Back in the Saddle

Today's Block Count: 347

Today's block count may seem a bit high, but really it includes a ton of Half Square Triangles. I finished marking and sewing my Charm Square HST, so that accounted for 235 (yeah I know my count was off on this one...but I'm going with it...). I also finished up 71 Tri-Rec's Units for my Bonnie Colored En Provence (which should be all of them...unless I screwed up my count there too). Then there were 6 Lozenge blocks finished. As well as, 37 of the Half Square Triangles for the next part of En Provence.

I did manage to get quite a bit of sewing in today. As I was able to mark something off of my to do list for today, I gave myself permission to sit and sew 25 seams. It really worked to keep me focused. It also got me caught up on laundry and I sorted through some things in my sewing room. It was also one of the days of the week that I talk with my mom...so that helped me put quite a few more blocks through the machine.

Now the rest of the post is going to be fairly boring...but as I was working in my room, I unearthed quite a few projects to add to my list. So I want to get them recorded here, and on my current project list.

 This is some of the string blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Pfefferneuse. Instead of Brown Strings, I am doing red, and instead of red quarter square triangles I'm doing blue. There are just these 2 blocks to trim and depaper and the strings will be done, and I have strips cut for the quarter square triangles (and a couple sewn).

This was one of my Christmas Presents to myself. It's the Moda Thicket Kit. I fell in love with it at the December Epic Sew Day and knew it had to be mine.

This is parts for a quilt called Sixteen in the Spotlight. A lady in one of my Facebook groups designed this quilt as part of a 2 inch strip series she did. She does a lot of quilts for charity in Poland and had a couple of trash bags of 2 inch strips to use. So our Facebook group decided to do this quilt as a quilt along.

This is my oldest UFO. This was started in December of 2011 and was my first quilt ever. My mom wanted to show me how to hand sew hexagons and I was hooked. All of my flowers are done for this one, I just have to add them around the sides. It will be queen sized when finished. I had originally planned on giant King, but have since changed my mind. I do have plans to hand quilt this one when I finally get the top done. It's a flower garden with a green grass background.

 This is the last blue string block for Bonnie Hunter's Blue Skies. And the beginnings of the gazillion half square triangles involved. Strings were a favorite of mine to take to Epic Sew Day for a bit because they didn't require a lot of brain power. I still have most of the yellow strings to go, but I had started on the triangles because I needed the strings that I get when cutting strips on my accuquilt.

 This was the beginnings of my La Passacaglia Quilt from Milliefiore Quilts. The plan is to do each cog a different color, and pull from my scrap bins. This us as far as I've made it so far.

 This is the first 4 blocks for Susan-Claire Mayfield's That Town and Country Quilt. It is all applique and often the quilt that Nate has asked that I work on. It will be fun to go back to this one eventually.

 This is a stack of my Splendid Sampler blocks. This is a good example of the colors I'm using in mine. I very quickly got this with the others, and feel glad that the box is more complete again.

 This is my Rainbow Quarter Square Triangle Quilt. This was designed as my mom and I were talking one day about whether or not we wanted to join in on Bonnie Hunter's Leader/Ender Challenge for the year.It may not look like much now, but it is looking just like I wanted. I also think it will become clearer to see the idea with each round I add. It alternates quarter square triangles and string borders.

My mom and I also joined in a swap with another friend for the quarter square triangles to get one like Bonnie has planned, so that's another on my list.

Finally, (though only the end of this batch...) These are the bonus triangles I have acquired (and not nearly all of them). When I get the urge I work on pressing and matching them. Then if I have enough for whatever half square triangle block I want to make at the time, I'll make up a couple. My plan is to put them all together in what I'm calling my Triangle Studies Quilt. It will more than likely just be a Kitchen Sink Quilt with a Triangle focus.

Also hiding under the cookie sheet in the tub, is random orphan blocks that have been gifted to me in bags of scraps and are awaiting pressing and then will become an Orphan Block Quilt or Kitchen Sink Quilt.

Also, in that tub is my second tumbler quilt. The first was all florals, and this one is using the same size tumblers, and started from the leftover tumblers that could be cut from the fat quarters I used for the first one. It will be all scrappy, and just needs some more tumblers to be cut (I had run out of 4.5 inch strips).

Now, if you've made it this far, I applaud you. I'm a little nervous to really see what I have in the works, but the more I uncover, the more I realize why my room is a bit messy most of the time. Do you have some UFOs that you've been hiding? Do you have a goal for them? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.

Some Progress

Today's Block Count: 0

While I didn't get any blocks done today, I did draw lines for most of my Charm Square HST quilt, that was supposed to get me sewing faster...well at least it will give me a lot to do when they are all paired.

I also have added a new tab at the top of the blog for a running list of projects I have going. I have a lot of friends who have commented on the number of them I have...of course, I haven't had a good count in about 2 years because I was at 70. And I know I've added more since. So I will set it up as a numbered list with a link to when I last talked about the project. Then if I can get myself moving (or at least finishing), I plan to create tab with my finishes for the year.

Room Cleaning

Today's Block Count: 0

It was another day of not doing much sewing (translation: I didn't touch my machine...unless my elbow bumped it while I played Minecraft).

I tried to jumpstart my sewjo, by pulling for another quilt. It will use several of my charm packs (I'm a sucker for Missouri Star Quilt Co.'s Mystery Charm Packs) and just be a Half Square Triangle Quilt. The idea in pulling those out was that then I wouldn't need to cut to start on the project...hence the jumpstart. Then they just sat there because I didn't want to break open the packs...doh. I also discovered that my charm pack collection really has exploded with my purchases of these Mystery Charm Packs.

 They include all different brands. In fact, the ones I pulled (top picture) include: Riley Blake, Windham Fabrics, Moda, RJR, and Benartex. And I think it's going to be an awesome quilt...that will not just measure baby-sized...but Twin or Queen...simply because I had enough charm packs that I think will work together. (And there were others that could be paired for other quilts, too.)

I'm also now contemplating 2 other new quilts as well. This is part of why I usually just keep sewing...If I stop...I start several new projects...oops.

Nada

Today's Block Count: 0

I did manage to get most of the stuff from Epic Sew Day back into the house. But that and making a new friend on Minecraft were pretty much my whole day.

The plan had been to work on cleaning up my room, since it exploded yesterday in the search for Insul-Bright. But when my 15 minutes of Minecraft time lasted a lot longer since I was helping a new friend get set up, and find her husband's house.

So...Tomorrow...will be a new day, and hopefully I will get some of today's goals done tomorrow.

O and if you are in the mood...stop over at my mom's blog (makingalather.blogspot.com) and wish her a Happy Birthday (Saturday). I bet she would love that.

January Epic Sew Day

Today's Block Count: 0
Yesterday's Block Count: 6

Yesterday's Blocks

One of yesterday's blocks was a Snail's Trail Block, and I am in love with this block. It would work great for our Guild Challenge right now, Optical Illusions. I have another quilt picked out that would work...but I'm not sure I want to have to worry about quilting and binding it by June, since I haven't even started cutting for it yet. So now I'm considering making a pillowcase with a few of those on the cuff. I think black and white would be really cool. I think 4 blocks, with 2 of them "spinning" the other way could make it look like waves. And if it doesn't work out the way I think it will, I can also just make a decorative pillow with a few of these.

Today included the weekly homework fight (actually milder than usual)...and then after school he told me he "forgot" to turn any of it in...grrr.

I also went to lunch with "the guys." These are the guys that Spencer goes to lunch with most Thursdays, and plays video games with them on Thursday nights (online games from the comfort of their own homes). Followed by a haircut; I when my bangs start to touch my eyebrows...and most places try to talk me out of short bangs...but the girl today actually said they were in style right now...I don't know if I've ever been "in style" before, but it was sweet of her to try to help me feel good about my decision.

Then it was a talk with my mom day (makingalather.blogspot.com), and so we chatted while I dug up Insul-Bright and projects to take to Epic Sew Day (monthly sew day at a local church building). I decided to take my hot iron bag pattern to make using some awesome female Disney villans fabric, my stack of partial pillowcases, and my Smith Mountain Morning to finally start cutting if I needed 1 more thing to do.

I ended up having to take my boys with me for the Guild Board Meeting (Epic Sew Day is usually the easiest way to get the most board members together at the same time) because hubs had some things to finish up at work before he could come relieve me. Unfortunately, they drove me nuts, though the other members seemed to ignore them fairly well.

After that, I managed to get a lot of socializing in (highly needed adult conversation was had), and got the pieces cut for the iron bag. Then the hangry started to set in (not surprising since it was around 8pm and I hadn't had dinner). And then the pattern and I started having a fight...so I asked one of my friends how much it would cost for her to finish it for me...and thankfully she will do that for me. I don't know why I keep thinking that I can successfully make things from patterns...I'm not usually very good at non-quilt items, unless they are super basic...think...pillowcases, and small zippered bags.

As I was nearly ready to leave, I had some of my friends challenge me to add a binding to a quilt that has been waiting to just be bound for months. They are giving me until our March guild meeting. On the plus side, that is one on my UFO list.

In other fun news, I will also be giving a presentation on my scrap system/usage, at a friend's monthly sew group on February 15th. I'm actually really excited about that.

Then on the way home, I decided that I wanted to try making a chocolate strawberry shake for my dinner, and did some minor grocery shopping...since we did not have fresh strawberries. I used 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein powder, 4 large strawberries, 1 cup of milk, and 1/8-1/4 tsp of stevia, and blended it. I thought it was rather fantastic, though hubs wasn't sure about it. I've been trying to use the protein powder for breakfast with milk to get me a good protein boost, so I probably am more used to the taste of it. It wasn't very thick, but I actually prefer that as it's easier to drink.

Hump Day

Today's Block Count: ?

I know I got my Black and White Block done for today and I believe I got 2 Green Blocks done. I did not, however, remember to get a picture before coming to bed, nor did I count the number of extra En Provence blocks I got done today. I do know there were quite a few finished and progressed because one of the green blocks could not be chained for longer than 1 seam at a time since it was a little Snail's Trail Block.

I did also decide today that I want to adjust my progress bars to show the total to go for the month, so that I can just go with that rather than trying to aim for a little of each project every day...which hasn't really been happening since I've been so focused on the 365 Quilts.

Simple Day

Today's Block Count: 2

Today was more of a Minecraft and Laundry day, than a Sewing day. But I did get my daily Black and White Block done and a Leader/Ender for En Provence. I also got the next green block cut, but it requires making sure you sew and flip on the correct corner, and my brain just was not computing that really well.

Now it's off to bed (off to bed). I really can't say that in my head without the repeat...or without using Cogsworth's voice. (Beauty and the Beast).

Began the Green

Today's Block Count: 5 + 3

Today I began my Green Round for my Rainbow 365, with 2 blocks, after finishing my Black and White Block. I've decided that except for the corner blocks I'm not going to worry about which block was supposed to go in which border. I'm just going to continue making them in order in whichever color I am currently on. The 3 spool blocks were my leader/enders for yesterday that were still sitting on my pressing board when I finished my post yesterday...oops.

I also got the next part cut for my Bonnie-Colored En Provence...and got 2 of the blocks sewn as Leader/Enders today.

I also am working on getting my boys to help with chores around the house. I was so excited the other day when Nate was getting a cup out of the cabinet and I realized that he could put the dishes away in that cabinet...now he is in charge of the plates, bowls, and cups, and Kyle is in charge of silverware. I do the rest...and I'm trying to work on being ok with my silverware not being sorted exactly the way I like...which is difficult for me.

Yellow Round

Today's Block Count: 2

I got my yellow border attached today. I love how this is turning out.

I also got my Black and White Block done for today. I actually made 2 of the same block because I wasn't sure which way to go with it. I added the Dark Grey because the block design really needed a 3rd color. Turning my Half Square Triangles was not going to work because it was going to look like yesterday's block. I will save the grey for the days that the block needs an extra color.

I also decided on my UFOs (unfinished objects) for my guild's UFO Challenge. We get to pick 4 and need to finish 1 for each of the months of May, August, and November. Then we get a fat quarter those months, and then we are entered into a big drawing in November.

So my 4 are
1) Rainbow 365 Top
2) Allietare Top
3) En Provence Top
4) Bind Vomit Quilt

I'm trying to continue to be nice to myself and still not demand that I quilt things, unless I want to.

I do have 1 other thing that I was considering for this year because I know I'll be making/finishing it because it is a wedding present. But I know that these 4 things are the things that I most want to make progress on for me.

I also started another leader/ender project. I have my Lozenge quilt on my bed, and see it all the time, and decided I liked how simple it was to put together. I also have several charm packs of Turkey Run that came as mystery charm packs from Missiouri Star Quilt Co. so decided I would try for a twin size using those. I have a cream for the corners of the dark lozenges, and this pretty red that I had ordered for the Civil War En Provence, but decided wasn't right for it, that will go on the light lozenges. These will just be extra little things I will cut when I need a leader/ender, but don't want to pull out a ton of fabric for my backup project. Right now it was because I still haven't gotten my cutting mat back on my cutting table from teaching the girls to sew, and the table has been buried again, so I could cut this on my little cutting mat on the little bit of space available on my desk.

Last of the Yellows

Today's Block Count: 3

I got 1 Black and White Block, my last Yellow Block, and 1 Bonus Spool Block. Now that my yellows are all made, I started on my Yellow Border. It might take me a day or 2 to finish it, but it was nice to know that I am slowly making progress.

Back to Blocks

 Today's Block Count: 7

I got 4 Black and White Blocks done, which catches those up, and finishes the 3rd week of the year, as well as one more yellow and 2 bonus spools. I will have to double check my yellow count, but I believe I only need 1 more block for that border.

I finally got my machines out of my car. They don't seem to be too mad about being out there overnight, thankfully. Well after the gumming of Selma, I decided I needed to be rotating my sewing machines a little bit more. So, I set up Billie the Singer. She and I haven't had a lot of time to get to know each other yet because she came to live with me just before Christmas. She is a 500A Rocketeer built in 1961 (a few parts have been replaced but their serial numbers also coorespond to 1961). She was the penultimate machine on my wish list (purely because of the look of the machine), and takes my count to 7. The only other machine, I'm really specifically looking for, albeit not too actively yet, is one of the "toy" hand crank machines. Just because I think they are so stinking cute. She is a slant needle machine, but I've not really noticed much of a difference.

Today I also got to help out in Nate's Kindergarten class. I absolutely love getting to do that. And while, it can be a little disheartening before I go to think of what isn't getting done (ie. blocks, dishes, laundry, etc.), it is always a great boost to my mood to be there. I just do little things like make copies, and help a few kids with numbers they are struggling with. Kyle loves that he gets to go to. I think he really feels like he is part of the class a little bit.

Machine Work

Today's Block Count: 0

While I didn't sew today, I did spend a few hours cleaning, oiling, and diagnosing the problem with my first sewing machine, my Elna Air Electronic SU that my mom gave me, name Elna. I believe the issue she is having is that she needs a new Motor Pulley. Hubs would like me to have her officially checked though, just to make sure I didn't miss something before we try ordering the $60 part. Ouch, by the way. She is such a nice machine that it will be worth it, but it does feel a little harsh when I have machines that have not cost that much. But then again, I also remember getting her bobbins, and they were considerably more pricey than the normal bobbins I have for my singers, and even more than the plastic bobbins for my Janomes.

You may notice some changes on the blog in the next day or two. I am attempting to get progress bars up so I can stop posting the long "statistical stuff" list every night...which is even a little boring for me.

Pillowcases

Today's Block Count: 1

Today I got the absolute pleasure of teaching 9 young ladies at church, aged 12 and 13, how to sew. We made Pillowcases, and I was really impressed with how well they did. I think they were pretty pleased with the results, too. 

So this afternoon was spent preparing (so it would look like I knew what I was doing). Turns out the pattern was even easier than I thought it would be. I made 5 different pillowcases to different stages, so I can finish those later. And then I paired several more fabrics together, particularly ones that have been really hard to use in my quilts because the prints are large, or the colors vary a lot. So I think I'll go ahead and cut a few more out, and sew them all up. This is fun too because I actually really love pillowcases, and who couldn't use a dozen more. 😀

I took along the majority of my sewing machine fleet (5 out of the 7) which was fun, too. We did have a few issues, Selma Singer decided to seize up, but by the end of the night after a bit of oil, she was singing again. The other issues tended to be inexperienced user error and were quickly fixed.

My one block for today was simply a leader/ender 4 patch from while I was working on my pillowcase preparations.

Then while I was pulling some fabric options from my stash that the girls could pick from, I realized I had a batch of fabrics from my mom that all seemed to coordinate quite nicely. I guess it shouldn't really be surprising that I would have something that coordinated given that she gave me way more than 60 yards (that's just the first batch she gave me while I was visiting...there were a couple more, too). So now I feel I need to come up with something for these lovelies...Ideas are appreciated. Do you guys ever do this, pull fabrics just because you like them together, and keep them together until a pattern comes along that fits them?

Statistical Stuff:
365C2017 - 17/19
365C2016 - 16/25
RSC - 33/54
WS/SS/PSM - 0/18
Total - 74/126
Bonus Blocks - 192
Finishes - 2
Tops - 1
Borders - 1
Extra projects - 1

RSC2 - January Done (12)

Long Day

Today's Block Count: 0

Today has been one of those days where you wonder what happened. It started out so good and productive and ended with a ...wait what did I do today?

It started with homework for the kindergartener, which actually resulted in very little fussing. There was visiting with a lady in the neighborhood, who it turns out is also from Indiana because her dad worked for the railroad there. And her grandfather was instrumental in the building of a famous monument there that was actually where my dad proposed to my mom. (At least, I think my addled mom brain hasn't screwed that story up in my head...). Then there was a trip to Walmart to get more drawers...I don't have much patience...

And then, since the day was going so nicely, I thought I would also pick up some training underwears for my 3 year old. He has been pretty resistant to the idea of even just sitting on the toilet, but the minute he saw the underwear he was all for trying. I was going to just have them where he could see them for the next week to prepare him. He had other plans. He wanted to wear them right away...I made him wait until we dropped his brother off, then I was even willing to let him take a nap with them. Well the next 2 hours consisted of him, pulling his underwears on, taking them off, running across the hall to sit on the toilet for 2 seconds, and run back butt naked. I think that the naked part was his favorite. I finally told him I would put him in a diaper if he didn't lay down for a nap immediately, and even picked a diaper up, and he was suddenly in bed and almost asleep. Silly kid. Unfortunately, he woke himself up wetting the bed...then the rest of the afternoon consisted of the same running to the bathroon, me telling him to put pants on...and 2 more accidents. One of those accidents was even while he was saying he needed to go and I was telling him to go. Then it was the end of the world for him when I told him all his underwears were dirty and that he had to have a diaper again. He was telling me before bed that he wanted his underwears (he knew they had been in the load of laundry as his sheets), so maybe we'll be trying again tomorrow. Please pray for patience for me...he and I will need it.

On a much better note, (than naked toddler butts), I did get our Christmas tree all the way down and put away. I had managed to get the ornaments off and new lights strung (it's a pre-lit tree but the lights had died, so I got several strands at 22 cents a piece from an after christms sale, so it is pre-lit again), before my husband's work party last Friday. And the kids had convinced the babysitter to let them put them all back on. Which was really a clever activity for her to do with the boys. I'm very grateful it is only a 4 foot tall tree, or that would have been a bit more annoying.

Then tonight, I decided I did, in fact, want to join in the Patchwork Quilt Along hosted by Fat Quarter Shop. I looked at the yardage and realized that I could do it with 12 fat quarters. Well I have 13 fat quarters of these coordinating fabrics. They are all larger prints, but I figure that if I only am going to be using 1 fabric per block, it won't look that odd.

Then I also decided on fabrics for my Quilt Your Weight Off 2017 project, which will be the Swoon Sixteen Blocks. I have a trash bag of poly-blend ginghams and dots in your basic crayon colors, that will be perfect. No picture for this, just because it is a "little" messy in that corner of my sewing room.

I also almost found my cutting table again. I at least found enough I can cut pieces for the tiny 365 blocks again tomorrow. So maybe my yellows will be able to be attached in the next couple of days.

Here's hoping for some more progress tomorrow.

Statistical Stuff:
365C2017 - 17/18
365C2016 - 16/23
RSC - 33/51
WS/SS/PSM - 0/17
Total - 74/119
Bonus Blocks - 191
Finishes - 2
Tops - 1
Borders - 1
RSC2 - January Done (12)

So Close

Today's Block Count: 10

 I'm making good progress on my Rainbow 365 Challenge 2016. I just need 2 more 3 inch blocks and I can arrange that border. It was fun pulling them out and seeing how they looked on my design wall and realizing how different they seem from the ones I'm making this year in Black and White. So I thought I'd get a picture of the first 17 from both years.

One thing I use a lot are Leaders and Enders, and when they have been 4-patches and simple blocks I don't always press the last seam right away, just because I want to keep going on my main project. But sometimes, it is amazing how I can have sooo many more "bonus" blocks than main blocks just by send the Leaders and Enders through so I always have something under the needle. I need to cut the next part for 1 of my En Provence quilts (doesn't really matter which one I pull out they all need something) for my leaders and enders, but I was talking with my mom via Video Chat and didn't want to have my back to her too long, So I just grabbed some leftover strip set ends and just turned them into 4 patches.

In random sewing room news, I've decided to try rotating my computer monitors around to the back corner of my desk. I have a corner desk and have Dual Monitors (great for watching something on one monitor and having the pattern I'm using up on the other) and my sewing machine on it. Before I had the computer stuff on the left and the sewing stuff on the right (and it would creep over in front my keyboard when laying things out). Now I've rotated my monitors so one of them is more behind my machine (It has a tall stand on it, so I can still see it just fine) and that means I can utilize that annoying back corner better, and opens up some space for some more of the medium sized Sterilite drawers on the left of my desk. I moved one of my strip units over to try it for a day or 2 before I hop over to Walmart and buy more.

I also put a different quilt I've started on each monitor so I have inspiration when I'm not sure what to work on.

Statistical Stuff:
365C2017 - 17/17
365C2016 - 16/21
RSC - 33/48
WS/SS/PSM - 0/16
Total - 74/112
Bonus Blocks - 191
Finishes - 2
Tops - 1
Borders - 1
RSC2 - January Done (12)

Sunday Stitching

Today's Block Count: 186

Today the boys and I went back to Church for the first time since Christmas break began (due to travel times, and our annual illnesses, we just hadn't gotten to go). This year our meeting time has been pushed back up to 9am from 1pm because the 3 congregations that share rotate our start times each year. I struggle with mornings, but we made it. I often struggle with sitting still (I know where my boys get it) and have been known to take a small hand project with me. Usually it is just knit dishcloths, but today I took some tiny hexies (1/2") to work on. I managed to get 2 done before I ran out of fabric in my little take-along kit (old medicine bottle). It really helped me to focus today, and the tiny hexies make me smile.

I also managed to get my Black and White 365 Block done for today as well as my last Orange 365 Block. I then was able to attach the orange border, and layout (not permanent at all) the yellows to see how many more I need. The answer is 11. Which seems really reasonable. I do love how this is turning out.

I also made progress on my En Provence, Quiltville Mystery. The 4-patches are part 3 for my Constants En Provence (I'm doing 3 varieties; Recommended Colors, Constants, and Civil War). I had sewn the strip sets and a few of the 4-patches before Christmas and have been using the others as leaders and enders since I got back. I didn't press any of them until tonight, so I could count them in my block count...cuz who doesn't like seeing a number like 186 as a measure of what you got done in 1 day.

Then the 4 spool blocks are part of a project that has been a leader and ender project for awhile. I cut just a few at a time (usually 4). I prepped and sewed these a couple of days ago when I thought I was done with the purple 4-patches, but didn't press them. Then while cleaning a little in my room I found a container my youngest had tried helping clean up into. We had actually bought 5 of the shoebox size bins and he had cleaned up (he really thought he was helping because that's what I told them they were for) all of the purple strips into all 5 bins. I thought I had retrieved them alk, but that bin was still hiding under my nose.

In other news, I'm contemplating joining in on another mystery quilt. My goal for this year (unstated since I don't want to make myself feel obligated to only this) is to work on using my scraps. So while I was reading the blog Quilting Revolution. She mentioned that she wanted to join in Charlotte Hawkes Quilts mystery Surrounded By Scraps...And now I'm considering it. This was one of them I looked into joining last year, but decided that I was already starting waaaaay too many things last year, so maybe this year I will join in.

And just to document a small moment in my day (and because my foot hurts and I want to whine a moment)...Today my youngest son and I had an unfortunate moment. He was trying to cling to me, and I was trying to ask for a few minutes to wake up (I'd taken a nap.) before I fixed dinner. So as I tried to step out of his arms (he had ahold of my leg) his head came down and his mouth and my heel collided. He ended up with a bloody lip and I ended up with a bloody heel. From what I can tell, his tooth/teeth scraped his top lip and dug into my heel. He was perfectly fine by bedtime, and now I've got a reminder with every step that he doesn't try to make me antsy when he wants to be held, he just wants to show love, and be loved.

Seriously, this was in no way an act of physical violence towards my 3 year old. I am usually very careful around my kids. This one in particular is often clinging to my legs or upper body (he's got killer upper body strength). Accidents happen, I just want to remember this one. and the cuddles he and I shared afterwards, and the fact that he was really worried about my owie.


Statistical Stuff:
365C2017 - 16/16
365C2016 - 13/19
RSC - 33/45
WS/SS/PSM - 0/15
Total - 70/105
Bonus Blocks - 185
Finishes - 2
Tops - 1
Borders - 1
RSC2 - January Done (12)

Scrap Happy Saturday

Today I get to join up with others who have jumped in and are enjoying the Rainbow Scrap Challenge hosted here (I'm about #44). I've really been enjoying trying to focus on 1 color to work on lessening the number of scraps in that color. As far as I know, I really only have 2 more pieces of scraps in purple which I will use to try to finish out my 3.5 inch Jacob's Ladders (I'm at 33 of my 80 for the month.). If those run out, I haven't decided if I will cut into a fat quarter, or just make more of the other colors when I get to them...I guess I have 2 scraps worth of time to decide 😀.

The plan for my RSC17 included 2 "projects" each month. One was the 80 little Jacob's ladders to make a rainbow quilt at the end of the year, and the other was a top for charity out of the month's color. That is what happened to the rest of my purple scraps. They became this fun little Toddler quilt (42 x 56). On the plus side, this was the month with the fewest number of scraps for me (though I'm sure I must have more of this hiding in gifted scraps bags that just haven't been sorted yet...I have just a "few" of those 😏).

Today's Block Count: 3

1 more Orange Block and I'll be able to add the orange to the Red Center I made last year for the 365 Challenge. I'm also loving how different my black and white blocks are looking, It gives them a very different look to only be 2 colors.

Ok...Now I need some opinions from my readers. Should I absolutely keep today's Black and White Block (knowing that it will be next to other black and white blocks), Hold on to it until I lay out that border and see if it looks better with the others knowing I could make a different bonus block when it's time to put the border together, or Just go ahead and make the available bonus block now and put this in my orphans?

Statistical Stuff:
365C2017 - 15/15
365C2016 - 12/15
RSC - 33/42
WS/SS/PSM - 0/14
Total - 70/98
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2
Tops - 1
RSC2 - January Done (12)

Purple Scraps Depleted

Today's Block Count: 14

I've been slowly working on this quilt top in the January Rainbow Scrap color. I thought I would have enough of each color in scraps to do a twin size quilt for charity each month. This is a super simple pattern I've come up with that uses 2.5 inch strips to make the blocks (7 strips for a 14.5 inch block). I also allow myself to use strips that are smaller and just sew them end to end, until I can cut the 14.5 inch strip.

This month, though, I have very little of the month's color, so I was only able to make 12 blocks. But it is a good size toddler quilt, and can still be used easily and if I want it to be bigger...I can also come up with 14 inches worth of border in another color...but I think this is the perfect size for this one. It is 42 by 56.

With this project done for the month. I'm going to "transfer" its daily block to my 365 Challenge 2016, and aim for 2 a day for that one the rest of the month, since I've decided that is what I want to work on the most right now.

I also managed to get 2 little blocks done for my 365 Challenge 2017, which makes that project current again. It also means I'll be able to enter into the weekly drawing for this week. Woohoo.





Block Counts:
365C2017 - 14/14
365C2016 - 10/13
RSC - 33/39
WS/SS/PSM - 0/13
Total - 67/91
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2
Tops - 1
RSC2 - January Done (12)

Homework Fight

Today's Block Count: 0

I spent most of today fighting my 5 year old about his homework. I did play with some purple 2.5 inch strips while talking to my mom while he was at school...But that was all.

Good Day

Today's Block Count: 9

Today was a nice productive day. I managed to get the last orange side done and 1 of the corners for the orange border, leaving 3 more corner blocks and the oranges will be done, and I will be able to attach the oranges to my center. I also got today's black and white block done, as well as my RSC blocks for yesterday and today. I also cut a bunch of my purple scraps into 2.5 inch strips for my RSC2 (monthly charity quilt). I'm starting to think that the quilt this month will be a baby size, since my purple drawer is almost empty, I could also just go random scrappy for the rest of the blocks, or cut from stash....though purples seem to be kind of lacking in my stash.

Block Counts:

365C2017 - 12/12
365C2016 - 10/10
RSC - 33/33
RSC2 - 0/11
WS/SS/PSM - 0/11
Total - 55/77
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2

I do also have another Bonnie Hunter project that I've only pulled scrap fabrics for, but have not begun cutting that will be using purples...so I could cut some for that and some to continue my RSC projects, it would also give me the chance to work on a new project (one I haven't cut for anyway) and a UFO at the same time (counts as a UFO for me if I have a plan and/or fabric...which was both for that project).

Now that this idea has entered my mind...I want to get started. Hopefully, my mind won't keep me up planning, so I'm not too tired to actually work on it tomorrow.

Long Day

Today's Block Count: 1

I had a slow mental day today, so I could only get myself to focus for 1 little 365 Challenge block. But I'm ok with that. Not every day can be a 14 block day.

Block Counts:
365C2017 - 11/11
365C2016 - 8/9
RSC - 27/30
RSC2 - 0/10
WS/SS/PSM - 0/10
Total - 46/69
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2

Monday Progress

Today's Block Count: 14

Today I managed 1 Black and White and 1 Orange 365 Challenge Block each. I also got caught up on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Purples (3 a day) by finishing 12. Now it's off to bed, since I should have gone to bed an hour and a half ago...oops.

Block Counts:
365C2017 - 10/10
365C2016 - 8/8
RSC - 27/27
RSC2 - 0/9
WS/SS/PSM - 0/9
Total - 45/63
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2

Sick Sunday

Today's Block Count: 10

One of my boys is sick, the other is just over being sick, and hubs seems to have come down with another sickness. One of the dangers of traveling across the country is that we are exposed to many different bugs all at once. It's not uncommon for several bugs to travel through the family at the same time after holiday travels.

But anyway...

I managed to get my Black and White 365 Block done for today, and 2 make up blocks for the rainbow 365. I then managed to get 7 more Tiny Jacob's Ladder Blocks done for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I'm loving getting to use my scraps without feeling like it has to be specific (aside from the pattern I chose). I'm even contemplating a third project that will focus on the color of the month. It will use the same size as the second project, so I may just go through and try cutting all the purole scraps at one time, But then again, who am I kidding. I struggle to even make a tiny dent in my scraps when I cut a gallon size plastic bag's worth of strips.

I also worked out the math for a wedding quilt for this coming spring. I found a great pattern, and have even picked the fabrics I will use (still in an online shopping cart...sometimes it's really hard to pull the trigger). Then I had to increase the block sizes to make it a bedsize quilt. While I am not a huge fan of quiltmath (it's almost the only kind of math I use now) it is good for getting me out of mental funk.

Block Counts:
365C2017 - 9/9
365C2016 - 7/7
RSC - 15/24
RSC2 - 0/8
WS/SS/PSM - 0/8
Total - 31/56
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2

Kyle's Birthday

Today's Block Count: 1

Today was my second son's 3rd birthday. It was a lot of fun to watch him be excited that it was his birthday. We got him a Fire House that is part of his favorite show, Transformers Rescue Bots, and I made a basketball hoop for him for small felt balls that my dad has made. I used a tri-fold project board, and blue fabric (blue is his favorite color) to make a stand that would roll the balls back towards him. My husband 3D printed the hoop and I added cotton yarn to make the net. I'm quite pleased with the result. It doesn't look very professional...but he loved it, and new exactly what it was, and insisted on finding some of the balls for it.

Since this took most of the day, I was only able to get 1 block done for the 365 Challenge 2017. But I'm ok with that. Tomorrow will be a new day, and there will not be a looming birthday present to make.

Block Counts:
365C2017 - 8/8
365C2016 - 5/6
RSC - 8/21
RSC2 - 0/7
WS/SS/PSM - 0/7
Total - 21/49
Bonus Blocks - 1
Finishes - 2