Cutting, Planning

Today was a good day to cut and plan.

That’s it. I was going to stop writing because honestly, even thinking takes a lot of energy.

When they talk about Christmas in July, it’s for folks who plan for December, who have to buy supplies and mail by the end of November. Like me.

That’s what I started doing.

I worked later into the night to finish another block. I had a date with Jack. Block layout sometimes gets to me. While it needs trimming and a good press, it is done.

How can it be that there are six more blocks?

Yet.

And then, I printed off another BOM pattern. I was caught up on that project. That means there are 7 blocks from two projects. This doesn’t even factor in the Piggy appliqué BOM. Oh well, I was away from quilting several months, so I need to be gentle with myself.

It is very hard not to start another project. Back a few years ago, this was how I quilted. Now, I am deeply committed to finishing projects, even the UFOs hanging in my closet. If I can finish these SEVEN blocks, then, I can start on the holiday gifts.

Six To Go

In catching up, it seems like one block gets done and suddenly another appears.

I’ve worked to finish several blocks and even joined those in the top segment.

One block is almost pieced, another needs HST cut & pressed. In its turn, a block needs cutting, and the process continues. I need to spend time trimming loose threads, ensuring seams are correct, cutting off dog-ears.

What I have should finish the top half. I’ve been saving scraps in case they are needed, and just want to go forward.

Stopping before a project gets completed is more work when I return to it. I am determined to get completely caught up, and then make sure I don’t fall behind again.

Lavender Blue

Continuing with the Solid BOMs, I finished another.

It’s been hard to get back into a project set aside because I just couldn’t do anything. All I can do now is finish a block and go onto the next.

Colors in the pic don’t show up as pretty. Lavender, Lilac, Purple and Lavender Blue. Really lovely.

The next one is in red and white. Soon enough, I can join the first half of the quilt. If it turns out to be larger than I expect, it will get tied.

I spent time looking for ideas to make mini quilt wall hangings. The next swap theme is back to school. What I decided to do was a mini bookshelf. I found a pattern and now it is a matter of auditioning fabrics and finding school themed titles.

Meanwhile, I found an idea for a mini wall hanging for another group. I wanted to make a test block and this is it.

I can already see what it needs. I am not sure who I will send it to but whomever will like a reminder that there are only a few let.

SPOONIES measure energy based on a visual of getting so many spoons a day. Each person determines how much energy it takes to do something. When they add up how much energy is spent, they also know what they have left to give.

https://images.app.goo.gl/fSHcnjQcvbkjw4fs8

The link above will give more information on the theory.

Catching Up

twas a busy day that started last night.

Last night, I pulled bones and made a soup I had for breakfast. Then, I made today’s soup out of a Fennel bulb, a Beet, 2 Potatoes, and a couple of Green Onions. So good.

 

This one has 2 fabrics now reading close.  Flying geese are light in appearance. A third block is cut, with some parts finished. And there are several others ready to cut.

I got into the garden this morning too. And laundry. My Rico cat is still having issues, so I am cleaning but washing what he gets. He is sleeping a real lot theses days.

Another thing is that I am already planning for the holidays...Hallows and Winter Solstice. All I have is either money gifts and/or something quilted. I sure do want to use up this stash. I found the quilt top that was missing. And I found ideas for Hallows quilts.

Carpinteria Trip

Planned an entire day at the beach and in the town. What surprised me was a quilt shop across the street from the museum. https://roxannequilts.com/  the shop was filled with Kaffe fabrics. Such a treat!

I bought three ‘pickle’ green fabric for a Halloween quilt to be made for next year. I was blown away by the colors in the store. Follow the link to get a taste of what I mean. There was one pattern I loved and didn’t buy. I might call them and have it shipped.

Another One of Those....

Today's quilting is one of finishing projects. It is a twin sized Log Cabin.

When I checked seams and clipped threads on the Yellow Log Cabin going off to Spain, I discovered three different places on it that needed my attention. First, the errant section needs to be disassembled, re-pinned and stitched up. While the last spot is pinned for recognition, the entire quilt got another examination. 

It has been sitting around waiting for me to finish. It became a UFO (unfinished object). The stress of not finished it grew. I put so many other things in front of it so it moved further away yet not out of my thoughts. Strange.

The other projects suffered the same treatment. Now, there is more work. Whether or not I left notes-to-self, getting back to work on it means fully engaging in its energy. Something I did not want to do. Obviously.

I was determined to finish it before picking up another project. All that is left to do is write a note, package it and ship it off. Easy breezy.

August Orange

The Orange BOM swap and the monthly Mini Quilt swap are all I am doing until I catch up with the BOMs still waiting.

The July was a 1/4 “ short on one side. I am keeping the first one and ripped one outside bar off and cut it wider to trim when it was finished.

Then I made the August block. The center 9-patch came from my scraps. As the scraps get used, ill either cut them for my stash, or toss if they won’t.

