WMUTeach

Tee-Heee-Hee, 46 degrees. I woke up this morning to 34/35 degrees and the temps have been falling. it is now 16 degrees and is predicted to fall to 10/11degrees at night through Sunday. I am thinking I may do some online events this weekend and just stay inside. I like the winter cold but I prefer to enjoy it from the warm indoors. Then again, I am the one who has chosen to live in the Mitten State and to wear mittens about 5 months of the year! Little snow flakes here but for those who live closer to Lake Michigan....they are getting 4 - 6 inches. Winds are high on the lake and make for magnificent photos of waves crashing into local lighthouses.

mjpEncinitas

I just jumped onto the board and looked at what’s going on. I hope everyone is staying warm and healing up from the various ailments and flus. I’m taking a relatively easy day as my husband and I both have a minor stomach bug. Don’t feel bad just dont want to be too far from the loo.

I’ve been making up placemats and jackets with a previous set of boom blocks. I’m thinking about what to do with block print blocks.

I’m also dabbling in the sewing room clean up. Fortunately my sewing room needs to be rearranged when the family comes for Christmas. My sewing friend helped me do a 3 hour pickup and cleanup and that took care of a few of the days. I’m on day 3. I’ve done the email part of it but haven’t sorted through the magazines yet.

Looking forward to hearing your progress.

Janice McC

Hope you’re having a better day than I am! Well! I’ve been having upper thread breakage that I haven’t been able to resolve through cleaning, rethreading repeatedly, changing the needle, you name it. I checked tension and it is good. Changed thread, new one still breaks. I looked at the throat plate and found the world’s tiniest burr but what the heck, time to change out the throat plate to one with a slightly bigger hole that I bought some months ago. Just hadn’t gotten around to attaching it. Do you think that I can get the darn thing attached to the bobbin door (which makes up the two piece structure) now that I took the old one off in a second but cannot for the life of me get the new one on. DH is gone for the day so all sewing has stopped and let me tell you the words flying out of my mouth would shame a seaman. So, I guess I’ll just quit until DH can help me.

No word from SusieQ yet? Hoping all is well and she’s being smart enough just to rest and ignore the computer and cell phone.

Have a good afternoon.

sewbizgirl

I was on a waiting list for my big guild's retreat in Feb, and a cancellation just got me in! Now I have to scramble to make 25 or so little "happies" to bring, to give out. What should I make? I was thinking about the quilted bowl cozies... but they may take me too long. So maybe some scrappy pot holders? Or coasters? I'm open to ideas, if you all have any.

The retreat is at a lake lodge and is for 3 days, all meals provided. I'm so excited not to have to think about cooking for those days! It's an "open sew" type thing, where you can work on whatever you want to bring. I may bring a bunch of cut squares and work on some I Spy tops for kids... or something like that. Needs to be kinda mindless sewing, because of all the visiting and chit chatting that will be going on. I'm excited!

Looks like we will be heading back to South Louisiana again for another funeral. Our pastor and friend, from the time we lived there 30 years ago, has just passed away. He was a dear man and like a Dad to us when we were first married. So many funerals! Is this what it's like, getting older?

WMUTeach

SBG, have you considered little hearts that are lightly embroidered made of felt or cotton with a little ribbon to hang it from. I would use a pinch of lavender or an essential oil in the stuffing to give them a little scent, but some groups discourage this because of allergic responses. Just a few days ago, I came across a different little heart that was given to me years ago from a quilting friend that looks like two layers of fabric and one of batting that has been densely sewn over randomly in all directions with many colors of thread. It was then cut out in a heart shape with pinking shears. This would be relatively easy to do and would use up lots of scrap thread. If I can lay my hands on it quickly, I will snap a photo and post it here. This little heart was a fun placeholder in a book and then just hung around my sewing room for a long time.

Happy hunting for a little table gift for each person. Maybe "I spy" potholders from the birthday swap squares or some of the "Ladies" you have sent a Boom fabrics. Fun!

Janice McC

Good morning. It’s a cold one!

SBG, I’m interested in what you decide on for your “happies”. Our guild retreat didn’t request such from us. We were over 40 so it would have been an excessive amount of work if it as a quilting item. Can you bring something other than a sewn item, maybe treat bags with little candies? Not much help here.

Well, Ernie is finally getting up so our day needs to start. Out we go outside which is currently in the teens. Brrr.

terriamn

Sewbiz one of my favorite little gifts was an ornament that was Santa, face hat and small body. I’m sure you have all seen them. How fun I haven’t been to a quilt retreat in 5 years. Enjoy your special time.

WMUT our part of Minnesota also had ferocious winds and snow. So happy not having to worry about slipping on the ice

Today I plan on auditioning some different colors lattice on our last boom quilt

SusieQOH

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the good wishes.
Yes, I've been sleeping a LOT! But the whole thing worked out really well. For anyone who will need laparoscopic gb surgery it's honestly no big deal. I didn't even need the pain meds he prescribed, just Tylenol and Ibuprophen.
I had the surgery at an outpatient center and was home in 3 hours. That's wild!
Sewbiz- that retreat sounds so nice! Hope you have a great time.

Again, thanks, my friends. It's nice to be thought about! Hope all is well with you.

sewbizgirl

Great to hear from you, SuzieQ! So glad the procedure was so easy for you. Hope the recovery is, as well.

Will let you all know what I decide to do for the retreat gifts. I'm starting to think cute coasters may be an easy way to go. Thanks for all your suggestions!

Hey, they said it's a possibility that we may get snow during this cold weather! Brrrrr....

Janice McC

SusieQ, so glad you checked in. Thrilled the procedure went well and the recovery isn’t too painful. Woo hoo! You’ll be back sewing in the not too distant future.

So I think I solved the breaking top thread but I can’t believe how. I did all the right things as I mentioned in a previous post but nothing worked including that new needle plate that DH fixed for me. I’d sew 3-6 inches and it would break. Just happened to change out the bobbin because it was getting low, and lo and behold I sewed at least 20 feet with no breakage. Why??? What does the bobbin have to do with the top thread breaking? I don’t get it. Tomorrow I’m going to try some piecing just to convince myself I didn’t dream it. I won’t be relieved until I get more positive results.

SBG, we might get a little snow here too in the morning but temps will move to above freezing in a couple of hours so it won’t stick around. I wouldn’t mind a little snow but I wonder how Ernie might feel about it. lol.

Had a nice time with a friend for lunch. She always insists upon taking me out for an expensive lunch because I watch her cat when she goes on vacation twice a year. I’m appreciative but I don’t need such an expensive meal! I do it because we’re friends and I like her cat, Joey. I guess it’s just her way.

Haven’t had much decluttering to do these last few days as it hasn’t addressed any problems that aren’t currently solved. Will see what tomorrow brings.

Have a good evening and stay warm, Boomers.