Well…I was going to clean…

Monday’s “Cleaning delay” day turned into Tuesday -

And well….

I actually did pretty well, but you’d never know it by this table!

Over the past several months that have “encouraged” the Snails Trail quilt project – I’ve also been cleaning through bags and boxes and grabbing all of the “right size” small hunks and chunks.  No purchasing for this quilt, oh no.  It was time to put my money where my scraps are and make it work from the dregs of the scraps on hand.

That’s the challenge.  No new yardage.  Not even favorite fat quarters.  Nothing from the Scrap User’s System strip stash.

This had to all come from crumbs, cut off triangles and leftover bits too short to call strips.

And it started out pretty well.

And somewhat contained.

And then got out of control!

I mean, how big is this quilt supposed to be to tame all of this stuff?

I had bins and baskets by scrap size – pieces that would do the first round, the second round, the third round – saving the biggest pieces for last.

And then I quickly realized that the TRIMMINGS from round 2 and 3 would likely be big enough to feed round 1 or 2 of the next block and the scraps are just not sewing down as fast as I thought they would! LOL!

And somewhere in there – baskets got messed up, piles began and my method began to be “just grab the nearest thing and SEW!”

Something else to notice in this photo – on the left side at the outlet – do you see that I’ve installed the Comfort Zone pheromone diffuser?  This was yesterday morning about 11am.

This was Lola by 3pm.

I had also dismantled Zoey’s bed thanks to the zippers and had washed the cover and the cushions and put everything back together.

Let it be said that this is the FIRST TIME EVER that Lola has rested on Zoey’s bed.  This never happens. Like NEVER.  And I think it is due to the Comfort Zone diffuser.

Diffuser on the wall.  Lola passed out.

On Zoey’s bed.  FOR HOURS.

And this was the FIRST TIME EVER that this happened!

It didn’t last for long.  Zoey is kind of big and bumbling and Lola wasn’t having it.  But as soon as Zoey left the bed….Lola was right back in range of her diffuser.

She may become an addict.  And I’m okay with that!

I’ve got one in the basement studio at the cabin for Ivy too.  CALM is the operative word these days.

They last 30 days.

And the directions tell you to replace the whole unit after a year – I can do that.

You’ll find them in the Pets Matter category of the Quiltville Amazon Affiliate Store.

So back to those blocks.

This was yesterday afternoon’s bounty.

And Zoey wanting in on the action!

(And not holding still)

8 blocks added to the done box.

Another 120 pieces of junk fabric found places in this quilt.

Still not making a dent yet!

Snails Trail will become a digital PDF pattern when I have the quilt done, and the pattern will include all of the details. Stay tuned!

Meet Susan!

How fabulous is Susan's kookaburra?? This was Susan’s final project during Free Motion Quilting Academy.

Susan shares: "I love the lesson format as they are, the great videos, and also the responsiveness to questions. I'm really appreciative of the up beat nature of this class especially at a time when we are all struggling. I loved that there were just practice weeks in between, which also allowed time for "life" to happen."

"Some weeks had a lot more doodling than sewing, which really helped when I could get to the machine... I love that this course challenged me to stop holding my breath, and sitting in that holding pattern I've been in where that self talk rhetoric keeps telling I can't quilt! I'm so glad I have embraced the challenge you have given me, and I'm celebrating the journey!"

Spoiler, Susan: You CAN QUILT, Rockstar! Wowie zowie!!

Do you want to quilt like Susan? Click to learn more about the Free Motion Quilting Academy.

It will be a fun, positive and confident learning experience for you. HollyAnne is your number one cheerleader in helping and encouraging you to succeed!

This is a 12 week course, AND you also will have lifetime access to the online course materials and Quilting Rockstars Facebook group.

Registration is open NOW but closes Saturday, August 29th – so don’t wait!

New student orientation starts August 31, 2020. The course runs through December 3rd.

FREE MOTION QUILTING ACADEMY (FMQA) IS THE FIRST COURSE OF ITS KIND THAT: ⁣
⁣
️Allows you to learn Free Motion Quilting from the privacy and comfort of your own home.⁣
⁣
️Encourages you to start with what you have, keeping supplies minimal and affordable, rather than urging you to buy a fancier machine.⁣
⁣
️Is ready when you are, regardless of geography or time zone, with on-demand, pre-recorded video lessons.⁣
⁣
️Offers you ongoing access to the instructor so you never feel alone or stuck and you can get near-real-time help during live streamed Q&A sessions.⁣
⁣
️Connects you to other rockstars-in-training around the world so you can help and encourage each other.⁣
⁣
I have written much more about Free Motion Quilting Academy on Saturday’s Post – where you can also enter to win our August 2020 Quilty Box. 

Click to THAT POST to enter to win (Drawing Thursday) and read more about FMQA and what it can do for you!

Quiltville Inn, Tuesday evening version -

After the Hubster finished mowing the lawn.

Just because I haven’t posted a photo in a while.

Today – MORE Snails Trail blocks – hopefully.  Those piles of scraps need to be sewn up somehow.

And then there was the autumn colored string thing that captured my fancy over the weekend – that is in the line up as well.

I talked to Jason this morning – he has made it as far as Missouri – He was in South Dakota yesterday morning.

I asked him why the hurry?  “When you are tent camping you need to be away from the smoke.  And then there is the Midwest heat that doesn’t really cool down at night….and HUMIDITY!”  

I think he is looking forward to all the comforts of home waiting for him here at the cabin. LOL!  We should be looking for him to arrive sometime tomorrow.

Anything going on in your world for this Wednesday?  If you are in the path of fires, extreme heat and hurricane damage – please stay safe!

Quiltville Quote of the Day

Vintage grandmother's flower garden quilt top from my collection.

Just in case you were wondering!

You matter.

Have a lovely Wednesday!