Blowing off the dust

A finish!  And an old one at that.



I have had this one loaded on the longarm for months, just sitting there.  Waiting.  Waiting for me to feel like it. It's not even like I had to decide what to quilt.  I had already decided to try to do my first pantograph.  I just needed to find my sewing mojo again.

I am happy to report that I have found it!  After months of only going in my sewing room to find stuff that I put in there during the remodel, I have been sewing again.  I literally had to blow the dust off my machines and cutting table.  My first order of business was to finish up this Batik Tile quilt that was one of my oldest UFO's.  The pattern was "Tile Style" by Cheryl Rose Creations and was published in American Patchwork & Quilting back in 2010.  2010!!

One big boost to my sewing mojo was being asked if I wanted to be the featured quilter at our guild's annual quilt show in September.  While I am not sure yet if I have been chosen, I realized that if it happens, I better have some stuff to feature!  So, it has really lit a fire under me!  Now that my longarm is free, I've pulled out a few other finished or close to finished tops to do next.  I've also started piecing my Aviatrix Medallion quilt.  AND......I took a class on a technique that I am so excited to try out!!!  I don't want to tell you about it just yet (in case I fail miserably at it).

In other news, I finished the Whole 30 diet and am right in the middle of reintroducing different problematic foods.  I am still not 100% sure what was causing my issues, but I am feeling so much better.  I've also lost 9 pounds!  The diet was hard!!!  I didn't realize how much I eat to comfort myself or because I was bored.  Identifying these things has helped me though, and I can now recognize cravings vs. real hunger.  I do plan on trying to eat similarly to the diet going forward.

Yes, despite the difficulty, I recommend the diet.  I feel better, look better and I know I ate better.  I never starved myself.  In fact, I stuffed myself the entire time - but only with foods from the plan (meat, veggies, and fruit).  If you want to check it out, the book is It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig (Affiliate Link***).  If you have any questions, you can also email me.

Thanks for reading today!  Now back to work.....

Jen


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

4th Quarter goal setting - 2013 Finish Along

Time for my 4th Quarter goal setting.

The kids damaged my keyboard so I am trying to write this out with minimal use of the letter "v" and for some reason the shift key and the "t" don't want to work together.  I have only managed to get those letters into the text of this post by coping and pasting them from other posts, or by relying on spell check to fill them in.  Kids!

As I mentioned in my 3rd quarter progress report, this goal setting list is a bit of a challenge.  I have loads of things I want to finish in time for Christmas, but at the same time, I really want to be realistic with what I can finish.  If the last two weekends are any indication, it is going to be pretty busy around here.  I do like to challenge myself too.  Here's what I came up with considering all those things.

Finish my Handstitched Medallion Quilt - this was also a goal for October.  I am hand quilting away and can I just say, burying knots bites.  Some of my knots are not staying buried and it is really annoying.

Swoon - I want to finish the blocks this month, but the entire quilt by Christmas

Commission Quilt - the sooner the better on this one

Pattern testing quilt - I just started quilting this one, so it should be done soon

2 more QAYG tote bags for gifts - these take at least 4 steady days to finish each one.

• T-shirt quilts for my girls - I really, really, really want to start and finish these for the girls.  T-shirts are piling up to the point of over-flowing, so accomplishing a couple of finishes here would be a huge relief in consideration of space.

I think those are pretty lofty goals.  I still have blocks to finish for Star of Africa, Simply Solids, the Lucky Star BOM, and of course my UFO group, the Lazy Bums.

Thanks for reading today,

Jen

Linking up with:

Why does the Universe want me pregnant (again)? - WIP Wednesday

As the mother of 3 girls, I am constantly being asked if we are "done" having kids or if we are going to try for the boy.  Evidently the tired look on my face isn't enough to answer this question.  Having a husband who thinks it would be no big deal (especially since he travels A LOT) doesn't help.  Well, with little Olivia approaching 3 years old, and all our kids about 2 years apart, the questioning has intensified lately.  Then it happened......twice in the last week I was asked - outright asked - if I was pregnant!

Now I've checked (about 10 times), and I haven't put on any extra weight.  True, I might have let my eyebrows go a little longer between pluckings and I'm a month overdue for a haircut, but still!  The first time I was asked actually seemed reasonable.  Olivia had been acting unusually cranky at school and it has been in the experience of the manager at preschool that little kids can "sense these things", so she asked.  Lucky, she and I are on very good terms so I didn't take offense.  But the second time I just answered a "How are you doing?" with a "Hanging in there" and the person immediately jumped to "Oh my gosh, are you pregnant?".  Say what?

