Some Little Things

I have been doing some housework in preparation for an overnight houseguest arriving next Tuesday. It's not really hard to do, there are just many other things I'd rather do. Regardless, the house will be somewhat presentable for my guest.

I passed the halfway point on my Sophie scarf. It occurred to me that I needed to weigh what I had knit and the remaining yarn so see where the halfway point was - where I'd start decreasing every 8 rows. 

Turns out, I had knit well past halfway and had to rip back to the halfway point (where the yellow stitch marker) is and rewind the yarn. There wasn't too much bad language (just the right amount, I guess). The blue stitch marker shows where I went from increasing every 6 rows to every 8 rows so will mirror that on the 'downhill slope'. My calculations are such that I'll only have a few metres of yarn left when I get to the other end. Fingers are crossed.

I did a bit more on 'This Bee's Got Knees'. Once I fill in the centres of the little orange flowers, the cross stitching will be done and there will only be backstitching (detail on flowers and bees) left to do. Then assembly. I really liked the colours in this piece. The pointy parts will meet in the centre of the bottom for a 3D block pincushion.

I really don't need another pincushion but this design was so dang cute, I couldn't resist.

I also did a wee bit more on the Spring Courier.

I don't have a single thing on my calendar for the next two days so will enjoy a hurkle-durkle tomorrow morning and do some serious goofing off for the rest of the day.

Oh yeah, and MaryK has named her kitty cat, Violet. I'll be seeing her at stitching on Monday and can give Violet to her then.

Lot of Fun Things

By special request (some whining was involved) I created two more little knitted friends for Judy and MaryK.

This is Judy's Princess Kate:

MaryK will receive hers next Monday, at which time little kitty will be named.

I hosted stitching this morning so spent some time yesterday preparing the dining room (adding an extra leaf in the table and locating appropriate tablecloths) and the kitchen for my discerning guests. It's always a nice way to start our week.

During our get-together I got an email from a former student from the 1980s, Dennis. Chris, Andrew, and I were talking about him last month at our lunch and wondered how he was doing. I googled him and found that he was on faculty at a university in New Brunswick so I fired off an email to tell him we'd been talking and thinking about him.

I was so pleased to get a response from him this morning, so forwarded his email to Andrew, Chris, and another former student, Karen. I then sent Dennis a newsy email. Coincidentally, this afternoon I found a program from a show in which I played in the pit orchestra. I remembered we needed some reed players so a couple of my more accomplished students (then in grade 12 or 13) also performed with the group. I scanned the program and have sent it to the both of them. It is so fun to remember some of these good times from the past. I taught some amazing young people and am pleased to get in touch with any who are interested in catching up on the last decades since we last were together.

Being a high school music teacher afforded me the chance to really get to know many of my students over the 4 or 5 years they were in my classes or bands.  A lot of  social and intellectual development happens during those years. Years later, with the help of social media (mostly Facebook) and search engines, it has been possible to follow up and see how life has been for some them. Most have had very interesting and satisfying lives. I've been invited to some of their weddings and other important events in their lives over the years. I have attended the school's anniversary/reunion celebrations and run into many others.

Most students in my classes and bands had very enjoyable times learning to play an instrument and in larger ensembles. Aesthetic education 'massages' different parts of the brain than most other school disciplines. Shy, outgoing, introverted, timid, extroverted kids are all welcomed in the music program and it is a pleasure to see them develop over the years. I have always felt so privileged to have been able to interact with kids in this way. It is so fun to reminisce with them now, decades later.

Personally, I've been involved creating music since taking voice lessons as a little girl, playing recorders with my dad and sister, taking piano lessons, playing the oboe in high school and majoring on it in university, playing in my town bands, working as a music educator for 30 years - teaching and conducting bands, vocal ensembles, and classroom guitar, and now finding my way back to creating music again after a hiatus of over a decade and attending summer adult music camp. 

I have been fortunate to have made many friends along the way.

Good Things Today

I spent quite a bit of time procrastinating about getting stuff done today. I knew I had an errand to run but couldn't remember what it was. I figured I'd remember at some point today or tomorrow. 

