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

a day to sew and clean

It's raining yet again!!! We have had rain EVERY day for over two weeks now and trust me it is getting old. I so need to see some sunshine. This has been very depressing I can tell ya.
Today I am going to be sewing and cleaning. Anyone need to have a sewing buddy help them stay motivated today? How about a cleaning partner to help you strive to get that area done today? let me know if so and I'll be sure to check out your blog.
6:45 AM (granted I went to bed at midnight or so ...) I am up and coffee is brewing and I'm ready to start. Today I need to start with working on my number 3 UFO, the split red nine patches. I will put some time in on those and then clean on the bar and I'll check back after I do so. Get ready ... get set ... let's get something done today!!
9:50AM I got a bit sidetracked but made some progress just the same. I got the bar cleaned off, did two loads of clothes, dug a ditch to keep part of the water from creating a pond under my house, got the HSTs for the split nine patches all neat and trimmed, the rest of the fabric squares I need to make those 16 blocks are pulled and waiting, I finished another crumb block and put pieces on the others partial blocks I have started. Changed threads and I'm ready to get back to those split nine patches. Now to pick another cleaning spot ... how about the computer desk, that should be an easy one. I'll check back in a bit.
2:40PM THE SUN IS FINALLY OUT!!!! I haven't been good at updating huh? I got busy cleaning and such and didn't take the time to come post. I have gotten the squares all cut for the split nine patches, I put away all the rest of the reds I had pulled to clean up my sewing table. Put all the extra squares, strips and scraps away too.
I also did a little home decorating and organizing. I got this great cabinet from my sister and now it hold my fabric instead of one of those flimsy three drawer organizer thingy. No my room is not totally clean and organized but I am making progress.

I also put this puzzle up today and the shelf too. I so need to paint the breakfast room. Don't ya just love the floral walls? NOT!

Since I haven't posted an updated picture of the TN Strings quilt and finally it is not raining outside I took a picture of the top. I hope to piece the backing this weekend. ;o)

Summer, School, Sewing

Summer weather is really in full swing here - it's so hot and humid and really miserable to be outside. Nothing like summers in the south. Anyone wanna help me put up figs, okra and apples? I have plenty to share if you want some.

It's hard to believe that it's time for another school year to start. Where did their summer break go? The kiddos started school last Wednesday. DD is in 9th grade and Little man is in 2nd grade. It is so hard to get them used to going to bed on time and getting up in the mornings so we are not late. UGH! I hate dealing with tired - cranky kids in the mornings ;o) Homework is going good though - both are doing it each evening without me having to fuss at them. YEAH!!! Hope this continues - bet it won't though.

On the sewing front .. I plan on doing some sewing but haven't as of yet. The month is a third over and I have yet to get anything on my list accomplished. I hope to get the black/white/ red rows all sewn together tonight and try and work on this one a bit each day as part of a UFO challenge on a quiling site I am a member of. We are to spend 20 minutes a day on our August UFO and post your progress as you go along. I have been bad and haven't done not one 20 minute session yet. Gonna do better the rest of the month though. I did two nights of sewing on this and got the rows sewn into pairs and pressed ready for joining together into fours. I have sorted some black and white fabrics. Need to pull my reds and burgandies still. Hope to have pictures of this center top done by Friday night and the first two borders done by Saturday night. Wish me luck!
until next time ... happy quilting

sewing quiltathon anyone??

Today I am going to do some sewing if anyone wants to join in and post along with me today of their progress please do so. Motivation and encouragement go a long way. My friends TIRANE and SHARON are now sewing along with me ... anyone else wanna join in please do so.
I have two projects I am going to be sewing on today. One is my Mother's 30s Sampler and the other is my friend's Black, White and Red Rows that are going to be re-created. Hope to make progress on both of them today. Shoot would love to finish one of them!

7:00AM
Iron is warming, fabric, blocks, center are all pulled waiting to get started creating.
9:00AM
Have two sides added around the center. Sashing joined to the other two sides and need to get them added and then onto the next step.

11:30AM
Here is what I have gotten done so far. I messed up though but I'm not taking it out. I'll just make it work and go from here. Gonna take a sewing break and go mow the grass before it rains again. I'll be back at it later on though. I'm gonna finish this one today!

2:00PM
The grass is as done as I can get it - it's pouring now so what I didn't get done will be done on Monday. Now to work on the last border of this one and finish this top tonight! Gonna go check on Sharon and Tirane to see what they are up to in their sewing rooms.
4:30PM
I'm taking a break to update and get off my feet for a bit. I have all the squares cut for the scrappy border. next step will be the piecing of them. Still raining here so it nice and relaxing to hear it hit the vent pipes. Ting, Ting.
11:00PM
calling it quits on this one ... I have all the squares sewn together and laid out around the center. I'll sew them into place in the morning before church. Thanks for sewing along with me Tirane and Sharon. It's finally stopped raining - think I'm going to open the windows for the rest of the night.

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!

summer slump??