Universe, if you are listening, I am going to ignore these little hints.  This is NOT a WIP I am working on!!!!!!!  I'm far to busy, tired, and selfish at the moment to even consider it.  Thanks, but don't you have some asteroids to hurl about space, stars that need birthing, black holes to fill, etc.?

For the rest of you, I have been working on my Hands 2 Help quilt top.  I've gotten this far:

I can't believe how much trouble this top has given me, but I am wholly to blame.  I started with a layer cake of Deb Strain's "Spa", and a pattern that called for charms squares.  I figured I would just cut up the layer cake, and whip it together.  Well, I cut a few things incorrectly, my math on the number of darks, mediums and lights needed was way off, and of course I didn't realize this until I had already pieced all my HST's together and sewn them to some solid squares.  Whoops!  Start searching for a pattern that I could use these pieces in, and arrive at the Jacob's Ladder pattern.  Unfortunately, I still had to rip out a fair number of seams and my head must have been missing for a few days because even looking at my diagram I managed to turn things around the wrong way a few times and had to do more unpicking.  But, this part is finally done.  I'm trying to decide if I need a border and what might work for it.

This Wednesday...

Completed Projects:

• Baby Boy Quilt - DONE!  I missed last Friday's finish party by 20 inches of binding, but it is ready for this Friday.  I hope you come back to see it.

On-going Projects:

AKA - "stuff I plan to touch this week or next".

• Bee Blocks & BOM blocks - May Make it Modern (2 blocks), We Bee Learning (4 blocks), Simply Solids (1 block), Lucky Star May (1 block) Skill Builder BOM blocks (now 3 months worth), 
• Star of Africa Bee - I have really slipped behind.  Need February, March, April, and now May done.
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - needs backing, basting, quilting, etc.  Piecing the backing is in progress
• Quilt for Hands 2 Help Charity Drive - top done?  backing in progress
• Items for the "It's for the Birds" Blog Hop - my day is May 13th - in progress - piecing done, quilting happens next and shouldn't take too long.
• Items for the "Say it with Flowers" Blog Hop starting at the end of May (my day is June 4th) - I have a plan, but haven't put in into action yet.

Back, Back, Back Burner:

These will likely be touched sometime in the future - I should really rename this category to "I want to remember that I have these projects, but realistically they won't be touched till 2015 because I'm too busy doing other stuff"

• Handstitched Medallion Quilt - quilting in progress.  This is the project is going to take FOREVER!!
• Discontinuity 2 - crib sized top is complete, but now I am thinking it really needs to be twin sized as all the girls are about to be in big girl beds.  On hold for now.
• Curves Class goodies - catch up in progress, but on hold for now.   

This week's stats:

Completed projects - 1
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 6 ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to the Building Blocks Tuesday post!

Speaking of blocks, I think I better get back to making some.  That is quite a list up there.

And as always, thanks for reading,

Jen



Linking up with
 

Surf's up - Finish Friday

Hooray!  It is done!

I finished up my Blue One Block Wonder quilt earlier this week, and finally walked down to the pier to take some pictures of it.  I figured since I used some fabric that looked like waves, it was only appropriate to try to get some pictures of it near the ocean.

My teacher from the quilt photography class suggested that when it comes to outdoor shots, just go and try stuff out to see what you like.  Wow, profound!  So today, I did...

I got this one.  Too far away, and the light seems a little bright.  I wanted to get down here as early as possible for better light, but alas, I am a taxi service in the morning and some days it takes longer than others to get to school.

And this pic.  Closer to the quilt, light still a little bright but from a better direction.  Darn wind blew the quilt a little so I have a ripple.  Hey, that's the Redondo Pier in the background, if anyone is interested.

And this pic, from the park looking down at the beach.  I think the lighting is much better, but all that dirty concrete isn't attractive.

This one is taken on the pier itself.  Luckily, the guys had just gone around and power washed everything, so no bird poop anywhere!  I really wanted to get a seagull in one shot, but not their poop.  The lighting is all wrong for this picture.

Yep, this was the better side of the pier, looking out at the water.

Sun is still a little bright, but it does make the white pop, huh?

