Having a routine is a good thing

Ever notice how "routine" our lives get? I don't consider my life routine, but boy, I sure have my routines. I like to get up at the same time even if I have the day off or it's the weekend. I've done that for years when I worked outside the house and even when I worked from home. 

The route I take to get somewhere. I try one way, then I try another to try and find the best route, but once I find that route, I generally stick to it. I even heard on the radio the other day that you should eat the same thing for breakfast everyday - I could do that. The rationale? You wake up each day with the same amount of will power. So if you have to make decisions about what to eat for breakfast, you have less will power as the day progresses which is why we snack in the evening?  I can't say that I do that either. Again I have my routine - a cup of tea, a couple of cookies (and did you know that TWO Girl guide cookies have more calories than FOUR of my Simple Pleasures!)

I would have to say that routine plays a very big part in my sewing. As I was sewing this morning, I noticed that I didn't read a single word in the pattern - I followed the pictures, saw what they were trying to achieve and went with my routine way of sewing whatever component I was working on. I did try to read one of the sentences in the pattern and - well it didn't make sense.  I'm going to ask the group today if they understood what it meant. 

I have three classes today - all of them short, but even the short classes require prep work. I'm not even going to say that I'll keep up with all three classes (two of them go all year) but let's just say that these are things that will be going in my retreat bag.  Some of them are partially finished blocks. They are partially finished because I needed to show the students a critical step. There will be four partial blocks from one class to take to retreat. But I got all the prep done for that one class. I also got the prep done for the second class and half the prep for the third class.  I'll just have to walk them through it. Thank goodness that I've been prepping for the last week or so as there is a lot of cutting in these projects. 

In addition to prepping for the retreat - hey I have allowed myself three bags (that are the equivalent of one laundry basket - no sense straining my back carrying a huge heavy laundry basket!). Two bags are prepped and ready to go. The third bag sits empty. I've a huge pile of stuff on my work table that needs to be prepped - OK - it's not that huge, but there are things I want to take with me - they won't take long to do (so says I), but would be nice to have all the prep work done before I leave so all I have to do is sew! A couple of those have deadlines so they will be a priority. 

When I was posting the pictures last week for Reminisce, I felt homesick for my version of the quilt. I dug it out and well - it's now in one of the bags prepped for the retreat.  Only the next border is prepped and if that's all I get sewn on - I'm OK with that. And it's all contained in a plastic shoe box that takes room. That's why I need so many bags!  But I dare not take more than three after all the fuss I've made about it. 

Reminisce project box ready for the retreat

The other day, I received the next two patterns in The Canadian Sampler by Sew Sisters.  I need to get my butt in gear and start this project. I didn't want to make the quilt from red solid and I have NO monochromatic reds. NONE - isn't that wild?  

The Canadian Sampler - next two blocks

I had pulled all that I had to use on the Canadian Women quilt. I have to get a few more of those blocks prepped for the retreat. I think there are about 5 that are completely cut, about 5 that have the white cut and a few that have nothing cut.  I had to buy some FQs for the project and so now I can cut again. 

The other day I was at a quilt shop and I bought three reds that I could use in the Canadian Sampler.  I got them home, took a picture and well - they are monochromatic reds, but yikes - they are sure different - two read as red/orange and the other borders on red/pink/fuchia  I guess in the color world - it would be a red with hints of blue. This is just proof that the MORE reds you use, the more they blend together. I may mix up the two batches of reds and well - I'm at a quilt store today - who knows what will come home with me, but those monochromatic reds - they are HARD to find. 

Monochromatic reds

Hmmm - do I take the girls to the park?  It's raining - they don't care, but they going to come home a huge mess.  Oh what the heck - might as well make them happy. Then perhaps Lexi will have something to blog about tomorrow. And the event list will be updated.

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!

Reminisce show and tell - the grande finale

Welcome back to the last day of the show and tell for Reminisce.  I have to say that when I was tidying up near my computer this morning and last night, I found TWO notes to myself for the image numbers of these quilts. OK - so that is ENOUGH of that mess. 

How did you make out yesterday? Did you throw out 15 things?  Did you spend 15 minutes tidying up?  Did you at least identify ONE problem area?  I went home and as mentioned, I did a bit more tidying. I have several piles of paperwork that needs to be addressed. I'm famous for shuffling - I'm not ready to deal with a certain piece of paper today so I shuffle it to the bottom of the pile. And years later, I'm still shuffling some of the same damn paperwork!

It's time to get serious about this mess.  This is where we need to ask ourselves the hard questions - does the paper require action (like paying a bill)?  Then it needs to go into a certain pile or better yet, pay the bill and file the paperwork in the appropriate file or toss it. Does the paperwork need to be saved - like a receipt for warranty purposes?  If so, then create a file for that item and stick the receipt in the folder along with the manuals, etc. What would the consequences be if this paper was never looked at again? If there are NO consequences, then perhaps you don't the paper any longer and thus it's time to get rid of it. But if you need to hang onto it - then create a file folder and file the darn paper away. The amount of time I have spent shuffling the same pieces of paper over and over again is ridiculous. 

