Some bits and pieces

    I finished up a few more Quilty 365 circles that I had partially done.  And then I added  quite a few half circles that I will use on the ends of my staggered rows.  My tally is 275 circles and half circles.  That is good for me considering the year I have had:)
   So all the remaining circles will go into a second quilt.....just adding it to my list of "to-dos".

    Nope, not starting it until I move something else along.  Why?  It's my Rule of 3 in the sewing room.  I mentioned it before and got a ton of questions/comments about it.  I was going to do a post on it and thought to look back into the past.
Here is the post where I completely explain the Rule of 3 and how it came to be.

   I have 2 tops to pin and quilt and one on the design wall.....the pineapple blossoms.  I am letting the blossoms  simmer while I get the other 2 pinned.   Not sure if I want to go any larger, but do think I want a border.....so let it simmer a while:)

   I keep 2 journals close to my sewing machine.  The Scrabble cover one is for free motion quilting motifs that I have conquered or used on quilts I have made.  The extra papers in the back are motifs that I want to try my hand at.

  The open journal is my idea and thoughts journal.  I note future plans by month maybe, or list quilt ideas that I want to explore.  And all important....lists of needed things to get/order, ---like fabric, thread, etc.   I am really glad I started these a few years ago, since the lack of  B-12 has affected my short term memory.    The memory has improved but still needs help like my lists.


 
   Sir Old Man started it already...... messing with my mind over the time change that happens this weekend.  Just wake me up in time for coffee, okay?
Happy stitching.

October review and planning ahead

   What a month of  busy things......quite a change for me.  I began the month with the display at the guild quilt show.  Along the way I completed a long table runner/door banner with plumes,  stitched together circles for my Therapy Quilt, and made a machine cover/mat for the Featherweight, and......threw together the finish for Let's Book It.

   I took stock of the different stacks/piles in the sewing room.  It is like multiple people are working in here.  No plan or organization, just bits of lots of projects.  And therein lies my challenge.  I did not set a plan last month.....I was not fully functioning then.  Those B-12 shots have done wonders for my energy level, and thought processes, so plans are to be made.

  For November:

•   The circle Therapy Quilt is to be pinned and quilted.
•   The forgotten Bow Tie color wash flimsy also needs to be pinned and    quilted.
•   Make labels for both of these quilts.
•   Pineapple Blossom blocks.....need about 12 more.  Let's Book It project.
•   Make flying geese blocks as leader/ender project.
•   Finish cutting batiks into 2 1/2'' squares for future color wash project.

And I must stop there...my rule of three to keep things under control is being dragged out of mothballs.  Three quilts in the works at one time in the sewing room----with small projects allowed, but no other starts until something is finished.    It works for me to keep me focused and on track.....and doesn't let UFOs accumulate.

  Thinking time.....I need to decide on a word/phrase for next year.  And set up list of projects to do.....including the color wash of batiks, and a basket quilt for next year.  
It is so good to be back.....happy stitching.

Timing

Time.... is on my mind.... lately.  I remember the Rolling Stones sang that line. Although my favorite has to be Bill Medley singing ...."Now, I've had the time of my life" in the movie Dirty Dancing.  Time.  We can't see it.  We can't hold on to it.  We can use it to accomplish much.  We can live it to the fullness intended. We can enjoy it.  
  Yep, time is catching up to me, but I have figured out how to use it with whatever steam I have left.  I may not set world records, yet my goals seem lofty to me.    With so many seasonal demands on our time, I have learned to work in smaller units of time to do what I want and enjoy.  That means minutes, sometimes, in the sewing room rather than a couple of hours.  Minutes to organize, cut, piece, plan.

  Planning has been going on in the evenings.  I set aside a folder for 2015 projects, and pulled out an index card for a list.  I am planning a year of floral projects......so far I have noted 7 projects.  None of this is in stone, so ideas and direction may change.
   Into the folder go the photos/articles/magazines with the project ideas.  Books are noted on the index card by the project.  This helps me remember where I found the inspiration......(time has caught up to me, and sometimes fogs my memory/recall button!) Oh, yeah, and I have been playing with small 4 patch blocks that you can see in the background. You can clean out a lot of odd size pieces this way in a short amount of time.   I was just using up short pieces.....so I have no idea what will happen with them.

   From my stack of items to be quilted is this watercolor wall hanging.  I cut the backing and batting between baking batches of cookies.  It is on the work table and ready to be pinned.
   I also have another top to pin.....I have the batting cut.  The backing has to be pieced.  My Rule of 3 inspires me to at least get it ready to quilt too.  I so detest those UFOs....and want to have an open slot for a new project.