And just my luck, a gull decided to fly by on my last shot.

I will be posting another post about this quilt soon.  Turned out there were some "lessons learned" while quilting it up and I thought I would share.

Have a Super Sparkly Day!

Jen

Linking up with:

February Goal Setting

So, when I woke up this morning I saw my own shadow and crawled back into bed.  Does that mean that I will have 6 more weeks until I meet some of my sewing goals?  I hope not!!  Although 60 more minutes sleeping in bed might have been nice - just saying.

UFO's

January got a little mixed up.  I was inspired to work on a different UFO than I originally planned, but I did finish one!

So that still leaves the one I intended to do, undone.  February???  Actually, I am happy to report that my Blue One Block Wonder is partially quilted!  So yes!  February.

I would also really like to get my Beginner QAL quilt moving somehow.  The blocks are finished, but need to be sashed and put together.  I haven't decided on a sashing fabric yet.  I will also need to figure something out for a back, baste and start quilting the darn thing.

New FO's

I'm telling you, January got mixed up!  I intended to start my T-shirt quilts for the girls, but only got as far as cutting out a few muslin foundations.  It also completely slipped my mind that I would be going to the Road to California quilt show and would be starting this new project:

I am calling it, the demon quilt.  Just kidding.  All 723 pieces have been sewn together to make the top.  It has also been backed and basted.  Unfortunately, I really feel that all those seams need some SID.  Badly!  And since there are so many of them, I imagine it is going to take me a fair bit of time to quilt this one up.  Thus, it is another February goal.

I must also finish another baby quilt this month, so that is this months New FO.  I have sketched out the design and done the math.  I just gotta make that first cut.  The first cut is the deepest, though!  I am planning on using Les Amis from my stash, which I adore.

So that's actually 4 quilts I hope to get quilted this month.  That really seems like a lot for such a short month!  I am going to give it my best.

Thanks for reading today,

Jen

Linking up with:

Goal setting - the Finish Along quarterly report

Bear with me as I reveal one more list to start the New Year.  The 2013 Finish Along at She Can Quilt. is a quarterly to-do list, so here is what I hope to accomplish in the next 3 months:

• I've already designated the first UFO that I am going to tackle in January as the Blue One Block Wonder quilt.  
• 
• Also this quarter, I hope to finish up my Beginner QAL quilt and How Far Will You Go? quilt (obviously, I didn't get as far as I hoped on this one).
• Time to use up all those clothing fabric scraps I've been saving and make quilts for the girls.  These scraps are taking up important "new fabric" space, so they have to go!  This is the NewFO, I planned to start in January; however, I was reminded that I need to make....
• 2 baby quilts for friends who are expecting soon.  Like really soon.  So I better get working on them too.
• I have 4 Star of Africa Blocks to do already, plus another 2 from later in the quarter.
• I'll have 3 Skill Builder BOM blocks to do
• 4 Lucky Star BOM blocks to do
• 2 blocks each month, for a total of 6 blocks for the We Be Learning Bee - I've already started on January's blocks.
• 2 blocks each month, for a total of 4 blocks for the Simply Solids Bee (it starts in February)
• 2 blocks each month, for a total of 6 blocks for the Make it Modern Bee
• Winter Mug Rug for a Swap I signed up for - this one is already in progress as it is due soon.

Whew!  I am tired just typing about it.

Jen

FO challenges, HO!

If I could sum up my New Years Resolutions into a few words, they would be "Just keep it up"!

When making my quilty resolutions for 2013, they seemed to fall into 3 different categories: general intentions, UFO busting, and NewFO's I want to make.

The general category:

• get your scrap organized! - I am pretty comfortable about how I have my yardage organized, but my scraps are literally stuffed into a couple brown paper grocery bags.  Terrible, I know!  They really need to be organized by quality (I plan to use the low quality fabric for Ashley to practice on), size, color, etc.
• Continue practicing Free Motion Quilting - there is ample opportunity for this as I hope to do at least 2 Quilt As You Go projects!
• Continue having fun in blogland - I have committed myself heavily for the first few months, but then things ease up a bit.
• Actually attend a LA Modern Quilt Guild meeting - the group meets on Monday nights about an hour away and it is pretty difficult to tear myself away from the carpool, but I think I should do it at least once to see what I've been missing.

UFO Busting:

• I've made a new page of the "Master List" of UFO's for me to work from.  These are projects are in some state of "started", and I want to return to.  I've given away several and even trashed a few from prior lists.
• The first UFO from the list that I am going to tackle is the Blue One Block Wonder quilt.  The top is done.  It needs to be backed and quilted with a simple design.  I plan on donating it when done.  Yes, I am totally taking an easy one for the first month!
• Also this quarter, I hope to finish up my Beginner QAL quilt and How Far Will You Go? quilt (obviously, I didn't get as far as I hoped on this one).

NewFO's:

• Time to use up all those fabric scraps I've been saving and make quilts for the girls.  These scraps are taking up important "new fabric" space, so they have to go!  This is the NewFO, I plan on working on this month.
• Swoon quilt - I bought the pattern a year ago, and probably enough fabric to make 10 of them.  I just have to begin.
• 2 baby quilts for friends who are expecting soon
• A quilt for my own (king sized) bed.  Now that I have a few little things for myself, it is time I have a quilt for my own bed!  I have the pattern picked out, and some fabrics purchased.  Time to begin!
• Weekender bag - this one looks tough!  But I bought the pattern, so..??
• Then there are the bees and BOM's I've joined: the Make it Modern Bee, Simply Solids Bee, We Be Learning Bee, the Skill Builder BOM, and the Lucky Star BOM.  I am also continuing with the Star of Africa Bee, because I love those ladies so much!
• More to come, no doubt!

So then, how do I plan on accomplishing these items?  With the help of blogland, of course!

For my UFO busting, I plan on linking up monthly with the Lovely Year of Finishes group at Sew Bittersweet Designs, the Project UFO 2.0 Group at Cut to Pieces, and quarterly with the 2013 Finish Along at She Can Quilt.

For the NewFO's, I might as well join along with Cat Patches' New FO Challenge, and see how it goes.

A kind soul asked, "why link up with these "parties" at all"?  Well, if you are new to blogging, they are an excellent way to increase the traffic to your blog and show off your work to others in the net-community.  Now, I have stopped being concerned with "traffic" per se, but I love meeting new friends!  And I've been lucky enough to meet some great ones by them finding me via linky parties.  Who knows who I will meet next, right?

Jen

New Year's Intentions

After spending a tiring day at Disneyland with the girls yesterday, we all agreed a lazy morning around the house would be nice.  Bonus, it gave me a chance to catch up on my "computer work" AKA blog reading.

It seems throughout blogland, people are pondering the New Year and making resolutions of all types.  If you remember, I was even considering making a linky party for quilty-resolutions for the New Year - again, I was not alone in thinking this would be a great idea.  Rather than duplicate what is already out there, I thought I would share some of the linky parties that are available.

1) A New project Link up at Cat Patches:


Have a bunch of new projects or patterns that you intend to make?  This is the place to share!  Only 4 more days left before this month's linky closes.

2) Project UFO at Cut to Pieces

This is just a support group for anyone working on UFO's.  No pressure!  Just join the Flickr group and be encouraged.  You can make a mosaic of the UFO's you hope to tackle or just put them in a thread.  You can even gift a UFO to someone else in the group if you know you will never touch it again.  One quilter's trash is another's treasure!

3) A Lovely Year of Finishes hosted Melissa of Sew BitterSweet Designs and Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts

This one looks a little more intense than some of the others - with a beginning, middle and end of the month check in.  BUT you only have to pick ONE project!  If you really need some serious accountability to get stuff done - this might be the group for you!  There is also a Flickr group to join, but first read this post by Melissa which includes a link to some Q&A.  There are 4 more days to complete the initial link up.

4) Pigtales and Quilts - A simple Monthly To-Do list link up

Just make a list of 5 things you want to get done during the month and link it up.

5) The Year of the Finished Project hosted by Never to Hot to Stitch

Lynne is willing to accept other crafty projects in her monthly link up and you can make up some of your own rules too!

6) 2013 Finish Along with Leanne at She Can Quilt

This one is also for UFO's - projects that are started but not finished.  This one is a quarterly link up, which is nice.  We all have months when we get a little out of control busy with other things!  There is also a Flickr group associated with this one.

Deb at Quilting and other Craft Therapy also has a great list of linkies, challenges and BOM's going on (some are the same).  So if the ones above don't appeal to you, check out her post and maybe you will find what you are looking for!

Many of these link ups also have prizes.  Pick one or many to participate in.

