How Did THIS Quilt Become a UFO?

Some might wonder: what ever happened to the Log Cabin Quilt?!

I had four of five rows pieced together and just needed to sew the fifth row blocks together and then add it to the rest of the quilt top. I reluctantly agreed on the border fabric. Yes, that's the problem. I was never sold on the border fabric.





I guess I never got over not being able to use my first choice of border fabrics.



I could never sell M on it. The butterflies bugged him and he thought the aqua clashed.

My problem with his decision? It's not that the fabric isn't nice enough. It's simply too traditional for me and not funky enough.

I came across the Large Whimsy line while blog surfing Colorado bloggers the other day. I'm bound and determined to get some green in this quilt. If you thought M had a problem with butterflies, you just wait.

I like this one in particular:



I know I'm not the type to use fabric I'm not in love with. I don't know what I'm going to do?! Well........maybe that's not really the case.

I Haven't Given Up

I haven't given up on getting things done around the house.

M took my dresser to Goodwill last Sunday. I wondered if he would ever take it, but this was a perfect example of M being on his own schedule and no amount of nagging or distress makes him move any faster. I got tired of looking at the counter in the kitchen that had a ton of his junk piled on it so I shoved it all into bags and put it all downstairs. He noticed right away, but only asked what I did with it all. He probably knew he had no room to complain since it's been over two months since I asked him to do it. He hasn't made a move to fix C's closet yet so that is next on the agenda. The door he took off months ago still sits in the hallway. (I think one of the dogs has even lifted their leg on it a couple of times.....) I am taking it downstairs this weekend.

As you might guess, the basement is a wasteland of junk. I have a broken wash machine or dryer down there from years ago. At least it's not outside in the backyard where another appliance has sat for years. The basement also houses all my fabric totes. I will be going through that all soon enough. I can't bear to part with any of it, but I might just have to. As it is, I rarely use any of it and I'm wondering if I'll ever get back to any of the PhD's that are stored either. I donated a ton of it years ago to Firehouse Quilts and I may do that again. (I donated a bunch of fabric that I had purchased before I knew what good fabric was.)

The Log Cabin Quilt has been ignored for weeks. I sewed four of the five rows and then stopped. I even bought the border fabrics so I don't really know what my problem is? The thought of another finished quilt must have scared me?! I haven't given up painting our room. I think I've got a case of nerves about it, though.

My salvation will be that warmer weather is just around the corner. It's been flirting with the Denver-area already. We're expecting another snow storm this afternoon. I always get more done in the summer.

If That's the Case

It looks like I'll be using Marcus Brothers Metro Blue to finish the Log Cabin Quilt. The sample I have is for the smaller print, 1" flowers. I think I need to use the larger scale print. The smaller print just gets lost.




w/ smaller flowers


large scale flowers, 2.5"

Some coordinates, maybe binding?

Design Wall Monday: Complicating the Issue

Hello visitors and fans of Design Wall Monday and friends! PatchworkTimes knows how to throw a party!



I have one more row of blocks to sew together. I probably should have pushed to get it done last weekend, but I started working on a top secret quilt project instead in addition to all the other things that the weekend demanded I get done.

M likes this fabric better for the border. I like it, too, and actually thinks it looks better than the other I had picked but there is still some sense of disappointment that I feel because I really liked the Asian butterfly fabric.





It's difficult to tell from the picture and flash effect, but the fabric has a brown background and the flowers are actually much closer in color to the fabrics I used in the blocks. I agree that it is a much better choice.

I wish I had realized we liked this fabric the best because it's at GAQF and their National Quilt Month Sale was this last weekend. 20% is better than nothing. I had sticker shock at the lqs yesterday. I saw some bolts with $11/yd price tags. Ouch!

It is What it is....

It is what it is. I felt motivated enough today even though I knew I was going to be the only one working. I don't usually, but I did today.

I couldn't let the weekend end without working on my dresser. If you can believe it, I gave more clothes away. I down to three pairs of jeans that I actually like to wear, some shirts, and some sleepwear. I need to figure out where I want to put it all since I'm going dresser-less next week. M will take it away next weekend even if I have to bribe him!

