2020 Wrap Up

This year, my goals through the year were:

1. Finish these quilts:
DONE   a. Snowball Blossom, started January 2018
Fail           b. Find backing for Baby Bow Tie, started June 2011
Worked on  c. Second Saturday Sampler, started January 2005
DONE   d. Celebrate Freedom, started February 2020
DONE   e. Barnyard quilt, started February 2020
Worked on  f. Finish Scottish Sun began 2004
Worked on  g. Start/Continue Lovers Knot as RSC BOM
Worked on  h. Finish Pond lily as RSC BOM
Fail           i. Start Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam as BOM
DONE   j. Make at least two donation quilts.

2.  Finish these sewing projects:
DONE   a. Upcycle sweater
Fail           b. Make receiving blanket
DONE   c. Make 25 face masks

3. Accomplish these in the sewing room:
Fail             a. Find time for daily sewing at least 70% of the time
Fail             b. Decrease stash by 15%
Fail             c. Organize sewing space
Fail             d. Join a daytime quilt guild (I'll blame Covid for this fail.)
Fail           e. Learn to paint fabric
DONE   f. Cover foam panels and make new design wall
DONE   g. Finish wall behind design wall

8 out of 20 projects completed gives me a 40% success rate. If I look on it as 12 out of 20 projects completed or moved forward, I have a 60% success rate. In a year where four months of the year were impossible, I'll take it.

This year I will continue to work on some of those projects, but there is at least one that I disliked doing so much that I may toss the whole thing, or stop where I am and make a mini out of it. Life is too short to work on projects I don't enjoy.

I haven't given much thought to non-quilting projects for 2021, but I would like to sew some clothing, and I would like to have carpet in my sewing area.  Currently, Hubby is working on his side of the room, so all the excess is still on my side.  But that is the carrot I would like to dangle in front of myself.

What are your plans for the coming year?

Last Goal of 2020 Finished

On the design wall today is.... the design wall.

Goals 7 and 10 for 2020 were to finish the drywall behind my design wall and to cover insulated foam panels and attach them to the wall. Instead of covering a 4x8 piece of insulation, I decided to use the smaller 12x48-ish pieces. I can move them around depending on the size of the quilt I am making, or take some off depending on the size of the wall hanging over it.

Since my sewing space is multi-functional, I have a curtain rod hanging over it with clip hooks so I can hang a quilt to cover everything.

This is a Bow Tie quilt made by my great grandmother. Looking at it, I don't think she had a design wall to lay it out on before sewing the blocks together. But I still love it.

Linking to:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Sewing Report for Week 52 of 2020

It's hard to believe 2020 will finally come to an end. And good riddance!

I didn't have a productive sewing week, but it was a good week. We drove to Amarillo on Christmas Eve and the usual Christmas traffic was almost non-existant. We got there in time for me to spend the visitation hour with Mom and she was doing well. She had really hoped if she worked hard, she would get out in time for Christmas, but the staff there disagreed. She has at least another week of therapy before they will determine IF she gets to go home.  We drove home after the noon visitation hour and again the traffic was light, until we got near Fort Worth.  I think we came through Fort Worth, I was dozing a bit.

I want to thank everyone for their concern and prayer for Mom. The therapy has helped her right side immensely. Her overall strength is improving too, but I'm concerned she won't continue with the exercises once she is home. Right now, she won't even consider going to an assisted living facility; so if they determine that she go home and live alone, she will put up a fight. The local hospital, who examined Mom immediately and did an MRI, said mom had a stroke. The Amarillo hospital, who examined her hours later, said they couldn't tell if she had one. But if she did, it was a TIA (mini stroke) and the clot was either small or disintegrated by the time they tested. Studies show that a third of the people who have a TIA have a severe stroke within a year. For that reason, I'd like Mom to be in an assisted living center where they can get her to the emergency room quickly. So the fight is on.

This week in stitching, I only stitched a few days before going to Amarillo. I hope to get back on track today, not that it will help my success rate any at this late date.