I plan on deciding today which ones I will join up with, and make my lists/posts soon.  There may even be cause to create/update a page or two in the process.

One thing I have realized for sure, is that I can't do everything!  Profound, I know!  My original quilty-resolution list was about 15 items long = not exactly realistic.  I'm going to revise it a tad before going public.

Which groups are you joining in the New Year?

Jen

I've got the fever - WIP Wednesday

I've been working feverishly on something and hope (fingers crossed) to have another finish posted tomorrow!  I've actually been so caught up in my work, I realized I didn't have anything to take a picture of for this post, so I ran downstairs and snapped a sneak peek for you...

That's right!  There is more quilting in progress here.

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Star of Africa Bee Block - September's is done (you can read about it here). Now I need to finish October's!
• Leaf Table runner - Done!
• Batik Stripe Quilt - this one moved up the lists and is now D-O-N-E!  Once I got warmed up on the table runner, I had to continue with something else.  Bonus!  It is part of  my 100 Day Hustle list.

On-going Projects:

AKA - "stuff I plan to touch this week".

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - top done, backing done, sandwiched and basted.  Needs quilting and I am STILL suffering from quilter's block.  How do I solve this problem?  Quilt something else.... 
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - Top DONE!  I admit that during the piecing process, I had given very little thought to the back of this quilt, but I managed to come up with something.  Quilting now in progress.
• Star of Africa Bee - October's block is now due.  Designing in progress (Read "I am doodling in a notebook from time to time)
• Preschool Pillowcases - time to get started on these.  I know it doesn't sound like much, but they have a lot of pillows that all need new cases.
• Free Motion Challenge item - my arms are so sore from all the quilting these last few days, but I might have a little left in me for this one too.

Back Burner:

These will likely be touched in a couple of weeks.

• How Far Will You Go? QAL - I put this one aside until my blocks for the bees were done.  Now they are, but I need a tiny break from blocks (especially paper pieced ones). 
• Handstitched Medallion Quilt - THE main project of the class.  I actually did have an opportunity to rip out the borders that have been giving me trouble, but now I need to fix them and sew them back on again.

The Back, Back Burner:

Lightning would have to strike twice.

• Handstitched goodies - several small projects in limbo.  
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• EPP project - in progress.
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 3!
New projects - 1
Currently in Progress - 5

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .

Late, but not forgotten - WIP Wednesday

Whew!  The Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop sure was fun!  So many beautiful and inspirational blocks!  I wish I could try them all out.

Even though I should have been working on my paper piecing blocks for the 3 x 6 bee, I selfishly spent some time putting together my top for the Vintage Holiday QAL.  You will have to pardon my photo.  I was only home for about 15 minutes today, and the sun was already setting.  Tomorrow calls for rain, so it was my only chance!  Speaking of, what is it about holiday fabrics that look so busy?  Ah well, I am sure once it is quilted, I will love it more.

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• 6 more blocks for the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop - you can see the post here.

On-going Projects:

AKA - stuff I plan to touch this week.

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - top done.  Now to sandwich and quilt.
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - piecing in progress, actually made some progress too! I would guess the top is about 1/3 done.
• 6 more Bee Blocks - paper piecing in progress.
• Sashiko coasters - I now have 6 tops done, but one still might need to be redone.  I just need to sew on the backs and they are done!  Wait, what? something might get done?
• Leaf Table runner - I have to do something with those blocks!

Back Burner:

These projects are part of my 100 Day Hustle List also, but will likely be touched in a couple of weeks.

• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  I moved this one up because it is part of  my 100 Day Hustle list.
• Star of Africa Bee - September's block, and now October's block
• Preschool Pillowcases
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - Putting this one aside until my blocks for the bees are done.  But I would like to at least catch up with the blocks here and there as not to get too far behind.  This one is scheduled to be completed after the 100 Day Hustle, but I'll never finish it then if I don't keep up somewhat.

The Back, Back Burner:

Lightning would have to strike twice.

• Handstitched goodies - several projects in limbo.  
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress, but put well out of the way.  I need to be in a paper-piecing mood to resume.
• EPP project - in progress.
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - just blocks, blocks and more blocks
New projects - 1
Currently in Progress - 5-ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .

The trees that defeated me - WIP Wednesday

Today, I am actually showing actual WIPs instead of items I have finished (mostly because there are so few in this category!), and because I am on vacation this week.

