Habits

Old ones are hard to break, new ones are hard to make. For me at least.

Different sources on the internet say that studies have shown that it takes 21 days OR MORE to break  old habits and also to make new habits. Oh, boy!

I decided to make a daily planner in January. I started out with good intentions and did really well with it for a few weeks. I bought a cute little 3-ring binder planner so I could add pages as needed.

I designed pages so that two facing pages would give me plenty of room to write the things I wanted to accomplish each day, add things that I did accomplish that weren't on the list and any other notes I needed/wanted to make. I only printed about a month's worth of pages in case I decided I wanted to change anything.

Then I inventoried my projects and made a spread sheet so I could keep track of them better and put that in the planner.

Then I ran out of planner pages. But when I copied more I forgot that I had enlarged the previous pages that I had printed so the planner pages were too big. I hate to waste the paper (and ink) so I am going to make do and use them anyway.

Then I went to visit my parents for a few days. Then Husband had a bunch of medical tests and appointments that I went to with him. Then, then, then. Anyway, I got off track and kind of stopped using the planner the way I intended.

The beginning of March I even started writing down the wrong date! I was writing 5/__ instead of 3/__. Is that wishful thinking, or what?!

And, now I am finding it hard to get back into the habit of using it.

I am, however, keeping up with Pat Sloan's calendar. Yesterday the challenge was Thread. Check your stash. Do you have old threads? How do you use your threads - piecing, machine quilting, applique, embroidery? Get it organized.

My thread is pretty organized. I store my threads for general sewing and piecing in a six drawer unit my Mom gave me. Dad used to store his CDs and music papers in it. He used to sing at their local nursing home and tiny rural church and worked really hard every week practicing. He had to have the words written down so he could remember them. He played the songs over and over and over until he had all the words written, then he sang and sang and sang. Sadly, he isn't able to do that anymore.

 Anyway, one time I asked Mom where she got the unit he stored his music stuff in because I thought it would be great for holding thread spools and small sewing tools. She didn't tell me, but the next time I saw them she gave it to me.

My machine quilting threads are stored in Snapware containers labeled by color on the shelf under the frame table. I like these because they can be stacked together and the lid has a handle that folds down flat into the lid. They also come in different sizes. I got mine at Joann Fabrics.

The machine embroidery and hand quilting threads are stored in these wonderful containers (gifted to me by a very generous person:) Thank you!). They are also labeled by color. I like labels.

Hand embroidery thread is stored in two drawers of a re-purposed old wardrobe.

I was gifted boxes of thread from someone closing up a store. I have individual skeins wound on card bobbins. 

While going through my counted cross-stitch threads I decided those drawers need some decluttering. I threw out a few things that were damaged and will be sharing some other things with my quilt group. I found a beaded Christmas tree ornament that I thought would work up quickly. 

Hey, I can use that as a Fair entry in the Christmas tree decoration category! I worked on it a little today and discovered it may take a day or two to finish, not as quick as I hoped for, but it will be good to get it done. I will attach it to a card or use as a tie on to a gift later.

I really am trying to get better organized so I have more time for sewing. I just need to remember where I put it all once I get it organized!

I am finding Pat's calendar to be helpful at keeping me on track and thinking about different areas that might need to be reorganized or decluttered again. I think I need to follow this calendar every month.

Design Wall

To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I don't really have much to show today. The Coronavirus news is depressing and frightening. Since I have retired Husband and I don't go out much anyway and we are always well stocked with necessary items and food.

Saturday we got this.

Today it is gone, but it has been a gloomy and drizzly all day today.

I am entertaining myself like I usually do, with my fabric and sewing machine. At home I have a nice little setup that works well for me in my sewing area. But, at retreat I am always losing my tools so I made a mat with pockets to go under my machine.

The pockets hold all my stuff  - rotary cutter, small ruler, pencil, seam ripper, scissors with a spot for the thread catcher. My tools will all be right at my fingertips! There is no pattern. I knew what I needed. I measured my machine to see what size to cut the fabrics. Added a batting scrap between the layers for a little padding. I had made the thread catcher several years ago. It is lined with a zip bag to make it easier to dump - threads and scraps just slide right out. I used aquarium tubing in a casing at the top so it would stay open.

I have had fun the last few days getting reacquainted with some of my fabric. I have some pretty fabrics! This photo shows some of the reds and pinks.

I knew I was getting close to having enough blocks for a pink, red, orange Stash Busters Challenge 2020 quilt so I just kept cutting. Most fabrics are used only once. I did have to use a few twice.

I have 120 blocks which will make a decent sized lap quilt, I think. I want to lay it out before I start sewing it together. I'm hoping the colors flow from pink to red to orange. 

Following along with Pat's calendar Thursday's challenge was to sort the little things. I have been working on organizing my sewing room for a while now. Most of the the little things are finding homes.

Some of these little containers I bought, but Husband has become very good at looking at containers in a new way - deli salad, KFC carry-out, DQ ice cream treat containers. Before he throws anything away he asks if I could use it in the sewing room. What a great guy!

