What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I totally get the hungry feeling after eating oatmeal. I have tried hemp hearts, and they work, but they are sometimes hard to find. And then my big question is, do you want whole hemp hearts or ground hemp hearts - which one provides more nutrition? I'm going to use my protein powder because I have it and need to use it up! But first, let's use the carbohydrate powder. It's time to clean the cupboards! 

So many choices!! I laugh about eating oatmeal for breakfast, because when I was chatting with my aunts earlier this year, most ...

As promised, here are the links to the journal cover tutorials I've written over the years. Note the date on these tutorials - July 2014. This is the SECOND set of tutorials I wrote for QUILTsocial. I'm sure my writing style and grammar have changed significantly!

This is the basic tutorial on making a journal cover. I think the method of adding the lining is clever, and there's no reason to leave an opening along one side to turn it inside out. 

Making a collage journal cover. Perfect way to use up scraps or create a personalized cover ...

The UPS guys are working overtime these days. A package was delivered at 8:15 last night. If they have something for us, it's usually here by 5 PM. I knew it was coming, but it must have come just minutes after I checked and went upstairs. And they send a picture in an email as proof. I'm sure they appreciate that extra part of the job, but with all the porch pirates, they don't have a choice. 

Well, it was another slow, methodical day! I did NOT complete all the UFO commitments, but I still have ...

Don't worry -- I will be donating, BUT not until January 2. I have two pairs of winter boots that I know someone can use. However, since I am donating to an organization that turns around and sells the items, I might as well benefit and get a discount coupon. Since that coupon is only valid until December 31, 2025, it doesn't make sense to donate now. The donation can wait until January 2. What I'll donate, if anything, will be lightweight summer items for the most part. 

That may sound callous, but that's my decision, and ...

Mission accomplished! The two (lengthy) presentations are together! I love putting the presentations together, and I spend quite a bit of time sewing, taking pictures, scouring the internet for inspiration or ideas, and amassing the information into a somewhat cohesive storyline that makes sense! 

And I learn so much from doing that. It's amazing what you can find on the internet these days. And yes -- you must be careful that what you see makes sense. It has to make sense to you, but it might not make sense to the next person. Or you may not like the idea ...

 Oh my— I read the comments every day, though I'm terrible at responding directly. In addition to your comments, I also get spam comments, which I delete when I see them. 

Can you believe this one? It was NOT a general comment, as most spam is -- it picked up on things I said and replied to them as if it were a real person. That's pretty freaky!

I am thrilled to report that I accomplished a lot yesterday. I have almost completed everything for one class. It was a long day, but I needed to get this done ...

Yes -- I restocked the retreat supply box with a spool of black and a spool of white thread, and I put a spool on the sewing machine. All set for the next retreat. 

My SIL finished her quilt top and the backing last night. I have realized that my space is not configured for two people to work. Yikes! But all will be good, and I did manage to piece together one thing myself, so I was happy. It's part of the weekend homework, and I took lots of pictures, so I just need to get them into the ...

One day back, and I'm way behind in what needs to be accomplished this week. However, there is no sense in getting overwhelmed, no sense in panicking. Just slow and steady, and it will all come together! 

This is the only FULL weekend for classes, and the fact that I was away two weeks in a row didn't help with the prep work. I have a plan! I will make it happen, and I've already accomplished quite a bit in the first two hours of this morning! I never accomplish much on Monday with Monday Sewing, but ...

 Even though yesterday was the full moon, I slept like a baby! Although, isn't that expression kind of silly since babies tend to wake up a lot! I slept well - let's just put it that way! 

Yesterday was an interesting day. We had a visitor, and the Pony Express is alive and well. Actually, we had a visitor the day before as well. Both were making pick-ups and drop-offs for the Pony Express. And besides the rescue, which I'll get into in a moment, I just didn't seem to be working very fast. I'm not ...

Yep -- I'm back-- well, for ONE day. Who the heck arranged my schedule? Oh - that would be me! But things just worked out that way. 

As I showed you yesterday, we have snow! Let's say the girls were happy to be out in the snow. 

MOM - we love the snow!!!

MOM -- HURRY UP ...

