Blog Hopping and A Challenge

 I follow Geeky Bobbin's blog. The main reason I follow her is because she hosts a blog hop in November called UFOvember.  It's a month long blog hop from 30 different bloggers about managing UFO's. I found it a week into the hop two years ago.  Last year, I found it 3 days into the hop.  So I decided to follow Geeky Bobbin so I can be in on it from the beginning this year.  I am glad I did because I enjoy her blog. She is so very down to earth in her writing. You feel like you are connecting to her. 

Any way last week's blog from Geeky Bobbin started off a "Back to School" blog hop. This blog hop is only 2 weeks long and focuses on tips for improving you skills, tips on sourcing supplies (from school supplies), small projects, etc.  It was a pleasant diversion from playing games on my lunch hour.  I have learned some things and was reminded of somethings.  But mostly I have enjoyed reading some different blogs. I don't have time to follow and read all the different blogs out there.  But blog hops give me an idea of which blogs will meet my needs. Plus it starts to feel like I am part of a quilting community.

On The Devoted Quilter's blog, Leanne mentions an upcoming challenge she's sponsoring.  It's called WIPS-B-Gone 2022.The challenge runs October 1st to November 31st.  The goal is to see how many Works in Progress we can complete in 61 days.  We're supposed to sew everyday. She included a tracking sheet for us to mark off each day we sew.  Can't get things done if we aren't sewing, right? We're suppose to post progress on Instagram. That is going to be where I am lacking. Social media is not my strong suit. Heck, it's not even my weak suit.  

I'm not going to list all of my UFOs/WIPS. I decided to just list those that are close to completion or are currently being worked on.  Like many quilters I have many projects in the works. Too many to count right now. But I have few that are close to completion. I have 6 tops that are ready to go on the machine. There are 2 tops that just need borders. Then the one top that I am piecing.  Those will be my focus. If I get all of them done (and that's a big if) I will move Emerson's quilt from the planning stage into the piecing stage.  He's getting pretty anxious about it.

On October 1st, I am hoping to get Athena's quilt quilted and then I can work on binding it that week.  The idea is to try and get the quilts on the machine and quilted on the weekends and bound during the work week.  We'll see how well I can stay on task.

This is not the only "UFO" group I am in.  I am in a Facebook group called the Queen of the UFO's. I have only had 1 finish this quarter so I need to get moving on these UFO's.  Also, I'd really like to go into UFOvember with fewer UFOs than last year.  I hoping this challenge will help me with both of those.

How do you motivate yourself to finish projects?

English Paper Piecing

 I am in charge of the activities for our Women's group at Church. (I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Our women's organization is called Relief Society.) The problem arises that I don't know what to plan for these women.  Most of these women are older and really just want to get together and socialize. So I decided a few months ago that I would plan activities that we could do while sitting and talking.  That means coming up with things that we can socialize while doing.

One month, we worked on our Branch (think congregation) scrapbook.  There were 6 of us and we all had a good time even though none of us are scrap bookers. One month, we tied a quilt. There were only 3 of us but we got to know each other a little better.  The whole point is to get together and do something.

This month I decided to introduce the women to English Paper Piecing (EPP).  I had been listening to an old "Just Wanna Quilt" podcast. The guest was the CEO of Paper Pieces.  During the podcast I learned that the company would send out a free kit to people who wanted to try EPP.  So I decided to look up the company website and see if they still gave out the kits. They do!

So I planned out how I was going to ask for 16 kits. I figured I would explain that it was for the woman's group at my church. I figured I might have to give them the address or maybe my Branch President's name. Just so they could verify that I wasn't getting them all for myself. 

I went on the website and did a search for "sample pack".  Up pops the page to order it on.  I put in 16 for the number of kits. (I wanted be sure to there would be enough kits) Clicked add to cart and that was it.  I could just check out. They didn't want any explanation on why I needed 16 kits. I did have to pay shipping and handling but it was only $5.50 and well I got 16 kits for free.

The sample pack comes with instructions, 7-1 inch hexagon papers and 7 squares of fabric. Basically all you need to make one hexagon flower.  Just add needle and thread.  

I took the sample packs to church yesterday and introduced the women to English Paper Piecing. I explained that I started doing EPP as a quilting project that I could take with me. I also told them at first I wasn't interested in even doing EPP because it seemed fiddly to me. I told them that I was not a hand work person because it takes too long and I like to see progress. I then showed them the project I have been working on. I joked that it was going to be my millennial project because it would take me a millennia to finish it. But I have discovered that I really like EPP.

At first they were hesitant.  It looked complicated to them. One sister then commented that I was an excellent teacher. So with some trepidation, they all dove in. We talked, we asked questions, we ate and I think, we all had a good time. Some left with their flowers finished. Some left planning to finish at home. A couple took an extra kit with them.  I call the activity a success.

I have truly become a fan of EPP and will probably order some more paper pieces in the future.  I definitely plan to browse the website some more.  I'm thinking I would like to do an apple core quilt. Who knows what will strike my fancy.

What quilting technique have you put off trying because you thought it too complicated or fiddley? What technique did you discover you liked when you weren't expecting too?

Deadline Met

 Here it is September already. I don't have a clue where the month of August went. The old saying that time speeds up as you get older seems to be very true right now.  I suppose when I get old (older?) and retire, I will feel like time drags on. But right now there is so much going on and so much to do that I just can't seem to fit it all in.

I did get Harper's baby quilt completed and delivered at the beginning of August.  He is such a happy little guy and so even tempered. (I may be a little biased but only a little.) I was so very happy with the end result of the quilt. I think Harper likes it. I'm pretty sure that his Mom and Dad like it.  Plus there was a sweet serendipitous connection to his older sister.  Alice, who is 12, had a Winnie the Pooh blanket that she was brought home from the hospital in.  I could not have known that. That little fact made my choices with the quilt all the more special to me. 

I learned a lot with this quilt. One, it was the first time I did any fussy cutting. This fabric needed to be fussy cut. I love the simple primary color frames that I chose. No, I did not have a pattern for this, I just picked the fabric and let it determine the design. It is simple but effective. I did try to plan a more complicated pattern but it wouldn't come together in my mind. So in the end I kept it simple and I am really glad I did.

Two, it was the first quilt since the new upgrade on Quilt Path. I struggled a bit with it at first.  I think I may need to upgrade my Surface tablet.  But I figured out how to quilt in zones. That means I don't have to try and quilt a quilt all at once. I also figured out placement marking so I can make minor adjustments as I quilt. And I am getting good at importing patterns as well. 

Three, the binding is the best I have ever done. The black just frames it perfectly.  I am learning that I like a little bit wider binding. And if I trim the quilt a little bit bigger, I get a full binding I am especially proud of the neat miters at the corner. I figured out that by cutting out the batting and backing at corners, I can get that nice, neat miter on both sides.

The only thing I wish I had done differently is the thread choice. Originally, I was going to stitch it in black. But I wimped out and used yellow.  The stitching design doesn't stand out as well as I would have liked. Maybe as I get better at the quilting part, I will get more bold with thread colors.

Now to put his cousin's quilt on the long arm. Same pattern, same fabric, but backed in the red fabric. I just may stitch it in red. Depending on how brave I feel at the time. 

What have you learned lately?  Did you finish something this month? What do you wish you were brave enough to do differently?