Cutting marathon

I know - you all think that I'm totally crazy.  Out of my mind and well just a looney tune!  Why?  Because there are three quilts that have to be somewhere by Oct 1 and none of them are made. And the date today?  Well, it's September the 15th.  No big deal.  Let's not mention the fact that I'll be away for most of this coming week!  OK - if you didn't think I was crazy before - that fact alone should have tipped the scales!

However - it's not as bad as you think!  I got one quilt completely cut out last night including the borders and binding.  AND the basic components of the quilt are sewn together. Now those components have to be sewn together which I don't think will take too long. Magazines (for the most part) want quilts that look good and are EASY to make. So - this shouldn't be too big of a deal to do this hat trick!

My scrap basket

Doesn't that look so pretty!

The fabrics for the next quilt are on the cutting table and it's a smaller than normal quilt for me. It's super simple so I hope to have that one cut out today. And I have to prepare for my class tomorrow which requires a bit more sewing.

The third quilt - well, I don't have the fabric yet.   Don't even go there!  It's not my fault!

I know most of you can't understand why or how I get myself into these messes or how I continue to put up with the pressure of the deadlines.  I just love to sew!  I'll make anything - well most anything. I did say NO when I was asked to contribute a quilted vest at work.  No clothes! Sorry!   (It was a joke by the way!)

The good news is that NONE of the three quilts require half square triangles, no trimming, no squaring - just cutting and sewing.  One quilt has borders - two pieces - one on either side of the quilt, the second quilt has only one border on all four sides and the last one - I can't even remember what it looks like!  All require simple quilting so we should be good.

Never mind that there is a large customer quilt on the long arm that has to be done first.  A small table runner that has to be quilted and bound by Tuesday morning (it's made) and a meeting this morning for our NEW Modern Quilt Guild - more on that tomorrow and then that class tomorrow and the prep for the class that will take place when I'm not here and someone else has to teach it for me.  OH - I think it's going to be a busy weekend with a LOT of cutting and sewing - but it's fun sewing!

I think that dear sweet Lexi has been at the computer and now has two posts that I didn't link to.  You better check them out as she thinks she getting the short end of attention around here. Poor thing!

On that note, I'm off for my presentation this morning at the modern guild!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!

Tidy up time!

I had every intention of posting a blog yesterday and then the day was gone and nothing!  ACK - I had better get my act together!

It was a super day yesterday with the FIRST meeting of the year for the Grand River Modern Quilt Guild. I was the coordinator for the evening program and we chatted about Modern Traditionalism. A very exciting topic and I came home super excited about the prospects. Needless to say, I didn't get to sleep for a while as I processed some of the information from the meeting!  I've got a few more projects that I'd like to add to my list! As if I need to do that!

The show and tell was so much fun and a huge part of every meeting! The group is very prolific and talented!!  

Let's pop back to that corner where the "to be quilted" piles reside. I had made good progress, but then got busy and couldn't get back to it.  I managed to get through a couple more tubs this morning. I think I mentioned this before, but when I did the massive clean up and resorting a while back, I also sorted the quilts into categories.  Some tubs have quilts that I want to keep, some tubs have quilts that I will use for trunk shows, some are good for gifts, etc. 

There is a definite method to my madness and my new system (when I put everything back where it belongs) works like a charm. 

So this is what that space looks like this morning. 

To be quilted section

There are sixteen tubs in total and all are sorted and repacked but the last three.  It would appear that number 14 is one that I use a lot - almost everything was out of that tub!

A wider view of the space

And here are the quilts from tub 14.

Tub 14

I have a funny feeling that there are a few quilts that have been added to the "to be quilted" pile since I did the original sort. I've been good about getting my quilts completely done, but if there isn't a deadline, then chances are - the top gets finished but it doesn't get quilted.  I'm going to have to figure out how to make that happen!  I may have to buy another tub!  I don't want to, but I have to keep that area organized. Perhaps I could see my way to quilting a few?  Not going to happen as I have THREE quilts that need to be made and quilted for October 1.  NONE of them are started! Thankfully none are complicated, but I don't even have the fabric for one of them!  Let's not panic here!

I'm pretty excited that this area is almost completely tidied up!  One small corner of my studio space. I may tackle all the "scraps" that were given to me and that reside under the long arm as my next project, but NO - I have another area that desperately needs to be organized. I don't think I'll get to that this weekend, as there's a TON of stuff to be sewn and cut this weekend and I have a meeting and a class.

