Week 4 Sewing Linkups

To-Do Tuesday

I set the bar really low last week, so it was a pretty easy win.

Last Week:

1. Make applique letters for shopping bags. 

Not only did I get the letters made, but I also finished the bag. You can see it here.

I had another To-Do, but it was comic relief.

From the back burner:

3. Finish the binding on Sugar Pie. 

You can see the finished quilt here.

❌ 4. Put away Christmas decorations.

❌ 5. Rearrange sewing space and see if there is room for a bigger sewing table.

❌ 6. Reorganize my UFO boxes.

We are having a rare second round of freezing weather and for some reason, it put me in an organizing mood. I got out all my scrap baskets, which were already somewhat organized by color, and began sorting the blues/purples/greens. I had a vague idea of making some string blocks out of all one color instead of my usual all colors, so first first pulled all the real blues, then pulled the pastels, baby fabrics, and holiday fabrics out of that pile. I even had some upholstery cloth in there! I thought I'd made string blocks out everything under 2-1/2 inches, but then I ran across some strips that may have been cut for binding. By the time I pulled those out, there wasn't much left. Now I just hope I have enough to make one block!

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This Week:.

1. Find a string block pattern or adapt a traditional block for blue scraps.

2. Make at least one blue string block.

3. Cut remaining blue scraps into half square triangle blocks.

4. Find stash of finished hexagons. 

I've been looking for these all week so there aren't a lot of place left to look.

5. Put away Christmas decorations.

6. Rearrange sewing space and see if there is room for a bigger sewing table.

7. Reorganize my UFO boxes.

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Sunday Stash

Again this week, nothing in or out of the stash.

2023 STASH TOTALS
Added Jan 8-14                    0 yards
Added year to date               0 yardsUsed Jan 22-28                 .25 yards
Used year to date            6.50 yards
Net used in 2023 6.50 yards

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Stitching Stuff

I don't have much to report this week on either challenge, but for now, I'm maintaining my goal of 50% stitching time and reducing my stash. I took it easy Tuesday. I guess I was afraid any sudden move would bring back my headache. So that day I just printed applique letters and ironed them onto fabric. It's been so long since I've done a Wonder-Under applique that I couldn't even remember how to do it. It took me awhile to get back in the rhythm of zig-zagging around the letters, so it's a good thing I was recyling the daybed cover and didn't waste any new fabric other than a fat quarter.

I thought I would get more stitching time in this week, but this weekend is the big weekend for Hubby's ham radio club and we worked all day Friday and Saturday. I should have some time after they all leave after lunch. I got up at 6:00 this morning to make breakfast for all those who spent the night. I never get up early so I'll have to have a nap sometime today too.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023:
Jan 22-28                  3 of 7 days
2023 Total             16 of 28 days
57% success rate

Finished Shopping Bag

Sorry for the picture quality. I couldn't remember how to blur just one spot in an image.

This was good practice for letter applique and I found that the light color works well on the dark, but the middle pattern was really hard to see, and the thread got lost in the pattern so it was hard to define the inside of the letters. It's okay up close, and our local libary will give it to someone who can use it to carry their books. It's certainly sturdy enough for books. The cloth is thicker than most duck cloth and my sewing machine, Jan, said "O me, Oooo me, Oooooooo me." So I won't be making another bag just like this again. I'll alternate a lighter weight cloth on the sides next time.

Linking to:

Sugar Pie

Began and finished January 2023.

Week 3 Sewing Linkups

To-Do Tuesday

Last Monday when I wrote my Tuesday To Do List, I was looking forward to a week of no doctor's appointments for anyone so I could get a lot done, but that didn't happen. I didn't get anything else done because Monday afternoon, I got a sudden and severe headache. Nothing I took eased the pain and by Tuesday afternoon, not only did I feel like I had been shot in the forehead, but shot through my eye with a flaming arrow. I finally gave up and went to the hospital ER Tuesday night. Since Tuesday, I have been to three doctors, and lived on pain killers, eye drops, and antibiotics. Meanwhile, my eye and eyelid have swollen so I suppose whatever it is triggered a thyroid eye disease recurrence. Dr. Google suggested cluster headaches or supraorbital neuralgia. I already had an appointment with my primary doctor for an annual exam tomorrow, so I'll run that by him and see if I can add more doctor appointments to my calendar.

Meanwhile, I've noticed that I have a couple of hours with little pain after each pain pill, so I am going to be optimistic and put a couple of things on my To Do list.

Last Week:

❌ 1. Finish the binding on Sugar Pie.

❌ 2. Put away Christmas decorations.

❌ 3. Rearrange sewing space and see if there is room for a bigger sewing table.

❌ 4. Reorganize my UFO boxes.

This wasn't a To-Do, but in light of the week I had, I thought I'd point out this sentence from the end of my last list. "Since Mom is still confined and I have no appointments this week, I predict another good week ahead." So that's what happened. I jinxed it!

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This Week:

1. Make applique letters for shopping bags.

2. Sit in the dark with my eyes closed.

And these unfinished To-Do's will go on the back burner.

