Moving moving moving

So, the internet man isn't here yet, so I am back at blogging, this time from the ipad, which is easier than the phone, but not as easy as the computer.....

I've found a few more personal stash boxes that got mixed in with the shop stuff, and a couple of random bolts of backing....and I know that I said that I would start May 1st, but as I am really tired of unboxing, and putting away, and all of the stuff associated with moving, I am going to start a few days early, and give myself a break this afternoon and evening and do some sewing, because I haven't touched my machine in two full weeks, with the exception of a 10 minute demo that I did at Cozy Quilt Shop this weekend, and to be honest that 18" seam really didn't count in my book....

So, here is the status of the room....

And this is going to be my first project. Nothing fancy. Just a quick and dirty strippy racer destined for my cousin in Ventura who wants a king....her bedroom has been blue and yellow for as long as I can remember....so I thought that these jelly rolls for Sunshine by April Cornell for Moda would be a great option. I am fairly certain that she doesn't read this blog, so I feel no guilt in announcing this to the world....besides! how can you be my accountability partners if I don't tell you what I am working on.....

As for how old this fabric is, I have no clue, except that it was purchased here in CA from Cozy Quilt Shop during a strip club Saturday (if you look closely you can see my name written on the tag). So, up to 9 years ago. I would guess it is closer to 7, since when I first moved here strip club still had 50 strips, and jelly rolls didn't exist.....you can also tell this is early on in the world of jelly rolls, before Moda pinked their edges, so within the first 18 months of the life of a jelly roll.....

So, I am off to the sewing room, and I'll let you know how it goes...

Happy Quilting!

Catherine

Iphone Post

I am going to apologize in advance for any spelling, typos, etc. i will be blogging for the next few days from the phone, as the internet provider win't be here to set it up until next Monday, so this is as good as it gets till then.

Moving os proceeding fairly well. I managed to get all of the personal stash moved yesterday and today, and the sewing room closet is pretty full. I think i need an intervention. 

The closet :

All of the Red Robin boxes are fabric, as in personal stash fabric.....which is a bit much. There are a few PIGS in there, but mostly just yardage. It seems I need to spend some quality time sorting and cutting and making, rather than buying.

The project boxes : 50 12x12 AND 8 10x14x5. I bought these to store in process projects, but the projects have outstripped the boxes, and that's a lot of boxes. It also doesn't take into account the "active" projects. The ones that are actively being worked on - which are stored in 3 14x14x4 boxes. Or the projects that have all the blocks made, or even the center made and just need borders. So next week is devoted to getting some of these projects boxes emptied! Besides, my longarmer needs long term employment. 

So, starting Mat 1st new weekly updates on stash reduction and projects! I need someone to keep me accountable! In the meantime, i need to do some stash prep for some Quiltville projects, or send all of this to Bonnie!!!

What are you working on????

Happy Quilting!

Catherine

Celtic Wave QAL update

Well folks, it's April 14th - the day before tax day. All my accounting friends are crazy busy getting all of  the taxes finished and filed and general craziness before one of the largest single mail days in the US (though apparently that is changing, since you can do it all online now).

For us it is the end of checkpoint 4 : affectionately known as Bag #4 of the Celtic Wave QAL. This was an easy checkpoint, with just a few pieces to cut out. In fact, it had zero sewing which is good because I haven't seen my sewing machine in at least a week. Literally. I packed it away last Monday in preparation for the move, so it has been a whole week since I have even seen it, much less used it!!!

I did manage to get my pieces all cut out before I packed the sewing room, and I even managed to get a pretty special box for this guy, so that I can easily find him amidst the chaos of a move. Did I mention that moving is kinda stressful??? Seriously, I swear as soon as I pack something I need it!!!! And then can't find it. But it is almost over, the movers will be here on Wednesday to move all of the big stuff, and I have been moving some little stuff over since I have a 6 day overlap where I have access to both places. But I degrees......

Back to the QAL ...... here's my pieces all cut out, just before I packed them into their purple box. That's right, purple box.

Next up - Sewing the curves. That's right, it is time to sew all of those curves. I know this is a big piece of sewing for the next two weeks, but I know you can do it!!! Start with the little ones, that way to harder part is done, and once you start the big ones, it's all down easy street. That's my plan, anyway. I am hoping to be back in the sewing room by Friday. 

And because this week's QAL was kind of boring, some gratuitous student sewing....... This is Deborah Conklin's Glacier Star, from my class at Memory Lane. It is gorgeous!!! These pics don't really do it justice.....and it is a GIFT!!! I so wish I was her soon-to-be-married cousin!!! This quilt will be making its way to the quilter this week, and then off to England for the wedding.

