Non-Quilting Crafting

I can't believe it has been 4 weeks already. Wow, time really does go faster the older you get. Tatianna is getting married in less than a week and moving away. Okay, it is only 2 hours away, but that is too far for my quilting buddy to go. Out of five daughters, only one, Tatianna, likes to quilt.  I think it is because she is very precise in how she does things and that is an advantage when quilting. Also she loves putting together puzzles and quilting is kinda of like putting together a fabric puzzle. Tatianna has always encouraged me in all my crafting and she pushes me in my quilting journey.  It will be hard having her not be right here.

I have done nothing when it comes to quilting or sewing in the past 4 weeks. I have been crafting though. I have been using some of my other skills to make things for the wedding.  First, it was the bridesmaids jewelry.  The bridesmaids are wearing blue dresses and red accessories.  So red jewelry. I did not have an abundance of red beads therefore I needed to buy some.  I found 3 sizes of the same bead online at Wish.com. The price was right and the delivery was faster than I expected. I already had silver bead caps, stringing materials, earring wires, and clasps. Bonus points for using from my stash. I came up with a simple pattern and made three sets over the course of a week.  I am pleased with the results.

Then I did the bride's jewelry.  These had to be white for the temple wedding. Tatianna being an old soul wanted a real cameo. I was able to find a white carved shell cameo at Fire Mountain Gems. I set it in a sterling silver bezel. I then strung white fresh water pearls inserting a crystal rondell every four pearls. I placed the cameo in the center of the necklace.  I made pearl earrings to match. They will pair nicely with the silver chain maille/veil her father made.


With the jewelry done it was onto the flowers.  We decided that the bridesmaids would have a ball of flowers that hangs from their wrists instead of bouquets. I have made corsages and boutonnieres before. I have done some arrangements but truthfully not any bouquets or flower balls.  Of course these are going to be silk flowers since I need to do them ahead of time. I bought ten red rose bush arrangements and cut them up. I took some Styrofoam balls covered them in Spanish Moss and started stabbing red roses into them.  The balls turned out a little bigger than I planned but I think they are cute. A red ribbon inserted into the ball lets them hang from the girls' wrists.

The bouquet was a little harder.  At Hobby Lobby, I found two different bouquet forms. The one would use could be combined with a frilled cone to bouquet a finished edge.  It would have been a traditional bouquet with a rounded top and a handle the went straight down.  Tatianna liked the other form. It was angled so the top of the bouquet pointed away from the bride that way. that way it was more visible. Plus she wanted all the wedding colors in her bouquet.

I chose white roses but was having a hard time finding small red and blue flowers for the accent flowers.  I knew I should have bought them before memorial day. But No! I had to wait until after the Fourth of July to buy them.  I ended up with some small red carnation looking flowers and blue hydrangea looking flowers.  I had to dismantle the hydrangea flowers to get small enough blooms. I took the white accent from the flower bushes and cut them in half to get the right size of filler flowers. I went with a simple ribbon bow. The end results speak for themselves.  Hopefully I will be able to add a couple of pictures in tiny frames on chain to finish it off.

That left corsages and boutonnieres.  I managed to get the boutonnieres done as well. They are simple roses with a little white accent and leaves.  The corsages will be more of a challenge.  I will be using the same flowers as I used in the bouquets and they aren't quite what I am used to working with.  But I will make it happen.

My granddaughter Aurora (age 4) reminded me last night that she needs flowers and jewelry because she's going to be the flower girl. Also that Emerson (her brother, age 2) needs a boutonniere and a tie. I am going to have to make Emerson a bow tie since we can't find a little tie. The ones I bought are too big.  So Five days left to get all of that done. I need a nap just thinking about it.

I am ready to get back to quilting.  In fact I recently watched the Quilt Path videos on You Tube and am anxious to practice what I learned. But I need to get through this wedding and reception first. The reception will be the following Saturday and I need to decorate a cake and cook for that. Which means I will probably watch the videos again over the next couple weeks. Because It will be that long before I get a quilt ready to go on Millie. At least I have an idea of how I can improve what I am doing.

Well I better close and get back to work on wedding stuff.  What have you been up too?

Stopping Places and Starting Points

This past week went by way too fast. I swear it was just June 24th yesterday and here it is July 1st.  While work could have been better, Home went fairly well.  I did manage to keep busy after work doing some cleaning, sewing some blocks and a very little bit of Swedish weaving. 

I manged to sew 100 more blocks so I now have 250 of them done. I have about 80 more that I can do. I am using 4 inch squares I bought online 15 years ago. When I finish up these particular squares, I will sew them into whatever size quilt I can.

This project I am doing a little differently that previous projects and it is really helping to keep me enthused.  I am sewing the blocks in groups.  Basically, I am chain piecing 50 at a time. When I have those 50 chain pieced, I am trimming the corners and pressing all 50 blocks.  Then instead of putting them aside, like I usually do, I am squaring them up.  I find this gives me a nice stopping place.  I find I like having a logical stopping place for things.

I am one of those people who has a hard time putting a book down. If I am not going to finish it in that reading I have to end on a chapter.  My husband, however, can set the book down with a paragraph left to read. That is just wrong. Finish already! There is something not right about setting a book aside when you can finish it in less than 10 minutes. If I only have 1 chapter left to read I need to go on and finish it. A logical stopping place, it turns out, is pretty essential to my frame of mind.

That being said, I had to be out of the house for several hours on Saturday. Knowing that I wanted to have a productive day, I made some plans. I had a project to do out in the rock shop, but that wasn't going to keep me busy for 4 hours so I took the Swedish weaving out with me. 

First I had to pickle the chain mail veil that my husband is making for Tatianna's wedding. It is going to be so awesome. That took all of an hour from set up to clean up. 

Then I read for a little bit. My friend introduced me to a great author, Andy Andrews.  He writes self help books that don't read like self help books.  When you get done reading them you feel pretty good about yourself and encouraged and empowered to do better. I am actually feeling brave enough to get some quilts ready to sell on Etsy.

After reading to a stopping point where I needed to ponder what I read, I settled in to do some Swedish weaving. I do enjoy Swedish weaving but it is a time consuming endeavor. I managed to get 6 lines done before having to take my son to the ER. He is fine but his ankle is messed up. He hyper flexed it on both sides and bruised some cartilage. He is going to be on crutches for the week at least.  It was time to clean up and put things away by the time we got home from the ER. But I couldn't let that Swedish weaving alone. You see the pattern is in 3 sections, each section being about 9 lines.  I only had part of a section done. Apparently I need to finish a section or it will weigh on my mind until I finish it.  Who knew? Well, apparently my husband did because when I mentioned it to him, he just nodded and said yeah that was something I did.

I also realized that I not only have to have a logical stopping point, but if the project is not finished I have to get things set-up to start again.  So the for the quilt blocks, I have to have the next group ready to go and the machine threaded and maybe a spare bobbin ready.  For the Swedish weaving I have to have the bodkin threaded with the next strand and tucked into the starting point. For reading, I have to have the place marked and it set by my bed (or in my purse, if traveling). 

I occasionally joke about being slightly OCD because I like things done a certain way and in a certain order. I have to have my studio set up in a fashion that makes sense to me.  Dishes are done in a certain order.  Projects are stored neatly in bins and stacked on a shelf. Clutter does make me crazy in my work space. But I didn't realize how much I am a creature of habits until recently. These little quirks affect my happiness so I might as well indulge them. Who needs to be stressed out over the little things.

What are some of the quirks you have when creating?

Being Productive Equals Being Enthused

So I had a truly enjoyable time in California.  The people at the California plant made me feel welcomed and of value. While I'm not sure how much of an expert I am they sure treated me like I was one.  That made for a very enjoyable work experience.  Plus I felt like we got some real work done.

There is not really a whole lot to do in Gustine and Santa Nella California. So I spent my evenings in the hotel room.  Fortunately I had planned for this and had my Swedish weaving project ready to go. I should point out that I am not really a needle work person.  It just takes too long to finish a project. But I always forget that before I start a project. Then project drags on for years.

