The weight creep

 Well, I seem to have accomplished a lot yesterday, yet I have nothing to share with you. That's not entirely true, as I have one thing to share. I'm participating in the Barn Quilt project with Thimbles and Things, and once a month, we have to make a block. 

Yes -- the class is this Friday, and I always seem to be right at the last minute to get the block done, and this month was a super simple block. I took some time yesterday to make the block, and the task for the extra points is also done. 

My barn block for September

The extra points were easy as we had to take a picture of a log cabin quilt - and one additional point if it was a quilt that we had made. This is my log cabin quilt. 

My log cabin quilt

The picture just doesn't do justice to the richness of this quilt. It's a mini-log cabin quilt. There are 144 blocks in the quilt. All are paper-pieced, and once I got into production mode, I could do one block in 15 minutes. And there are only five colors in the quilt -- red, blue, black, green, and purple. There are mediums and darks in the quilt but no lights. I love it, and it hangs in my hallway. 

One log cabin block

What I didn't do was take a picture of all my blocks. OK -- now here are all my blocks so far. Technically we should have 14 blocks -- 12 from last year, one from this year, and a bonus block that we made last year. I only have 13 blocks in total -- 12 that I'll use in the quilt and one that will be the label. There's one block that I didn't make last year. I decided that I wasn't going to use applique blocks for my version of the barn quilt. And not only will I not use the applique blocks, I decided to not make them. The reward wasn't worth the effort, and I'd have an orphan block!

My barn blocks

The label for the quilt and one extra block

We also did another small bonus block, but it's too small to work with the others. It'll go in the orphan block pile and get used at some point. 

I'm happy with the results and only 11 more blocks to make. My blocks are 9" finished, not 18" as per the original instructions. I intend to make a quilt with 18 blocks (on-point), but I'll make all the blocks and then decide what to do with them. Some of those blocks are intricate, and bringing them down to 9 inches is "fun!"

I see people have been working on their UFO homework as the e-mails are starting to come in. The only reason many of these projects are getting done is the commitment to the UFO Club. It's weird how our minds work, but it's exciting that we are finishing these projects! It's so exciting to see what people committed to make and see them actually get it done.

This is going to be a busy weekend; there are three classes for four different quilts. There is UFO Club, and there's a lecture, which I'll run twice because of the number of people signed up. I'm about halfway through the homework prep. So guess what I'll be doing today? And I have a quilt that has to be done and a couple that needs to be trimmed. 

So there'll be lots of homework to share next week. And I do have some e-mails to get out today reminding people of commitments for the weekend. 

Murphy has lost her marbles! Well, she has lost most of her balls. I have no idea what she has done with them. But one of them surfaced a couple of days ago, and she is INSISTENT that we play ball - in the house, outside  - she's relentless and never seems to tire out. 

It appears that it's missing again. Last night when I asked her to "get the ball," this is what happened. She literally tore her toy box apart, looking for it. OH -- as I read that, I realize that I contribute to her wanting to play ball! That's OK -- she's such a goof! 

Looking for the missing ball

Oh, Murphy -- it's likely under the trees in the backyard! Silly girl!

As I sit here eating my protein bar to go to spin class and not run out of gas, I contemplate how I could have gained FIVE pounds in the last couple of weeks. Yes -- that's awful! Well, I'm blaming it on two things. DH and his habit of buying treats for dessert. NO more desserts. I mean, when you look at the packaging, and it says 500 calories for a butter tart, and when you eat one a day for weeks (OK -- I haven't, but you get the picture), that adds up. 

The second culprit, which is related to the first, is SUGAR. There's nothing like eating sugar for me to pack on the pounds. And I'm walking at least 11.5 KM a day! I do have chocolate (a couple of pieces) every day - it's my little treat. But I'm going to have to start monitoring what I put in my mouth. 

While the five pounds is nothing I can't handle, it's the slow and steady creep that concerns me. If I ignore this, next thing I know, there'll be another 5 pounds and another, and I'm not putting up with carrying all that extra weight. It's hard work to carry all that excess weight, and I'm lazy, so we're going to start watching what we eat - right after I finish off that pumpkin pie! 

The other thing I need to do is drink more water. I don't drink enough water to stay adequately hydrated, which makes a difference in how we eat, feel, and properly maintain our health! I say that all the time, and sadly, I can't get myself motivated to drink more.

I did two presentations yesterday. One was the final in the series for that store, and it's always sad to say goodbye. That's the one thing that I haven't quite gotten used to with Zoom. Usually, people hang around when you finish a class, and there's some chit-chat as you pack up. With Zoom, you say goodbye and CLICK -- everyone is gone. That is the one thing that I dislike about Zoom. But I can live with that. 