I think it's Diane that would be proud of me for finally cleaning out the unmatched sock drawer by throwing them away. I've got to figure out what to do with all the paperwork I've got stuffed in a drawer and stored on top. I'll probably just stuff everything in a tote for now. (I've got the kids' report cards, homemade cards and presents, and assorted other stuff I'm not willing to part with--yet.) I've also got years of school picture packets to store.

I found some stuff like made me grimace with embarrassment. For instance, I ran around town looking for a New Years banner and I have one still in its package from who knows when. (Nice to know that I'm consistent in my ideas. One of these days I'll get the kids together in their New Years hats to take that picture.) I found all of my Stephenie Meyer autographed books: Twilight, the recently received New Moon (for making the Twilight Quilt), Breaking Dawn, and The Host. The funny thing is that I've NEVER been about autographs and I'm still not, but I have all these books. I know how special they are! I've just never been one to display things. I also found the Twilight, the movie, T-Shirts I bought to make a T-Shirt quilt eons ago.

I have one more row on the Log Cabin quilt to sew. I think I've solved my border problem. I've never been one for plain borders of just fabric, I usually piece something, but I had one planned all along for this quilt because the quilt I used as inspiration had one. I've listened to everyone's advice, but I still like that brown Asian butterfly fabric I have. I really do think it will work. See if you can picture this? I will sew a 3" border of the brown fabric, then a light aqua fabric strip (2"?) next, and last another border of the brown fabric. I will get to use the fabric I want but also tie the border to the rest of the quilt with the aqua fabric. I think I might even use one of the very first two fabrics from the Log Cabin blocks. I've found enough of the fabric online, but I'm going to see if the lqs I bought it at still has some........next week when I get a new supply of money.

***edited, 5 p.m.

Had to get out of the house this afternoon. The kids were fighting over the cat. I left to go to the lqs. They didn't have anymore of the butterfly fabric except for FQs so I'll have to get it online.

Quilting, My Stress..............Reliever

It's supposed to be that way. It ends up more often than not being so, but not because the reasons you might think.

I can never let a visible mistake go. I'm done apologizing for it! It has nothing to do with me being an unhappy person or a perfectionist. I don't prescribe to the motto, "better done than perfect." If I see a mistake and it's within my power to fix it, then I don't see ANY reason not to fix it.

This is MY way of thinking. To each his own!!!! If mistakes don't bother people and it's not a group project, then I don't care if YOU don't want to fix things and let them be. I'm not that way.

This doesn't mean that I'm a perfect quilter. Far from it...... But, I'm the type that doesn't let things be if I it's within my power to fix them.

The reasons my quilting stresses me out sometimes:

1) The goals I set

2) Thinking about wanting to quilt and not being able to

3) Worrying that people think my work is crap or that they don't get it

4) People misunderstanding me because of the above need to correct mistakes

5) Not being able to get a design or the colors right

6) The making of stupid sewing errors--the kind if I would just check twice to cut or sew once

These are just a few of things that can stress me out. I would never give up quilting because of any of them. However, we all know I run with scissors (to borrow a phrase) and that I don't play well with others. I do like to vent a little.....okay, a lot.

Last night I had a stressful quilting night. Brenda told me to "sew something". I've been wanting to finish the Quilt. GAQF is having another sale this weekend so I'd like to get my border fabric and it's just me that I need to have this top done to be able to make a good decision.

After church, chores, kids' bedtime rituals, and the replay of Burn Notice I talked M into finally watching The Taking of Pelham 123 that I've so long we should have just bought the movie. (I love Denzel and John so I've been wanting to see it. My review: good, but maybe I just wasn't in the mood for all the violence and bad language.) Movies=sewing

I had pinned Rows 3 and 4 together the night before. I sewed them without issue--seams all butted well, even the ones that didn't nest (just a luck of the draw with these blocks and their seams). Finished this sewing mid-movie so I moved on to sewing these rows with already combined Rows 1 and 2. Now, I swear I checked my picture to be sure that I was sewing the rows together correctly (i.e. so the bargello effect would occur).......... Pinned and sewed. Opened to press and oh, #$%!. Yeah, you got it. I had sewed the rows the wrong way. (Shades of Saratoga Lights, but not so bad--if you will remember, I had the whole top pieced and TRIMMED when I realized that I had sewn a block in a row the wrong way. This wasn't the first mistake in THAT quilt which made it that much worse.)

