Monday, January 3, 2022

2022's First To-Do Tuesday

It is a new year and a time when people try to become better organized with new planners and setting goals.  That is where the linky party, Tuesday To Do hosted by Linda, the Texas Quilt Gal, comes in.  It is where quilters share their weekly goals. What's all the todoo about To-Do?  Well, for me, it is a weekly accountability opportunity.  By nature, I am a list maker.  I make lists for things to be done, shopping lists, goals, and more.  Making lists keeps me organized and on task.  It allows me to write down my thoughts and not have to repeat to myself "I have to remember to do __________."  LOL!  My various lists allow me to sleep better at night!

Of course, there are times that I make a list and then forget to check to see if I am making progress.  Ooops... kinda like my 2021 quilty goals.  But I won't dwell on the items that I didn't complete.  After all, I did meet three out of five goals. :)

Lists are especially important to me when preparing for a trip.  And that is exactly what we are doing this week.

What's at the top of the quilty list?  

❧  Finish quilting my customer's Hen House quilt so that I can make the delivery as we travel.  I need to get the binding attached as well.  If I have time I will machine sew the binding down, but if time is running short, I can hand-sew the binding in the car. 

It is a little difficult to see, but there a chickens in the quilting.  I practiced and practiced throughout several days (because practice makes better!) and when I finally felt comfortable enough to put the quilt under the needle I was pleased.  I am currently about 1/3 through the quilting of chickens and loops (eggs... as my customer said "lots and lots of eggs").


❧  Once on the road, I have a table topper to hand quilt.  This was a pattern test that I completed last year.  


I added a border to it to bring it to the size I wanted, but was not pleased with the large corners.  I place some HST pieces in the corners to balance it out.  

I plan to do some big-stitch quilting with ivory thread to show the larger stitching off.

I need to run... I have things to get done and mark off of my various lists before we take off on Thursday.  Like laundry... and Dave went deer hunting last week and was successful... We have venison to grind and will make bratwurst and Italian sausage before we leave too.  We'll be Dallas for a show and a chance for Dave to do some networking, reconnect with clients in his industry and make some new contacts.  Who know... maybe I'll run into some quilters there!  I find inspiration and ideas all over the place!

We will be staying with friends that have the goat farm on our return home... and I'll be making a special delivery of the "Hen House". 🐔 

Now I know it is winter and all but the weather has been mild and I have not minded this one bit.  But the cold weather has finally shown up... we had snow on Saturday and it is a perfect time to nestle down in my studio and ignore the outdoor temps!  I am NOT a cold, winter weather lover so I think I will be like an ostrich and bury my head and ignore it until it goes away!  Or at least until we can head south! :)

Are you a list maker?  

Years ago I had a friend who tried to become organized and she would make lists.  She would get stuck or distracted and start adding things to her list that she had already done... just so that she could mark them off and feel a sense of accomplishment.  

Leave a comment about your lists or about what your plans are for the coming week...  I love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

14 comments:

  1. Hi Melva. Fist let me wish you a very Happy New Year.
    I hope you and your husband have a wonderful and safe time on your travels.Maybe the weather will co-operate and it will be nice and warm. It has been in the high 60's and even in the low 70's for a few days here, but last night it turned very cold and even snowed in some places. Not here where I live though. We very seldom get any. It is supposed to warm up again by Wed.
    From what I can see, you are doing a fantastic job on the quilting. The chicken is so cute.
    Do I make list? Definitely! I would be lost without them. I usually write down what I want to start on and go from there. I didn't get anything done last year. It was a very bad year for me. I am feeling much better now So I am hoping to accomplish some things this year.
    Wishing you the best!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your customer's chicken philosophy. One quilter's loops in another woman's eggs! LOL I used to make quilty lists but no more...I just squirrel it now! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love making lists and I am one of those that will add 'done' things just so I can cross it off! It's fun!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am a paper list maker. I feel a great deal of happiness when I can scratch off an item as done. Yes, I've been known to write it down just so I can scratch it off. Heehee. We have some seriously chilly weather going on here, and my quilting mojo has returned, thankfully. I hope you enjoy a lovely trip!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the hen house quilt and the quilting on it is so cute! That is a pretty pattern on that table topper. I hope you enjoy your trip to Dallas! How long will you be on the road? Your venison bounty sounds good.

    When I was an administrative assistant, I was a master list maker and loved checking things off the lists I kept in a small black binder on my office desk. I kept the completed lists in the back of the binder, and they were invaluable in helping me keep things documented, especially since we didn't have computers at the time! As I've gotten older and more used to having lists on my laptop, I've gotten away from the binder lists, and I actually missed them so much that I started another one. I don't keep things in it like I should, but I just love the look of that black binder on my desk! I also have a Weather Journal in a black binder, which is where I document temperature and weather stuff every day.
    Have a safe trip, and thanks for linking to To Do Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very behind on any planning and list-making but I guess all in due time! Good luck on yours!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the chicken quilting! What a fun quilt and fun to deliver it. Have a safe trip!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I haven't been home since right after Christmas, so haven't been sewing or able to collect and list projects. While we're in frigid Chicago, I'm knitting a blanket, which keeps me warm as I knit -- just like a quilt does while it gets bound. When we get home, I plan to hold off on sewing and get UFOs, WiPs, kits, etc., organized, and THEN I'll be able to make goals and lists. Baby steps for me this year, but I want to use some of my lovely collection and get some tops made. I need to find a local quilter, too, as my tops are beginning to pile up. Happy 2022!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Melva! I am definitely a list maker if for no other reason that cross off the done items! I find it very satisfying to put that checkmark and done next to each item. Plus, it really does help me to focus on just a few projects or steps for the week. And yes, they definitely do allow me to sleep better at night so I'm not fretting about not forgetting something! Your choice of quilting chickens and eggs sound and looks just perfect. I love that little border of chicken wire! Safe travels to you and DH. I hope the show and networking work out well. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

    ReplyDelete
  10. I too, love the list making! I did some organizing and list making. I keep finding things to add tho! Yikes.
    Stay safe and sew on , wherever you are!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love lists too, however when I list all the UFO's that I'd like to get done lately... well they just are there for the next list making time in the next January! However this year my hope is to use up a BUNCH of my old Christmas fabrics, which I have been cutting into 4 different size strips for the future quilts. I'm ahead that way for working on those. At least a start!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That is a cute topper, can you share whose pattern this is? Safe travels!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Have fun on your trip! Can't wait to see the whole chicken quilt--perhaps when it's delivered. You've got a lot planned but you'll get it done. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

    ReplyDelete