Post Office

I had sent a quilt to California for a show. I mailed it August 10, and was concerned because I hadn't heard that it arrived yet, so I tracked it through the Post Office. According to them it was only sent out to the destination yesterday. Since it was going to a PO Box #, it may not have even been picked up until today. I'm surprised that it took so long. I was really worried about this one, as the original entry to the show was sent on CD and never arrived. I ended up having a late entry via e-mail. So, if Idon't hear from the lady in California in a couple of days, I'll ask her.

It's always a leap of faith to send these things out into the world. We put our heart and soul into making them and then, just like children, we give up control and hope they do okay.

Me and the clay

Today I took my course in using polymer clay to make beads. I went prepared to take pictures so that I could put them up here, but it wasn't possible. I had also been told to make sure I took my pasta machine, but when I got there, there were six machines set up. Maybe part of the reason it's so hard to find pasta machines here is that the teacher has bought them all.(LOL) Any way we made a "cane", or sausage shaped piece of clay with several colours in it, and then we made beads using the "cane". My first effort was nothing like the sample, and darned if I know what happened. The teacher made up a little one, the right way, so that I could move on to the next step. Now, I'm determined to make one the right way so that I can figure out what went wrong! but i came home with aobut 10 beads. Most of them are quite large. At the end, when we were able to do our own thing, I made a few flat beads, that I might be ble to use in my collages.

But my dyes have not yet arrived, and my house is being overrun with junk, so the next few days I'll be trying to sort out the studio enough that we can finally wash the floor. We had a short, sudden cloud burst yesterday. Heavier rain than I can remember having seen around here before, and a little water got in the basement. We're not sure how, and are a little concerned about it. We haven't had this before in the 9 years we've lived here, so we believe it was just because of the heaviness of the rain. Sure hope so anyway.

Bananas

yesterday I made 6 banana loaves. Today I have a banana cake in the oven and plan to make another, as well as a batch of banana muffins. All because I wanted to save a few cents on bananas. I remembered that I had my mother's recipe for banana cake. She used to serve it with the most disgusting topping. Very well beaten eggs whites with far too much sugar. I think I'll try something a little healthier--although I guess there's nothing healthy about cake and topping. DH is off painting at out DD's new home again. They are having problems with the day care they've found in their new community, and are seriously looking for an alternative. Unfortunate, but I remember the days when my children were small--and day care was even less avaialble than now. I almost wept with joy when I found a commercial day care centre that was actually a training site for the local community college. I don't think I was ever happier about having someone else look after mychildren. Once I get the baking done, I hope to get into the studio. Wish me well!

I've ordered my dyes. It looks like there may be a delay in sending them. The chap on the phone said that I didn't want to order anything until next week when they have their big sale--first one in over 20 years. But he said that if I ordered by e-mail, I would get the sale prices. So I did. I can spend the time preparing my pattern and I think I'm going to do it up with the fabrics I have on hand. This will give me a chance to make sure the pattern works, and to test out the techniques I plan to use. The deadline for submission of photos is September 30th, so I have a bit of time. In the meantime, I still have the Embroiderers Association Regional meeting to put together for September 19th and 20th. So far I've arranged 16 billets, 7 volunteer drivers, a meeting room, a shopping trip, catering for one event, and found a committee to organize a big pot luck supper. I suddenly realized during the night, that I haven't organized catering for a second event, so I'll have to get on that today. I had planned to process two huge bags of bananas into banana bread today, and clean a whole fridge full of veggies that we bought on Saturday. A full days work, I think. I had bought a bag of cherries as well--$7.62--that turned out not to be ripe enough to eat. What a disappointment!

quite a day--so far....

We have been shopping. We've orderedour new glasses. Didn't end up at the place we thought we would buy them at. When we went there and I told the girl that we had spoken to someone Friday and had brought our prescriptions in to order our glasses, she responded with " did we call you that they were ready?"
my response "no, we've come in to order them. '
Her reply, "is all of your information on file?'
"NO, I have it on this business card"
"Yes, I can read"
"perhaps we should go somewhere else. I've offended You"
"I'll get someone else to wait on you, just a minute"
She goes in the back room and comes out
" So and so will look after you if you come back in 10-15 minutes"
This in a large high-profile store in the local mall. WE went to a smaller store across the street where we were treated politely, if slowly, and ended up paying about $200 less than we had been quoted at the other store, and got an extra pair of glasses, inthe bargain.

Then it's off across the city to buy me a respirator for using when I'm dyeing or using spray adhesive. The store has moved and no-one knows where. So back to this side of the city, and found a respirator in the local paint store. Then home to find a message on my machine that Greyhound had called and would I please pick up my package. So back downtown to discover the true meaning of "two seasons--winter and construction". But now I'm home with what appears to be a very fancy pasta machine. Wow! All the bells and whistles. and some pictures as well! Thankyou Beth!

Next I've decided to bite the bullet and order the dye and paint that I want from the company in Toronto. The price is reasonable, but the shipping is a killer! But I'll get what I want and I can play with it over the next week or so.

Still can't sort it out

But I've found a way to get in--a lo-o-ong way to get in. Well, I tried my dyeing yesterday. It was a disaster ( except on my hands where the rubber gloves leaked). We talked this morning about trying again, but it costs a lot in terms of dye and fabric. The end result was back to the fabric store today and found a much better version of the same fabric for the same price (go figure!) So I bought more fabric, and all of the other stuff I need, except for the dye. We've decided that I'm going to use a better quality dye--provided I can get it. So tomorrow it's off to buy dye. If I can't find it here, I think I have a mail order source for it. ( The shipping costs are a killer!)Now this is not any sort of urgent thing, but I've finally found something to pique my interest after going through a dry spell. And, of course, having had a failure, I'm bound and determined to get it right somehow! but first I have to "scour" the fabric, that is take all of the sizingout and prepare it for dyeing. I believe this means washing it with soda ash ( washing soda). However, I think I need to do a little research on the internet before I actually do anything.

Arrrgh!

It appears that the blog site has been updated. Had a terrible time reaching a spot where I could add a new post to my blog. If this continues, I may just give up--it's not worth the hassle. Or maybe I'm not too patient today. I had a late night and then spent most of it tossing and turning beause of arthritic pain. I spent some money yesterday on replenishing my supplies. I now have muslin and batting and thread. I even bought a little bit of quilted cotton to make more of my fabric purses. Now it's all sitting in the studio waiting for me to put it away. This means carefully wrappign it around cardboard tubes etc. Not a big deal, but I have nowhere to store them!

We also bought food. Went in for a few vegetables and ended up spending enough that we got a huge bottle of detergent --free! But I found flank steak. A rare treat. We also bought corn onthe cob to serve tomorrow when the grandchildren come to visit. We'll see how that goes!