Guild Challenge Blocks--Working Via A Committee

 

One block

Goal number seven on my August list was to work on the challenge blocks. I didn't think that I would be able to share this project because generally the project is kept under wraps until it is revealed the month after the guild quilt show. 

Such a variety in the blocks

I decided that I could share the blocks and some of the progress that we made last Sunday when five committee members gathered to make a start on assembling the blocks into a quilt.

Instruments, treble clefs and piano keys

Guild members made these blocks for the block contest last year. The theme of the contest was music and the contest was titled "As Noted." 

An arrangement of notes

Participants were to make a block that represented music. If notes and/or words were used, the notes and words should be represented in black. Background fabric should be cream. Finished size of the block could be six inches by six inches, or nine inches by nine inches or six inches by twelve inches. Any other colors could be used. No hard embellishments, machine embroidery was okay.

Chopin made an appearance

More than sixty blocks were submitted. On one block, the maker wrote, "Swift Power." So even Taylor will be part of this quilt! Quilt show attendees voted on their favorite block.

The bird in this group was the contest winner

A few blocks contained words that were lyrics. The creativity of our members is always amazing. 

Some of the words in the blocks

Of course, the challenge was figuring out a way to put all of the blocks together into a quilt! When we met to determine the challenge, there was a consensus among the committee members to turn the blocks into a quilt that had a modern feel. Going in the modern direction would challenge all of us!

After the block contest, we had an e-mail conversation about possible setting options. When the committee members ran into one another, they had conversations about the blocks. I drew four thumbnail sketches and emailed the sketches to the group. The blocks provided the inspiration for my sketches.

More notes and piano key blocks

The finished quilt will become the guild opportunity quilt for the year 2025. A committee will be showing it a various events around our community and selling tickets. The proceeds of the  ticket sales will go to a charity that the membership selected via a vote.

Stitching strips

Last Sunday was the first time that I saw the blocks in person. The blocks shared in this blog are not all of the the blocks. Even with the partial representation here, it is easy to see the variations of the blocks! We chose to group blocks into sets of four. Were the parameters of the contest followed? Nope! Cream fabric wasn't used and the blocks are a variety of sizes. We plan to make it all work. . .somehow!

We spent about four hours determining a design, drawing a huge musical motif and stitching strip sets. The musical design we drew is planned for the center of the quilt.

Terry(me) sewing strip sets

One person ironed, two people sewed and two people cut strips and strip sub sets. With that many hands working, we made great progress.

Su at the pressing station

Sharron and Linda H. cut strips. They also pressed seams and fabric for cutting. 

Checking the strip sets

At our third hour of being together, we decided that we had enough strips cut and enough strip sets made and subcut so we could "see" if our design idea was going to work.

Linda H. auditioning strip sets and noting which
blocks were selected as quartets.

Next we laid out some of the sashing to audition our idea. We liked what we saw so Terry and Linda P  stitched the rows together.

Linda P with her first quadrant of blocks

While we embraced the improv technique, it still took us time to stitch a quadrant of four blocks together. With Linda H.'s help, Terry K pieced a quadrant too! Su shared it for the camera.

Su held up a second quadrant of blocks.

Terry took home the extra music fabric since she volunteered to piece a back for this projects. We all felt like we made great progress. Fingers crossed we have a successful sew day next week too! 

You've had a sneak peak at the blocks and met the committee members.  The members all have good ideas, take on tasks without being asked and are kind to each other. It's a pleasure to be part of the "play" for this project! Let's see if we are able to construct a modern quilt out of these blocks! Likely, you won't get more peaks; but, I will share the back when I get it pieced!

Another Kitchen Towel

 Goal number 12 on my February list to make another decorative kitchen towel. I thought I'd use these two fabrics; but, I decided the red was too bold. 

Original plan

I actually stitched this project as a leader ender as I finished my Lime Sprinkle top! I went a different route with the fabric. I found a blue that could be a subtle transition from the tree fabric to the checked towel fabric.

The finished towel

For the next project, I'll try to center the tree print so that you can see the branches rather than the trunks. This would be a good gift for someone who likes blue. I have a lime green checked towel and a different tree print fabric for the next two towels. 

That is a project for next month! I'm planning to gift kitchen towels to colleagues next December. I started in January and my goal is  to make one or two a month. I was asked in a comment where I get the towel. It is a Dunroven product. I've paid four to six dollars for a towel which I cut in half. Using scraps, a little thread and time, it is an affordable project!

