Challenge Progress

 Here we are 12 days into the WIPS-B-GONE2022 challenge and I don't have a finish yet. I have been stitching everyday and keeping track of it on the cute tracker sheet that was part of the down loads.  I love filling in the cones with different colors. It makes the tracker so much fun to look at and it makes me not want to miss a day. I am going to use every little trick I can to stay on track.

Leanne at Devoted Quilter has done a really nice job of setting up this challenge. There are several down loads. One is a list of WIPS (works in progress) that you have. I didn't list all of my WIPS. Just the most pressing ones. There is also a planner that divides the challenge into quarters. A quarter is 2 weeks. I've set the goal of completing 2 projects a quarter. But I am behind. I will be lucky to finish one project this quarter.

I am close to a finish though. I have Athena's quilt off the long arm, trimmed and am working on the binding.  I have turned the binding and am about 1/4 of the way done stitching it down. I am working on this in the mornings as Kim is home and he sleeps in later than I do. The sound of the machine disturbs his sleep so my morning Zen this week will be hand stitching or cutting up scraps. But cutting up scraps doesn't lead to finishing my WIPS.  In fact, it really is creating more WIPS, since I am cutting up scraps for future projects. I feel like this will be a never ending cycle, which is all the more reason to do these challenges as they come along.

As I said I am behind. But I am hoping to catch up in the next quarter.  While I had a somewhat free day on Monday, I got 3 quilts ready to go on the machine. I have made the backs and cut the battings. while home sick today I worked on the computerized quilting designs. The quilt I had planned to put on the long arm next is being put on hold. I discovered I don't have the right color thread to quilt it with. So the Great Outdoors quilt will wait a week or two. That means I need to move a quilt up from the next quarter schedule. I decided to start with Autumn Splendor. (quilt on the far right) I will quilt it with gold and use a leaf pattern. It is one of the quilting designs I got set up and ready to go. The quilt after that will be Scrappy Joy. (on the left) The quilt design is set up for that one as well. I have chosen a swirl pattern for that one.  The thread color is still up for debate. The bobbin will be royal blue but whether I use a neutral or royal blue on the top is going to depend on how brave I feel. That and what I want to emphasize, the piecing or the quilting.

With plans in place I still stand a good chance of finishing the challenge with the goals I have set.

What tricks do you use to keep on track with your WIPS?

Do you ever join challenges? What about Facebook groups?

 

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?

Procrastination and a Looming Deadline

It's Saturday morning and I have the day set aside for quilting. In 5 days, I will be heading to Idaho to finally meet my youngest grandson. Harper was a long wished for baby. Many prayers on behalf of his parents were answered when he was born 6 months ago. Many prayers of gratitude were offered since. But we just haven't been able to get out there to see him. 

I have been planning his quilt since we found out his mom was pregnant. I have been working on it since December but I just haven't gotten it done. Partly because all my weekends have been tied up. Partly because I have been soo busy at work. Partly because my Studio was a mess. But mostly it's due to procrastination. 

Why have I been procrastinating? The top has been ready for a couple of months. The back has been done for over a week. I cut the batting 3 days ago. Why isn't it on the long arm already. 

I haven't used my long arm since the last upgrade.  I kept reading about problems people were having since the last upgrade. That made me really nervous. I did find and print out the instructions for setting up a pantograph in the new system. So I am going to use those to get my pattern ready on my Quilting laptop before loading it onto the tablet.

I also hadn't found a Pantograph that I wanted to do. Since it's a Winnie the Pooh Quilt, I was looking for something with bees.  I did find a couple that would work but nothing that sparked for me. I kept looking despite having ones that would work.  I did some google searches for digital quilting patterns and found the perfect E2E on Wildflower Quilting. What a great site with lots of cute patterns. And for those of you who are Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, They has temple stitching patterns (also other church motifs).  Any way I found the perfect E2E for this quilt.  It's simply called Honey e2e. 

 Now it's time to screw up my courage and get this quilt on the machine.  I am so looking forward to finishing and taking it to my precious little grandson.

What is keeping you from finishing a project?

Almost 3 Weeks Later

Still too busy at work, so not a whole lot of progress on anything. Work is really busy and I am getting home later than I would like. We did hire on one tech, we have a temp we are training, and my supervisor should be back on Monday.  Hopefully, I can start working 8 hour days instead of 10-12.

I did get the labels on two quilts, which equals 2 finishes posted to the Queen of UFOs group.  I got the backing made for 2 more quilts. I hope to get one quilted this weekend. I really need to get one done before I head to visit my new grandson at the beginning of August. He will be 6 months old by the time I get to meet him. I need to have his quilt done before I go.  I actually found the perfect E2E to use on it. I just have to remember how to import it into Quilt Path.

I am planning a couple of Relief Society Activities that will be English Paper piecing. I learned from a blog that PaperPeices.com will send you free samples to learn EPP. I went to the web site and requested 16 samples. They didn't even ask what for.  I found some really cute ornament patterns at PaperPieces.com. I hope to get the women on board with making them for table favors for the Branch Christmas party.

I did start stitching the blocks for my granddaughter, Izora's, quilt.  I am doing the same pattern for her that I did for her 2 older sisters, Ribbon Dance by Missouri Star.  I also used a 1930's print similar to her sisters' quilts. So all of their quilts are coordinated.  I got all of the HST's done. Now I am trimming them up before I assemble the blocks.

Perigrine found another tub of fabric a few weeks ago.  A good deal of it was scraps. So I have been sorting and trimming scraps. Which fits into my Declutter challenge group. I do find cutting fabric to be very relaxing, which gets me in the right frame of mind for work.  I am still trying to do my morning routine. Finding that bin did get me to thinking. I don't see some fabric that I remember having. I think there is another bin hiding somewhere, if not two.  I have a lot of fabric.  I really need to be sewing from my stash.

Have you looked at your stash lately? Are you sewing from it? What are you working on?

Too Busy to Sew

This past week has been a whirlwind of activities. The trip to Chicago went well, I learned a lot at the the technical forum. I also enjoyed the training at company head quarters. I learned a lot there as well. What I didn't have was much time to do anything else.

Unlike past trips, I did not get to just head up to my hotel room after the day's meetings. There were meals, happy hours and social networking taking place every night.  Plus the co-workers that live in the area were determined to keep us entertained. I maybe got 1 hour in the hotel room each night. That was mostly tied up talking on the phone with my husband.  

I was going to stitch on the plane or in the airport but on the way out I discovered I didn't have any needles in my bag. Apparently the magnet I had my needles and threader on fell out before I packed it. So the first day I just chatted with my travel partner. When I got to the hotel I tried to find a sewing kit. The gift shop didn't have any. I ended up asking at the hotel desk on the second day. They gave me a travel sewing kit. So I was able to stitch in the evenings. The flights back and airports were so crowded that I didn't dare try to sew for fear of stabbing someone.

I did managed to get one Hexie flower stitched together and start another one. Not much progress for a week. But at least I did stitch a little bit. I have been home 2 days that have been filled with trying to track down my bag, running errands and going to church. I am exhausted from my trip but I hope to at least get a couple of labels on some quilts.

Did you stich everyday?