3. Finish the binding on Sugar Pie.

4. Put away Christmas decorations.

5. Rearrange sewing space and see if there is room for a bigger sewing table.

6. Reorganize my UFO boxes.

***Update on Tuesday morning. Or maybe I should say Eureka! I woke up without any pain this morning! I'm cautiously excited!***

After getting back from the latest doctor appointment, I've been taking it easy, half expecting the headache to hit me in the head again. And at the same time, I'm thinking of adding a few things to my To Do list, or start working on the applique. This morning, the doctor said stress brings on most migraines, if it was that, so I'm trying to be very zen about doing anything. Hubby has a group of people coming over this weekend and I haven't lifted a finger around here in a week. *start fretting* No, just let them see dust. Ah yes, breathe in, stress out.

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Sunday Stash

There were no changes to my stash of course. On the plus side, I wasn't tempted to buy any fabric this week.

2023 STASH TOTALS
Added Jan 15-21                   0 yards
Added year to date                0 yards
Used Jan 15-21                      0 yards
Added year to date            6.25 yards
Net used in 2023 6.25 yards

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Stitching Stuff

A week out sure puts a hole in the reports.  I dropped from 86% to 62% with only one day spent sewing.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023:
Jan 15-21                  1 of 7 days
2023 Total             13 of 21 days
62% success rate

Week 2 Sewing Linkups

To-Do Tuesday

I had all week with nothing to do, but still didn't complete my simple list.

Last Week:

❌ 1. Finish Sugar Pie. Shopped my stash for backing and binding. 

I did pretty good finding backing and binding fabric. I had to piece the backing though and not in an even way. I hope the fabric is busy enough so it doesn't show. I quilted it with the walking foot and it was more of an undertaking than I anticipated. It probably would have been better if I had done a simple wave. I have started hand stitching the binding, but it may take awhile. I've been having some hand pain lately, probably carpal tunnel, and holding the needle between thumb and forefinger puts pressure on exactly the wrong place.

❌ 2. I need to get my Christmas decorations put away. 

Just about the time I think I've got everything put up, I spot another decoration in plain sight that I have looked at so many times that I just don't notice it anymore.

3. Make Sugar Pie pattern into a QAYG. 

I worked on it and decided it wouldn't work to join rows the way I wanted to make it.

4. Finish my Book Club book. Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah. This was a good read!

5. Don't get Covid. 

I wish I could tell you how hard I worked on achieving this, but of course, it was totally out of my control. I am grateful not to get it after two weeks of the flu and grateful that Mom had a very mild case of Covid.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Since I didn't complete any real tasks, my to do list for the coming week won't change much from last week.

This Week:

1. Finish the binding on Sugar Pie.

2. Put away Christmas decorations. 

If I don't get this done this week, I'll have New Year's decorations to put away too.

3. Rearrange sewing space and see if there is room for a bigger sewing table.

4. Reorganize my UFO boxes. 

Hubby moved the cabinet they were in but first had to unload the cabinet and he put the boxes wherever he could find a space.

Since Mom is still confined and I have no appointments this week, I predict another good week ahead.

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Design Wall Monday

Even though I posted this design wall before, I'm including another picture of it. I've been gathering some of the duck cloth scattered about. Years ago, my daughter wanted a purple daybed cover and I made it out of solid purple duck cloth. When she tired of it, I made a couple of pillows out of the cover and put the rest in the scrap bin. I've made a couple of books bags that I donated to the local library and the duck cloth works very well for that. However, it doesn't take me long to get totally sick of sewing purple bags. I cut the purple into pieces for future bags so they will be easier to store than a bulky cover.

I'm hand stitching the binding on Sugar Pie right now, so technically, it is off the design wall. After I cleaned off all the fluff and threads, I went through a few stacks of fabric and found these shopping bags I started making years ago.

I don't know if I will make them a goal for the coming week, or just find all the pieces and put them in a project box to work on later. Right now, my priority is repairing the wall behind my cutting table, and getting better lighting over the cutting table and design wall. Maybe next week, it won't look like I took pictures in the dark.

Monday Musings
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Sunday Stash

It has also been a good week for fabric usage. Even though I'm not keeping up with the total yardage of my stash right now, I am glad I counted and labeled each one for the last few years. It's really handy to have the yardage marked on each piece so I don't have to measure the pieces to find one that has enough yardage. That is one thing I'll continue doing when and if I add any new fabrics. Who am I kidding, of course there will be new fabrics.

I found exactly three yards for the backing of Sugar Pie and a half yard for the binding. I chose the backing fabric for the red coloring, but while cutting, I noticed the bits of sheet music. It doesn't exactly match the fabric on the front, but it matches the theme.



2023 STASH TOTALS
Added Jan 8-14                   0 yards
Added year to date              0 yards
Used Jan 8-14                 3.25 yards
Added year to date         6.25 yards
Net used in 2023 6.25 yards


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Stitching Stuff

This has been a good week for sewing since our family has been exposed to Covid and staying in. Mom flunked her Covid test on Monday but started feeling better today. So far, fifteen people at her assisted living have it. Somehow, Hubby and I avoided getting it from her although we were confined with her for a few hours Monday. Since we were just getting over the flu, we fully expected to catch it easily. I have finally stopped coughing but Hubby's cough is hanging in there.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023:
Jan 8-14                  7 of 7 days
2023 Total             12 of 7 days
86% success rate

Week 1 Sewing Linkups

To-Do Tuesday

I wasn't going to make any goals for awhile, but I've been exposed to covid and it looks like I won't be leaving the house for at least five days, so here we go!

