When Multi Tasking Doesn’t Work!

I am singing “Let it Go!” to myself -

It’s not in my nature to let things go – to let things slide.  To say “You can’t do it all!” and not force myself to double down and get it done.

Sometimes no matter how you try to multi-task things, it’s just NOT going to fit.

I was up at 5:30am this morning to get a shower and head over to the QPO (Quiltville Post Office for our many new readers – welcome!) to get a couple of mystery clues written.

The placemats are pieced.  The bindings are made and ready.  It just wouldn’t take TOO much time if I could just get this loaded in the long arm?  It could be running while I fill mail order, and write two Frolic clues ahead of time, plus write this blog post -

I mean, It’s now 7:30 and I told Dad I would be back for breakfast at 9am.  That should be plenty of time, right?

And as I sat here with invoices printing, while piecing a backing – I hit the brakes.  NO.  No, I can’t do it all.  I am out of time.  It is what it is.

And the most important thing is to be with my dad.

They wouldn’t take long to quilt at all -

But they are going to have to wait.

I will pick up some holiday placemats at Dollar Tree for my Beta Test Retreaters.  Whether or not there are these placemats on hand for them to use will NOT make or break their retreat, no matter how perfect I wanted things to be.

Making Warm Hands, Warm Heart kits.

I multitasked making all of the kits for Germany – they are ready to leave with me on Sunday.  When were these accomplished?  While dad was napping and I was making dinner.  They are DONE.

I can’t wait to teach this little workshop in Germany!

Be watching for the digital pattern release of Warm Hands, Warm Heart to happen on our return from Germany.

But those placemats?  Nope.   Not going to happen.

While I am thinking of Frolic -

We have SO MANY NEW FOLKS this year!  As we are just a few days out of the release of Part 1 on Friday, I wanted to put out a few reminders.  Thanks for bearing with me.

DO NOT post unit sizes, or unit/piece counts in your posts. This is a MYSTERY quilt, those participating in it already KNOW the size of the unit, and how many there are to make.

I am especially pointing out posts that give the unit size or the count or say things like "200 done, 40 to go..."

Please do not share this info in your social media posts, rather direct folks to the mystery on my blog where they can find that information.

DO NOT rewrite my directions as you make your own blog posts – We’ve had this happen before.  People’s blog posts are nearly a duplicate of mine, showing how they cut their units, what size they are, how many to make.  This is a limited edition mystery – reader appreciation is what started it all.  Please share your fabrics and your units.  Just leave out the details.  Do not give sizes (Yes, I’m saying it again because it bears repeating!) and don’t mention how many of each unit you need to make.  KEEP IT A MYSTERY FOR ALL!

I am currently revamping the whole “Mystery Monday Link-Up” situation.  When the change of policy with in-linkz and what folks need to do to participate (Having to fill out a form and prove their identity, etc.) our participation was down drastically.  Yes, I know many of our participants are of “a certain age.”  I know that people don’t like doing new things.  But since it became hard to participate in the linky, or people just didn’t want to fill out forms the first time they participate, I have made the executive decision to link up through hashtags on Instagram only.

You will post your shares of your progress to Instagram and I will link to the hashtag grouping in our Mystery Monday Link-Up post so folks can scroll through and see what has been posted using those tags.

Our quilting community on Instagram is vibrant and alive, and is a great way to share your progress with others. I am giving you the heads up in case you wish to participate in our hashtag link up.  Get an Instagram profile.  It’s free.  Start following folks. You can see who is already using the #quiltvillemystery and #frolicquilt hash tags!

We also welcome your shares through our Quiltville’s Open Studio group page on Facebook.

And one little other side thing – this will help me out TONS as I will be just arriving in Germany on the morning of December 2nd, which is the first Mystery Monday Link-Up Day. My posting while I am gone may be spotty, and that is why (Multi-tasking again!) I am at the QPO to write myself a couple of Frolic parts in advance.

This photo needs a witty caption.

Tackle this day with the determination of a wart hog?  LOL! Just a little bit of Africa to share on this beautiful Monday morning as I throw the multi-tasking to the curb and just spend the day with my Dad.

We’ve been binge watching The Crown on Netflix.  There will be a run to town today for last minute grocery and retreat items.  There may be some photo op stops for scenery along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  But I will NOT be cramming in the quilting and binding of 6 place mats.

There is a load of mail order to squeak out before I head home for breakfast, and that’s what I’ll tackle right now.

No, we can’t do EVERYTHING, but we can choose the best of the things to do, and give them our best.

OH, and another reminder!  Do you have your name in the hat for our November Quilty Box Gift-Away?  We will draw our winners Thursday morning!  Enter to win ON THAT POST.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Are you ready for this busy week ahead? Step into today and make it a keeper! 

Just minimize the multi-tasking and make what matters really MATTER!