Motivational Monday update

Thank goodness for Monday sewing. I don't seem to be getting any personal sewing done EXCEPT on Monday. Which means that I'm way behind. But baby steps and based on my post from yesterday, there's no race. There's no deadline for most of what I'm working on. So what's the rush? It'll get done and what doesn't - well, I'd better at least have it tidied up! And I'm working on that. Old UFOs - one by one will be conquered this year. My goal is still to complete the UFOs from 2017 that didn't get done and to get those from 2018 completed as well. It can be done - it's not that bad.

I was chatting with my Mom the other day and it would appear that she is ready to let go of some of her junk. That's great news  - FORTY years later!!!  I'm not kidding. That leaves a HUGE mess for her kids to deal with. Do NOT let this happen to your family!!  Get rid of what you don't use or need. As we get older, we need so much less.

Case in point - clothes. I'm still trying on those pants. I'm gone through two thirds (22 pairs) and kept 3. I tried on a few more yesterday and I thought - Oh, I can wear this pair. I wore them to walk the dog and decided that I couldn't wear them. I almost lost them. Not good! I'm procrastinating because the remaining pairs are my favorite pants. And they don't fit! Way too big! I'm still emotionally attached to those pants, but I'm also aware that they look really bad on me now so they will go. I just need one more day or maybe two. Then onto another category. Shorts!  Could do it all in one day, but I get bored very easily! Why try them on? Well, there might be one or two more pairs that could fit?  - but I doubt it. I desperately need a few more undergarments which perhaps today I'll get.

A quick note on food and then we can get to the quilting part of today. I LOVE oatmeal and bananas. If you haven't tried it, you should. I like blueberries and strawberries as well, but my favorite is bananas. Yum!!!

I was quite happy with my progress on Monday sewing yesterday. Let's start with the good news. SIX more blocks are completed for the 150 Canadian Women project. That leaves 24 blocks to complete!!  Four weeks.  I'm super excited and never thought I would see the day that I'm finished this project, but the end is in sight. Then I have the fun of sorting the blocks and figuring out how to lay out the quilts. If you want to get started on this project, you can buy the CD from Next Step Designs web site.   If you're working on the project and are stalled, do what I did. Set a goal for each week and make that goal a PRIORITY!!  If nothing else got completed in a week, the six blocks for this quilt did.

Six more blocks for 150 Canadian Women

Over the last couple of weeks, I've purchased a few more reds but I don't think I'm going to need them. No worries, I have a couple more red/white projects in the wings and the remainder of the reds will get designated to those projects.

More red fabric 

Then it was onto the Night Sky quilt.

Night Sky by Jaybird Quilts

This is a 2017 UFO and I've just decided that I'm going to keep on working on this one at Monday until the quilt(s) are completed. Yes - there are enough blocks to make two quilts.

 I had cut all the blues needed for the project but had only cut one more strip of the black triangles. Of course, I ran out again!  It would help if I counted how many I need, but I didn't run out of sewing so the remainder of the black will get cut today and be ready for next week.

I managed to get four of the orange blocks completed. There are two more and both of them are almost done.

Four more orange blocks completed

I started to sew the blue blocks - there are 8 of them. So hopefully next week, I might be able to finish the blocks. Well, that might be tight - the blocks are time-consuming to sew and since I only completed four yesterday, what makes me think I can do ten next week?

Unfortunately, the only time I seem to get to sew on my own projects is Monday. There's lots of quilting to do this week, lots of computer work and the outdoors is calling me as well as those darn books.

I managed to get some more enders/leaders done and now the proud owner of more MINI pinwheels. Note to self - never save this small of scrap again!!

Mini pinwheels

 Remember that ruler that I couldn't find? Well, I haven't found it yet, but I did buy a new one. I really hated to do that, but no choice. So if this looks familiar to you and you have one that you shouldn't have - maybe it's mine!  Anyway - let's move on!

Circle cutter ruler

I did a bad thing last night. It's just too darn cold to sew in the basement at this time of year. And I find it hard to get motivated to do more sewing when I come home from Monday. So I sat around and read my book. Finished another one - what is wrong with me? Oh, I'm enjoying life - that's what!!!

Then I went through my shelves of novels to sort them. Many of them are parts of a series and I like to read them in order. So between my lists of books I've read, lists of books by the author on the internet and the library, I was able to sort out what to read in the next couple of weeks. There are a few books that I couldn't find at the library, but after a search on the internet, I found a great used bookstore in St. Catherines that had about 4 of the missing titles. I was able to find one as an e-book from the library and I think I'm good to go for a little while. This means a trip to St. Catherines to pick up the books. I could have them shipped, but I love to browse through used bookstores and I'm going to take the time after I finish the #Humboldtstrong quilts and have a mini road trip.

I was thinking this morning that I probably could have bought the darn things as e-books. Where do I do that??  I've no idea - I'm not one for buying books, but I have no choice in this case. So I could take a trip to the used bookstore this time, but perhaps I'll have to resort to buying e-books. It might be cheaper.

Here are a couple of quilting events to put on your calendar.

The first is "Quilts of Iceland".  The show is the Ailsa Craig Quilt and Fibre Arts Festival. The dates of the show are from May 21 - 26.  Here's a link to their website. They have workshops and always a beautiful display of quilts. There are a number of knitting workshops and lectures on wool as well as some great half-day workshops in fiber arts. It's great to take a half day workshop and then see the quilts. A nice outing.

The other show to consider is Quilt & Fibre Art Festival in Kitchener Waterloo. That show runs from May 22-26 and there are various locations and events. Check out the web page to get more details and plan a day.  I know what I want to see and what day I'm going!  Now to get all the other details in place. There are various lectures, shows, and other events to check out. The brochure is on the web page or I think all the events are listed there as well.

Check it - both events have lots to see and do.

I hope all those with their lists and Task Master are keeping score and getting lots done. I find that focusing is the only way to go and I'm really, really trying to make that happen. No distractions - well as few as possible and not trying to start much new.

On that note, I'm out of here. I've got loads on the schedule for today and I'm not getting work done as fast as I would like. So if I want to sit outside and enjoy the weather today, I'd better get started NOW.

Have a super day!!!


Ciao!!!!