This Week:

1. Keeping it simple, I want to finish Sugar Pie. 

Since I can't go shopping for binding or backing, I'll have to take my chances with something from my stash. Batting could be a problem.

2. This isn't quilting related, but I want, no, I need to get my Christmas decorations put away.

3. Make Sugar Pie pattern into a QAYG while the instructions are still fresh in my mind.

4. Finish my Book Club book. Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah.

Sooo good!

5. Don't get Covid. 

Maybe this one should be Number 1.


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Design Wall Monday

On Sunday afternoon, Sugar Pie became a finished flimsy. The pattern didn't include yardage for binding or backing and I really think it would look best with the binding fabric to be the same as the outer border. I doubt I can find any more, but will visit some local stores and see if it is still current. I had exactly one yard of the red and just have a few scraps left now.

This quilt went together quickly. The designer at Fabric Cafe made it easy with strip piecing and then cutting all the smaller strips at one time which really saved time. And that made chain piecing easy too. Doing the piecing this way didn't allow for any errors though and I would have liked some of the narrower strips to be wider so I could square up between sashing strips. As it was, each block was a little small on at least one side. I used to quilt with a friend who couldn't see well and her seam allowances ranged from 1/8" to 3/8", her blocks were never square, and yet, her quilts always looked fine. This quilt is like that. It's good enough, and I've decided that is going to be my mantra from now on. There is no use beating myself up about seam allowances or miscuts that I can't see. It's really freeing to accept imperfection.

Now I wonder if this pattern could be made into a Quilt as You Go with just a little tweaking. If I have three more one yard cuts that look good together, I'm going to try it.


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Sunday Stash

My stash report looks a little better. I started a 3 yard quilt called Sugar Pie and quickly used that from my stash. There were very few scraps left too, which was a bit unfortunate as it turned out, but at least didn't add to my scrap box.

2023 STASH TOTALS
Used Jan 1-7                 3 yards
Used year to date          3 yards
Added Jan 1-7                0 yards
Added year to date         0 yards
Net used in 2023 3 yards



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Stitching Stuff

I started sewing again this week and it feels good to be back to it again. As I sewed and settled back into my space, I started wondering if I should track and set a goal for Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge. Prior to last year, I can see that my sewing pattern is to sew mainly in cooler weather while outside activities take up more time in warmer weather. So how to make an attainable goal that reflects that schedule? The usual goal of 15 minutes per day for the entire year results in a 50% or less success rate which mentally translates to FAIL. Or do I aim for a 50% success rate, which mean I have achieved 100% success? That doesn't really work either.

I'll give it more thought, but for now, I'll report in the traditional method. I was hoping for 7 out of 7 days, but Hubby and I got the flu for Christmas and it was worse than the Covid we had last year and I lost a day for that and another day taking Mia to a veterinary ophthalmologist. Other than veterinary hospitals, I never knew there were specialists. Just when we thought our lives were going to get less complicated.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023:
Jan 1-7                  5 of 7 days
2023 Total             5 of 7 days
71% success rate

I Feel Like Rip Van Winkle

If you read my other blog, you already know why my blog snoozed for a year. It wasn't just my blog; I didn't sew a single stitch on a single quilt. I thought I didn't sew a single stitch on anything, but looking back at the blog this week showed me that I made the big mouse toy for Smokey before our lives turned upside down. After that day, I didn't set foot in my sewing space for a year.

When I finally ventured up there this week, it was like one of those sci-fi movies where someone walks into a dust covered abandoned house. There were cobwebs hanging from the lights, some patterns and fabrics laid out on my cutting table, and a package of new cutting blades laying beside it. I discovered that I had also started a smaller mouse toy for Smokey and it just needed to have one more piece sewed on to be finished. I was probably going to come up the next day, put filler in the mouse, and finish it. I never would have left my sewing machine uncovered for a year if I had thought about it at all. But I wasn't thinking about sewing, at least not for the first six months. After that, it just wasn't a priority.

I cleaned my tables and knocked the dust off the cloth pieces that seemed to be in progress. And then I held my breath and turned on my sewing machine. It didn't hold the dust against me and ran like the trooper it is. I finished the mouse and tried to find out where the other pieces came from. I didn't find a pattern or any larger pieces of fabric, so set them aside.

Then I tried to decide if I wanted to continue sewing or just shut it all down. On the shut it down side of the list, a strong argument was turning the space into a bedroom for the grandsons when they visit. A second was not having the constant mess of projects and thread on the floor. So I surprised myself by deciding to keep plugging away at the UFO list. But I need some new quilt projects from time to time to keep the motivation going.

Today, I started a new quilt, a 3 yard quilt called Sugar Pie.  Here's a teaser of the progress.  It's going together pretty fast, which is just the motivation I need.

Joining: