Work in Process Wednesday

Well we are mid way through the week, and I am happy to report that the work on the TOM is going strong. Today I am watching a Harry Potter marathon -- right now it's the Chamber of Secrets -- and marking and sewing all of the TRPs on all of the pieces. There are more TRPs than I remember!!!! Here's the update....

Monday -- Assemble the C's, and build out the Ds - DONE!!! 

Tuesday -- Assemble the Borders, and start working towards the center - Still working on these, I didn't realize that I hadn't done some of the TRPs, so I had togo back and complete them before I could actually start assembly, but that is all done now, so these can start shortly.  


Wednesday -- Assemble the A's - completed Tuesday


Thursday - Assemble the 4 quadrants - may be delayed until Friday, as I have a hair appointment that was originally scheduled for while the studio is too warm to sew in, but has been moved, so I likely won't have much sewing time on Thursday, but we'll see....


Friday - Assemble the main components - still on track, I am confident I can get them done if I just concentrate!!!!

Other than that there is really not a lot going on this week, we're taking some quiet time to get organized for new adventures that start shortly (the 23rd) and trying to get organized for all of the new adventures. The new job will have serious impacts on my ability to get sewing done, so I have to make some changes  -- not quite sure how that will work out or what I am going to sew.....with a full travel schedule I likely won't do any machine work except when I am home on the weekends....I will have the ability to do hand work, or knit, but I haven't really made any big plans on that front for this year, so I need to re-evaluate. It could be a great time to make the So Faded cardigan, or make a Worsted Boxy, or make any of the dozens of shawls that are on my list. Part of me wants to cast on the giant faded Hitchhiker Shawl that I planned for next year. SO MANY OPTIONS!!!! I just need to figure out which one I want to do and make it a priority, and get it prepared. 

So wish me luck until I check in again!!!

Totally Tuesday

I had some pretty big plans for the week, primarily to finish a large project that has been lingering. It's Tuesday, and I have left the studio due to the heat (it gets to be about 90 degrees in the studio around 2pm, and unbearable), so I have just a few minutes to work on some computer work this afternoon before meeting and errands get started. So, here's what I had planned, versus what is done as of now.....


Monday -- Assemble the C's, and build out the Ds - C's are all cut and the CRs are complete, the CLs still need assembly, so I'll have to finish those tomorrow morning, thankfully the hard and arduous parts are done, it's just the final bit of assembly that needs to be done.

Tuesday -- Assemble the Borders, and start working towards the center - This bit is already in process. I needed to do some sub assembly on the Cs and to do that I had to do some other assemblies.


Wednesday -- Assemble the A's


Thursday - Assemble the 4 quadrants


Friday - Assemble the main components

So, it's looking doable, as long as I stay on target and on task for the next few days. I just have to stay motivated and get it done. 

Does anyone else sometimes struggle with getting things done? I have all of these big plans and great intentions, and somehow get totally distracted.....I'm working really hard to ensure that I don't get distracted on this project. I want it finished this week!!!! Hoping that I can work on it some of the evenings this week to get a little bit extra done.

Well, off to the real job, I'll check in again tomorrow and see where we are!


Catherine

Motivation Monday

It's Monday, September 10th, and I have a busy week of sewing ahead. I am determined to finish my TOM this week. All of the units are done, I just need to assemble them. Hopefully it is just a 20 hour job to get them assembled. I sure hope so! That's all the time that I allotted for it!

So, here's the plan --

Monday -- Assemble the C's, and build out the Ds
Tuesday -- Assemble the Borders, and start working towards the center
Wednesday -- Assemble the A's
Thursday - Assemble the 4 quadrants
Friday - Assemble the main components

That leaves next week for Harbored Lighthouse before I got on the road full time. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I am going to work on while on the road...should I pick up an EPP project? just knit? I know I will have tons of binding at some point, which will be easy take alongs (and provide some necessary plane activities). So, if you have any good ideas for what to do on weekly 2 hour plane rides, let me know! Of course, it has to be something that I can get onto a plane. I'm still not 100% clear on what can and can't go through TSA. Even reading the manual that they gave me it's unclear whether a punch needle will be allowed.

Stash Management Update

Well, I have been diligently working through my stash and projects, I can finally say that I have touched every box, and every bin and every project box. I like to do this review every 2 years or so and get rid of any things that I either don't love or no longer plan to finish. I'm lucky that I belong to a guild and they are always happy to take any books, projects or patterns off of my hands, to either become philanthropy projects or parts of the guild library or as a project for someone who is on a limited quilty income. 

So, it's been a big week in the stash management arena, I completed a couple of projects, and made a couple of backs, so there was lots of yardage headed out the door.

1. Vintage Compass - total yardage for the top = 9.25 yards, including using some gradient panels that were not efficient but are beautiful. 

2. Vintage Compass Backing - 4 yards

3. Winter Wonderland Tablerunner - 4.25 yards

4. Winter Wonderland Backing - 1 yard

Previous status :

Used : 7 yards

Aquired : 0 yards

This week:

Used :  18.5 yards

Aquired : 0 yards

Total :  -25.5 yards

I have a couple more finishes that I am expecting in the next few weeks so I am hoping to be close to 100 yards by the 1st of October. Yes, that is quite a big dent to make in the next 3.5 weeks, but I am determined to get it done. 