What I'm going to do in the future to keep this area clean and to avoid having to go through all the tubs again, is when I remove a quilt (s) from a tub, I'm putting a sticky note in my master list book. Then I know which tub was opened, which quilt was removed, and it's easy to put the quilt back.  This isn't really necessary when I only open one tub, but when I do multiple tubs at the same time, it gets complicated.  I should also prioritize those quilts that get pulled the most for trunk shows and get them done!


Came home from work yesterday and there was my shiny clean house!  I so love treating myself to the cleaning lady.  She's the best!

I thought I would share my clean fridge that she did the week before!  Now how is that!

The fridge!!!

Yes - I agree, there isn't a lot of food in there. This is what our fridge looks like on a normal day. DH thinks we live in Europe and should go to the grocery store every day!  I did notice that there seems to be more alcohol in there than food!   And I'm sure there is more stuff in that door that can be tossed, and I'll whittle it down as I see we don't use the items.  Nothing is past the expiry date!  Yep - I think I could get by with a small fridge - I can't imagine having a double wide sub-zero.  What would I put in there?

Next week when she comes, I have another job for her.  Yes - this is FORCING me to clean up, throw away, recycle or whatever and I'm LOVING that!!!  It was also big garbage day in our neighborhood this past week and I had stuff to the curb. Not everything (I realized that night when I got home), but there is a wee bit more space in our garage! I wonder if the cleaning lady will do the garage?

On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!

Cutting marathon!

It would appear that I have a LOT of cutting to do.  I"m not sure how that happened. Oh, I know. Getting volunteered for a job and also trying to finish off existing commitments. 

Plus I found a new purpose for my empty laundry basket!  I had a bunch of strips to cut - 1 1/2" strips.  Eight different fabrics - 40 strips PER fabric. Yep - that's a lot of strips.  But they are done!

Lots of strips cut and bagged

Actually, I cut 41 of each as I need one for my sample which I hope to start sewing today. I also cut out a small project that will become a free pattern which you'll see more of next week. 

But while I was cutting, I ran into a small issue. I had pressed all the fabrics so they were nice and crisp.  I carefully (and individually) laid each one out on the cutting mat. And I trimmed the end and then I cut.  At one point, I ran the rotary cutter along the ruler and oops - there is something here that doesn't sound right. Or I should say, doesn't feel right.  

I checked and OH CRAP - I just ran over a hand sewing needle. Where the needle came from, I've no idea. I haven't been doing any hand sewing, all the fabrics had been gone over with the iron and yep - I ran over that stupid needle. 

A bad thing to find on the cutting mat

Well you know me - let's see how badly damaged the blade is?

Oh, shoot - there's a nick in the blade!

Just what you don't want when you have a lot of cutting to do.  I thought I would struggle through (why I've no idea!).  I did get all the cutting done, but I really really must change that blade before I start cutting the next section.  GRRRR!  And just like that - $10 down the drain!  Thankfully it wasn't a new blade and probably time that it was changed anyway!


I'm on my own this week.  That mean's that I'm responsible for making my own dinner and keeping the joint tidy and the grocery shopping!  I think I'm doing a pretty good job. My neighbour dropped off some fresh from her garden cherry tomatoes which I've been feasting on all week (besides other things as well!).  And the weather is so nice, I've been stealing moments in the evening on the deck (when I should be cutting) where I read my book (yes - well into the next one) and have the girls entertain me. No loss of entertainment there!

On that note have a super day!!!!


Ciao!

Some advice for my dear daughter!

Children - you love them. You love them a lot, but boy oh boy, they can drive you to drink. A LOT!

Fortunately, that never happened at our house, but there were times. 

Among the issues we had was the constant (or so it seemed) loss of keys. The mail box key, the house key. You try to give your children some responsibility and yet - well we had a lot of lost keys at our house. 

A while back, I was searching under the seat of my car as I had dropped something. Guess what I found?  Yep - that would be a mailbox key from LONG AGO. So long ago, that this key doesn't work anymore because she lost both of the keys and we had to get a new lock installed on the mail box. 

Old mailbox key

Once we got the new keys, I gave her one (why?  - why did she need a key to the mailbox as hardly anyone ever sends anything by mail?  Or perhaps I don't want to know and leave it at that!)

Well, it turns out that she lost that key as well. Not only that key, but the house key along with the mailbox key. Really???  How can you lose those keys and yet NEVER once did she lose the keys to the car.  I could never figure that one out. 

