This is how I roll.................

Oh dear - the day I have to downsize, I'm going to be in a lot of trouble. Of course, I might not care at that point.

I'm trying very hard to keep the studio in reasonable shape. That way, it's less stuff to move when we have Sit n Sew days. Those sessions are filled to capacity and beyond so we need every bit of space so we can move.

BUT when I'm alone - I spread out like crazy! My morning class got canceled (not because of lack of attendance - oh no!). It was due to icy conditions over which I had no control. Again, if you were in that class, I'm sending a note out later today with some plans.

Instead, I stayed in and worked on samples. I'll show you the blocks tomorrow - I completely forgot to take pictures. But they are so super cute!!! And this is what the place looked like.

There were drawers hanging open when I had dug out supplies (bobbins and needles) for the embroidery machine.

Drawers hanging open

 Fabrics for the project were strewn across one set of work tables.

Fabrics for the project

The rest of the project and the sewing machine were all over the other set of work tables. 

The other set of work tables

 However, the ironing board and the cutting mat were pretty clear.

Cutting mat is pretty clear

I guess I'm just going to have to learn to be more efficient with my space, but hey - if you have the room - I'll spread out. Everything is all neat and tidy again as we have our UFO day later this afternoon. Eight brave souls plus myself are going to subject ourselves to a strict timeline to get a UFO done.

I think it's going to be a lot of fun. While I have my Task Master that keeps me in control - most of the time, it'll be fun to work on these projects "together" so to speak. Not only do I expect us to keep each other on track, but I suspect, we're going to learn a whole lot more about finishing up UFOs.

I finished this customer quilt and it's ready for pickup today.

Customer quilt - DONE

Meloney commented on the blog the other day about the fabric and how the quality is getting worse. Fraying fabric, no longer 45 inches wide, thin, and a whole lot of other sins. After reading Meloney's comment, I had a thought. If we want to get our hands on GOOD fabric, I know exactly where we can get it. Where???   Guess what? We have TONS (and yes - I mean that in the context of actual weight, as well as in the quantity as in we have LOTS) - we have TONS of fabric in our stashes!! I'm sure that many of us have a pretty healthy stash. Mine was all purchased in the last twenty years and all of it is great quality. I'm trying very hard to shop my stash FIRST. Then I buy what I don't have. Like I had to buy some fabrics the other day - I don't have a lot of summery type prints - white backgrounds with checks/plaids and now I have a small supply to work on this project. I did feel very guilty to buy it and I'm OK with that. I should feel guilty. Not because I can't afford it, but because I have so much already. I have more to say on that another day - so don't tell me that I shouldn't feel guilty.

This is what I'm going to have to be buying this year. It seems that I'm ripping through my consumables. You know - needles and thread. Two more spools bite the dust and a package of needles.

Two empty spools and an empty pack of needles

I also realized that I had NO machine embroidery needles. How the heck did that happen? Now I have some.

I've got an interesting article to share today. Did you know that there are 21 quilt museums in the United States? 21?? I only know of two - the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Nebraska and the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. I guess we need to go on a road trip to hit them all. Now, where do I find those other museums???  Here's a link to an article about the latest quilt museum. It's in Hawaii. Now I could be up for a road trip there.

Here's a link to a few more quilt museums. I'm sure that in our Quilter's Year Book of activities that there must be a "task" to visit a quilt museum. Well, if not - then we must add one!! Road trip anyone????

Quilter's Year Book

On that note, I'm out of here. I've got two classes today and I see we have a wee bit more snow, so I must get that drive shoveled.

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!

One of these seams is not like the others

Have you ever had one of those days when EVERYTHING is going your way? That must have been the case for me yesterday. I felt great and I was motivated so I took advantage of the situation.

First - a quick update. I did pop to the gym strictly to do my weigh-in. It's so crazy busy on Saturday that I couldn't imagine working out with all those people. I do prefer to go first thing in the morning during the week. So here's the good news - my weight is DOWN and my fat percentage is also DOWN!!!!  Let's just say that I'm a happy camper. I don't work out every day - I'm managing to make it to the gym twice a week. I want to increase that, and it will happen. I do manage to get my 10,000 steps in every day or almost.