How is your stash management going? How do you store your fabric? Do you use bins? or comic book boards? Do you fold your fabric a specific way? Inquiring minds want to know.....

Finish, Finish, Finish

It's been a busy couple weeks, I have been focusing on getting a bunch of things done in preparation for the new schedule. I've been making steady progress on the garage cleanout; finding some amazing finds, and getting frustrated with how much junk I've saved for forever. Thank goodness, I am just about done with the garage. I have just 1 cabinet remaining to go through and the garage will be complete. Yippee!

I've been doing the Rachel Cruze Minimalist Challenge (#rcminimalistchallenge) that started on September 1st. Basically, you throw out 1 item on the 1st, 2 items on the 2nd, 3 items on the 3rd, etc, etc, etc. I am up through day 26 at the moment. It seems to be one of those things that you get started on, and can't stop. Regardless, it's nice to see things getting resolved and taken care of throughout the house.

I have also been working on UFOs. I sorted through all of them and decided which ones were important to me and which ones weren't, and let some go to the guild for finishing by someone else. And the rest I got a really good handle on status and put them in priority order. And now, I'm getting to work on them. Starting with this one...

It's Winter Wonderland Tablerunner, with an alternate edge treatment. Basically, the colored HSTs on the edges are supposed to be made from the background, but I am participating in the stash buster's with the She Shed Shenanigans group. Basically, it's any Judy pattern but you have to build it from your stash. And let's face it we all have plenty of stash available if we look!!! SO, if you look closely, I used 2 greens, and 4 reds in the stars themselves, and a different green and red for the border triangles, bringing the total number of fabrics to 10 in a table runner. Now, I just need to make a backing and this on is ready for quilting. 

Next up, I worked on my Vintage Compass. It just needed the borders sewn together and it was ready to go. It didn't take long (about 2 hours total) to finish it up. But I did remember why I put it away. I bought 3 3/4  yards worth of the gradient fabric to be the background of this quilt (the pattern calls for 1.5 yards). Basically, the gradient didn't have enough of the inner border values available, so I needed to decide how to make the inner corners. I ended up going with the lighter value. Overall it looks great and I am pretty happy with it, but I of course would rather it be the medium (which I don't have).....

The picture is a bit deceiving, the entire gradient is a light turquoise to black/teal, not quite so navy blue.

I also got a few minutes to work on some units for On Ringo Lake. I originally only made a small number of these units as I wanted to see what it looked like before I made a bazillion units. I really like the pattern, so now I needed to go back and remake 200 more units (I originally made 50). I managed to make 50 more today (for a total of 100). 

And now, I'm off to work on a few more items for the week. Got to get to that to do list!

Have you had a chance to sew this week?

Wednesday Review - where I go on a cleaning rant.....

Well folks, it has been a wild week. I was involved in my first ever court deposition. It was weird. Obviously, I can't talk about it other than to say it was a learning experience. Don't worry, it's nothing about me, it's for a former employer. It was quite weird to see how the legal system in our country really works. I've never really gotten to see any of it before. With so many family members in law enforcement, I have never ever been on a jury, even though I sign up and show up for jury duty every time they ask me to. I always just get a day off, since I always get disqualified. So it was refreshing to see how it works behind the scenes. And long, it was an entire day worth of documents to review.

I spent this morning working on cleaning and clearing out the sewing room, I'm on a mission to really get it organized and get rid of a bunch of stuff that I just don't love anymore. And at the same time get it really organized. It's funny how the more you organize the more you feel the need to. The more you purge the more you need to purge. I know that sounds totally weird, but it is true.

I really haven't done much sewing this week, I've been really busy working on a bunch of house projects. Prepping a wall for paint, painting, cleaning out the garage, planning dinners and lunches for September, purging books from the library. All items that I seem to do over and over again. Tell me how and why do we collect so much stuff? I've been in this house for almost 2 years, and I have decluttered at least 5 times, and I know I need to do it at least once more inside, and at least once more in the garage. It's like the more I get rid of the less I need to survive and the less I have the happier I am spiritually. I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous, but sometimes, I just want to pack the few things that I need and use all the time in the car and get rid of everything else. Seriously, we all use the same chair or couch and the same 6 dishes, and I feel like I am cleaning all the time because I have so much stuff.

So, I'm going to go finish painting that wall, and then do some purging in the garage. And I'll catch up tomorrow when I have hopefully done some sewing and have something that you want to hear and read about.....until then, happy sewing!!!!


Catherine

Suddenly Saturday

This week has flown by, and I really haven't gotten much done. I had grand intentions but the week just flew by with errands and to dos that were easy enough but used up a lot of my time.

I did get a little bit of work done on my Moroccan Courtyard, but mainly I spent my time getting organized in the sewing room, and sorting through a bunch of books that need to be donated to the guild and the library. I still have a hand full of boxes of books in the garage that need assessments but I made good progress. I still have a long way to go and a bunch of things to work on but I have a little time, and there is really no rush at the moment, so we're having a lazy day around here. Hanging out watching movies on the couch, dreading the necessary trip to Costco, and making lists of things to do next week.