And I get the nicest e-mails from people who search me out on Facebook or Messenger to send me the nicest compliments! That's so sweet of them, and I appreciate each and every comment. 

I watched more videos yesterday and downloaded more documents. I'm going to be so bright once I assimilate this information into my way of thinking. I think that's the critical thing to remember -- you can look at someone else's method of working or look at their finished projects, and if you try to copy it, the project or style falls flat most of the time. Why? Because that is THEIR work coming from their heart, and you need to take the information they provide and figure out how to make it work for you. 

That's why I always say - there is NO right or wrong way to do anything. This relates to anything we do -- storing fabric and fabric scraps, binding a quilt, etc. You have to find the way that works for you! What I offer are suggestions. 

Anyway, that's it for me today. I'm off to sweat buckets at spin class. But after a nip in the steam room and a good shower, you feel like a million bucks, so it's all worth it in the end. Do you ever wonder why we put ourselves through all this torture? 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

UFO Show n Tell

I thought I'd share the UFO show and tell with you today.

Last year, I started a UFO club. Each person paid a fee to join the club and then put some money in the kitty that they would get back once they finished their assignment for the month. Each person gets to choose how much or how little they do, depending on their schedule for that month. I think that at least half of the group members work full time - some at home and some at their actual place of work.  It's a small amount - $10 per month, but that's enough to get people fired up!

I don't think that it's just the money. I think many of us are sitting on a bunch of UFOs and well - we know that if we don't come home one night, who is going to clean up our studios? Many of those UFOs will get tossed as no one will be able to figure out what was supposed to happen - some parts might be missing or the pattern.

The purpose of the club is to get everyone on track. And that's what has happened. Everyone who signed up for the first year resigned up for year two, and we added a couple of people. We've been doing the show and tell on Zoom, so anyone can participate! Watch for the sign-up for next year. That'll be coming in the fall. I'll keep the groups small (in case we need another group), so we can get our show n tell covered in one hour.

Now we had not planned to work through the summer, and so there was no money in the kitty for July or August, but the group really wanted to have a deadline and to "meet." So I made that happen. Even with NO money on the table, the amount of work that got done was crazy. Let's have a look.

Katheleen is working on Snow Days - a pattern by Crabapple Hill. She now has Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 together with all the embroideries done. There are something like 14 sections in the quilt - I didn't remember that there were that many. The blocks for the center are done as well, and that's her goal for the upcoming month - sew the center together and join a few more sections. Oh yes - there's no stopping these guys! They wanted to meet in August as well!

Katheleen's Snow Days UFO

Thankfully, there wasn't money on the table this month because I didn't get my homework completed. I did, however, start to sew the red and white log cabin blocks together. It shouldn't take that long to finish this off as I now have 16 larger blocks and that one row to sew together.  That's ONE of my goals for August. This quilt top, the binding, and the batting need to be organized.

My red and white log cabin quilt

I was very ambitious and wanted to have the Snail's Trails blocks completed as well. As you can see, that didn't happen. However, the good news is that all the components for the remaining blocks are cut out. I was lamenting that I still had TWELVE blocks to sew together. Then when we were sewing for Monday yesterday, I realized that I only have SIX blocks to sew together.

My Snail's Trails blocks

I'm happy to report that I got four of the remaining six blocks sewn yesterday, so that leaves TWO blocks left to sew. Then each block needs to be trimmed and then to sew the quilt top together. That's on my list to finish in August as well.

Those two items are the LAST two items on my 2017 UFO list. I will get that list done by the end of August, even if it kills me!!!

This is my yoga bag, and it needs the end seam allowances to be finished. That's on the goal for this month as well. This project is on my 2020 UFO list. 

The yoga bag is almost done

AND - I have one border to add to finish this project. That's also on the list of goals for this month. None of those jobs should take more than an hour or two. This quilt is also on the 2019 UFO list. I'm determined to get as many of those projects off the lists as I can. There are four still on the 2018 list, so those will become a priority for the remainder of the year.

The Easy Street quilt needs one last border sewn on

I also pulled a project from the 2020 UFO list that has to be sewn together. It's a quilt, and all the blocks are done. So that will be a bonus. And there's no money on the table so if I don't get it all done, that's OK. But I WANT it done.

Technically, Shelly didn't put anything on her list for this month. But that doesn't mean that she was slacking. Her son got married, and he wanted her to refurbish this wagon that I believe had been made by her son's grandfather. It's adorable and so yes - she finished something!

Shelly refurbished the wagon

Her goal for next month is to work on the embroidery on two blocks for Winter Wonderland. This is another Crabapple Hill pattern.