So it's not exercising that's dropping the weight. It's EATING. While I can eat anything I want (and yesterday I had TWO small cookies - 65 calories for 2). It's about choices - since I had those two cookies, I didn't have a banana. And it's also about portion size. I'm not hungry and more importantly, I don't crave sweets at all! I'm shocked, but maybe it's a good idea to do a D-TOX program BEFORE you attempt a lifestyle change (notice - I did NOT say diet - this is NOT a diet) to get rid of those cravings in your body?  I've no idea, but overall, this has been a breeze (more or less). The lifestyle change certainly seems to be liking me and I like it. As a result, I think I can keep this up for the rest of my life!  Yeah!!!!

So what got done yesterday? You better sit down because you're going to be tired.

I had loaded this quilt the night before so I was ready to go. The quilt is done and just needs to be trimmed so it can be delivered tomorrow.

Customer quilt - DONE

 Then I was still full of energy and I thought I would plunge ahead and quilt something of mine. So I loaded this quilt - I'll tell you the story next week. It's pretty cool. But it's done, the quilt is trimmed and ready for the binding (which is made) to be put on.

My quilt - DONE

 You see what happens is that when I'm quilting, I have loads of time to think. I do some of my best thinking when I'm quilting. I love it - it's very relaxing. What can I do next? I've so much that needs to be quilted.  Hey - I need something quilted on a domestic machine (you'll know why next month). So I basted this table runner (OK - so I basted with the iron!). The table runner is small and it didn't take long to get it quilted. The quilting is quite different from the other one I quilted yesterday (there are two identical table runners) but that's part of the plan. Remember - I said that I try to make my projects do double duty or triple duty if I can!

Table runner - quilted!!

And before I shut the lights out, I loaded the next project on the long arm ready for later today or tomorrow. Another one of mine!  What is happening here? Who invaded my brain?

Then it was off to finish cutting those white/black squares for the pixelated apple quilt. I don't know why I'm so excited about this project, but I might as well take advantage of that excitement and get as much done as I can. So this is block 7 laid out and ready to sew.

Block 7 of the pixelated apple quilt

But I'm wasn't done - I didn't want to have to pick up the blocks for the Celtic Solstice quilt so I plowed ahead. While I was sewing the rows together, something didn't feel right. I never had the orange touching the orange before? Why is that?  Oh shoot - can you see what I did??

Ooops

 I had to rip out the corner of that one block and rotate the square. It's all good now and hopefully, there are NO more mistakes in the quilt. But I kept going and now the quilt is in TWO halves. One more seam and those quilt blocks are together. All that remains are the three borders. I'll need to hang it on the design wall to figure out exactly what I'm going to do. That's not for today. But I'm going to get that last seam done for sure. Don't forget - it's "sit n sew" today and I've got all day to sew!!!!

One more seam for the Celtic Solstice blocks

I'm super excited about the amount of work that I'm getting done. It's very exciting to see things actually getting cleaned up! I do have a number - a fair number - of quilts that either just needs the borders put on, or maybe the backing needs to be made or the binding. And then there is a fair number that where the blocks just need to be sewn together. If I keep up this pace - well, I'd better hire a long arm quilter for sure!!!!

But I'm trying to sneak a couple of my own quilts in from time to time and I think I'm down to 7 customer quilts in my possession and a few more that will be coming so I'm in good shape there. But I'm NOT taking any more until my machine comes back from its spa day. Oh and I think there are 4 magazine quilts to finish as well. So I really really am in very good shape.  It's all in the attitude - stay positive and I think the change in eating habits has helped a LOT. I'm also drinking a lot more water which is probably good for me.

I have everything organized for today - a very simple matter of tidying up which I love and when the ladies leave later today, I can spread out one of those quilts that needs some borders and figure out what to do. Oh yes - life is good!!!

In case you haven't seen or heard this, I stumbled across this article about Ken Burns (a US filmmaker) and his love of quilts. It's pretty cool and in the NY Times no less.  There's also an interview on CBC and some pictures of his exhibit of quilts at the International Quilt Study Museum in Nebraska (on my bucket list).  Look at the quilts on the CBC site in the Museum - they are beautifully displayed.  Oh my - I want to collect antique quilts, but I'm poor!!!

Here's a request for some of you. If anyone can direct me to a good site for what things need to be put in place for aging parents. You know - wills, powers of attorney and all that jazz - we need to start getting everything in place and if you have suggestions, or things that absolutely made your life better or worse because it was or wasn't done - please e-mail me with the links or comments.

On that note - I'm out of here. I have a few things to get done before the ladies start arriving.

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!