Sunday, September 27, 2015

Judy has us keep track of what our stash is doing.

Used this Week:                              6.81 yards
Used year to Date:                      284.52 yards
Used this Month (September)        11.52 yards
Added this Week:                            0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:                     81.50 yards
Goal:                                                300 yards
Yards to goal:                               15.48 yards
Yards to quilt goal:                          8.68 yards
Net Used in quilts 2015:            191.32 yards 

A couple of other fun facts are:

Prairie Moon is doing a 350 blocks challenge this year:
Number of equivalent blocks:              715

Perimeter in inches                               9943
Number of UFOs finished this year:        53
UFO Yardage Used                                  136.50
Amount of yardage used in UFOs              48%

Go look at the rest of the blog to see all the ite

Challenges

So, my life has been crazy lately.
It seems that band has taken over everything.
This beautiful young lady is why I am so involved in Band.
It is all worth it.

I like to join in things to keep me focused and have company (even if it is only virtual company).
In joining things I have some commitments to accomplish something.
So, my focus this week has been on what to do about those commitments.
I truly want to finish all the tasks in the procrastination challenge.
That is something I'm working on not doing - procrastination.

But, when you get months behind on something what do you do?
Do you work on the current project that is pulled or do you try and catch up?

I'm not sure which one makes more sense and would love to hear what others do.

Part of me wants to catch up, but if you don't get the catch up done and the current done, you will always be behind.
Does that help with the attitude? No
So, I'm thinking that I need to work on the current project and when it is done work on one of the ones that were not accomplished during the time it was picked.

Then comes the organization challenges.
I was involved in two.
One has stopped being posted about, so I imagine life got in their way too.
I love that others are working on the same area as I am.
Because of the Prairie Moon challenge, my cutting table and pressing table are always clear.
If I mess them up, the next time I'm in the room I clear them off.
My desk is getting better.  I can actually see the wood.
My fabrics are organized and when I mess them up, I fix it quickly.
So, having those challenges, doing them and seeing the result helps me keep my studio in better order.

It's my UFOs that seem to not be getting done when the challenge is established.
I suppose that is the nature of the UFO.

My stashbuster numbers challenge was going so well and then band happened.
Now I am behind, so far behind it is stressing me out.
Every month Stashbuster picked a low number and a high number for us to work on.
This is the list of what I've not finished.
Some just need to be quilted.
February
64. Fall Quilt
April
4. Angels (Needs to be quilted)
May
9. Applique turtles
88. 6.5" blocks (Needs to be quilted)
June
6. Ann's 2009 NYE Mystery
50. embroidery blocks (5 done)
July
12. Basket block
83. Misc. 12" blocks
August
1. 9 patches bright/white
55. Flower garden top - small 9 patches with book
September
11. Basket block
40.Copper and teal quilt

If you notice on the list, one item is picked for two months because when I complete an item I take it off the list, so the numbering system adjusts.
I feel overwhelmed by this list.
Some of these just need to be quilted.
Then you get to the long arm acting out.
I talked to Gammill yesterday and hope to have figured it out.
I hate tension problems.

For the Sampler Society, I only have the Harley quilt that is behind.
i have a plan to finish that by making it my Lovely Year of Finishes.

Lovely Year of Finishes has you pick one quilt a month to complete, and then you are entered into a drawing for prizes.
I have finished every month but one.
The next month I put the same UFO in that challenge and finished it early.
I am up to date on this one.

Prairie Moon Procrastination challenge has me procrastinating. :(
She had us pick 12 UFOs and then draws a number each month.
I randomly went to my UFO closet and pulled 12 projects out.
These are what I am behind on and it is almost October.
June #1 Western Sunset
August #9 Zippered Pouches
September #10 Spring Jelly Roll
I have not even started on the Spring Jelly Roll, but it is started, so it depends on my focus.

Then I opted to test a couple of things for TQPM.
One is because that young lady up top saw a test request and she requested I make it for her.  LOL
The other one is a technique that I've wanted to try for years.
I just need two days to really focus and I'd be able to make progress.
They have to get done, so they will.

I think that sometimes I bite off more than I can chew or sew.

In sitting here and extroverting about my problem, I think I might have my answer for me.

I think I need to focus on the current project in my areas for success.
Spring Jelly Roll
Basket Block
Copper and Teal Quilt
After I do that, then I can work my way back through the ones that have not been done.
I might even take some of these off the list so they don't clutter my thoughts.
They are UFOs and don't have a purpose yet, so do I have the need to stress myself out over them?  Probably not.

Thanks for listening and helping me make a decision.
Sometimes it just takes putting my thoughts down in print and seeing the answer.

How are you handling the overwhelming part of quilting?

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Prairie Moon Organization challenge

This week our challenge is

Pick a UFO to concentrate on

Last week I did a little organizing of my hand sewing supplies.
I have one container I leave in the car and it had so many spools of thread in it.
I went through that and took out what was not needed and put it away.
There are other containers that could use help, but that is for another day.

I think the UFO I'll work on is the color guard pillows.
They are actually quick to make, but I just have not pulled it out.
I have to stabilize the fabric, so it is difficult to get motivated on.
I'll work on them this week.
This is what they look like.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Oh Henry Done

I finished the binding on Oh Henry and DD claimed it.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Design wall

I've not touched this since it went up.

Had DS hang the alternate design wall I was using in July at my retreat.
This is still the one one it and needs to be worked on.
I'm not sure what I'm doing with either of these.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Coasters

Finished making the Halloween Coasters for the Teachers
I don't know why I had so much Halloween Fabric.
I don't even really like that holiday, so who knows why that fabric is in my stash.
I'm ahead of the game on this one.