Before the weekend is done I want to finish up my Moroccan Courtyard, and get some work done on my Harbored Lighthouse. We'll see what happens and how much I get done!

What have you been up to this week? Did you get everything done that was on your list?


Happy Sewing,
Catherine

Totally Tuesday

So, yesterday was the Mondayist Monday ever. Seriously, it was just a comedy of crazy around here. I was supposed to meet a friend for breakfast but she got tied up, so my breakfast of champions was delayed. My 11am appointment showed up at 10am, and I was not even remotely ready. I forgot to switch over a load of laundry before going out for the rest of the day and came home to smelly gross towels that required rewashing. But, on the other hand, we were all showered and fed, and the essentials got done, so it wasn't a horrible day, just a strange one.

I had planned on doing a Motivation Monday post from 10-11 am, in my slot of computer time, but it just wasn't meant to be apparently, so we'll have to do it today instead.

SO, I have some pretty big projects on the go this week.....

1. I need to get back to this.....I am 10 days delinquent tomorrow due to a packing snafu!!! I taught at Cotton and Chocolate a week ago on Saturday and Sunday, and took my book with me with the intention of cutting out a few blocks if I got a minute (or 5) on Saturday night. The minutes didn't happen, but when I returned home I couldn't find my book anywhere. And those of you that know me know that I keep the finished blocks in the book paper clipped to the appropriate day!!! SO, I had no book with which to make blocks/cut fabrics, etc, and no completed blocks to post!!!! Well, I managed to find my book on Thursday night late when I unload (in order to reload) my toiletries bag. Yes, I had put the book in my toiletries bag at some point on Saturday Night or Sunday morning...because that is a normal place that everyone puts a book!!!! SO, I need to catch up post several blocks, and then get back on the daily bandwagon.

2. Sunflower Wallhanging - I got the binding on this one, along with a hanging sleeve, so it is ready for hanging.

3. Piecing on the new TOM - I didn't even get this one out of the box this week, as I got a little distracted working on other things....

4. Harboured Lighthouse - I haven't worked on this one in a couple of weeks, though I really want to get back to it so that I can finish it up. It's just missing one unit and then I can lay it out on the floor for a little pre-assembly photo shoot.

5. The Sale is complete, at least round 1, and all of the boxes have been mailed with the exception of those that I am hand delivering at Cozy on the 24th. There remains a few items to get rid of but not nearly as many as I feared. So that is doing quite well. I am sure I will do a round 2, right after I am fully rested from round 1.

6. Leader and Ender 2018-2019 - Jewel Box Stars -- I'm still on track to complete this one by next Memorial Day -- but having not worked on it for a couple of weeks, it is in need of a little TLC to keep it on track.

The week appears to be a pretty full one -- with lots of meetings and appointments during the week, as well as some night time gym commitments, so hopefully I can squeeze in a couple of hours of cheeky sewing while the world spins.

Also, don't forget that Janet Spinks's (Canadian Certified Instructor for Judy Niemeyer) is hosting a She Shed Shenanigans Stash Challenge, which goes until mid December. Make sure you join her group on Facebook to participate for prizes (I even sent her a few special ones). And I made a project for it!!! So join us for some fun and a little quilty competition.

Until Next Time!
Happy Sewing!
Catherine

Stash Management Update

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I posted about my stash management dilemma. I have SO MUCH FABRIC!!! Really, it is ridiculous how much fabric I have. Now that I have cleaned out the garage and gotten everything all in one place, I can really see what I have, and it is depressing!!! and inspiring!! I can see so many quilt plans in there.

Last time we chatted, I was going to analyze how much fabric I have and develop a plan for how I was going to organize it. I did my comic book test, and calculated that I need 180 hours to wrap all of my fabric!!! Ouch!!! That is a ton of time! But I really want a really cute stash like so many that I see out there.....

Right now, mine are in tubs -- 12 - 55 gallon tubs to be exact. They are sort of organized.....moderns are together, novelties are together, and batiks are together, along with a tub of christmas, and a tub of baby....and the remaining tubs are all mixed batiks.....lots and lots of mixed tubs. But I am determined to get it all organized.

In the meantime, I have gotten some sewing done, and used quite a bit of fabric in the last week or so. 

Paddlewheel Sample : 4.5 yards for front, 2.5 yards for back : 7 yards total used this week.

I also got a couple of things mapped out for projects.....Moroccan Courtyard, Licorice Rope, and Lakeshore Sunrise have all had their fabrics picked and ready for fabric prep/cutting. 

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten as much sewing done this week as I had planned due to the atrocious temps outside. It's been hovering around 100 degrees for the past two weeks,  and with a sewing room that takes advantage of the bright natural light on the back side of the house, it's a sauna in the sewing room. I have managed to sew for a couple of hours as long as I get in there in the early AM or late at night I am good, but mid-day until 8pm is a no go, or a sweat fest. So, it has limited the amount of sewing that I have gotten done the last few weeks, not to mention the $$$ of the electric bill. Hopefully, a cooling trend is on the way and it should be more bearable soon.

So, current stash management status : 

Previous status :

Used : 0 yards

Aquired : 0 yards

This week:

Used : 7 yards

Aquired : 0 yards

Total : -7 yards

How's your stash management??? How do you store your fabrics???? I am always looking for ideas on the best way to store and sort fabrics to improve my efficiency in building projects.

Catherine

What have you been up to????

Watching - NCIS -- a new episode set appeared on Netflix, and I was feeling like I had missed something, so I went back a season, and realized that I was still lost, so I must have another watcher in the house who watched some without me, so I decided to go back to the beginning and rewatch them all! So far, I am only a few seasons in, and these episodes I remember still, though there are always things that you notice the second time around that you didn't notice last time, so it's been fun listening to episodes while I work on things around the house.

Craving - Cinnamon blueberry goat cheese. We found some by accident at Costco at Easter time and it was amazing, but I haven't found it again and of course it is all I want lately.  

Doing - lots of chores -- laundry, decluttering, cleaning, etc, etc, etc -- all really boring stuff - just like last time that I posted.

Obsessing - over minimalism and getting organized -- I've realized the more I learn about minimalism the less I like true minimalism. I don't want the rigor or true minimalism, but I want just the right amount of things for my life. SO, I want to collect things that bring me join and have a benefit for my life, but minimize the things that don't. SO, my collections are being paired down if they don't bring me joy. 

Loving - my new workout regemine -- I started doing yoga a few weeks ago, and while I am absolutely horrible at it, it is proving challenging, which is what I need lately. 

Reading - High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard and Feng Shui in the West. Both are proving very interesting. I also renewed my library card, lately I have realized that I want to enjoy books, but not collect them. I've bought books for years, and then my shelves get over loaded and I end up giving the books to the library. I realized it would be more efficient to rent the ones from the library that I can get, and but only the ones I can't, and then once i am finished return everything (including the one I bought) to the library. I also realized that it makes more sense to put all of my notes on the computer that in journals and binders, and I'll leave the journals for my thoughts and prayers, as they are more time specific, and my notes from books need to be more searchable.

Wanting - to spend a ton of money on the new Erin Condren planners -- but I am being a good girl, and not. Still resisting. 

Pinning - lots of organizing and Feng Shui information

Dreaming - about eventually being organized -- and having a house that looks like the Clean Mama house (seriously her pantry is amazing)!

Writing - about all of my goals and dreams. I spoke with my uncle on Saturday and we actually talked about writing your obituary. We had both heard or read about making your best life by writing your obituary. That is knowing what you want said about you at your death you get a better idea of what you want to accomplish in life. I haven't done it yet, but I'm going to. Yes, it's weird, and more than a bit morbid, but if it clarifies what you want to achieve and how you want to be remembered by the world, then you have a blueprint for your life, which sounds awesome. So, we'll see if I can get over my fear and do it or not. Wish me luck!!! and a strong stomach!

Crafting - handouts and layouts for some new items for classes. I finally mapped them all out and am super excited about them. They will release on September 1st with all of the classes after September 1st everyone will get their new stuff. Super excited to release them, now I need to sort out the stickers and badges that go with before September 1st.

Sewing - lots of samples. Harbored Lighthouse, and the new TOM are in process, as well as continuing to work on the #100days100blocks Tula Pink City Sampler challenge.

Knitting - I haven't done much lately, I've been too preoccupied with other things.

Listening - to podcasts on stitching, freezer meals and budgeting -- nothing new there!!!!

Wearing - my typical uniform -- jeans, t-shirts, and the ever present Merrel sandals that I love.

Needing - a little cleaning inspiration. I've been a bit lazy lately and need to up my game and get some things done.

Planning - a massive cleanup of the office. I did a huge sale on patterns and fabrics last week in preparation to close the shop on August 15th, and I audited the fridge, freezer and pantry as part of the meal planning for August (which I did this morning). Next up -- the office and the garage, starting with the office.

Trying - some new HIIT regimen that I have been adding to my workouts. They are really different and kind of not what I thought in terms of the circuits, but they are building strength and muscle. 

So -- that sums up the crazy that is my life as of late, what have you been up to??? Do you have big projects in process??? 

Work in Process Wednesday

Well, given where I was on my status yesterday, I made good progress in the last 36 hours.

* I finished the backing fabric tent for the back of Amazon Star -- oh my I had forgotten how long and exactly how much fabric it takes to make a backing for a 104"x104" quilt top. 10 1/2 yards of fabric. All pieced and ready to head out to my favorite quilter for a little TLC.

* Sunflower Wallhanging - I didn't get the binding on, but I did get it made. So tonight after the gym I should have enough time to get it put on, the quilt isn't that big -- just 36x50 -- so a few minutes at the machine and I should be able to get that bad boy on. After that, an episode of NCIS reruns on Netflix and it will be ready to hang up.

* Piecing on the new TOM - I didn't even get this one out of the box this week, as I got a little distracted working on other things....

