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Friday, October 19, 2012

Baby Steps Toward Progress!

Okay, this first photo has NOTHING to do whatsoever with this post title --- but this is the most MAGNIFICENT tree as you enter my neighborhood.

It’s HUGE, and it’s in the throes of glorious color right now.  At least it was until last night when a huge thunderstorm blew through during QuiltCam time – and I’m sure when I leave the neighborhood this morning that most of these leaves will be on the ground.

The picture doesn’t do it justice.  If there was a sunshiney blue sky behind those orange leaves…it would look more magnificent!

I just love this time of year, but like everything else, it passes all too quickly!

So back on to the title of baby steps ---I was talking last night on QuiltCam about how I am starting to feel a but discombobulated with too many projects going at once.  I’m generally a “heads down on one project at a time” girl when it comes to piecing –and just off the top of my head I can list the Cheddar Bow Ties, the Cheddar Jubilee from Randy’s Sow-Along, The green strings I started on the treadle, the 9 patches I’ve been sewing on the treadle, the spool blocks, the moth in a window blocks, and a couple others I did as demos that I’d like to do as full quilts but COME ON!? How can I make progress with too many things going on?

I’m much more the type to work big amounts of time on ONE project so I can see actual progress taking place.  So along with the “one drawer a day” thing while I’m home….I’m setting SOME projects aside and concentrating on a set couple, and sticking to it.

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These are the three Moth in a Window blocks that I did last night while on QuiltCam.  Yes – only 3 in about an hour and a half ---but it’s still progress!  It was a fun night!  I loved listening to the rain and the thunder outside my window while I sewed.

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Here are my blocks laid out so far.  I’m liking it! 

One of the questions last night from a reader/watcher was whether I’m going to set them with sashings or not.  I really don’t know.  I kind of like the look WITHOUT sashings, but I never make that decision ahead of time.  I’ll make a bunch more blocks, and then start playing around.  It might look good with one “common” fabric as sashing, putting the Moth in a Window – in another window!

In thinking on the list making discussion yesterday ---I realize I need to

a) finish the one project that is closest to completion and knock it off the list.

b) work on the worst one so the rest of the list is more bearable.

So even if I am loving these…it’s a relatively NEW project, and I NEED to get caught up on the blocks for the Sow-Along, AND – yes.  FINISH THE BOW-TIES!  So, little Moth in a Window, you are going back burner for a while.  The green strings are going on the back burner for a while – that wasn’t even a legitimate project, just my desire to sew green strings!  The leader/ender spools are great, and growing on the side while I work on other things.

It’s time to reign it in a bit!  This means if you join me for QuiltCam tonight at 9pm Eastern time ---I'll be back working on those Cheddar Bow-Ties.  It's SO CLOSE to being done, I just have to push it through.

What project can YOU concentrate on and knock off your list?

30 comments:

  1. I have to concentrate on getting a baby quilt done(just got to quilt it and put on the binding) as the baby is due the beginning of Nov. Also doing a Hallowe'en table runner for my sister. And we all know how close that is. When those are done I can go back to Orca Bay. Yes, I'm still plugging away on it. If only other projects would stop interrupting I'might' get Orca Bay done before the new mystery.

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  2. my knock-off project would be the bonus HST's. My local quilt shop is hosting a beginner's quilting class on Saturdays. i've made 200 of the 2 inch HST's so far,so i thought it would be a good idea to kit up the HST's for the students as a bonus. The HST's are made, pressed and squared, so they could have the fun of turning and twisting them and making different quilt blocks for a mini sampler HST quilt.

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    1. Anonymous9:11 AM EDT

      Hey, can I take your class...free HSTs? WOWOW.... would like to see what your students do with them. Good Luck, and have FUN!!! JulieinTN

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  3. Anonymous9:08 AM EDT

    Bonnie I say whatever works ;). While I have tried to be a one-at-a-time quilter/piecer ... just ain't happening lol.

    You get so much done, how could anyone EVER conplain. Keep 'trucking'!
    Smiles, JulieinTN

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  4. My current projects are all on hold, but for another reason. This is the time we pack up and head south to warmer weather. I have quilt tops and backs, partially finished quilts, and collections of fabric ready to work on while the sun shines. I still have to make up my "shopping list" of fabrics that I need to complete each one.
    I always go through withdrawal, and this year I don't have a hand-work project to take along!
    I know that my sewing room will be up and running before I know it, and I'll be back to sewing every day.....