Calmly and quietly reverse sewed. LOOKED AT MY PICTURE and pinned the ends together. If I'm in the mood tonight and have the time, I will try again. I don't think we have anywhere to be?

That Was Quick

I've finished the Log Cabin blocks. Pretty quick by my standards and typical habit. Maybe I've turned over a new leaf. Two quilts in three months if I'm able to finish this one by mid-March.


4 of 5 rows (My table isn't big enough and I still haven't set anything else up.)


M still isn't sold on the border fabric.

I'll Watch Anything

I'll watch anything if it means I get to sew.

We hit the Redbox last night and rented three movies. We didn't have a lot to choose from since most of the good stuff was out. We took out three movies.

Z decided on Land of the Lost. I don't mean to offend anyone that likes that movie, but I couldn't believe how stupid it was. Z thought it was funny so I'm sure the movie was made for the 11-13 old male in mind. M thought it was okay for the sake of notstalgia.

We got a late start watching it because we had to catch up by watching this week's Burn Notice episode On-Demand. I didn't get to watch the movie I rented for me because I was too tired by the time Land of the Lost was done.

I didn't care what was on television because with them watching the movie I could sew without feeling guilty. I have five more Log Cabin blocks to finish after last night. I took a trip to GAQF to get the fabric I'm short of while I was out getting my coffee this morning. They opened the shop early just for me. Probably not, but it was open at 9:40 when I got there instead of it's posted 10. I gave up on makin it to Holly's for more charm packs for the siggie squares and purchased some Chez Moi instead.

I'd like to make a quilt with this line!

I'm also toying with an idea of making a quilt for my church's silent auction in the spring. The entire way the youth group is run in this church is another negative in my life so I'm not sure. How could that be?! I have honestly tried to help with fundraising ideas, but I'm constantly rebuffed. The old guard at church is very set in their ways.

M is taking S and Z to the youth group function tonight. They are going to the discount movie theater. He wanted to go. I'm letting him since they didn't decide to go see New Moon. I think they're going to see Planet 51 or The Spy Next Door. I'm not that upset because it will mean sewing time for me.

I think we'll be out a lot tomorrow. A's Blue and Gold Dinner is tomorrow. Oh, yeah I was just reminded of that today. I'm supposed to make an international dish that my kid will eat. oooooooooooooooo-kay............ It's movie night at church tomorrow night. We're watching a movie about Esther. S really wants to go because she wants to dress up as a princess and I guess the audience is supposed to be interactive with the movie, sort like Rocky Horror Picture Show. Booing and hissing when the bad character is on screen, etc.

9 More to Go

I may or may not get the rest of the blocks made this weekend. I'd sure like to, though. I don't have many other plans for the weekend. I'm definitely not cleaning anything. I'm on strike.

I have 11 of 20 blocks made.

I've set them out on my design table.


x8 blocks


x11 blocks

See the pattern? I had to take a picture to see it. I was getting worried that I made the blocks wrong.

The only thing that will get in the way of finishing these blocks is the 101 siggie blocks I haven't started yet and are due to mail out on 3/1. The blocks I don't have all the fabric for. Oops!

Design Wall Monday

My goal is to finish piecing the remaining 17 blocks. I think I've got a shot of even finishing the top this week since all the blocks are done except for the last two dark strips of fabric.

This is what the quilt will look like:



Head over to Patchworktimes and see what's going on over there!

Short

I'm short at 5'0, but that's not what I'm talking about....

I find myself short of fabric again. I finally got up to Harriet's Treadle Arts on Thursday to get the fabric I was short of for the Log Cabin blocks. It's a good thing because the bolt was done to the last yard or so. I got some other stuff, but I missed my birthday discount. I also got caught in a wicked snow storm, but that didn't stop me from stopping at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants for a #11: a combination Vietnamese dish with rice noodles and raw veggies. I never use the spicy fish sauce it comes with. I only go to this restaurant on the way home from this quilt shop so I wasn't going to let a snow storm get in my way since I didn't know when I'd get back that way. I used to go all the time when I worked at a dentist's office down the street.

I got caught up on the three blocks I didn't have this fabric for and am now working my way through piecing the rest of the blocks. I couldn't wait to see what they were going to look like finished so I cut the rest of the fabrics. I am just barely short of the last fabric which is a 2.5x14.5" unfinished strip. I don't know if it would have made a difference if I'd have planned better in the order I cut my strips. I guess that's what you get for working from a picture and not a pattern. I like to live on the quilting edge. It's a bummer because I was at GAQF on Friday. Why is it that when I go for a sale or a discount that I can never find much to buy?