Things I worked out which were not on the plan this week, but are done/worked on -

* Harboured Lighthouse - I got the D and E segments (the small stars) all pieced, so the only things left to make at this point are the border units, and then the dreaded Y seams. Not sure why this is the one that is inspiring me at the moment, but it is, so there we go.

* The Sale - so far, I have cleared out most of the patterns, though there are still a few left. Next up -- fabric. I'll start on that tomorrow. I had hoped to get to it today, but it just wasn't meant to be.

* Leader and Ender 2018-2019 - Jewel Box Stars -- I pulled colors last week or the week before, and just needed some backgrounds cut. I got those cut and made 50 or so 4 patches. that's less that 10% of the blocks I am going to need -- since I need 8 - 4-patches per block, and 48 blocks, so 384, and that's just the 4 patches, I also need 384 HSTs. SO, 50/768 total units....yeah, not much progress in the grand scheme. But, I have 52 weeks to get that done, I mapped it out, and i'd like to have the units done by Christmas, so that I have the spring to assemble the blocks, and a long weekend around Memorial Day to sew everything together. We'll have to see how my plan works out.

* Speaking of plans -- the other thing that I worked on this week was my Tula Pink City Sampler in Batiks -- I'm doing the challenge that @GnomeAngel is hosting. It's a block a day every day for 100 day, and the hashtag is #100days100blocks2018. So far, I'm on 19, which is 6 blocks further than I got the last time that I did one of these. In the past these kinds of challenges have really been a struggle, but this time, I am on it.

So I'm wondering, does anyone else plan out their quilts for the year, or do you just go with whatever inspires you at the moment? How many UFOs do you have??? Do you buy fabric for specific patterns, or do you have a stash? and how do you manage it? Do you have bins and boxes for projects, or are you a bag lady? How do you keep it all organized? I'll confess it's the part that I struggle with most, the keeping it organized. And I wish I could say that it is just the quilt room....but I'd be lying. I struggle with finding homes for everything, and having a real system. The problem is I have too many systems. I've made it all too complicated, so I'm going to be working on that over the next few months -- really looking at what I need and use and simplifying it to make sense in my life.

Because every thing is a work in process.....

Catherine

Motivational Monday on Tuesday

Well, I had planned to sit down and write this post yesterday, but time just got away from me.

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in my pattern and precut sale. I have a few things left, but in reality there isn't that much left, a few random patterns, and some rulers, but not nearly as much stuff as I had a few weeks ago. Up next - fabric. That's going to take quite a bit longer to organize and post as I really need to figure out the best way to do it...so if anyone has any ideas, let me know!!! By color, by type, by manufacturer, bu designer, there are just SO MANY OPTIONS!
For this week, it's all about chasing down invoices and payments and getting everything sent out to the appropriate destinations.

In other exciting news.....I have done nothing on the sewing front for WIP Wednesday. Which means I still have to

• Make backing for Amazon Star and send it out for quilting
• Bind my Sunflower Wallhanging
• Finish piecing the new TOM

and tomorrow is WIP Wednesday, so today is destined to be insane, and you can bet that at least one of these is not going to get finished this week and will rollover -- I wonder which one??? Chances are it will be the TOM, since the other 2 really just need a quick few hours at most to finish and that one has several days of work remaining. SO, wish me luck, and I'll check in tomorrow and see where we are.

Happy Sewing !

Catherine 

Facing Facts

Well,this post has been a long time coming, and the truth is I have avoided it as long as possible. But it's time to come clean. I'm closing Queenie Quilts. It has been great fun. I've loved doing shows and having a shop online but the reality is I just don't have enough hours in the day to do everything, and something has to give, so it is with sadness (and also a wee bit of excitement) that I announce that the shop is closing.

A lot of you will want to know why, and the truth is there just isn't enough time to do it the way that I want to. I want to have constant engagement and host weekly challenges and QAL, and all kinds of fun stuff. I want to have free patterns and for sale patterns and get all of the design ideas out of my head. But the truth is working full time plus teaching 16-24 hours a week, and trying to maintain a relatively normal(ish) life, is just too much. And the truth is with the competition online if you don't have a full time instagram/pinterest/digital manager it's nearly impossible. And let's be honest, social media is not my strong point, no matter how much I want it to be. Hell, I struggle to post on the blog with any real regularity, no matter what I intend. So, as of August 15th Queenie Quilts will be no more. I'm keeping the domain and you will still be able to reach me at my catherine@queeniequilts.com email address, but the store will go away. And to celebrate (and get rid of all of the inventory in my garage), I'll be hosting a series of giveaways and massive sales over the next few weeks. All yardage will be $5.00 per yard plus shipping, and most patterns will be 50-70% off. Yes, that's below cost, and someone will be angry about that, but the truth is, I just want it all out of my house, and to reclaim some space and sanity. So, pay attention to instagram and facebook as I post lots of sales and discounts, and if there is something that you are looking for, please let me know and I can set it aside for you.

So wish me luck over the next few hours as I get all of the pictures taken and the items posted for the sale, and get this all started, and know that this decision was not taken lightly, or quickly. I've been talking about it for almost 6 months, and I've been slowly getting rid of my shop equipment over the last few months (racks for shows, etc). And if anyone needs a cash register, let me know, I can get you a screaming deal!

