What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I love that fresh start to the new year, cracking open a new planner book, updating all my trackers to start anew, and loving all the possibilities that a clean slate provides.

This year, I didn’t even hesitate on which planner to buy. Last year, I got a Plum Paper planner, and loved it so much, I got the same thing for this year. I made a few tweaks, since it’s a build-your-own planner, but I already love it!

You can read about my previous planner decisions HERE, where there are lots of links to more planner info ...

Haven't we heard that many times? Well, that situation came up several times yesterday, and I should KNOW BETTER. 

I'm working on a project that isn't hard, but it involves MANY steps, and I've had to get super creative to make it work. I'm sure there's a better way, but this is the way that works for me. When I completed the first part of the project yesterday, I was happy, but I was a bit disappointed that I had tried to economize on the process, and it wasn't quite what I envisioned ...

As you probably know if you’ve hung around here at all, I’m continually trying to get organized. And it’s my firm belief that organizing is an ongoing thing that is never really finished, especially if you’re creating wonderful things.

This past year, I applied that to not only my STUFF, but tried to apply it to my life as well. Just as having an organized work space leads to better productivity and leaves room in your head for more creative thinking, likewise, having a routine, being able to batch certain tasks together, or being free to ...

 OH MY GOSH --- someone else calls that fabric FORTREL!!!! They must be from the west, but what a great idea to make quilts for the homeless. That fabric cannot be destroyed. And now I have two boxes to deal with! But at least I know what to do with it! 

You are going to start saying that I sound like a broken record, but this new system of mine is working like a charm. As the number of projects in that blue box diminishes, I am so tempted to walk to the current projects table and pick up a couple ...

OH -- As I sit down to write, I realize there were a couple of other photos I wanted to take. I guess they just have to wait until tomorrow. 

Although the writing was completed and Studio B was mostly back to order, not much sewing was done. It was like Grand Central Station at my house for most of the day. And the phone calls - I rarely get ONE phone call in a day, I had many yesterday. But all good stuff, so I'm not complaining. 

Then things were dropped off, and other stuff picked up. Other things got ...

 Before I begin blabbing this morning, I want to revisit the picture from yesterday. 

The crazy quilter on a bike with her trusty companions

Someone suggested I could download a picture of myself and use it to create the photo. I figured I could, just not there yet. 

What I wanted to say is that I didn't tell ChatGPT anything except "crazy quilter on a bike" and the two dogs, and to make the photo realistic. I did NOT tell it to make a quilted jacket, nor hair or skin color, nor gender, nor clothing. It did that on ...

To my American friends - Happy Independence Day. Be strong! 

Wow --- there were a lot of comments yesterday, and this overbuying and taking on too much is a very hot topic! While I appreciate the positive comments about my teaching, I knew the only way to discourage people from taking too many classes was to not offer so many classes. But that's good for me as well, so I'm OK with that. 

Dare I say that I was at it again yesterday - sorting, pitching, and purging. But mostly sorting. 

The third shelving unit in the stash room held a ...

As I look back on when I started quilting, there are many things that I wish someone had told me. But there is one thing in particular I wish someone had drilled into me. I wish they had embarrassed me, harassed me, or taken whatever means to instill this message into my being. What is it? 

NEVER, and I mean NEVER, take on more than you can do! I'm talking about UFOs. 

Here's a piece of advice for any of you out there (not Elle, of course, as she's on top of it! and I'm darn ...

We all have them - UnFinished Objects that relate to our hobby of quilting. I have them, I have way too many of them, but I've been very fortunate to have room to hide them out of sight. But the UFO creep is hitting Studio B, and I need to do something about it. I have several places where I store my UFOs - in giant tubs under the long arm, two shelving units in the storage room where the community projects reside, three shelving units in the stash room, a closet in Studio B, a closet in one of the ...

YES --- I like SmartWool as well. I have one pair! When I first bought hiking socks, I bought several brands! It was just that I noticed the bottom disappearing slowly on the WrightSock! 

My SmartWool sock

I just went to their website, and WOW—it's easy to pick what you want, as they have a checklist. It's very civilized. I signed up for the newsletter and got 15% off. I might be buying some new socks today! 