And this lovely is by Mona Beck. I met Mona at a retreat in Montana. You might remember me talking about her last fall. We met in Montana, but we live in the same city....crazy small world. Anyway, she stopped by while I was teaching to show off this lovely Tropical Rainbow. And even more impressive, she quilted it herself!!!! AMAZING. Wish I had my big camera to get some detail shots, the pics from the ipad just do not do this any justice. 

And with that, I am off to finish packing. Have a great week everyone and i will see you once I have found my computer on the other side!!!

Happy Quilting!!!
Catherine

BOM 2014 Block 3 - April 2014 - Churn Dash

Well, it's that time again, for the new April block release. This month is a little different, there are blocks and blocks and more blocks to assemble, as it is time to assemble the border blocks that you cut last month....

so, without further ado, here's the block for this month : The Churn Dash

Start by cutting all of your pieces....

Cut the following :

1 - 4 1/2" square of background (for the center square)

4 - 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" pieces of background

4 - 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" pieces of dark (I used the purple and turquoise print)

2 - 4 7/8" squares of medium accent (I used the purple floral print)

2 - 4 7/8" squares of the background

Once they are all cut out, draw a line from corner to corner on the back side of the 2 - 4 7/8" squares.

Place the background 4 7/8" squares on top of the 4 7/8" purple squares.
Now, sew 1/4" on each side of the drawn line

Then cut on the drawn line, and press towards the dark. You should now have 4 - 4 1/2" squares, which are half purple and half background.

Now, let's make the bars.
Sew the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" strip together, along the 4 1/2" side, You should now have 4 - 4 1/2" squares which are half background and half dark.

Now, lay them out on your board as pictured below. 

Now, sew together in rows, pressing away from the bars (towards the triangles or center, depending upon row).

Now, sew the rows together, and press all of it nice and flat. And that is the Churn Dash!!!

And now, we are going to work on the borders that we cut last month.....as you remember, last month we cut the border blocks, now we are going to sew them.....

Here's the stuff we cut.....7 - 3 1/2" strips of background and 7 - 3 1/2" strips of accent. I reused the dark in this one, but in the original I used a navy blue semi-solid batik from Island Batiks. I wanted something to ground the quilt, so it works as an accent border.
 

Sew the 3 1/2" dark and background strips together using a quarter inch seam allowance. Open and press towards the dark.
 

Now, square up the strip, and then cut the strips into 3 1/2" segments. Cut 56 segments.

 Now, rotate one of the segments, to make a block.

Match the edges and centers, and sew all 56 into pairs. You should now have 28 - 6 1/2" 4 patch blocks.

Now, take out 20 of the 6 1/2" background blocks that you cut last month (there will be a few extras, which will be used later).  Lay them out like the picture below, and then sew them. Press towards the large background square. Make 20.

Now, flip half of the units over, and lay them out as below, and sew. Your block should now measure 12 1/2" square. Make 10, and set aside

Take the remaining 8 - 4 patch blocks and the 8 - 6 1/2" background squares, and lay them out as below. These will become your 4 corner blocks.

And now, we're finished for this month. I hope you stayed around, I know this one had a lot more sewing. Next month, we'll have a couple of blocks and we'll prep the side setting triangles.

Until next month, happy sewing!!!

Catherin

Hello, My name is crazy...

So, there is not much that is crazier than moving in the middle of all of the existing craziness. Seriously, market is just a few weeks away, I am buried in class preparation activities, my new niece is due in just a few weeks (May 7th to be exact), my Mom is having surgery, and I will be moving. Needless to say, I'm tired just thinking about all of the stuff I have to do. And the lists....I love lists, but seriously, this is the list to shame all other lists.

It's actually been really good to go through everything for the move and actually downsize. I've been planning to do that for forever, but it never makes it to the top of the list. But I am determined to not move anything that I don't actually use, and don't love. Needless to say the local Salvation Army has been getting lots of good stuff. And it is really interesting to see how your tastes change over the years, as you come to know yourself, and become more confident in your own style. Seriously, I went from 30+boxes of christmas down to 3. I kept my favorites, and got rid of the rest. I even got rid of the Christmas village, as much as I love it, there is simply not enough room to put it out, and I hate to have it in the closet tucked away and never seeing the light of day, so off it headed to a good friend who has the room and I know will enjoy it from October 31st until Epiphany.

I must say it is really kind of freeing to downsize. To have just the things that you need, and know that you are actually using everything that you own.

I did manage to get a lot of things done this weekend. I taught at Cotton and Chocolate over the weekend, and we had a sew in in the evening, and I managed to get my Forever Yours tablerunner finished and sent it off to the quilter. And that leaves me with just the final components for the Osprey's Nest this week.

We got lots of new fabrics in over the past 10 days, so I'm spending the day working on getting them on the website and getting kits made for Fire Island Hosta.

And with that, I am off to get started on the list......


Have a great weekend!!!

Catherine

Changes, changes, changes

Do you ever wonder if life will slow down? Just for a few minutes??? Just long enough to catch your breath and get started again. This has been how my life has been for almost 2 years, running on overdrive and wondering why I was always behind.....

I've made some conscious changes to slow down life, make fewer commitments, and scheduling time for the things that need to get done, like going to the gym, and RELAXING. I must admit it is weird, but it also seems to make me much more productive. Huh??? Not sure how it works, but the work hours are more focused, when I know I have commitments and scheduled end times.

So, win/win, right??? Yep!!! It's still a little bit weird to have scheduled down time on the calendar, but I think it is really essential to recharge the batteries and reset the body clocks. And the getting to the gym regularly makes a difference in how I feel, even if the size of my jeans doesn't change (although that is starting to happen as well, which is AWESOME).

But as with all things, even these things must change......A big move is in the next two weeks, and though it doesn't technically impact the business, it messes with my brain and my organization system, so it definitely impacts the business. It's exciting because I will have more space, and terrifying because packing is just, well,  terrifying. Of course, like all things it comes in the middle of the busy season, as we are finishing up spring Market patterns, and a full schedule of shows and teaching, and the end of the fiscal year for work, so just a little bit crazy. Thank goodness, I have built up some relaxation time, so I am ready for the bug push....

So, around here, things may be a little crazy, as I get everything sorted, purged (because this is the perfect time for a little purging and spring cleaning), and reassembled on the other side. I promise to be quick, and be back here as soon as I can. In the meantime, keep working on all of your projects, and we'll see you in a few weeks.....

And don't worry, the BOM will be here on the 13th, it's all scheduled out, and I am bound to be here at some point, of for no other reason that I am taking a break from organizing, or sewing. (I know, the ADD is really kicking in at the moment!).

Have fun everyone and I'll see you all soon!!!

Catherine

March Roundup

So, it's the end of March...how did that happen??? It was crazy busy, I must admit, and I got a lot done, even if it wasn't what I had intended to do....funny how that happens. March was all about the Madness around here, although not the basketball kind. I finished a bunch of hangers on projects, and published some patterns, and did lots and lots of paperwork (because it is that time of year you know)....it's been super exciting to see some of the new fabrics that are starting to pop up, and get new yardage in for the shop, and to start to see the paper renderings of the fabrics that we will see at Market. There are a couple of lines that are outside of my standard repertoire that I might break down and order.....even if they only get used by me....sad right??? But they are SO cute!!! But we can talk about that in another post, next week, today is about progress against goals and accountability for all of the things that I need to get done......

I had pretty big plans for this year, somehow they have morphed a bit, but I am generally okay with that since I was apparently both more and less efficient than I imagined....

The goals as stated at the new year are in black, amendments (changes/additions, etc) are in blue, and status is red....

Piecing
1. Captain's Wheel complete and sent to the quilter
2. Celtic Wave (Queen) - Piece Along to start in mid-February! QAL in process, Bag #3 finished, assembly started yesterday.
3. Flower's for My Wedding Ring - Got all of my fabrics picked, my backgrounds cut out, and am ready to get started with piecing.
4. Scrappy Trip (65 pairs prepped), 2 blocks finished
5. Osprey's Nest All bags finished, working on the curved piecing, about 1/3 of the way finished with the curves, should finish this up later this week, and then sew the rows together.

Quilting
1. Winter Wonderland - sent to the quilter
2. Glacier Star - this one remains on display for classes, so I have no idea when I will get it to send it to the quilter.
3. Mariner's Compass done. Quilted and bound.
4. Compass Rose - sent to the quilter
5. Meandering Star - done. Got this one back this month, and got it bound and even blogged about it !!!!
6. Captain's Wheel - at the quilter
7. Celtic Wave Queen - 
8. Flower's for My Wedding Ring
9. Scrappy Trip
10. Osprey's Nest

Pattern Writing
1. 2014 Block of the Month - starts on January 13th! - Done. started February 13th. whole year worth of patterns have been scheduled!!! Yippee!!! Have you been following along???
2. 5 new patterns for spring market - 2 totally done and published (I'll be blogging about them later this week).
3. 5 new patterns for fall market

Other projects :
1. Amazon Star finished
2. Pepperdish finished
3. Crackers finished
4. Feathered Star Queen finished
5. Project Destash

Last month I mentioned an intended big move, and that is indeed happening in April, so I suspect the next month should be fairly quiet on the quilty front, but I promise to update you on how it's going!

How are you doing on your quilty goals for the year???

Happy Quilting!!!

Catherine