My intention with closing the shop is to give myself some more time to concentrate on writing and publishing patterns and projects (both free and paid), and really having time to do the parts that I love, but haven't had time to work on because of all of the other responsibilities. So, don't be sad, it's not a goodbye, it's more of a see you soon, and more often!

Catherine

Work in Process Wednesday

Well it's Wednesday and time to get moving on getting some projects done. Or ready for the quilter, or further along than the currently are.


This week's list includes :

• Backing for Amazon Star
• Binding on Sunflower Wallhanging
• Piecing on new TOM

That's a pretty big order for this week, especially considering how much work I need to do in stash management and UFO management, so I better get off to get to work..... 

UFO Management 101

How many UFOs do you have? I have WAY TOO MANY. I haven't counted, and the reality is I probably haven't even found them all, it seems that every time I open a box I find another one that I had put away for safe keeping. I've kept really good records on all of my Judy's that I have going and what they cost, as part of my business plan and management, but when it comes to ones for me and for fun, I haven't kept a real list.

I know the count of finished ones is well over 300, but I am certain there are more. And that number doesn't include little projects, like wallhangings and pillow cases, pillow shams and pot holders. Nor does it include the half finished or blocks but no borders or other various statuses of finished items.

So, step 1 -- as part of stash management 101, find all of the open projects and decide if I am going to actually finish them, or hand them over to someone in the guild who will. Once that is done, it's getting the official spreadsheet treatment, and getting treated just like my Judy quilts. No, I don't need to know the costs on those or the exact timings when things were completed, but it's nice information to have if possible if for no other reason that to know their "number", and it's time to start numbering my quilts officially. I'll be starting with 301, since I know there are at least 300 out in the wild.

Once I have them all documented I really need to get them prioritized and then get them worked on.

SO, wish me luck!

Stash Management 101

So, the stash has been getting a little out of hand lately. Not consciously or deliberately, more a matter of circumstance and lack of paying attention. A couple of fat quarters here, a cute border print there, and suddenly the fabric is busting at the seams again. Just like all of the UFOs that I need to finish up, the stash needs to be managed proactively.....starting immediately.

I have no idea how much fabric I actually have, I can only tell you that it is a LOT. As in multiple 60 gallon rubbermaid tubs full of fabric. There are at least a dozen, Some full of fat quarters, some yardage, some sorted by color, and some just a jumbled mess. So, my first goal is to figure out what I have and how I am going to manage it. 5 years ago before I had the store, all of my fabric was sorted by color in bins. About a year ago, I bought those comic book boards and planned to put all of my fabric on boards, but I have never gotten around to it, there were too many other things to do, but it's time to get serious and get this stash under control. So, this week, it's develop a plan and a time line. I'm going to see how long it takes to wind the fabrics onto the boards, and create a plan. Once I have a crate done it will be time to figure out exactly how much space I am going to need to store it. And that is a potentially huge issue -- depending upon what the stats say.

In the meantime, it's time to make sure that I pull from stash whenever possible and the only way to do that well is to get it organized and accounted for, so it's time to get on it.

Next up --- UFOs.....

What's Happening Around Here

Well, it has been busy around here, as a million things are all happening at once lately. It's amazing how you think things are busy and can't imagine that they could get busier, only to have that happen a few minutes later. But all will prevail, as we continue to move forward with million household and work projects, not to mention my always present self improvement projects.

So, what have I been doing exactly?

Watching - Blue Bloods, Anne with a E, and Madam Secretary all have new episodes on Netflix, so it has been quite a challenge to decide which one to watch in the limited time available. 

Craving - Hush Puppies - real southern ones. I haven't had them in forever, and for some reason I've just been craving them the last few days. 

Doing - lots of chores -- laundry, decluttering, cleaning, etc, etc, etc -- all really boring stuff

Obsessing - over minimalism and getting organized -- 

Loving - my new workout regemine -- I started doing yoga a few weeks ago, and while I am absolutely horrible at it, it is proving challenging, which is what I need lately.

Reading - High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard and The Millionaire from Nazareth -- both are interesting. I am really looking for some fabulous fiction -- something fun and entertaining, but I'm a bit bored on that front lately.

Wanting - to spend a ton of money on the new Erin Condren planners -- but I am being a good girl, and not.

Pinning - lots of houses and minimalism blogs and tips.

Dreaming - about eventually being organized -- specifically the Container Store Catalog

Writing - about all of my goals and dreams

Crafting - ideas for signs and pictures for the house

Sewing - lots of samples, currently working on Harbored Lighthouse and Tula PInk's City Sampler -- I'm participating in the #100days100blocks2018 challenge. So far, I am doing well, but then, it is only Day 4, there is plenty of time to get behind.

Knitting - I haven't done much lately, I've been too preoccupied with other things.

Listening - to podcasts on stitching, freezer meals and budgeting

Wearing - my typical uniform -- jeans, t-shirts, and the ever present Merrel sandals that I love.

