To market, to market

Hi everyone:

No, I wasn't at Quilt Market in Houston, but at two Christmas markets in Calgary. I look forward to attending at least one market each year and this year it was a double whammy. My daughter and I went to Spruce Meadows for their International Christmas Market on Friday and then went downtown to Art Market at the Telus Convention Centre on Saturday. I was shopped out by Saturday night, but enjoyed seeing all the vendors and buying just a thing or two - as well as a few Christmas gifts.

The entrance at Spruce Meadows

I love going to Spruce Meadows as part of the market is outside and the decorations always get me in the Christmas mood. My favourite part of Spruce Meadows is Santa's reindeers. There are always several in a pen outside the barn and this year Sarah was lucky enough to have her picture taken with one of them - not sure if it was Dasher or Dancer, but it was a special treat.

Sarah and one of Santa's reindeer

Taking a break from pulling Santa's sleigh

As you can see, Rudolph was unavailable for autographs

Thank goodness for signs or I might've ended up at the North Pole!

One of the decorations at the entrance to one of the buildings - yes, there are several!

At Spruce Meadows, you "whoa", not "stop" when leaving

I didn't take too many photos inside at Spruce Meadows as it was very busy and a bit dark in the buildings making it difficult to get a good photo of the booths - or maybe it was because I was too busy shopping! I tried to do better at Art Market the next day.

In the foyer at Art Market

One of several showcases highlighting items from the artisans

These were eggs with wonderful Christmas scenes inside them. Very unique.

Loved these little critters made from wrench, cutlery and other miscellaneous metal bits. Very creative and great recycling.

I thought that these trophies were very clever - and cruelty-free as they were made from wool felt.

A view inside the booth of my friend, Diane McGregor of Castilleja Cotton. These quilts are all made from Castilleja Cotton's patterns. As you can see, they're beautiful and varied in theme. I love her designs.

This vendor had the great idea to use book covers to create pocket books and purses. See the Chatterbox one? It was only on the poster or I'm sure that it would've been going home with me!

My favourite part of Art Market was the Pook Toque booth. My kids have been wearing these warm and distinctive hats for years and I enjoy listening to the patter of these vendors. It's great entertainment. Who would've thought that you could style these toques into the George Washington or (my daughter's favourite) the Princess Leia? They also have scarves and mitts (I bought a pair for both of us) lined with fleece. And the best part - they're Canadian, eh! 

Don't let their solemn looks fool you - these two are quite the characters!

Sorry, I can't show you the items I bought. Some have now been consumed - yes, I bought a few cookies, candy, chocolates, ... and some are gifts and I don't want to spoil the surprise. 

All in all it was a fun couple of days and now it's time to get back to the pattern designing business - and maybe a bit more Christmas shopping.

Speaking of business, I have an exciting announcement tomorrow, so be sure to check out my post then! 

Patchstitch - Stitchpatch - Stitchery and sore fingers

Hi everyone:

This past week I've been focussing (yes, I have been!) on a new stitchery project. I have several small stitchery patterns that I will be releasing soon, but I've also been working on some designs that are a combination of quilting and stitchery. I'm still trying to find a technique name for these patterns: patchstitch just sounds like something cobbled together and stitchpatch isn't any better. Perhaps they'll just have to be quilt with stitchery patterns. 

Patchstich or Stitchpatch pattern in progress

Since my patterns usually include fusible web appliqué, these new designs do as well. As you know, fusible web adds a bit of stiffness, as well as an extra layer, to the fabric. 

Lots of hand embroidery through 3 layers of thickness

This isn't much of a concern for those designs that aren't going to be used as quilts, such as table runners and wall hangings. Nor is it a problem if you're machine quilting the completed project. It is a concern if you're trying to hand stitch through fabric, fusible web and more fabric - as I was this past week. 

