Sewing and Organizing

I have been busy today, I even got the tree un-decorated.
While out town this morning I stopped at the store and I bought two of those great three drawer unit and sorted and got this cabinet neater. Still need to go through each basket to see what is really in them and put all the blocks inot the drawer units. It's a start though.

On one of the quilting site's I belong two we are doing a Christmas Quilt Along. We were to make two of the 6.5 inch Ribbon Star blocks to get us started for January. If you know me you know my quilt will be scrappy so here are my blocks ... made from my scrap basket.

and we are doing a Star BOM too ... for January we are doing this block but I got it wrong can you tell?? so I had to take it apart and redo it. It is corrected now, the points don't all go in the same direction now ... lol. If you'd like to play along with us I'll be posting my pictures monthly ... you can choose your fabrics and make them to suit you. I chose purples and creams to go with some other blocks I have made already.

until next time ... happy quilting

Today's UFO progress

Today I have been bee bopping here there and everywhere on projects and tasks I wanted to do.
I did some organizing in my sewing area. Sorted a basket of scraps.
Made a couple Pineapple blocks and a couple more Crumb blocks. The 9inch Crumb block will be turned into a hotpad. All this was made from the above scrap basket and it is still kind a full but everything has been sorted and pressed, nice and neat again. Tomorrow I will make some more pineapple blocks and might throw in some crumb blocks too.

Cut backing and batting for this table runner I found while sorting the other day. I have it pinned and ready to quilt it tomorrow. This will be a new runner to use on the old Singer Cabinet in my living room.

I have enjoyed this first day of 2010. I hope you had a good day too. I am happy with the progress that I made on my UFO projects and my chores around the house. I need to tackle taking the Christmas tree down tomorrow (bummer ... I love Christmas and when the tree comes down the magic will be gone)

until next time ... happy quilting

This week's progress report next week's goals

Sounds like I've been in school and the teacher sent home my grades with comments huh? lol

This was my list for this week's goals
1. Piece the backing to the TN Strings Quilt -- got another row added and cut enough pieces to add the last row of ten blocks
2. Figure out a layout for these blocks for a blocks to top swap -- found the setting I am going to use, started cutting sashing strips already
3. Spend 20 minutes or more each day organizing something -- didn't work on this each day but almost every day.
4. Sort and cut the basket into usable pieces -- BUSTED this one!!! I got the basket sorted and put away the squares, strips and bricks that I had cut the pieces into. I did find some blocks pieces that will need to put pieced into blocks. I put those into a holding basket beside my machine. I think I will work on these this week as my leaders and enders. This week I did crumb pieces as my leaders and enders and finished four more blocks and have several more started. (I am happy with my small bits of sewing room organization I do each week. I'm trying to get it into shape by the end of the year so I can work steadily on Judy's stash busting challenge for next year. )

My goals for the coming week ..

1. Finish the backing blocks .. this is going to come off the list this week if I have to stay up all night one night doing so. I have other projects that I want to work on but this one is looming over me saying finish me finish me!!

2. Add the sashing to the blocks into tops blocks

3. Sort and cut this basket into usable pieces

unit next time ... happy quilting and work on those goals!

Weekly Goal Busted!

I posted HERE my weekly goals and showed the messy basket of fabrics. I am so happy to be able to mark one BUSTED!!! I now have a nice stack of usable squares, strips, bricks and binding pieces all ready to use. Doesn't this look better than the first picture?

I put everything away except for the three stack at the upper left top corner of the mat. They will be used to make blocks for the backing of the TN String Quilt.

Weekly goals
1. Sort and cut basket into usable pieces - BUSTED!! Gonna pull another basket for next week and keep at it.
2. Piece the backing to the TN Strings Quilt - should have enough pieces cut to get the blocks started in the morning.
3. Spend 20 minutes or more each day organizing something - doing good with this one as well.

until next time ... happy quilting and work on those goals

Weekly Goals

Weekly goals
1. Sort and cut basket into usable pieces
2. Piece the backing to the TN Strings Quilt
3. Spend 20 minutes or more each day organizing something

As part of Judy's Plan for us to get organized by the end of the year ... I post before pictures HERE. To get me started I pulled a basket from beside cabinet to start reducing and organizing my stash. See the second picture in that post. The blue basket is in the stack to the right of the three drawer thingy.
Here is what I will be working on this week to help get the backing pieced for the TN Strings Quilt and to help organize my stash a bit. I am going to be sorting and cutting this basket done to usable size pieces. I started cutting this morning and got these nice piles agoing.