Feathers To and Fro

Anyway I spent the evenings and early mornings (because my body didn't want to adapt to Pacific time) stitching away. In the four days, I was able to get one pattern repeat done.  Over this weekend I was able to get a 1/3 of the next repeat done. This project is going to take 7 pattern repeats to complete. It won't be done anytime soon.  But as I have a few minutes here and there I will work on it. I have it at the ready in a basket hanging on my project shelf. I am really happy with how it is looking and I love the colors.

Thursday, I got off work a little early and went to a couple of quilt shops.  I drove to Los Banos but despite my calling and asking about the hours the day before it was closed.  I then used the google machine to see where else close by I could find a shop. Google listed Cloth and Quilts in Hilmar, CA.  I headed that way. I was about a mile away when I spotted Cabin Quilts also in Hilmar.  It was a fairly small store with a lot of personality. It was very welcoming. I mentioned that I was heading to a different shop when I spotted them.  They said I needed to visit the other shop because it was bigger. They even gave me directions to it.  They told me the other shop had a lot more in the way of books and rulers as well as a bigger fabric selection. After purchasing a few fat quarter bundles and a small jelly roll. I headed over to Cloth and Quilts. When they found out I was visiting the area and looking for quilt shops, they made sure to tell me about Cabin Quilts. They stated that Cabin Quilts cater to more drop in sewing and often had kits made for people to just get going. Both stores offer long Arm services. Cloth and Quilts offers rental time of their long arms. The two stores have a very symbiotic relationship and often refer customers to the other store. They both offer different services and seem to help each other grow.  As a result their customers are the winners. I did make purchases at both stores but didn't break the bank. I was pleased to see the two stores working together.

Friday I headed home.  I didn't get in until late (11:30 pm) but the flights were uneventful and I read two books on the way home.  Saturday I was so proud of myself. I unpacked my suitcases and put everything up including my quilt store purchases. I didn't just pile things up. I also went through the mail and took care of it right away. Then I finished squaring up the blocks I made before I left. After that I sewed 50 more blocks all of which are pressed and squared up as well.

I am finding that I am more eager to work on things, even excited. I have even kept up working on the studio.  I also have had a few epiphanies but I'll save those are for another time.

Are you staying productive? What are you working on?

Different Actions Equal Better Attitudes

They say you can't expect a different outcome if you keep doing the same thing. This blog is about just that.

Well, it has been a month since I last posted. Back then I posted about the disaster that is my studio.  And quite honestly it got worse.  I have been rather busy at work with the big audit and all that entailed.  But I did manage to do a little sewing and a little cleaning.  To be truthful I did most of it this last week.

So the first week of June was the big audit. While it was only 3 days long, they were very long days for me.  Then Thursday and Friday required some catch up and consequently were just as long. But this past week was different.

When I got home from work on Monday, despite putting in a long day, instead of flopping on my bed, I changed my clothes and started working.  I cleared off my desk and put some things away, and started sewing. I got 50 - 4 inch blocks sewn.

Tuesday, I was off due to a pulmonologist appointment that was in the middle of the day. I got up at my usual time instead of sleeping in, even though I really wanted too.  This gave me the time to press and square up those 50 blocks. I even picked up some stuff and put some things away.  I realized that I needed a couple of storage bins though I am loathe to add to the growing collection. After my appointment I picked up a couple of sweater sized storage bins. I only wanted one but had to get 4. I could have gotten another large bin but I had convinced my self that I was not going to buy another bin just to fill it up with more fabric. Despite less than encouraging news from the pulmonologist, when I got home I started putting fabric that was stacked up away. This led me to start cleaning out things under the long arm. I got about half of the storage under the long arm straightened up.  I swept stuff up a little as well.

Wednesday, I was back at work. I put in a 9 hour day and was tired but instead of my usual resting up to do it all over the next day, I changed my clothes and got to work.  I swept up stuff and put some more stuff away.  It wasn't a lot but it was progress.

On Thursday I gave in and bought another big bin.  I filled it up with the fabric I had stacked up for the past year.  I emptied a few boxes and moved the presents for my brother off the long arm.  I then sewed 50 more blocks.

Friday was scheduled to be a travel day for me. But my flight wasn't until the late afternoon. I got up and got to work. I pressed the blocks and even squared up a few. But mostly I cleaned. I swept and cleaned behind the long arm, I cleaned the window sills and I even cleaned the air conditioner. I wet swiffered the floor and put some more stuff away. I emptied boxes and filled the other 3 sweater size bins. I am far from being done but I sure am happy with myself for what I did get done.

Today finds me in Bakersfield,California. I got in late Friday night and I am spending the weekend with my husband before heading up to Gustine, California. This next week I will be working at the company's California plant. So I won't be able to do anything in the studio. But I did prepare some monk's cloth and plan to so some Swedish weaving in the evenings after work. You see I have 6 pieces of monk's cloth that I had for the past 12 years. I wanted to do swedish weaving but never got around to prepping the cloth. I went ahead and got all the pieces, serged and washed. So I when I want to, I can just pull it out and start working on it.  I am hoping that next weekend I will be back on track with getting the studio together and quilting. In the mean time, I am being productive in my down time.

I am much happier and I am really enjoying the progress I am making in my studio.  I know I am far from being where I need to be but lots of things have happened by me just putting in a few minutes after work. One, I found my Quilt path thumb drive so I can start reading about how to really use the computer system on the long arm. Two, I got a good look at all of the fat quarters I have. I really need to get to work using them. Three, I found some patterns that I could use some of those fat quarters for.  I am actually thinking about getting some things made and put up for sale on Etsy.  I am once again inspired. I am feeling optimistic. I still feel like I am drowning in my possessions, but I feel like there is a way to the surface again. Once again I feel like I can get things done.  Am I still tired? Yes! Yes I am. But I feel like I am accomplishing something and that is everything.

Different Actions - I didn't flop on my bed. I did something besides watch TV. I kept moving.
Better Attitudes - I am not as grumpy. I have more patience. I feel like creating. I am encouraged.

How is your struggle going?

Disaster Studio Equals No Progress

Here it is two weeks later and I am just sitting down to blog again.  In all fairness, I put in 110 hours at work over the past two weeks, so it is understandable that I haven't done much of anything.  But another reason I haven't done anything is the shape of my studio.

View of the whole studio from the north end.

Right now My studio is less of a studio and more of a dumping ground. Things are piled everywhere.  Every flat surface is covered.  The picture to the right doesn't accurately convey the true disaster it is.  Unlike most people, whose studios are in a back room or some other out of the way space, my studio is what would otherwise be called the Living room. It is one of the main rooms of my house.
And since the house has a fairly open concept floor plan, this is highly visible.

Main work surface

This second picture is of my main work surface. My sewing desk. You can see the sewing machine and serger pushed back against the wall. The main work area is covered with papers mail, and various items that my granddaughter wanted me to work on.  Not to mention quilt fabric and squares that I was starting to work on. In the lower left corner you can see more piles that of accumulated stuff.

My very expensive Long Arm

Take a look at Millie. She is covered with fabric, practice pieces, and Christmas gifts for my brother who didn't make down for the holidays. The ironing board is leaned against her.  This is not the way to treat a $30,000.00 piece of equipment. You can even see that Millie herself is pushed all the way down to the end. It is just a fluke that there is not a cat perched atop her. 

Below Millie's table

The space beneath her is even worse.  I have fat quarter storage bags, bins of fabric and thread and boxes of stuff piled up all over. There are 3 spare sewing machines in cases. There is a box of my husband's papers and who knows what else that I don't know what to do with. The plastic set of drawers have nothing to do with sewing and everything to do with papers, etc. from over the years.  It needs gone through and emptied. Of course that falls to me and well I don't want to mess with it.  You can't see it but back in one corner I have the box for Millie.  I was told to keep it but everywhere I have put it so far (closets, etc) has been needed for something else.  So it's taking up room in the studio.

Tatianna's sewing surface

Oh and let's not forget this pile at the end of the room.  Some where underneath that pile is Tatianna's sewing machine.  I wish I could say that it was all her stuff piled up there, but it's not. Oh some of it is hers but I have a habit of dumping stuff there until I am finished with it. Of course finishing with it means putting it up, Right? Not so much for me.  I really need to get this dug out so Tatianna can pack it up her stuff to take with her when she gets married in 2 1/2 months.  I may be losing a daughter but I am gaining some space. 