More hand embroidery stitches through
fabric, fusible web and more fabric

I often have problems with my fingers cracking due to dryness (it's very dry here in Calgary and this only worsens in the colder winter  months). I always have a generous supply of Curel in the house and use it profusely, both at home and at work. It's not very easy to continually apply cream to your hands when you're hand stitching. What makes matters worse is when you have to push the needle through the fabric, fusible web and fabric and then pull it out the other side. Since I use a no. 5 or no. 8 perle cotton in my work, I need an embroidery or chenille needle since they are the only ones that have an eye large enough for this type of thread. 

Ouch, split finger!

These are also big needles with not nearly sharp enough ends to pierce through the fabric, fusible web, fabric sandwich without some force. As a result, I have sore fingers with small cuts (splits) on them this past week. Usually a generous dollop of Polysporin and a bandage overnight helps to restore them. I suppose that using a thimble might be helpful, but I haven't been able to find one small and comfortable enough to work for me. Of course, stopping the embroidery until they heal might also work, but I really wanted to finish this one project - and I did, late on Saturday night.

An ouchy on the index finger on my left hand too -
probably poked myself with the needle to get this one

Now my fingers will have a rest as I'm working on the pattern on the computer and doing some machine sewing. I think the next hand stitching that I'll be doing will just be through regular, thin fabric and my fingers should be okay.

What's your best suggestion for minimizing finger damage when stitching through thick materials? I could really use any ideas. I thank you - and so do my fingers :)

Procrastination, procrastination - it's making me wait...

Hi everyone:

Anticipation Procrastination!

Okay, if you're old enough to know who Carly Simon is, you'll get the title reference - with a minor change!

It seems like the more I have to do, the more I procrastinate. Pattern instructions to type up - I think I should do some baking. A project just needs to be quilted - I think I'll watch the next chapter in that Craftsy course I started. Blog posts to do - well, I think you can see where I'm going with this. 

I have at least 3 dozen of these pumpkin cranberry
muffins in the freezer - not that I'm avoiding work at all.

I'm not sure why I find it easier to delay projects, because it would really be quicker to just do them, but that's just the way I am (a personality trait that my husband just can't understand). I really do work better under pressure and need firm deadlines to keep me on track. 

I'm also one of those quilters who has several projects on the go at any one time. 
I admire quilters who can start one project and see it through to completion before starting the next quilt, but I don't think I'll ever be one of them. UFO's are the standard, not the exception, in my studio. 

A few of my projects in the works

I love designing the pattern, choosing the fabrics and even cutting up the fabric, but the enthusiasm starts to wane partway through the piecing and by the time I've come to the quilting part, well... This dwindling enthusiasm may be the reason that I have several drawers full of quilt tops and bins of partially completed projects. 

Teeka inspecting some of my UFO's

I need to conquer this procrastination so that I can be more productive, especially in finishing and publishing patterns. 

Winter patchwork and stitchery pattern partially completed

Here's how I'm going to do it:

1. Make a list of patterns that are pending.
2. Determine what remains to be done for each pattern.
3. Determine the appropriate time to publish these patterns. Ex. Christmas patterns should be released in the early fall.
4. Start to work on the patterns that I want to release next. 

I also find that I'm easily distracted by new design inspirations. I feel that I must work on this new idea immediately or I'll forget about it. Dropping what I'm currently working on - and may be almost finished - to focus on a new idea isn't very productive. I'm now writing down any information about the new idea and then putting it in a file folder where I can refer to it in the future - after I've completed the existing project.

New idea folders

I now have a plan - and can hopefully stick to it. I also need to limit disruptions and distractions, so am not checking my emails as frequently and am trying (!) to minimize my Facebook reading. Boy, do I find that difficult to do. 

So, if you don't hear from me or are wondering why I'm not commenting as much as usual, you can assume that I'm quilting or working on patterns. At least I'd better be...

If you have any hints for avoiding procrastination and focussing on one project at a time, I'd love to hear them.