And how many TO DO lists do you have?  Time to do something with them.  First - glance over them - is anything still left to be done?  If not, time to toss. Are there important phone numbers? Write the phone number where it should be and toss the paper. If there are still one or two items that you need to keep - then get a notebook and write the items in. Similar to the Task Master. There is NO way you will get 15 phone calls done in a day (unless you're a telemarketer) so schedule three every week or whatever works.  WRITE them in your non-quilting Task Master. Then once a week, look at what you have to do and get it done, then cross it off.  Keeping all those bits of paper - well - time to get rid of them. 

So to embarrass myself, I'm going to go through my first stack of paper with you (I know it will be boring), but I think it might be an eye opener as well and hopefully allow us all to get rid of some of that paper once and for all. Or is it just me who saves paper?  

And hello to all the members of the Oakville Quilter's Guild!  I spoke at the guild last night (about organizing your sewing room) and I'm motivated to get working on this mess (well for me - NOT in the sewing room, but in my dining room!)

There will be more tomorrow on my progress.  WE WILL get through this!  Follow along, but FIRST, you must identify that problem area!

Now it's time to look at the quilts.  What I have to show today are the finished quilts or quilt tops. They are all so very different and absolutely stunning. 

Very spring looking

Look how the values create this strong diagonal through this quilt

Warm scrappy colors (the top)

And the final quilt

The modern colorway

The split quilt (the top)

Which is now quilted!

Here's the back of that quilt

Very elegant - the quilted feathers really add to the look of this one

This one is also quilted - beautiful rusts and blues

This is a very happy quilt - love the bright colors

Very calming blues/greens

And just to remind you what the original quilt looked like - this is the quilt.

Reminisce by Lori Smith  - From My Heart to Your Hands

I do know of one other quilt that was finished and for the life of me, I can't find the picture that was sent to me. That's the problem - you can get pictures on Facebook, they can be sent by Messenger or Text or even in an e-mail (of which I have three different ones) so it's hard to remember where the darn picture is!!


There were 18 in the class and there are 9 quilts above. Add in the other one that I know is done, there are 8 missing.  Some of those may have been shown in the previous posts but they weren't in attendance at the last meeting so I don't have the final version. Hopefully, they are done!  But this is fabulous results. I'm extremely pleased. It's truly a beautiful quilt. So beautiful that I pulled mine out and it's now in one of TWO packed totes for the upcoming retreat. I told my group that I was bringing FOUR totes, but in fact, there will be only THREE.  I'm going to have separation anxiety as I leave my driveway that day, but there is enough work in those three totes to last - well way longer than a five-day retreat!

Here is some other show n tell from the last class.

This was a mystery quilt - very interesting choice for a mystery but I love the modern feel to it!

Modern mystery quilt

And this next one is absolutely stunning.  It came from a magazine and I happened to have the magazine which I promptly pulled out when I got home. It's sitting in my "to do eventually" pile.  I want to say that it's an issue of Fons and Porter from YEARS ago!

Gorgeous combination of brights and black

And last but not least today is this cute button that I saw on one of the staff at The Hobby Horse (where the Reminisce class was taught). We should all have buttons like this!!!

Yep - we all want one!!!

I love love love these year long classes.  We're well into our two classes for 2017, but in a pinch, you could play catch up.  We haven't done so super much in either one.  They are fun and it's amazing to see what the others have done to change up the patterns.  YES - I have pictures of the first show n tell and I'm going to get to that hopefully next week.  I still have some show n tell from my two other year long classes from 2016 that I need to post first.

If you haven't noticed, I'm on a roll.  I want to rid myself of all this excess stuff in my life and while I may not finish with this go around, the important thing is that what I get rid of today will be less to deal with the next time. That means the next round will go faster. And soon I'll be living in a spartanly furnished home with two dog beds, a bed for me and all my fabric!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!

Show n Tell - Reminisce Part 2

Before I start, remember what I chatted about yesterday morning - about the calorie content of food?  So this morning, I'm trying to tidy up a bit and I came across an article that I had saved. Very interesting - it's entitled "Lose Weight by decluttering".  by Hellen Buttigieg.  

Check it out - there are several other articles on the internet.  Just search for "link between clutter and weight". Here's a link to one of them.   I think this is very true as there are days when I'm in a state of stress - can't find something, something isn't working and what do I do? I grab a bag of licorice if it's in the house and I eat it all!  I hope to not repeat that again as my sugar crash was pretty spectacular and NOT pretty. I truly believe that clutter can play mind games with you as well.  So imagine what I would be like if there were no clutter in my house?  Like my office for instance.  I so want to get it cleaned and well - it will happen. Better be sooner than later cause I'm really getting tired of it all. And I know that you're tired of me talking about fixing the problem!

