Good old-fashioned progress

It's DONE, and I had a small ceremony as I removed this project from the Visual To-Do List. I LOVE that list, and it's so motivating to me!!! 

One project is removed from the Visual To-Do list.

YES -- this is the quilt that I was going to make for someone, and we decided to abandon the project for several reasons. Making quilts for others is the largest category on that list with NINE quilts. One down, and eight to go! 

But getting to the point of removing the project from the list involved dealing with everything in the box. I'm happy to say that I've removed all the fused letters from the two borders. For the most part, all of the letters came off pretty clean. I think six letters in total were destroyed, but lots were still intact, which I've saved (do not yell at me) and put in my fusible box. They can be used as samples when someone wants to practice their applique stitches, or I'll make some words from the letters. 

The second border is clean of letters.

And YES -- I cut up the photos, and they are in the scrap box. 

The photos are cut and in the scrap box.

I have a couple more projects on that Visual To-Do List that are almost ready to be removed, so I need to take a day and focus on completing those. I have many small things almost completed, and hopefully, I can get a lot of them done in one day. 

I am accumulating a lot of stuff that needs to be bound as I'm waiting on those labels. I sent a note via Facebook to them, but I see they don't update their page often, so I don't think it is going anywhere. They do NOT have an email that I can find - only a phone number. I'll try searching again. I thought I saw a contact on Etsy, so I will try there today. 

I managed to trim all the stitched half-square triangles. Oh my -- I'm actually keeping on top of things. I feel a bit discombobulated with all the togetherness, but I'm sure I'll get used to it pretty quickly. And then I'll wonder how I managed to survive in a total mess. 

More half-square triangles trimmed.

Then it was on to finishing the backing for the Dear Jen quilt, and that is now done. It doesn't look that bad with all those different colors of black, and it could actually be a great example of a scrappy backing with multiple colors of black. While it is scrappy, it certainly still looks very cohesive. 

The scrappy backing for Dear Jen

I also made the binding, and it's ready to be quilted. 

The Dear Jen quilt is ready to be quilted.

Now it's loaded on the long arm, minus the batting. I pulled out some scraps of black batting this morning and just need to fuse the pieces together to make one large enough. 

Dear Jen, loaded on the long arm.

There is no stopping me!!! I love working on these small projects. And also those that are almost finished, rather than working on a very large one that I just couldn't wrap my head around. I'm doing an amazing job, and I LOVE doing what I'm doing! The time will come to work on larger projects, but it's not yet. 

This is the small bundle of black scraps I had leftover. I'm thrilled to reduce that random pile of black, and going forward, I will try to buy only one brand, although I know that different dyelots can still result in different shades of black. But they will be more similar. 

The leftovers from the Dear Jen backing

As if that weren't enough excitement for one day, I also quilted the placemat using a walking foot and free-motion techniques.

The placemat is quilted.

I think I'll be focusing on quilting and binding projects today - at least those I won't put a personal tag on. As for free-motion, I don't do much of it on my domestic machine these days, but it's like riding a bike. You sit down, get the machine ready, and just go! I know people are afraid, and they want stitch regulators. You don't need a stitch regulator—it's just that you haven't been taught how to get that consistent stitch!! 

Here's a hint to learning that trick -- in FREE MOTION mode, stitch STRAIGHT lines, over and over and over and over, until you feel the speed of your machine, which should be set at medium, and keep it constant, and the only thing you now have to learn is how fast to move your hands. It's so simple, it's ridiculous! And practice on small things like a placemat, a table runner, or pet mats. But NOT your king-sized quilt. 

That was some productive day!! But I didn't work all day, and while I know some of you would call me a workaholic, I am NOT. On days (three times a week) when I go to the gym, I don't get to my computer desk to work until almost 10 AM because I have to walk the dogs, have breakfast, write the blog, etc. Those are NOT work things; they are all personal. And it's usually at that time I check my phone for messages. My phone is on SILENT all the time. 

Then I try to do computer work until lunch (11:30), and then I have the afternoon to sew. However, I also take an hour-long walk in the afternoon, and then stop sewing around 5 when I feed the girls. Sewing for four hours a day is NOT a workaholic. I typically spend the evening reading or doing a jigsaw - at least these days. 

Yes—I'm busy, but far from a workaholic. Some people struggle to distinguish between a workaholic and a busy (but happy) person. And not just idle busyness, nope -- this is busyness with all things I love. 

I've been chatting to my aunt, and she reminded me that I started knitting a cowl when I was visiting her. Oops -- I forgot about that, so I pulled it out, and perhaps I can finish the neck! 

I must finish knitting my cowl.

And here is the daily jigsaw puzzle. While it's the same style as the last three I did, I worked this one differently. I did the sky on the others and then the building; this one I worked from top to bottom as best I could. It just worked out better that way. 

One more jigsaw puzzle

That leaves ONE more of the 300-piece ones I purchased the other day. In less than one week, all five will be done, as I plan to do the last one tonight. Then I've pulled out a 1000-piece puzzle that I want to finish before I see my parents at the end of this month. There is always a puzzle set up in the common room of their building, and I stop and chat with the fellow who does them. I want to bring him a puzzle this time. It's a good excuse to get one more done. And I have to say I love doing them; it's a refreshing break from reading, and I can listen to a book while doing the puzzle. 

However, I have learned one thing: sitting at the kitchen table, doing a puzzle, and listening to an audiobook is challenging because people want to talk to me! Thankfully, DH is working outside the house this week. 

Speaking of puzzles, today is seniors' day at the thrift store, and for something to do on my walk yesterday, I scouted out the puzzles. There are TWO I want. So I'm going shortly after they open this morning. HEY -- I am doing the puzzles, I'm allowed to buy more, and I don't keep them. I do them and pass them along or redonate them. 

I spotted this book on the shelf at the thrift store. These are NOT the typical souvenir spoons that we bought at every tourist trap - these are serious collectible spoons, mostly to do with events and such in the US. I did not buy it. I just like to open my mind to new experiences!!!

A book on collectible spoons

Oh, wait—I also had my call with the Microsoft support team. It's the same person who calls me during this escalation process, so that's good. I think we have now discovered the WHY my Outlook isn't syncing, and now she is taking that information back to the team, so they can work on an answer. These calls don't take that long—perhaps ten minutes each time? I'm good with that, and if I can help them, while they help me? I'm good with that. 

There is no rush any longer (OK -- at least for the moment), and a slow pace works for me. I don't need to get everything done today or use up my fabric, but I'm making good progress, and that's all that counts. I want to enjoy the process and have fun, way more than I want to get these things done. 

I don't mind giving fabric away when I downsize, but I'd really like to NOT give away half-finished projects. That just doesn't make sense to me, so they are my focus. 

Even though it was a glorious day yesterday, I contemplated not going for a walk because I was in a groove. However, I told myself that I needed to get outside to clear my head. I was going to take a short walk, but then ended up having a good walk. Why? Because once I got out there, I felt amazing - the sun was out, I didn't need a hat (no wind), and well, I just kept walking. When I got back, I had energy galore and got so much accomplished!!!!

And on that happy note, I'm out of here!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!!