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

Bloggin ...

I want to thank my dear friend for helping me add the label cloud - thanks tirane!!! You are the best!! I will slowly get the hang of all this fancy stuff that goes along with bloggin. This weekend I hope to be able to figure out how to add the pictures of the UFOs / projects I have listed and those I quilts I completed so far. That is one goal for this coming weekend.
Another goal is to work on my Jacob's Ladder Scrap Quilt. Currently ... it is in the blocks stage at the moment but I have enough blocks now to make the quilt with so it shouldn't be a problem to get it all pieced together into a top. I also want to piece this backing to use up some of my stash and not have to buy anything. Trying to reduce my stash a bit and use up those odd pieces and those what was I thinking fabrics. Ya'll all know the ones I'm talking about I know.
Another goal will be to sort through little man's closet and find out which clothes do not fit anymore. Which will probably be all of them. He has grown like a weed and each pair of jeans we try on seem to be high waters and that is not a good look. So it's time to declutter his closet and dresser. DD has been slowly going through her closet as she tries on something and it doesn't fit it goes into the yard sale box and that one is full so we need a new one. She has grown alot over the summer and her style has changed so it's time for a shopping trip. Which she loves to do. But what teenage girl doesn't?

that's it for now ...

so goes on the life and times of a mother and scrap quilter ... until next time

just an update

I have been super busy with life in general and trying to keep up around the house and the kids changed schools this week so we are all adjusting to the new schedule too. They really are liking the new school and making lots of new friends. DD said that she is so glad they changed schools. It is so rough being a teenager, I wanted to ensure that she had a good group of friends and enjoyed going to school. Where she was she said she didn't fit in and the kids were really mean to her. I couldn't and wouldn't accept that. Changing schools is proving to be a positive change all the way around. I am so glad too :)
I have made some progress on decluttering. I am going through stages of trying to go through stuff for awhile and then working on keeping the rest of the house clean too. It is a work in progress and I will continue as I find the extra time and energy to do so. The house is looking so much nicer and is easier to clean.
I have made some progress on my UFOs as well. I have a top at my friend's house to be quilted. It is the Tennesse Quilt. I am leaving it up to her to quilt - she did my Four Patch Ladder and I love it. She is so talented and creative. I trust her to do what will look best. Here is the preview of the top. Gonna do a scrappy strip binding.



Got to figure out how to add pictures soon to show you what I have been working on. Lately I have been making string blocks to make another scrappy quilt with. They are turning out nicely if I do say so myself. I got part of them from a swap and the rest I made. I have lots more to make to have a full size top but it is a great way to use up those strips and strings. Here are the blocks I have made so far. Whatcha think? Neat for just strips and strings.


I have gotten all the Bow-Tie blocks into a top only to find that I am in need of lots more of those blocks too. That will have to wait until I get another top together though. Here are the blocks I have done - I sewed them together to see what they would look like. I like the way it is coming along.


I have the Jacobs Ladder blocks sewn together in pairs so that one will be my next one to get together and off to my friend to be quilted. I still lack FIVE quilts to complete by Christmas. One is at my friend's house ready to be quilted, the rest are in various stages. I am just trying to do them as I can. I have quilter's ADHD - I can't stay focused on one project for that long anymore. I know I am terrible.

so goes on the life and times of a mother and scrap quilter .... until next time ...

It's Finished!!! Four Patch Ladder Quilt

I am happy to say over the weekend I got to finish the binding on my Four Patch Ladder quilt that a dear friend of mine quilted for me. She did a lovely job with the quilting. UPDATE!!! Now that I figured out how to add pictures .... here is the picture of it. Whatcha think??



This is one of the six quilts I need to complete by Christmas for gifts for my brothers and sisters. Shhhh .... don't tell 'em! I also was able to start some Christmas blocks for an online swap I am doing and need to get those done by the weekend. I'll work on them each day a bit and see what I can get done by the weekend.
I completed DS's room and have it all nice and neat for him - he loves it! Feels good to have it all done. I started decluttering my bedroom over the weekend and got alot done but am babystepping my way through it. I can see the difference I made though so in time it will be all neat and organized and I'll want to get that room painted and done up nicely for me to enjoy but that will be a ways down the road.
so goes on the life and times of a mother and scrap quilter ... until next time ...

making progress

I did it! I finished the backing for my Four Patch Ladder quilt. I pieced it using 10.5 inch squares all from my stash. That helped me used up almost 6 yards if I figured right. I am trying to use just fabric from my stash and make up enough quilts to give my brothers and sisters for Christmas presents. That means I will need to make a total of SIX quilts. So with the Four Patch sent off yesterday to be quilted, that means I have just FIVE to go in SIX months. Think I can do it?
I have been trying to follow the Flylady program a bit to help remove the clutter from my house. I have made great progress with this and this week I am working in my DS room. I have just about everything out of the room and I am painting it now. He picked grey and blue. Lower part will be medium blue and upper will be a light grey. I have a cool sports themed border I got and both colors are in the border so it will look great. He will be so happy to have his room done. DD had her room repainted for her birthday earlier this year and he asked "when is my room getting done?"
So will keep you updated on the decluttering progress and room redo progress as well as the quilts on my UFO list too.