art 101 revision

The grand kiddies and I were off for an artist date and some sketching.  But the car was making its own sketches on some pretty icy roads so I found a good spot to turn around when things didn't appear to be improving.  eek!

In an attempt to help the kids be creative, I needed to simplify.  KISS  I was giving them too many choices in an attempt to let them do their own thing.  I found limiting choices for myself helpful so I am going to do the same thing for them.  I sorted everything into a few general groups and then come art day I'll chose a few things for them to chose.  That'll also help me because I won't have to look in five spots for one thing.  :O

After I did the art stuff I lifted the cover on the fabric stash and got that back to a neater condition.  It also revealed UFO's (unidentifiable fibre objects), some groupings of whims (works hidden in my mind) and some genuine wips (works in progress).  I needed to make a list of the keepers for Vicki's UFO Busting.  Today was the day!  I would be farther ahead but updating the Projects 2016 page had some operator error occur and I lost the first try.  No automatic save on that draft!  :(  I have ten so far and should pick up speed as I have been trying to do oldest to newest.

I also had a fun time organizing some new fabric groupings for possible decor options.  :)  I'm feeling the sewing mojo motor purring!  But I won't be adding anything new until I get some ufo's crossed off so I hope I can keep all my wheels firmly connected to the blacktop!  well, here is hoping!  ;^)

A bust!

I appreciate Vicki's faithfulness in keeping up the UFO Busting challenge.  It has not been a summer conducive to sewing but it has certainly been on my mind.  Thinking about it last night I realized I am so very NOT a list keeper and perhaps the math tally defeats me.  BUT...  I am determined to get through my back log of projects so I can have the joy of just making (and finishing) new projects.

I made a paper copy of all my projects at the beginning of summer and as I begin my fall restart I have decided to let the wonky Noah's ark go to those who will finish it.  I also have been thinking of my home decorating and cutesy wall hangings no longer appeal.  These two have hardly passed the planning stage so I will just slip them back into the stash.

Can I say three done/dealt with!  ;^(

UFO- finding the launching pad again.

I think this month was a BUST  for listing finished projects.  But I am thankful for Vicki and her link ups because it keeps them up where I can see them and spurs me to continue. 

I have been trying not to start anything new.  I have collected a few ideas and I have resisted the urge to buy fabric.  Now to get back to work and finish up some of my languishing lovelies!  ;^)

Well, that was enlightening.  Nothing been happening.  All my flurries and flashes of 'must do' have yielded no posts.  Which probably meant no progress.  hmmm

I did take the applique blocks to my DD#1 and we will proceed with that and make a few colour changes but it'll work wonderfully in her newly painted and rearranged bedroom.  I'd like to find some blue toile for the backing.

The lap quilt for the front room works but I will not add any more of the theme fabric but frame them in the neutral solids.  After we bought the lovely picture we realized  the gold/yellow paint wasn't going to work so we chose the wall colour from the background of the picture.  It is a complex blue green that changes with the light.  I'll need to think about the backing a bit more though.

The hst quilt is ready for mqing and better yet, the sewing part of the sewing room is clutter free and ready to go.  Now if I can get the grass cut and the flowerbeds looking lovely...

Inspiration and motivation for more BUSTING can be found on Field Trips in Fibre.  Thanks, Vicki!

Progress: pacing myself

These fits and starts are down right tiring and very irritating.  I wish I wasn't such a squirrel, dashing here and there and dropping nuts all over.  But the mountain of plans projects is ever on the horizon so while the squirrel is having a nap here is the itinerary for the coming month.

The Rooster has finally bought some new feathers and though the mending pile gets its own space that isn't photo worthy, at least until after I get them all hemmed.  Note to self- next go round find a significant other with a ready to wear pant size!  ;^)

The top of the mountain is weathered in but it covers my big dream.  I dream of making a crazy patch lap quilt for the end of our bed.  Having discovered that I may be lacking in some skill to actually do this climb I have joined a class and have been gathering some supplies for the test block.  I'm not too sure where the squirrel led me for the month of April but I think I see a break in the cloud cover.

 I've enrolled in Kathy Shaw's free crazy quilt course.  Beginners!   I am gathering my supplies and I am determined to catch up asap!  The new 'puter resulted in my losing my supply list and instructions but I'm reconnected and ready to go now.

Now this series has been an enlightening journey. This particular path has gotten a bit convoluted but I'm determined to keep the forward motion going.

The first recommendation for working in a series of quilts is to make a traditional quilt.  I have on my to-do list a summer lap quilt for our bedroom.  :)  But before I slice away I should figure out a block size that makes the best use of my collection of fabrics.  Have I mentioned how much I hate figuring the math.  Invariably it'll be wrong but nothing ventured...

The whole point of ufo busting is to get things done so I can come up with a whole bunch of new ones!  ;^)   This isn't even a hike, a climb, or a full fledged expedition.  This is the daily walk.  :O

DD#1 has invited me to come help decorate her new condo.  Forget walking;  this is the kind of project I skip right into!  Since we are starting with builder beige it would be good to take along a few options for review.  And I do have  few options!  ;^)

Indeed I do have a thing or two to keep me moving right along!  And when I'm in need of a change of scenery there is always all the wet stuff I can apply to fabric and paper but that is for the painting post!

March or Bust

We are stamping our feet over here at elle's place.