DH was cleaning out his car the other day and guess what he found?  Yep - that would be the missing mailbox (current one) key and the missing house key on a MASSIVE big key ring!

Missing keys

So now DH finally has his own key to the mailbox (what does he need it for?)  and we have an extra house key.

My advice to my dear sweet daughter is - when you lose something?  Check under the seat of the car. I bet you'll find it there!!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!

Motivational Monday!

Happy Monday morning to everyone!  It's Motivational Monday - my favorite day of the week!  It's a day to reflect on what we've done this past week, what needs to be done and perhaps what needs to be given away, abandoned or otherwise disposed of!

I have a major task ahead of me which you'll be hearing about as I move forward with the project and I've recruited my Monday sewing group to help out. Today it's all about cutting and prepping as most of the group - well a good number of them are away on a bus trip!  Next week, they'll all be sewing like busy little bees. The fabrics are all pressed and ready to cut - I've packed two rotary cutters - I should throw in another blade just in case!  So that is part of what I did this past week - OK - I pressed all the fabric this morning!

I'm almost finished up those blog posts - just a tad behind the eight ball on that one, but I had some more quilting to do in order to take pictures.  The quilting on one project is complete (it's a bag - yep - another one!)  You can never have too many bags!  I finished off the bag last night including the bag bottom insert!  It's DONE!  I timed myself last night - if I have the handles done, the lining prepped (pocket on or not) - I like pockets) and the front and back pieces are quilted and ready, it takes me 40 minutes to sew the pieces together. Perfect - I have ONE hour for my upcoming project in order to finish a bag so I think I'm good!

I know that doesn't make any sense to you at all, but it does to me.

In between sewing and sorting of quilt tops, I managed to finish another book.  Oh boy -- I really shouldn't be reading that much, but it's still nice outside and I sit on the deck and the girls are so entertaining to watch. They are so like two human siblings in how they tease each other!

This is what the "to be quilted" area looked like yesterday morning.

To be quilted area

And this is what it looks like this morning. The tubs stacked against the wall are complete according to the master list!

To be quilted area this morning

I know - it doesn't look much better but in fact, it is.  I've gone through 8 of the 14 tubs (Gulp!) and everything is as per my list.  That list is an absolute necessity.

I don't have that many customer quilts anymore, but there are a few and I'll be working on those. I did load a massive one on the long arm yesterday. I had hoped to quilt it as well, but, that book called me instead!  It has to get done this week because I have urgent ones that need to be quilted and I'm not taking this one off until it's done!

I did find a quilt top that I've been looking for forever!  It was tucked INSIDE the batting that was designated for it!  Oh boy!  At least the tops are sorted by group/customer/mine, etc.  Mine are listed in a book depending on which tub they are in and that's a big help.  What I need to do next time when I rifle through the containers is to make a note of which tubs I opened. There's no need to go through them all each time I have to put things back. That will save more time. See - I just found some more time!   I'm pretty excited to go through those tubs - so many nice quilts. I'll never use them - so I must get them quilted and give them away or sell them or something. But at least there is a top, the backing, and the binding in all cases - so easy to sort out!

As I was working this morning, my thoughts turned to next year. What goals will I set myself?  I was thinking it might be a good idea instead of finishing the bigger UFOs is to focus on the little things that need to be done.  Like finish hand stitching (or machine) the binding on a quilt, sew the sleeve on, put on the label - that kind of thing and add the borders/binding/backing to a couple of tubs of quilts that just need that done.  I think that would make more sense and I'd be able to clear up a LOT of stuff in a fairly short time.  So I think that will be my goal.  That is going to require some major list making and sorting, but that's a good thing!

Now here's something else to contemplate.  I have a number of quilts that I've completed. Never put a label on them - the intention was when I gave them away, I would put a label on.  So - what if I were to go back and insert my little tag label and call it a day?  I'm thinking that would be great - the quilt goes out with some form of identification, but it doesn't need a huge label with a story if the quilt was made as a sample or otherwise doesn't have a label.  Yes - it would be nice to put the pattern/credits on, but if the quilt is going to a non-quilter - what do they care?

Then my other goal could be to make a web site and put the quilts up for sale?  Or just find a home for them so they are gone.  There're lots that I use for my trunk shows, but there are some that I don't.  Those could go!

Well, that's something to contemplate as the end of the year draws near.  I'm not any closer to getting my UFO's done.  Wait - that's not true!!!  I was using some blocks as my ender and leader and I'm getting close to having those blocks completed for the March UFO!  Lots and lots to contemplate as the year draws to a close.  The biggest thing is that almost everything that I started this year - I've finished and that's HUGE!