so what are you working on this week ... any small goals you are setting for yourself?
until next time ... happy quilting

sewing room cleanup update

I have made some nice progress this week doing the challenge to clean up my sewing area. (will post photos later) I am happy to say that I did a fast cleanup of the area last night and then I started working on the patterns and putting them into binders. I am about 1/4 of the way through the patterns and plan on working on them again tomorrow night while watching a good movie to help pass the time ;O) and get these put away. I trimmed down the cut-offs pictured in the previous posts - some down to 2.5 and the rest at 3.0 - those went into the drawer units with the precut squares for a scrappy project yet to be discovered.
I have been cleaning and organizing this week with the hopes of sewing on the 30s Sampler for my Mother tomorrow. I am GOING to finish this one this weekend!! That is my number one goal. I will post my update in the morning - might turn it into a sewing marathon.
Anyone up to join me for a sewing marathon tomorrow. Please let me know and we can encourage and motivate each other to make some progress.
This weeks challenge on the quilting site I belong to is to make a quilt top - I hope to complete this challenge tomorrow!
until next time ... happy quilting

sewing room cleanup

I haven't had it in my to sew ... so .... I have been participating in a weekly challenge on a quilting site I am a member of and doing some cleaning up and organizing in my sewing room. I am happy with the way things are coming together. Now I am a bit ashamed to show you just how bad it got before I started this clean up. But here goes nothing.

Here are some pictures of the after cleanup on the first day. I have lots still to do and hope to do some more each day until the weekend and then I am sewing!! I have been sorting, pressing and cutting as I go too. I have added lots to my pre-cut square drawers, string drawer, crumb drawers and put away several things that I should have long ago but that is a fault I have ;o)

(look I can see the counter top and table again but don't look under the bar at the mess of fabric I have stashed their)
Now I need to work on cutting these leftover pieces I found while sorting and start sorting my patterns. That is my goal for tomorrow. How would you sort-organize your patterns into binders to make them easier to find what you are looking for when you need it? Input here would be greatly appreciated.

until next time ... happy quilting and work on those goals!

my crazy - upside down life

sorry for the delay in posting life has been crazy and upside down lately but I am hoping that things are starting to calm down again so I can get on with my 'normal' activities again and post a bit more often.
I have gotten to sew a bit the last couple of days. I made these blocks for a swap I am in for a swapper. She sent the floral fabric and asked for green, purple, pink or yellow tone on tones to be added to the blocks. Hope she likes them.

I made these blocks for another swapper in the same swap. She sent the black fabric and asked for black on white and white on white with no HSTs in the blocks. Thinks she'll like them?

I hope to be able to work on my mother's 30s Sampler Quilt soon. I have one more set of blocks to make to complete my swap committments and I am not looking to join any more anytime soon. Too many irons in the fire here ;o)
to update on these two goals in one posting {4. Clean out my closet and redo my bedroom 5. Sort and organize my stash for better access ... update ... purchased some storage tubs to try and work on this soon.} I started pulling out boxes of stuff from my closet to start organizing my bedroom last night. I pulled all the fabric - quilting boxes from the bottom of my closet. I now have some nice organizing drawer units in the bottom of the closet instead of those boxes I showed long ago HERE I have one copy paper box full of various Debbie Mumm fabrics and novelty fabrics pulled that I know I will never use - gonna see if someone wants these. I am happy that my bedroom re-organization has at least begun now :o)
update on another goal sort of {8.. Lose 6 more pounds ... Update .. I am now down 12 pounds and hope to continue to lose and lose my goal of 10% of my starting body weight.} I haven't been keeping up with my weight since my last post so I will try and do an update on that tonight or tomorrow. Need to stay focused on down-sizing and not only my weight but the clutter in my life too ;0)
until later - happy quilting and focus on those goals for July!

Fabulous Friday

It's gonna be a Fabulous Friday! Why you might ask? Because ..... I am OFF and I get some SEWING TIME!!! YEAH!!! I think I am going throug withdraws here. I haven't sew in a couple weeks I think and it is calling me today. I have pulled fabrics last night to make my 30s blocks and some TN blocks and cut BOW bricks.

I'll be back with my updates later on today. Gonna also go to lunch with my neighbor friend. She stopped me while I was doing yardwork last night and hog tied me into going. She is a good neighbor friend. Let's see if she is going to get away with paying like she says. lol
I have company coming in this evening so I have housework to do too today. Darn! that'll cut into my sewing time! I am up kinda early so I am going to get started on some thing and multitask and get lots done today.

This is what I call multi-tasking ... when I cut all the bricks I needed for the swap I had leftover pieces of these fabrics. Well ... nothing goes to waste here remember ... the top shows extra bricks, smaller bricks, strings and crumb pieces. All will go into their proper places ;O) I am so happy I started doing this and trying to be organized. Now I don't have small pieces of fabric in my bins. They will already be cut waiting for me to use them up.

End of the day update ... it is now Saturday as I type but I did manage to finally get these six blocks done for the 30s block swap for a swap I am in. I did two with green as the pinwheel center and the rest with the pink. These are actually brighter happier fabrics than the picture shows.

Little man had his first ball game last night and I am so proud of him. He did just great. Got up to bat two times - got a base hit each time!!! Well ... he hit is both times, I think the second time they got him out on first. It was a great nail bitting game and all of them did wonderful. We lost 5-4 not bad for the first game of the season huh? ain't he cute in his uniform?

I am calling it a day and will start tomorrow with the TN blocks that I must finish this weekend!

until next time ... happy quilting

setting aside the scraps for now

after making a small dent in the pile on the table I have to put those scraps away for now. I need to get ready for a yard sale this weekend and work on blocks for the Quilt along on Judy's site. I did make some nice progress on this and am happy with what I got done. I now have a small drawer of strips/strings for string blocks. I have a small container of 2.5 inch strips for log cabin blocks. I have a small drawer of odd size and shaped pieces for crumb blocks. All are nicely pressed and will be ready for me to work on those projects without alot of time sorting, pulling and pressing. I will get back to sorting and organizing this container at a later date.
I got the Scrappy HST quilt back from being quilting yesterday. Tirane did a wonderful job hiding my waving border on this one. She is a wonderful quilter ... ya'll need to check out her blog and pictures She is sure to please. Now I need to get the binding done on this one to be able to give it to my sister when I see her on the 19th for a mini-vacation with her family. This will be my first 2009 finish!
until next time ....

still chuggin along here ...

life has been crazy busy here lately but I have found a new way to save and have dived head-first into it and full speed ahead to saving where I can to get my debt down this year. I found several blogs about clipping coupons and planning meals and such. I have been bitten by the coupon bug and I have to tell you - it was a good bite. I usually spend roughly $100-$150 every week or so on groceries and miscellaneous items like paper products, cleaners, etc. I wanted to tell you that since I started clipping coupons and watching those sales I have cut that in half or less. I so love it too. It will allow me to pay on those bills that keep looming in the background wondering when I will get them paid and if I will get them paid. This is the year I get back on my feet and get things in order. I KNOW IT IS!! I am going to do this and be the better for it.

Couponing does take a bit of time and getting used to. I have gotten so in the habit of using them this month that last night at Wally World I was going to buy kitty food but didn't bring my coupons and wouldn't allow myself to buy the kitty food since I didn't have the $3 off coupon. Now that is bad. Don't worry kitty isn't out of food and won't starve. He is huge and we do have some food for him I just don't like to run out and have him crying at the back door for us to come feed him.

on the family scene ... the kiddos are growing like weeds. Little man will need new jeans as they are turning into high waters. He has grown so much since school started in August. His shoes are tight so those need to be replaced too. DD has grown up and out - not in a bad way though. Her shirts and tops are getting shorter so those need to be gone through and replaced with a larger size. Little man has a bit of a cold but I am doctoring him up each day so maybe it won't get worse.

on the quilting scene ... I have gotten lots of organizing done in the sewing area this weekend and this week so far. I got the books, magazines all put together on their shelf and have all the loose patterns ready for sorting (maybe tomorrow night) and it looks so much better. I have a list of books that I am swapping out on a site I am a member of so I hope to reduce the number of books that I have by twelve or so soon. That is a good thing. If you are looking for a book let me know. I might just have it to swap out for fabric and scraps or strips.

until next time ...

Project complete ...

I am happy to say that I got the project completed that I have been posting about. I chickened out and added just a plain border instead of the fancier one I had imagined. I just didn't want to mess up this one.

This isn't the best photo - guess the lighting is wrong. I will try after church to get a better on on the other side of the porch. I hope Babs likes it.
I spent part of yesterday sorting through my quilting books - I am finding some to swap out on a site I am a part of. Remember the shelf I posted a picture of previously where I showed my quilting books? Well ... I went to all my places for books and magaziens in the house and now that shelf is all but full and I have three binders of other patterns on top of the shelving unit too.I have more books/magazines than I thought I did. Wonder if they are multipling?
I have also been gathering all my loose patterns that were piled on the top of the small shelving unit. I am going to try and get those loose patterns sorted and put into binders this week. It should make it easier to find a pattern/project when I am doing a new quilty project. This organizing task will take me some time. One small task at a time is all I can handle. I get overwhelmed with it all. Slow but sure wins the race ya know.
until next time ....

Stashbustin Challenge 2009

here we go ... just to update with some pictures of my sewing area after I cut, sorted and cleaned up yesterday. I still need to go through the stuff on the top of the smaller cabinet. That is mostly patterns and such. I have two binders to organize those but that will be another day.

Picture #1 -- my cutting table before the big clean up. It is all sorted, cut and put away now. Nothing is on my table but two small baskets of projects I want to work on over the next couple of days while I am off work; my sewing mat, the scrap catcher and my machine.

