Oh yes, it's a yawn a minute here at Chez Magpie where The Quilt is all-consuming it seems. I've added the second corner and it's basted and hand stitching has begun. See?....
I dunno about you but I do hate the silly time change thing. It messes with so many people and serves absolutely no purpose any longer. I know it did, back in war time, but now it's just plain a PIA.
And speaking of PIA's - I spent some time over the weekend perusing online bookstores looking at books on making landscapes thinking I might add to my library. Interestingly (or not so much, depending on your viewpoint of course) the books that are out there are mostly second hand (which is fine with me) but....and here's the thing....they're mostly pretty cheap anywhere in the world BUT here. You can pretty much add $20 per book to the cost AND, oh, by the way, there's shipping on top of that - sometimes upwards of another $20 per book. Needless to say my desire to add to my library was rapidly tamped down! Gotta love living in Canada!
And further on that particular subject, it's always astounding to me just how many online shops specify in no uncertain terms that they will NOT ship to Canada. What's the matter with us? Do we have a collective nation with body odor?
There. The soapbox is dusted.
And, never let it be said that this blog is anything but eclectic as this little frugal tip will attest. Resident Chef was quite pleased with himself when he attempted to re-use some inner milk bags with his food sealer and discovered they work perfectly. Will save on buying the smaller size refills for the Food Saver. Thought I'd share in case any of you want to give it a try.
- Thanks to Canadian Needle Nana for the link to THIS pretty design.
- There's lots of ideas HERE for reusing denim.
- No instructions or info on who made it, but I thought THIS looks like a fun idea for a sewing room.
The quote of the day is the 5W's of Life: WHO you are is what makes you special. Do not change for anyone. WHAT lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore. WHEN life pushes you over, push back harder. WHERE there are choices to make, make the one you won't regret. WHY things happen will never be certain. Take it in stride and move forward.
I wonder if it's the extra paperwork for Canada that stops people? I have to fill out various forms when I mail to Canada. Also it's expensive, maybe more than a one person online business wants to take on. Are there Canadian sellers who won't ship to the US?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if there are Canadian people refusing to mail to the US, but it sure seems that it's a difficulty for things coming this way no matter where they're coming from.
DeleteIt's not a yawn if you're making progress - and it looks wonderful by the way. Sorry to hear there are issues with your book purchases. It really doesn't seem fair at all. One of these days I'm going to tackle that stack of jeans I've saved and make something of them - you keep finding great ideas.
ReplyDeleteI don't work with denim much any more but I would like to. Unfortunately my hands don't agree with me so I have to limit what I do.
DeleteThe problem with shipping to Canada is that mail gets "lost" there more than any other country. I've replaced more fabric to Canada that everywhere else combined. Also it can take months for a package to reach it's destination. You are fast at applique!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's the problem Vicki, I don't know. I know the mail system here is notoriously slow so that could be a factor too.
DeleteAs for speedy applique - maybe I'm not doing it right!!
Quilt is a pleasure to see progress.
ReplyDeleteHigh cost and paperwork probkrms, last I recall reading seller chat about shipping to Canada. I don't know why it is so expensive.
It's expensive to mail things from Canada as well although I really haven't researched it to see just how much more it is. A couple years ago I wanted to order some embroidery thread - flat, lightweight, cheap - from the US and would have had to pay over $30 just for the shipping. Needless to say I definitely did NOT need that thread!
DeleteThat's interesting about reusing milk bags as food saver bags. I've never seen milk in a bag and wonder if anyone in the US buys milk this way. This tip makes me wonder what other types of things could replace food saver bags. I inherited a food saver and lots of bags from my MIL, but one of these days they will run out and I'm noticing they are very expensive.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it would work on lightweight plastic bags but the milk bags are pretty much the same 'texture/weight' as the food saver version. With the current restrictions on single-use plastics coming into effect I tend to wonder how much longer we'll be getting our milk in plastic bags. Maybe they will end up going back to returnable glass bottles like they used years ago.
