It's all about the written word!!!

I'm motoring right along with my projects. I wish I had more time for that darn UFO that I'm working on for the UFO group. That's going to be after my classes this coming week. It's going to be tight to get my commitment done on time, but I refuse to cough up another $10.

Speaking of our UFO group, sometimes we get the before pictures of what the person is going to do. Sometimes we don't. All I can say is that Shelly has a HUGE task ahead of her this month. She wants to repair some couch cushions and finish some Christmas stockings. I posted the BEFORE pictures on the blog in the UFO post from a couple of days ago. OH, BOY - I'm glad it's her and not me.

I walked all the way to the library so I could transfer some more files only to find the internet was down. At least the walk wasn't for nothing as I had to return a book as well.

It's pretty bad when your significant other and you take the SAME book out of the library. I picked up a book for him the day before and I had to laugh when I saw the title. It was the same book that I returned yesterday. I hadn't started to read it yet, but I couldn't renew as someone else wanted the book. So I'll read his copy!

Two copies of the SAME book

Look what Linda gave me! Yep - now I have my own copy of the codes for hazardous materials that you see on the side of trucks. This came about because of our trip to Nashville. While I was driving, I wanted my passengers to look up the codes. Well, guess what - when I look through the book, I have no idea what these chemicals are. I'm sure they are all nasty!!! Chemistry class wasn't in the cards for me when I was in high school.

Chemical codebook

Normally when I make a quilt, I make the binding at the same time. When I was made that sunflower quilt that I worked on this past week on QUILTsocial, I didn't make the binding. That top was made years ago. So I decided to dig out the batiks to see if I could find something that matched. Maybe, I'll even find the same fabric. Nope - didn't find the same fabric, but I did find something that'll work just fine.

But what a mess those batiks are. And of course, when I shop at my house, I dump everything out and then start to look.

Shopping in the batiks at my house

Now everything is back in the basket. Hmmm - a bit of an overflow problem here. There are two baskets like this. That's obscene. I'm so disgusted with myself that I let this happen. BUT - do not offer solutions or requests. All that fabric is mine and I'm keeping it until the day that it's used up or I need to downsize. Today is NOT that day.

One of two baskets of batik fabric

I did find a few pre-cuts and small bundles thrown in.

A couple of charm packs

And a jelly roll

So here's the thing. I don't understand why we (and I'm including myself in this) want stuff. If something is free - our ears perk up! Yes - I like free. Oh - it's on sale? I like a bargain. I used to be terrible. I'd spend money like it grew on trees in our backyard. Sadly, it does not. However, I'm happy to say that I've curbed (for the most part) my spending habits.

Yes - instead of running to the quilt shop to find just the right fabric - I'm running to my stash and making do with what I have. For instance, we're working on North Star by Elizabeth Hartman. Some of the colors are a bit weird. I don't care. I'm looking through my stash and using what I find. If it's not quite the right color, I don't care. And you know what? I'm loving it! I wish I would have started that years ago. Yes - there might be a better option out there, but I'm using my stash!!! One of the problems is that there was a quilt store just five minutes away. Even though my stash is sorted by color, it was sometimes just easier to get in the car and go to the store. In a way, I'm glad they are closed.

And then to sound like a total idiot, here's a fabric that I bought the other day. OK - so I have a weakness for bicycle fabric. I now have so much that I could probably make a lap quilt for all the riders in the Ride for Heart that is happening today. OK - so I'm kidding, but there's enough fabric in that basket of bicycle fabric to make a "few" bicycle quilts.

Bicycle fabric

While at the store (The Hobby Horse) last weekend, I found this Swedish Dishcloth with a bicycle on it. Hey - this can be used right now. Not sure if it works or not, but we'll give it a whirl this week. It's not very big. Check out that link. I'm all about reducing throw away products. More on that another day.

Swedish dishcloth

 I made great progress on my two major projects for this weekend. The customer quilt is DONE!!!  Isn't that quilt gorgeous?? The colors just make me happy! It's called Circle of Life by Jacqueline de Jonge. 

Customer quilt - DONE

Here's a couple of shots of the quilting. For the most part, I only quilted on the black.

Detail of quilting

More quilting

I was very happy with the finished quilt. But all the time I was quilting it, I kept thinking. You have one of these started. Dig it out and make it and then you can quilt one for yourself!!! Maybe that will go on the UFO list for next year. I have to say that I'm not making great progress on any UFO projects this year. Well, that's not true. I have a couple of big applique ones that I'm working on. So I'm working, just not fast.

I don't have a lot of stuff going on this summer so I might just get myself into gear and get some of that done.

I was chatting with Carol the other day. Carol has recently retired and had spent many years writing for work. Whether that was writing e-mails or documents or whatever. Now here's an interesting fact. Adults are ragging on the school system and kids that they are not learning/teaching cursive writing. Well, why do they need cursive writing? How many people write these days? Seriously - think about it. How much do you write? Maybe you make a grocery list from time to time, but that's not writing. We no longer write letters. We might write a quick e-mail or so. But what do we write? Most of us do not write anything! That's not good for our brains. And how much do I write that's not on the computer?? Not much!! I can totally understand why they don't teach cursive any more.

Here's some feedback that I got from Grammarly. Almost 2 MILLION words were written since 2016.

That's all because of the blogs that I write. So while you think the blog is all for you, it's really for me! If I didn't write, my brain would turn to mush and then it would explode because all those thoughts weren't getting out!!!

I'm in the process of transferring and editing all those photos from our show n tell last week. There are a LOT of photos. Technically, I could sync my phone with my Google account and access the photos that way. But since there's no room, the photos remain on the phone and I have to e-mail them to myself. Long story - I can make it work and that's all that counts.

Oh - the magazine quilt? Well, I learned a few things yesterday. Thankfully I'm a quick study. All 49 blocks are 100% appliqued and I've got two of seven rows together. It's totally different from anything I've ever done. I like it!!!

On that note, it's raining today. A perfect day to stay in and sew and quilt. However, it's dry in the gazebo so for a break later today, I may just grab a quilt and whip out for a reading break!

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!