Needing - a little inspiration in the design life. I just haven't been inspired on the designing front lately.

Planning - a massive clean out of the fridge and freezer -- I really need to inventory the fridge and freezers before I plan th next round of menus.

Trying - new Indian food....i was out with a friend last week for dinner and we tried a place in Moorpark CA -- it was lovely, though I still haven't found anything that compares to the Orange Tiger in Chester, but it was good, and the company was wonderful, and that's the more important part anyway. 

So -- what have you been doing???? Anything fun???

Tips on Tuesday Week 2 - The Binding Box

So, about 15 years ago I got a watch for Christmas from my Uncle Tom -- the watch has since been retired (about 18 months ago), but the box lives on, repurposed as my binding box. It's pretty small and almost square, and 3.5x3.5x3. It's the perfect size for all of the important things that I need to be able to bind on the go. It's small enough to throw in my purse or in the cup holder of the car, yet big enough to find in the travel crate. It's really just the perfect box. It's been loved on a lot. As you will see, it has been sat on, bent and reanimated, but shows the wear and tear of 10 years of love. I swear those flaws make me love it even more.

Here she is....my binding box....

Just a simple squarish fossil watch gift box. My replacement watch came in a cheapo plastic box, which makes this one all that more special. Not to mention that this one has had some adventures. It has been to Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and about 35 states. It has traveled on planes as carryons, and in checked luggage, and even made a very short trip on a New York subway.

Inside, it has just the simple tools that are needed for binding, and as you can see they get jumbled around quite a bit. And yes, the box is bent see story above.

The inside tends to be a collection area for all kinds of little stuff. You can tell that I don't clean it out as often as I should as it has 3 colors of thread, which means the last time I cleaned it was 3 quilts ago. As you may know I do quite a bit of hand work, and I have all 187 colors of DMC 50wt thread for my hand work. About 5 years ago, my Mom gave me the best Christmas present when she used my side winder to spin off a bobbin full of each of the 187 colors, so I have a mini of every color available, so I can just grab the bobbin, throw it in the box and be on my merry way. This is super convenient if I'm not sure exactly what color I want to do the hand stitching in and I don't have time. I can literally take all the colors with me in a little bobbin box (I have two of the little art bin bobbin boxes that house the 187 bobbins). She even put little stickers on the bobbins so I can refill the color  easily. 

So, the box itself has a pair of the best scissors on the planet -- Karen Kay Buckley small precision scissors with a serrated edge. These are great for cutting out the corners and trimming off batting pieces. A box of thread heaven which has long since lost its top (let's not discuss the fact that this amazing stuff has been discontinued). It's my very last box of Thread Heaven and I'm freaking out about it a bit. A miniature jar of pins, and a miniature jar of needles. They are glass jars on the inside, with polymer clay flowers on the outside. They are made by a woman in Hawaii, and were available at Amidon Quiltworks before they closed. Black is size 10 straw needles, Green is 1.25 in long .04mm clover glass head pins. A TJ Thimble sterling silver Thimble in size 6.25 that fits me perfectly. And in today's case, 3 colors of thread -- rust/orange, navy and dark green. Which means that the last time I cleaned out this box was 5 or 6 months ago when I bound the Kansas Troubles quilt with the rust/orange/red binding. 

So, am I the only person with a binding box, or do you have one as well????

Tips on Tuesday

So, what do you think is the most often asked question that I get online and at classes? How to do Y seams (carefully)? The size of the Fire Island Hosta pattern (74x74)? How many days a month do you teach (7-8, unless I am teaching a retreat, then its 11 or 12)? Nope, none of those. The most often asked question is what is in my travel bag, and what essential tools do I use everyday. And how do you use those tools. So effectively immediately, I'm letting you into my creative tools and how to use them, with Tips on Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I'll share some tip or tool (or ruler, or resource) that I use to help me with my craft. Today, we are starting with the Travel Bag.....

My travel bag is a small (6x9 3/8 x 3 3/4) box that I got over a decade ago from a shop that is now closed. In fact, I loved this box so much that I have 2 -- one for my main tools and one for all of my appliqué specific tools. Not that some of my tools don't migrate, because let's face it they do (see blue handled Karen K Buckley scissors below as an example). I do take inventory every Sunday night as part of my weekly prep routine to refill and restock everything that might be low, or might be in the wrong place, and do my best to keep these updated correctly. But sometimes, they remigrate on Monday (just ask the scissors).

So, here you go, my travel bag (box) in all her glory. That's her on the top of my mat -- it's hard to see in this pic, but it is a dual sided box (both top and bottom open using a clip system). It's pictured here with my other most popular at home tools -- my trash bucket, two magnetic pin bowls (one for paperclips, one for pins), tape, Olfa precision tip scissors (which have now been discontinued), my purple Splash cutter, a pencil, and a pair of ancient Gingher scissors that I have had since grade school. These things fit easily into the top drawer of my kitchen island that serves as my cutting island. If I'm home, the travel box simply sits in the drawer, and I take it out and throw it into a basket or my travel crate if I'm going to teach or off to retreat.