The eighteen inch pile of "stuff"

I also eliminated  the pile that has been on my studio floor for at least a year. This was goal number 11 on my February list. I had saved at least a dozen magazines over the years for inspiration. As I looked at the pages, I pulled patterns that I could make. In the end, I recycled all the magazines but two. Those two magazines contained projects that I "might" make!  There were six quilt books in the pile. I had pulled them off the shelf for possible patterns. There was the stack of medical bills from my September 2022 car accident. These I saved because there are still outstanding bills. While I'm not as good as I was before I was rear ended, I look forward to closing the case. 

There was an equal amount of papers regarding quilt projects, activities and trainings. I filed some and recycled the majority. The biggest find was a little project bag that I have been trying to find! I have a plan for that project! Finally, there was my art journal. There are still some blank pages. I placed ii with my other art supplies. Now there is open floor space which is great. 

It wasn't the awful experience I had anticipated. Although, I'd much rather be stitching than cleaning or organizing! Next month, I'll choose another "pile" to tackle. Little by little, I'll regain control of my sewing space!

Closet Organizing--

Overview of the studio 

Cleaning my studio has been on my list for years. I've slowly accumulated "stuff" from free table forays, from family and friends gifting me treasurers, from internet buys and from quilt shop runs. Instead of actually doing more than clearing a surface here and there, I would tell myself I could do it later. Gertie, my inner squirrel, was all for later because that meant she had more opportunities to entice me with a fun project or two, or three!

Left side of the studio--before

Each day I was in London, I would tell myself. Cleaning the studio had to move from clearing a couple surfaces to actually making the space a space instead of a dump site. I wrote a timeline--the month of July. 

Putting my plan into print, helps me make  progress toward my goal. "Clean studio" had been on my list for years; but, I added "start with the closet." Being specific about the goal helped too. 

I could feel my resolve weakening about beginning this project, so I shared my plan with my daughter. She said that it was time to clean it. I was grateful that she didn't say it was way past time to clean it either! 

Floor view right side of studio---before

A few days later, I shared my plan with my  husband. He was glad I was finally going to start on the "accumulation." Telling someone about my plan makes accomplishing it feel more achievable. I also have someone to support me when I'm stuck.

Originally, I planned to remove almost everything from the room and start over. I thought I could sort, destash and reorganize in about a month. Gertie, my inner squirrel, shook her head and told me I had way underestimated the scope of the project. My start day arrived. I took the before pictures.  

The closet---before

My husband helped clear the tubs and supplies from the closet to a couple staging areas. It is good to have a space to work from. The contents filled the guest bed and half of our room. Seeing the mass of supplies took me aback. No, I didn't use the Marie Kondo method of asking if the piece brought me joy. Instead, I had three piles: keep, maybe and rehome.

Staging area

 

I started on the fabric tubs that I had stored in the closet. I had four tubs of wool/wool blend fabrics and corduroy. I now have one tub. My not keep and maybe pile was on my bed when my two Oregon grand daughters came for a visit. 

Immediately, they wanted to know if they could have "fabric." I said yes, I gave them each an empty tub and said that they could take turns choosing. I also told them that I would be happy to help them sew the fabric when they were ready. 

After clearing the tubs with the wool fabrics, I was stuck
with what to tackle next.  I thought about my friend Marla who is an amazing organizer. Her tip was to put like things together so that was what I did. I had felt scraps, laces and trims in another room. Now my pile was getting bigger instead of smaller. I managed to downsize some of those. I even have space to add more to the tub because there are trims in parts of the studio I have yet to organize. 

Right side of closet--after

It has taken me two weeks to mostly sort and organize that small closet space. I figure it will take me not a month but more like three months to get the space back in sewing shape. Life like work happened so I have days where not much is accomplished. I started to berate myself for not getting more done. 

Left side of closet--after

Then I told myself, "baby steps are better than no steps. Keep going. Keep progressing. You will get there. At some point, you'll reveal the next steps and the process will take on some momentum." I also realized that I need to spend some time at my machine as organizing days after day has gotten old really fast! 

My goal this month was to clean and organize the closet
and cutting table in my studio. The reality is that this process will take much more time and effort than I had envisioned. I can see that I'll be working on the destash several times as I'm able to let more "go." 

Jean jacket back

If fabrics and notions weren't so expensive, I would destash more now. Gosh, writing that sentence is like hearing my grandmother's words from long ago! She was always repurposing and saving bits because there was some "use" left in it!

If I feel like I can use the item, I kept it. Six dollar a yard fabric is a bargain compared to the 13 to 16 dollar a yard quilting fabrics available now. I plan to continue to heavily shop my stash and to supplement projects with quilt store runs when needed.