Time to get the day started - well I mean really started!

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Stick my head in the sand!

I don't watch TV, but I do have some occasions to watch TV - like when I'm at the gym. It does pass the time by quite quickly to watch a morning show while plugging out steps on the cardio machines. But the moment my 30 minutes are up, the TV shuts off!  So onFridayy, I'm watching and they run a trailer for the movie IT by Stephen King!  Can't watch, can't watch!  I'll have visions that won't be pretty. I read the book many years ago and well, my imagination was enough for me!  I know Ronda posted a picture a while back of the empty yellow rain slicker!  Yikes!  I simply looked down for the duration of the time the trailer was on the screen!

There's a major, major event happening in the world right now and while I'm not watching it on TV, I'm checking the newsfeed on the internet. I'm not sure why I (among many others) are mesmerized by these news feeds?  It is a terrible terrible thing that is happening to the people of the Caribbean area and I feel for them all. What drives me crazy is that the news people feel they have to be there to report on the situation.  And one of them was asked the question "if you don't need to leave, why do we?"   Good point and one that the reporter NEVER answered!

Listening to what is happening and how upside down these people's lives are and those recently in Houston or for that matter in any of the major disasters that have hit our world lately. Imagine leaving your home with what few possessions you can tuck in the car and not knowing if anything (including your home) will be there when you come back.  That's pretty scary but becoming a bigger reality as we move forward. We're very fortunate where we live, but it could be us!

Just one more reason to think about all the stuff we own and ask ourselves - what is important? If you had one hour to evacuate your house - what would you take?  Maybe the rest of it you don't need!

I'm really liking my pared down office (OK - so I still have a long, long way to go, but it's so much better).  While I'm waiting for pictures to load, I can file a few pieces of paper in the small stack that is on the slate for that day.  I actually feel like I'm getting ahead of the game!  What a super feeling that is!  Once I get all the paper filed in the filing cabinet, it'll be another job to cull what doesn't need to be there, but this is a very very good start for me. Don't worry - I question myself every day - "why did I let it get this way?"

I have to confess that I finished that Anne Perry book yesterday - it was GREAT.  I'm very glad I stumbled across her, but I would have at some point as I have one of her books on my shelf. While I was away, I learned of another author - Colin Dexter so I have the first book in that series and I started another book that I had borrowed from the library.  Yep -  I love to read!   Just have to be very careful - when I'm at home, I read during breaks, at lunch and dinner and before bed.  I don't have time right now to sit and read all day!  But the girls and I had fun sitting outside yesterday during the appointed times (OK - I cheated - I did read for a bit more than I stated!  Hey - it's the weekend, I'm allowed!

I made it to the bank and got in line, just in time.  Two minutes later and there was a HUGE line behind me.

And what else did I get done yesterday???

Ronald McDonald quilt - number one - DONE

Ronald McDonald quilt - number two - DONE!

 Both are trimmed and ready for someone to bind them.  I counted and I think there are still eight more to quilt!  They are small and easy to work into an evening, so I hope to get most of them done by the guild meeting next month?  I'll see - my busy season is ramping up and I don't have a lot of extra time!

Then it was over to the sewing machine where I worked on a sample for the PRISM class.  Making great progress with that and it's looking AMAZING!!!!   I didn't take a picture, but if you want to sign up for the class and buy a kit, call The Hobby Horse.  The class is NEXT SUNDAY, but there is still time to get organized.

PRISM squared

My fabrics cut!

Then it was onto the jewelry case.  I wanted to get at least the outer part done.  I ran out of thread part way through, but that was OK.  Since I had marked the Texture Magic, I had to load my fancy thread in the bobbin.  ONE bobbin exactly and it was all done. 

Ran out of thread

All the stitching is done

 I used a variegated thread so it's hard to see but it looks great!

Variegated thread

 And this is what the texture magic side looks like.

Texture Magic is stitched

Then you take your iron and steam the Texture Magic.  No touching the iron to the fabric - just a case of hovering and it shrinks up!

Texture Magic shrinking

Totally shrunk up!

 And what does it look like from the front???

Textured side

It's really hard to see in the picture and I'm not sure that it was worth it, but I'm always up for experimenting.  Now I have to get my list of tasks ready for this week and I'll see if I have time to do any more on this project.