 

Here's the top portion of the box. It is not very deep, and is divided, but this works great for corralling all of the little stuff that likes to go on adventures. This is also where 90% of the restocking occurs. It has new rotary blades, binder clips, a rubber thimble, a folding seam ripper, my sewline marking pen and multiple colored refills, a mechanical pencil, a sharpie marker, needles, and a magnetic needle minder, glue pen refills (pink newline in today's case), and my purple thing. That spool of thread is not usually there, as it is a 12wt, but I was doing some embroidery over the weekend and it didn't make it back to the regular storage location. 

The other side is about 2 1/2" deep and holds most of the tools per say. It's a little hard to see everything that is in there, so see the next pic to see what all is in there.

5 pairs of scissors -- yes, 5. I find the correct scissors for the job to be important, and 4 of these 5 are different. The Karen Kay Buckley's (2 pairs, blue handles) have a serrated edge which makes them great for cutting out appliqué shapes. I use the yellow handled Omni's for precision cutting, the gold storks are use to snip at the machine, and the black and white ones are usually at the ironing board to snip units apart from one another. You will also see 3 types of glue, Roxanne's Glue Baste It, Elmer's Glue Stick and a Sewline Glue Pen. The Roxanne's I use for appliqué and for gluing down binding before I sew it, the Sewline I use for holding seam allowances or curves together before sewing, and the Elmer's is for starting paper piecing projects. Each has their place, and their function, so I carry all 3 all the time. I also have emergency thread -- a good neutral, not too light and not too dark. In this case it's Aurifil 50 wt in color 2900, sort of a green grey tan. It's the perfect midline neutral. Other than that it's admin tools -- sharpie's, mechanical pencils, screwdrivers, and a wooden appliqué turning tool, which I never use for appliqué (there is another one in the appliqué box), but instead mainly use as a wooden iron when needed. And a few name tags -- in the event I have something that isn't tagged, that ensures that I can put my name on a new tool or ruler super quick without any fuss (and that it will be legible 3 days from now). The plastic fold templates and Add-A-Quarter rulers don't fit in my green box, so I keep a set already packed in my travel crate, and another set that stays in the island all the time. That way I am never far away from them.

What do you have in your travel bag??? 

Next week, I'll show you what's in here.....my binding box.......

Motivational Monday

Well, it's Monday, and it's time to get started for the week. 

I am headed to retreat this weekend, so I am spending the next couple of days getting ready for retreat. I mentioned last post that I was going to work on UFOs, and that is the plan for the retreat weekend. It's so weird that I am going to a retreat that I am not hosting -- I am simply attending, so I should have plenty of time to sew.....now I just need to figure out what to pack....My first instinct is to bring Amazon Star, the new TOM (which I can't release name or info about yet), and a Paradise in Bloom that is all paper pieced but not assembled. Or I could bring a couple of other projects  -- On Ringo Lake, Tula Pink Starry Hollow, Poinsettia, or one of any other number of projects. So many choices.

Other items for this week include having the house bombed...which should be fun -- I've already packed up all of the fabric and quilts to ensure that everything is good before the actual bombing event which occurs later today. 

Once that is done, it's time to go through the storage unit, which is in the midst of being emptied and destashed. Yep, I'll be closing the shop, and shutting down the website by the end of the month. It's something that I have been thinking about for quite some time, and for various reasons, the time is right to close it. SO, stay tuned for info on huge discounts on patterns as I close the shop down. Most items will be sold for what I paid wholesale, as we look at closing everything down and getting all of the inventory out of the house.

so, big plans this week......

Getting on Track

There are so many things going on lately, that I have been negligent in keeping up with all of the social medias -- instagram, facebook, the blog, the newsletter, they have really all been on the back burner as I dealt with a bunch of things in my personal life. Don't worry -- it's nothing traumatic, and nothing crazy, just things that have been distracting me from sewing and from posting about sewing. I keep thinking and hoping that things are going to calm down, but it just doesn't happen...as soon as one thing clears up, something else pops up and creates a new distraction. I wish that I thought that it was all going to slow down but the reality is, I don't think it will, so it's time I get on the new normal and get back to sewing regardless of what's going on....SO....

I've committed to a couple of things for the rest of the summer and into the fall to try to get myself back on track......

Starting with the Gnome Angel #100days100blocks2018 -- a walk through the Tula Pink City Sampler Book. It starts July 7th, and is essentially 1 block a day for 100 days. I don't know that I will be going after getting any prizes, but I really want to get this quilt done. It's been on the list since the book came out, and its about time that I actually did it. I started getting some things ready, and I intend to spend quite a bit of time at retreat getting lots of things ready. I started the original version of this challenge a couple of years ago, and I got through a dozen or so blocks, before I got distracted and didn't finish.

Secondly, it will be the UFO challenge -- I am literally not allowed to start anything new. Nothing. Nada. The reality is that I have way too many quilts in process, and while I did some purging last summer to get rid of projects that I didn't plan on finishing, I still have a significant number of UFOs to finish, and I really want to be a finisher.

And that is my plan for the summer - to finish a bunch of items, and get organized, but organizing never gets finished in my world.

What are your summer plans?


Cat