Linking to:
15 Minutes to Stitch at Life in Pieces

PhD in 2021 aka Projects Half Done

Gail at Quilting Gail has a yearly challenge for all of us who have too many UFO's, aka Un-Finished Ojects. I've already told you I have over thirty so I need to get busy, and pronto!

Here is my list of quilts I want to complete this year:

I'm not sure what order I will work on them, certainly not alphabetical. I'll probably start with those that are nearest a finish and build momentum like a debt snowball. My quilts and what needs to be done. Yes, they are all wrinkled. I still haven't found my iron.

1. Night Sky. It just needs to be quilted. I could send it out, but I don't really like this quilt so I think it would be a good practice quilt for touch quilting.

2. Gairden Path. It also just needs to be quilted. However, the backing isn't large enough for a long arm frame, so I need to add something to each side to make that work.

3. Dark Star. This one also needs to be quilted. Since it was hand pieced, I am going to hand quilt it too.

4. Depression Blocks. This needs borders backing, and binding. Then I will send it out.


5. Jacob's Ladder. This needs backing and binding. I will send this one out first. It looks like a good one to try out a new quilter.

6. Baby Bow Tie. This needs backing and binding.

7. Christmas Among Friends.

8. Saturday Sampler. This needs border, backing, and binding.

9. Scottish Sun. This needs blocks put together, borders, backing, and binding.

10. Scrappy Pinwheels. This needs more blocks, blocks put together, borders, backing, and binding.

11. Summer Crossroads. This needs more blocks made, rows joined, borders, backing, and binding.



12. Sweet Sixteen. This needs more blocks, blocks put together, borders, backing, and binding.

Linking to:
PhD in 2021 at Quilting Gail.

2021 Quilting Goals

After 2020, I'm almost afraid to list any 2021 goals.  What a year this has been!  Most quilters have a large stash and laughingly say they have more than they can use in their lifetime.  That used to be me, never really believing that it was true.  But in the last year, I realized  that I probably won't be quilting until the end of my life, whenever that it and I really do have more fabric than I can ever use.  It's a sobering thought.  Even more sobering this year was the thought that I might not even be able to finish the projects I've started.  2021, for me, will be a year of finishes.  Whether done perfectly or imperfectly, right now, I just want to tie up loose ends.

In 2020, I only made three goals: Have a stay at home quilting weekend every month, finish UFOs as I find them, and do something every day that moves a project forward.  Pretty good goals actually and I started out full steam and with some good results.  But there were some major hurdles in 2020.

I agreed to babysit my daughter's boys for a month while she found a job and daycare and that month turned into four, exhausting months.  My stay at home quilting weekends ended when I started babysitting weekends.  The babysitting finally ended when it was time for my eye surgeries.  I've written about that before, but the downside is that my vision went from bad to worse and now I have doubled, distorted vision.  But in the last few weeks I have developed a sweet spot about twelve inches from my eyes where I don't have double vision.  That sweet spot gives me hope that the other problems can be corrected one day and I won't have to give up quilting completely.

In June, Hubby decided to insulate the attic and he moved everything from my side of the hobby room over to his side.  Then he moved everything from his side over to my side and didn't bother to keep things together.  And there it still sits today.  Boxes stacked on boxes with a narrow row between them.  I set up my sewing machine table and cutting table, but haven't been able to find my iron or my notions.  I don't know about you, but I can't quilt without my iron and seam ripper!

In the meantime, I have been cross-stitching because that is something I can do twelve inches from my eyes.  I haven't yet figured out how to get my face close enough to the sewing machine to see what I'm sewing without hunching over and killing my back.  I also bought some Ikea cabinets for my sewing and crafts and was able to put them together without much help.  As I unpack boxes, now I can put all my quilting supplies in one place.

While unpacking boxes and sorting into my new cabinets, I counted thirty-one UFOs.  Yes!  Thirty-One!  I have always wanted to do the quilting on all my quilts, but my new reality is that I can't.  So I have decided to send out all the finished quilt tops (flimsies), and do the quilt-as-you-go method for all the quilts that are still just blocks.

