WIPs be gone....

 It always makes me laugh the different acronyms for sewing, computers, texting, etc. 

• FQ: Fat Quarter (a piece of fabric measuring about 18 by 22 inches)
• SID: Stitching in the Ditch (quilting along the seam line)
• UFO: Unfinished Object (a project that is not completed)
• BOM: Block of the Month (a subscription service that provides a new quilt block pattern every month)
• B2B: Border to Border (a quilting design that covers the entire quilt top)
• EPP: English Paper Piecing (a method of hand-sewing fabric pieces around paper templates)
• FART: Fabric Acquisition Road Trip (a trip to buy more fabric)
• HSY Haven’t Started Yet\
• HD Project Half Done (does that makes my title, Judie Bellingham PHD.)
• MGBTQ Must Get Back To Quilting
• QAL quilt a long (I'm part of so many of them)
• WIVSP Work in Very Slow Progress
• TOAD Trashed Object Abandoned in Disgust
• USO Unstarted Object  - so many of these, all the material collected and not cut....
• STASH Special Treasures All Secretly Hidden.  Now that I cleaned up the storage and my room, my husband knows exactly how much I have so there's no longer a need to hide anything.
• SABLE Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy.  Name a quilter that doesn't have this .  LOL (that means laugh out loud).
• FART Fabric Acquisition Road Trip ( Both my husband and I have forbidden me to buy more fabric!)
• TGIF Thank God It’s Friday is the usual acronym but quilters like Thank God It’s Finished.
• WWIT What Was I Thinking?  A couple of patterns like this.  One was a covid one that I'll never do now.
• And finally WOMBAT Wast of Material, Batting and Time (Have a few of these!!!).

 I can never keep them straight, and add new ones all the times.   I have always been part of the OMG (one more gone) club, and now the WIPs (work in progress) one.  The WIP is part of  Leanne at Devoted Quilter.  It's for October and November only and my list is made, with quite a few of them on it.  So it's not one more thing (OMT) to my list, it's a challenge for two months, and so far for October I've completed a lot.  

• 3 pillow for the sofa
• 1 small pod
• catching up on "In my neighborhood" and
• addition to a quilt that was too small.

I also with the cleaning have found at least 6 more small projects that need to be completed and a couple of quilts to fix into larger quilts.  I'm on my way.  These are in no particular order:

1. one large pod
2. house row by row
3. bees row by row
4. 2 pillows for bed
5. 1 pillow cover for the bench for Christmas
6. wool jacket
7. brown Swade pants
8. black pants already cut out.
9. applique tea cozy
10. black and white table top
11. two pillow covers for the sofa
12. complete the In My Neighborhood BOM
13. catch up with the Cozy Holidays QAL
14. Add addition to the fall quilt to make it into a queen size quilt.

I plan on having a couple of these done tonight since my husband is watching hockey tonight.  Have a great day sewing...

Another day of creativity or it still cleaning?

 I've been finding so many little projects that I've barely started but I've packaged up to get it done later.  There are so many of them!!!  Did I mention that I found another 23 Row by Rows????  Good grief, I've made a queen with them, and two laptops with them.  That's crazy!!!  But now I'm getting a few of them done.  

Two more blocks with the Block of the month Neighborhood quilt I want to finish for November.

I loved this material so much I really loved it for this pillow.

A great small pod for storaging things.  Love the material of this as well.

I think that's enough for a day of sewing.  Don't you?  My room is getting cleaner and cleaner, it's just going to take time.

Have a great day sewing like I did.

Creativity and organization

 Been working a number of things but one of them is cleaning out my storage and it’s finally done… and I discovered some quilts.

I did this one in 2013, 10 years ago.  It’s hard to believe.  It’s a BOM from Debbie Mumm but the web site is gone.    But I loved it so I create it for my hubby.  It's back home now instead of in a plastic bucket.  Hubby washed it and good as new.  It's mostly gold tones with browns and blues.  Very warm color but now I'm up to about 12 quilts to cuddle with and that's too much.  The back is an American print since the quilt is American, lol!!!  You can see the picture of some of the buckets of stuff that I got rid of.  I gave 3 buckets of wool fabric to the school that I use to work at.  Kids don't have to buy any material anymore, the school has to supply the supplies.....  boy has life changed since I was in high school

This next one was a gift to a good friend of mine who passed away from cancer.  When she passed she asked her mom to give it back to me because when we were doing the Row by Rows about 10 years ago we came across the block of the month in one of the quilt places we visited.  The price of each month was rediculously low, and she was pushing me to get it, just pushing me.  I told her I had enough quilts but no, she wanted me to do it, so I said fine, but I was giving it to her when it's done.  When I finally had it completed as a joke I said to her when you pass away I want it back because it was so beautiful.  She  remembered that, and asked for me to get it back.  I was in my storage underneath the stairs when I was cleaning that up the same time as my storage locker that I was paying for and out it came as well.  I don't look at it and cry now, it's more sentimental then anything, and it makes me smile to think of that story.  Here is it.