DeleteI would actually love to get milk in glass bottles again. Not only for the nostalgia factor (which would be great), but since I prefer drinking milk from a glass, something about storing it in glass seems very right.
DeleteI agree. I wouldn't have a problem with it. We used to be able to get it in plastic jugs that were returnable so maybe that's the way they will go.
DeleteI know about the shipping costs.... I tried and explain that to someone once and they didn't believe me. It is even expensive to send things from one place in Canada to another.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have milk bags here, they never really caught on. Believe me I would definitely be using them with my Food Saver as those replacement rolls are expensive.
God bless.
What gets me is that you not only have to pay exhorbitant shipping costs but then they tack on a fuel surcharge too. That's pretty much what stops me from trying overly hard to sell my landscapes. It's just about impossible to guess what shipping costs might be because it all depends on the distance involved.
DeleteI am really sorry to hear of the book order frustrations Mary Anne. I had no idea it was difficult to post to Canada. I don't think we have any problems from here (UK) but maybe there are extra charges your end? Your hexie project is looking beautiful. Hugs Christine xx
ReplyDeleteOddly enough I have ordered books from the UK and had no issues. It seems to be mainly the US that doesn't want to ship here, despite us having a so-called 'free trade agreement' between the two countries. It just seems odd.
DeleteBook Outlet is a super online site for books, I buy a lot books from there. This is my referral link https://bookoutlet.ca/loyalty/referral/Bop2NWm6?c=url or you can just use this link: https://bookoutlet.ca/ I have been buying from these guys for years. I have a post coming out tomorrow about the time change, I think it's a PIA also!!! Love the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI have ordered from Book Outlet (I think I got the link from you originally) but they don't have much of a selection of the type of books I was looking for.
DeleteYour quilt looks lovely, the flower corner sections framing the centre so beautifully. I share your frustration with books as well though I am usually fairly lucky, especially with the UK. I often buy books from there and pay no shipping or rates far lower than the US or even Eastern Canada. They take a little longer but not much.
ReplyDeleteI've ordered from the UK as well - most often with free shipping which is really nice. Unfortunately they don't have many fabric landscape books available on their site. I'll keep looking though!
Deleteoh okay, keep checking back as their stock is always changing. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.
DeleteYou should check out the group Slow Stitching for the Soul on Facebook, you will enjoy the posts there.
ReplyDeleteThank you - I will! Sounds like it would be a fun group
DeleteSherry of createology: MA Dear your hexie Floral quilt will be stunning. Years ago I made my Grandma a wreath using yarn skeins and knitting needles. She could display it and then use it all to knit something wonderful. Resident Chef is very clever using milk liners (which we do not have) to seal foods. Raining here…again. We are lucky not to be flooding.
ReplyDeleteA yarn wreath would be wonderful! I'd love it I know.
DeleteI'll bet you're very glad you don't live in California right now!
With the things I hear going on in Canada, I do believe I'm happy where I am. I noticed when I visited there how I was blocked from seeing various conservative political sites.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter wanted to make a wreath for me of my sewing notions. So I collected them for her. It came back in the form of a tree.
Hmmm - blocked from seeing conservative political sites - interesting. Haven't noticed that (and if my facebook account is any indication, political posts are rampant....unless I do the blocking!).
DeleteYour quilt is coming together beautifully, I love how you're finishing it.
ReplyDeleteI love visiting Canada! Sorry you're having trouble having things delivered there. I hate all the shipping charges, I am always looks for free shipping when I can! Let me know if there's anything I can ever do to help you out and send you what you're looking for.
Thank you for your kind offer! No worries though because there's really nothing I truly need. Looking for landscape books was just a whim.
DeleteYour quilt is coming along nicely!! I feel your pain with the books - forget trying to get anything sent to Australia!! xx
ReplyDeleteI imagine Australia is about the same as Canada in being seemingly shunned by the mail order world...it's sad.
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