Sugar Block Club 2014

Not sure if anyone can relate, but I am a "to do list" gal. I have to make a list every day and systematically go through and check things off.

Nothing is like the small amount of joy felt when making that, in my left handed case, backwards check. It's fulfilling on many levels.

Why do I mention my obsession with check lists?

Well, this quilt was a super exciting to check off.  My 2014 Sugar Block of the Month quilt, has been sitting around for over a year and I love this one! I just haven't gotten around to finishing this beast. 

The other weekend I dug out the backing fabric I had purchased last summer at Marden's for this very quilt and got basting.

After pushing all of the quilt through my domestic, the binding was procrastinated for another week.

Finally, the quilt is done and ready to snuggle! I got sick right after finishing this quilt so it was the perfect amount of comfort I needed. 

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 64 inches x 77 inches 

• Pattern: Sugar Block of the Month - 2014

• Fabric: Stash

• Batting: 80/20 blend

• Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment

• Quilting: large meandering stipple

In the midst of being upset about lack of light this winter, I broke down and purchased an indoor lighting studio. Unfortunately, the only place large enough for all that stuff is the basement.  

Does anyone else use indoor lights to photograph quilts? 

If so what am I missing here? Not to mention that I am still learning my new camera, this shoot wasn't as "picture perfect" as I envisioned. Any advice, camera settings, tips, anything, just HELP! 

Adobe Lightroom was my saving grace for this shoot. I had to work a lot of behind the scenes magic to get these photos to work. Clearly I need some concrete love but that is already being thought out. 

Be ... Still

The lucky winner is commenter #110.

Sarah@123quiltDecember 12, 2014 at 3:43 AM

Your Patriotic Stars quilt is my favorite. I've been wanting to make one very similar to it. Thanks again!

Congrats Sarah, I sent you an e-mail with your new patterns :) 

This month Stitchery Dickory Dock inspired us to be still. LOL, yeah that's not me. The last thing I am able to do is nothing. Don't get me wrong I have no problem watching a movie marathon, but there will be hand-quilting or knitting needles in my hands. Something will be getting done. My mind cannot be still. If I need to unwind, it usually means reading a book. I find it's the only way for my mind to stop reflecting, perfecting, and creating.

The December block is awesome. I actually made four to complete my Sugar Blocks. That's right, all months are done and all 30 blocks are finished. Now, I need to start adding the sashing and getting this top done! That part I am ok with starting next year, when the snow is flying and holiday sewing is done.

What is everyone else doing to keep there sanity in this month of insanity?

-Patch & Chels

Be ... a Listener

Whew! Snuck these in just at the last minute.

Listening I will admit is a weakness. To hear and process information is actually quite difficult for me. I do my best when I have a chance to visualize and interact with information. For example, when attending a lecture, I am able to better understand what is being said when I doodle or take notes. The physical act of moving my hand some how allows me to keep my focus on the speaker. In school my class notes were all in sketchbooks for this exact reason, even back to high school.

Now for the exact opposite example, I hear everything in my classroom and know when students are off task even when I am not directly watching them. The whole eyes in the back of the teachers head is clearly a lie, it's our hearing that gets student's in trouble! This is also different because I don't have to process anything.

So this month, I tried to be a better listener. Maybe it's my overactive creativity, or my in ability to sit still. Either way, listening is a skill I haven't mastered, and probably never will. At this point, I am relaying on the tricks I have picked up in life to help me deal with this deficit. If you're wondering, no this month didn't make me a better listener, but at least I am trying.

I am that classic case of in one year and out the other ... 

- Patch & Chels

List o' WIP

Ok this summer it was no secret how I had an epic list of WIPs that needed some control. At one point I was up to twenty, which is a huge amount for me (insert me pulling out my hairs!). Well, months have passed and many quilts did get finished, but I still have quite a list of WIPs to go. In fact, I have started a couple more even before getting to my goal of five. This post is mostly for me to document what needs to be done in terms of WIPs to finish out the year.

Farmer's Wife - top finished

True Pink -  top finished

Sugar Block of the Month - 6 more blocks to go

Aja's Twin - blocks completed, top needs to be assembled

Dapper - binding to be hand-stitched (sorry no progress shots)

Thimble Blossoms - top finished 

Patriotic Star - top quilted, need binding

Fireworks - need to finish blocks, 10 of 19 done

Large Swell - finished, need to photograph and blog

+ Scrappy HST - top finished, no photos

+ Looking Glass - top finished

In case you weren't counting, that's 11 in all. Ok, down from 20 but still I feel it's quite excessive in my world. Looks like the end of 2014 shall be a productive time! Also some of these quilts are going to be gifts this holiday season so that is additional motivation. 

-Patch & Chels 

Doubling Up

This year I have been o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. with the Sugar Block of the Month club from Stitchery Dickory Dock. Each month Amy has came out with great patterns. I am so in love that I am making a twin sized quilt from the January block for my sister!

