Monday, April 20, 2015

Make A List Monday - April 20th

I can't believe April is flying by. Market is literally right around the corner, and I am still beavering away on my Cactus Rose. I don't have any new pics, and even if I did you wouldn't be able to see anything...at least nothing really noticeable. So, I'll just be over here working away on the boring parts. ALL WEEK LONG.

I wish this was an exciting post, but it's not....I'm really devoted to Cactus Rose this week, I'm at the point that I have to be monogamous with my sewing time (which just for the record is a major issue for me...). As much as I want to jump over and work on Prismatic Christmas or Wedding Rings or really anything else (because I am a master proquiltinator), I'm only working on my Cactus Rose. Until it is finished.

On other fronts, I have a couple of teaching gigs in process at the moment and a couple more coming up, so once Cactus Rose is done it is off to do a million and five class samples. Or 3. Maybe just 3....

Well, back to the grind for me....what are you working on this week???

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Wedding Ring QAL Week 10 - Assembly Time

Week 1&2 February 15th -28th - Project Selection and Supply Attainment -- DONE!!!

Week 3 - March 1 - 7 - Paper Preparation - cut out and bag you papers according to your pattern. - DONE!!!!

Week 4 - March 8 - 14 - Sewing A Arcs - there are multiple sets of these and we are going to spend multiple weeks working on them. Some done.....lots left....

Week 5 - March 15-21 - Sewing A Arcs - just keep sewing!!!! I have 2 sets left to finish these off, and I can't wait!!! 

Week 6 - March 22-28 - Sewing B Arcs - just keep going! We got this far, we can do it! See note above. 

Week 7 - March 29 - April 4 - Sewing B Arcs - This week was the last week of Arcs. I finished these B arcs this week, so as soon as I finish up the remaining As, I am ready to go!!! 

Week 8 - April 5 - April 11 - Using QW Wedding Ring Rulers - Cutting out backgrounds -- Asteroids and Melons. Done!!!!

Week 9 - April 12 - April 18 - Pieced Asteroids and Melons - Done!!!! I only had a handful to do, so these were quite easy this week.

Week 10 - April 19 - April 25 - Assembly. That's right, it is assembly time!!!! We're going to start by  trimming up all of the A and B arcs to the outside line. Once that is done, we will sew the As to the top of the melons. In my case, I have to make 128, so I need to get to work. I know I won't get these finished this week, there is just too much on the plate this week as we ramp up to Spring Market, but I am going to work on it a little each night. Even if it in only 10 minutes. Over a week that is 70 minutes!!!

Week 11 - April 26 - May 2 - Assembly

Week 12 - May 3 - May 9 - Assembly

Week 13 - May 10 - May 16 - Assembly

Week 14 - May 17 - May 23 - Applique - Fused

Week 15 - May 24 - May 31 - Applique - Hand Turned

How are you coming along on this project??

Catherine

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Wedding Ring QAL Week 8 - Already???

Oh My!!! How did we get to Week 8 already??? I can't believe that we are already this far into the QAL, and I am SSSSOOOO far behind!!!! For once, I have this week's homework done, though I am still behind on last week (and the week's beforehand). Ad still fairly confident that I can catch up. And of course, it's Wednesday, and I try to post these on Sunday or Monday, which is an indication of just how far behind life is at the moment. And then there are taxes. In just under the wire, and now feeling a little less stressed, at least for the moment....

Week 1&2 February 15th -28th - Project Selection and Supply Attainment -- DONE!!!

Week 3 - March 1 - 7 - Paper Preparation - cut out and bag you papers according to your pattern. - DONE!!!!

Week 4 - March 8 - 14 - Sewing A Arcs - there are multiple sets of these and we are going to spend multiple weeks working on them. Some done.....lots left....

Week 5 - March 15-21 - Sewing A Arcs - just keep sewing!!!! I've made some more progress this week, but not nearly as many as I need. I have a little over half of the As complete at this point.

Week 6 - March 22-28 - Sewing B Arcs - just keep going! We got this far, we can do it! See note above. 

Week 7 - March 29 - April 4 - Sewing B Arcs - This week was the last week of Arcs. I am only about 35% complete on the Bs, so I have quite a few left, but I am just going to keep going until I get there.

Week 8 - April 5 - April 11 - Using QW Wedding Ring Rulers - Cutting out backgrounds -- Asteroids and Melons. This week, we are going to be working on cutting out background....depending upon which quilt you are doing, you may be doing 4 patch asteroids (Princess Tiara or Cotton Candy), or X asteroids (Flowers for My Wedding Ring), or even the Bali Wedding Star.



So, my homework for this week is done!!!! 




Week 9 - April 12 - April 18 - Pieced Asteroids and Melons
This week we are piecing the asteroids and melons...which depending upon which quilt you are doing could mean a few different things. If you are working on Bali Wedding Star, these are paper pieced star points, if you are doing Art Deco it is a paper pieced sawtooth shaped melon. For some others you will use the pieces we made last week. The secret is to just keep making the parts that are relevant to your project. Next week, we'll start assembling all of the relevant pieces and parts, and the real fun begins. 

Week 10 - April 19 - April 25 - Assembly

Week 11 - April 26 - May 2 - Assembly

Week 12 - May 3 - May 9 - Assembly

Week 13 - May 10 - May 16 - Assembly

Week 14 - May 17 - May 23 - Applique - Fused

Week 15 - May 24 - May 31 - Applique - Hand Turned

How are you coming along on this project??