Are you in a summer slump too? I have been and my friend Tirane posted about it on her blog HERE and it got me to thinking about my slump.
Remember my goals list from the end of JUNE??? I haven't gotten ANY of them complete! That is so sad too. I haven't felt the urge to get in my sewing area lately and do any sewing or cleaning for that matter. I thought about it and think I am in a sewing slump or maybe it's just a summer slump and it will pass in time. I have so many ideas to make different projects and quilts but no drive or desire to do so. I think it might be the lack of time and energy that keeps me for cranking out two or three quilts a month like I used to. Or is it called a quilter's block?? Do all quilters hit a point where they don't feel like quilting? I gasp as I say that. I have all that fabric in there and all those patterns just waiting to be tried out. What is a girl to do?
please help us to find ways to beat our sewing slump/summer slump/ quilter's block

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

Sewing and Sorting and it's Snowing!!!

{Wanted to post and say that we are now getting SNOW!! Yes that white stuff that all the northern states don't want any more of. We are finally seeing some fall tonight and it's so pretty.}

Today I will be sewing and sorting!

Goals for today are ....
1. Trim those HSTs for Judy's Quiltalong -- these are now trimmed and waiting - I'm ready for the next step Judy (lol)

2. Work on a sewing project -- I pulled some blocks from a BOB

Made up a few more blocks and added setting triangles. I am going to try and turn into a HUG quilt for my aunt. :o)

Here is what I finish today. It is not fully assembled. Some are in rows but it is not all sewn together yet and needs backing too. Just wanted to share my progress. Should finish this in the morning before church.

3. Sort through my stuff and make progress on organizing my sewing area - made some progress but have been cleaning and sorting throughout the house instead of just in my sewing area. Not sure I will show pictures but maybe. I have made some major progress on sorting and cleaning in my sewing room today. I am proud of the amount I got done and how nice it looks. No photos of this though sorry.
until next time ....

Saturday Sewing time ...

I have most of my household chores done for the day so I plan on sewing today. I need to make a potholder set for a swap I am doing and then I can play with all these strings ...

Hope to have a good day for string reduction so I can post a good report for this week. Follow the link to find out more about the challenge Judy's Stash Bustin Challenge. I need to find fabrics for Judy's newest Quilt-Along that I am going to try and do too. Should be fun.

I didn't get to work with those strings today but ... I did get these potholders and this hotpad set done for a swap I am doing. Whatcha think? They can be reversible I guess if you'd like. She wanted sunflowers, greens and yellows and this is what I came up with. Hope she likes them.

until next time ....

Quilting Bee today ...

on a quilting site I am a member of we are doing a virtual quilting bee today to help motivate us to get those UFOs worked on. I will be posting my updates throughout the day. I hope to complete this project SCRAPPY HSTs it just needs outter borders. I also would like to piece the backing so I can send it to be quilted next week.

It's almost 8AM and ... off I go to sew ... sew ... sew ... (if you want to join in you can. no admission fee or anything. just blog about your progress and let me know what you are able to get done. you can be a part of the quilting bee too.)
9AM Update ... I decided to add another round of HSTs to the center before adding the borders. It only measured 60x60 now. I need it to be a full/queen size when it is finished. I have gotten 74 HSTs sewn and pressed. Now to get them trimmed. I have to do some other stuff before I get back to sewing to move around a bit. My back bothers me if I sit too long now. Guess I am getting old ... (from this .... to ....)

11:30 Update .. HSTs are all trimmed and I have one row of HSTs pinned in pairs to start sewing after I get a bite to eat. Slowly but surely I am getting. I keep getting distracted by housework. blah! (this nice pile of trimmed HSTs)

3PM Update ... Added another row all the way around the top. Have the fabric pulled for the outter borders and will start on that after I get offa here. I haven't been just sewing today but am happy with the progress I have been able to make so far today both sewing and otherwise.
4:30PM update ... cut the inner border fabric and have two sides attached. Have to run some errands. I might be able to get more done later on though
11PM update ... finally update I might add ... inner borders are on. top is now about 74x72 and will work on outter borders in the morning. I am happy with my progress for the day. Doesn't look much different but it is larger and has one border added. Sorry this isn't the best picture I am tired and laid it out quickly to get an updated photo before I head to bed.

until next time ...

sewing on Sunday

Last day of the long weekend and I finally have some free time today to sew -- I'm gonna take advantage of the quiet house (the kiddos went to do a late Thanksgiving supper with their dad) and get some work done on the Betty Boop Quilt and sew on a couple other projects.
I have the string blocks sewn into sets of four now and they are laying on the floor of my living room for me to admire for awhile. These squares each measure 6.5 inches and go together quickly so I am hoping to make more blocks over the coming weekend and finish this off.

I have the fabric all cut for the setting squares of the Betty Boop quilt. Gonna go sew on that one for awhile now. Update ... I got the center of this one together and the first border attached before the kids got home. I have the fabric cut for the middle border and hope to do attach that soon. I want this one done and outta here. I haven't taken a picture yet so that will come later. Thanks so much for your help Tirane in the layout of this one!!
I was sitting in church this morning with one kiddo on either side with their little heads laying against me and I thought to myself how blessed I am to have them. I love them so much. I am so thankful for my kids and the times we have together and the hugs that we share. I am so thankful for the holidays that bring our families closer together - seems like over the holidays we are able to spend more down time reconnecting to one another. I am so thankful for the food in my pantry that I was able to put up this past summer and we are now able to enjoy - we ate green beans, peas and squash for Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for my sewing time - I use it to destress and it is my outlet - even if it is not every day - I look forward to it and enjoy it.

until next time ....