While creating October's block I realized that at the end of the year that would only be 12 blocks and with sashing would amount to a baby quilt or a very small throw after adding a border. This just wouldn't do! I ordered more secondary fabric and cut into my stash. I went back and made doubles and sometimes triples of each block, with the goal of 30 blocks by the end of the year.  Right now there are 24 done.  Whew! 

Every time I lay all these blocks out I fall in love in a little more. Only 6 more to go!

-Patch & Chels

Be ... Peaceful (with Some Pretty Backdrops Tutorial)

This month is all about finding peace in our lives. The funny thing is that is exactly what I need to find. Lately, I have been presented with some big choices about my future and it has created somewhat of huge headache of stress in my life. Decisions I thought I had more time to make, just like anything in life I do not. There is always the "what if's" about my future as well, what if this was the wrong choice, what if the other option would have propelled myself further. Do I look back in twenty years and have regrets? Ah, what I would do for a crystal ball! 

Enough about that, it's stressing me out just thinking about the ordeal. Ok, serious discussion about backgrounds in photography. May times I get kudos on my pictures, if you want to learn how to better operate your camera I highly recommend Ruth's posts at Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner. Ruth does a whole series about taking better pictures, and it has helped me A LOT. I still don't shot full manual but I am having better luck on the "P" mode, which is half manual mode. 

The problem with creative photos is, I rent, so I have limited options as paint and wall space, but still want interesting photos! Here was my solution. The background above is the one I use the most. You can purchase this board at from Home Depot, they have a variety of textures. That piece is  left over from the prop below, two backdrops for $10, winning!

Rainy day .. the lighting stinks!

My father is handy with the table saw so he helped (actually he did all the work). The design was simple. The boards, with strips of wood nailed to the back so you can clamp the two pieces together, using basic Home Depot clamps ($5 each, and already had a pair I use to clamp quilts to my quilt frame). When the prop isn't in use, it unclamps and stores behind the couch out of sight. If you're not so handy with a table saw, or terrified of them, Home Depot and Lowes will cut boards for you. Just give them the dimensions :). 

Ta da, a simple background that stores flat! You can see the stash of Sugar BOM fabrics is getting slim.  This month I also cut out a second block for each month, twelve wasn't going to be enough so I doubled up :). More on that later. The white background is BRIGT, so I was able to shoot this picture in low light on a rainy day without too much photo magic!  If you want brighter photos start with a brighter background.

The background helps overcome bad light!

Now for color! Pantone's radiant orchid is the color of the year, but really who wants a wall of it?  Eeek, that might be TOO much!  Here was my color solution.  I picked up two 24 inch square boards at Lowes, they were cheap with imperfections at $4 each, and some 4 inch foam rollers ($5 a pack and used 2). In this project I used left over paint and primer or already purchased paint.  If you want a particular color, I recommend the sample size jars, they are small and cost about $3 each.

Then I primed and painted BOTH sides, giving me four background choices. Lately, I have been having fun with the radiant orchid! The good thing about painting the boards they can quickly be changed. To photograph using the boards, just lay the blocks on top and stand over to shoot. It also takes away the step of hanging/taping/pinning the block to a wall. Much faster and easier. The hard part is choosing which color to use!  These also store flat behind a couch when not in use.

All these options cost at total of $35 dollars, if you need paint it's more like $50, for all 6 backgrounds! This is blogging on a budget ($5.85 each!). If you have any questions about the process, shoot me an e-mail I would be glad to help!

-Patch & Chels

Be ... Encouraging

Another month has passed already, where is 2014 going??  There are only 3 more blocks this year ... crazy!  This month Amy has picked the theme of encouragement ... 

She reminds us that our words have a huge impact on those around us. Even if we do not believe in what people feel is best for them, we still need to encourage people to follow their hearts. At times this can be difficult for me (especially as a teacher) ... but allowing others to learn from their mistakes, is sometimes the only way people learn. Other times, people prove me wrong. 

 She leaves us with the following questions, when talking with someone ask yourself ... 

• Will these words encourage this person?
• Will these words show love?
• Will those words set an example?
• Are these words that I'm proud of, and can stand behind?
• Are these words likely to stir, joy, peace, and strength? or the opposite?

We do a similar kid friendly version of this in school as a reminder of power of people's words. I am a constantly encouraging my students to be/become successful in school and, many of you know, I am also a huge cheerleader for my blogging buddies :). I would say, I am more the annoying over encouraging type. (Sorry, still need to find the balance on this one!).

So far all the months are looking good together! I cannot wait to see what the next three will bring.

What are some of your encouraging stories??

-Patch & Chels

Aja's Quilt Update

A while back, my sister picked out fabric for a quilt. I wanted to make her a twin sized (my very first) quilt for her bed.  She decided on Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey, but not the pinks! I did manage to sneak a couple of the magenta prints and one pink print in! The idea was to give this quilt to her for her birthday, but that was back in July, so Plan B, it's a Christmas present. This gives me more time!

Today I took the time to get the blocks all assembled ... here they are :) 

Now I just need to find some times to put on the sashing and borders!  Today I leave you feeling productive :).  How are you feeling today?

-Patch & Chels

Linking up with Let's bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, Sew Cute Tuesday, and WIP Wednesday.