A doozy of a puzzle!!!!

Yesterday was a special day, and I almost missed it until I saw someone post about it last night. And someone mentioned it on the blog yesterday. It was Winter Solstice Day. While this means winter has officially arrived, it also means that each day is a little longer. Well, the day isn't longer (don't we wish!), but the sunlight is a little longer. I don't care if the daylight is only a few seconds longer— soon it will be summer! Don't worry -- I like winter, and as long as you dress appropriately, it's not cold outside. 

And thankfully, someone mentioned that Christmas doesn't end on December 25, but instead on January 6. Thank goodness for that, because that Christmas puzzle? It's a doozy!!!

I opened up the blinds, although the light gave off a terrible glare on the puzzle pieces, but no worries - I was really only trying to get the pieces face up on the table, and to sort out the border. This goes MUCH faster when you stand up and use two hands! 

I'm ready to start the puzzle

Then I spread out all the border pieces - it seems like a waste of time to put them in the sorting tray and then replace them on the table. I'm still figuring out the sorting tray thing. 

The border pieces

But see what I mean by weird shapes! These are the BORDER pieces. 

Bizarre shapes

Obviously, I haven't discovered all the border pieces, and I'm not even sure that all of them are in the right spot. Thankfully, this one is only 500 pieces as it's going to be a challenge! But when I need a break, I can zip upstairs and attempt to put in a few pieces! 

The border is almost done

AHA -- I was certain that I had purchased a "recipe" book for cutting things on the digital cutter. 

My "recipe" book for the digital cutter

Each material you cut can have its own two pages, where you can check off the type of mat, blade, etc., you use, and there's a spot for notes. I'll transfer my notes and samples into this book, but I think I'll see if I can get it coil-bound first! Once you start to put some samples in there, it's going to be a challenge with the glued spine. I bought this book from my "favorite" online store, and it was printed at their print shop! I think that's kind of cool, even though I'm not a fan of buying from them. The ability to print on demand is enormous. 

The recipe pages

Now that UFO Club is done for this month, I can share some of the work I've been doing. Wait— I can't do that, since some of them haven't been gifted yet. 

I had a Halloween quilt that I made at a quilt retreat in September. It needed a border added, and the backing and binding had to be made. That is done, and now this is moved to the "to be quilted" pile. 

The quilt top, binding, and backing

I also made the backing and the binding for my Green Tea quilt. That binding was a challenge as I used one piece from the fat quarter bits I had left. So there was a lot of cutting and sewing. But there were enough pieces to make a multicolor (multi-fabric) binding, and this was also moved to the "to be quilted" pile. 

The quilt top, binding, and backing

I completed this journal cover. It had been sitting with the front cover pieced, but that was it. So I finished the embroidery on the front and added a tag with my name. The journal cover was an exercise to learn the new features on the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 3 when it was released several years ago. I was a tad behind, although this is my second one. I know - why make one when you can make two?

The front of my journal cover

Here's the back of the journal cover with some floating stitches. 

The back of the journal cover

Here's the inside. I changed the method for sewing the journal cover. This is my favorite way, and it's super easy to turn inside out, and the inside is completely covered. Here are the instructions for making journal covers my way, and you can decorate them however you like. They make a great personalized gift! There are other blog posts linked to that one (right at the bottom) with different ideas for embellishing journal covers. Oh shoot—I don't see the links. I'll try to remember to post them all tomorrow. 

The inside of the journal cover

I also finished my Halloween ornament. I know -- a wee bit behind, but guess what? It's done and ready for next year! I hand-stitched those buttons on!!!

Halloween ornament

But for the moment, I'm enjoying it along with the heart I hung up the other day! Notice the small green quilt covering the embroidery machine? As I learned yesterday with the digital cutter, it's a good idea to keep covers on all your machines. You would be shocked at how much dust and lint are in the air. And if you don't believe me, take a cup of water, tea, or whatever into your sewing space and leave it to sit for an hour or two. Yep --- you'll find dust and lint on the surface!

