January 2021 One Monthly Goal

I should probably work on my sewing space and aim low for any outright sewing this month. But since I spent a couple of days last week cutting strips for string blocks, my goal for January will be to make 20 pinwheel blocks. This is on my PhD list for a 2021 finish and it seems I only have one block complete right now. So I've got to work a little on it every month I think.



I tracked down the missing sewing machine cord last night and then made another discovery. Eureka!


It's not the big iron I need to iron my backing, but it will do for piecing.

Linking to:
One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts.

April One Monthly Goal and Second Quarter Finish-a-Long

Number four on my twelve UFOs list is Christmas Among Friends. However, I haven't found that one yet. I have found number five, Antique Tiles, so I'm going to bump it up for April and hope I find Christmas Among Friends this month. My plan is to use the quilt-as-you-go method and have a complete finish by the end of the month.

My Second Quarter Goals for 2018 Finish-A-Long are:

1. (also) Antique Tiles - completely finished. I don't have any fabric that will work as sashing so I will have to buy fabric this month.

2. Second Saturday Sampler - finish the last block and make the quilt top, and backing. I don't want to quilt it yet.

3. Finish the blocks for Sweet Sixteen. I probably should have said find the blocks, but I saw a couple of blocks and hope they are all together.

Linked to:
One Monthly Goal - April at Elm Street Quilts
2018 Finish-A-Long Second Quarter Goals at Marci Girl Designs

Weekly Reports for the Fifth Week of 2018

As I mentioned yesterday, I have been making string blocks with leaders and enders. I thought I'd make them half square and make pinwheels. I love pinwheels. Only doing half the block in strings makes the block go fast, which is good for making a lot of blocks, but it is also a little more work too. Once I get them put in pinwheels, I'm going to do the quilt as you go method on them. I haven't picked a sash color yet, but I'm thinking red or blue.

I looked at the picture and thought "Oh no, I cut some too small!" Then it dawned on me that I joined the four on the left yesterday. Maybe I need a nap already.

I had a great week in the sewing room this week. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I really got some things accomplished. Maybe it was the sinus infection and not feeling like I should leave the house for days, or maybe I'm finally getting a little organized. In any case, I sewed every day, worked on my cabinet one day, and found a box of scraps so I could start making leader and ender string blocks again. I think I like making string blocks as leaders and enders because they don't require any thought and I can keep my attention on the piecing of the main project.

I know this chart looks odd, but I wanted to keep January and February separate. I ended January with 25 out of 31 days spent sewing. That's an 81% average, so not too bad. So far in February, mind you it's only 3 days, I'm at 100%.

I also finally have some usage to report on the stash, although since I found a box of fabric, my overall number has gone up. But the main thing is that I didn't buy any new fabric. I managed to finish the wallhanging with fabric already bought.

Although the chart below doesn't show this specifically, I have bought 3-1/2 yards in 2018, and used 2-1/2 yards.  One more yard used and I will have my stash showing no real gain, although I am adding stash numbers as I unpack fabric.  After I am unpacked, I may go back and change my reports from the beginning to show actual gain just from purchases.

I mentioned that I also worked on my cabinet. I finished putting in shelves last night and couldn't wait to put fabric in it. I was pleased that all my quilting cotton (except for planned projects) fit in it. Now my other bookshelf can be used for flannels, batting, and projects. It really is beginning to come together.

I hope you have had a good sewing week too, and if not, best wishes for the week ahead. Check the links below to see how other quilters are doing, and join in if you can.

Linking to:
15 Minutes to Stitch at Life in Pieces
Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework

Still Busting UFOs

I've been working on the wallhanging. Finished the flimsy Friday afternoon, and spent Friday evening unpacking boxes looking for my pins. I finally found a small, travel box with some pins and had almost enough. I'll have to work on a section and then finish pinning the rest. Hubby likes it and says it looks like a stained glass window. Of course, I was standing in front of a window while I was holding the flimsy up for him to see, so I guess it did.

I'm itching to quilt it using my new Westalee ruler foot. I just got it last week and haven't tried it out yet. I was going to practice on the wallhanging, but since Hubby likes that, I'll practice on some half-square string blocks I've been making as leaders and enders.

I like it!  At least the top.

The back isn't that great.  For one thing, I forgot to lower my feeddogs.  But that really wasn't the problem.  I had to adjust my needle tension by a couple of numbers.  Then it looked better.  I do want to find my magic gloves before quilting the wallhanging.  Free motion with oversized dishwashing gloves is cumbersome.

Eventually, I plan on making a pinwheel quilt-as-you-go with these blocks.

Linking over to Tish's Adventures in Wonderland who is keeping me focused on finishing UFOs. Thanks Tish!

P.S.  Hubby wasn't able to rent a hydraulic lift this weekend and that turned out to be a very good thing.  This morning it was very windy and this afternoon, it rained with a few thunderclaps thrown in for good measure.  Not a good time to be putting up an antenna.  But we still had someone fall off a ladder today.  It was Buddy.  I don't know why he likes to climb ladders; he is not good at coming down them.  Hubby had propped the big extension ladder against the shelves in the garage, and Buddy climbed up to one of the shelves.  When I called him, I heard something fall up there, and then he started down.  He made it about three steps rather quickly, and then the momentum must have been too much as he kind of slid down the rest of the steps and landed with a thud at the bottom.

UFOs and a New Plan

I'm looking forward to this year because I have a new plan to deal with UFOs in 2016.

 Since I have to fold up my sewing table and cutting table in order to get out tables to pin quilts, or to use my quilt frame, I am going to finish piecing all the tops before I begin quilting.  That means I probably won't have many finishes before next fall.

So here are UFOs from 2014 and before:

1. Baby Bow



2.  Gairdin Walk



3.  Around the World from the Couch



4. Depression Blocks



5. Christmas Among Friends



6. Denim Cathedral Windows



7. Ameliorate Sampler



8.  Jacob's Ladder



These are UFOs started in 2015:

9.  Summer Crossroad



10.  Double Irish Chain



11.  Starry QAYG



12.  Sweet Sixteen



These are UFOs that will be hand-stitched and not likely to be finished in 2016:

13.  Colorful Butterflies



14. Star Travel.



15.  Antique Tiles. I made these for a swap that never happened.  So now I have to do something with them.

16.  There will be at least one quilt started in 2016.  I need to make a quilt for the trailer.  I have a modern pattern in mind and already have the fabrics.

Linked to Design Board Monday at Bits 'n Bobs.

2016 Goals

This year is already going by too fast, and it just started! New Year's Eve began with a Sherlock marathon on PBS, so I stayed up most of the night recording them. I'm not sure it was worth the effort though. I've seen the show a couple of times and liked it, but by the end of the last show, I didn't like it quite as well. Maybe it was the late hours, or maybe it was the direction the show took in the end. Anyway, I've got them on DVD now so I can watch them in the trailer when we have limited or no tv reception.


(Tonight, PBS is doing a Doc Martin marathon and I LOVE Doc Martin, so I'll be up until 2 a.m. for it too.)

Yesterday, I planned on wrapping up some end of the year paperwork and then quilting all day. None of that happened. I got a late start on the day since I had stayed up most of the night. If I hadn't set my alarm for 9:30, I probably would have slept past noon. Then Hubby decided he would put up a couple of cameras for our security system. And since that isn't a one-person job, I had to help pull wire and bring things to him in the attic. I finally got in a half hour of quilting after 8 p.m.

I wasn't going to post any goals or resolutions for the year, since by February, I often forget I've even made any. But I've been thinking lately of what I'd like to get done this year so thought I may as well write them down. I even looked up last year's goals to see how I did.

Last year's goals:
1. I am going to make a blog post every day for the month of January, even if it's just one sentence. Hopefully, that will get me back in the habit of posting and inspiration will follow. I actually did that! Good thing I decided to do it in January instead of July. I remember that it was hard though. Sure won't be doing THAT again.

2. I am going to list my unfinished projects on the sidebar with deadlines for finishing.  Wonder why I didn't do this one? Guess I was so busy trying to think of something to say every day that by February I had forgotten.

3. I am going to start a new project every month and not leave it unfinished. Bwahahahaha!

4. I am going to keep track of my projects so I can see what is worthwhile and what is a waste of time and money. Gee, that was a good idea. I wish I had done that one.

5. I am going to host a home improvement blog party for a month this spring and see what happens. Hmmm, I knew I wanted to try a linky party, but forgot I set a topic and date.

6. I am going to clear the clutter and finally hang pictures on my walls, and maybe even find those long lost gift cards. And last, but not least, the old 'clear the clutter' resolution. Well, THAT didn't happen. I'm surprised lose weight wasn't on my list, because I didn't get that done either.

So, in light of all the broken resolutions of 2015, what should I propose for 2016?

1. I would like to lose weight. Or rather, I'd like my clothes to fit a little looser, and I'd like my knees and hips to quit hurting. Now I could go shopping and just buy bigger clothes, but my knees and hips would still hurt. And I'm not sure losing weight will stop the pain, but it beats knee surgery as my first option, so I'm going to try. Plus, back in November, I promised my doctor that I would start walking 30 minutes every day and eating better. But I really only promised because he was blocking the door while he was lecturing me about my weight. Once I was out of his office and drinking my Cherry Pepsi with real sugar, I kind of forgot about it again.

2. I think I'll repeat #4 above, except to say that I will keep an excel spreadsheet for projects every day during the month of January and then re-evaluate.

3. Limit resolutions to a workable number, like 3.  See how easy goals can be?  I've already achieved this one!

------- Here are the UFO's that I said I would finish in 2015:
1.  Showtime!     Finished.



2.  Baby Bow Tie.  No work done on it at all in 2015.



3.  Gairdin Walk.  No work done on it at all in 2015.



4.  Around the World from the Couch. Worked on, but still not finished.



5.  Friends Who Haven't Met.  Finished.



6. Depression Blocks. Didn't touch it in 2015.



7. Christmas Among Freinds. No work done on it in 2015.



8. Denim Cathedral Windows. No work done on it in 2015.



9. Star Travel. No work done on it in 2015.



10. Second Saturday Sampler. No work done on it in 2015. I don't even know where it is now.



11.  Jacob's Ladder.  Not touched in 2015.



Yikes!  Out of  11 UFOs, I only worked on three of them, and only finished two.  2016 has to be the year of UFOs for me.  There will be another post tomorrow listing my UFOs.  Obviously, there are more because I started and didn't finish even more in 2015.

Here is my one and only start to finish in one year.  Notice how small it is.



Linked to Silly Sunday at Comedy Plus. Thanks Sandee!

Stash Report 14 and Design Wall Monday

I didn't do any sewing of any kind this week so my fabric usage is 0. I did a quick inventory of my quilt fabrics and added 18.25 yards into the stash, but didn't buy any fabric this week either. That's the only good thing. It's no surprise to me though; once it is time for the garden, everything else takes the back seat. We bought the last of our peppers in Gun Barrel City on Saturday and spent Saturday evening planting before a nice rain moved in. It was cool and misty all day and will be too muddy to get into the garden tomorrow, but I still won't be doing any quilting. I'm determined to get my cutting table finished. I've been dragging my feet on it for far too long.

Added YTD: 70.91 yards Used YTD: 81.75 yards Reduced Stash by: 10.84 yards Obviously, the design wall hasn't changed any either. It is the same as last week.

Linking to Fabric Report 14, #19" at Patchwork Times, though I'm not sure why. Just don't want to break my record. lol.  Also linking to Design Wall Monday #7 at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

Not much has changed on the design wall, but I've been working on the Sweet Sixteen, and have the length I want now. I've spent more time working on preemie gowns than quilting, and sad to say, but all those are in the trash. If it wasn't poor pattern design, it was my sewing machine jamming up on the embroidery stitching. But I think I have it figured out now.

You can also see part of my cutting table, also a WIP, on the right.