A small start on my Totally Groovy top:

I know, it's not much, but it did give me a taste for how much fun it is to put this one together.  I also finished most of the cutting, so hopefully the rest of the top will fly together!  Then it is onto the quilting which promises to be even more fun!  My 5th color for the quilt is a navy blue, in case anyone was wondering.

Also, I am admitting defeat on this one.  My tree quilt for the guild's quilt show this coming weekend.  The deadline is October 1st, but since I am on my trip right now I can't finish it.  Plus, it really wasn't coming together like I pictured.

I wanted it to look as if you were looking up into the trees towards the sky, but I don't like the different leaves.  WHY did I decide to make each tree different??  I also realized about the time I was machine appliqueing the first tree trunk that it was going to be rather difficult for me to quilt it the way I wanted.   In fact, I think to really make it work, I actually need to construct the quilt backwards.  This one needs a complete redesign and I don't have the time to do it right now.  It might not quite be "trash", but I definitely need to walk away from this one for now.

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Gram's Place mats (I actually have no pics because I was literally hand sewing on the binding on the plane to visit her!)
• Free Motion Challenge for September, click here for post

On-going Projects:

I've decided these are actually the projects I hope to touch within a week of returning from my trip.

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - top needs to be put together, sashing is partially cut
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - piecing in progress
• 12 Bee Blocks - piecing in progress.
• Leaf's Me Happy block(s) - My date is October 10th.  Designs chosen.  
• Sashiko coasters - as part of my 100 Day Hustle list

Back Burner:

These projects are part of my 100 Day Hustle List also, but will likely be touched in a couple of weeks.

• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  I moved this one up because it is part of  my 100 Day Hustle list.
• Star of Africa Bee - September's block
• Preschool Pillowcases
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - Putting this one aside until my blocks for the bees are done.  But I would like to at least catch up with the blocks here and there as not to get too far behind.  This one is scheduled to be completed after the 100 Day Hustle, but I'll never finish it then if I don't keep up somewhat.

The Back, Back Burner:

Lightning would have to strike twice.

• Handstitched goodies - several projects in limbo.  
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress, but put well out of the way.  I need to be in a paper-piecing mood to resume.
• June UFO - "A Christmas Something for myself" -EPP in progress. 
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 3 place mats - I know, look out!
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 5-ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .

Are you doing the hustle?

Marit at Sy, elsk, lev (Sew, Love, Live) clued me in to a great little "party" going on over at Kelsey Sews, called the 100 Day Hustle.  Basically, we try to finish up our to do list before the end of the year (now less than 100 days left).

Really the key to success is choosing a list that can actually be accomplished, right?  Not really my strong suit, but here it goes:

• 12 Bee blocks for the 3 x 6 Bee - I am putting these on the list because they are high priority and have to be done by October 15th, which is within the 100 days.  I have already decided to take next quarter off, so I can work on the rest of my list.
• I will also have 3 blocks for the Star of Africa bee that will need to be finished by the end of the year.  
• At least one block for the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop - my day is October 10th (like right around the corner!!!)
• Pillowcases for my daughter's preschool - I committed to this months and months ago, and they finally got me the fabric a couple of weeks ago.  They are relaxed about the finish date, but it really should be by the end of the year.
• Finish Totally Groovy - to be given as a gift for Christmas
• Quilt the Batik Stripe quilt - this one is just for me.
• small gifties for a few of my bee mates 
• Another small gift for my daughters' teachers (2)
• The Sashiko coasters from my Handstitched class - these too would make great gifts.
• finish the Vintage Holiday QAL top
• Finish Olivia's applique quilt - the blocks are done.

This list seems small (especially compared to the UFO Sunday one I made), but it includes 4 quilts to be quilted, and quilting takes me a while.  I will truly be lucky if I get those done.  I also know that there will undoubtedly be other things that will "pop" up between now and then.

Wish me luck!  Lord knows I am going to need it!

Jen

the List - UFO Sunday

If you feel overwhelmed by reading other people's to do lists, avert your eyes, this one is a doozie!  Like when you open a closet door at a friends house expecting to hang up your coat, but the darn thing is so stuffed with junk it falls out all over you -- that kind of doozie!

A few weeks ago, Leah Day over at Free Motion Quilting Project, started a new weekly link up called UFO Sunday.  One of the things I like best about Leah's blog is that it is deeply introspective.  She really probes into the emotions and thoughts behind why we do what we do with our projects and our lives.  She makes me think (heaven forbid)!  This new link up was sparked by a bunch of feelings - the need to practice on real quilts, the desire to feel less oppressed by the pile of UFOs lying around and the hope that getting some things done might make one feel, well, happy.

Now, I know I have been participating somewhat sporadically in Patchwork Times UFO Challenge.  But unlike that challenge that assumes you will finish a UFO each month, Leah's premise was rather simple.  Just work on a languishing UFO for one day, even if it was only for 15 minutes.  Progress is progress.

She also explored some thoughts on why some UFOs end up languishing in the first place.  I can totally relate to some of the reasons.  Like the quilts for my mom that took forever because I didn't really enjoy the fabrics.  At the moment, I feel like I have too many other pressing projects that need my time and attention more.  Leah suggests making a list and really determining which projects deserve your time and which should be trashed.  Yes, trashed.  "Time is a precious resource", it shouldn't be wasted!

So, here is my list of languishing UFO's:

The Handstitched projects:

• the stitched headband - actually I wanted to make a band for a hat I have.  Still want to do this.
• Sashiko coasters - the bases are actually made.  I need to transfer a few more designs and get stitching.  I still want to do this.
• the Hexagon tote bag - I have my hexies all basted.  I have the linen to make the bag.  I have someone I would like to give it to.  But I am hesitant.  This one needs to go into a different category, a wait until you are jazzed about getting stuff done and then finish this one category.
• The star blossom wall art - I have everything I need for this one, but I am having trouble choosing fabrics.  I am just having a hard time imagining those little pieces working together.  Plus, EPP just seems to take forever!  I need another trip to Hawaii to get it started and done.
• The flower applique pillow - this is adorable, but I don't know that I really need a pillow right now, nor do the kids.  I mean shouldn't we actually have quilts for our beds first?  Maybe not, but at the moment, I am leaning toward trash.  Thankfully, I didn't get very far on this project before setting it down, so only 4 scraps of fabric would be trashed.
• The Medallion quilt top - I love this quilt, but the last step put a bit of a funk on it.  I need to rip out all the seams for the last border and redo them.  Seam ripping is not much fun even when it is only a few inches.  I probably have about 250 inches to rip out.  Not fun.  I need to just do it one day, then back and sandwich it.  The hand quilting will take a while, no doubt.  Perhaps this will be my holiday project while the kids are home and I can't sneak off to my sewing "studio".

Other projects:

• Hawaiian applique pillow - from the class I took 2 years ago!  The darn applique is nearly finished.  I think I have 2 more small circles to go.  But, I don't need a green and yellow pillow.  Although, now that I know how to make these things into wall art, that could be an option.  Undecided which category this goes in.
• The fusible rose project - this one is partially "pieced".  I need to add it to the background fabric and then thread paint it.  The thread painting aspect is why I took a class last January.  I'm not sure I know enough to make it look nice enough.  It WOULD be an excellent practice piece though!  Leaning toward Trash, but perhaps it makes more sense for it to languish a little more.
• The thread painting wall art - this was what we worked on in class.  I only have a few more steps until it is done.  I had hoped to finish it up and give it to my grandmother for a gift.  But, my excitement level for this project is null.  Trash.
• The Batik Tile quilt - fabric is cut, some blocks put together, basically "piecing in progress".  The problem is that I am just not in love with these fabrics anymore.  I really appreciated the picture of the pattern and thought it was beautiful, but once I got into making one myself, my interest dwindled.  It is quite possible, I am just not a Batik person.  A shame really, considering I have a whole box of them. I am leaning toward Trash.
• Blue and White One Block Wonder top - I actually like this one.  I think it would make a great charity quilt.  I was hoping to send one more this year to the woman collecting for Happy Chemo.  She said in a post that she is always looking for more "manly" quilts for the patients.  This would be a good one for that.  If I allowed myself to just quilt it with a simple all-over design, it could even be done relatively quickly.
• Brown and Blue Land of Lincoln Quilt - I like this one too.  It is a little too dark for our home here, but I think it would be a perfect addition to our family's vacation home up in the mountains.  It needs the final border added and then quilted.  The drawback - it is BIG.  Yes, I have a new machine that should make this easier with its large throat space, but it is BIG.  I think I am balking at finishing it just because of the size.  Solution: send it out.  I don't know why I am so hesitant to do that.  I really want to finish my own projects!  But it really boils down to this one sitting in a box for another 6-9 months or getting done by someone else.
• Star Circles (a New York Beauty quilt) - piecing in progress.  I love the look of this quilt and when I am in the mood to paper piece, I try to do a few more blocks here and there.  I think this one will get done, eventually.
• Olivia's applique quilt (the copy of my niece's quilt from last Christmas) - The darn blocks are all done, applique and all.  I literally just need to put the top together and quilt it!  Olivia is just getting to the age too, where she might want a special blankie of her own.  This Christmas?
• The Batik Stripe Quilt - it is one of my FAVORITES, why can't I get this done???  It is sandwiched and ready.  Why don't I just start it?  Fear.  I am at the point where the quilting happens, and I want it to stand out and be seen, but I am terrified that I will mess it up.  And, I am having difficulty choosing a thread, but that is really just a secondary excuse.  This one needs to be done, like yesterday!
• Paper-pieced block pillows - I have several paper-pieced blocks with no homes.  I can't really see them going into a quilt, but they would make pretty pillows.  Did I mention, I don't really need any pillows.  These may need to just be trashed or given away to unsuspecting bee mates.