Is it any wonder that I have not felt like quilting. How could I even begin to get inspired when the very space I create in makes me depressed.  I really need to get a handle on this. I need to find a system that will work for me. I know some of it is going to be weeding out what I don't use or need.  That will take some help from someone stronger willed than I.  Too bad Arianna is too far away.  Plus it isn't going to be just a weekend thing. This is going to take months.

So for now the plan is to take one area at a time and clear it up. Starting with my work surface.  I actually have space there now to start sewing again. A little cleaning, then a little sewing. If I do it a little bit each night before too long I will not feel like I am being buried alive.

That's my goal for now.  What are your set back? How are you over coming them?

Lost/Wasted Five Months

Here it is May 5th 2019 already.  I don't know where the time has gone to. I do know it has not been well spent by me. This will only be my 3rd blog in all of 2019. The reason being that I haven't done anything in the way of quilting or even sewing.  If I am not creating something then I have nothing to write about. So what has happened?

It all started back in January.  I went back to work after a glorious 3 week vacation. While on vacation I didn't use my inhaler once.  Half way through my first shift back, I started wheezing and had to use it.  Basically for the next two and half months I was in an asthma flare.  Which meant I had no energy for anything. I went to work then came home and collapsed.  No sewing, studying, nothing.  I'd watch TV and hole up in my room.  Or I would read romance novels.  The thing with reading is I am a compulsive reader.  As in I have trouble stopping especially if it is a series that lets me escape reality. After the Flare had ended, the studio was a mess and didn't have the energy to get it cleaned up.  I think looking back I have been rather depressed as well. That may have been why I was escaping into the books.

Now I am trying to decide what it is I really want. Okay I know what I want, I want a self cleaning house. I want to be able to stay home and still bring in a paycheck. I want to be able spend the money and time I need to learn how to be a better quilter and seamstress.  I want to go back to school and get a degree in family and consumer sciences.  I want to be able to drop what I am doing and fly off to see my children and grand children. I want to do the Bali Batiks excursion.  I want to have enough money to spend on stuff when I travel.  I want to lose weight without making the effort.

Most of these are fantasies. Or far flung wishes.  I have a foot in dreamland and another in reality.  Sometimes being an adult in the real world sucks.  Thomas S Monson, a late president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, once said that "Work will win when wishy-washy wishing won't"  I don't want to put in the hard work. I want it to come easily. But I know better and it is time to get off my behind and do better.

Starting with What I really want that is realistic. 

I could go back to school but I don't have anyway to pay for it and going into debt for it is not practical at age 56.  So that isn't going to happen at least not at this time.

The self cleaning house will never happen.  It is time for the buck to stop here.  Which means I can't expect my children to work full time and clean up after themselves and still wait on me hand and foot. I need to be picking up after myself and helping with the cooking and cleaning and the animals.  This will mean adjusting my schedule and habits.  It will take some time and some sacrifice.

Spending the money and time to be a better quilter and seamstress.  Money is not ever going to be plentiful.  I will have to learn this stuff on my own. Starting with studying the Quilt Path manual.  Plus there are lots of tutorials on line. I can learn to do it. One thing I am sure of I can learn to do about anything.

Staying home and bringing in a paycheck is not going to happen.  At least not in a way I am willing to go. Which is disability and/or workman's comp.  This past month we had a man at work lose a hand on the job.  His life has been forever altered. He can no longer function in the career he has worked in most of his life. I am thankful that I am basically healthy and have a job that I like.

Flying off to see my children at a moments notice isn't practical but with the amount of traveling my husband does for work, I have been able to do a little bit of visiting.  That will just have to be enough.

The Bali Batik's excursion will require careful saving. I don't mean saving just for the cost of the excursion itself, but also for spending money along the way.  The trip may no longer be available by the time I have it but that is the only way I can do it.  I need to get out of debt before I retire so that means saving and cost cutting.

So what does that mean for Quilting?

