A New Normal

I spent last week trying to make lists and figure out what I wanted my new normal to look like now that both boys are in school.  Today, I actually get to try those lists out.  The clothes and dish washers are working, and I'll head upstairs to clean my bedroom and bathroom.  After that, I have to pick up toys downstairs from the littlest man's birthday that seemed to explode all over the family room.  Once those "Must Do's" are out of the way, I am free to play in my sewing room.

What's on my agenda to work on?  First, I have to pull all of my supplies for a quilting class tomorrow at The Quilting Squares.  It's a free motion technique class called "Let's Doodle".  My free motion quilting is coming along, but I need to practice, practice, practice.  I'm hoping to pick up some more pointers to make me better.

After I've pulled the supplies, I'll go back to my Spring Block a Day.  No...I'm still not finished!

Here is where I am on it:

I've had to rip out several color combinations, and even had to go buy more fabric.  I have a few more blocks to add that are in various stages of completion.  I was using this as my 'Leaders and Enders' project, but it has now become my primary project.  I really want to get it done today, so that when I get home from class tomorrow, I have something to practice free motion quilting on.

IF, I get all of that done, I will spend some time working on my Buttercream Block of the Month (Year).  It is my hand project, and great for the boy's karate classes and TV time.  If I embroider just one flower a night and spend some time Saturday morning adding the french knot embellishments, I'll be done with my current block this week.  That's my goal anyway.

Here is what it currently looks like:

Have a great day everyone.  I hope you accomplish all that you want to today.

"Oh the places you'll go!"

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

by Dr. Suess

My littlest man has started Kindergarten this week.  Today is his second half day, and next week he will be in school all day.  It is a time that is a little exciting and sad at the same time, for both he and I.  After 9 1/2 years of having a little person at home with me, I am suddenly hit by a quiet.  It is a quiet that I have longed for at times, yet has been elusive in the hustle and bustle of life.

But today...I sit listening only to the hum of the refrigerator and air conditioner.  I have great plans for this time.  There is a house that will always be clean, workouts to be done, projects that will be thought of and completed, projects and quilts to be sewn, and I'm sure other thinks that I haven't thought yet.  But today...I just sit.

I know that left to myself, I would just squander this precious gift of time.  So I must begin making lists and setting goals of what I want to accomplish.  Some lists I'll save for another day. But it is time to share with you some of the sewing projects that beckon and nag for completion.

Quilting UFO's:

• Buttercream Block of the Month
• Block-A-Day - Spring 2014
• Civil War Celebration
• Temple Sentimental Quilt
• Heart of Worship Quilt Repair
• Kristie's Cowboy Wedding Quilt
• Block-A-Day - Summer 2014
• Quilter's Academy - Strawberry Fields
• Quilter's Academy - Double Rail Fence
• Quilt Across Texas Quilt
• Fall Pillowcases
• Hexagon Table Runner
• Christmas Table Runner
• Summer Table Topper
• Birthday Table Topper

Sewing UFO's:

• Leigh's Purse
• Baby Shoes
• Lounge Pants & Shorts
• Jewelry Pouch
• Fleece Baby Blanket
• Quilt Across Texas Tote Bags
• Napkins
• Fall Dress
• Black Out Curtains
• My Purse
• Bootbag
• Christmas Placemats
• Christmas Napkins
• Cash and Carry Pouches

Whew!  That is a lot of sewing.  And those are just the ones I've thought about and know I want to complete!  I participate in Aunt Marti's 12 in 2014 UFO Challenge at 52quilts.com  If you would like to participate and want more information, click here.  You can see what others are finshing by clicking on the UFO Parade tab at the top of her website.  As for the sewing UFO's, I still plan on completing one a month, even though I am not participating in a challenge.

This weekend I plan to complete the top for my Spring Block-A-Day.  It has been a source of agony over the last weeks, as I still am not happy about it.  But I have determined just to get it sewn together and ready for quilting (again).  On Tuesday, I have a free motion quilting class.  My plan is to practice what I learn in that class on the quilt.  And then it will be back to the Temple Sentimental Quilt Repair.  That will be my August UFO completion, and I am ready to get it off my plate and finished. 