Fabric usage

Judy has us keep track of what our stash is doing.

Used this Week:                              2.19 yards
Used year to Date:                      277.70 yards
Used this Month (September)         4.71 yards
Added this Week:                            0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:                     81.50 yards
Goal:                                                300 yards
Yards to goal:                               22.3 yards
Yards to quilt goal:                       15.50 yards
Net Used in quilts 2015:            184.50 yards 

A couple of other fun facts are:

Prairie Moon is doing a 350 blocks challenge this year:
Number of equivalent blocks:              687

Perimeter in inches                               9677
Number of UFOs finished this year:        53
UFO Yardage Used                                       128.70
Amount of yardage used in UFOs              47%

Go look at the rest of the blog to see all the ite

Friday, September 18, 2015

Prairie Moon Organization challenge

Organize your hand sewing supplies

I have so many hand sewing supplies.  I need to find them and decide how to handle my hand projects.
Right now, that would be the binding on Oh Henry and a Christmas Table Runner.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Fabric cabinet

I moved some things around a little and straightened them.
I do think I need to work on my novelty fabrics.
I have a floral quilt in the future too.
Doing UFOs doesn't use up much of the fabrics.

I quilted my Christmas table runner today.

I didn't get to work on the binding yesterday because DD's trumpet lesson was cancelled.

I did clean up some of the mess in the studio while DD and DS were doing homework.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

binding is on

The Oh Henry quilt has the binding sewn on the front.  Now to hand sew it to the back.  DD has a trumpet lesson, so I might make a dent in it today.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Clean up

Straightened the fabric in this cabinet.
Found a couple pieces of music fabric to add to my bags for the band hospitality bags.

Stash report

Judy has us keep track of what our stash is doing.

Used this Week:                              2.25 yards
Used year to Date:                      275.52 yards
Used this Month (September)         2.52 yards
Added this Week:                            0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:                     81.50 yards
Goal:                                                300 yards
Yards to goal:                               24.48 yards
Yards to quilt goal:                       17.68 yards
Net Used in quilts 2015:            182.32 yards 

A couple of other fun facts are:

Prairie Moon is doing a 350 blocks challenge this year:
Number of equivalent blocks:              687

Perimeter in inches                               9421
Number of UFOs finished this year:        50
UFO Yardage Used                                       128.70
Amount of yardage used in UFOs              71%

Go look at the rest of the blog to see all the ite

Saturday, September 12, 2015

This happens

So things are going well, you are quilting along and you run out of bobbin.
At such a small amount needing quilting.
Oh well, guess that stuff happens all too often.

I'll rewind the bobbin and finish quilting this quilt and maybe get the binding made and on.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Prairie Moon Organization Challenge

Clean out or reorganize a fabric storage area

My fabric is fairly well organized.

I think I just need to straighten up parts of it.
My music fabric looks to be a mess.
so, I'll clean it up a bit this week.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Drawer is cleaned out

I don't know why I have so many scissors.
I don't know why I have so many of those seam measure things. (You know the ones you use in sewing, not quilting)
I have lots of needles.
I have lots of lotions
But, the zippers and things are in their own home, or at least in the right drawer.  LOL

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Prairie Moon Procrastination Challenge

I didn't get anything done in August.  This month is my #10 Spring Jelly Roll.  I do not know how it is going to go.  I'm 4 months behind now.  I have lots of quilt and should probably just focus on them and start other things later.  Right now it is preparation time for the September Booster Meeting.

Monday, September 7, 2015

gifts for hospitality baskets


these have the inside quilted to add the design to the cups.
I need to make 8 of these and 8 of the Kleenex covers

Sunday, September 6, 2015

batting


I thought I was doing well and then I found another bag of batting.
I am doing well.  This pile was up the top of the cabinet.
Now the bag is almost touching the cabinet.
I just cut out 52 5" squares for coasters.

Stash report



Judy has us keep track of what our stash is doing.

Used this Week:                              0.53 yards
Used year to Date:                      273.37 yards
Used this Month (August)                4.52 yards
Added this Week:                             0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:                     81.50 yards
Goal:                                                300 yards
Yards to goal:                              26.63 yards
Yards to quilt goal:                       19.83 yards
Net Used in quilts 2015:            180.17 yards 

A couple of other fun facts are:

Prairie Moon is doing a 350 blocks challenge this year:
Number of equivalent blocks:              654

Perimeter in inches                               9020
Number of UFOs finished this year:        50
UFO Yardage Used                                     128.70
Amount of yardage used in UFOs              71%

Go look at the rest of the blog to see all the items

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Stashbuster UFO #

Well, we know I've not been doing much of anything lately in the quilting department.
Stashbusters has pulled the UFO numbers and they are:

11. Basket block
40.Copper and teal quilt

# 11 is one of the ones from a previous month because i pull the finished UFOs out of the list.
I know that was going to happen one time, but...

So, my basket block needs to be done and made into a pillow or something.
I know I don't want to do a full quilt out of it.
I don't like the construction of that block.

I love my copper and teal quilt.
I just need to pull it from the cabinet.
I might wait until I get a couple of the other things around here done.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Prairie Moon

Clean out and organize one drawer


I decided to tackle the drawer near my sewing machine.
It used to be organized - 10 years ago, but look at what 10 years will do to a drawer.  LOL
I got all my quilts in a stack
This is the most I've had hanging around ever.
The bottom one is Mom's and I don't know that I will ever get rid of it, but all the rest could find homes.

I finished the purple and green quilt and it is picked up.
It was fun once I got to quilting it.
Iv'e been cleaning today instead of quilting and I think that is going to help.