Catherine

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Make a List Monday

It's been a great couple of days...we were at a show in Lindsey, CA, and had a great weekend hanging out with friends and eating great simple food with friends.

The show was fun, and as a write this, I am traveling down Highway 99 heading home. We'll be home around midnight, and the next week will start...amazing how that happens....

My focus for the week is my Cactus Rose. I managed to get a bunch done last weekend, and this week is all about finishing up the piecing and getting the appliqué ready for being sewn down.wish me luck!


I finished the binding on my Tea Time Placemats, they just need a quick turn at home, and they will be ready for an official reveal.



For this week it is all about Cactus Rose finishing!!!!!!





Sunday, April 5, 2015

Make a List Monday - a week late

I wrote this last week, but apparently didn't ever publish it....

It's Monday again.....how did it get here so fast?

It was a great week and weekend. I spent some time with friends and managed to make a big dent in my market sewing. We are about 45 days out from Market, and I am working a rather big project. On a tight deadline. Because apparently I work best under pressure. 

So here's what I managed to get done this week....


These PDA units, and their corresponding PDBs. 


And this mini Luster.... Which I absolutely adore!

I managed to get a few A and B arcs finished, but I still have a ton more to go....

This week, is going to have very limited sewing, as I have a show in Hanford, CA this weekend, and a busy week at work trying to get ready for big shipments.

So, with that, I better get back to work!

Have a great week, and I'll talk to you next week. Same time, same place!

Cat


Wedding Ring QAL - Week 7

Week 1&2 February 15th -28th - Project Selection and Supply Attainment -- DONE!!!

Week 3 - March 1 - 7 - Paper Preparation - cut out and bag you papers according to your pattern. - DONE!!!!

Week 4 - March 8 - 14 - Sewing A Arcs - there are multiple sets of these and we are going to spend multiple weeks working on them. Some done.....lots left

Week 5 - March 15-21 - Sewing A Arcs - just keep sewing!!!! I've made some more progress this week, but not nearly as many as I need. I have a little over half of the As complete at this point.

Week 6 - March 22-28 - Sewing B Arcs - just keep going! We got this far, we can do it! See note above. 

Week 7 - March 29 - April 4 - Sewing B Arcs - This week was the last week of Arcs. I am only about 35% complete on the Bs, so I have quite a few left, but I am just going to keep going until I get there.

Week 8 - April 5 - April 11 - Using QW Wedding Ring Rulers - Cutting out backgrounds -- Asteroids and Melons. This week, we are going to be working on cutting out background....depending upon which quilt you are doing, you may be doing 4 patch asteroids (Princess Tiara or Cotton Candy), or X asteroids (Flowers for My Wedding Ring), or even the Bali Wedding Star. 

If you are working on Bali Wedding Star, you will make the CDS and CMS units as per the instructions, and use the templates to help you trim them up.

If you are making X backgrounds, you will stars by cutting 13 1/2 inch squares, and cut them on the diagonal twice.


Then, mix them around....


And sew back together.

Then place the ruler, matching up the center X markings, and cut on all 4 sides.


Remove the center and sew the "leftovers" into melons.



And trim them down.


Do the same with a plus setup for Princess Tiara, Art Deco, or a few others.



I have lots of these, as I often demo the rulers at shows....see, a whole pile of them in a couple different  stages....



So, my homework for this week is done!!!! Guess I will keep working on the As and Bs.Think I can catch up. (Don't hold your breath!)

Week 9 - April 12 - April 18 - Pieced Asteroids and Melons

Week 10 - April 19 - April 25 - Assembly

Week 11 - April 26 - May 2 - Assembly

Week 12 - May 3 - May 9 - Assembly

Week 13 - May 10 - May 16 - Assembly

Week 14 - May 17 - May 23 - Applique - Fused

Week 15 - May 24 - May 31 - Applique - Hand Turned

How are you coming along on this project??

Catherine

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Stuff, Stuff, and More Stuff

Do you ever feel like you are in a rut??? I've been feeling like my house is in a bit of a rut lately. It's just not bringing me joy. It's a bit messy and overfull with stuff. All things that I like, but a lot of them. Between running an online business out of the house, and having my sewing studio, and it being a full time living space, it's just a bit crowded lately, and feeling a bit overwhelming. And those overwhelming feelings tend to send me into a spiral, so I decided to knip it in the bud. I decided to take a different approach to dealing with it, and it's been enlightening to say the least.

I picked up a copy of Marie Kondo's "the life changing magic of tidying up". From the first sentence, it was clear this was not your typical self help book. It's a totally different approach to analyzing your stuff and your space. It's a totally different approach to stuff accumulation, and decluttering. And it's really quite profound. It's inspiring, and overwhelming. And when you start to follow it, it becomes clear where you are holding onto things and building up walls to protect yourself. It's really about or stuff and the feelings we give our stuff vs the purposes of the stuff.


I wish I could sum up the book in just a few sentences, but instead I'd encourage you to grab a copy (or better yet, download a copy to your favorite ereader) and find a 4-5 hour chunk of time to focus on you, and then try to stop decluttering. I dare you.

now, i really must go, I have a sewing room to declutter.