Getting Things Done

Yesterday was another of those running around days doing errands where it seemed like all I was doing was looking for one parking space after another and getting in and out of the van. By the time I got home I was exhausted, so I plugged the in the kettle and made myself a cup of tea. Aaaaah...tea warms the body and strengthens the soul.

I had hoped to get at the second, second block of the Tisket-A-Tasket BOM before now but I was busy working on my Easter swaps which are now completed. Now I can relax and do stuff for me again. My one to the states was mailed on Wednesday and the one to Australia will have to wait til our next trip stateside because the cost of mailing packages overseas from Canada is astronomical. New York state is only 40 miles from where we live. We're down there shopping at least once every two weeks and I think we're planning on going next weekend.

I have already completed the February block in cotton doing the traditional needle turn applique method but I also am working on a second set in wool. So, after my cup of tea yeaterday afternoon, I cut out all the pieces, started stitching it last night and completed it this morning.

The colors of the birds should have been reversed but by the time I realized what I had done it was too late...not enough of this blue wool in my stash to cut another one. I know better than to start a project when I'm tired but I'm still happy with the way it turned out.

Lucy, from Quilting with the Past, asked me if I could post some closeup phots of my Featherweight machine. When you visit Lucy's blog, I think you will see that she is as much enamoured with old things as I am. As I mentioned previously, this was a surprise gift that my Dad gave to my Mom shortly after returning from WWII in 1945.

What I didn't tell you was that my Mom was not a sewer and didn't use the machine all that often. I guess that's why it looks almost brand new and works like a charm. It brings me great joy whenever I sew with it and it purrs just like a kitten.

It gets plenty of use now, mostly for uncomplicated piecing. I'm going to use it exclusively on a baby quilt for my nephew and his wife who are expecting their first child in May. I know that would make my Mom both proud and happy.