Instead, I sent a newsy email to some longtime friends. Just before I was going to send it, I remembered the errand I wanted to run - buy cranberries and white chocolate chips to make treats. I headed to the store and got the supplies.

Back at home, the drizzle had stopped. I've wanted to tear down some more foliage from the garden and was waiting until after some rain. Plants and weeds pull out so much easier after the soil has been soaked. I filled three yard waste bags with most of the stuff I cut back beside the deck and along the east fence. I did some huffing, puffing, and sweating but I got that much done. More to follow.

Back inside, I got an email from our band president, Cathy, that someone wanted to donate a clarinet to the band. Cathy thought of me, knowing I'd been using the clarinet I borrowed from Duncan. I contacted the donor and as a result of a few introductory and informative emails, I will be the new custodian of this man's father's professional model clarinet. We're just working out how to get it to me.

Which reminds me, I need to contact the oboe repairer and see what the status is of my oboe and its sticky key. It's either going to just need a cleaning and oiling $$$ or a complete overhaul $$$$! I must call him tomorrow.

Last night, I finished the last 'lanterns' and finished sewing them onto the blanket. It measures 35" x 53" before blocking and without the top and bottom borders.

I only have 5 half lanterns to make and attach to the bottom. Then decide what border I'll make.

I'm not sure how I'll block it. Being acrylic, it won't be like blocking wool. I will try a warm iron and damp pressing cloth to see if it will smooth things out a bit. Must do more investigating on how to do this.

I did a bit more on the spring Seasonal Courier yesterday. I'll do more on it at our stitch day on Saturday.

I also have a hankering to start this project, 'Merry Christmas' from Hobby House Press.

I purchased the pattern a while back, have the fabric, and just need to decide what floss colour I'll use. It'll probably be slightly variegated. Right now I'm leaning towards something like Weeks Dye Works Cayenne.

Or maybe something a deeper red. Will consult with Meagan and Kim.

Unorthodox Finishing

When I was swapping out my front door stitching with my autumnal decoration, I found the winter Seasonal Courier by Robin Pickens, all framed. 

I remembered the plan was to mount the other seasonal pieces on foamcore so they could just be popped in and out of the standard 5 x 7 frame.

Fastidious stitchers often stitch a line around the item where the edge of the foam core will hit - carefully counting threads out from the design edge.

I have discovered the convenience of Frixion pens to do heat-erasable markings. I only use them in areas that won't be seen - cutting lines on fabric, centring lines on the backs of things, and, in this case, delineating the edges of the foamcore for mounting. If the item ever gets cold, the lines will come back. That's why I use the erasable pen (erases with heat of the iron or little eraser on the end of the pen) only in areas that wouldn't be seen.

I then mounted the autumn Seasonal Courier,

and while I was at it, the summer one.

I'm almost done the spring one so will prepare it for mounting and framing once it's done.

I do pin into the sides of the foamcore all around using short appliqué pins. I could take the time and lace the backs. Not wanting to take the time, I choose the easier method of just tacking down the excess fabric with masking tape.

As the seasons change, I can now swap out the relevant stitched piece.

The décor in the foyer is now complete for the fall.

'Autumn Collage' on perforated paper - Mill Hill Buttons & Bees completed in 2000. It was a real coup finding the autumn-themed Mill Hill frame.

'Quaker Pumpkin' by the Stitcherhood, completed in 2019, also in a Mill Hill frame. Other seasonal pieces are popped in and out of this frame as well.

'Halloween Flip-it' by Lizzie Kate, stitched on 28ct Monaco and completed in 2010.

Snorri the bear was an IKEA find years ago. In the fall, he wears his pumpkin sweater.

I took this shot of Veronica and my new haircut on the way out the door to band last night. It was her turn to come with me.

Having been a music director for over 30 years, I'm very picky about efficient use of rehearsal time. Our musical director, Giancarlo Binetti, is very well organized and sends out the lists of pieces we'll be rehearsing ahead of time. We also receive any new music by .pdf. Several band members use their iPads for their music but I don't have a current device that will upload the software so I print out the parts and use a band folder for them. Giancarlo is also very good about planning how much time he'll spend on each piece, and observes the timing for the beginning of the rehearsal break and end of the rehearsal. 