These are what the blocks look like finished. They're 14". The blocks have become a little unmanageable with the last strips and are taking a lot more time to sew. I'm eager to finish them all, get the top pieced, and find a border fabric.



I bought a couple of fabrics weeks back when I shopped for my aquas. This is the brown Hoffman/Asian fabric that I like. M isn't sold.



Here's a scan:

Hoffman/Spring Street

I had planned another border/sashing fabric in between the blocks and the outside border. I like this fabric a lot by itself, but I'm not sure if it's right with the brown border fabric. I think it may be too busy and/or the print too large. It might make more sense to use a fabric from the Hoffman/Spring Street line if I use the brown fabric from the line I pictured.



I was surprised to learn that it's from a Possibilities (of Great American Quilt Factory/GAQF) line:


Possibilities/Petals and Paisley

I used one of the other fabrics from this line in the Log Cabin blocks. I've always liked paisley!


Possibilities/Petals and Paisley

Feel free to weigh in. This is the pattern the blocks will make:



If I go with any of these fabrics I will need to buy more. I only bought 1/2 yds.

A note if you haven't followed this quilt's progress. I plan to hang it behind the bed in our bedroom. I had a bed picked out, but M is balking at my choice now. His choice is more traditional. I hope that we can find a compromise.

Oh, and when I'm not sewing quilts......

I'm kicking myself! I got so involved sewing Log Cabin blocks that I forgot I needed to make A's sweatshirt for his school music program on Tuesday. Doh! I was actually supposed to have his costume in last week, but I kept forgetting to think something up. I wanted to just find him a space T-shirt, but I never got out anywhere to find one. None of the department stores close to home had anything.

I was actually headed to bed at 10:30 when I saw the bag with the stuff, but was glad I did. It would have been horrible if I didn't get this done.

The sweatshirt was on sale at Walmart where I got all the other supplies, including the planet fabric and silver letters. I used fusible to get the planets on the sweatshirt and then thought better to sew them down closely to their edges for longevity. I hope he likes it!

Weekend Goals, Probably Ain't Gonna Happen

If I'm counting the candles correctly, I'm seven. I still have the dress I'm wearing. I can't remember if C ever wore it, but I know S did. I wish I had taken a picture of HER in it.

I'm so behind. Work is really cutting into me getting stuff done around my house--I miss my Fridays. Life is really getting in the way, too. I can't wait until spring and summer when I have more energy and am just warm. It's cold again in Denver and all I want to do is snuggle up on the couch and veg.

February is almost over and I'm not happy about that.

I had goals associated with my Christmas blog, too, and I've not got anything done. It's going to be a race to see if I can get my Piece and Goodwill blocks done. I also had to deal with another bill from long ago and so there went my birthday money. I'm just glad I had it to use and didn't have to ask M to bail me out again.

I would have liked to get stuff done this weekend, but we've got another busy stretch planned: my parents are coming over for my birthday dinner, A has a swimming birthday party (I've got to find him a suit), and another party for all the kids for a boy from church. I would have liked to plan for the birthday parties, but we just got the invitations on Wednesday and Thursday. Ugh!

I need to schedule some time for me or I'm going to go crazy. I wonder if it's too soon to ask for a day off since I've only been full-time for about a month?

I'm trying not to be disappointed that I didn't finish the Log Cabin blocks like I wanted to this week. Oh, well. National Quilting Day is sometime in March so I think I will have to take advantage of that sale for the border fabric. I don't think I'm going to get to GAQF this weekend.

Oh, and the two things I asked for my birthday? A clean bathroom...that didn't happen. I guess I'm going to have to do it myself! I didn't get my Swifter, either.....

I Can't Sew Fast Enough

Well, really, I can't cut fast enough. Cutting fabric isn't my favorite thing to do. I need a sous quilter. I still vow to get the Log Cabin quilt top together by the end of this week so I can buy border fabric.

So, I keep sewing away on the Log Cabin blocks. I still haven't managed to get up to the quilt shop to get the fabric I'm short of. I hope to get there tomorrow and I might as well since it's my birthday and they honor a birthday discount.

