A Busy Week and It's Not Over Yet

Monday was the usual stitching morning; this week at MaryKs. I still have not turned on the furnace and it was a bit chilly that night so I lit the first fire of the season that night.

Scooter texted me from Japan so I sent him this cozy photo. With the sun streaming in my south-facing windows (dining/craft room, kitchen, family room) the house warms up nicely during the day. At night, once I'm rolled up in my duvet, I don't mind it being cooler upstairs. I'm trying to see how long I can go before turning on the furnace. To avoid that burnt dust smell, I always install a new filter before turning on the heat or A/C for the first time. 

The next day was unseasonably hot - record-breaking in fact, with a high of 27C with the humidex factor. Tuesday afternoon, Jen1 came over for a stitchy afternoon and Katherine arrived shortly thereafter. Both Katherine and I had to change into cooler togs. We had an enjoyable time talking about music camp, EAC Seminar in St. John's next June, and stitching. I got a bit more done on the Spring Courier. 

After supper, Katherine and I headed to the band rehearsal where we were reunited with fellow 'band camp' folks, Dunc and Helen. After the rehearsal we went to Dunc's place relatively nearby for wine and more visiting.

The next morning was more visiting with my houseguest at breakfast and a while afterwards. Katherine headed for home before noon and I got ready to head to a medical appointment in Pickering. The clinic is in the Home and Design centre at Brock Rd and the 401 so after my appointment I popped into Fabricland to see if there was anything I 'needed'. 

I bought some fusible batting and fusible featherweight interfacing and a pack of wooden spools.

The spools have the hole big enough to hold embroidery scissors. The height of the part where a piece of stitching would wrap is just shy of 1 3/4". That's slightly bigger than the spools crafted by Richard Pikul but for the discounted price of $1.06 each including tax, I couldn't pass up the bargain. It was the only pack they had and I couldn't resist the 50% discount for members. Of course, I had to renew my membership since I allowed it to lapse after the Fabricland stores closed in Whitby and Oshawa. I was pleased to learn that the annual senior membership was only $20. So with the discount on the spools and other items, it almost paid for itself on this one visit.

I did more work on Mystical Lanterns - finishing the side half-lanterns on one side. 

I have 2 more crocheted so only need to do 9 more, plus a horizontal half-lantern for the bottom left corner. With all those attached, the blanket will be all squared up and I can figure out how I will do the border. The pattern calls for a few rounds of single crochet all the way around but I'm going to take a look at what others have done on Ravelry and see what inspires me.

Tomorrow I have my final appointment at the clinic where my dental implant was done. It's in The Big City but it's easy to get there via the $$$407$$$. This process was started mid-May. I've been back for one check-up since the surgery. My own dentist will install the new tooth next month.

Saturday I will head for Ottawa. I plan to make a little detour and stop at Paisleys Quilt Shop on my way into the city. I have learned that the cocktail party tomorrow night will be between 5 and 10pm so I don't have to rush at all. My cousin, Jeannie, and I will meet for breakfast on Sunday morning, then the wedding will be at 4pm that afternoon with the reception following. I'm staying at the Lord Elgin Hotel across the street from the wedding venue (National Arts Centre) so I don't have to worry about driving after the reception.

I'll start for home on Monday morning. Next week will be busy, too, with a stitch day at Elmhirst Resort on the NE shore of Rice lake with the Northumberland guild, another overnight visitor, and the fall Stitch North with Theresa Venette/Shakespeare's Peddler/Kitten Stitcher in Markham. 

And exciting news! The very popular Tilda Christmas fabric line 'Merry Little Christmas' is going to be reissued for 2017. Quilt shops that carry her designs will be taking preorders. Keep an eye out for your local shop.  I was really bummed out I didn't order any last Christmas so am thrilled to have another opportunity.

Some of my favourite fabrics in this line:

So many cool things can be done with these fabrics.

And free downloadable patterns from Tildasworld.com

I emailed Quilter's Cupboard in Uxbridge and they will be taking pre-orders very soon with a 20% deposit and the balance due when the product is released, probably July 1, 2027.

Oooh! Can't wait!!!