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  5. Now that I've cut out my next leader/ender project, I can get busy with my Jubilee quilt again. I just can't sew a line if I think I'll have thread tale! LOL And my leader/ender project is a scrappy red and white tumbler! Can't wait to see progress on that! :o)

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  6. I know how you feel! I have the leader/ender bow ties, the star struck and oklahoma backroads both from the bluegrass quilt festival, and orca bay all to complete. The blocks for orca bay are propably the closest to completion. I have started sewing some together to see what the completed top will look like with my choices. I also have a hexie project I have been working on (you got me hooked on that to) lol. Plus I have a quilted top that needs to be trimmed and the binding added for Christmas. But with all that I have been more focused on the hexies and the star struck blocks more than anything else.

    Happy Quilting!

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  7. My design wall is busy, one top almost completed, have to figure out how to finish the border and corners. Next to that, the designs keep changing depending on my mood at the time. Right now it is full of 5" squares with fussy cut fish for a baby quilt. In the meantime you got me started on cleaning my office, soooooo that is going to take more of my time today. Working toward bringing, "Teenie", the featherweight in for quiltcam tonight. See you later!:)

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  8. My priority right now is quilting and binding a few Project Linus quilts before our next PL sewing day next week. Then on to quilting the I Spy quilt I am making for my neighbor's 3 year old granddaughter. It distracted me from the PL quilts and it needs to be done by Thanksgiving. Deadlines usually dictate my priority list!

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  9. Like you, I have too many projects going...
    OB has been my leader/ender for other now complete projects so now I hope to progress faster... stating the 5.5in blocks now.. step 4?
    I have completed 2 blocks each plus parts for Talking turkey, Winston Ways, Midnight flight, 20 blocks are cut/kitted for Floribunda, and my hand stitching is Bow ties and Hope Academy wall hanging for my sons class. I have to do handwork with quiltcam because of where my computer isn't. I have 8 in the pile to be quilted... and that pile isn't going anywhere as customer work comes first (sigh) gotta pay for my addition somehow! I plan to work on floribunda tuesday between classes I'm teaching at our local craft day.

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  10. Boy can I ever relate to this post! It is time for me to reign in too. I've even told myself that I am NOT to start the new November mystery until: Carolina Christmas has its borders on and is sent to my long arm quilter, Roll Roll Cotton Boll quilt top is finished and Orca Bay quilt top is finished. I've got all the blocks done but I'm stalled on all those projects. And those are only the mystery quilts! Oh, and I have the fabrics set aside for Texas Tumbleweeds and I think that it will be done before another mystery. And Bow-Dacious leaders and enders. And I have lots of other projects started with various workshops and baby quilts, etc. I'm trying to focus, I really am but then my eyes spot something and before you know it I'm distracted! Guilt ensues and that's never good is it!? Anyway, thanks for the reminder to get the head down and get some of these things finished. Hoping to catch quilt cam tonight and sew along with you. It's 6 pm my time so I'll be home from work and ready to play. :) Mavis in Victoria

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  11. I like your thinking girl. I'm usually pretty focused when finishing projects before starting new ones, but have fell off the wagon the past 3 mos. & find myself surrounded by multiple projects in piecing, handwork (yo-yos), and machine embroidery and applique. So it'll be back to Bento Box In Delft on the hand crank SInger 66 tonite for QuiltCam time. Thanks for refocusing me!

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  12. Bonnie, good for you. It's always a good idea to get a handle on what's in progress and what can be finished to reduce the distractions and looming chaos of too many projects. Your plan sounds reasonable, as long as it is loose enough that when inspiration strikes you can sit and stitch to try out your new idea while it's percolating, or it might wander off. Don't stifle any of your wonderful ideas for the sake of order, please. It's ALL progress. Can't wait to see what you're thinking about for those green strings on the treadle!

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  13. I am SOOO glad to read this post. I was wondering if I was just an inept quilter or if you were super-human. I could not, for the life of me, figure out how you could juggle all those projects without sewing the wrong squares together... let alone, ever finish anything. You have restored my faith.

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  14. Me too! I so want to follow along with you but find myself slipping behind. So I'm with you....will concentrate on what is nearest to completion. Give the treadle its own project,and one travel project. That will leave room for my upcoming scheduled class and new project with you.
    Loving the moth in the window.

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  15. I don't feel so bad now about all my UFOs (hence my blog name)! I've even created a separate page to list them and the progess I've made on each. I plan on sewing all weekend, and I'm going to finish quilting a lap quilt for me, then knock all my Christmas projects off that never-ending list! Then I will be all set to start your next mystery quilt!

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  16. The way you are deciding what to work on first sounds like the tip for reducing debt that says to pay off the smallest bill first! Using that logic, I should bind the 30s sampler that I just got back from the quilter. I have two BOMs that I've let slide a little. There is one more donation quilt to quilt and bind to finish up my stack of 5 that will be going to the crisis pregnancy center.

    Oh my, that's just some of my current projects - I think I need to make a written list! Then I can prioritize easier.

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  17. i must have missed it but how big are those blocks anyway?

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  18. Wow Bonnie what a lovely blocks!

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  19. I've struggled with UFO's for several years. This year I decided to finish some that were close, which is kind of what you said. I have finished some! RRCB is done, quilted and bound, Kentucky (Carolina) Christmas is quilted, just needs binding, just in time to put it on my bed for the Christmas season. Orca Bay is still in parts & pieces, but getting ready to pull that one out. I also finished a 4 year old UFO, the blocks were done and just needed assembled. A couple of borders, then basting, and I can give it to my mom for her birthday, November 16 because guess what? She just discovered a love for hand quilting! So I'm giving her the quilt and she can quilt it herself.

    I'm still on the fence about your new mystery--will have to wait and see. I definitely feel good about some big finishes, though.

    Hugs,
    Amy in KY

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  20. I've struggled with UFO's for several years. This year I decided to finish some that were close, which is kind of what you said. I have finished some! RRCB is done, quilted and bound, Kentucky (Carolina) Christmas is quilted, just needs binding, just in time to put it on my bed for the Christmas season. Orca Bay is still in parts & pieces, but getting ready to pull that one out. I also finished a 4 year old UFO, the blocks were done and just needed assembled. A couple of borders, then basting, and I can give it to my mom for her birthday, November 16 because guess what? She just discovered a love for hand quilting! So I'm giving her the quilt and she can quilt it herself.

    I'm still on the fence about your new mystery--will have to wait and see. I definitely feel good about some big finishes, though.

    Hugs,
    Amy in KY

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  21. Anonymous1:54 PM EDT

    I´m in the "handquilting buisness" right now. Must finish a whole bunch of tops that been lying in my sewingroom. No more new quilt until these are finished :)
    Gun, Sweden
    gun@lapp.se

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  22. I think your "Moth in the Window" looks sashed already ...just saying. I love it as is...you are just so brave at scrapy-nessing (word??) your quilts. I still overthink coordinating...I hear you about working on tooo many projects at one time...BUT, things keep poppin' up...new New Year's Resolution for me--one thing/day/idea at a time....and put the other "lightbulbs" in a journal....Julierose

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  23. Hi Bonnie,
    I feel the same way you do about having too many projects going and about a week ago, I picked 3 that I'm going to work on and get finished. Good luck with yours. I enjoy your Blog and cam time and I'm looking forward to your mystery quilt. Thanks for all you give to the quilting community.

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  24. I am fairly new to quilting and must ask , what are leader and ender blocks? I thought l/e were for long arm quilting. I also must admit to having 3 to 4 projects going at once, due to season, classes, something easy to carry to quilting get-togethers, donations! It's easy to have several going at once

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  25. Oh Bonnie, you are making me feel quilty guilty, lol. I have a crazy heart applique quilt that I need to finish before it reaches it's 30th birthday as a flimsie! Is that a record for a UFO? I tend to start too many projects with gusto and then shift into idle. I was doing really well, completing projects when I got laid off in 2008 but now that I'm back working full-time, I just can't seem to accomplish much sewing.

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  26. Hi Bonnie,

    That tree is just absolutely beautiful--or was. Which Quiltmaker magazine was the "Moth in the Window" pattern in? I love it, although, I sure don't need ANOTHER magazine, for one pattern. It doesn't happen to be in one of your books does it, I have them. I am trying to figure out if I can make it to see you in Plano, TX during New Year's. It is about an hour or so from where I live in Fort Worth now. My DD used to live in there, I love that town.
    Thanks Sandy- sisgray_71@yahoo.com

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  27. I know exactly how you feel. I have so many projects that I'm spening time on that I can't see any progress on any of them. Like you, I've put some to the back burner so I can focus time on the ones that need to be done by year's end. Be well and enjoy your time at home. I'm also cleaning. See what an inspiration you are? Lane

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  28. The projects around my me are growing but I will continue to tackle them one by one and slowly. Work gets in the way but I need to the bills and I need money for the Quilt Festival next Friday. Yahoo!
    mmm sounds like more projects in my future.
    Love your blocks.

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