Three Easy Steps

 How to TOTALLY Screw Up a Perfect Productive Streak.

 

 

.......It was a dark and stormy night....TWISTER!

Yes, I did know I moved to Tornado Alley, but this night there were 500 active tornado watches along six states...AND one flew right over MY house!!

Thankfully not much damage to our small town, but that string of storms ushered in a massive rain fall, dropping 15" of ran in about 36 hours...which resulted in local flooding.

Through it all my little house was protected, but it was a major disruption to the area.  Ok, One Down. 

...... Followed by an allergic reaction to a Medication.

Have you EVER had a really bad case of HIVES?!  It is not just a little rash, let me tell you!  Picture, if you will, thousands of  mosquito bites all (and I do mean ALL) over your body!  They blossom from swollen, itchy bites to massive red and purple, itchy splotches...all on FIRE 🔥.  And that isn't even the half of it....many other very unpleasant symptoms come along for the ride.  ... the mental fog persists even today.

Another week bites the dust.

 

They say things come in THREES. 
At least this third event was a pleasant one.

 

 

.... the Trilogy Ended with Quilt Week. Whew, relief!!

I was able to spend three wonderful days taking classes and drooling over spectacular creations.  Not to mention stimulating the quilting economy just a bit.

 

 

 

The three classes I took were all wonderful and fun (mostly). 
The instructors were excellent, passing along so much information...
I learned a lot.  I won't lie, I am a little jealous of their creative abilities.  (More about these later.)

 

 

Best of Show.  A February's Dream of Spring

The winner of Best of Show receives $20,000.  The quilt does become the property of The National Quilt Museum.
(I mention that because some winners have chosen to pass up Best of Show to maintain ownership of their creation.)
$20,000 sounds like a lot of money, but it probably took her many hundreds of hours to complete this quilt....She surely earned every penny.  Get all the details and close-up pictures HERE 

This is my personal favorite: Horse with No Name.  Thread Painting throughout.

HERE is a link to the complete list of all the Award Winners.   In total, AQS paid out $250,000 in prize money.

The week was an inspiration:  After the last Show day I came home and spent some time in the "studio" organizing and cleaning up and letting the quilting vibes rejuvenate my spirit.

Finally:  A Blast from the Past:

Quilt Week with all the Sisters (and our "driver")

 

This popped up on my FaceBook page yesterday. 
While the picture surely brightened my day, I was also a little sad as mom and Auntie are both gone now.

Next time:  Quilts and Classes.  

Now, Lord Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise (again), let's see if I can get back on my Productive Track,

April is Brought to You By...

 

The APQ  UFO Number is 2 and the
River's Edge UFO Letter is "H"
and the NEW River's Edge Quarterly Project is W3.

APQ's:  April number is 2.

The memorial wall hanging I made for my Quilting Auntie Nyla using Row-by-Row license plates.  This is not TOO old....only a couple of years.  And, NOT the first time shown here.  

 

When originally posted as a UFO in 2023 the purpose was to learn to use the Flynn system for quilting. 
Let's see if I can kill two birds with one stone.

River's Edge:  April's Letter is "H" 

 "H" is two items:

 

A paper pieced cup....this was started WAY back .... WAY, WAY back...at least 15 years ago???  It was a class at Greenbaum's Quilted Forest in Salem,  OR.  (The store closed  in 2016. It was such a great store.) My introduction to paper piecing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, the second item....the TP wall hanging.  I bought this pattern just before the "Lock Down."  Remember when everyone went nuts and filled their spare rooms, attics and basements with TP?  That was crazy, but the pattern is still too cute not to sew up.  

Looking at this pattern brought back fun memories of the Needlers and creating a Care Package for Miss Wanda.  HERE

 I sure miss those ladies....

 

 

 

The River's Edge Quarterly Project was to make covers for my large kitchen appliances....well, NO...just NO.  This is not the kind of sewing that "sparks joy".... so into the donation basket it all goes....thank you, Marie Kondo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of non-joy-producing sewing, I'm going to make a quilt for my great nephew, Sterling.  That will bring us BOTH joy... he's a pretty happy guy most of the time, already.

There is a reason this is a UFO, even though it has not even been started...Truth be told, I've had this pattern for "a while", a LONG while.  And I'm going to see this little guy in June, so perfect timing.

 

 

 

There you have it...the plan for the month....I've made my list...
Lots of FINISHES.  I feel motivated, and I ain't foolin.

May The Fourth be with you...

 

It would appear joining two UFO groups is paying off this year...
it also helps that I'm semi-retired now, so I have more FREE time.

March Finishes:   APQ, Quilts needing labels.

 River's Edge  March's Letter was"A"

You're Invited 

Surprise, surprise...it turned out pretty cute.  I won't lie, what looked like an easy, slam-dunk design turned out to be a bit challenging.  Jack and I spent a fair amount of quality time together.  I still see things I'd change if I had the "want to", but.... now it's off to the  LAQ*.

 

River's Edge: quarterly project 

While I have been working on the Memory Bears as my quarterly project....the quarterly project due this quarter was the stack of Row-by-Row kits and patterns accumulated over the years.  The goal, weed the stack and finish two. 

Remember when Row-by-Row was all the rage?  My Quilting Auntie and I would shop hop and pick up patterns and kits like we were really going to sew these up!  😂

Row-by-Row from 2017.  Picked up from Sew EZ Two** in Spokane, WA.

 

 

Adding to my studio Small-Quilt Wall(s).  I hung it above my design wall so I could see it every time I entered the room.

 

 

 

 "Adventure A-Waits"

Picked up from Mel's Sewing and Fabric in Southern Calif. in 2017.

I've gone through the weeding process with these patterns and kits a few times now and it's down to three kits to make up.... the first entry on the UFO list for 2026. 

 

Machine Review Corner:  Baby Doll

For an inexpensive machine, she was OK.  Not as smooth as a more expensive machine...but OK.  It would be a good travel machine or a good "first" machine.

 

That wraps up a busy month....so satisfying!

 

 

* LAQ = Long Arm Quilter
** Sadly this shop is permanently closed.
And that's a pity, it was a great shop. Aunt Nyla and I spent a lot of time (and money) in this shop.

Let the Fun Begin!!

Zooming off to exotic places!

I LOVE Road Trips! 

Cruisin' down the interstate, watching the beautiful
landscape zip by (especially NEW landscape),
singing along to my favorite tunes, playing air ukulele....
don't forget a good book-on-tape!!

While not happening often, but when it does I embrace the experience. 
I like to make lists, create maps and plan my starting points and stopping points.
Is there anything worth seeing along the way????

Side Story:  Once-upon-a-time the kids and I took a road trip from Portland to Smith River...about 5 hours. 
It took us 12 hours because we stopped at every interesting rock in the road.  It was totally fun!

Here are some memorable Road Trips:

January 14, 2018--Yuma, AZ to help Auntie Nyla with the Desert Lily Quilters annual Quilt Show.
May 17, 2018--from Portland, OR back to So. Cal. in my new car with Miss Charlotte-the-Tall.
June 27, 2021--Traveling with My Babes. (Man, I miss that van...I could kick myself for not keeping it!)
July 7, 2021--Off to Vegas and the Quilting Niece, Dez.

And Now--my very first Road Trip through the Southern States!  (It won't be my last!*)

I've been planning this trip for weeks and have A LOT of along-the-way adventures just waiting to happen:
PEOPLE, PLACES and THINGS!!

Buckle Up!  Click Here for a Blast from the Past to leave you with a smile.**

*  I'll let you in on a little secret....I've set my retirement date....I can't reveal the date until I've informed the bosses....
So, more road trips to come!!

**Did you catch it?  Bugs playing the Uku? 😁

Small Projects Add Up to Big Finishes

Finishing up a bunch of small projects and getting ready to travel.

Small quilts for my Small Quilt Wall:..One of them Auntie Nyla's only attempt at FPP*. 
(She hated this block and threw it away...I rescued it....I love it!!)

 

Quilt it.

Bind it.

Hang it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty Little City:  Embracing my new "home state." This is a Muppin's Sewing Emporium exclusive. 
Cheryl created this pattern for out-of-town visitors to her shop. (The Heart button is Paducah.)