Bunnies stamp for danger but the danger is over and the baby quilt is done.  :)

The cushion turned out wonderful and then I had to march right out and buy some more fabric so I could make a coordinating lap quilt!  LOL  So now I will be adding one to the new and ongoing list.  :/

Next up are the two bunk bed quilts that need binding.  And for those who think I am organized I must confess that I have no idea where I put the binding I'd cut and had ready.  vbsigh!  :[  In the interest of staving off my procrastination devil I cut new strips and just got to it.  I didn't even compare or looking for best match.  :O  oops, the first chunk didn't go so...  Best of three!

And I think I'm going to give up on totally machined binding.  Way too stressful! :b

Tally:

36 open projects
  3 finished
  & gathering fabric for a new one

ufo yoo hoo!

 How am I doing???

Glad this one is done and much as I don't luv it; I'm sure some baby girl will luv it.  :\  I tried not to over quilt it so it would remain soft.

This will be a spring pillow which I'm just going to try to matchstick quilt.  Pillows are a decorator's secret weapon apparently.  :O

I have been studying the half square triangle wall hanging top.  I don't want to wrinkle it but I need to get it off the design wall.  How to MQ it.  ???  Then I found a floral I was going to donate.  I could mq from the back and use the design as a mqing pattern all over the front.  :)

But as I'm about to pin it I realize I have it wrong way up for that and that would also be a pile of pins in the way.  :(  So I'm thinking. ---   This is such a busy top that maybe I need to do some more straight line stitching.  ???

The design wall is available for this project.  I'm not sure what this block is called.  I made a larger block size for my DS#1's wedding quilt and really enjoyed making it.  So I cut a smaller version.  Its hour has come!

This block will finish at five inches and the wall hanging will be as big as I have pieces for.  I do luv working away and seeing how each block adds to the whole. I'm sure I'll be arranging them in various arrangements until I just have to say enough, be done!  :)

I haven't seen DD#1 around lately and as this one will be for her I expect she should be around to see how its progressing.  ;^)

Yoo hoo?  Come out, come out, wherever you have yourself buried!

February is busting out all over!

Distractability Factor was really up this month.  I'm not sure if it was the vitamins and green spring tonic or my arch enemy, Procrastination, but...

I got totally involved in a Spiffing Project that consumed me for about a week.  The results are very gratifying!

Straightening fabric stacks led to a full dismantle and major decisions on what fabric groupings were lukewarm and old what were hot and still pertinent.    Because I work with the seasons this should add some order to my UFO's.

I also learned that I need a written plan for all that needs to happen in the monthly time span.  I totally forgot the camera challenge and then I thought I had lots of time for the UFO's.  Not so!  :{

So right under the 'puter keyboard is my monthly calender page and I have the due dates recorded.  I also have used the scheduling aspect of blog posts to motivate me to get something in there before they self publish!   :0 

Unfortunately I have nothing actually finished.  :[  I had bought a new iron but it has been easier to keep on using the old one than learn how the new one works.  I spent the morning looking for the cd that came with it and finally did a you tube search because the boiler needs to be primed the first time its used. Its now ready and I do like it!  It is actually designed to sit flat so hopefully it won't be falling on the floor like the last iron was wont to do! 

It has an internal boiler and pressing all those seams was a snap!   I noticed the top was a bit wavy as it hung on the design wall.  

The iron has great steam and can be used like a steamer so I tried it and now the top looks great!  Next I need to decide what to do with it.  I doubt I'll add borders and then there is the quilting!  ???  I have no more of the multi print so it'll be a solid coloured binding.

This will be a baby quilt so I want it to be soft.  The binding went on and that new iron made pressing it a breeze.  I doubt it will even see pins! 

The newly spruced up playroom should have me strongly marching through ufo's in the next month!

My score remains the same because I haven't started anything new although fingering all those fabric stacks surely was tempting! 

Fixing up to Bust out

The Coop and Saucer Playroom was first purposed to be my sewing room.  Over time an whole lot of other hobbies came to play and some have even stayed.  It had actually got to the point where sewing kinda got crammed into one corner and wet and wild began to rule the roost!   Having lots of various interests isn't necessarily a bad thing but it turns out that too many options and too much visual clutter cripples my creativity.  It took some time to figure out what was causing my mojo to race around in circles with not to many finished products to show for the flying feathers.  I think all those itches have been scratched and the best of the good has been identified and priorities have been set.

My Nina, my sewing, my fabric have been given the prime real estate!   They have centre stage.

Thanks to the Rooster for settling Nina nicely into her spot.  He does take care of his chicks.  LOL  The large and smooth sewing surface facilitates general sewing, piecing and most importantly machine quilting.  This arrangement means I am  ready for sewing  and quilting just about any time.  :)

I even sat down to try the stool and everything feels quite comfortable.  Who knew an elbow rest was a treat!  :O  The free hand system doesn't quite work but the little button is just as handy for raising the presser foot.

I also managed to get rid of a bit more of the non essentials which reduces the visual clutter and encourages my creativity.

The three sets of wall files have a place in the closet as soon as the Rooster figures out how to reinforce the old and brittle tongue & groove boards that comprise the walls.

Sew-    my UFO  Busting  is nil for January.  I seem to like working under a handicap!  :(   But I shall be making up the deficit as I  am feeling the urge to quilt in ways I just haven't during the past couple of years.  Woo hoo!   And finding a good sewing set up was definitely a very old unfinished project.