This week I am celebrating SMALL progress - on anything.
This is a week of baby steps still moving us forward.
Sometimes we don't get to cheer the big achievements. But that doesn't mean we should overlook the ones that still get us somewhere.
Don't let the perceived smallness of any task fall through the cracks. It matters. Everything we do matters as part of the whole.
And when all else fails, Ivy is here to encourage you to keep taking baby steps toward wherever it is your sights are set.
It took me more than a week to get the binding finished on my Unchained quilt.
This is where Ivy sat while I finished stitching down the hanging sleeve and label. And this time it's not just a blank label as I am often guilty of doing. This label has writing! I guess I can't change the name of the quilt now.
It has been a couple of weeks of mind-wandering-can't-concentrate-why-does-this-quilt-even-matter type of circular thought.
And 4th of July was a bit hard - we just treated it as Just Another Three Day Weekend Holiday.
Kind of like Labor Day where time is spent with fixing and maintaining and making ready for the next thing to happen.
I knew that yesterday would be a desk day and I would hopefully pull myself out of my numb-funk and do more than just baby steps.
THIS is something to cheer about.
I finished all of the column writing for the 2023 Addicted to Scraps columns in Quiltmaker Magazine. All six columns for 2023 are now on their way to Colorado.
I had fun with these blocks - I can't wait to use some of them in REAL quilts, not just graphics, and through this I hope to find more sew-jo to move me forward.
This beautiful blue bundle arrived from a friend!
There are some lovely pieces in here - I love blue and will never say no to more blue!
More Baby Steps -
I was able to get some machine time in once the Addicted to Scraps column blocks were packaged up and mailing label attached.
Check out these fun gators! LOL! I'm having a great time pulling some silly neutrals into what would otherwise be very predictable traditional blocks. What a fun way to use the recycled shirt fabrics.
I'm about 1/2 way done with the needed blocks - I stitched up all that I had kitted up, so today may involve more cutting.
There has been a slight change!
An email exchange with Erica clued me in to the fact that Triple Treat is our TWELFTH Leader & Ender Challenge, not our 11th. Hence the Losing My Mind title of this post. My the years do fly. LOL!
Here is the run down for those who are wondering:
2011 Cheddar Bow ties
2012 Spoolin' Around
2013 Split 9 Patch
2014 Lozenges
2015 Tumbler
2016 Hourglass
2017 Checkerboard Rails
2018 Jewel Box Stars
2019 Shoo Fly Shoo
2020 Easy Breezy
2021 Fish School
2022 Triple Treat
Thank you for setting me straight, Erica! Baby steps! I have corrected the image, and the original post to reflect this.
I may get to re-editing and re-uploading the PDF file at some point, but if I don't and it matters to you, just mark it on your printed copy, okay? Thanks!
From this morning's coffee time on the porch.
The rhodies are reaching their peak - petals are falling from mature blossoms especially after yesterday afternoon's drenching rainstorm.
Up the side hill through the woods.
If you are looking for something to watch while you stitch, check out Operation Mincemeat on Netflix. We really enjoyed it.
"Operation Mincemeat is set in 1943 as the Allies are determined to launch an all-out assault on Fortress Europe. But they face an impossible challenge - to protect a massive invasion force from entrenched German firepower and avert a potential massacre."
It stars Colin Firth and Penelope Wilton amongst others.
TODAY - I eagerly await the arrival of Judy's Stitchers who are on their way from Mississippi as I speak!
I can't wait to hear Quiltville Inn humming with the sound of machines, chatter, laughter and creativity.
And the good smells coming from the kitchen -
If I hurry, I can get some quilt photography taken care of before they arrive - that is IF the weather cooperates.
Did you see we have a Quiltmaker Gift-Away happening on Yesterday's Post? Get your entry in!
What do you have going on for your Wednesday ahead?
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Oh how I love a vintage basket quilt!
Get out there and blossom in your own way!
(Remember, Baby Steps still move you forward!)
Enjoy your Wednesday, everyone!
Thanks for sharing the pictures of Ivy with us! How can we not smile and think good thoughts when she greeted us today! Precious!
ReplyDeleteI'll be taking baby steps today....we have to put our beloved Morgan down ...he has mouth cancer..... no more suffering for him... he's 17 yrs.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about Morgan, may you have memories to comfort you. Difficult decision for you.
DeleteExactly right... thanks for the reminder! Every baby step forward, every small kindness, every slow stitch - it all counts!
ReplyDeleteThank you for todays blog. I've been in a funk most of the year. I MIL died in January and had COVID after the funeral, had two aunts pass away, one in April, one in June. Just can't seem to pull myself up. I did sort through some fabrics yesterday with a granddaughter. Maybe I'll get into the sewing room today for a few minutes. It seems to help. Just need to pet some fabric. Have a wonderful day Bonnie. Thank you for all you do for us. You are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYep, this week has been all baby steps here in the PNW. I stayed up watching a Hallmark movie while the Fireworks blasted outside. My daughter says it's just burning $$$$.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on another set of Adicted to Scraps. It’s the reason that I love to subscribe to QM.
Baby steps is how I get anything done in the sewing room unless I am taking a class. I take one evening and cut up what I want to sew. It may be a few days, but I will get in there and sew up a block or two. Sometimes it's just going in, ironing fabric and refolding, or cutting them into strips. I am still on part 2 of Ruby Jubilee (I am doing it in blue) but I have the 3rd block cut out, just need to sew. But I am seeing progress! And that is what is important. Thanks Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, I share your funk. Although the quilting (or cooking or gardening) helps, it doesn't stop my mind from thinking. We're all out there doing what we can to help; thanks for being part of the help!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding us to take baby steps. I haven't really sewn in weeks! But I did give myself a little bit of joy by finding something to organize the thread that I tend to forget to put away. Using a little tin for that so that it isn't scattered all over my sewing table and the lid to use to put thread trimmings in. Baby steps... but steps non the less. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI seem to have lost my sew-jo too....decided, like you baby steps...little things at a time to pull me out of my funk...have a scrap happy day!
ReplyDeleteI just got my sewing MOJO started back up yesterday after a 9 month drought. Felt so good to be cutting and sewing again.❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks Bonnie! I feel uplifted!
ReplyDeleteToday's baby steps included two string blocks and cutting several 2 1/2" parts for the current triple treat blocks. Then it was time for lunch. More tomorrow. 👣
ReplyDeleteI thought it was just me in a funk. Thank you for your blog. I look forward to it everyday. I think I need to get a cat or dog so I have company while I sew. Have a good day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another year long challenge! I'm still making Shoo Flies aka 2019 and sewing up Easy Breezy aka 2020 (on point with blocks of Basic Grey Grunge colors). You have provided so many ways to deal with scrapmaniabarf over these years, and I appreciate that so very much.
ReplyDelete"Scrapmaniabarf". Perfect.
DeleteMy mind has been lost for a few years and I am still trying to find it, so I hear you Bonnie! Did some minor sewing room org and contracting out of home repairs this week that were long overdue. so that constitutes my baby steps. Also sewing up alternatives to disposable paper such as un-paper towels to try to go as paper-free as possible by 2023.I am keeping in mind the words of Colleen Patrick-Goudreau- “Don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything. Do something. Anything.” Otherwise many days I might drive right off the bridge, most particularly this past month. (Luckily due to retirement and covid I don't drive very much, like once every week or two.)
ReplyDeleteI just watched Operation Mincemeat and thoroughly enjoyed it. The most fleshed-out character in the movie doesn't even exist!
ReplyDeleteI often wonder how long the memories of background events stay with the quilts we create during them. I'm having a hard time coming up with a positive or happy name for my current quilt, something other than "Therapy"!
I couldn't participate in any of the L&E challenges for the past couple of years. I've got plenty of squares and rectangles queued up for this year, though!
I just love Ivy's split colored nose! And those eyes are such a beautiful color!
ReplyDeleteBonnie and Helen, thanks for the reminders of baby steps. I had forgotten about a stash of completed 4 patches that I can use for Triple Treat.:)
ReplyDelete