I know!!! Wasn't that video about the Ro-Ro carriers fascinating? And now we understand why things cost more, and it's cool to think some of our cars crossed the ocean on a boat! Basically a giant floating parking garage! 

I am home. And I'm unpacked! I'm on a tight turnaround, and I didn't want to keep my samples in the suitcase longer than necessary. Plus, I have to do laundry today. So that's all good! The bonus is that I already have almost 1000 steps - something I didn't get many of while I ...

There are loads of times when I wish DH were more techie, but he isn't. However, he did solve the mystery of the missing mic on my laptop, so I can't complain!

I just opened my protein bar in preparation for spin class. It's a low-sugar one. How did they lower the sugar? By eliminating the chocolate coating!! Where's the fun in that?

It wasn't my most productive day, but I'm making progress on the writing assignment. The next tone will be sent after I make a couple of minor changes, leaving one that ...

 I'm chuckling after reading the comments! First -- Jackie - 100%. Keep those three main areas clear - the cutting table, the ironing surface, and the sewing worktable. The rest of the place? Who cares! Well, it should be somewhat neat and tidy, whether that is in bins, on a table, or whatever. If you don't have room to work, you won't want to work! Thanks, Jackie, for confirming my new system! 

As for technology — 100% agree — if there is an issue, it can take eons to fix. I love that you warned your DH to stand back! Yep -- that ...

OH MY!!!!! I forgot that I had mentioned a Virtual Retreat to some people this weekend. I totally forgot to post the links the past couple of days, or even to mention it! I would remember when I was out walking the dogs, and then poof! I totally forgot to add it to the blog post when I got back home. 

I'll be away the next two weekends, so those dates won't work. 

Well, if no one shows up tonight and tomorrow, that's OK. 

The links will be at the bottom of this post, if I remember ...

I'm not sure what it is about my scheduling, but I always seem to be getting to the long arm later in the afternoon, rather than early in the afternoon as I originally planned. Why is that? It doesn't matter; another quilt got done! I'm usually finished with the sewing/quilting day by 7:00 or 7:30 PM. Good grief - I'm a morning person!

Customer quilt - DONE

Yeah -- I love this quilt. It's Spice Market from the class I taught last year. I have some trimming to do this morning, and then these quilts ...

Today is an important day in history, and for those who are too young to remember (I'm in that category), we need to take a moment today (and every day) and thank those who fought for our freedom. 

And NO to the silly people who always want Remembrance Day on a Monday so they can have a three-day weekend. We are fortunate in Canada that we've not had any major wars on our shores. There have been battles to be sure, but not a war. The current generation (and I, myself included) have no idea what it's ...

Where are the days going? Yikes-- before we know it, the end of the year will be here. I'm not ready! 

I spotted this on Facebook yesterday, and I thought it was so appropriate for us sewists. This is what happens to me. 

It's all the prep work that takes so much time, and the actual sewing is just a small part of it. 

I have sewn part of the sixth binding onto one of the dog quilts. It was the black one, and I knew I would need more strips, but how many? So I sewed what ...

And????? Do you think I made it? I did!! The eighth dog quilt is quilted! However, I finished it this morning - too heck if it wakes up the family! I had a lot of interruptions yesterday afternoon, and I was too tired to stand at the machine last night. So it's done, but it's still on the long arm. I'll take it off once the girls have their walk. Oops -- girls and the boy!

A lot happened, and it was all for the better. Instead of my having to chase a couple of people down, they contacted ...

I took my SIL with me on my trip to the Kawartha Quiltmaker Guild! She said she got to learn a lot about quilting, and a lot about me! We had a great conversation, the driving went by in a flash, and the weather was decent!

However, a great deal of fun was had at the guild meeting. What a wonderful group of ladies, and there were a lot of them! They will be hosting their quilt show on May 8-9, 2026, so be sure to put that on your calendar! I'm sure with the talent we saw in ...

Good grief! How much more grief can those dog quilts give me? Everything was going just great - the backing for the seventh dog quilt had one seam. That was easy. The top was done, and the three pieces for the batting were on the ironing board. 

The other quilt was loaded, and I started it in plenty of time, but alas, it was not to be. 

While I'd like to blame this one on the machine, I can really only blame myself. Why? Because I need to change those leaders. 

There is a weak spot in the center of ...