I also pulled 42 white 2.5” mini charms from my stash to give them as an extra with the July block. I also put one of the Fairy magazines in. It has been a plan for awhile to use up what I have . It seems like a lot, even after all my years of quilting.

Things I have either in the closet or on shelves is valued. I know that if I don’t share things, most will get trashed. Unfortunately I have slowed down making projects. Over the years, I have come to see that most people want to fill their homes with personal choices.

I like these sampler quilts because choice of colors are so varied, that they go anywhere. Art shouldn’t exist to coordinate with a sofa. But people by cheap products and emplacement them in a couple of years. This one, because each block has oranges, will go to one of my Great-Niece whose Mother died from leukemia. Orange was chosen for leukemia awareness.

Placemat Swap

It is actually two placemats and two coasters.

When I chatted with my partner, she told me she liked Earth tones, batiks, and modern style. I messaged back that Earth tones could be dark soil of the Midwest to baked clay of the Southwest. While my pictures show black, the fabric is dark green. I added as many batiks as I had, and did as close to a modern concept as I could conceive. No pattern.

I did the coasters in a similar was with scraps from the project. Then just line quilting.

What am I experiencing? I think the greatest thing is to keep on. I see how hard it is becoming for me to stick to my old routines. So I don’t. In the past, my energy was high in the early morning. It is not.

I sometimes don’t get to work until afternoon. And I don’t push myself. I used to multi-task. Now it seems more important to finish one project at a time. I had been signing up for swaps, and stopped myself. I don’t do well multitasking anymore and want to catch up.

First on that list is a Solid BOM. Like the others, I am 6 months behind. I plan to get back to them all to catch-up before signing up for more. Also, there are some UFOs or unfinished projects.

What is the lesson? Just Do It.

Watermelon MR

Ive assembled a simple 3” patch mug rug, and kept it. When I bought a simple watermelon fabric,  it seemed like it would work for binding.

So I am working on it. The patches are front and back and will sit on my dining room table just fine. While it seems like a big step to keep something for myself, it is still something I rejected to give others.

I’ve been working on the mini quilt for a swap. The theme is Summer vacation. The size must be larger than 9x22. First, the design. Then, fabric selection. Next, the cuts. As it is I sewed 10 buttons on, numbered them with a permanent marker. They need to be trimmed and some of them joined. I will have to re-draft measurements at that point for better results. Right now, those 10 pieces are rough though I do have a plan. No pics yet.

The Solid BOM project is at least 6 steps behind the group and is next on my to-do list. I want to get this half pieced to make good color choices for the rest of it. All of it is scrap quilting.

It would be so nice to get some of these storage boxes put back in the closet. I think clutter slows me down. I need order around me so I can be creative.  Right now, my mind races as I think about changes, ideas, patterns, colors.

The Bug Jar mini would be perfect for a person who likes them, but might freak out a person who doesn’t. I’ll just keep it awhile.

Mini Quilts

I finished two mini quilts last night. Inspiration comes from one the swap groups I am in.  Sometimes I laugh at how many pieces of fabric I have.  One of the health groups I am in speaks about the lack of motivation from a dopamine deficiency because of an inflammation. Well, I’ve been dealing with this since the first part of the year and have been finding mysel less able or willing to do much.

Anyway, I push myself a lot these days.

The theme this month is Summer Vacation. I made this w

 All hanging for my Granddaughter ‘s Stepchild, whom I consider my Great-granddaughter. She is a pitcher in a fast-ball league. She is 12. When I was back in MN, I was able to attend two games, both of which her team won.

It was a very peaceful evening to sit on lawn chairs and marvel at how these young women played. Families came out to watch. What surprised me more than anything is the extremely high cost of participation. Why heck, a decent bat  runs from $350 to $500.! Other gear is the shoes, hats, shirts, socks, helmets, and gloves. Families travel many stay at hotels, potluck and cheer on the girlies.

The swap mini is a bug jar pattern. After making it, I changed my mind. I sewed butterfly buttons on it as well as one flower button. It is echo stitched, bound and has a dowel attached in back for hanging. I wouldn’t hang it, so why expect someone else to? I sent my partner an email telling her I planned to make a different one.

At this point, I don’t know what I will do with this one. I’ll head out to the P.O. this morning and get the baseball one sent.

Another thing I did yesterday was to press, layout and join some blocks for my next BOM I want to catch up to. It is being made from solids in my stash! And most likely will be lasrger than I plan.

Whether or not I am wiped by chance or by choice, I am pushing myself to do something more each day.

Mug rugs

these swaps have been fun. While the colors aren’t working in the pic, they actually look good. I made two for this swap because my partner is the group admin. Like me, she doesn’t want or need more supplies. Like me, she doesn’t make for herself.

This is a new pattern style for me with a center focus. My partner asked for blues and whites, and the Summer one I made was more teal or aqua.

This style is easy to make.

If you have been aware, Southern Cali is having Earthquakes right now. One just now. Non destructive to this house, so I can a little cavalier about it. Though I am aware.

I have been working to catch on the projects and am actually feeling better now. That means I will attempt to blog more often too.