                                                       Notice the little tea bag above this.

Sorry that it's so dark, can't seem to fix it up without losing the colors bug still so worth it.

the colors are just stunning, the design, so fun.  The material really made it.  I used a wandering stitch for quilting as well as stitch in the ditch.  Zig zag on the applique.  It's such a beautiful quilt.  Two great finds.

This month was also a time of painting with a few new ones.  This is one of my practice sessions.

I also one day this week went crazy and made 3 different things for a book club coming up.  I froze most of it.  It's Christmas Cranberry cake (it's really excellent and easy to make), Apple Caramel Dump Cake (OMG it's good) and the final is a zucchini loaf.  Sorry lost the recipe on this one.  See below:

But the most creativity for me is from sewing....  I'm pleased with what I did this week but it's keeping up with a new BOM that I signed up for that's killing me.  Two a week, paper piece.  They're beautiful but hard to do.  Here's what I did this week.  I have about 8 completed.  it's from Apples and Beavers called Cozy Holidays Sampler QAL! 

The above picture is a better picture of the green background.  The one below was too bright.

I made the bottom pillow for a friend who has a dog like this.  It took about 3 days to complete.  The pattern is from Sew Fresh Quilts.

The pattern below I finished this month (two 2 months to get it all done) for a friend who is going to retire this final school year.  She's a Vice Principal and she's ready to go.  She's also a rather tall lady so this quilt was 68" by 72".  The white sections on the top and bottom were larger than the sides.  I used all scraps and it really turns out great.  Want to see the pattern?  Go to Suzie Quilts to see it and all her other super fun patterns.    the backing was nice and bright with flowers to offset the modernistic version of this quilt.

I had so much fun doing this quilt, really, I'm thinking of making one for myself.  The pattern comes in queen size for my bed.  I quilted it all with stitch in the ditch and then straight lines around the last row, all around until I came to the edge.  It gave it an edgy vibe (pun intended).

OK, that's it, that's enough for one month, including all the work and finishing three books.  I need to go and rest.  Take care, have a good week.

;

Very productive month.

Well we went from this:

To this:

This one was stitched in the ditch.  I added the bottom piano keys so that it would extend it more.  I always wanted to make a medallion style quilt and I think this qualifies.  Gave it away to a very special lady would already had one but when her mother took it (the mother is sick and can't stand properly alone), she let her have it.  So I promised I would make her one just for herself.  She really is a very caring and special lady.  

I also finished two pillows.  One was for a surprise for my husband when he came back from Arizona.  He loves snakes.  The pattern is "Oh My Cacti" by Pen & Paper.  the snake was a bonus block.  Now I have to make the cacti one.  The material from the snake is from Watermarks "Makingfun".  I think he likes it.  And so do I.  

And here's the other which is very old one.  I forgot where the pattern is but I had the  same material that was at least 4 years old.  Started spiral then wavy. 

Well that's about it for this month.  Next month, I'm going back to working on the hand sewing quilt. 

I also started a new BOM from Apples and Beavers.  It's paper pieced, just like the snake.

I love the look of it, and some of the samples of the squares.  The snowman was one of them.  It's so cute.  There are plenty more.  This quilt along should take three months so that makes it just in time for Christmas.  it will be fun.  Click here  to go to the link with more info about this fun event.

I'm also working on an old Block of the Month from Moda Fabrics.  It's called "Be My Neighbor" and the link is here.  I've already have 6 blocks completed, and want to to the rest.  It's a good size.  See a sample that someone else made below.  I have the first row completed and am working on the 3rd block of the 2nd row.

I always wanted to complete this quilt and I'm excited to get it done by the end of September.  This one is for me.

That's three of them, think this is enough for me.  Wish me luck.

Got it Done!

Got my goal for August completed.  The idea was I was going to finish a pillow, well I did a different one. I found some material that was perfect for a pillow case for my husband.  See it below, American material, of little flags, with a star stash at the end.  It covers our pillow on our front entrance bench, I like it.  It doesn't match anything but that's OK.  It goes on the bed at the end of the day, lol.

The next goal I had was to complete the binding for all of the mats I was making for my book club group.  Most you'll see are the same, but the one below is a pattern by  .  I really must make a full quilt of these ones, it would look great.  

Look at the quilting of these ones, I practiced with my rules.  I took a close up on one of the mats with the quilting.

Finally, I had a row by row already completed.  I just needed to put binding on it.  I don't really like this one, it's a pattern from    for the row by row 2015.  But then I remembered someone who would like it, so off it's going.  Funny thing is I was through with the row by rows for a while but at least I saw the end of them, but now a couple of days ago I found a container with at least 30 of them.  I really need to take a break from them,......