For the rest of my quiet time today, I will sit a little longer and embroider on my Buttercream Block of the Month.  Have you figured out where you want to go today? Let's use Dr. Suess as our guide and be on our way!  

Quilting by the River!

I love vacation!

And when you combine beautiful scenery with friends, family, and quilting, what could be better?

This week finds me just outside Sattler, TX along the Guadalupe River.

My parents are graciously allowing us to stay in their RV with them while we are here.  My Mom even brought one of her Featherweights for me to sew on.

I am struggling to finish my Block a Day Spring challence.  I originally had it pieced and realized I needed more of a different colorway.  After working on those and starting the quilting, I really didn't like it.  So...I ripped it apart and set about fixing it.  I've run out of some fabric, but I have been able to pull from mine and my Mom's stash to hopefully complete it.  I am finishing up the stars (again!), and I hope to have it completed before I get back to Nashville.

Civil War Summer

After yesterday's post, I bet you thought I was on block 1 of 90 for the Block a Day Challenge.  It just ain't so!  But I'm not ready to show you where I am yet.  I didn't have enough to make the background all one color scheme, so I split it up.  Now, I'm playing with the layout to see how I like it best, and I realized that I don't have enough of the different colorways to show you my vision.  While I sew more, here is a sneak peak at one of my blocks.

I also mentioned that I was using the BaD as my Leader and Ender project.  Some may know what that is, but others may be wondering about it.  It is a phrase that was coined by Bonnie Hunter, and she describes it on her blog here.  I've also seen it referred to as the Bonus Quilt method, because you slowly make a second project while actively working on your primary project.

My primary project is my Civil War Summer quilt.  Last summer my boys and I toured several Civil War National Parks and Battlefields to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.  I've always been a history enthusiast, and I'm hoping that I can pass that interest down to my children.  Middle Tennessee had several major battles that took place within a short drive of our house, so I wanted to explore those sites with the kids.

 Little Punkin on a cannon at the Perryville Battlefield.

Little Buddy at Danville National Cemetery

The Boys meeting President Abraham Lincoln at the Nashville Public Library.

The Boys being sworn in as Junior Rangers at the Andrew Johnson National Historical Site.

To commemorate the summer, I started a quilt kit for a Civil War sampler.  Now, I am trying to complete it as a part of a UFO Challenge at 52quilts.com. If I can finish it in the next week and a half, it will be my May UFO entry.  Here is the progress so far:

In addition to the Irish Chain setting blocks, there are 8 sampler blocks and an irish chain setting border.  I am on block #3 of the 8, but I think I am going to stop and work on the border.  The borders are strip pieced and when I get it finished, I can use the scraps to cut the smaller pieces for my blocks.  This kit was assembled to be extremely close on fabric, so I need to be extra cautious with it.

I hope you are working on a great project too. I would love to hear about it.

Blessings to You,
Joy 

Let's Get Started!!!

My Hubby and I have been talking about me starting a blog for a while now.  But I didn't really know where to begin.  I'm not sure this is the right place, but let's give it a shot anyway.  The main point is to "Just Get Started!!"

That's kind of the approach I've taken with my sewing lately.  I enjoy looking at my stash and being all organized and pretty.  But the truth is, I didn't buy it to look at...I bought it to sew with.  So I just needed to start some projects and get over the initial...'Oh My Goodness....I'm using my stash!'

My stash usage project began with Aunt Marti at 52quilts.com taking over the Block A Day Challenge.  (It's not too late for you to start.  By my count, we are on block 60 of 90.  If you make three blocks a day for the next 30 days, you'll finish with all who started on day 1.  You can view her tutorial here.)  I didn't really have enough scraps to make a quilt, so I started going through my Mom's scraps.  I only pulled out a handful, but it was enough to give me some color inspiration.  When I got home, I started pulling from my own stash.  I used what I could from my fat quarters to give me lots of variety.  What I didn't have enough colors of, I pulled from yardage.  After cutting much of it down to size, this is what I came up with.

So this is the start.  My plan is to use it as my Leader and Ender project while I finish up my Civil War Summer quilt.  I'll post more about the quilt and Leaders and Enders in a future post.  For now, what are you working on?  Have you started anything lately?  I would love to know.