Jean jacket front

It is great to have the batting together. I have a section of rolled batting on the right side of the closet and packaged batting on the left side. I know as I quilt, I will be using the packaged batting. More space to store a couple other fabric tubs will become available fairly soon! There are two sewing machines in the closet too. 

I marked one of the boxes "inspiration projects" so that Gertie has a place to play first. She loves this box and enjoys taking it down from the shelf. She says that she feels more valued.

I'm happy with my progress. I doubt, however, that I will manage to clear the cutting table this month. I'm currently working on the area in front of the closet. I've taken to heart the baby steps part of the plan. I set aside a pile to "deal with" each day. When I've sorted that pile or when I've had enough, I reward myself with some stitching. I end the day with a pat on the back for making PROGRESS!

Rain jacket

One of the items that came from the closet went to Miss K. She spied the jean jacket that I had embellished with lace and trim for her mama. Her mama found the jacket not to be her "style" when she was about thirteen so she never wore it. It is nice that 27 years later it has found a new home. Miss K has lots of room to grow in this jacket.

Of course, I can't send a jacket for one granddaughter and not the other so I took a rain jacket I had made for the same daughter out of the closet. My daughter wore this jacket a lot. In fact, she can still wear it; but, she was delighted to gift it to her daughter, Miss J. Miss J has some growing to do to fill out the sleeves; but, I don't doubt that will happen!

Now. . .what to do with that spoon collection that contains a good number of well tarnished silver teaspoons. . . have any of you suggestions?

Bullet Journaling--An August Start

Cover of my bullet journal

Keeping a calendar, detailing notes in a planner, journaling activities and making to do lists have been part of my daily task list for many years. For about 15 years, I worked four different part time jobs, picked up/dropped off the daughters to swim lessons, dance lessons and play dates. An accurate calendar was a must!

When I worked a full time job plus two part time jobs and balanced attending the swim meets and water polo matches, I was introduced to a planner system. I found many techniques in a planner helpful and it was easy to transition because I was already documenting much of my life in my calendar system. I have tried a digital planner/calendar; however, I prefer a paper system!

A key to the various marks

Dedicated journaling began four years ago when six of us got together and tackled the lessons in an Artist's Way by Julia Cameron together. I found the morning pages a great help to identify what was blocking my creativity as well as how to expand my skill sets. The time we spent together was
invaluable. I doubt that I would have gained as much insight through the process had I taken the journey on my own.

Last August, I stopped journaling. When I found that I didn't miss it, I didn't pick it up again. My blog posts, joining the 2018 Finish-A-Long, my calendar and my planner provided me the formats to continue to explore, develop and hone my various skills.

View of the index

Last April, I saw a posting on FaceBook about a sketchbook revival that was a free online workshop intended to start, maintain and grow sketchbook practice. I want to develop my drawing skills so I took it. I loved the course. I tried different techniques. Some techniques were beyond my skill level; but, I picked up little "nuggets" of information from each presenter. I didn't stick with the practice.

I follow Barbara Black who blogs at My Joyful Journey. In July, she posted her top three tips to time management and shared her journal. I found some overlap of what she does and what I was doing. Then a member of "The Quilt Show" (TQS) brought up bullet journaling and mentioned she was trying to find a better way to organize aspects of her life. She shared a link to a video at bulletjournal.com. She also shared BoHo Berry's youtube video about her setting up her bullet journal. While I enjoyed the video, I thought, too much work!

Daily log page

A few days passed; I googled BoHo Berry and found her blog. I went down the rabbit hole and researched bullet journals. I looked at several bullet journal set ups. I rewatched BoHo Berry's youtube video and I watched several more! Then, I decided to try it for four months. I had a lined small book on hand. I began my new journey at the beginning of the month and I spent nothing!

Why I took the leap is because I could see the value in having my quilting ideas in the same "container" as my to do lists.  I LOVED the index as I would lose where I wrote some of the same information in my planner. Before my planner days, my calendar was a small book. Using this system, I can go back to a less complicated calendar which will be cheaper in addition to taking up less space! The journal and the calendar will be less than I spend on the planner. Eventually, I'll doodle/sketch in the journal. The paper in this journal is too thin for paint; but, pencil and/or ink sketches will work fine. I can get out my color pencils for playtime too! This system will provide me more flexibility than I have had. It will truly be my own!

Monthly goal page

I'll share a few photos of my first journal. It is truly a Work In Process. (WIP) I plan to adapt it as I go and to keep it simple so it is easy to use.

