Crazy Quilter plans for September.

 That's not a new title or a new line for that matter.  It's funny, no matter how many quilts you have 1/2 started or in a box ready to go (yes I've grouped my fabric to make a kit so I can start it but never started it), you always want to start another one.

There was a time that I kept on buying fabric until it was all hidden in storage, so I couldn't even see it.  So that's when the idea came of making the kits and getting them in a container (most are in scrap booking cases - easy to see what's in them and easy to see the material).  But then I didn't have room for the cases, so those went into the storage area.  Making it stupid because now I couldn't even see anything.  It was funny, at one point I had two kits of the same pattern I wanted to do.

When my husband started to mention how many kits I had, I started to buy patterns only, they were digital and didn't take up much space, but then I would collect the fabric for the ones I really wanted to do, which was all the ones I bought.  So in the end, the same problem.

So I did a spreadsheet of all the kits I had and all the patterns I purchased, and low and behold, I realized I could live to 140 and still not get all of the patterns completed.  that's it, the end of buying patterns.  Oh, I got smart and started collecting free ones, but I try so hard to not do that (I think I'm failing ....) because then I start collecting material for a kit.  My husband jokes that when I go he's inviting all my quilting friends over to grab what they want.  My friends are waiting on the side, they can't wait to get started with the selection.

I did at one point start cleaning my room, and it is really going well with all the containers but they cover the extra door in the room (I have two exits - a barn door and a door to a small room that's listed as an extra bedroom), so that's not working.  What will work, to finish some of those quilts, and that's what I'm doing.

So here's my list of what I need to do this month.  The list contains two sections, painting and quilting because those are my two hobbies:

Painting:

• three cards that you can mail but you paint the images on them.
• seal mammal from the last post.  It shows the video that I will be following
• Acrylic painting of Zeon National Park.

Quilt

These are my goals that I am hooking up to Stories from the Sewing Room One Monthly Goal.

• applique girl with RB blocks all around it.  No quilt batting because we need a quilt that will not be too warm.  The majority of the blocks needed are done.  The Applique was a quilt cover that someone else did.  I found it in a second hand store and loved the colors, so I'm converting it into what I want

• 4 more blocks from the Cozy Winter BOM from Apples and Beaver Cozy Holidays BOM.
• teddy bear
• Reindeer
• Female elf
• male elf
• bell with ribbon.
• steam engine
• snowman.

these are the ones left to do.

Those are my goals for this month, those two things.  These are the extras that I want to do

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  3 more blocks of cactuses for a quilt I'm doing.  The pattern is "Oh My Cacti" by Pen and Paper Patterns.  The pattern is from Pen and Paper patterns.  This is the link to the pattern if you're interested but I got to tell you, the pattern is hard and complicated if you're doing scrap pieces of material for each cacti or for a couple, because you got to keep track of every piece and I'm finding it hard.  Have to label everything.
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  The Giant Swoon called Patchwork Swoon from "Thimble Blossoms" by Camille Roskelley.  I love her work.  I started it last month, and now I want to finish it.  It was one of my kits that I always wanted to do.  It's an old pattern that I bought 10 years ago.  I'm using a Jelly Roll by Collage Bitterweet, something I purchased from Craftsy.com when they changed hands 10 years ago as well.  It's sweet, and just right.  As for the rest of the material, I used scraps that I purchased from a woman online that can no longer quilt because of her arthritis.  It's very common in BC with all the rain.  This one is not even in a container, it's in a paper sheet protector, so I really want it done.  And I love the pattern.  Hopefully, it will become a barn door.  I'm doing it because I want to see if I can do it.  One of those challenges.

 I think that's enough for a month, with me going on a trip for 4 days and another weekend busy as well.  Wish me luck I'm going to need it.

Picking up the Pace

 Well the term is completed and I have a spare, so now I have extra time.  To do what you may ask?  To start being creative again.

I made two goals or resolutions this year, to paint one picture a month and to complete one quilt a month.  And I’m on my way.   Below is two BOM, the Sewcialites 2  (in scrap fabric) and Riley and Blake BOM. That one is in the bright colors.