I must check with my brother, as the socks he buys have a lifetime guarantee. They are more expensive, but they ...

We're back!! DH and I both read the story in the graphic novel EXIT Game. Then we collaborated, and between the two of us, we got the answer! Not before I goofed AGAIN and missed a bunch of letters, so we had to redo the puzzle multiple times. Although DH insists we found the answer unconventionally, I don't care! We solved it without using the clues. He's so black and white; I'm every shade in between! 

Teamwork! It's all about teamwork! 

Should I mention what happened to the kitchen table? This happens when you use ...

 The weather in Podunk has been absolutely beautiful the last couple of days.  Sunny and 70 is perfect for opening the windows and doing a little spring cleaning.  And that's exactly what I did for a couple of days. Then I was ready to get back in the Studio and play with some fun spring projects.

 It's funny how the days just seem to jumble together. It's almost like Ground Hog Day when the same things happen repeatedly! I am somewhat "chained" to the house because of those presentations. They are all over the schedule, so I must watch the clock. But all is good! I had two presentations yesterday, and both went well. I'm back in the groove for the new topics, although I still have some samples and supplies to organize. 

Guess what I did with my "free" time this morning? I sorted and organized, and every little bit made me ...

Oh my—I'm rereading these blog posts about keeping a quilter happy while on vacation, and I love this one! It has lots of tips for keeping everyone happy. 

I think I've discovered why those links didn't work last week. When a link comes up and I copy it, I need to ensure the "https:/" is included, or it will redirect back to my blog. How do I know that? I'm experimenting! 

Today is election day in our province. For anyone eligible to vote, please get yourself out there and vote. And for those who think ...

 AHA -- we have it from a produce manager that bananas come in the box in bunches, NOT singles. So, can you tell me why people remove one banana from the bunch and leave it behind? If I were a produce manager, that would drive me BANANAS. I would stand there and watch the consumer and then ask them why they did that. If you want five bananas, pick up a bunch with five; don't pick up one with six and remove one. That's just silly. I still think the grocery store should give us a discount on those ...

Even though I have a hectic week ahead of me, with many day-job presentations, some of which require considerable sample-making and five Zoom meetings on the weekend, I am calm. I am in control!

What happened? After yesterday's three Zoom calls, I looked at the chaos and said, "ENOUGH!" There were samples all over the floor, which Murphy thought was great to trod upon as she attempted to get some petting. Scissors, needles, thread, and hoops were strewn everywhere, and the situation was not working. The visual clutter alone made me—I don't know what's a good ...

LOL --- you are so right! Facebook seems to be the worst for getting you in an algorithm loop! Just keep on deleting! But now I'm hooked on Sean The Sheepman, so if you get sheep reels - it's because of me. Sorry! 

It's also a shame how many popular videos are hijacked by someone with a similar name so they can get the likes and the money! For instance, someone has hijacked Sean's Instagram page and called themselves sean the sheepman. What's the difference? No capital letters and no watermark on the video. Beware, and don ...

In a heartfelt journey of transformation, we embraced change, moving closer to our grandchildren, and creating a new dream studio. Through meticulous design and cherished memories, I built a space brimming with intention, comfort, and inspiration. Blessed with love, light, and creativity, it reflects a life dedicated to passion and purpose. Continue reading →

I got a chuckle from Elle's comment. Tiny home living is for those without "space-required" hobbies! Oh my! I did say that I would have all my sewing stuff in another space! What a hoot! But seriously - that should be something everyone needs to be told upfront. If you are going to quilt, you need SPACE. I know some people (Paula Neidlestern comes to mind) sew in tiny spaces, but where do they store stuff? OH - they don't buy a ton of things! 

BTW - Paula lives in a small apartment in New York City. She used to sew ...

It’s once again time to break open a new planner and see if it helps me get through my year!

Last year, I used a planner from Planner Envy, and I loved it. I used nearly every drop of it, and it suited me very well. Because of that, I fully intended to just get another one from them for 2025, but decided to have a look around first to see if maybe there is something new out there that might be even better for me.

Once again, I agonized over which one to get, and I shopped for ...