Our Hallowe'en concerts are on Sunday, October 25 at Pickering Museum Village, at 12:30 and 1:30. I'll be leaving Stitch North early-ish that morning to head home and prepare to arrive at the concert venue by 11:30.

Trillium Embroidery Guild Stitching Retreat

Last weekend was the 4-day, Trillium Embroidery Guild stitching retreat at Elim Conference Centre on the eastern shore of Pigeon Lake. I brought about a dozen WIPs, snacks, my bed pad, duvet, and pillow, stuff to give away, my bag of crocheting, and a suit case.

Jen1 and I carpooled. This is what the back of the car looked like with her stuff crammed in there, too.

The back seat was also full of stuff. My gang was also in attendance - Thomas, Veronica, and Ernest.

We set up in the Chapel, one stitcher per 6 foot table. We also had 5 people bring their sewing machines to do sewing and quilting. 

I worked on these projects in no particular order. Traditionally on the Friday, I spend an hour on each WIP.

I stitched the dotted lines on the bee skep and the flowers and stems on this wool felt appliqué piece that I hadn't touched in months.

I finished the stitching on the scissor fob - 'Pearls & Rosebuds' by The Drawn Thread.

I spent quite a bit of time on the moth on Teresa Kogut's 'Newcastle Bouquet'. I started this project when it first came out in 2020. The chart is black and white so the symbols were all mashed together. After using Markup R-XP to sort things out, the stitching went much more smoothly.

We had spectacular weather. The leaves on this tree were just starting to turn red over the weekend.

Then I spent some time on 'Tomato Tom-ah-to".

I started the delphiniums with the silk ribbon on this piece. It was my first time using silk ribbon. The tip of each is done with floss. Inside each silk ribbon will go a French knot, a smaller one stitched with yellow floss. You can see where the other two delphinium 'spikes' go - the little x's. I don't remember what goes on the long spike on the right. I also did the flowers along the bottom with sequins and beads.

Then did a bit of work on the Papillon Creations 'How Does Your Garden Grow'. I picked this up at a stash sale. It was a mystery stitch along (SAL) from years ago,  kitted up and started by the previous owner. All the silk threads were in the kit. I'm not sure I'll do the entire floral piece but I am enjoying all the specialty stitches.

A wee bit was done on the Hands On Design 'This Bee's Got Knees'. I thought I misplaced one of the yellow threads for the centres of the white star flowers - it later turned up. There isn't a lot left to do on this.

I did a wee bit on Robin Pickens' 'Spring Seasonal Courier' and got a lot farther than this later on in the weekend and at stitching yesterday morning.

Jen1 always sets up her stitching environment very tastefully. Her Lola also attended.

The time away from 'adulting' was very enjoyable and passed quickly. The food this time was excellent! We came away from each meal with full tummies and more energy to do more stitching.

Stitching was yesterday morning. Today I went for a haircut, arriving two hours early. I exited the salon and did grocery shopping and had lunch before my 1pm appointment. Then crocheted a bit (oh yeah I made a couple of 'lanterns' for my blanket at Elim), and rested this afternoon before band tonight.

Tomorrow the windows are getting cleaned. Then it will be October. Nothing is on the schedule for Thursday or Friday. I may do some thinking about how I'll make a version of the Hands Across the Sea "Needleworker's Companion". I want to make it big enough to accommodate patterns on 8 1/2 x 11 pages. 

Then Saturday is our guild's stitch day. Lots of fun things to look forward to in October.

Two-colour Biscornu

I found some white 14ct Aida in my stash to use for the other side of the faux sashiko biscornu I designed. It was very stiff and the gauge looked slightly larger than the blue fabric so I washed the white piece to see if it would shrink down a bit. That worked. I did iron it to dry and it was still pretty 'crunchy' but I started in stitching anyway.

As on the blue piece, the stitching went pretty quickly. However the sewing up was challenging because of the stiffness of the white Aida. I persevered and finally got it stuffed and sewn.

