That is a quilt block?

It's great to be home!!!! I managed to get a bit more sorting done before we left shortly after lunch. It was another amazing retreat with great company, a new house, and a return date for next year! You can't beat that! 

My hand was a bit sore this morning when I woke up, and I'm guessing that was from all the cutting I've done. I'm surprised it wasn't sore before, but then I wasn't making big swooping cuts -- most of what I did was piddly little trimming. 

Once I arrived home, I had TWO very excited girls on my hands. Typically, Miss Lexi comes to say hello and then leaves, but yesterday? She was like glue, and they both craved attention. I left the unpacking until later in the day. It was raining, so I wasn't going for a walk. They were NOT happy. 

MOM -- we MISSED YOU!!!!!!! 

We had cuddles, and Murphy just had to play ball. When she was a bit tired, Lexi and Murphy performed their play-fighting routine for me. Then they were somewhat content, and I was able to start unpacking the car. YES -- I took a few too many things that I never touched, but I'm OK with that. I think I'll take those to the next retreat, which is in May. That one is a bit longer, and I'll take the scraps that need to be cut, but I'll also take the sewing machine. I'll cut one day and sew the other. Or whatever I deem worthy of my time at that moment. But taking the cutting sure makes a difference in getting it done there. I do not regret leaving my machine at home. I accomplished a LOT! 

I may have gotten rid of TWO things while at the retreat. When talking to people, someone mentions they want something, and so you say, "I have that and don't want it." One of them was fabric I knew I had, so when I got home, I had to find it because, in the great reorganization of the stash room, it had been moved. However, because the boxes were well labeled, I found what I was looking for within a minute. 

Well-labeled boxes made a HUGE difference.

I pulled it out, took pictures, and sent them along. Now I wait to see if that person wants it. That would be amazing if she takes it. One less project on my shelf. I am extremely happy to get rid of stuff this way, meaning if someone is specifically looking for something and I happen to have it. I am NOT going to just get rid of things so someone can put them on their shelf. It might as well stay on mine! 

The other item is my Cricut, which I bought with good intentions, but I haven't used it since I have two other digital cutters. I need to dig out all the supplies I have for that - tools, presses, irons, mats, etc. Then all we need to do is decide on a price, and it will likely be gone! That will free up half a table since it sits out ready to use. I'm good with it being gone. 

Then last night, after everything was put away and I had some quiet time, I decided to make something with those itty-bitty bits I cut over the last couple of days. I am working on three quilts, and I picked ONE to try making a block. 

What do you think? 

A teeny tiny block

Yes, that is a nine-patch, and it's made with one-inch squares, so they finish at ½" in the quilt. I know --- totally insane!!!!

There's the block without the ruler.

It's cute and will look much better once it's sewn in, with all the squares the same size. The crazy thing is how many of these I need. Close to 500!!!! I know—it will be a long-term project, to say the least. I'm not sure how much more cutting to do. 

Oh shoot—I didn't send the picture, but when I went into the stash room to put away the box of white scraps left over from my cutting session, I found some more white!! One piece was in the wrong box, and another box had been started because the first one was exploding. Sigh............... 

Thankfully, it's not nearly as full as the one I just dealt with, so I don't think it'll take too long to go through. The cleaned-up box with the white scraps contains larger pieces, which I'm going to keep in case I need them later. 

But while I was doing that, I decided to pull out all my batik scraps. OH!!! There are several boxes of them, and I need to address that. However, I've decided to kill two birds with one stone and use the batik scraps for my upcoming 7- or 8-part session on scraps (starting September/October)!! It'll be perfect for dealing with what's there, and together we'll learn sorting, cutting, picking patterns, etc. 

Hence, I'm not going to share that process on the blog, but am taking and saving pictures for then. And if I play my cards right, I could have most of the work done before the classes even start! The bonus is that these scraps are sitting on the current project table!!! 

OH -- just for fun, I'll post the picture of all the boxes of batik scraps. They are not sorted like I sort my other fabrics because they are batiks!! Does that make sense? Anyway—I've got a plan, and I'm happy. 

Batik scraps to deal with

It's not as bad as it looks since I'll be dealing with three of those containers in the next couple of days, and they will be gone! But that still leaves a lot of other scraps. My techniques and patterns will work with any scraps, and your scraps might look different than mine --- it's going to be a fun class. 

I thought I'd share the puzzles I acquired over the last couple of days, and I need to stop buying now, as I am literally running out of room where I store them. 

These are the ones I bought at the thrift shop, and most of them were were $4.99. I did not have a discount coupon with me, nor was it seniors' day, so I paid full price. GASP!!! But still --- a good deal all around. 

A LOT of animals

And look at this one --- two puzzles for the price of one. I find the puzzles at that location are cheaper overall than at my location. 

Wild colors

A pretty winter scene. 

Winter scene

And then this is the one I bought at the quilt shop. I made that quilt and thought it would be fun to do the puzzle. Actually, this is different than the quilt I made, but lots of similar blocks. 

Farm puzzle

And lastly, after I had a salad for dinner, I went for a walk with the girls. One thing about this retreat was that there were too many temptations. I'll have to ask the organizer to tell them not to bring extra goodies. Actually, it was pretty good, and we ate healthy, but I'm sure I put on a pound or two. Sigh.....

Anyway, the girls were wild when I went out. I just needed a sleigh with wheels, and the extra weight might slow them down somewhat. The two of them were in their glory, and I don't like walking them together when they are wild like that, but I didn't want to walk them separately. The one who got left at home would be frantic!

MOM -- we are HAPPY girls!!!

They are so funny, and all they care about is that walk!!

I had a great sleep last night. We get sleep at the retreat, but it's never the same as at home, or as much. I was sleeping in a room with three people, and even though they were as quiet as mice, it was still distracting. 

But now I'm home, and I can get back to my normal sleep patterns and walking, and cooking oatmeal!!

I'm off to the gym this morning on my own. I'm not going to do anything much, but have a good stretch, and maybe do some weights. I'll see how it goes when I get there. 

Then I have the entire day to myself! I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but two surprise events popped up on my calendar while I was away, and I need to make a couple of samples, so I will probably work on those today. 

Have a super day!!!!!

Ciao!!!