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Saturday, January 22, 2022

Puttering Into The Weekend!



The QPO Studio is looking a bit clearer.

I tackled bins and boxes and flat surfaces.

I needed to breathe "a bit of fresh air" even though windows and doors are staying firmly closed - I am not a fan of temps in the teens. (It was 9 degrees this morning when I woke up.  AUUGH!)

I had caught up on all of my computer and mail order fulfillment work, and I just couldn't settle into working on a project until I tackled my workspace.

Do you get that way too?


It all started with the cutting table.

Which is where my studio cleans usually start - it's where the most mess is.  And it is the thing that is usually going to take the longest because it involves unscrambling (Or would that be descrambling?) of the Scrap User's System strips I'd been working with, straightening them back out and putting them back into their drawers.

It may involve refolding fat quarters and yardage and putting all of that away.

It likely will involve rehanging of the number of rulers I'd been using recently, including the once I thought I had lost that were simply hiding under all of the fabric I had pushed aside to give me a clear cutting space.

If cleaning the kitchen starts with doing the dishes, then cleaning the studio starts with clearing off the cutting table.

From there I moved from flat surface to flat surface, putting things away and giving everything a good dust down.

A good vacuuming and it finally felt like I could breathe in here.

And by this time it was time to come home. I recorded a podcast yesterday with the folks at Quiltmaker Magazine, and I needed to be where I had the best cell reception - and that was at home!

Be watching for that episode of the Quilt & Tell podcast to drop on February 2nd!  I'll link to it here on the blog so you won't miss out.


My recording studio!

I was actually in an upstirs bedroom with the door closed.  They suggested a small space to minimize echo.  I don't have a walk-in closet so a room with quilts hanging on walls and a bed covered in quilts is about as soundproof as I could get. And comfy too! LOL

That's my leg that Zoey is next to, and she watched squirrels beyond the window as we chatted.

With most of the afternoon gone by this time - My studio organization plan took over in the cabin basement sewing room -


This is the BEFORE.  it was not working!

I've been cutting more block kits for my Churn Dash project - and combining scraps from those fabric boxes I received with my own pre-cut neutrals from the Scrap User's System.

I'd been trying to put the ones I'd already cut from on the chair back, and choosing new ones from the pile on the seat, but it just was not user friendly.


MUCH BETTER!

I'm using an expandable clothes drying rack and have put the strips I want to work with in the front, the ones I've already cut from in the back.

It will make the strips easy to put away when i am done with them.


These are the scraps from the bags I've sorted through.  I'm using a second ironing board as a staging surface to keep things off of the cutting table and the ironing board I am actually ironing on.

Many of these scraps date back to the 1980s and 1990s.  It feels so good to be putting them to use right away instead of putting them aside until later.

Oh, notice the clothes pins?  Yep. Ivy.  Need I say more? LOL!


I cut until dinner time!

Today's sewing is ready and waiting for me.

Queue the audio books, I've got a sewing day ahead!


In hand quilting news - I turned the corner to the 3rd side while "watching" Harry Potter, The Half Blood Prince - and I'm thinking about what I need to pull into the handwork line up next.

Wonderful if that string star quilt with the appliqued border (that I never finished!) is in some accessible tub somewhere?  I may search for that over the weekend.


Zoey!  What are you doing in Ivy's spot on the back of the couch? LOL!  Silly girl.



CHECK THIS OUT!

Ellen made her Rhododendron Trail in HALF SIZE!  That means where units finished at 2'' in the original, she finished hers at 1'' in her mini.  This is in sanely wonderful!

Well done, Ellen!

How are you coming along with yours?  


Did you see this release in my 1/15/22 post?

Quilt Size: 67'' X 75''

The introductory price for Cherry Crunch is marked 25% off in the digital pattern section of the Quiltville Store.  No coupon needed!  Price reduction good through 1/31/22.

And while that is exciting on its own - it's even BETTER if we throw in a Gift-Away, don't you think?

I will be drawing for ONE lucky winner and THEIR FRIEND who will each receive the printable PDF pattern for Cherry Crunch along with a Facets of Red fabric roll from Cotton to Quilts


(Fabric prize must be shipped to a USA address only.  If you are outside of the USA we can ship it to a friend within the USA who can then forward it on to you.)

You gotta be in it to win it!  Click to last Saturday's 1/15/22 Post to enter.

Drawing to happen Monday 1/24/22!

And it doesn't end there.  I have placed some OTHER Winter themed patterns ALSO at 25% off with no coupon required!

Forever Mine PDF pattern includes the runner too!

On sale at 25% off through 2/13/22

Warm Hands, Warm Heart & Winter Blues are both 25% off through 1/31/22.

If this is your first time downloading digital patterns from my store to a computer click HERE.

If you intend to download to an iPhone/iPad click HERE.


Sunrise through the ice chain!

It's this kind of Saturday on the mountain.  I'm happy the sun is shining through my windows, even though it is too cold to be out in it.

There is something to be said for blue skies and sunshine, no matter what.

The plans for my birthday weekend are simple.  We'll finish up our Harry Potter Marathon, and are planning on Jeff & Ashlyn coming up for my birthday dinner tomorrow night.

If I get enough of the Churn Dash blocks made, I'll start playing with layout ideas.

Let's jump in and get started!


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

As I continued to hand quilt the Oak Leaf quilt border last night, I realized that life has given me more than I ever dreamed, more abundantly than could ever have been imagined and I am so grateful.
Time being snowed in on the mountain this past week, even for just a few days was a gift.
It occurred to me that If we spend our lives being too busy to notice, we just might miss the wonderful life we already have.
Today is the last day of my 50s. I'm stepping into 60!
Bring it on!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!


 

55 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday weekend! Thank you for sharing your life. I enjoy reading what’s going on in your neck of the woods each day.

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  2. Happy birthday, Bonnie! The 60's are a breeze. Watch out for the 70's!!

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  3. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BONNIE! WELCOME TO THE 60's!!!

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  4. Happy 60th birthday! May your day be filled with sunshine, sewing and love🎂

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  5. Since you take a break on Sunday's and will be celebrating your birthday. Have a Happy Happy Birthday!!! You teach us so much, not just quilting but with your upbeat personality and your Quilt Quips everyday. Makes us think!!!

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  6. A drying rack is perfect and an idea that hadn't occurred to me. Love just being part of your world.

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  7. Happy Birthday--enjoy the day!!

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  8. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! Such good advice to treasure & enjoy our blessings! Love seeing the pictures of your fur babies.

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  9. Happy Birthday Bonnie! Enjoy the celebration.🍰🎉❤️

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  10. Happy Birthday Bonnie. Just remember age is just a number and not to be focused on. Live your life and keep going.

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  11. Happy 60th birthday, Bonnie! Have a great weekend!

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  12. Anonymous10:11 AM EST

    Happy birthday. I am right behind you I will be 60 this summer. Enjoy your family time and know that we appreciate all you do.

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  13. Have a wonderful birthday. Love watching all your progress with the churn dash blocks. Stay warm we are still in the single digit temps and we are expecting snow tomorrow. Happy bithdya.

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  14. Happy 60th Birthday. It only gets better. Thank you for all your inspiration.Enjoy your birthday with your family. Cathy W

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  15. One inch blocks! I have to take a deep breath to tackle 2 inch finishes. Kudos to her and I love her colors !

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  16. Happy Birthday Bonnie and many more!

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  17. Happy Birthday! It won't hurt a bit to step into the next decade!

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  18. Happy Birthday Bonnie! Love today's quote. Like you say about making quilts, life is a journey, not a race. Enjoy your special weekend and family time!

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  19. we share the same birthday so happy birthday to us! Thank you for always encouraging and teaching. You are a precious person to so many people.

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  20. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

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  21. Feliz cumpleaños. No son difíciles los sesenta si los recibes con alegría.

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  22. happy birthday, bonnie. may it be sunny at your place tomorrow. i echo the thanks of others for sharing your life with us. so many times your quote of the day is spot on. i did keep expecting a photo of ivy pouncing on zoey for being in her spot. they are so fun. quiti hugs, patti in florida

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  23. Happy Birthday! Your hand quilting is making me wonder if I would enjoy hand quilting some of my smaller projects. Do you or any or your readers have any suggestions for hand quilting tutorials or articles? I like to make pillows, table toppers runners. Seems like those projects would be good hand quilting candidates

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  24. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! You are such a blessing for all you are and all you do! Enjoy the weekend and 60's....you've got this!!

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  25. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! Love that Rhodie mini!

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  26. Happy Birthday Bonnie, we share a birth month, mine is at the very beginning of the month but I have several years on you. Your posts are the first thing I go to when I open my email.Have a WONDERFUL Birthday with your family.

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  27. Happy Birthday Bonnie! Thank you for all you do!

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  28. Happy Birthday, Bonnie. Many Happy daysbe in your new year.

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  29. Happy Birthday dear teacher. Best wishes for continued happy quilty journeys and many thanks for all you share.

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  30. Happy birthday to you! I just love the quilt you are hand quilting! It is wonderful to be reminded of all that we have and how thankful we should be.

    Love

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  31. Happy Birthday! Enjoy your family, the best part of celebrations.
    The sunrise in your back yard is beautiful. I lived in the country twice in my life, loved it both times. The peace and quiet is soul soothing.
    Isn't is amazing how cleaning a space makes you feel. Even cleaning something that no one else will notice is so satisfying.

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  32. Happy birthday Bonnie! It sounds like you'll have a wonderful day with family and sewing. Thanks for all you do.

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  33. Happy Birthday Bonnie! Enjoy your day with your family. See you Monday!

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  34. Happiest of Birthdays to you.

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  35. Happy birthday, Bonnie! I hope your 60s give you even more to be thankful for.

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  36. Happy Birthday and thank you for all you give to the quilting world! I have learned so much from you.

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  37. Happy Birthday! You have given me so much! You have given to all of us!!! Thank you and all the best on your special day!

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  38. Happy Birthday, Bonnie!

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  39. Happy Birthday Bonnie!!! Hope your birthday is awesome! Enjoy the chapter that is your 60s! Love your blog and all the beautiful quilts.

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  40. Happy Birthday to you, Bonnie.
    May you have many, many more to celebrate.

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  41. Happy 60th Birthday! My last birthday was #70 and life keeps getting better.
    Finished my RT. The back is pieced and ready to pin. Then to the machine I go!

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  42. Happy birthday to you! The 60's have been the FUN decade (so far) for me. Turning 62 was HAPPY as I knew I could start drawing Social Security if I wanted (I didn't, but it FELT good knowing I could). With Covid I lost my part time job (I'd scaled down as income need wasn't very much) and made the decision to retire 1 month before my 64th birthday & I've never regretted it. I am now pulling up to 66 pretty quickly and I've had SO MUCH FUN since retiring. The days fly by and I am amazed at how fast the day passes. It makes me wonder how I was able to get so much done when working a horridly stressful job in my 50's and STILL get a ton more done in our personal life (updating a cabin, several homes, helping our children, etc). The best is truly yet to come for you! Enjoy your birthday weekend! Best wishes to you. Deb E

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  43. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! And many more happy and healthy years to come!

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  44. Happy, Happy Birthday Bon!! Like a fine wine, you just get better with age ;-). With all that you do for everyone, here's hoping that you'll take some time for YOU today. ~Jamie

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  45. Wow! Another Birthday Bonnie?
    Sending love and best wishes!
    I am one of your Canadian Fans!
    Thank you for your daily blog.
    It makes my life bearable and I often get a good laugh too!
    Bless the pets!
    In stitches, Fran in Pickering, Ontario

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  46. Happy Birthday Bonnie!
    I love the swag quilting border you are hand quilting. It is so pretty. Is there a template for it? I have to clean my sewing room when I want to start a new project too. I start with putting everything away then dusting. Zoey looks so cute laying in Ivy's spot. I love Ellens pint sized Rhodedendren quilt. I used to make miniature doll house quilts and on up to wall size quilts. Ellen's small quilt is calling to me to make a small size Rhodedendren quilt. Happy Quilting.

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  47. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! I will have my 72nd birthday on Monday. Stay warm.

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  48. Happy, happy birthday!!!

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  49. Happy Birthday Bonnie!
    I Hope you have a wonderful day,and get to sew! I hope you have a Fantastic Birthday Dinner, Too!
    -Your Birthday is a day after my Grand Niece's that lives in Boise. You are a year younger than one little sister and the same age as another little sister! I Hope Your 60's are Fantastic, and life only improves!

    Donna E.
    Kasilof, AK
    Where it has returned to cold and dreary, which I am thankful for. 40 degree weather in January in Alaska IS NOT FUN!

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  50. As I type this, your birthday is coming to an end. Hope it was wonderful and wish you many more years of good health and making quilting memories for all of us..your devoted fans. Happy, happy birthday now and in the years ahead. Some of us are a decade and a half ahead of you. LOL!

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  51. Happy Birthday Bonnie!! Thank you for all you do for us.

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  52. Happy Birthday, Bonnie! Wishing you the all the best!

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  53. Happiest Birthday wishes.
    I really enjoy your blog...both the quilting info and the nature and pet pictures.

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  54. Happy 60th Birthday Bonnie. Enjoy your day. My baby sister Bonnie will turn 60 in March.

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