Goals for 2021:

1. Send out at least six flimsies for quilting.
2. Redesign quilt patterns for blocks into QAYG.
3. Have a monthly stay-at-home quilting weekend.
4. Find that darn iron!
5. Find a way to set up my sewing table so I can see without hunching over.
6. Do something every day to keep projects moving.
7. Blog here at least once a week, even if it is just a silly picture.  Note to self, start collecting some silly pictures.

My next eye surgery was supposed to be in late January or early February and the one after that two months later.  I don't know if that is still going to happen.  Hospitals are once again closed to elective surgeries.  And I don't know how what kind of recovery or how long it will be.  I know there is no bending over, no lifting, and sleeping upright for awhile.  I won't even make a goal for sewing every day, or even every week, because I know that can't happen after surgeries.

What are your quilting goals for 2021?

I am once again joining the 2021 Planning Party at Quilting JetGirl and hope to complete it this year.

Reporting Sewing for Week 51 of 2020

This week has been cold and windy, just perfect for staying home and stitching.  Hubby and I ventured out to the not so big city to the north of us today and the traffic was horrible.  I'm so glad our shopping is done for the rest of the year!  Now if I can just find the gifts I bought this summer.

I started stitching again just in time to end the year and my success (or lack thereof) shows it.  But for the last two weeks, I have gotten in 14 days of sewing time.  But now I am primed to start the new year, so all good.

I am once again joining Kate at Life in Pieces for her weekly stitching report.

The Saturday Before Christmas

I've been trying to get back in the stitching groove with this cross stitch project I've been working on for years. I thought it would work with my current vision but the aida cloth is 14 count and that is really too small for me. I've been using a hand held magnifying glass but I really need one on a stand. The light gold and white on the white aida is killing me.  If you have any suggestions, I'd love to know which one to buy.

This is a picture from the last time I showed my progress on it. I did work on it in the meantime and had finished the gate and the lower half of the border.

This is what the finished piece will look like, so I've got a lot to do yet.  The last time I worked on it, I didn't take off the hoop because I thought I would be working on it again right away.  That was at least a year ago and the hoop wrinkle is pretty noticeable.  I hope it comes out after I wash it.

A few days ago, our Christmas plans were to stay home alone and eat whatever we felt like cooking, and spending some quality time in our hobby room.  That will probably change now because my mom fell and may have had a stroke.  She is in the hospital now and no one is allowed in.  We are waiting for news that she has been released and then Hubby will take me to her house so I can help her.  He has to work a couple of days next week, so we don't know if we will be able to spend Christmas together or if we will be apart for the first time in 45 years.  This is such an odd time we are living in right now.

I'm joining Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.

May One Monthly Goal

I completely forgot about doing an OMG for April. I would have chosen to make borders for Scottish Sun, so that is what I will choose to do for May. I would love to say that I will finish the quilt top, but until daycare opens again, that is just too much to hope for.

Linking to:

Sunday Stitching Reports Week 18

Maybe I should have said the lack of stitching.  It's been a bad week for stitching, but a good week for building.  I have been building a climbing structure in the backyard for the grandsons between stints of babysitting, and both activities have taken their toll.  By the time I come in from building, or say goodbye to the kids, I am ready for a shower and bed.  I've even been in bed before sunset!  That never happens.  Needless to say, I haven't been dragging myself up to my sewing room very often.  Today is my last babysitting day for a couple of days (I hope) so I hope to have one of those days all to myself for some serious sewing.

Oh, and apologies are in order for not posting a stress ball muff tutorial.  I'll try to get to it this week.





And now I'm going to try to get the yard mowed before church.

Linking to:

Sunday Sewing Week 17

I've been making stress balls this week, specifically, stress balls for preschoolers who bite their fingernails. My children never bit their fingernails, but they never had their lives turned upside down like these two little boys have. Daughter hasn't done anything about the nail biting but it drives Hubby nuts, so I googled how to stop it. Nearly every google discusses the psychology of dealing with the behavior and how to deal with it over time, but not much to do with the here and now. But one or two mentioned wearing gloves or giving them a worry stone or stress ball and when I googled where to find a worry stone or stress ball, there were several links to diy stress balls. Not only is diy right up my alley, but it means I don't have to wait for one to be delivered, and it's less time I have to listen to Hubby nag the youngest to get his fingers out of his mouth.

