Still Without

Still without the desktop computer.

Took a trip to the big city to buy a replacement printer. They are so inexpensive and the biggest complaint I have is the cost of ink. Well, HP has an ink program and the printer was on sale. It took all morning to get it set up to the router and every other electronic thingy...IPhone, laptop, desktop. Thing has more bells and whistles and even its own email. 

I worked on the borders for the Outhouses quilt the rest of the day and still have more of them to go. I asked my older Son if he wants flannel or cotton as the backing...asked in a letter that I can now print off and send. My handwriting is not at all good. He & I chatted today but I wanted to send the question so he could think about it.

Pictures will follow once the computer guy stops by to fix it.

This is Zone 3 for the Fly Lady system...3=Bathroom & extras in other rooms. Fifteen minutes goes by fast and I can usually get the chore done in less than that so having a detailed list to do more like in the entry way, or studio. This process helps my cleaning style. 

Last week was the Kitchen Zone 2, and I finally pulled off the two sets of dishes, one already given to the thrift store and the other going out later this week. When I was in the big city, I bought a couple of yellow bowls and 2 Batman plates (yellow and black). I eat soups, pastas, and sometime flat meals like eggs and toast. I don't need much kitchen stuff so will start changing up some storage places.

Although I am without a computer to download photos, I am still quilting, and very much aware of how my spirituality is effected by what I do. Sometimes I take in frustration because I cannot do what I want. Its like having developed a perfect system and when it falls apart, I can either be the victim, try to blame this or that, or find another way to stay busy. I am not accountable to anyone for what I do. No one has a right to tell me that I need to perform or produce. If someone is disappointed that I don't have photos or don't write each day, well, I am sorry too. However, it is what it is.

Project Backup

Many things have put my projects into a state of backup. There is an underpinning of frustration for me because I am a person who likes new beginnings, not waiting. Yet, here I am.

The Velcro and large button are on the Weekender Tote, and all threads clipped. Ready to ship out for my birthday Son. I even spent time loading all but one of the bobbins in prep for more. The one left is dedicated to machine quilting.

Two projects are in my carry bag ready to get into the clubhouse for basting. More projects are in bins, also waiting for basting. Thing is, machine quilting takes time and fills me with dread more than another other part of quilt-making. Also, I have enough safety pins for basting 2 at a time.

With the holidays over, some time has been taken up with packing things away, ensuring that nothing gets broken that I want to keep and nothing is kept that no longer serves my decorating desires.

Weather halts my desire to walk the block and a half in the rain and wind carrying a heavy bag that cannot be set down in the wet street.

One of the quilts in the bag is dedicated to a wedding in February. I want it done first. Maybe next week. 

Meanwhile, there are projects to piece.

I Am So Excited

Machine Applique is a hard process, so I feel quite accomplished to have done these Outhouses without much direction and of course, using the border patterns from a previous project. The last block presented numerous challenges, but it done now. Even the colors go together nicely. 

I did load a bobbin with dark green thread so will be able to sew on the Velcro and finish off the Weekender Tote.

Winds were furious and blew out the furnace pilot light. Evidently they drive down the stack, and I am not sure if it can be corrected. Of course, no handy man is going to want to get up there when it is this cold and wet. So I am just trying to prepare myself in case it happens often this Winter.

My computer guy hasn't come yet, so pictures are on my camera waiting until they can get uploaded.

The lesson of this time seems to be patience. I have never had much of it when I was younger, and wonder why it seems to come more easily now. I muse on this and come up with several ideas. For one thing I know is that everything has a cycle, a season, a time. Rarely does it help to try and push things along.

Hmmm.

Still Waiting for Computer Repair

I've been working on a number of things and will post photos when I get my computer system up again. I had a flair day yesterday and spent the time resting and feel better today.

I bought Velcro and a large button to finish the Weekender Tote. It shouldn't take much more time.

The first block for the Guest Designer Sampler posted a pattern called Brasstown Star, and so I found scraps that would work and made the block. The plan is to do each block as its own color combo and put them all together as a sampler quilt. I decided to partner it with the Mood BOM also in progress. I am using 5" charms for that one and will just add borders to whichever side needs one when they are both completed at the end of the year.

The Outhouses are appliqued, with the first inner borders on for January. And so next is to get into the clubhouse to baste. There are 2 quilts in the bag and more ready to baste in a closet bin. Obviously, the machine quilting on all of them will take time.

Outhouses

It took me awhile to select fabrics for this quilt as my choice is to make it relatively masculine for the outhouse look. Meanwhile, I sorted bins, sectioning backs, quilts ready to baste, and those kits still being working upon.

I am working on the fourth outhouse, and it is simply not turning out, so I may give in and start over on it. This last one is even more piecey so will take a bit more time. I might even redesign it. I think the grassy part needs to be lighter as a start.

I decided to piece more as I go with the 'emotional' BOM quilt. What I have done is to keep the box of scrap blocks that will go into it. They are actually 5" charms, and because there are more than half HST made, I will keep the halves not used in one block and select them as I go to make use of them.

One of the worst things about organizing is that I forget to label. I am getting better at it but when I forget, that is the exact project I want and then spend so much time searching. I always think that something is obvious and it is at the time, but then...time gets in the way and I need to search.

An Emotional BOM Quilt

One of the online groups I am in is hosting a very personal BOM quilt this year. It is to be scrappy, and it is meant to log in our daily emotions.

Because we are left on our own to do the project without any more direction than this page, I realized soon enough that the list of emotions given were greater than I feel. 

The scraps I selected to use are 5" charms and have a shoebox filled with them. Odd bits and leftovers from many years. 

I found a monthly mood tracker chart online, but even with 10 moods, it was too much for me. What I did was to divide moods into 3 categories; the darker side, the lighter side and those high energy peaks I get often. Then I sorted fabrics into those three categories and will make all the half square triangles (HST) from them as well as choosing squares for some days. Thing is, in making a HST, I end up with 2 blocks...and am not sure if I will use both of them in the quilt or consign them to the orphan bin.

My trip to the big city to get the car computer checked out was exhausting yesterday. I did get some of the binding sewn on the Weekender Tote so that was good. By the time I got home, all I could do was 'crash & burn' on the loveseat. Gone are the days of getting everything done and still having energy to keep going. Now I need to do more self-care.

Medalian Mystery Quilt

December gave us the fabric requirements. I am scrap quilting this, of course, so used the color names to get my choices. I didn't see red, but the first month, had red, so I pulled out a red with hearts on it.

I coasted along until step 3, and was just about to email the designer when I saw a picture of it that helped me see what was supposed to be done. And then, unfortunately, I ended up with extra cuts. I am not sure what I did, but the block is done and it is fine the way it looks. I don't 'interview' layouts so much and trust that random is fine.