours.

Under the template is 20 layers of fabric - all in a variety of pink hues - randomly alternating from dark, light to medium

  

  

... and so I did. After cutting, I was to remove the top fabric "ribbon" layer which was under the freezer paper. After that each "block" would "miraculously" appear. It was a delightful surpise! As you can see into the pictures below The "ribbon" fabric from block A (below) becomes the background fabric in block B.

When the A-B block is removed  - the B - C block is revealed.

 When the B-C block is removed, the C-D block is revealed...

 And so on...

And so on...

And so on.

Until, finally 20 unique blocks have been created.  And none of them required a hands on design plan - they just revealed themselves as each layer was peeled back - it was a thrill! It was liberating!
And as a bonus, a little packet of strips and fluff... just to enjoy.

The Hope Quilt - in process...

So I decided to finally crack open the  "Crazy Old Ladies" Hope Quilt pattern that I bought last year. I was drawn to the pattern for a number of reasons. A. I like pink and B. I thought it would be a nice way to commemorate my first Weekend to End Women's Cancers 60 kilometre walk, which I did last year.
When I bought the pattern I thought it was applique - but now I see it's a "crazy pieced" stack and whack pattern. I'm not exactly sure what "crazy piecing" means - except that each piece of the ribbon block is oddly shaped (see below). When they are pieced together they will make the ribbon block.


... but first - let's look at colour!


Getting all the pinks figured out was an adventure. The pattern calls for 10 pink fat quarters in varying contrasts of light, medium and dark. I bought several bits that I thought were great but when they were up on the design call - they just didn't cut the mustard. Some pinks had purple undertones, and others were brownish. Various shades, hues and designs were shuffled around the wall for a good couple of months. ( I have to admit I delight in just looking at the fabric - actually doing something with it sometimes seems optional).

                      
I found my camera to be a wonderful tool and took tons of photos. Each colour combo was catalogued, copied and then made into a black & white to see if there was enough contrast.

                                     

Well that's it for the "... in process" post for today. Sew happy!    

The Hope Quilt - in process...

So I decided to finally crack open the  "Crazy Old Ladies" Hope Quilt pattern that I bought last year. I was drawn to the pattern for a number of reasons. A. I like pink and B. I thought it would be a nice way to commemorate my first Weekend to End Women's Cancers 60 kilometre walk, which I did last year.
When I bought the pattern I thought it was applique - but now I see it's a "crazy pieced" stack and whack pattern. I'm not exactly sure what "crazy piecing" means - except that each piece of the ribbon block is oddly shaped (see below). When they are pieced together they will make the ribbon block.


... but first - let's look at colour!


Getting all the pinks figured out was an adventure. The pattern calls for 10 pink fat quarters in varying contrasts of light, medium and dark. I bought several bits that I thought were great but when they were up on the design call - they just didn't cut the mustard. Some pinks had purple undertones, and others were brownish. Various shades, hues and designs were shuffled around the wall for a good couple of months. ( I have to admit I delight in just looking at the fabric - actually doing something with it sometimes seems optional).

                      
I found my camera to be a wonderful tool and took tons of photos. Each colour combo was catalogued, copied and then made into a black & white to see if there was enough contrast.

                                     

Well that's it for the "... in process" post for today. Sew happy!