There is so much clutter in our lives and not just things.  Things to do, clubs we belong to, books to read, places to go.  We really really need to learn to simply and say NO! The days when I don't have a clear vision of what I'm going to do - I'm totally useless and barely accomplish anything!  Matter of fact, I'm giving a talk this evening to the Oakville Quilter's Guild on organizing the sewing room.  It's going to be loads of fun so if you're in the area and have a free night - come join us.  Got questions - feel free to bring those along as well. 

Anyway - now that I've mentioned that article, I'm free to ditch that article that I'd been saving. It's gone!  

And onto our show n tell for today.  Again today, we're having a peek at Reminisce which is a quilt that we worked on during 2016 and I'm only now getting the pictures posted for you. 

Here's a picture of the original quilt. 

Reminisce - the original by Lori Smith from My Heart to you Hands

After those two borders were put on then we had lots of bits to make for the next two rows. Here are some of the bits. The first picture was also shown yesterday - just in case you think I've lost my mind. 

Border bits

Blocks for the last border

More blocks for the last border

Corners of the last border

That wild colorway again!

The elegant colorway

Bright!!!

Very unusual colorway and it works!

One more border to go!

Notice how pronounced that white part of the border is

Totally different look because of value

More border bits

Pool noodle makes a great method of transportation

Elegant

The split colored quilt with coping strips

Again, go back and look at how different these quilts are depending on whether they have coping strips or not. Check out the values of the fabrics used in the borders. Some of them are very pronounced. Some of them are very subtle. The beauty of this is that there is no right or wrong - it's what you're looking for. And sometimes, I just do something so I have an example of a project done one way or the other. But all of these are super interesting and lots of lessons to be learned by studying the pictures.

On that note, it's going to be a crazy busy day. I'm on a roll - I've been knocking things off my list (my non-quilting list) and that's a good thing. I have a lot to knock off today so I'd better get started.

Have a super day and just for the heck of it, here's an assignment. You can do one of two things.

1. Spend 15 minutes in one part of your house. Toss, sort, (mostly toss) ONE small area of your house. Could be under the bathroom counter (that's my focus these days), could be the kitchen counter, could be your bedside table.  DO NOT MOVE the items to another surface.  NO NO NO   - what you want to do is deal with the stuff. If you no longer need it (and please think seriously about this - most stuff you do NOT need), then toss it. If it's reading materials, find a box to put all your reading material or perhaps you have too much reading material - then prioritize and dump the rest. Expired lotions, creams - toss them.  
2. Or pick an area as above and toss 15 things!

Whichever is quicker - but hop to it!  set that timer or start counting items -- FIFTEEN.

Send me an e-mail to let me know what you did. Include a picture. I'll post some of the responses - we could have a lot of fun with this. And after all, spring is just around the corner.

Ciao!!!!


On your mark, get set - GO!

It's time for show n tell!

Before I get to the show n tell, I have to ask a question. As of January 1, all menus in restaurants have to list the calories in each item. I do try to watch what I eat, but there are times when you just say "who cares!"   Well, I have to say that seeing the calories in a meal has me now making different choices. I mean seriously - when you order a killer brownie at the bakery and it has 800 calories in ONE brownie.  How can one possibly eat that with a clear conscience or how can one even buy it?  

I've even changed what I have at Tim's for breakfast. Yikes!   However despite all that, I tend to ignore the calorie count on candy and chocolate which is my total downfall.  I would be wasting away if I didn't eat chocolate.  To the point that I ate so much sugar on the weekend (I must NEVER buy licorice again!), that my body went into shut down for two days. I was exhausted,. Why?  I was coming off a sugar high! I'll never do that again -it was awful!

OK - so on with the show! I checked back on my blog and oh boy - I don't seem to have posted much from Reminisce either. This was the second class that I taught all year long last year.  I found all the pictures and I'm splitting them up over three days.  If you were in this class and have a finished quilt, you have two days to get me a picture if you didn't bring it to the final class.  

And here's the link to the pattern. It's from Lori Smith (From my Heart to your Hands)

The original quilt

No names - like, I'm going to remember who did what after all this time. Some people wanted to make their quilts larger so some people added coping strips. 

Awesome that they split the colors on this one

Gorgeous coordinated scrappy look

Coping strips really make the designs stand out

A very unusual color combo that pops

Love the green/purple

Very subdued and elegant

Notice how the choice of color in the outer border gives a totally different effect

This one is stunning with the complimentary colors (blue/orange)

A very BRIGHT option

Again - very different effect with the choice of fabrics.  Not scrappy 

Not adding the coping strips makes a big difference

Nice fun scrappy look

Notice the coloring of the center star. The borders are super fun 

Another very unusual coloring

Bits for the next part

Isn't that super interesting?  It's amazing what the different values do when putting a quilt together. I would say that the values play a more important role in this quilt and its final look than the colors. Although the colors are important as well.

It's also interesting to look at the coping strips and how that changed the overall look of the quilt.

Wow - I love these kinds of classes for this very reason.

Stay tuned as Part 2 of this show and tell will be posted tomorrow.

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!