This is a re-purposed office organizer that I was using at school. It works great on my big ironing board to hold the little things, same items that I used at school only now they are being used for quilting.

On Friday the challenge was to think about an older UFO. I have a Grandmother's Flower Garden that I have been piecing off and on for at least 25 years. 

I have been taking that with me to Sew Days when I don't feel like bringing my machine. This nice little organizer holds everything I need. I am down to the last 3 or 4 blocks. Then I will repack this with the green diamonds and white path papers and pieces.

Saturday's challenge was to look at your fabric and see if you were short of any color(s). 

 

There are blacks, whites and grays in the pie safe. I think I am pretty well stocked in all the colors. Of course, that doesn't stop me from adding more! 

Sunday's challenge was 10 Minute Tidy. Spend at least ten, or more, minutes tidying up the work area. I can do that! It's the whole room that needs help. That will take more than ten minutes.

I hope all of you, and your loved ones, are safe and comfortable in this crazy time. 

Spring?

Is that you?

Looking out my front door I am starting to see signs of Spring.

Tulip leaves poking through.

And Crocuses or Croci (either is acceptable) blooms that are close to opening.

Still following along with Pat Sloan's calendar:

On Monday she discussed left over binding - what do you do with it? Use it for scrap bindings? Throw it away? 

I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches, usually on the straight of grain, so it goes in my 2 1/2 inch strip/square drawer to be used in scrap quilts.

On Tuesday the prompt was about books. Are there any books you are missing in your collection? Books for certain techniques, inspirations, etc.? She made a few recommendations. Personally, I am trying to reduce the number of books and magazines in my collection. I have pulled a few to take to the next Sew Day with my group.

The prompt for today was Bright and Shiny or being distracted/overwhelmed with multiple projects. Her suggestion is to plan well and stay organized. Keep up with BOMs or BOWs. I recently did an inventory of my projects in progress and in the planning stages. I took photos, made a spread sheet and am planning to work down the list. I am currently working on Circle of Life and Stash Busters Challenge 2020 with some 365 Challenge thrown in occasionally. 

Once a project is done I will mark it as done on the spread sheet and chose a new project. Sounds like a good plan, right?

Design Wall Monday

To see what other quilters are up to go to

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

On my wall is the latest Exchange block.

Mine is the large one on the bottom.

While I was working on this block I had to wind some bobbins. I found this.

I am using this cone of thread just for bobbin winding since I had run into problems with it when quilting. I kept having thread breakage and couldn't figure out why until I noticed the thread on the cone had slubs. However this is the biggest I had found. Since it is a cone it doesn't fit on the spool holder on my machine. I set it behind the machine and use my fingers to hold it up as it feeds into the thread guides. I felt this big mess so I was able to cut the thread at this point so it didn't wind onto the bobbin. I had contacted the seller (Connecting Threads) and they replaced this cone free of charge. Wasn't that nice!

I like to stand at my front door when I brush my teeth in the morning. I enjoy seeing what is going on outside. Depending on the time of year I see rabbits, hummingbirds, butterflies, lovely flowers blooming. Yesterday I saw this.

Look closely at that bright spot. That is a house three miles west of my house. It was built a few years ago. It has big windows that face east. At this time of year when the sun is just rising it reflects off those windows. The first time we noticed it we thought the house was on FIRE! Seriously. We almost called the fire department. Then we realized there was no smoke. As we watched a little longer and the sun rose higher the brightness dimmed. Thank goodness! 

But, later in the evening we noticed off to the west, but a mile north, that there was a real fire.

This is the second one in that area in the last week. The first time we heard a farmer was doing some field work. We haven't heard anything about this one yet. Hopefully, no one was hurt and damage is minimal.

I am continuing to follow along with Pat Sloan's Crazy Quilty Calendar. Yesterday her prompt was about travel. Do you travel to sewing days or retreats with friends? Or take projects to work on when traveling? She suggested duplicates and making a travel project bag/box that can quickly be grabbed knowing it is loaded with all the tools, etc. needed. I have been doing that for a few years. I hate not having all the tools I need when I am not at home. I don't like to ask others to borrow theirs, although my friends are very willing to share. I also found that it is nice to have extras to share if needed.

In my rolling bag I keep a machine, small iron, pin cushion, Sew Together bag that holds many items from scissors to machine needles, and more - all duplicates.  

The link goes to Amazon, but it can be found on other sites as well as some quilt shops.

Here's a nice tutorial that walks you through putting it together.

I am working on getting duplicates of bigger priced items - rulers, cutting mats, etc. - that will stay in this bag. Because I still have a few items that have to get packed for each Sew Day or Retreat I made an inventory list so I don't forget anything - like my lunch, snacks and beverages!

I have a small tote with compartments that I use to hold Hexies for the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt I am working on - duplicate scissors and thimble.

I am close to getting all the blocks made for this quilt. Then I need to make the hexies and diamonds for the path.