Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Fabric bargains and rain

I didn't get any sewing done last evening because I got started on straightening up and didn't stop for 2 1/2 hours. All the trash and recycling was put in their bins for pick up today. I then straightened up as I vacuumed the laundry/utility/dressing room. This is a big room - about 9' x 12 1/2'. No, I did not take a before and after. Trust me, it needed some attention so now the plumber can have access to the space on Friday. Meanwhile, I did get some fabric from eQuilter and Lou Lou's. All of this was on sale for $7.00 or less. I wanted the more solid batiks to go with the batik prints for thread beds and project bags. I like using the more solid colors for the interiors. I just had to buy the cute scissor fabrics and those sweet pigs!
We got some rain yesterday! Here is the storm that rolled thru around noon.
Then it poured again at about 7:45 that evening. It was coming down in sheets, but it didn't last too long.
Temperatures have dropped which is nice! It is only 60 degrees right now with a high today of 70!

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Pink t-shirt quilt update

The quilt it all quilted! It took me longer than I thought it would to get it finished. I took yesterday off work since I wasn't sure when we would get back from Painesville. I had also made a hair appointment, so it was nice to get that taken care off.
The binding is cut and ready to sew together.
I can't just work on the binding. I have a plumber scheduled to come later on this week so I need to get some tidying up done.

Monday, July 20, 2026

What a weekend!

I spent time making more tote bags for the merch booth. I got 14 of the 15" bags done to take to the show on Saturday which was local so I drove myself instead of riding in the van.
We got the band set up on stage and the merch booth all set up then about 45 minutes later the sky was getting dark. I checked the weather and it looked like we could get hit with a storm so we started putting a few things out of harms way. No sooner than we started and it started to rain. Then the wind picked up and the rain was coming down hard sideways. I had strapped down the tent, but one corner of the cover started to come off. We got that back on and several people helped us hold on to the tent. Then we finally got smart and lowered the tent down and that helped. We got a break, but there was a second storm coming. We put away what we could and braced for the next one. Everything got wet including all the band's equipment. We have covers for almost everything. but it was raining so hard! Finally, the rain stopped and we were all soaked to the bone. The band could not play because everything was wet so we packed up. My brother, SIL, Michael, Charley, and Michael's girlfriend took everything over to the studio so it could dry out because we had another show Sunday.  You can't tell but the tablecloth is soaking wet.
When my brother and SIL got home after the trip to the studio, they had no electricity! Their neighborhood got hit hard! There were trees and big branches down everywhere including on top of people's houses. Here is some of the damaged in their backyard. One of my SIL's fairy gardens got wiped out.  I took these pictures when we got home from Painesville. 
Sunday morning I finished up a few more tote bags.
Things were fine at my house and it looked like I didn't get that much rain. Sunday we headed to Painesville, Ohio for another show. I can't believe how everything got dried out and reloaded! They were beyond tired! The weather was beautiful for the show. Temps in the mid 70's, low humidity, and a lovely breeze. The venue had a tent set up for our merch so that saved us some work. The booth was next to the stage so I got a great view of the show. We had a good crowd that was very receptive! I got home sometime after 8 which was early!

Friday, July 17, 2026

A bit more progress

I only got the smaller t-shirt in the corner quilted last evening. I spent about an hour on the phone talking to my son which was great.
Here is a picture of my zucchini plant on the July 6th and what it looks like now. Since it is forecasted to be a bit cooler next week I am going to try and get it in the ground.
The air quality here is terrible because of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. This morning the air quality index is 237 which is very unhealthy.  I can still smell it inside the office.  It is overcast, hazy and it smells like burnt wood. There is very little wind and it's humid. I am lucky I get to stay indoors.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Three more shirts quilted

I am feeling much better so I had the energy to get a lot done on the pink t-shirt quilt last evening. I finished the white shirt with the circle design and the pink shirt to its right, then quilted the gray shirt.
I also pressed a few handles for tote bags.
I did go outside and gave the flowers a drink. It was so hot and humid I just couldn't stay outside very long. No rain in the forecast until Sunday.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Back to the pink t-shirt quilt

I am now over halfway done with the quilting! I quilted the white shirt at the bottom and started on the white shirt with the circles of pink ribbons.
It was time to look for binding fabric and I found this dark pink fabric that will work great.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Taking care of the car and flowers

After work I had to go get the oil changed in the car. While I waited (an hour and twenty minutes!) I stitched on this sampler. I am almost done.
Here is what it looked like the last time I posted a picture of it May 13th
I left the dealership and headed to the drug store. I needed some OTC allergy meds. I had only a couple of Benedryl pills that I took on Satarday and they seem to help more than anything else I had tried. I went to head inside the store and found this in the center consule.
I figured out quickly that it was the antenna. I guess they took it off when they ran the car thru the car wash. I am tired and crabby from the two shows and the allergy coughing and blowing my nose constantly so I wasn't too happy about this. I headed to another store since the drug store didn't have any Benedryl pills. The next store did so I bought two boxes just so I would have them.
Once I got home I was going to reinstall the antenna, but I couldn't reach it. I was too tired to get out a ladder but not too tired to call the place and tell them my displeasure.
One of the guys at work is 6' 5", so he had no problem screwing the antenna back on for me this morning.
Once I got home I got something to eat, watered the flowers and went to bed so not sewing happened. I'm still tired.