Retirement and the results…

Well that said it all.  At one point my job consumed me and I wasn’t doing many quilts as I was before.  My creativity got diversified with watercolor and pencil crayon art but I never gave up quilting, I just got overwhelmed.

So last week because my room was so crowded I couldn’t work in it, my husband and I did something about it.  We moved my bookcase with many of the books in it to the living room and now I’m sorting what’s left.  And boy is there a lot left!  About 12 scrapbook containers with projects in it, many not started, tons of bags with projects started in them, and about 5 large containers with scraps in it.  Boy I got lots to do. 

But I’ve started at least.  These are projects I did this week:

Added the flowers and leaves.  Wanted to fix this one up.  I didn’t like it before this.  But I loved my quilting.  So added the flowers 

The one below I completed last month, it’s about 8 years old.  Got the left overs at LaConnor Art Museum.  Don’t know the name of fabric but I did make up this simplistic pattern.  It’s the quilting practice that’s highlighted in this quilt.  I used different rulers on each square.  Enjoyed the learning.

I had time to do this one because I retired last week and now I have the time.  But still I couldn’t do too much because of the disarray in my room.  Thus the changes with the help of hubby.

To continue on the cleaning binge I’ve started to cut up some of the scraps in 2 1/2 strips and squares, 5” squares and 10” squares.

 Also I’ve done two small projects in bags.  One is folded quilting by Geesjwe Baron and Esther Vermeer, 

and a row by row from Oregon.  Sorry don’t know the designer, it’s quite old.  From 2016.

And that’s todays work.  Tomorrow I keep on cleaning my sewing/craft room.  Wish me luck….

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One I missed and another done

 I’ve been cleaning my sewing office and I have been noticing how any UFOs I have but that’s ok because I’m retiring soon and all of the projects will keep me busy.  The kits are all together except for batting and backing.  So it’s a win win.  But I’m getting an overflow, too much stuff around to the point  that it's overwhelming me.  Like everyone else in the quilting world I can’t resist a new BOM or a bargain so I keep on starting new ones but I’m resisting ladies (hello my name is Nicole and I’m a fabricaholic.).  This past month I’ve been finishing off a lot of quilts (see last couple of blogs) but today I’m showing you one I did this month and another BOM from this year so it doesn’t become a ufo.  Here she be….

End of bed quilt.

This pattern is free at Riley Blake Design, on this link.    The squares are 10 and a half in size.  Their pattern did not include the blue line I put in, a 1 1/2 inch fold.  Stitched between the blocks, a 2” piece and the side borders.  It made the quilt bigger.  Side edges I enlarged to 4” instead.  Overall it’s colorful and fits a queen nicely.

Here’s the (not one but) two I missed blogging about….

The back of the large lap top (I used extra blocks)

The front of the laptop, very modern, a modern quilt BOM from last year that I found online at All She Can Sew.  Here’s her link.  “Kitchen Sink”. Well it was very well designed.

And my gift to a very lovely niece who just had a baby boy, so congrats to them for a wonderful child in this world.  Love to you all.

All the quilts are bonded and completed.  What have you been doing this month?  

Unfortunately I'm still behind...  lol.

Have a great week.

Summer is almost over

 And I’ve been able to get some painting and sewing in.  I have completed some baby quilts, made some gifts and cleaned my room after my bookcase collapsed.  Yeah you heard right, my IKEA bookcase (with drawers) stretched out and the shelves came tumbling down.  Too many sewing/painting/quilting books and paints in it.  Out with that old and in with a used steamer trunk that I redid.  Final product are the 1st couple of pictures.  Even used wood glue for cracks.

Redid with restick wall paper that is waterproof.  

All my supplies

The crack that I wood glued.

The start that took about 2hours.

The finish product that has projects in containers, and fabric for sewing clothes.  It worked well.

Then I had some things that are just in a tray that I needed to fix.  So I completed these projects that were small and almost done.

The container 

Pillow case embroidery 

Mug rug, hand stitched.  Tea dyed.

Look at the stitching or rather quilting.

A dress that needed a hem and to fix neckline

A very long table runner with old 2 1/2 strips.  Used Missouri Star video for pattern.  Love it.

But that’s not all.  I learned how to watercolor so I did some painting.  See one.

That’s it so far.  Have a great month.

Been busy again

 With a few UFOs done.  They are Cat Approved.

Both of these have gone to the hospital's children's ward.

Yes they are identical.  The material was given to me two years ago, with the blocks already done.

I just finished it off and binded it.

This one is a Joanne's Kit from 5 years ago, before Covid.  The kit contained all the material and the pattern, but some of the material had been changed and that's why the discount.  The kit was $20.  For all the top material.  What a steal!!!

Simple quilting in the ditch and some echoing.

My husband loves the colors.  Perfect for a guy.  I was going to give this away but the hubby said no, it's perfect for our house, so it's staying.

I also did one more quilt for a friend that I gave away last week so now I can put it up here.  It's part of the American Quilt UFO challenge.  I found some of the trees premade and in a box while trying to clean my quilting room. Made a couple more, and started the art drawing. A good size.  My friend loves it and considering it's for her retirement, I'm happy she loves it, she's a wonderful woman.

Now onto my next UFO, that my husband has been begging me to complete.  I've had the pattern and the material just in storage for 2 years....  A great pattern from a wonderful Canadian Designer.  Wait for the next blog entry to see it.  I'm already 1/2 way through 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.

2023’s Goals

 

Welcome to my Planning Party for the coming 2023.  This year is soon to be my retirement year, the last year of teaching, and going to school every day.  The last year before I begin my retirement.  Lets review this year, which has been a big year of acknowledging things.  Here's some of them:

• I'm getting old.  I can't do so much now without getting tired.
• Getting tired means that I'm not as creative.
• Teaching two classes at the same time....  

All of these things and a few more have been really hard on me, but come this next term, I now have a spare which means I have more time to mark and more time at home to sew (hopefully). 

I have a number of UFOs, and a crowded sewing room, so I have a goal of making one quilt a month of these UFOs and cleaning up my room.  

I want to make at least three more barn doors, and two original quilts.  The barn doors will be the Modern Cat, the bats for Halloween, and a tree pattern.  The two original quilts will be an applique for our bed, a hand stitch.  Those are my goals.