Yes, it's 11:30 m.s.t. and, while it's not quite my birthday in this time zone, I'm 40 somewhere. Ugh! 40.... I'm okay. 40 is just a state of mind. Only my body feels 40.

We don't have any plans to celebrate that I know of. M is taking the next three days off, but I have to work even my birthday. Figures! He mentioned taking me to lunch, but S is pretty sick with a cold so she'll be home with him tomorrow.

I got my nails done today, but not as a b'day gift. They were due. The tech tried to talk me into glitter acrylic last time and I would only agree to white with a little bit of glitter. I bowed to the pressure today and went full glitter. I don't like them and I'm kicking myself for one more time NOT speaking up for myself. I can understand if I was getting them done for a party like this, but not every day wear. I'm stuck with them for two weeks. I think they look tacky. I do have my eye on a red glitter acrylic. I would love to get them done with that when Eclipse comes out because I vow to find a party for that premier for sure!



Back to quilting............

I did sew tonight. We are trying to watch Angels and Demons one more time. M fell asleep almost as soon as he put it in last night. We were going to put it in as soon as we got the kids to bed, but we got involved in a couple of linked Criminal Minds episodes and so we didn't get it in until 10. M didn't even make it through the first 10 minutes before he was snoring. I watched the whole thing last night, but I was fuzzy on the beginning. I caught more tonight, but the movie is still confusing to me. I got in some sewing time which is the important thing. I like to sew while watching movies.

I have the last three strips to sew, but here's my progress with the last light fabric. I only got one of the blocks sewn with this strip so I could take a picture for the blog. I'll sew the rest of the blocks with this last light strip and then it's two more darks.

(Don't chat me up too much, but I'm wishing I'd interchanged the first two lights near the center in their placement. Oh, well!)


Yay, for pictures. My camera card is toast, but M's works great!

Quiltathon Weekend

I promised myself that after missing the last Quiltathon that I would participate in February's. I'm very grateful that Judy of Patchworktimes suggests these sewing weekends as they are a great motivator. I knew I would have to make an effort to sew this holiday weekend. I'm pretty surprised at how much I was able to accomplish since I rarely am able to just sew. I always have places to go and chores to complete even on Quiltathon weekends.

I had a busy day on Saturday. We made an appearance at a Chinese New Year celebration that my company contributed time and resources. We decided not to stay long in order to take in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I still hold out hope that Z will get inspired to read more by seeing books adapted to screen. It worked with New Moon, but I'm not holding out hope this time as he hasn't even inquired about the book. I was glad that I took the time on Friday to finish the binding on M's Saratoga Lights quilt since we were so busy on Saturday. I couldn't let the day end without completely finishing this quilt. After dinner, I completed the quilt by sewing on the label.





(The pattern for Patchworktimes' Saratoga Lights can be found here.)

We stayed close to home for Valentine's Day. I fixed cinnamon rolls for the kiddos before quickly stepping out to treat myself to a Starbucks' latte. I fixed M eggs and bacon for his Valentine's breakfast before jumping right into my day of sewing and ....laundry. Yes, the laundry must get done even on Quiltathon weekend. M took C out for a round of errands. They ran into a nasty accident on the highway. We had gotten some snow in the middle of the night and I don't think people took the conditions seriously because there was a 13 car pile up on I-25 and then another two smaller accidents along the way to their destination. I was happy I stayed home to sew.

So, in addition to finishing M's quilt, I made some nice progress on our Log Cabin Quilt. I didn't have time yesterday to get up to the quilt shop where I bought the one fabric I'm short of so my chain sewing had to be limited to 17 of the 20 blocks I need. The shop is closed on Sundays. I hope to make it up there this week. I sure hope they still have the fabric still or I'm going to be screwed as it's right in the middle of my blocks and I went ahead and continued sewing the blocks anyway.


I had to edit the photo and so the above photo is cropped, but my block is not. Something is wrong with my camera card and the file is all wonky.

I would have liked to finish the latest strip on all the blocks, but I've run out of sewing energy for now. I'm going to do my best to get these blocks finished this week and the top finished. My birthday is this week and I'd like to take advantage of some birthday discounts at a couple of quilt shops to buy my border fabric. I'm still not clear on which fabric direction I'm going for the borders. I've seen some nice choices but I didn't want to buy anything until I had the blocks finished and set to see their effect. This is the quilt I'm using as inspiration.

All's Well

Hogging the couch as usual!

The fact that these two have their heads together can only mean trouble even if they're sleeping. I'm actually amazed that they're this close to each other. They usually don't like each other much, but I guess when it comes to sleeping on the couch or the cold hard floor they can get along to share the couch.

A couple of updates. We got the closet cleaned out except for a stack of magazines on the floor and a few items on the shelves. I still need to get up there and dust, but that's for another day. I am almost 40, but certainly NOT fit NOR fabulous. My knees were killing me again after a day of getting down to pick things up, etc. My body is betraying me.

M wants to redo the closet with Elfa organization items.. I don't want to wait. I'd rather have a new bed and mattress than a jazzed closet. I'm going to find a cheaper option. I hope to paint in there by the end of March, hopefully sooner.





I started sewing the binding on M's quilt last night. I didn't get very far, but at least I started. I don't know what I'm in the mood to do tonight. We had a big storm in my area last night and so it's cold. When it's cold, I usually huddle up in my bed or on the couch. Maybe I should huddle up under M's quilt and sew?

....edited 9 p.m.

My solution to solving the what do I work on problem? Well, the husband comes home to nix dinner plans because he's decided to go to a meeting across town for Boy Scouts. I crank the heat to 74 and sew on my machine instead of bundled beneath a quilt sewing.

The latest strip added to the Log Cabin blocks. I will have to make a run to the quilt store. I was only able to get 17 of the 20 strips I needed out of the 1/4yd of fabric I had.

Staying Motivated: Quilting, JUST DO IT

The ugly truth of my struggles lately is that I've had to force myself to quilt. I picked out projects that were supposed to inspire me and I am, but I've still had difficulty getting over the hump and actually sewing. Even shopping for new fabric didn't completely get me over since I had such difficulty finding what I needed, settling on my choices, and not being afraid that I wasn't making the right decisions. I've also questioned whether or not my quilts would have their place to rest since I continue to struggle in getting things done around the house because of my waning motivation and the family's utter lack of disregard for my goals.

So, the heck with it! Sometimes you've got to stop analyzing and just do it....

I've officially started sewing the Log Cabin Quilt.



I have 20 blocks to make for this quilt. I'm being very organized and efficient by sewing all 20 strip by strip instead of making them one block at at time. I don't have enough fabric for the next light so I will need to make a run up to the shop. I knew I should have bought at least a 1/2 yard, but for some reason on that trip to farthest quilt shop away from where I live, I was being frugal?!



This is the quilt I'm making.

More than Shopping, But Not Much Else

I didn't get anything done today but shopping. I was out until about one with the girls. We came home, but I had to fix lunch for the boys. I tried to get M to take them for thier haircuts, but he had his own errands to run. When I got home, I had to start dinner. I also fixed banana bread in my quest to find the a recipe that makes bread that tastes like Starbucks. (This one wasn't it. I'm also annoyed with myself because I was supposed to buy cake flour for this recipe and I bought bread flour by mistake because I got confused. It wouldn't have made a difference with this recipe, though.) The lasagna was good and I've got enough sauce left to make manicotti sometime this week.

I hit two quilt stores in my search for fabrics for the Log Cabin Quilt. I only ended up with two yards that won't work this time. ugh! I hate shopping for fabric!!

Below are the ones that made the cut:





I would have liked to start tonight, but I'm simply too tired. I was out late last night bowling with the kids and then up early this morning. Tomorrow is another day!

January Went Where?

This weekend is the last weekend of January. I know it sounds inane to ask, "Where did January Go?"....but I'm going to do it anyway--yeah, I I guess I just did!

I can't let January end without getting into the closet in my room, M's closet, and cleaning it out. M went in there tonight to find my bowling ball and shoes and he almost got stuck in there when he shut the door. He found my bowling bag so I can go bowling with Z and C's youth group.

I wanted to get more done this month, but it just didn't happen. We cleaned the kitchen and everyone was so exhausted that we took the next weekend off. Then, everyone got sick one person at a time. I've been sick with a cold for over a week. I'm almost 100%, but I'm still a little congested and still have an occasional cough.

I also plan to start the Log Cabin Quilt this weekend. I really tried to pull some fabrics out of my stash as my friend Brenda suggested, but after three tries I'm giving up. M didn't like anything I was going to try to use. He's my most trusted color advisor and I usually listen. Since this quilt is going in our room, I have added incentive to listen to him. Looks like I'll be shopping at the LQSs this weekend.

Quilt Photos: C, S, and Entryway

I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted quilts in every room....


I've had my eye on this quilt since last year. I believe it's from American Patchwork and Quilting, but I'm not sure which issue. I think it's neat how there aren't any outside setting squares or triangles. I want to make this quilt and display in the entryway of my house.


This is S's quilt. She picked out the kit herself. I found it very interesting that she wouldn't be swayed from her choice.


This is C's quilt of choice. I need to incorporate skulls and a little bit of lime green per her instructions. I actually am eager to try a setting like this one. I'm hoping that it will liberating and not too aggravating for me.

I tried to pull fabric for my room's quilt. I don't even know why I have a stash as I have such difficulty using it. I brought my tote of aquas/tourquoise or whatever you call THAT shade of blue and I couldn't find anything. Everything was too bright or juvenile. I may be able to use a couple of cuts, but I'll have to see if I can make them work with the other fabrics I'll need to get since I don't have enough.

Cleaning is More Than Just Throwing Things Away....

Cleaning is more than just throwing things away, but it's a good start.

I probably throw things away and give things away that I shouldn't. I grew up in the house of a hoarder and my experience affected me greatly. Has anyone ever watched Hoarders on A&E? I haven't because I think it would hit too close to home. I've seen clips and that's been enough. My mom is a hoarder.

I hoard fabric to a point. Sometimes I can't bear to use it. I buy more than I should even when I know that I won't use it. I feel a rush when I buy it. I still have a large collection of fabric stored in my basement. I can't believe how much I have left even after donating a ton of it a couple of years ago and selling a lot of it off to make ends meet a couple of years ago. I cried so hard!

Sometimes I think I should get rid of it all, but I can't even bear the thought. As sad as I get, as annoyed as I get with myself, as hopeless as I sometimes feel....a voice always tells me that I shouldn't be so drastic and that I would never recover. I have vowed to use as much as I can this year and to find some of the joy I've lost in my quilting by making quilts for my home and others. In addition to the home improvements I want to make, I also want to make as many quilts as I can and donate them.

I have spent the weekend going through my magazines and patterns. I love to buy quilting magazines! I keep them for awhile and then I get busy ripping them up, saving only the pages with quilts that I would consider making . I've regretted doing so in the past because sometimes I find that I've thrown a pattern away that I need back. I can't let that stop me. I'm considering better storage options. I've got everything stored from before in 3-Ring binders, but I don't have things organized better than that so the system I have is almost useless. I'm exploring my options.

M reluctantly helped me measure the wall where we're going to move our bed. I want to start making our quilt so I needed the measurements. I've got the quilt drafted as 72x86. I need to check my stash for more fabric before I shop. I only purchased 1/4 and 1/2 yd cuts recently and so if I use those, I will need to buy more yardage. I haven't started S's quilt yet. If you will remember, she picked out a kit. I usually avoid kits because I don't like the restrictions they place on me because of yardage and recommended piecing methods, but she really wanted it. The fabrics were only available in the kit so I couldn't buy the pattern and fabrics separately. As it is, I may change the border since the kit only allows for a pieced border and I prefer a single length of fabric for mine. C has decided she wants a skull quilt. Oh, joy. I started collecting skulls on pink fabrics a couple of years ago, but she's decided she doesn't like pink now. The plan is to use the Beyond the Block book for her quilt.

I'm thankful that we have a Goodwill location just down the street. I always have a bag or a box going. M regularly rolls his eyes at me when I ask him to take a collection down for me on his way to running whatever errands he's on his way to completing. I'm in the process of going through the kitchen cupboards and drawers. I'm still trying to get M to go through the closet and his dresser. I may have to do it....

We're all still recuperating from cleaning the kitchen last weekend so I gave everyone, including me, the weekend off from cleaning. I hope to get back at it next weekend. I'm afraid to lose my momentum by slacking off in any way... Good news is that the kitchen is still in good shape except for the floor and areas I didn't get to last week. We've all been working together!