Block one for Shelly to finish

Block two for Shelly to start

Dede's goal was to get 124 half square triangles completed, and here they are!!  Dede will now be working on adding a border to the Patchwork Sampler quilt, and then these half-square triangles make the next border.

Dede's half-square triangles - DONE

Diane had these three peacock embroideries done and didn't know what to do with them. So over the last couple of months, she's been turning them into cushions for her sofa. The last one was completed this month! They look awesome!!!

Diane's three peacock cushions

Lynne wanted to get ONE of the 52 designs on her Dream Big panel stitched out. That was a bit dicey since she got the thread days before we met. But she did get the stitching done. This is tricky because the placement of the design is critical. I think she did a great job!!  She's going to be working on this project for August and wants to get at least 4 more designs stitched out.

Lynne's first design stitched out on the Dream Big panel

This is the layout of the Dream Big pattern

Diane P. is working on Stitcher's Garden. This is the FOURTH of these quilts that we've worked on in the UFO club. The other three are done, and this one is close.

She had three blocks to finish off, and all three got done.

The first block

The second block (which is actually two blocks)

The third block (which is actually 6 blocks)

Her goal for next month is to finish the last section of the quilt, which equals seven blocks. I know she can do it!!!!


I swear that Jane was looking for a gold star this month. Her goal was to get two borders on a quilt. That got done, and I believe the quilt is at her long arm quilter to be quilted.

Two borders added to this quilt

She wanted to get the binding on this quilt - one that she was working on throughout the UFO sessions. 

Jane's starry purple quilt

The binding is half on. She was experimenting with thread colors and stitches, and so it's not quite finished, but it's very close.

Working on the binding

She got the batting and backing together for another one of the quilts that she worked on during our UFO sessions, and that one is also with the long arm quilter to get quilted.

Off to the long arm quilter

She finished quilting this Christmas quilt and got the binding on it as well. See - what I mean about that gold star???? 

Jane's Christmas quilt is done

WAIT - there's more. She was also working on this quilt during our UFO sessions. It went to the long arm quilter, and now the binding is on, and this one is ready to gift!!!! I LOVE the picture - it's a perfect setting for that photo. Way to go - Jane!!! And YES - you get a gold star.

Jane's sailboat quilt

Linda was also on a roll this month. She's been quilting her own quilts and went gangbusters. This is a panel that she added a border to. Then quilted it and got the binding on. This one will go to the local guild's community projects.

Linda's child's quilt -- DONE

Another panel that's quilted and bound.

Another panel quilt - DONE

This was a top belonging to the community projects at the local guild. It's now quilted and bound.

Community projects quilt - DONE

BUT this is what her real homework was. To get this Christmas quilt done, and it's done!!!  I love it when we get on a roll and get one thing done and then keep going. That's called motivation. I LOVE IT!!!

Linda's Christmas quilt - DONE

Isn't that exciting to see the progress made on some quilts and see so many finished quilts? There are others in the club, but they didn't have anything on their plate for the month, or I didn't get the homework pictures. A few of them set a goal for the summer, so their work isn't really due until September!!!

It's all about moving forward, however slowly.

Great job to everyone, and so today, I'm scheduling ONE DAY where I can work on those UFO projects and get them done for this month. I want to move on to something else.

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!

UFO day

It's almost time for our next UFO meeting, and I didn't share with you what we all accomplished this past month.

We have all been busy as beavers, and NO money went into the kitty. This group is pretty serious about those commitments. I need to get myself in gear to get my homework done as we meet on Sunday, and I don't need another entire day of sewing blocks to meet a deadline, although I will if I have to.

First up are Susan's blocks for the Farm Girl Vintage. These are all 12" blocks and so darn cute. You want to make them all!!  Some are from Farm Girl Vintage book one, and some are from the second book. 

The rooster block

The bee

The pig

The tractor

The cow

I'm sure I've said this before, but some of those blocks (for sure the cow and the pig) were available on Fat Quarter Shop website as a download that you paid $6 US for. Then she comes out with a book, and those blocks, as well as others, are included for $40 CDN in total. A bit of an unfortunate situation. But it is what it is - let's move on.

Her commitment for this month is five more blocks -  all of them 6".

Katheleen finished section one of Snow Days. This included sewing the blocks together and then finishing up the embroidery that flows over the joins. It's done! Her goal for the next month is to get section two finished.

Section one of Snow Days - DONE

My goal for the month was to get 80 log cabin blocks sewn. They are done. That was my quilt in a day project. What a fool I am!!! My goal for this coming month is 9 snail's trails blocks and to figure out how to finish the quilt.

My log cabin blocks - 80 of them!

 Dede's goal was to complete the last four of her placemats. They are done, and I think she even managed to sell a few of them to another group member. That's awesome!!!