My New-FO's (these really haven't been languishing, YET):

• The Beginner Quilt Along Top - I don't have a lot of emotions invested in this one and plan to give it to my guild to either auction off or give to their charity causes.
• The Vintage Holiday Quilt Along top - I love this one and want to keep it for myself.  Excitement level is still high on this one, an excellent time to keep going and get it done.
• The How Far Will You Go Quilt Along - the top is not yet completed and the quilt along is still going. I have had to put this one aside for a while to finish up some other items, like bee blocks, which puts it in the danger zone of being forgotten.  The design is lovely, and the quilt along has been a great experience, but I have no plans yet for the quilt itself.
• The Totally Groovy Quilt Along top - I would really like to give this one as a gift to someone special.  I need to get it done.

Seems like I don't have many for the Trash category.  I guess I need to get to work then!

I am not actually linking up this post at Leah's blog today, because I haven't actually worked on any of these projects.  I just feel writing them down was the first step and publishing it might help me be more accountable.  Baby steps, people, baby steps.  I'm leaving town tomorrow and will have a whole week to decide which of these projects to spend some time on first.  Also, I plan on trimming down this list to fit with Kelsey Sews 100 Day Hustle, which I will post in a few days.

What do you have languishing around that spending 15 minutes on might make you feel better?

Jen

Hey, it's something! - WIP Wednesday

I haven't made as much progress on my project during the last few days as I hoped.  I've had a little one home sick, and instead of sewing I've been watching the latest Barbie movie and the Little Mermaid over and over and over and over again!  The upside is that the music is fairly good in both movies!

Gram's place mats all sandwiched and ready to go.  Thank you to everyone who helped me see that the yellow background on the 2nd one really needed to be changed!  I like this cream much better!

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Trial block for solid's group of 3x6 Bee (hey it's a start!)
• Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop Item - Done, done, and done - come back TOMORROW for the reveal!

On-going Projects:

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - top needs to be put together
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - started, albeit a small start
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - I might need to put this one aside for a little while.  Luckily the QAL goes through January, so I will have plenty of time to catch up.
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• Star of Africa Bee - September's block
• "Tree" themed quilt for the guild - since I got my top done for the LGABH, I actually started this one. I am not sure I like how it is going nor am I sure I will get it done by the deadline.
• Grammie's place mats - tops are done.  Quilting will commence tonight after the kiddos are in bed. Deadline Sept 22nd (because my plane leaves on the 23rd!)
• 12 Bee Blocks - piecing in progress.
• Leaf's Me Happy block(s) - I finally got my date for this blog hop - October 10th.  Designs in progress

Back Burner:

I am determined not to forget these projects!  Keeping them in this category reminds me of them on a weekly basis.

• Handstitched goodies - several projects in limbo.  I am preparing a few of these for my week long trip next week.  I figure it is the perfect time to make some progress on these items, especially the small ones.
• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  
• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress, but put well out of the way.  I need to be in a paper-piecing mood to resume.
• June UFO - "A Christmas Something for myself" -EPP in progress. 
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 1 + 1 block
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 9-ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .