Motivation Friday

Oops--I realized on Thursday I forgot to post any goals.  25 Anita's Arrowhead blocks completed this week.  

One of my 2012 guidelines was to sort/clean one spot in my stash each month---today I did my cutting table.  Okay--you say that's not much??  My table is 9 foot long and 30 inches wide--that can hold a LOT of stash when you pile it two foot deep!  Fabric was refolded and sorted by color.   I cut a noodle from each piece for the noodle basket.  Bricks for the brick stash.  And a 8.5" strip for my Arrowhead stash.   Some went directly into my scrap box, I am pleased to report I have a full box again.   

Did you see the heat wave we are having?   South Dakota was warmer than MIAMI!!!  Yes--parts of South Dakota saw 70F.  The high at our house was 68F.   Although its good to be home--I miss Mason and Asher. 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

First week of the new year!  I've picked my game plan for 2012 and I'm comfortable with most of it.  

Last week I wanted to complete 10 more Anita's Arrowhead blocks.  I'm not there, but I'm half way through 25.  No design wall--but I do have a table.

25 Anita's Arrowhead blocks

Yesterday I made an quick trip to JoAnn's to buy fabric for bassinet sheets--Mason and I sewed them up tonight.  Its been a long time since I sewed with a wiggly child on my lap.  We used my machine that does zig zag and other stitches--Mason ran the forward and reverse--we practiced numbers by finding the right ones (lucky I picked ones like "4" and "1" and not "37").  So those numbers will be on next week's stash report--2 yards in, 2 yards out!

2012 is going to be all about enjoying life.  Time for a new cutting blade, oiling the machine, and a new needle.  Pull out your patterns, pour your coffee, find your chocolate--we're off!

2012 Guildelines

I've been reading everyone else's 2012 goals.   Thank you to everyone who gave me ideas.  I choose these for me--

Refold/organize ONE cube/spot in my stash per month

Judy's color challenge--make ONE block for my sample block stash

Work on ONE ufo per month and move it one more step to completion.  (add borders, set blocks into a top, etc)

Any piece of stash less than 9" wide goes into the scrap box to be recut into usable units--noodles, 3.5" x 6.5" bricks, 5" charms.  

Buy a tool/gadget box.  I need to keep them together and on a shelf.

Finish a UFO before starting a new project

I made a list of 10 UFOs I want to finish in 2012-

1. Sunny Lanes
2. 4 Patch Posey
3. Raggy Edge Flowers
4. "Two Lips"
5. Sister's Choice
6. Scrappy 9 patch
7. Navy blue Irish chain
8. Anita's Arrowhead
9. Kids quilt kits (2)
10. Blue/white Jacob's ladder

I plan to participate in Design Wall Mondays, Stashbuster's UFO Challenge, and other internet fun.  Even Stash reports!  I may not post to each one every week--but I enjoy them. 

I plan to make quilts for donation and some for family.  I realized its been a long time since we've had a new quilt on our bed.  

I will participate in internet fun.  

I will remind myself its the PROCESS I love the most!

Motivation Friday

Its the last Friday of the year and I've been thinking about 2012.  Writing down ideas and establishing priorities.  Nothing concrete yet--have you been thinking about 2012?

I didn't do much sewing--but I have pressed and pinned 25 Anita's arrowhead blocks.  When Mason has time we will sew them together--I promised I wouldn't do any sewing until he could help me.   I would pin a few more--but I'm out of pins!   

Have you seen the soap dispensers that automatically squirt out a dab of liquid soap when you wave your hand beneath the spigot?  Laura Beth and Nick have one on the kitchen sink ledge and I LOVE it!   Nick brought me one in my favorite color---

 

a green one.  Thank you Nick!   I stuck the arrowhead blocks underneath so I can say it was a quilty picture.  

Remember the Vines quilt I made Mason?  He's been using it--

The rick rack vines make great roads, and you can drive on the narrow yellow road or the wide blue road on the edges.   We park on the grass (green blocks) or in the flowers (yellow flower block) and sometimes on the water (blue blocks).   Grandma drives the red pickup and is chased by Mason's police truck A LOT! 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

It's a design floor here in Minnesota.   I've been working on Anita's Arrowhead blocks.

Anita's Arrowhead Blocks

I like this method/pattern the more blocks I make.  26 blocks in Minnesota, and there are 10 in South Dakota.  121 blocks needed for a queen size quilt.   That's a start!

Weekly Goals--

1. 10 more Arrowhead blocks
2. Think about the next year's goals

Well, I don't like yearly goals--but a general plan--that's okay.  I'll let you know what I've thought about next week.  Here's a few options.   Do I want to participate more with my favorite on-line groups/blogs?  Work on hand applique?  More donation quilts?  Perhaps a few quilts for family?  A new quilt or two for our bed?  Stash reports?  UFO challenges?  More swaps?  Use more of my precut stash---noodles and 5" charms?  There are lots of possibilities out there.  Maybe push myself into using colors I'm not real comfortable with?  How about use more stash than I buy--that would be good!   What have you thought about for the next year?  I'd love to hear--someone else may have a great idea that's never crossed my pea brain! 

Christmas has come and gone.  Mason thought we were NEVER going to open presents!   Grandma--can you do this??

 

Life got better--

Mason wanted a Dr. kit.  Rest assured--by this evening we've all had "check ups"!   

How was your Christmas?  Did you receive a special present?  Are you thinking of next year?

 







 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

May all your presents be wrapped, your sewing room dark, and cookies ready for Santa!

Motivation Friday

Has everyone been busy?   Me too!  But I did work on my goals.  15 more Anita's Arrowhead blocks are done--just need trimming.  I worked on them late at night when I was on "Asher duty". 

I think I need a few "murky" colors--maybe closer values of the two colors.   What do you think?

Christmas is almost here.  Ken's coming tomorrow and Mason keeps asking "when".   "When I get up?"  "Before my nap?"  Grandpa---you better not waste any time!  

Holiday goodies continue to be made.  Tonight Mason and I mixed up a batch of cookies.  Mason is very good at cracking eggs and quality testing the M&M's and chocolate chips.   And he got to lick the beaters!

Monday Goals

Time for goals.  Yes, its Christmas week but I'll still try to sew.

1. Finish 6 Anita's Arrowhead blocks
2. Sew on a UFO

That's about all I can do, no stash here to tickle my brain.   

I did go to the quilt shop.  Since shops are feeling the recession too--I did my bit to stimulate the economy!

A lot of variety there!  Henrietta has already claimed this piece--

Beautiful bright chickens!  Henrietta has a weakness for chicken fabric--I wanted enough for a backing--but there was less than 2 yds.  Oh well, we'll just be frugal with it and bits and pieces will be tucked into projects.  

And then I saw this fabric----

So many different colors--do you think that is why I like it?   Hmmm--probably--a scrappy fabric!

Tonight Mason and I will make cookies.  Yesterday we dipped peanut butter balls--Mason was all excited until he found out he could only eat ONE--not all of them as he dipped them!   I've decided to stay in Minnesota until after Christmas, I had planned to go home in between--now I'm not sure when "in between" was!   

I doubt Ken has gotten the Christmas quilt out and put it on the bed.  I made it several years ago--yes, its hand pieced---and is made out of all Christmas fabrics. 

Grandmothers Flower Garden

A king size Grandmother's Flower Garden.  I had a lot of Christmas fabrics, and inherited some from my mother and grandmother's stashes.  Friends gave me some leftovers from their projects.  That Christmas stash was pretty large, I made two king size quilts and a queen size---pieced one backing--and the box still has quite a bit in it.  

Christmas Log Cabin

The log cabin quilt is on the wall--it doesn't look very big--but that wall is 8 foot from floor to ceiling--it covers from top to bottom.  The 3rd quilt is on a bed, its a Chinese coins quilt and its the smallest--a queen size.   I put the box of Christmas fabrics away, I'm not sure what to do with the rest.  

A week until Christmas, I have completed all my sewing gifts.  Are your Christmas projects finished?  Or will Santa find you sewing the last bit in place when he's delivering presents?  

Motivation Friday

Friday has rolled around too soon.  How did I do on my goals?  

I did make a few Arrowhead blocks---Mason helped--I finished 4 but have another 10 "in the process".   Mason and I sew together--I run the "gas" and he does the "forward" and "reverse".  

Anita's Arrowhead blocks

No sewing on any of the UFO's--I've managed to keep busy somehow!  

Wednesday night Mason and I went shopping.   We were looking for Christmas ornaments and some crafts supplies for his "arts and crafts" box.   We were in Hobby Lobby--and passed the fabric on the way to the bathrooms.  (3 yo boys can't hold it very long Grandma!)  So--we went back to the fabric because EVERYONE KNOWS YOU GOTTA LOOK!!  Mason saw--bug fabric!  Lady bug fabric!  Mason loves bugs.  (Laura Beth says all little boys love bugs.)  We bought enough for a sheet and a pillowcase for his bed.  

Mason and bug bedding!

Mason and Grandma are having lots of fun.  He helped grandma make an apple pie and cook french toast.  He helps Grandma sew---he removes the pins and puts them on the magnetic pincushion for.  He's found the long tape measure and measured the wall--"it's 8 pounds Grandma!"  He keeps asking when Grandpa will be here.  

I'm glad I can spend time with my grandchildren now---I can sew later!!

Monday Goals

My goals this week will be small, I'm still in Mankato being Grandma.  

1. Make 6 Anita's Arrowhead Blocks
2. Sew on a UFO

Can I put "visit a quilt store on my list"?   I just want to look.  I haven't stopped at the one downtown for at least a year!   Speak up--what was that??  I heard all those YESES!!  I agree--I will stop--after all, its the Christmas season--maybe I can spread purchase some joy?  It would make ME joyful!!

Would you like to see my sewing room away from home??

 

I have a sewing machine, a cutting table, an iron and a lamp.  Underneath the table are the UFO's I packed.  Those EZ Stor bags are wonderful--you can carry them by the handles and are see-through heavy duty plastic. 

It has warmed up a bit here in Minnesota, I was able to run errands today and pick up a few groceries.  How can one such small bundle of joy make 3 adults so tired??!!

Checking In

We've had a busy week.   New baby on Wednesday---

Asher John -- 7 lbs 13 oz.   Everyone is home and we're keeping busy.  

Grandpa arrived on Thursday---

Ken hasn't forgot how to hold babies--he'll do fine!  Mason likes his new baby brother--

Look Mom--no hands!!  

There won't be much sewing, I brought some binding projects--Mason REALLY wants to help Grandma sew!