Eight placemats - bound and DONE

Her goal for the next month is to add the border to this quilt and quilt it. Funny how people HATE the quilting part. I'm going to try and quilt some more things on my domestic sewing machine - just for practice and see what one can do. There are so many options! You can watch the blog for that. But you saw that little Christmas wall hanging from yesterday's post. Super easy and looks fantastic.

Dede's quilt top to work on this coming month

Diane's goal was to get NINE of these snowflake blocks done. These are the A blocks for a much larger quilt, and they are together! I think she and I have the SAME flooring, as it looks like what I have in Studio B.

Diane's snowflake blocks - DONE

Her goal for the coming month is to finish TWO of these placemats. What I love is that we're dredging up small projects that have been hanging around FOREVER. Not only hanging around, but there was an issue or a reason why they didn't get done. Those reasons are being trashed, and we're moving forward! I love it!! I love how the group and a small amount of money are so motivating to everyone. Including ME!!!  We'll be rerunning the club, and it seems to be working virtually so for those of you who don't live close -- something to watch for later this year.

Diane's placemats to get done for homework

 Linda has been quilting up a storm. She got this spool quilt quilted, and the binding is on!!

Linda's spool quilt - DONE

The blocks on this Art to Heart quilt were made, but they are now assembled into a quilt top, also known as flimsy!!!

Linda's quilt top

It looks like the leftovers were made into a backing. Works for me. This is a great way to use up any leftover fabric as some of the collections you buy are so specific that it would be hard to put them together with something else.

The backing for the Art to Heart quilt

Her goal for next month is to get the top of this quilt together. It's a kit she bought many years ago and well - it's going to be finished soon!!!!

Linda's homework

Diane P got her blocks for the Stitcher's Garden Quilt done!!! This quilt is from The Stitch Connection.

Applique completed on block one

Applique completed on block two

Applique completed on the third block

Her goal for this coming month is to get three more blocks done.


Elaine's goal was to get the five borders on this large quilt.

The borders are on the Snowman Collector quilt

OH - shoot - not before there was a small mishap with one of the trees. I do know that that minor issue got fixed during one of the Virtual Retreat days! A tedious job, but it goes quick when you're chatting with everyone!!!!

A slight mishap with the bottom row

Sharon is hand stitching like mad! This block is finished, and her homework for the coming month is to work on the background of the double block. There are THREE Blocks left in this Piecemaker's Calendar from 2000. That's huge!!!  And I think this is the oldest UFO we've had in the group.

Sharon's block for Piecemaker's Calendar

I haven't edited some of these pictures. But I think Jane has the SAME problem that I did with my phone. She has it set to the FULL view of the phone screen instead of 3/4!!!  I'll have her check that setting. Anyway, her goal was to put bindings on three quilts.

Quilt number one

Quilt number two

Quilt number three

I think she is doing a great job with the binding by machine!!!!

Binding by machine

 This is a bonus project that she made for the Nova Scotia victims. There are 22 blocks in the quilt, each one representing one of the people killed.

Quilt for Nova Scotia

Her goal for next month is to applique three sailboats to the background and to quilt one more column on her Christmas quilt.

Laura's goal was to get the center circle of the quilt done! We'll have to trust her since we can only see ¼ of the quilt in this picture. Her goal for next month is to get the outer border cut and sewn together. This quilt is called PRISM squared.

Laura's quilt center and borders

The homework for next month

 Liz is working on an Amy Bradley quilt - The Garden Quilt? I can never remember the name of this pattern.

Anyway, her goal was to get one block completed. And she got it done!  Her goal for next month is to get the Vintage Boat panel together as a quilt top and have the backing made as well.

Applique is done on one quilt block

Lynne's goal was to get her cat quilt completed. Notice that the label is even on the quilt!!!

The cat quilt is done!

 Her goal for this month is to get this panel quilted up and finished. It's a baby quilt, and we all agreed that just quilting up the panel is a good idea. A quick gift.

Panel to be made into a quilt

 Shelley's goal was to get the backing completed for her Abacus quilt.

The backing of the quilt

 OH. and to make the binding as well.

The binding for the Abacus quilt

Her goal for next month is to finish the quilt. Quilted and bound.

Ronda's goal for this past month was to get 6 more section paper pieced for her winter wall hanging.

Six more paper pieced section

 She even made some extras, which is good since there are still a LOT of sections to go on this project.

Bonus paper pieced sections

There you have it - the homework completed and what needs to be done this coming month.


I sure hope that they have all started on their homework. We meet on Sunday morning, so that doesn't leave a whole lot of time to get the homework done! Says the kettle to the pot! HEY - I've made some progress on my UFO project.

On that note, I'm out of here!!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!