The design is somewhat reminiscent of caning used on seats of antique chairs. Again, with the counted fabric, it wasn't possible to go in straight lines on the diagonals. Basically it was a diagonal over two squares, then directly vertical two squares.

Because the scrap of blue fabric was so small, the chart was only 48 stitches x 48 stitches but the pattern could be easily adapted for a larger piece of fabric. 

Scooter came out for a visit yesterday - the last one before he flies to Osaka tomorrow. He plans to study Japanese in Kyoto for 6 months then he'll be assigned to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) somewhere in Japan for a year with the option to renew for another year. 

It was so nice having him staying here this spring. We got along well, spent time together in the evenings, and did our own thing the rest of the day. He appreciated the quietude of the place - not a lot of drama here - and set up his dad's office for his online teaching. 

I dropped him off at the GO station on my way to band last night. I got very emotional and cried most of the way to the rehearsal.  I hope I didn't upset him when I got choked up. I did tell him a lot of things I didn't want to go unsaid. I am very excited for him but I'm really going to miss him. I wish only the best for him and hope to visit him there next spring. Band was a great distraction but I still get choked up when I think about him leaving.

I'm somewhat packed for our stitching retreat that starts tomorrow. I'm bringing Jen1 with me. I just need to throw my clothes in the suitcase. Tomorrow morning, I'll roll up the duvet and foam bed pad and take them and my pillow downstairs. Most of my stitching is packed and at the front door. Between her bedding, suitcase, and projects as well as mine, we'll definitely fill the trunk of the car. 

I am bringing several UFOs to work on in a rotation on Friday. Snacks are packed. I don't have anything for lunch tomorrow though, so may stop into a grocery store en route and pick up something quick.

I thought I'd try and get Skip's iPad 2 working. I've been using it as a coaster but seeing folks using them for band music intrigued me. This iPad dates from 2011 and I suspect won't update beyond iOS 9 but I'm interested in seeing if I can make any use of it. 

A few minutes later...

It turns out Apple quit supporting it back in 2016. It won't even connect to the Internet, however it can be used as a photo frame, clock or calendar, offline video or audio player, or use for static .pdfs like kitchen recipes, etc.

When I went to fire it up (it has the old, wide 30 pin connector, and I actually found one in my pile of defunct electronics), I was able to connect to Apple (I have Skip's passwords) but it sent a 6-digit security code to one of Skip's devices. I had to locate his old iPad mini and it is now charging so I can retrieve the 6-digit security code for the old iPad2. I have his iPhone 8 somewhere but not sure where it is right now. It would have also been 'deader than a mackerel' (as Skip used to say).

Stay tuned...

I Was Inspired

After stitching the blue, sashiko biscornu, I was motivated to find other patterns to stitch. I happened upon this kit on Etsy and thought it would be cool to stitch and attempted to chart it myself.

I tried to chart it with straight lines  It worked for the horizontals but not the diagonals on this counted fabric. The pattern in the photo above was just printed onto the woven fabric and stitched. Flouting customary sashiko straight lines, I made the pattern more or less fit the counted scrap of 14ct navy blue Aida in my stash.

The actual stitching was much faster than the charting and counting. The strip of fabric I had only accommodated 48 stitches. While I was finishing stitching this, I thought I'd stitch the same pattern on white Aida on the other side.

Back into my stash I'll go.

Scooter came out for a visit from The Big City yesterday. He updated his departure to Japan from next month to next week. Eeek! I showed him the array of little bears I had on hand and asked if he wanted to take one. He picked Roscoe because he had a red sweater - like the Canadian flag. I told him he was welcome to change the name. I know he'll be glad to have a 'little buddy' while so far from home.

He plans to come for a final visit early next week. I was surprised at how emotional I became after dropping him off at the GO station. When he left for university, Skip and I knew he was just a couple of hours away. This feels so much different. It's almost like another piece of Skip is going away. I'll be OK - I'll just miss Scooter. It was so nice having him here for a couple of months this spring and again when he stayed for an extra week after housesitting for me when I was at music camp. 

On a happier note, my hibiscus plant is blooming again. I'll bring it back inside when the weather gets cooler.