1. Put in the time - I need to start putting in the time to improve my skills. reading practicing, learning.
2. Curtail impulse spending - Instead of building the stash I need to use what I have. Not the least of which is use the kits I've bought. Buying supplies for projects should come after checking out what I have that I can use. Elephants two for a Quarter is only a bargain if you have a quarter and need the elephants
3. Cut out the useless -  that means make better use of my time. Watch less TV and read better books, etc. It also means getting rid of the things I don't use and that don't bring me joy.  I sometimes feel as if I am drowning in my possessions.
4. Clean up after myself - a clean house will help keep my mind at ease to create. I won't feel guilty about sewing when company may show up.
5. De-clutter the house - by cleaning up and inventorying what I have I can better save money and not have things going to waste. 

None of these is going to be accomplished overnight.  It is going to be a long habit breaking and habit forming process but I am going to work on it.

Next Week: The Disaster that is my studio.

2018 Goals Summary

Here it is the 3rd of February 2019 and I am just wrapping up some of my goals for 2018. I took 13 months on some of these. But that is okay, because late is better than never. Let's review the goals.

1. Three quilts for family - can be started, especially finish UFO (UnFinished Objects) or NSY (Not Started Yet)
2. Complete three UFO or NSY - can be used for #1
3. Work on something 20-30 minutes each day. Can be sewing, Cutting, Prepping, Quilting or Studying -  a hold over from last year
4. Use what I have and only buy fabric to finish a project.
5. Document Quilts I have made, this is a hold over from last year.
6. Read The Technical part of the Thread Waggle quilt blog.
7. Try Paper piecing - use the cake mixes you have.
8. Do an easy project now and then. Life isn't all about learning.
9. Clean up after each project. it is easy to let things sit and then I don't get going on the next project.

That was a pretty big chunk to work on and I didn't accomplish all of them or even most of them.  The thing with setting goals, they have to be fluid and sometimes while the goal is a good idea it isn't practical for the stage of life you are currently in.

So How did I do:

1.  Three quilts for Family - DONE!!! Actually I did 4 but 3 of them were bigger quilts than I had been doing.
2. Complete three UFO's or NSY - Mostly accomplished Completed two UFO's. The third  just needs binding stitched on the back side and a label.  Started three quilts and completed two of them. The third needs borders and quilting.
3. Work on Something 20-30 minutes everyday.  I have to say only partially accomplished this.  I did really well for the first quarter of the year. then was very hit and miss (mostly miss) the rest of the year. Still it is something I need to work on.
4. Use what I have and only buy fabric to finish a project.  About half way accomplished.  With the exception of one layer cake,  the fabric I bought was for projects and did not just add to my stash. I spent way less on fabric this year. I need to try and do that again in 2019. Starting now of course, because In January I hit an awesome sale on batiks. $5.00 a yard and well I couldn't pass that up. I do know what I am using some of them for though so it wasn't all stash building.
5. Document Quilts I have made.  I finished that this afternoon.  At least as much as I could for the quilts from the past 9 years.  I do know there is a table runner and a baby quilt that I made but I didn't photograph before I gave them away. That was more than 5 years ago so I am unlikely to get a picture now. But I believe I have all of the others documented.
6. Read the Technical part of the Thread Waggle quilt blog.  Not even close. This goal, it  turns out, was not really a practical goal for me at this time. I ended up dropping it. 
7. Try Paper Piecing. I didn't get around to that. I will keep it for this next year. That layer cake I mentioned in number 4 is probably slated for a cake mix quilt.
8. Do an easy project. The third quilt I started is an easy project.  The next one I plan to start will also be and easy project. Then I will jump into a more complicated quilt.
9. Clean up after each project. I did pretty good with this one and will keep working on it. I also think I need to do better about organizing and putting supplies up instead of letting them pile up.

I also looked at how often I blogged this past year.  I posted 40 out of 52 weeks.  Which is about 76.9% of the time.  This year is off to a bad start since I missed 5 weeks already but I am going to try and do better.  I am starting to look forward to projects again.  I don't know why I got so discouraged but I did. Then I was traveling, then trying to catch up at work and now trying to catch up at home.

So I haven't really settled on goals for 2019 yet.  That will be topic of my next blog.  

What are you working on? What new challenge are you taking on?  I could use some ideas.