Picture #2 - look how much neater the area is. I bought the rolling cart the other day at Fred's and it got me motivated to clean up my sewing area.

Picture #3 -- same area - maybe a better view?? See the pile on the smaller cabinet I was talking about - that will be my next declutter task. That will take awhile to sort and punch and put into binders.

Picture #4 -- the cabinet opened and a view of the UFOs/BOBS on the top of the cabinet and on the top shelf of the cabinet.

Picture #5 -- my sewing area from a different view. See those tubs - one has 30s prints in it, one has scraps to be cut into squares, the small tub has strips for more string blocks and the basket is full of various parts, pieces and scraps of fabric.

onward I go ... tackling the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge from Judy's site.

Goals would be as I posted before but I'll bring them forward to the first post of the year for this Challenge. So ... let's start using it up quilters!

until next time ...

finally back at it ...

whew ...... the last of my Christmas company has left and now the rest of my days off until the 5th will be spent cleaning, sorting, organizing and sewing.

We had a great Christmas and enjoyed lots of family time. At some time or another all my brothers and sisters and their families were all together and that means a house full but I love every minute of all the craziness. I am blessed with a large family and wouldn't know what to do without them. Below is a picture of my parents with most of their grandkids and their two great grandkids. There were four grandkids not in the picture.

The kids had fun opening their gifts Christmas morning with me and spent Christmas Eve with their dad and his family. I'm learning how to share these special times.

Here is the string quilt all complete! I did the binding on the morning of the 27th and gave it to my brother. Didn't the quilting turn out so nice!!

I had to work this morning but got off early and did a little shopping for have toos and now I have to get myself into gear and get some stuff done here at home. I'll take some pictures of my organizing stuff when I have it all in place. Slowly but surely I will get it all into place.
I still need to find a way to keep up with how much fabric I use for 2009. I use alot of scraps and pieces so I will just have to guess I suppose. I don't want to buy anything fabric wise in 2009. That is my plan and I hope to stick to it. I also plan on posting my goals for 2009 and finding ways to get them all into place too.

I have found that I am so blessed to have my large crazy family to be with and share the holidays. I am so thankful for the time I have with them and the memories we share and make too. I am so thankful for my job, I am reminded yesterday how wonderful it is to have a job. I helped a friend of mine sort through items to give away and keep as she prepares to move from her house. She has been outta work since February and has lost her house. I know I am so blessed to still have my house, all the things inside it, my wonderful family, my car and my job. May 2009 be the year of good positive changes for us all.

until next time.

getting inspired

I don't know if it is that the end of the year is coming and I am wanting to get things in order to start off fresh for the New Year or what. I have a getting organized bug in me that I am going to let thrive and do it's thing.
I so want to be able to sort all my stash and scraps so I can just go in and sew instead of having to hunt for what to use. I have lots of ideas and have put some into place already. Like I use shoe boxes to store my BOBs and larger UFOs now - I label the front of each box so I can see at a glance what is inside each box. These are stored on top of my stash cabinet. I want to work on/ finish one BOB or UFO before starting another project. If while sorting through my BOBs and UFOs I find one I will never put together then it will be swapped or given away. No sense in holding onto it forever if someone else will complete it.

I store my cut squares in this little drawer unit. I need to label the drawers though so I can glance and see what size is in which drawer. I want to cut my scraps into squares and strips instead of storing them in these tubs until I need some for a project like in the second picture.

I have my books and printed patterns on this shelf. (not alot I know but they are all I have) I have the printed patterns in the two blue binders. I will try not to print another pattern without trying one from those I have already printed first.

I would love to have all my fabrics pressed and folded and put into basket like I have done here in this cabinet but I haven't had the time to do so yet. I will be doing this a bit at a time. Right now some fabric is being stored in the bottom of my closet in file boxes. I lucked up and found a lady moving and bought these boxes of fabric for $12 each!! They are packed full. See why I need to join the no-buy challenge? I know my stash is nothing compared to some I have seen but it is enough for me.

Do you have favorite organizing tips that you can share with me on how to get a control on my chaos of a stash? {I looked up that word in the dictionary and it totally fits -- chaos --- a: a state of utter confusion b: a confused mass or mixture}

Today's thoughts and blessings ....
I am so blessed to have my job that helps me pay my bills - for some have no jobs at all. I am so blessed to be able to be with my kids and watch them growing up so fast. I am so blessed for the hugs/kisses that I get from my kids and the "goodnight Mom - I love you" I hear each night before we drift off to sleep. It makes me feel so warm inside and makes my heart grow two sizes (just like that of the Grinch). I am so blessed to have the stash I have even in it's state of chaos. I am so blessed to have the knowledge to make the quilts I do and share that gift with others in the form of quilts.
until next time ....