No change in the numbers.

This week I finished Herringbone and Holes, a free pattern for members of EGA (Embroiderers’ Guild of America). 

Back when I was a member of the local EGA chapter, we did this project as a stitch-along.  I stopped four bands short of a finish.  For reasons that had more to do with me than the pattern, I did not enjoy this project. 

I decided it was time to either finish it, pitch it, or frog it.  I added one more band to make it look like a complete design.  I backed the pulled work with ...

No fabric in this week.

I finished the ornament quilt.

I’m so pleased with how it turned out.  Now I’m sorry I waited so long to finish it.

I started sewing Snow into a pillow.  Here’s the finished stitch.

I’m going to count out the fabric for both here.  I used less than I expected, but they were small projects.

I still hope to hit net 20 yards out this year.  So close, and I still have time.

Fabric In:  8.625 yards

Fabric Out:  28.375 yards

Net Fabric Out:  19.75 yards

How did ...

These are remaining squares from a recent project, not to be wasted they were sewn into a rectangle for another purpose. Not a lot goes to waste around here, leftovers are always welcome, both in the sewing room and also on the dinner table! I was able to stitch up a handy little tote from the patchwork.  I used this pattern, modifying it to fit what I had already constructed. Use it up

These are remaining squares from a recent project, not to be wasted they were sewn into a rectangle for another purpose. Not a lot goes to waste around here, leftovers are always welcome, both in the sewing room and also on the dinner table! I was able to stitch up a handy little tote from the patchwork.  I used this pattern, modifying it to fit what I had already constructed. Use it up

I'm afraid that this post is yet, another, catch-up post which will be strangely reminiscent of that old beginning-of-school assignment we all remember: "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"! I do have lots of show and tell, bear with me. As the weather allowed, and it wasn't too hot, I spent many an afternoon stitching out on the porch where the light is perfect!These are a sampling of the

I'm afraid that this post is yet, another, catch-up post which will be strangely reminiscent of that old beginning-of-school assignment we all remember: "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"! I do have lots of show and tell, bear with me. As the weather allowed, and it wasn't too hot, I spent many an afternoon stitching out on the porch where the light is perfect!These are a sampling of the

This blog post is going to be more of a pictorial update of the past week than a word-filled one. I guess I have more time to snap pics than to compose. So, c'mon along while I fill you in on the happenings in and around Chez Goodneedle... and beyond!Our oldest granddaughter represented North Carolina in the Southern Zone Championships in Orlando last week. We drove down to watch her compete

This blog post is going to be more of a pictorial update of the past week than a word-filled one. I guess I have more time to snap pics than to compose. So, c'mon along while I fill you in on the happenings in and around Chez Goodneedle... and beyond!Our oldest granddaughter represented North Carolina in the Southern Zone Championships in Orlando last week. We drove down to watch her compete

Oh my goodness — everyone was in such a chatty mood last night, it was hard to get a word in edgewise! But that is great! We had some fantastic discussions, and I always learn a great deal from them. Remember, the Virtual Retreat starts today at 3 PM. Pushing back that start time is another way for me to recover some time for myself! I can always open the call earlier if people want, but I won't be there until three. 

I'm getting back into the swing of things, only to have my schedule turned upside down again ...

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 ...

We all survived the weekend! There were five Zooms, which I hope will never happen again. I have no one to blame but myself. But all is good! Going forward, it will be different. In the fall, I've decided that I'll do my teaching on two weekends, and that will leave room to schedule them so they don't fall on a weekend with a special event, or if I need to move them because of travel, there is some flexibility. No more than two a day, and so on. I have set guidelines, and I won't ...

I don't know what to say this morning, and that's a first. 

OK—I'm kidding, but I had a very eye-opening experience this morning. If I were of sound mind (which I'm not), I'd go downstairs and take every pattern in those boxes, bundle them up, and take them somewhere. I don't know where, but somewhere. I have NO RIGHT to even consider starting a new project. 

What happened to traumatize me? I'm working on this MASSIVE project for my concurrent show next week at Quilt Canada. It's called Celebrating 25 Years ...

No change in the numbers.

Same two projects on the go, the afghan and the boro piece. Neither one looks much different than the last time I posted pictures.

I recently pulled out a UFO that I would like to move forward and arranged the blocks the way I want to set them. This was a free BOM from way too many years ago. I didn’t get any further than that, although I keep thinking about it.

The setting is more involved than the blocks. I could do something else, but I really like the pattern as is. I ...

Oh, FARCE!!!!! If you read yesterday's post, I mentioned how men overlook little details. So imagine my dilemma when I couldn't see a box of fabric if it hit me in the head! 

I was looking for a new UFO to work on. I knew where the project was, so I dug out the basket with the supplies. My goal for this month was to get myself organized, so I went for this project: Farm Girl Vintage. 

The basket for the Farm Girl Vintage project

I had some free time yesterday afternoon, so I decided to get organized ...

OH my -- I always get a chuckle from the comments, and I need to get back to answering them individually. I'm not a math nerd, so I don't calculate how much batting cutoffs get used in a year, but it is shocking when I see people throw those batting bits away. I "glue" them together for smaller projects like table runners, bags, placemats, etc. I am working my way through the batting cutoff closet, and once April is here, I plan to be on the long arm to try and finish up some community projects where I use ...

Is it just me, or is this month flying?

No fabric in this week. The fabric declutter resulted in several yards going into donation bags. I still have a lot of fabric to sort through.

I finished the applique on the heart block. I’m auditioning colors for the motif under the hearts and deciding if I want to add beads or not.

I used Sulky 12 wt cotton floss on two of the hearts and Weeks Dye Works floss on the third. The pink fabrics came from the scrap bins. The heart blocks will all come from stash.

Fabric ...

No fabric in this week.

The sewing room declutter continues. Last year I let go of lots of fabric scraps, but this year I’m ready to part with some yardage. I’ve only gone through one drawer so far. There are several more drawers to go.

I spent most of this week working on a second heart block. The three hearts are an adaption of a motif in a book. It isn’t clear in the picture, but there is a design under the hearts that I plan to embroider.

Here’s a picture of the first block.

I ...

As of this morning, at 6 AM, I have not touched ONE project I brought with me. WOW—can you believe how well I packed? It was another very successful day, and I'm excited. However, I'm also learning (well, I know this) that having a plan is vital! 

In the past - long, long ago - I would flit from project to project. In my "new" life, I'm pretty good at sticking to one thing. I don't get distracted by what others are doing. I'm focused. There has to be a plan, or I will never get ...