The Small Quilt Wall is nearly Full!

The Pincushion Doll also by Muppin's Sewing Emporium.  I shall call her "Polly" (for Polly Pincushion.)

Hummmmm....my first attempt was NOT a success!
The dress-base is too small.  There are fabric cutting calculations in the pattern based on the size of the doll body, but somehow they didn't translate from
paper to product.  

 

 

Can you say "Date with Jack"?

 

 

 Sew Much Better!

 

 

I'm sure someday I'll make her another frock and then I'll have a better idea of how it all goes together (I wrote it in the pattern.)

I think she looks cheery, though, don't you?
Makes me want to do-si-do.
I imagine her wearing cowgirl boots,
muddy cowgirl boots, under her costume.

When you purchase patterns, fabric and notions from your local shop you have a resource available for help get you out of a conundrum. 
Thank you, Cheryl Sleboda for setting me on the right track. 
Buy local when possible!

Crayon Pouch for the coloring Catalina:  A video popped up on my FaceBook.  It looked cute (and easy) so I followed the link...they wanted $22 for the pattern!!!  I'm sorry...that is too much money for a downloadable pattern....so, I made the little zipper pouch without a pattern!  So There! 

 

Well...not so fast....I'll admit there were more than a few "gosh darn" moments assembling this thing, especially the zipper. 
And it didn't turn out in real life quite like I'd imagined. Hind-sight being what it is...I should have purchased the
pattern--should-a, would-a, could-a.  If you're interested in watching the video and purchasing the pattern, HERE is the link. 

And can I just have a short hissy fit about zipper feet?  

The feet that came with my Janome are not worth a plug nickel! 
I have all these (on the left): I tried the two top feet....they just wouldn't hold the fabric...
I broke two needles trying.

 

 I finally retrieved the foot from one of my older machines (on the right)....PERFECT!!!
Sometimes the tried-and-true are the best choice, just sayin...

Ok, I'm done. Leave me a comment if you want me to send you the Janome feet.

 

 

Rounding out all the small projects for March,
Hat-on a-Cat** for April: 

And now it's time to jump in the car and drive to exciting places....keep watching.

 

*FPP=Foundation Paper Piecing.
**Hat on a Cat is from Missouri Star Quilt Company.

 

Every Garden Needs Weeding

 

 

Weeding out the Unwelcome, the Unwanted, etc...
The Push to the Finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 15: UFOs and all things started but never finished. Karen "counts" a UFO differently than I do...it's a UFO if "fabric has been cut."   If it's a project that has a pattern and fabric but the fabric is NOT cut...it's a "Kit."  Kits are tomorrow. 
Because I just did this, end of 2023...HERE  it's a FREE day for me!

Day 16: Kits:  Different from UFOs in that no fabric has met a rotary blade yet.  Therefore there is no commitment for that fabric.  This is decision time...keep the "kit plan" or return the fabric to the stash and consider it no more.  Yes, I do have a few of those (remember Spooky and Witchy HERE and Barbie  HERE?) 

But again, I've thought through this process (see note above) I'm calling it "good."  YIPPEE!  Another FREE day!

Day 17: Conquering Mount Scrapmore*.  The first "rule" my Quilting Auntie Nyla gave me when I started quilting was
"don't throw anything away (referring to scraps) no matter how small !  Someday you may need it." 
I'm nothing if not obedient, so for years I heeded that rule. Truth be told, (whispering) sometimes I do throw scraps away.

All My Scraps

Truly, I don't think my Mount Scrapmore is all that mountainous...more like a Butte than a Mountain. 
Still the two bins on the floor have not been opened in a few years.  Maybe time to scrap some scraps?  

I feel a Leaders-and-Enders** project coming on....or some crumb quilting? *** 

 

 A little while later....  I did it!  I went through the scraps; did some combining and set aside two plastic shoe boxes-full for the "Pass 'em on" pile.

Reduced Mount Scrapmore to a hill.

The two "Micky" tubs are 2.5" strip scraps.  I've been meaning to make a Jelly Roll Race quilt.  HERE 
I'll give it one more year, then it's "Bye Bye Birdie."

 

 

 

Day 18: Another easy day for me!  Batting and batting scraps. 
I don't keep much in the way of batting and certainly minimal scraps.

This is it!

 

Day 19:  What I thought would be a super easy day for me because of my low inventory, may not be the case....Today is Yardage and Backing day. B-I-G pieces of fabric.  

 

I did not think I had any "yardage"...certainly no "bolts" of fabric, nor do I have any large backing pieces.  But I do have some "large-ish" pieces. 

Now, what to do with these pieces? 

Took several ideas posted on the De-Clutter FB page HERE, and came up with:

 

Using Dollar Tree cutting sheets from the kitchen section, hexie EPP papers and big safety pins, I labeled each piece with the amount, IF it was at least 2 yards.  Otherwise the piece stayed with the fabrics.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 20 and 21:  Dealing with the rest of the fabric...I do not have a "stash", per se...I have "left overs."

I have bits and pieces and small portions. Time to reorganize (mostly by color) and then thin the flock.

Bonus Day:  Do-dads.  This probably should have been included with Day 13, Notions.  But, better late than never.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have all these "cups" sitting around the studio, (sewing area, cutting table, ironing board, etc.) holding
various tools.  

Let's sort and organize and see what we have.
(I found more scissors...)

 

 

 

 The "Pass 'em along" pile is beginning to look like a landfill.  I think that's a good thing...???

 

WHEW!!  As they say in the movies, that's a Wrap for the De-Clutter Challenge 2024! 

Thank you, Karen Brown, for making me think through what I need and what I do not need.   
I'll admit I found this de-cluttering fun and energizing.  Every morning, even before I got out of bed,  I'd reach for the iPad and see what was on the menu that day!  I'll most definitely be participating in 2025.

Now for the garage!  (I'll wait for it to warm up a bit.)

*     Mount Scrapmore - Karen Brown's label for all the mounds of fabric scraps you feel compelled to keep.
**   Bonnie Hunter and Addicted to Scraps; Leaders and Enders
*** Jenny Doan has a YouTube video on Crumb Quilting HERE.
**** You can still do the De-Clutter challenge.  Karen Brown's videos will be available until November, 2024  HERE

Weeding out the Unwelcome, the Unwanted and the No Longer Necessary--Continued

 

 

 

 

Feeling pretty smug when I started this challenge with Karen Brown, I honestly didn't think I had that much stuff hanging out in the studio just taking up space. 
I try not to collect.  But every day I'm finding things that are "Unwelcome, Unwanted and No Longer Necessary."

 

 

 

 

Day 12: Sewing Machines and Irons.  

Irons were easy...I have ONE...Oh wait...And a travel iron, and a steamer, and a couple
Auntie Nyla gave me (eye roll.)

Sewing Machines:  I have a few.  I would almost rather part with a limb then one of my babies.

 

They each have a story, which I've featured in past posts in this blog...you can search for them. 
Not pictured is one that has not come home yet...a treadle being re-homed to me by a friend. 
I just couldn't let her take it to the thrift store....  And, that's it...no more!

Day 13: Notions.  Here is were I was REALLY feeling pretty proud* of myself...
I don't keep bits of stuff.  I toss or pass on what I no longer need or use...or do I?

Opening every cupboard, every drawer and poking my head into the closet, here is what I found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lot of rolls of something.  Interfacing, Stitch-N-Tear?
An entire box of Steam-a-Seam...Never Opened!
I'm trying to remember why I have it in the first place ???
 

Small bins of do-dads and google eyes (?) from who-knows-when.

 

I may have mentioned that my resolution for 2024 is to get rid of at least one item every day this year.  Give away, Throw away...Day 13 will certainly put me ahead of my goal!

 

Day 14: Another free day.  I'm going to use this free time to actually sew.  What a concept! 

If you're late to the party and NOW you want to challenge yourself, watch Karen's videos on her YouTube channel
or go to her website HERE.  It's not about doing it ALL...it's about doing SOME.

*Proverbs 16:18  Pride goes before a fall.