I tried a couple of different tutorials, but the one I think works best is from this youtube video from Red Ted Art. I used baking soda instead of flour though. If the balloon breaks, I think baking soda will be easier to clean up. Both boys liked playing with them and the oldest understood that this was a substitute for biting his nails, but have you ever tried to reason with a three year old? If his finger isn't in his mouth, it's up his nose. Usually in his nose and then his mouth. Ewww! He just took the stress ball in his hand and stuck his free fingers in his mouth.

I needed a way for him to manipulate it without getting it to his mouth. So I designed this stress ball muff. I made several versions before coming up with this one and so far it seems to be working. The balloons are holding up but the soda inside seems to be compacting and the balls are a little less squishy than they were at first. I'll post a tutorial for it tomorrow, more so I'll remember how to make it. I spent time with Jack the ripper on every one and would like to avoid that on the next ones. Daughter has requested two for their go bags.

I spent several of my 15 minute slots filling balloons instead of sewing and that affected my overall success rate. But with all my experiments, I used a bit of fabric, so that is good.

Linking with:

Sewing Report Sunday Week 16

If I wore a hat, it would be off for all the grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Daughter has worked seven days this week so we have been babysitting seven days and it is exhausting. She gets off at noon today and then has two days off. While the rest of the world is ready to get back with people, I am ready for some social distancing! Needless to say, there hasn't been much sewing going on this week and no fabric used.

Linking to:

Sunday Sewing Week 15

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the day, whether it is watching the grandkids through the windows or enjoying a quiet day by yourself. Since our grands live here, we have been doing a lot more Easter activities this week beginning with the first Passover and ending with a risen Jesus and a hollow tomb. Today will end with an Easter egg hunt which they already understand.

Needless to say, there hasn't been a lot of sewing this week. I did make more masks for the nursing home, this time for the residents. I also did some simple sewing for the boys and Easter, which used some fabric but didn't require much effort.

Linking to:

Sewing Report Time

I don't know about you, but the days are beginning to flow together and it's an effort to remember what day it is. I did get out and go through the drive up at the bank this week. I felt like I had escaped from house arrest and hoped to see someone I knew, but town was pretty quiet. I saw the Dollar General truck in the parking lot as I drove by and called Hubby to see if he wanted me to stop for toilet paper, but the lot was packed and he didn't want me in the crowd. He sent Daughter, but by the time she got there, they had sold out. A few days later a semi truck loaded with toilet paper was in an accident and caught fire. Local news coverage made it sound like a truckload of money was on fire. I can understand why people cleared the stores when the "secure in place" orders were first announced, but I don't know why the hoarding continues. Town was quiet. But it is not quiet at my house. Quite the opposite. Daughter got a job and I, or we, are babysitting the boys. Looks like I (or we) will be babysitting until it is safe for them to be in school or daycare again. There is a reason God gave me girls and not boys when we started our family. I'm not sure I will get through this with my sanity or Hubby with his patience.

Babysitting and cooking has taken a bite out of my sewing time. I have made some masks for the local nursing home, and now that the recommendation is for everyone to wear a mask when out in public, I'll be making more for us. I've heard that there is no elastic, no stretchy hair bands, no interfacing and no vacuum bags to be found at stores.

It's not all doom and gloom around here though. The purple martins and hummingbirds are back and busy. There are around twenty martins this year but only two or three hummers so far. We added a second purple martin house, a four-story apartment complex with luxury suites. I've only been able to find one of my hummingbird feeders though. I put a red shirt on each of the boys and had them stand still for a few minutes by the feeder, but the hummers never came close to them. The boys spend a lot of time outdoors when it isn't raining. They were really excited when Hubby ordered a load of road base and top soil and were soon on the top of each pile with their toy tractors and shovels.

The sewing and stash reports look good because there was activity on both, but there was no quilting going on.

Linking to: