I May Need Help...

After having the opportunity to be part of the Quiltmaker test block group a few years ago and having a block accepted into volume 8 of their 100 Blocks publication I have applied several times to be part of their "Scrap Squad".  I, again, applied this year.  While I was not accepted into that group, I was invited to be part of a new group - "Addicted to Scraps". 

It sounds exactly like something I will love being part of!  However, it also sounds as though I have a serious problem and may need an intervention...  I mean "Addicted"?  Really? 

^^ It just feels SO good ^^

Okay maybe I am addicted.  **hanging head, sigh**

Scraps just work for me, though.  I could argue that I don't go out and buy yards and yards of fabric with no project in mind to build up my fabric stash (much, anymore...)  In fact, in the past few years I haven't had any need to do so because I have been blessed to be the recipient of discarded fabric and projects with  GREAT thanks to those that are "enabling" my habit.

But I can also argue that my "habit" has helped to supplement our annual income.  I used to offer daycare for a few babies to get a little extra cash.  And then they all moved away... :'(

So, I guess, I could argue that it is simply a matter of survival. Yeah, yeah, yeah!  That's it.  So, there you go... I don't need an intervention at all!  It is just a way of life for me... us, really.  Fabric and fabric scraps are just a way of life for me.

Move along!  No staring!  All is good here...

I'm going to go hug my fabric now.

See what other quilters are blogging about at

Quilter Blogs

The Final Count

I had just two days left when I wrote about saving the spools of thread I had used in 2014 and I finished the Old Glory Picnic Quilt. 

It was late in the afternoon on the 31st when my daughter wanted me to count...

 

I decided to have a little fun while counting and stacked them...

 

It's getting taller!

 

All in all... the final count was 58 spools!

 

 

This includes thread used for piecing and quilting 27 quilts, quilting two baby quilts for a friend, 7 "memorial" blocks for Quiltblocks for MS, 5 Victorian Christmas stockings, numerous wine bags, casserole carriers and table runners.  And let's not forget the silk wedding dress!  It was a busy year!

 

It was interesting to see the spools collect and it was fun looking back at all of the finished projects of the year.

 

Happy Sewing!

 

See what other quilters are blogging about at QuilterBlogs.com

 

 

 

Inspiration and Goals

I enjoyed the last few quiet weeks of 2014.  It was a mini-vacation from my studio, but I have jumped right into 2015 with quilting projects underway...

Dave and I will be making a road trip to Dallas in a few weeks and I have my hand sewing project ready to go. 

My inspiration for the project..

 

 

And my color choices for my quilt...  My half-square triangles will be hand stitched and with attention to the placement of the colors, a zig-zag pattern will emerge.  I really like the simply stated pattern and the fact that they are offset from the center.

 

 

 

I find inspiration from many things... Many from other quilts.  I will peruse the catalogs from some of the quilting supply companies for quilts, blocks and kits as well as a few quilting magazines.

 

Inspiration also comes from nature and home improvement stores.  Yes, home improvement stores.  The tile displays and colors are great!  I know that I am not alone in the source of inspiration because I have read quite a few blogs that refer to them.

 

With the turn of the calendar to a new year, some people make resolutions or goals or accept challenges of one sort or another.

 

I don't tend to do this and thought about setting a few goals for 2015...  things like - Not buying fabric just to add to my stash - I haven't done this for over a year.  I have been gifted with fabric from others so I don't need to "add to my stash".

 

I also thought of planning or estimating how many quilts I would like to make this year... Because I am a self-driven and task or goal oriented, I could see the fun being taken out of such a goal.  It would become all about "making X number of quilts", such as two a month.  But if I fail to meet the "goal" I would likely flog myself for "failing" to meet my goal.  So, no, not that goal either.  Unless I go totally under-achiever and say I want to make two quilts this year and take the pressure off of myself and build myself up in my mind by overcoming such a goal.  Lame...

 

I think the best goal that I could set for myself is to simply find joy in each project as I find inspiration and the satisfaction that the joy I feel in making each quilt or table runner or wine bag, or whatever. That that joy I feel would be passed along and shared with the receiver of the item.

 

Yup, that sounds like the best goal I could set... to find joy in my work and to bless others.

 

May you have a blessed year!

 

 

See what other quilters are blogging about at Quilter Blogs