The pig can see!

I love staying at home! I'm getting so much done, and I'm so motivated these days. I think the motivation is coming from seeing the others on the Zoom calls. I can see what they are working on, and while I'd love to do some of the stuff that they are making, my conscious won't let me until I get some more of my own stuff done! 

Of course, I have deadlines to work with, so that's a motivator as well. But the bottom line, I'm making significant progress, and while Studio B still has a long way to go before that mess at the bottom of the stairs is cleaned up, it's all good.

I also had an audiobook that HAD to be finished last night. OH MY - if you haven't read this one - you need to read it. What great fun! Well - it's a murder mystery. It's called The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I was going to wait and finish it this morning, but I decided to plug away and listen to the last hour last night. It's a great book. And while I was listening, I decided to do some organizing.

I moved all the loose projects off the tables and put them with the mess at the bottom. I mean, there are only so many current projects that one can work on before the place becomes a mess. I didn't add too much to the piles, but it's bigger than it was.

The mess at the bottom of the stairs

I emptied another fun container and filled it with stuff from the cutting mat. So I now have three containers of current work. That's it - NO MORE.

This container is one of those Bag thirty-one containers, and someone gave it to me after they had my name embroidered on it. Thanks, Pam!

My embroidered bag

So yes, I'm going to have a few more projects to add to the UFO tubs, but that's OK. It all should be organized so that there isn't a huge mess on the tables. The trick now will be focusing on what's in those three containers. I'm sure I can do it. This process is an evolution for me. It's all just way better than it used to be.

I have some more sample fabric to make into pet mats, so I might attempt to get that done today. While I was listening, I got it all organized and ready to serge.

I moved some furniture around, keeping in mind that I need that film studio set up in the corner.

Studio B is looking pretty spiffy

I swept the floor and did a bit of spot washing. Oh yes - I was motivated to get that audiobook finished!

I even had to bring my portable design wall downstairs as I'm working on the homework for another one of Saturday's classes. The blocks are all cut out and ready to be sewn later today. Of course, you can't see that! But you can see the Celebration quilt in the far left of the photo.


The blocks for Summer Moon are also done! I was able to finish off 14 of them this month by adding the sashings that are also on the homework list this month. That's awesome. There are still 21 blocks to make before we can start to sew the quilt together. We have two months - well and then a month to sew it together. The show and tell isn't until November.

Summer Moon blocks that I finished

However, it would appear that I need to STOP eating chocolate when I work on that quilt or any quilt. Look what I did.

Chocolate

ACK -- that one is too large to leave. So I might as well dig out the other one that has a wee bit of chocolate on it and deal with both of them. Now to get the presentation and the written homework together.


As I was tidying up that glass bowl with the nails and screws, I noticed that there was also a button. Great - I usually file any buttons as soon as I find them, but this one did not get put away.

A black button

As I grabbed the button, I realized that it had glue on the back. Oh my - this was glued to a quilt. OH MY - I know which quilt is missing a button. This poor pig has been missing an eye for years. I guess the button should have been on my list of missing things. Can you believe that I put two and two together and knew that that button went on this quilt??? I impressed myself with that connection.

A missing eye

Now the pig can see everything that's going on!! I love it and am very happy about that. I swear - I need to make a list of missing things - it would be interesting to see what one can find and where the missing item has been hidden. That little OPEN bowl has been moved from place to place. I've seen the button, but because I didn't pick it up and realize it had glue on the back, it never clicked as to where it came from.

The pig can see again!

Here's something else I was investigating. I had found a magazine dated Fall 2014. It was a special magazine from Fons and Porter - Patrick Lose. Here's a picture of the mini mats that I had set fabric aside to make. While I could make them using traditional applique methods, there was also a machine embroidery applique file that you could buy.

The mini mat

The website to buy the files is no longer in existence. There has been a ton of change at the publisher for that magazine. I sent a note to my contact, and there is nothing in the archives for these mini mats. Shoot! I'm going to contact Patrick Lose directly to see if I can find the files through him. If not, then it's traditional applique!!! But the darn things are so cute, and there are three of them - a sunflower, the acorns, and a pumpkin. Yes - I don't need to add a new project to what I'm doing, but it's fun to just make a small project and be done with it!

I guess the lesson there is if you want to make something from a magazine and it requires a purchased pattern (as an extra option), then make sure you buy it then! I doubt that I bought it, so I'm not even going to look at my files.

I did find this mess of bobbins and pens that I have to deal with today. Those are bobbins for the long arm. Now I only use the ones with the slots in them. The others don't work well on the bobbin winder, but I bet the others will work on my Mega Quilter, so those will go in the box with the supplies for that machine. It just amazes me how I was happy to let this mess pile up and not deal with it. The pens will likely go into the garbage, or if they still work, they'll go to a school supply donation box.

A mess to clean up today

Remember those pins that I got for free from Missouri Star???  Shoot - I can't find the photo at the moment, and I don't have time as I'm on my way to spin class shortly. Anyway, I took them out of the container and put them on my magnetic pincushion. OH - I dislike those pins. They look like crowbars. Look at how massive they are compared to my regular flower-head pins.  So much for a FREEBIE. They are totally useless.

Huge pins

I did use them for something, and they left massive holes in my fabric. Needless to say, I won't be using those pins for anything quilt related. Perhaps they can be used in scrapbooking? I'm using them to attach names to the stuff that is set aside for people to pick up from my house!!!!

Even though I also spent a few hours hunting for the tools and supplies for my presentation tonight, I managed to get a few more rows done on the disappearing nine patch quilt. I am MOTIVATED. There's no question in my mind. Out of all the quilt tops that I have to sew together, I think this is the one with the most blocks. I talking blocks, not the pattern within the blocks. 

The disappearing nine patch

Oh my gosh -- -there are only nine rows left to sew together. That's HUGE. And since the rows are now shorter, it's taking less time to flip the seams on the back and sew them together. I haven't touched that customer quilt on the long arm, and I need it done by the weekend. I should be finished in a couple more hours, and well - it's going to be another busy day!

I must remember to buy a different fabric detergent. I just put on my cycling clothes, and the smell of the detergent is awful. I can't stand scents on fabric any longer. I have tolerated them over the years, but my nose is getting more sensitive. Out with that laundry detergent and in with the unscented. Who needs clothes that smell "pretty." I just want clothes that smell clean.

I hope you are all getting motivated to some extent, either to sew projects, organize your UFO stash, or to declutter your house or your sewing room. The more that I get done (and I knew this was going to take years), the more motivated I am, and the more freedom I have. Getting rid of things that I no longer need or want is so freeing. I know - I don't feel like I'm getting rid of much, but I'm dealing with things that have sat for a long time. That's the freeing part - no need for me to see that open glass bowl of screws and nails. They are all put away, and the pig can see!!!

I didn't get a chance to mess with the software in my car, but I did gather all the information that I need to do the upgrade. Perhaps tomorrow. It's my birthday tomorrow, and well, the day is just for me to mess around and do whatever I want!!! Getting Android Car Play in the car would be a great birthday present.

On that note, I'm out of here!


Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!