 Carolina Chain blocks are off the design wall, pressed, stacked ....ready for rows to be assembled.  This was accomplished between loads of laundry and bread baking.   I like having things ready to go....15 minutes of time should equal at least one row stitched.

 

  Seriously.....won't this be a great addition to the sewing room?  Lol....we did a little shopping today after getting haircuts.  Big and little boys like to play with trucks, especially if they are remote controlled.  Last year Remy smoked the Mustang's engine on the remote controlled car.  Hope this one lasts a little longer.

   Finally, a new project bin is filled to await its turn.  It actually took about 3 days to get all the pieces cut in between other things.  I pulled it all together this morning before we headed out.  I did one test block this week to be sure I wanted to do this project, called English Garden.
  The book is a very old one I snared last year from Better World Books, so I know it is not readily available.  But there are some very good project ideas inside---I marked 4 of them!   I won't start on this one until after the first of the year.....but I am set to go.
   There goes my timer....another batch of bread is done.  And it is almost time to pull some dinner together.  Tomorrow it will be time to put up the tree, and the wreaths, and all the other items.  See what I mean.....time has caught up to me.  Grab those moments of time and happy stitching.  

My Rule of 3

  My rule of 3....or how I keep those dread UFOs under control.  Apparently I scared  some of us with my comment about breaking my rule.  It has been a while since I mentioned this.  So let me explain.

   The year was 2000, and my life had changed once again.  I had time to sew and the creative urge was upon me. I did not have a dedicated sewing space, but used part of the basement, a spare room, and the dining room!  That translates to started projects stored in shoe boxes, tote bags, plastic bags, and other various bins and baskets.  I never counted them, but let's just say I was totally out of control.  I needed to  make some sense out of the mess.

    First, I decided what I wanted to keep and finish.  The other UFOs were "gifted" to others, or trashed.  Yep, some things that were so bad / ugly / disastrous were tossed.  No guilt, no quilt police, just make space to move on.  Was it hard?  Yes, it was.  But all that "baggage" was not going to help me move ahead.  

  That first year I finished up about 15 projects.......and along the way began learning to machine quilt.   This was this first thing I tackled.  It was part of my "neutral period"......not wonderful, but I was so proud to have finished it.

   Then I found this in a tote bag......from an art and color workshop.  I spent a lot of money on the fabrics, so I had to finish it.   This was the workshop that began my philosophy of how to select  multi-colored fabrics  for a quilt.

    Basically, begin with one fabric you love.  Pick one color from the first fabric and find a second fabric of that color.  Repeat using another color from fabric number one. And keep going until you have your required number of fabrics.  Be sure to include light and dark values.  You will be surprised at how well all the fabrics work together!

  All the blocks in this quilt are variations of the log cabin.  And this really began my journey into machine quilting.  All straight lines here.....and there are a ton of them.  Sir Old Man's cousin bought this one just because of the colors.

  Back to the story of 3.....By the end of the year I had made a dent in the UFOs, and then I took a workshop in strip pieced watercolor quilts.  That did it for me.  

   Shadow Heart set me on the road to where I am now.  Note the quilting.....some straight lines, some large early curls, and lots of stippling.  I was learning as I went, finding my own way.  I enhanced my stash of floral fabrics, and moved on to using 2" squares and gridded interfacing for the watercolors.  I was forever hooked.
   By the end of that second year, all UFOs were done----a few more were given away.  And I decided it was time to figure out who I was as a quilter.    

•  I loved the designing and unexpected surprises I found in watercolor quilts.  
•  I got bored easily  when piecing the same block over and over.  
•  I got bored with only one project to work on.
•  I liked block to block arrangements and hated sashing between blocks. 
•  I enjoyed the  machine quilting and wanted to get really good.   
•  I would rather be inspired by a design or quilt in a book/magazine than to make a duplicate of it.  

Thus, the Rule of 3 for me was established.  One quilt to be quilted, one quilt being sewn or pieced, and one quilt in the design/planning/cutting stage.   Small projects, like tote bags, table runners, and such that can be finished in a day or two are allowed anytime.  Just no major quilt is added to the 3 in the sewing room.  

 End result----finished projects and no UFOs!  Twelve years later, and I have kept up  with this philosophy, and have a huge body of completed work that covers my family, friends and many unknowns.  Until now.....I have some major quilting to be done, so future projects are just dreams added to my wish list.   But to keep my interest and creative juices flowing, I will play around with a stack of mug rugs and  snack mats  between quilting times.   Now, this might not work for you,   but my Rule of 3 works for me.   Happy stitching.