While I was working on the long arm, I took a long look at the mess in the corner.  I had all those quilt tops of mine sorted and stored in totes.  They are labelled and listed in a book.  But after a couple of trunk shows and presentations this past summer, the area looks like - well it doesn't look pretty and things are all over.

A huge mess of quilt tops projects!

Time to get that place back in shape!   There are 13 tubs and maybe 14 with a few more projects added.  I went through the first three this morning and hope to get through the rest today.  It just makes it a whole lot easier to find something when it is exactly where it's supposed to be. And trunk show season is coming up fast.  At least I did sort them according to what I needed more often and I really really should get those ones quilted!

Well, lots of stuff to do and not a whole lot of time, so I must focus on getting and staying organized so I'm wasting time!

On that note, it's time to get the day started (well I've been up for hours!)

Have a great day!!!!!

Ciao!

If only......

If only there were more hours in a day, I'd be in good shape. How many more hours?  Two or three?  Personally, I'd like more than two or three!  Did you know that there are ways to find time in your day?

• If you spend a lot of time looking for things - then get better organized. 
• Evaluate the major things you do in a day and ask yourself if those are the things that you really want to do while the things you would love to do sit waiting for those extra hours?  
• Things like errands?  Do you really need to do them?  Can they be done online or not at all? Can you bundle them up so you spend one hour a week and do all the things in one area of the neighborhood? 
• Are you doing way too much for your kids? We tried to make M pretty self sufficient at an early age.  Laundry? her problem and other things.  Why?  She needs to learn and I'm not doing her any favors by doing those tasks so I have less time for myself. 
• Volunteer for a group that you get no satisfaction out of?  Why bother then?

You know - there are all kinds of ways that we can find lost time in our lives, but because most of us aren't selfish, we continue to do those things that we don't want to do.  It's time to get selfish!

I'm not sure where that came from!  I've pretty much done the above already so I'd be hard pressed to find more time, I just need to priortize better.  Should I read a book or should I sew?  I want to do both, but I have to choose.  That's hard!

Anyway, I guess that was to say that I missed yesterday's post because there were a few other things more important that had to be dealt with and they took priority.

I'll be reading and sewing today. I've got a ton of sewing to do, but I do want to finish that Anne Perry book.  Who really is the murderer?  She's a very good author and I love the Inspector Monk series.

I think you remember a while back I posted a picture of a kit that I had purchased from a shop who was selling a quilter's estate items.  It's a jewelry case.  Not that I really have time to be working on it, but I wanted to at least get the first step done.

Jewelry case kit

The kit is absolutely complete!  Right down to the snaps needed.  The cover of the kit is textured with texture magic. While I didn't need to do this, I thought why not?  So I marked all the grid lines on the texture magic this morning and picked the thread.  My goal is to get this part of it done today and see what I can manage for tomorrow.

Texture magic is marked and ready to sew

I've got bags to make, huge quantities of fabric to cut, blog posts to finish, quilts to quilt and well - it's going to be an exciting weekend!  Totally all about ME!!!!   The only thing I need to do is go to the bank to deposit a cheque which I can't do on my phone.  I could, but US funds cheques have to be done in person.  Hey, bank people - we need to change that!

I have no classes, no commitments, it's just me and the girls this weekend so it's going to be a super exciting time!!!

 I know several people who recently crossed off a bucket list item of traveling to the northern part of Canada. Shirley made it all the way to Tuktoyatuk which is a very remote part of Northern Canada bordered by the Beaufort Sea.  When I went 7 years ago, the only way was by boat or plane. Now there is a road. in the summer. That's exciting news for that community. The sad news is that the ice house which was such a cool place to visit is no longer open to the public because of the permafrost thawing. That is very sad!  Let's just say that our weather is becoming a very hot topic these days.   (here's a link to my old blog and the day that we visited Tuk).

Laura got to visit Yellowknife in the NWT. Being a quilter, she made it to the Quilted Raven and scooped up kits for the row by row..........................   (Shirley is also a quilter and also made it to this store!)

Laser cut kit for row by row

And a plate................

License plate for row by row

Thanks, Laura!!!!   Hey - I think I was supposed to get something from M, but that hasn't happened yet!


I'll have to do a count of the kits and plates that I accumulated for 2017.  It was significantly less than previous years which is good!

On that note, I'm out of here.  I'm going to finish enjoying my tea while I sneak in a few more pages of the book and then it's off to the studio to see what kind of damage I can do today! And I'll sit on the deck with the girls while I do that. Enjoy the morning and then get to work!

Have a super day!

Ciao!