What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Setting the mood for the day! Yesterday didn't start out well as several irritating or unexpected issues arose, and that was before 9 AM! However, I discussed my frustration with one of the groups, and all was OK. I have a Plan B, and that's all that counts! 

Thanks to everyone on that call for listening to me! Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen. I didn't need them to solve the problem; I just needed to vent. 

Good grief—I've been meaning to talk about Dear Jen, but I keep getting caught up with ...

 It's funny how you have an entire day to sew, yet I didn't get much done! How does that work? I was on the phone for two lengthy conversations. I took both calls outside, and neither had issues hearing me. Was it my lucky day? Or are things looking up with my cell phone? 

I've noticed a heron flying overhead several times while walking the dogs. Is it flying to my house? I want to run home to see, but I'm pretty sure that with their large wingspan, it wouldn't feel comfortable coming into our ...

I think we can all agree that quilting benefits our mental well-being. For some, it provides a widespread social network through an in-person guild, classes, online, social media, etc. Many of us have met and maintained long-time friendships through quilting. 

If you moved, what would be the first thing you would do? Well, maybe not the first, but you would check out the local quilt stores, guilds, and sewing groups. 

And yes - I get that there are issues - guilds can be "unfriendly" because people have their cliches, teachers, or store owners may be less than friendly, but for the most ...

It was a busy day, but it was a GOOD day! I decided to get off my butt and start putting some of this stuff away. Some things in Studio B have languished on the tables since September! Seriously? I know better. So I made HUGE leaps and bounds to get things back in order, and you know what? I feel so much better. I can see open spaces. And I'm much calmer and happier. 

Maybe all those quotes are helping me to see the light! 

Since my decision to change the coloring for Dear Jen, I could put ...

So what happened? A LOT! While my situation is pretty tame compared to the mental health issues that others experience, I can see how debilitating it can be. When I get into one of these states, my productivity goes down, I procrastinate, and I almost make myself sick with the weight of the issue on my shoulders. That gets me into those stressful time crunches. Thankfully, I can dig myself out of a hole, but it might take a long time for that to happen. 

I thought it was timely that this was the message on my Yogi Positive Energy ...

Excellent news this morning! Yesterday was the winter solstice, meaning the sun rises a little earlier each day! I also have to be thankful that I live south of where my parents live, so the sun rises earlier than in Saskatchewan!

While I had "stuff" to do yesterday, I took the day off and sewed all day! I'm working on my UFO, which is due tomorrow, but despite having a specific goal, I'm doing something else—the same project but another part. You'll see it after I show it to the group tomorrow. All I can say ...

In Canada, we have a couple of airlines. I've only flown Air Canada (in Canada) throughout the years. While they occasionally do silly things, I've mostly had good service. And now, with my status, I can take three 70-pound suitcases for free. That's important for the job I do. 

But when they do stupid things - it irks me. It's not enough to change to another airline, as I'm sure they all do this and I think it will get worse!

I bought a ticket a couple of weeks ago, and it's the fare class ...

There is nothing to report about progress in the office except that I did deal with a few things sitting on the floor beside my chair. I must get that pile dealt with before I dig into one of the containers on either the filing cabinet or the desk. I'm excited to tackle one, but I had three Zooms yesterday and two today, and there was a wee bit of prep involved. 

All the homework except one email is done, and the two presentations are ready today. Yep -- I'm trying very hard to keep on top of things ...

Well, I will have to put my money where my mouth is because I have a situation that needs to be addressed soon, which involves decluttering. 

Remember I said there were a couple more containers on the floor in the office? They hide behind my recycling and garbage can, so they often get forgotten. 

The junk containers hiding behind the garbage

Three containers full of what?

What's in those bags?

I got rid of more CDs/DVDs yesterday. A few more have made it onto the desk to be looked at this morning, including a new box of 10 CDs that's not even opened. So that will be easy to cope with. Everything fits into one container now, which is good news. I'll just keep whittling those down until I get to the end. You can't imagine how exciting this is! 

I went to spin class yesterday and had a great workout, but I have to say that I got more UP feelings (those endorphins) from tossing ...

You are so smart out there! I should check my stride length to see if that is causing the significant discrepancy in my numbers. I have to do something, as I'm getting close to the end of the year and still need KMs. 

Today, I'm going shopping in my stash! I recently started two new classes: Dear Jen and Spice Market. I LOVE the original colorway for Spice Market, and I have loads of orange and pink fabrics, so when I need to choose, I will just reach into the baskets and pull something out. Although, I may ...

I'll get to the comments tomorrow. I had company all day and will have this morning, so I'm tight on time!

Here's an update on the class situation. If you are signed up for my Saturday Sampler or the Dear Jen classes at Thimbles and Things, you should have received an email from me about the upcoming classes this weekend. 

There's still time to sign up, but do it now!!!! 

Here's the link for the classes if you're interested. Dear Jen will be an especially interesting class as we take 72 "interesting" blocks created ...

According to Wikipedia, a Dear John letter is a letter written to a man by his wife or romantic partner to inform him that their relationship is over.  

I've called this quilt Dear John because my relationship with the Dear Jen pattern is over.  Although the fully finished quilt looks beautiful, (see below) I just don't have the energy or dedication to make all the templates required and then hand piece all the blocks.    

link to the pattern at Amitie Textiles

So I've turned my blocks into a cute wall hanging, table mat, sampler quilt.  

Next weekend ...

On Sunday I went digging in my quilting cupboard to find a WIP I wanted to work on.  But before I could find that WIP, I came across my Dear Jen blocks from the quilt along in 2019.  

Jen Kingwell ran the Dear Jen programme and she issued patterns for 6" hand pieced or hand appliqued blocks each week or month.  The blocks were very intricate and making my own templates for every block added to time each block took too.  

In a sign of how my thinking has changed, I went from, "I'll make some more of those ...