And that's it, my goals for August completed.  Now just to finish my July goal, it's almost completed, next blog entry.  

Take care.
 

On to a new Month

 Well, like many other people I didn't get as much sewing and painting as I wanted to, but that's Ok because I did do some.  It seems this month I have a bit more time on my hands but the heat is killing me in my small little sewing room, with the big windows in my condo, so I'm doing small projects.  Lets get to them right away shall we.

Four goals this month, and I'm not entering it into anyone's blogs, just doing it on my own.

1. I wanted to get my scrap box down a bit so I'm making 7 - 12 inch blocks for mug rugs for my book club, one each.  There's the tea cup and the books under.  I have fine acrylic pens so that they can  write the book names on the books.  I have made one for the testing (top right) and three others,  four more to go.  They need to be done by the 25th for the next meeting.

Look at the quilting on this.  Love it.

2.  Some scrap trees to make a pillow for my chair.  It's using duo sided interfacing, so it should be a quick one.  Thus the idea of doing two different projects this week and getting down my mess in my sewing room.

3.  I have a Block of the month that I want to do .  It's called "Be my Neighbor" by Moda.  It was a free block of the month in 2015  that's still available and so adorable, that I always wanted to do it.  I started it as a UFO, and now I'm saying I'm going to do 3 a month.  I already have one row.  See the picture below that is someone else's completed.  The blocks are very large, and there are four blocks a row.  First row is all done, and I like how it looks.  Oversized twin.  For the free pattern click HERE on this link to get all the patterns.

 

4.  The final and most important.  I am doing a round robin quilt with a box of fabric I found.  I've put them together, and I need one more row.  It was last month's goal, and not completed, so just one more and it goes off to my friend Corinne.  

Now something new (something old, something borrowed, etc...).  I decided to join Meadow Mist's BOM mystery called Marble Mystery.  Link is here  She's fantastic in her new plans, instructions are excellent, and if you can't stand the mystery (but that's half the fun), you can get a sneak peak.  This will be my third one.  Excited and I'm looking at one day a month just doing my blocks of the month. 

Want to see what I painted this week?  It's a book marker since I read so much.  I was using my acrylic paint pens.  Excellent for small details. There was two of them but I gave one away.

So that's enough for this month, even though most the projects are small, I think this is doable.  Take care

What a day of cleaning!!!

 What a day!!!  I finally got down to it.  There is a heat wave here in BC, it is 24 but it feels like 32, that sort of thing, which makes it really hard to sew inside.  I do not have central air, but I do have an air conditioner in an apartment loft.  So it is hot, but I am trying to handle it.

That is White Rock, right by the ocean.  The tide was really out and it was 30 by the ocean.  Oh yeah, we are really getting it.  That was Tuesday.

Wednesday was going for a major walk in the forest to get some cooling down, and although the entire scene looks very very cool, it was hot.

This picture is Derby Reach, by the Fraser.  I had been walking the last couple of hikes with sandals because both of my runners were worn out and I threw them out.  All I had left were sandals that did not hurt my feet from the blisters I got trying to walk before hand.  LOL, I cannot win.  

So today I decided to stay in, give my feet a rest.  I bought new runners (from a foot store) to help me, been wearing them all day to me staying in today to see if they help, and the good news is that they do.  They support my feet better, and resting them today has really helped me as well.   

I also decided to do something that has been bothering me for ages, I cleaned up my sewing room.  Most of you sewers with a lot of UFOs (Unfinished objects or projects) know that when your sewing room gets overcrowded you cannot be creative in the room.  Well it came to that with me.  There are three really big passions in my life right now, painting, sewing and reading.  The  reading (actually the books) were beginning to take over my closet so I bought one of those revolving bookcases that are not suppose to take a lot of room and they revolve 360 degrees.  Take a look at my addition in my office.  It cleared out my entire closet and gave me back walk in space in my closet.

The bookcase comes with the dolly on the top, and it is short enough so that I can put things on top of it and reach it.  That is my drawing set on top.  The matt to the right is the cat matt where the cat can cool off. but putting the case there made the room smaller again, with everything else in it, so I started to move things around and put things away.  The room is now cleaner, but it is still crowded.  the back boxes are kits that I put together that I need to get done.  To the left of the door is my table that folds down (IKEA) and my chair.  On the chair is what I am currently working on.  There is still a lot of stuff in the room, but its getting there and now I do not mind going into the room and sewing again.

Next is the stuff on the right (which I am too embarrassed to show you.).  That is a fold up bed for visitors.  Thank goodness we do not have any at this time.  It will get there.  It is a small room.

Just wanted to share.  Maybe more cleaning tomorrow.  Oh, and in case you did not know that closet is full of my husbands sports stuff, not my sewing stuff.  So I cannot use it.  Take care and stay cool.