A ghost in the studio

I had a bit of a slow day yesterday! While I had plans to get lots done, I didn't get as much done as I had planned. I chilled out! And it was great!  OH - I did get my group lists created for my ongoing classes and sent them all a very long detailed e-mail for the first class. The girls and I went for a walk as it was a glorious day - I'm sure they'll have their side of the story maybe later this week. That Lexi is a bit lazy sometimes. I had errands to do in the car and I read.

However, that doesn't mean that I'm not doing stuff. Since it's Motivational Monday, I should report on what I have been getting done.

I had my shopping list so when I was at the quilt store on Saturday (first time hitting a quilt store this year!), I picked up two things out of three that was on my list. I'll get the third item somewhere else. That meant that I could continue on one of my 2017 UFOs. I cut all the squares, setting triangles and setting corners and put it on the design wall.

I believe I went upstairs to get something and when I came back, look what happened.

Wait - who knocked my blocks off the wall?

 I guess I put them on the wall a wee bit too quickly and they were not "adhered" and when one decided to fall, it took a few others with it.

But this is what the project looks like when all the blocks are on the wall. Oh - I wondered why there were two identical photos. This is the photo before the setting triangles and corners were added. They are cut and on the wall.

2017 UFO 

 It's a bit long and narrow, but when it's sewn together and the borders are on, I'm sure it'll be just fine. All those blocks were made with scraps! So this one should get completed shortly. I did start sewing it together and thought I had taken a picture, but I guess not. You'll see it as it progresses. That's the good news. The bad news is that there is still enough fabric to make TWO more quilts in that box. Ah yes - the danger of choosing a project with multiple quilts for a UFO.

Plus it's almost the end of January and I'm not making a lot of progress on those UFOs. But I'm working on several of them so it's not like they're being ignored.

I'm actually sewing on my own sewing machine these days. This is the one that I did all the Halloween embroidery blocks on. I knew it needed to be cleaned, but when I opened it up last night, I almost died. It had been making a few funny noises and not sewing as well as it should. Can you see why?

Huge mess of threads around the cutter

 And look at all the lint that I got out of the bobbin case area. Oops - that is NOT good. I've got my 4 bobbins wound and I'll be good in the future and keep that bobbin case area clean and a new needle.

Lots of lint removed from bobbin case

 I've got more pictures to share with you of what else I've been doing, but that's a whole topic on its own so that will be shared another day. Here is my current ender/leader project. The only reason this got bumped in the priority line is that it was on my felt board and I needed the felt board. So I placed all the pieces on the table. Let's say that I got plenty of Fitbit steps as I walked from that table to the sewing machine to the ironing board.  My current sewing table isn't big enough to keep that close. That's OK by me.

Ender/leader project

This is what the block looks like this morning. It won't take long to finish this block up and then I can start on the next one. This is part of the pixelated apple quilt that I started in a workshop last summer. This is block number three of - well I'm not sure how many. But I cut a whole bunch more squares on Saturday so I'm ready for a lot more sewing.

The block is almost together

Our local Fabricland moved over the holidays. I hadn't been to the new store, but I was in the neighborhood yesterday and I needed some more cording for the upcoming tuffet class in April. It's never too early to get prepped!  The store is big and bright but it feels weird as all the displays are different. It almost seems like they have less stuff? That could be me. Anyway, I wandered around and I found something that I can use my 50% coupon on, but I didn't know how much I needed so I didn't just willy-nilly buy - I came home and measured how much I need and I'll go back another day. That's on my new shopping list.

I was just about to pay for my cord when I found this and I couldn't resist!

Cushion cover

I'll show you the rest of my cushion cover collection when I can get a picture. I didn't do it yesterday and it's too dark in that room this morning. So I think I owe you TWO pictures.

I realized that I have something brand new to tell you about all week. Yesterday, it was a new quilt shop. Today, it's something else and NO - it's not about what I did last week. That's for another day this week.

Today, I'm going to direct you to QUILTsocial where it's my week to blog and you have to check out this new sewing machine. Technically, it's not released until February of this year. It's not on the Husqvarna web site, although some dealers have it on their web page. This is an amazing sewing machine. That's all I can say!

On that note, it's time to get the day rolling.

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!

My boss is a slave driver!

No - I'm not talking about my day job.  Nope - it's that darn little book with all the goals in it.  She's TOUGH!!!  You know why???  She makes me ACCOUNTABLE.  Because I wrote things in it that I wanted to accomplish - the expectation is that I get them done. And she's darn BOSSY to boot.

I did manage to get 1/3 of the items done this week.  That means that I have stuff  to carry over this week. I don't like the carry over thing but I don't have a choice and as I remove things - then other things become a priority. I will get better at it - but it's working!

However I did have one compromise from the BOOK - I must give that book a name. Any suggestions?  Anyway - I made a deal that we would have our meeting this morning instead of last night so that I could get one big thing accomplished. And I did - so we're both happy!

I taught a bag class yesterday - there were 16 in the class.  I'll post the pictures tomorrow.  But this is what I did after I came home and got myself down to the studio.

I had a peek in the CONFETTI box - well those 1 1/2" squares.  I goofed and last week - I called it spaghetti - not confetti!  HA!

Amongst all the little squares that I cut - there was a box that I had received from becoming a member of Keepsake Quilting club. Many many years ago.

What's in the box????

Little squares

And now they are part of the bigger collection

Not much progress - but I haven't been sewing much!

So I got the enders and leaders prepped.  The ironing board needs to be cleaned off, but I managed to work on that little space last night.  I know - it's ridiculous!!!!!   And there was my dessert and my tea!

The ironing board with NOT much room

And what did I work on????   The 365 block Challenge.   I'm sure you are familiar with it by now, but if you're not - have a look.

365 Block Challenge quilt

Now here's the scary thing.  There is ONE block a day for 365 days.  That's a lot of blocks.  Right now - we're working on the dark inner border which is make up of 3 inch squares.  They are all fairly simple blocks. But look what is going to happen as we move out - those lighter colored blocks are BIGGER!!!!!

Anyway - I was behind and now I'm not!!!!   I'm caught up - hard to believe. I'm just using green scraps and I'm not really caring a lot about the shades of green or the values in some cases.  Like below - you can't really see the little four patches.

One block with little four patches and did I twirl the seams???

Couldn't help myself

Yes - I did 17 blocks last night and this morning!!!!!!

Let's put it this way - not doing that again.  I don't mind to do 4 or 5 at once, but 17 was a bit much.  But that is what I was in the mood to do!!!!!

January blocks - all 31 of them

And it is perfect - I have my tablet right on the cutting table so I can see the patterns and sizes.  I cut and sew and press and look at the tablet and no need to print.  I'm not sure I can anyway - I've pretty much given up on getting the printer to work.  And let's not forget that I'm unsubscribing from e-mail stuff.  What a long process that is going to be.

And in the event that I don't get an e-mail sent to everyone - my new e-mail is CRAZYQUILTERONABIKE@gmail.com.   That's pretty easy to remember.  The old one will work for at least another month or so.


Lexi has learned a very annoying habit.  She will sit by the computer, lean on me and proceed to use her nose to take my hand off the keyboard.  STOP TYPING and play with ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   But she already had her turn at the computer this moring - check out her blog.  I'm not sure why she is complaining!!!!

On that note - I've a ton of stuff to get done today.  That little book is making me accountable and by the end of the week that crate (at work) is being packed to go to Quiltcon.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!