Before the bullet journal, my to do lists were longer. I realized I have a number of tasks that I do daily. I started a Habit Tracker page for the month. The space I have saved writing walk with the dog and quilt is small; but, adds up over time. Also, sometimes, I'd miss the bigger chunks of my day because I'd be focusing on the exercise. Now, my habit tracker is like background music--there; but, not the focus of the day. I like the streamlining the habit tracker provides and I will be tracking other activities in the future.

My daily task list has shrunk. Even better--I'm getting what is on the list completed. I do plan to add an envelope to the front and back cover as there might be bits I want to save. I do carry the journal around with me so I can refer to my monthly goals or add entries. At the beginning of the day, I review my list and at the end of the day, I add the appropriate mark to the list entry. I also plan for the next day.

I am thinking about adding a week at a glance page. My first month has gone well. I completed all but three of my monthly goals. Of the three I didn't complete, I made good progress on two of the three! I've even started to doodle on the pages. My journal is beginning to evolve! I'm glad I tried the bullet journal!

Since this is my last post for the month, I need to tally of the participants that I taught this month:
34 Basic Life Support CPR (240 YTD); 12 Babysitter's Training (22 YTD) This is a total of 46 for August (total 370 YTD).

Organizing. . . .a Beginning and an Olive Memory

One binder a day!

Two years ago, a group of six of us, met and worked through the lessons in "The Artist's Way." It was an eye opening experience into how I could develop my creativity. I have continued to write a bit every day as journaling was a part of the process. I'm still working through my plans that I developed through that process. Yes, I've refined some plans, eliminated some plans and changed priorities; but, the initial plans are still in place!

One of my goals was to really organize my studio. At the beginning of the year, I blogged that my word for the year was organize. I've thought about it. I've looked at my ever increasing piles; but, I haven't done a thing. This week I started.

Mind you, I didn't start with a big task. Rather, I began with a small task. I started with the magazines that I've collected over the years. These are in binders, in magazine holders or stacked in piles. I think you get the picture without one!

Miss K's sporting a "thumb" olive

The reason that I had collected so many magazines was that I used them for inspiration. Also, it was so more economical for me to have the pattern or the technique in a magazine than it was to buy the book!

My goal is to sort through one binder or stack each day. I leafed through the magazines one more time to see if there was an article or pattern that particularly spoke to me. Most of the time there wasn't. I might finish this part of the process by the end of the month as I have saved many magazines over the years. In fact, I had been storing those magazines since 2003. I hadn't cracked the cover on them in . . . .well, I don't know! I am enjoying seeing tiny bits of open space!

My quilting journey has evolved. Now my inspiration comes from seeing a view in nature, reading a passage in a book, listening to laughter, feeling the wind against my skin, enjoying a meal with family or smelling the scent of the earth after a spring rain.

Miss J's olived index finger

On another note, the grands and I haven't done any sewing or stitching in months. Their interest has been in other activities. While it brings joy to my heart when they are creating in the studio, I realize they must participate in activities that bring them joy too. I know from experience how difficult life can be when there isn't some joy in every day.

To that end, we've cooked or baked every day that they are here. We learned how to spit cherry pits. (One of the grands had taken to spitting in not so appropriate situations.) Seeing the look on their faces while I spit a few seeds with all the joy I had when I was a kid. . .well, first it was shock which quickly transferred to wonderment which then morphed to show me how! The fun this week was olives.

As a kid, I'd decorate each finger with an olive and then with dramatic flair munch each one off my fingers! Consequently, my brothers and I would go through quite a few olives in a short time.

Miss J trying the technique

My mom had a can or two of olives in the cupboard; but, because we went through a can in such a short time, we only had olives at Thanksgiving, Christmas and maybe Easter.

I even remember her telling us that we could decorate our fingers once this way and if we were caught doing it twice punishment would be involved!

I don't remember how or why we learned to eat olives that way. Quite possibly, an aunt shared that technique with us. I hadn't seen the grands do it. So what is a grandmother to do? Share the olive finger process!

What a hoot and what joy they bring to my day. I hope they leave each day with joy in their hearts from playing with their papa and their gran.

Last, I'm sharing a patient update. He continues to heal and the hip replacement recovery process is going well. The other morning at breakfast, Miss K reminded him of the "rules." She took great care before his surgery to line her papa out on what kind of behavior she expected from him! We took a moment to write each one so we can "remember." As we were writing, the girls wanted to see his wound, so he obliged. They were surprised at how big it was. Miss J was surprised at hard it was. Miss K quickly responded, "Yes, it's metal!" Clearly, she thinks the hardness is a metal plate under the skin. Ahh, the thought process of a child is truly priceless!