And I’ve done a few others in January .

Native Whale Art pillow.

Thanksgiving Tabletop 

I’ve been working on a huge project, a queen size quilt built on 2 1/2  scrap squares.  It’s beautiful but a huge amount of work.

Center is done and quilted with an x on each square.  I’m using the quite as you go method.  Hoping to get it done ✅ by the end of February.   It’s for a good friend.

So which me luck.

Catching up

 This month's goal was completed, thank goodness, because I was tired of doing the same thing over and over again.  It doesn't help that you happen to be ADHD, and can't stand doing the same thing over and over again since September.  The quilt turned out fantastic, and it was my goal to finish it this month, so I'm pleased with both but boy!!!!  Was it a chore.  So see for yourself.

Look at all those squares....

And how did I quilt it you asked????   By going through each 2 1/2 inch square.  All the quilting made it very heavy, and it was suppose to be a light quilt, so it didn't exactly work out that way, but it was still time consuming.

That was one of my accomplishments this month.  But after that I decided to catch up on two BOMs that I said I would not join this year.  But I couldn't resist.  So I joined two different BOMs.  One is from my favorite place FatQuarter and the Jolly Jabber.  It's called the Sewcialite 2 and it's very busy.  It's almost two every week. You can look at the free blocks on the FatQuarter cite.  Take a look but don't get mixed up with the Sewcialite 1 that was done a year ago and it's still free for all.  They're a terrific find, with a final quilt that could fit a queen size bed with an addition of an edge of 3 inches around.  I'm excited about this one because I'm using only scraps (yes I'm still trying to get rid of all my scraps and there is still a good amount of them).  There are 16 to do and I have 6 more to catch up.  This weekend I did 5 more for my addition of 10.  I'm loving the look of it and thinking of doing the setting blocks all in solids to catch all my colors or do it in a busy flower print (which I have as well).  We'll see when it's done.  You can also choose some of the Sewcialite 1 blocks instead to finish it off.  Take a look for yourself at one of the links that I put up above.  Here are the blocks I've completed.

This next one is from Riley Blake.  It's the RBD block challenge.  You can look at this years or from last years.  They're free and the patterns really test you so you learn along the way.  I bought fabric from Fabricland for this one because I wanted bright colors, I'm two behind on this one, and they come out every two weeks, so you have to be quick when doing this, but truthfully, I just love the looks of this one.  And it helps when your colors all match.  I am two blocks behind in this one and one of the blocks is really very hard, so I'm not looking forward to one with all HSTs the size of 2".  But the top right one is that one so I'm feeling that I can handle it.

I also promised myself something else this year.  I promised to paint a picture a month and I'm being generous or kind to myself by making the first picture over 3 months because of the size of it.  Take a look.  It's over 4 feet high and wide.  My husband and I love Arizona and he's been after me to paint a picture of the red rocks there.  I just started, and I showed it to my mother who is an excellent professional painter.  She told me that the sand was too dark, the rocks to the right were slanted, and to fade the clouds and rocks in the front.  We talked about putting a haze on it, and that's what I worked on this weekend.  My husband got into the act as well and told me to lighten the sand, that it didn't look real, but he loved the rocks in the front.  I know, the picture doesn't do it justice but you'll find that the next one I completed does.  

Here are the changes, you can see them.  Cliffs or rocks are more into the background.  The sand is lighter, and clouds are fainter so they're more in the background.  I quite like the changes

This has been a very busy weekend but one that is completely satisfying.  I'm happy with all that I've accomplished.  Still have a ways to go, but it's looking good.

So to summarize this weekend:

• painting fixed and ready for next step
• did 4 blocks in the RBD
• did 4 blocks in the Sewcialite 2 BOM
• spent 30 minutes cleaning the are.

Next to do:

• cacti on the bottom
• 2 more RBD BOMs to catch up
• 6 more Sewcialite blocks to catch up
• Complete my flamingo door for our anniversary reminder (It's in June).
• And this week it's the next number from the American Quilting Society's next goal.

I'm excited!!!  

I'm happy with it.