M.I.A.

It's been a challenging couple of weeks. I apologize for not replying to your emails and comments. I do want to thank all that sent their heartfelt thoughts regarding Stella. I miss her so much. She was such a huge part of my life. The house feels empty. Sigh!

I have not been quilting ... haven't even given it a thought. When things are challenging, one of my methods of coping is ... cleaning/purging. And purging I have been. I have so much stuff! I don't think I'll live that long to use it all. Off it goes.

If I want to get back to the S.A.L. I do need to clean my cutting table. It has become a dumpling ground.

I guess now it's not about purging but cleaning up the dumping station! 

Off to get some tidying up done so that I can get motivated to work on the Churn Dash blocks. I still have ten (10) prints to cut up and then it's piecing time!

Cheers   !

Feng Shui is a thing in a quilting studio!

 Well, I bit the bullet and re-arranged my quilting studio. What motivated me? First time in all the years we have been meeting that I show up at our Sew we Gather group without the project completed. After I got home I said "fudge it!" ... not really what I said LOL ... and got to work.

Would you believe ... I didn't have to take any computer equipment apart. I just pushed everything towards the center area and dragged the desk to its new place. I did have to vacuum and dust! lol

It really opens up the place ... making it less crowded when you first come it.

After the re-arranging, I actually sat down and quilted. It also occurred to me that when I was ironing my pieces, I was facing the work desk ...YUCK! Now I face my UFO Projects in waiting shelf!

Seriously, it makes all the difference in the world. Even on Monday, when I sat down at my work desk, I immediately noticed a difference.

Glad I bit the bullet and tackle that issue. It was so worth it!

Thanks for stopping by! Catch you all later! Cheers!

Feng Shui ... is it a thing in a quilting studio?

 I must admit, I have not been in the mood to quilt ... not one bit! Well, not since I started working from home. Not even a dead line; a project to complete for today's Sew we Gather group, got me into my creative space. First time in years that I will be showing up empty handed ... Sigh!

You see, I set up my office in my quilting studio ... I even converted one of my sewing desks into a working desk. Yes, poor Bernie 180 is sitting on the floor next to her desk.

The first thing I see when I walk into my sewing studio is my work desk and I'm wondering if that has an effect on the Feng Shui ... the creative energy of the room.

Keeping the work desk in mind, my creative area has become a dumping ground for computer/monitor boxes all lined up under Penelope. I mean, work energy is everywhere in that room. 

Some people have their working area in their bedroom, not me, I don't want to be reminded of work when I go to bed. As for another room in my home, not really an option. I don't want a working area in my living room. That is where I sit to knit! lol

I've been giving this some thought and thinking that perhaps re-arranging the room might be an option to get the creative energy flowing. Maybe if I put the work desk at the end of the room by the closet, where my UFOS projects in waiting are. This way, walking into my studio the first thing I'll see is the shelf and not my work desk.

Of course just the thought of moving all that computer equipment makes me want to sit on the couch and continue knitting. LOL

What's your thought on the situation? Are any of you facing this challenge?

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!

Still a mess ....

 I've been putting way too many hours at work ... all work and no play makes Carole a dull girl! Time for a change. I've taken a couple of weekends off to spend time with myself. 

The first thing I scheduled was cleaning out the sewing studio. It had become a dumping ground. I've been quite the scattered brain since Covid started and as you can imagine, there wasn't one surface in that room that wasn't covered with something. I also took the time to purge, but obviously, not enough. Sigh!

I have some kits left over from Fibre Junction days that I have no intention of piecing and thought I'd post them on Facebook market place. So far no bites ... the bite I did get (which makes me wonder why I even posted that in the first place) were 2 small Artbin boxes. Not sure it's worth my time to coordinate the exchange of goods. Oh well!

After the cleaning, I actually sat down in front of my sewing machine and started piecing a nine (9) patch quilt I had started cutting last year. I had cut up all of my reproduction charm packs (another attempt at de-stashing). Some were acquired at Market; new 19 Century reproductions fabric lines coming out etc. It will make a nice memory quilt. I'm using muslin for the nine patch block with 19 Century shirting as the alternate block.

Sadly, I did not have enough fabric to make another similar block, but I can make one that is different. I'm thinking of using those blocks to make a smaller quilt using prints in between the nine (9) patch blocks.

Seriously, what else could I do with that bin of scraps?

The pattern is from the book Preserving History by Julie Hendricksen. I love that book!  I also have another flying geese feedsack quilt project going from that same book. I did blog about it here and here.

I first saw the nine (9) patch quilt at Market and fell in love with it.

The original size of the block is 1.5" finished. NO way was I going to turn that into a queen size quilt. So I've increased the block size. It makes it much more manageable!

I haven't continued on that project because ... well my cutting table is still a mess from the hexe project.

I really do need to clean that up. I mean, I do have a fair amount of bags made up of hexe blocks to keep me busy for some time.

Well, that's pretty much it for now. Hope you are keeping busy! Catch you later! Cheers!

Time to declutter .... Squirrel!

 I decided that I needed to uncluttered my quilting life. I have so much quilting stuff, some left over from the Fibre Junction days ... fabric and more fabric. I'm not sure what to do with it all except make more quilts. Not that it's a bad idea, but I already have so many projects going at the moment. For instance ...

This half inch hexagon English Paper Piecing (EPP) quilt ... started quite a while back ... perhaps 5 years ago. It's an ongoing project. The goal is to have a queen size quilt!

As I started to tackle the quilting studio, I came across a bag of 19th century reproduction (less than two (2) inches) fabric scraps. Squirrel! Great! I can get rid of the scrap bag by cutting the fabrics into 1.5" inch squares for this EPP UFO project I'm working on. Perfect way to purge! Off I went to start cutting ....

First I organized the scraps into colours, then started cutting ...

Realizing that the bag of scraps was not enough ... I reached for my bins of reproduction scraps.

As I was cutting the fabric, it dawned on me ... Why don't I also cut for that scrappy 3/8 inch hexe quilt that I have in mind to piece? 

Suddenly .... I realized that I was standing on the edge of insanity! At what point/size will I consider a piece of fabric trash? I quickly crabbed on to the ledge of my sanity and went about continuing to cut for that half inch hexe quilt. 

Shush! Don't tell anyone but I started a bag of 3/4" fabric scraps! Just in case I change my mind! LOL

Three days later ... I'm still at it ... 

Oh but I have a pile of fabric trash to show my progress ...

My cutting table is still a mess and the carpet needs a good vacuuming ... My quilting studio still needs purging .... but, I've got a bag prepped of hexagon blocks for when Chookyblue does her next Zoom quilting meet! lol

My hand piecing progress ... Queen size??? I may have to rethink that!

At what point/size do you consider fabric trash? 

Ever since I started to English Paper Piece, I have a difficult time throwing fabric away. You just never know! The smallest EPP hexagon is 1/4 inch! Turn that into a queen size quilt! ROFLOL

Thanks for stopping by! Catch you later! Cheers!

Quilting Mojo ...

 Well, I think I may have found a bit of my quilting mojo. Last Sunday I decided that I "should" work on a quilting UFO. Let's face it, I'm quite a scatter brain at the moment ... no sense starting a new project only to get distracted ... Squirrel!

I went searching in my UFO bin and pulled out an English Paper Piecing (EPP) project I had started way back in 2016. The Project is called Star Quilt and it's from the book Modern Vintage Gifts by Helen Philipps.

I used the fabric line Sew Cherry 2 by Lori Holts. Love Retro/Vintage fabrics!

Since the stars were all sewn, it was just a question of laying it out on the design wall and get stitching.

For me, the most annoying part about hand stitched a quilt is, how do I keep my project portable while maintaining the order of the blocks? I found that numbering flower pins works. I use a permanent marker to label the pins.

 I first started to use this method for machine piecing rows of blocks. The number with the arrow are the row indicators, as well as the direction I'll press the seams. The other numbers are for the blocks sequence. This method keeps me from having to walk to my design wall and grab one block at a time. I've been using this method for years and it has never failed me!

With each row in a separate bag ... I'm ready to be portable! lol 

The quilt top ... so far!

Thanks for stopping by my little corner in cyberspace. I do hope you find my quilting tips helpful!

Catch you all later ... Cheers!

Wow ... time flies when you're unfocused

I am so looking forward to some form of normalcy. I find myself unfocused .... 

Back in December 2017 I had worked on the Christmas Village quilt, a pattern by Sweetwater, that consisted of numerous flying geese.

I kept the scrap wings of the flying geese in the hopes of turning it into a quilt. The half squares were sews, trimmed and placed in a bag back in January 2018, patiently waiting. I decided it was time I did something with them.

What to do ... what to do? 

I didn't have enough to make a lap quilt so I decided on making some small table toppers.

It's a great feeling to be using up scraps. 

Catch you all later! Cheers!

I've been looking for my mojo ....

I had lost my quilting mojo .... Along with my blogging mojo! I just could not get into the mood. In other words, I was in a funk. There had been so many changes in my life; I was overwhelmed with it all.

Oh, don't get me wrong .... they were all necessary changes, but as you all know, just because it is a wanted change it does not always make it easier to deal with the new. Thankfully, I have some wonderful supportive friends. 

Penelope had been sitting in a box for the past seven (7) months .... un-assembled. As a matter of fact, her room had become one big dumping station. 

It was my friend Nancy who said "We need to put Penelope up." 

You see, given that everything in my life is pretty much "up in the air" for now, I didn't feel it was practical to assemble my longarm, only to dismantle it a bit later. What if I move again? Let's face it, I've moved twice already in the space of six (6) months.

But Nancy insisted, "Even if Penelope is up just for a month, she still needs to be set up. You need to have a playdate with her" ... and she was right.

So, I got busy cleaning out/organizing the dumping room.

Once done, Nancy and her DH came over to help me assemble Penelope. She was up in no time.

Although I had nothing to machine quilt, somehow my mojo was awaken and my creative juices started to flow. I had the desire to work on some quilting UFO.

Thank you Nancy ... you are right ... with Penelope up, it makes all the difference.

Stay tune as I channel my new found mojo!

Catch you all later! 

Out of site ... Out of mind!

I've been decluttering, getting rid of stuff. It's amazing how much "stuff" we accumulate when we have a place to store it. Out of site ... out of mind!

I've been quilting for over 11 years (the number of years have been changed to protect the age of the blogger ;), and let me tell you ... you accumulate a lot of stuff ... projects you've started ... put aside ... that you may or may not want to finish.

Fabric scraps ... OMG!

At what point/size is a fabric scrap considered a discard ... trash? Seriously, I have stuff that is less than an inch big!!!

In my defense, my plan was to create an English Paper Piecing quilt using 3/8" hexes .... CRAZY ... by the way the fabric saving has been going on for years, however I cannot say the same for the project ... it hasn't even been started!!!

Time to get rid of stuff!

I cleared out numerous UFO projects that I have no intentions of completing and gave them, along with the pattern, to a charitable organization. You know what they say ... One person's discard is another person's treasure!

As I was organizing stuff, I came across a box of various fabric scraps.

Some were sewn "left over" from various completed projects ... like the wings of a flying geese that you used as leaders and enders, hoping to include them in your next quilt. Not sure that's ever going to happen ....

Time to continue with the purge.

Catch you all later! Cheers!

A little help from a notion ...!

Have you noticed that Blogger is no longer sending out e-mail notifications for comments posted on your blog? I researched the issue and according to my findings "Google is aware and working on it". OK, I sure hope they resolve the issue soon!

I want to share with you this notion that I found helpful when working with the BOM Peace & Unity. It is called Alphabetties by It's Sew Emma.

At times, especially when it comes to a block of the month, there are numerous pieces for the block construction that are labeled either numerically or alphabetically, sometimes both! This was the case with the Peace & Unity BOM and I found the Alphabetties quite useful.

I will admit that I do not use them often, but when I do, I'm glad I have them. There were lots of pieces to this 12 month program and the Alphabetties kept me organized.

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!

I guess I like the block ....!

I finished hand stitched the binding on the Stardust quilt! Time to pick up a new UFO project!

It seemed like a good idea to peruse the UFO Quilt Projects - up to 2007 list. Thanks to Stashbuster, that's the year I began to keep an inventory of the quilting projects I started.

I decided to tackle project #16 - 1930 Reproduction Quilt (McCall's Pattern - Oct 99) started in 2002. Yea, that's the one. Let's get that baby completed. Open the plastic bin and ....

Gosh, I guess I like that block in reproduction fabrics! lol Luckily, it's a different layout!

What are you working on?

Thanks for stopping by my little corner in cyberspace! Catch you all later! Cheers!

Coming to my senses .... just a bit!

The other day, I fell in love with this cute little quilt called Have Yourself A Quilty Little Christmas by Lori Holt from Bee in my Bonnet.

This woman has cuteness overload going on. Everything she touches is cute! I fell in love!

Pulled out from my stash this fat quarter tower, Little Joys by Elea Lutz, that I have been safekeeping for quite some time, which actually turned out to be a half yard tower .... Bonus ... and started dreaming planning!

Not sure what happened next, but I decided to clean organize my Quilting Studio closet. I had a few empty bins from Fibre's closing and thought I would use them to store unfinished wool and hand embroidery projects. Well .... It didn't take long for me to realize that I had bins overflowing! That certainly put a damper on things!

So, the dreaming stopped and I decided to work on the many projects that needed my attention.

Next time you're inspired to create .... DO NOT organize your quilting studio closets!

Catch you all later!

I haven't taken a stitch ...!

It is so unlike me to not be creating with needle, thread and fabric. In all honesty, I have been preoccupied with life in general. Lots of decisions to make and new directions to plan out.

One thing I have learned, there is a lot more to closing a business than just attempting to sell your inventory and move out! Lots of odds and end to button up. The experience I am acquiring in invaluable.

On another note, I now have quite the stash! lol

Oh, there is just a bit more in another room, but in all honesty, these are my favourites! Ok, all the fabrics at Fibre were my favourite! lol

I never really quite grasped the notion that I had a lot of inventory, all beautiful inventory, until I decided to close!  Most of it is gone and I am thankful for the customers that helped me liquidate. 

Although I would have liked to have been left with nothing, I can live with some of the left over inventory, just not all of it! 

For those of you who use Etsy and/or eBay, which one would you recommend? Which platform is more successful for you. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your comments, they are must appreciated! Cheers!

Rain, Rain and more rain!

I don't know about where you live, but here in the way northeast, I can see Canada from my shoppe, it's been raining quite a bit. Check out how green everything is.

My irises are in full bloom!

Aren't they pretty?

On the quilting front, I am still plugging away at the flying geese quilt! Would you believe that I have 300 more flying geese to make and I'll be in a position to start piecing the top?

I have decided to keep track of the number of fabrics I am using in the quilt.

They will all be glued in my Scrappy Planner .... as they are part of the quilt's story.

I cannot wait to count the number of different fabrics in that quilt!

So, what are you working on?

Thank you for stopping by my little corner in cyberspace! Catch you later! Cheers!