Hello August!

What happened to Judy in July.....

what is she doing and why isn't she posting???  

Could it be the dog days of summer?

Or

Could it be because she has nothing exciting to post?

Or 

Could it be because she is playing too hard?

Or 

Is it because she is a champion procrastinator? 

I quilted this UFO wall hanging.

It still needs a trip through the washer and dryer.

Then I'll share the finish.

I've been dehydrating extra broccoli from my small deck garden.

We've eaten a lot of it but I want some for winter too.

We spent a lot of time at the beach.

This is the back corner of our lot and it was a small jungle.

We paid for the whole lot, we want to use the whole lot!

So we borrowed our son's tractor.

I say we like I did so much work.

Nope, I mostly stayed out of the way.

Our friend Bill was a huge help!

I took a big bag of half square bonus triangles 

and cut them to the size I need for my new leader/ender project.

I'm doing the new Quiltville l/e project that can be found in the tab section of her blog.

I forgot my rotary cutter at home and was quite mad at myself over it.

Ernie was going to get some diesel for the tractor 

so I asked if he would look at Jack's for a rotary cutter.

He did, they didn't have one.

So my super sweet husband went to Long Beach and found one at Dennis Company.

Oh how I miss the quilt shop there!!!

The poop deck is gorgeous.

Our friends Pam and Bill comes over and waters when we aren't there. 

I couldn't have flowers without them.

Mean while, back at home,

my hydrangeas exploded. 

Absolutely gorgeous this year.

We've been putting wood stove ash on them all winter and spring.

I think it helped a lot!

I made some wine bottle carry bags as gifts for friends.

They were fun, quick projects.

I had to have one too. 😉

I'm UFO busting some of my embroidery work.

This is quite cute up on my sewing room wall.

I have my next embroidery UFO out and have started working on it.

I've also decided to start some wool applique and 

have a couple of kits ordered.

This week we've had fun watching this silly guy 

at his baseball camp.

We brought him home with us 

and had to have pictures in front of the hydrangeas.

I'm ready now for a big quilt basting party in my living room. 

I am ready to quilt again.

I'll be back when I'm back.

Hopefully a bit more often now.

See you soon, thanks for stopping by!

January UFO Challenge Statis

I am participating in Judy L's UFO Challenge again this year.

January's number was 7.

My #7 is my Cathedral Stars.

I only needed to quilt it.

The back and binding were ready.

I had company as I basted today.
Miss Daisy loves a table fort.

So why did I wait until January 31 to do anything with it?

I've been super busy

and I can procrastinate with the best of them. 

UFOs have been wrangled and a few have been quilted.

As of tonight, my machine is threaded and the quilt is basted. 

I'm ready to quilt.

I promise to do better in February.

UFO Challenge Report

Holy Cow! How did it get to be August so fast.

Wasn't it just Christmas?

Judy L has pulled the new UFO number for August.

Lucky me, my #3 is Millifiore. 

I'm excited to get this finished but terrified at the same time.

There is a bit of irony for me about this selection.

You know on Facebook how your memories show up?

One of my memories this morning is this photo.

It was 2 years ago today that I was at this step.

I have however reached the point in my life of just get it finished.

Don't worry so much about it.

No one can use or appreciate all the work if you don't get it finished.

So Millifiore, you're next.

The first step in to add the outer borders.

Thank goodness the fabric is with the quilt top.

Then I'll cut the batting for all 3 tops in this post.

(Once the roll is out, may as well cut them all.)

I previously bought a wide back for this so I'll be ready to baste.

The quilting design is already layed out on paper.

That will help a lot!

Wish I could say I made progress on Grandmother's Choice.

This is all the progress I made, I pulled it off Mt. ToBeQuilted.

That's as far as I got with her.

It's been super hot here so we've spent a lot of time at the beach.

Not much room for quilt basting there.

Instead I finished this sweet quilt top.

Take a top off the mountain, add another. 

Cross your fingers that this can be a 2 or 3 month UFO finish month.

I'm certainly going to try.

Design Wall Monday on Sunday Afternoon

Design Wall Monday may not happen for me. 

I've got myself in a pickle.

 Or a giant mess that I like to call the beginning of some organization
and cleaning and clearing out. 

OMG! 

My sewing room has turned into my own private dumping ground. 

I will not share too many pictures as it's a huge embarrassment. 

HUGE!

It all started after I finished this quilt. 

You can read all about it here if you want to.

All I wanted to do was pull out the UFO for July and make my plan.

First I decided to take care of the backing and batting from the quilt.

I'm trying to do that with each project I finish.

The really big pieces were folded up and put back on the shelf to use on another backing.

Then the smaller strips were cut and put away.

I cut the batting pieces into 14" hunks to use on my quilt as you go string blocks.

These are stored away in a box, ready to use.

So after taking care of that,

I decided to cut a bag of scraps and make a dent in that mess.

I was on a roll so I grabbed another bag.

I have my sewing machine table covered in pile of strips and squares and containers.

It's still like that today. 

I may have created a bigger mess than I started with.

I admit it, I have a scrap problem.

I cannot say no.

Oh Jeez Judy!!

I called it quits for the night, planning to start again in the morning. 

This morning instead of going back in, 

I decided to take care of some paper clutter.

Oh yes, I am a procrastinator! 

I love pdf downloaded patters and have lots.

After reading about Connie's use of the ProClick binding system,

 and stewing about it for a few months, I finally ordered one for myself.

Now my pattern instructions for my clothes are all taken care of.

I have lots more that just these 3. 

I'm going to purchase a couple of these magazine holders to store them in.

One of these days, I'll start on my quilt patterns that I've printed off the internet.

But not today,

I've chased enough squirrels this weekend.

So through all this chaos I found my July UFO.

Really, I knew right where it was.

Grandmother's Choice Sampler that started in October of 2012. 

I finished the top February 2014.

Backing and binding were ready in the bag.

I just need to cut the batting and give everything a good press 

and get basting.

Or call my friend Jane and have her long arm it for me. 

I did find a few more UFOs I've forgotten about.

Why do I do this to myself. 

No more whining,

I'm going to go clean up my sewing machine table so I can sew. 

Or cut a few more scraps.

😀😉😎

Check out the fabulous posts linked up to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday. 

Design Wall Monday

When last we met, I was finishing up the quilting on the secret project. 

Now it is finished and I still can't share any photos. 

So instead I'll show you what's up next at my machine.

That's right!

A major cleaning and oiling and putting stuff away.

So I am procrastinating! 

Big Time!!

Instead of cleaning my machine and grabbing the next UFO,

I'm knitting and binge watching Netflix.

I can't let this fabulous No-Fuss Shade Shawl become a UFO!

Really I've been feeling a little peaked and when that happens,

I just like to knit and watch tv.

I've been fighting off a cold since retreat and I think I'm winning.

And my shawl is almost finished.

I must get my machine cleaned today because 

tomorrow I pick up my En Provence from Jane the Quilter. 

Now, where did I put that binding?

I'm planning a pretty busy week.

Wish me luck!!

Check out all the fabulous design walls at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilt Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

Since my grand plan for April is focused on new t-shirts for myself. 

 I was contemplating (procrastinating) on how to perfect the fit of my shirt 

and decided to squeeze in some piecing time.

After all, when I get into full blown t-shirt mode, 

there will be no sewing anything else.

You understand that focus thing, right?!?

I don't really have anything going at the moment so I pulled out my tumbler leaders/enders bin.

I gave my progress the once over and remembered someone said 

they were doing a border with their darks.

So I got out my seam ripper,

made myself a little add on room and got busy.

I needed more variety so I got out a stack of I want it gone fabric and started cutting.

In the process of cutting, I added lots more pieces to my string bin.

That's a good thing.

I also learned just how sharp those blades are in the dies.

That wasn't a good thing.

I got a bit more life out of this cutting mat 

and then I heard it snap.

It's now waiting for the garbage man to take it to it's new home.

Thank goodness I had another one to use.

I need to add a new one to my shopping list.

When I took my bins in to put them away,

I had to sit down and sew just for a little while.

I now have a nice long string of tumbler pairs to press. 

I love a good leader/ender project gone awry. 

Next up at the Go cutter is this pile of I want it gone fabrics.

What will they become???

I probably will cut tumblers from some of them

and I have an apple core die that needs to be used again

and of course, I will create more strings.

What's on your design wall? I'm headed to Patchwork Times 

this morning to see what others are working on.

Design Wall Monday

I'm having such fun with the Castle Wall blocks.

I'm going to take these off the design wall one of these days and 

put them in the bin so they don't get attacked by kittens.

The blocks are finally all made for Grand Illusion.

I've procrastinated long enough and now the webbing of the top has begun. 

My top will be completed in no time. 

Then I'll start sewing those border blocks together.

I have a plan......

Check out Patchwork Times for fabulous designs walls.

Tiny Tuesday Time Again

Today I finished up with clue 3 for the mystery and while putting some things away, I came across my notebook of Midget Blocks from Sentimental Stitches. I haven't touched these since January of last year! Almost 2 years ago. Talk about being a slacker!  It was fun working with these tiny pieces and now this is all I want to do. Not a good thing since I need to finish my Christmas shopping.  But I don't really want to, I'd rather sew.

Blocks 25 and 26 have joined the others in the notebook. I am missing block 23 so I'll either recreate it or do something else.  I looked at all the pages I have printed and I stopped at 136.  I see now there are 196 blocks. Oh My! Will I print them all? I don't know but I will look through them to see if there are some I want.  But I know myself and I will probably print them all.

I've procrastinated long enough. Now I must go do some shopping. Yeah! You know I'd rather sew. :)

Sweet Surprises

On Monday, I set a few goals for myself for the week.

On Tuesday, I crossed one of them off.

Today I started cutting my blocks for Tell It To The Stars.

I am such a procrastinator!

I am not happy about that!

Last week I printed the instructions and as they come off the printer,

I picked them up and stapled them together.

I didn't even check to see if everything printed.

I love that my printer prints the last page first.

This morning it's all quiet

 (meaning the kittens are taking a nap!)

and a good time to cut some fabric.

I cut blocks for 3 months

(Yes! I am that far behind!)

 and pulled out the June instructions.

I was reading them and this is what I found on page 3.

When the grands are here and want to draw, 

they get paper from the printer.

When they leave, I put the paper they didn't color on back in the tray.

I missed this paper in the stack and I'm glad I did.

2 1/2 year old Corbin likes markers and he drew Gramma a picture.

He must have put it back in the pile of papers for me to find.

Totally made my morning!

Back to cutting,

3 months kitted, 3 months to go!

I know once these are all cut and ready to go, 

I'll want to sit down and sew like a mad woman!

Who knows,

I might be caught up before the next clue.

Celtic Solstice Part 2 Cutting

Celtic Solstice Part 2 was released yesterday.

Me, being the procrastinator that I am, 

had to finish up some things for today so I couldn't start cutting.

Last night at 10, I finished.

I know!

Why do today what you can put off until the last minute!!

This morning at 0 dark 30, I wake up bright eyed and ready to start.

Only problem--there is a man in my house that will not leave to go hunting.

Come on, it's going to be daylight soon (in a couple hours), she says.

Finally, he's out the door and the cutting begins.

Browns are up first.

I love brown.

I love using up what I have and only having slivers left over.

Guess these won't be going into the scrap basket.

I read a Facebook post yesterday about using the June Taylor strip cutter.

Duh! I have one of those,

quick and easy work of those browns that I cut into 3 1/2" strips,

then zip, zip, zip,

they were cut to size.

The browns are now stacked into 2 nice, neat piles of hopefully equal amounts.

I'm going to do one side of this block at a time.

After I do a test block or 10. 

Probably 10 since I bundle in units of 10.

Next up are the neutrals.

I have oodles of 2 1/2" strips but not many 2" strips.

My dilemma this morning was to cut the strips or cut yardage.

(Isn't it wonderful that this decision is my big dilemma of the day!!)

I cut yardage.

I'll use those 2 1/2" strips in something that calls for them 

and I have lots of neutral yardage.

There is always the neutral scrap box that I could get out and go through.

But gosh, yardage is so neat and tidy.

Later today will be my pinks...

I can't wait.

I love pink.

And brown.

And neutral.

And purple.

And blue.

I can't wait to do Celtic Solstice Part 2 sewing!!

But first I must party with quilting friends.

Have a fun day.

On The Needles

Sometimes my fingers just want to knit something new. That's what happened this week.  I was going to finish this scarf and put off starting Hitchhiker but I just couldn't do it. I was also going to start Wingspan first but that didn't happen either.

The other day Judy L wrote a post about kitting up her projects. A light bulb flashed in my head. I do this with my quilting but not my knitting.  I have several projects for the near future so I spent some time getting them into bags with the instructions. (That's how Hitchhiker got started!) I guess I should learn to use the Ravelry Queue. I'm sure it's easy to do, I just haven't done it yet. Yarn is on the way for Dreambird and Rival Cardigan. Leftie needs a contrast yarn, I'm not sure what I'll use yet, that's on the list for a shopping trip.

I worked on the afghan quite a bit. Instead of procrastinating any further, I convinced myself to work on it every day for at least 1/2 hour If I do that, it will be done by the end of the month. I only have 8 squares left to finish and know as soon as I start to join the squares, I will not stop until it's finished. I'm about out of the aqua yarn so my original design using it for the first border has changed. I am not buying any more of this yarn. I'll use what I have and call it perfect.

I can't wait to see what others are working on......(this is how most of these projects got started). I'm headed over to Patchwork Times to see what else I can add to my list.

Design Wall Monday

While my plan last Monday was to continue working on Easy Street, something shiny caught my eye.  I am so easily distracted and it becomes so easy to procrastinate the big jobs and start something new.  My something new was this UFO from June 2011. I'm proud of myself for working on a UFO and not starting one of the many new projects that I want to do.

I was putting some fabric away and I spotted the bin that held Hopscotch, Butterscotch.  All the parts were there, including my Adventures with Leaders & Enders by Bonnie Hunter.  So Easy Street has been pushed aside. With several blocks already complete, I quickly added sashing and made a 3 x 4 setting.  Then I started working on the border pieces. I had decided to take the remaining block pieces and use them on the back so I made up 7 more blocks. What the heck, may as well make 1 more block and set it at 4 x 5.

I spent some quality sewing time and when I add 1 more strip to the top and bottom border, then sew them on, this top will be complete.  The instructions have you using 2" strips and I remember at the time I didn't have very many but my 2 1/2" bin was overflowing so I redrafted the block to use my strips.

I do think I should add some glitter to Easy Street and get that one finished this week before it turns into a UFO.

See some fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times today.

Design Wall Monday

Once I got into the habit of using leader/enders, I have to have something by my machine!  I've got my bow ties ready to lay out into a quilt top, I spent the weekend using this for my l/e and all the while I'm thinking about the new Quiltville Spoolin' Around Challenge.  I wasn't going to do this one.  Pppttt....who am I kidding?  I started yesterday.  I need to cut a basket full .

And working on the mini quilt yesterday allowed me to procrastinate sewing the backs together for these two quilts.  I am going to do that this morning.  And then it will be time to clean and oil my feather weight and pack my not to forget items for retreat!!!

Check out other fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times DWM post.

23 Minutes

Madam Samm is writing a series called How I Make Time.  You can read her posts here and here.  I am a big fan of the timer (and of Madam Samm) but I guess I never thought about how to use the timer to make the time to do what I want to do.  I am a horrid procrastinator.  Sometimes it bites me right in the butt!  So I am learning to use my time the Madam Samm way.

This is my list of 3 for today:

1-Make breakfast, unload dw, boil eggs.

2-Clear the flat surfaces in the kitchen. 

3-Make cookies for potluck.

As of right now, I have #1 complete as is part of #2.  If I don't get on to #3, I will walk in to the potluck empty handed and that is not good!!!

How do you make the most of your time?

Design Wall Monday

 Not much sewing has been happening around here.  I did get this mini quilted and the binding put on.  Then I took the binding off.  My seam allowance was very, very wrong!  I decided to wait until the big machine was set back up again and promptly put the featherweight in it's case.

I need to focus on getting my sewing room back together.  I am so good at procrastinating.  If I could turn that into a full time job, I'd be rich!  I am really glad the recycle guy doesn't have to physically pick the bin up to empty is. Yesterday I purged papers and magazines.  It was painful but I did it.  I try to keep up with them but again, the procrastination set in.  It was amazing how few things I took out of the magazines.  I even pulled somethings out of my notebooks to make room for the new pages.

Bee report:  Yesterday was day 9.  It was time to fill the feeders and check to see if Her Royal Highness, the Queen Bee was laying eggs.  It appears she was doing her job but I cannot verify that as I stayed way back and used the zoom on the camera.  

It looks like another fabulous day to be touring around Blogland.  Start by visiting Judy L, so many great looking links already.