My latest ornaments!

Also, as part of my UFO this past month, I had not one, but TWO (why?) of these small denim totes from the Teach The World To Sew day back in September. Good grief! I could have simply sewn the tote bags together, but NO - I wanted to add some interlinings and quilt them. I have a machine - why not use it? And even though the denim was heavy, I like a bag with lots of structure! 

For the first one, I used a triple stitch on the PFAFF creative icon and quilted through the denim and the fusible fleece. I did a 60-degree diagonal line and used the Projection feature to stitch the lines. I marked one line in both directions with white chalk (chalk-o-liner - the ONLY marking tool I will allow in my space!). I fused Decor-Bond to the lining - the red and white polka dot fabric behind the denim, and rather than making fabric handles, the pattern called for webbing, so I got some of that the other day, as I did not have red. 

Denim tote bag number one - ready to sew together

For the second one, I wanted something different to quilt/decorate the outside of the bag. I LOVE my Three-Hole Yarn Foot and use it wherever I can. One of the Fons and Porter Love of Quilting shows that I taped was all about the Three-Hole Yarn Foot. It is such a fantastic accessory. I hadn't had a chance to stitch the lines before the UFO Club, but everything was prepped. I spaced the lines a bit further apart and decided to mark them all with chalk. 

Preparing the second denim tote bag

So yesterday afternoon, with NOTHING to do, I got myself organized and started stitching. Did you know there are built-in stitches on your SVP-branded machines (Husqvarna Viking and PFAFF) that work with the Three-Hole Yarn Foot? Check them out!!!! And I use the START/STOP function, rather than the foot pedal, to stitch these long lines of decorative stitches. Those long seams can be boring (a great time to problem-solve some other issue), and I find it hard to keep a steady pace with the foot pedal. START/STOP is the way to go! 

Using the three-hole yarn foot

And before I knew it, the lines of quilting were done! For this one, I also used fleece, but it wasn't fusible. I didn't stick it in place. The piece isn't large enough to worry about that. I didn't even pin it. Sometimes I iron the two layers, and the friction from heat and steam is sufficient to hold them in place. I also fused Decor Bond to the lining. More on this one another day, as it's directional and that lining was cut in ONE piece - well, according to the instructions. 

The outer part of the second denim tote bag

Here's a close-up of the stitches. That yarn has a wee sparkle, and I used a matching 40-weight thread on top. If you have NEVER used the three-hole yarn foot, then you should get it out! I LOVE it. 

Detail of stitching yarn using the three-hole yarn foot

And now here's my cutting table for today. I've moved the UFO items that I didn't complete this month to the top of the blue bin, so there's more for me to get done this month. But slow and steady, and I must start on January 1, instead of procrastinating until the final week! 

There are a few things to put away this morning, and I might just take that book down to Staples to have them cut the spine off. But I also want to print some photos, so I could do both in the same trip. 

The cutting table is prepped for today

There are THREE new small projects on the table to the right that I want to make, so I need to add those into my schedule! And then, I put the white bin with the projects that need to be done this week. Technically, that is overdue, but I just couldn't handle it before. 

As I move forward into the new year, I'm going to try very hard to keep up with time management. It won't be easy, but I'm learning every day how to manage my time better. And I'm learning NOT to get stuck on the fiddly bits. Just forge ahead, and they will be done!!!

By the way, and this is not to put anyone into a panic, but is anyone interested in me teaching an ONLINE class through Thimbles and Things? I don't want anything significant, but could handle perhaps a one or two-part lecture or technique class. If you have a topic, let me know (elainetheriault@gmail.com), and I'll contemplate it. NOTHING BIG!!!!! 

I also promised the scrap thing - maybe I can do that through Thimbles and Things!!! That might work. 

And on that note, I'm off to spin class!!!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!