Postcards and Notecards

This last weekend I had planned to make a lot of progress on some of the commissioned work that I have at the moment.  But plans got rearranged when I got a request for 3 Valentine's postcard from a friend, and the same friend said that the nursing home where her DH is wanted some to display.   

Ended up buying background fabrics for them because I didn't like what I had (except the white w/red dots).  rest of fabrics used are from stash and are a combination of cottons and linens.   Leftover backing from a quilt was used as the backs for all.  Laces and rick-rack was all from stash.

In between working on the postcards, I made three over-sized quilted note cards from three orphan CQ Blocks.   The blocks had been given to me by someone who no longer wanted them and I had long debated what to do with them.

The cards range from about 6" square to about 7.5" square or close to square.   I stitched them to the stabilizer using Sulky invisible thread and then edge-stitched them. 

I already have plans for these two cards.  The one with the orange patches had a monogram in the corner with the lace flowers that I removed and put the lace on instead.

Gratitudes:
1: for the rebate visa cards that I found in time to use them before they went out of date.

2. For being able to buy groceries and new crockpot that don't normally fit in the budget worth over $100 for about $9 out of pocket.

Goodies in the mail

I've been helping a friend to make the quilted postcards that I make via the computer because she lives in NY and I'm down here in TX.
 We've known each other for more than 20 yrs now, having met through an online quilters group back around 1997 or so and she's a sweet friend.

I've been sharing my stash of materials and embellishments for the cards with her.  And yesterday this packet of lovely yumminess arrived in my mailbox.

Lovely trims and embellishments that she'd found this past Christmas, and she shared some with me.   Always fun to have new goodies to work with on my postcards.   Trying to figure out how to use some of them before next Christmas now.  =)

And there was an extra special surprise of a gift card to Hobby Lobby from her as well........such an unexpected surprise, and very appreciated with a budget that is extra tight right now.

Gratitudes:

1. For surprises from friends

2. For no freezing rain this morning and safety on the drive into work.

Stretching Art 2020 - An idea is 'born'

The theme this year for the Stretching Art challenge is "Community" and what it means to each person that is taking part in the challenge.   I've turned different thoughts over in my mind as to what that meant to me and how to depict the same in a quilt.

Last week I did some searching online for images of 'community' and people.   These are some of the ones that stood out to me.

This first one was that I really liked the figures in.  However, I don't like the way half of the figure are hidden tho, and overall the layout won't work in the 18" wide by 36" tall size.

Saw this image and thought maybe something like this might work.

I like this image the best (well at least the tree trunk), and think something along these lines would work best in the size/shape constraints.

So my current design thought process is that I'll sketch out something similar for a tree trunk, and then using figures similar to the first image fill the "leaves" of the tree in.   I'll need to adapt the arm positioning of the figures of the top image to work in the tree......but I think it'll work.


Gratitudes:
1. For the community of friends that I have and all that they mean to me.

2. For getting to leave work early yesterday.

State of the Stash, January 20, 2020

Things have gotten out of hand around my house and are really starting to drive me nuts....and when that Work on downsizing and organizing the stash started this past week.  My goal is to organized everything once again as I downsize and get rid of things that I'm unlikely to use.  Some will be donated, some sold, and some given away.  A move is possible in the future depending on what happens job-wise, so I'd really like things to be better organized before that.

To hold myself accountable, I'll post here at least twice a month on how I'm doing.  All that is going out from the stash is being measured in inches.

This week I tackled most of the boxes of clothing and non-quilting fabrics.  Not done were the box(es)/tote(s) of fabrics that have been bought over the years for totes.  5 xerox boxes were emptied for reuse as I work with the quilting cottons, what remains has been better organized.

Also tackled were 3 paper grocery bags full scraps that had been previously pulled out (now given away) and a couple of boxes of quilting cottons.  All solids are now together in one tote.........and I've realized I don't need to buy black or white Kona for a long time with the equivalent of about 6-8 bolts of black and 4 of white on hand.....oops.............


Fabric Out for January 20 - 17.778 Yds
Fabric In for January 20 - 2 yds
Fabric pulled for donation - 115 yds+
Fabric ready to be sent off - 5 yds

Total In/Out since January 1st - 15.778 yds

2020 Goal - 250 yds

To go till goal - 234.222 yds

Linking up with quiltpaintcreate today:

Gratitudes:
1. For the fun of working with the fabrics in my 401F

2. For being able to pull fabrics for paying projects and gifts from my stash

To-do's - January 20th

The new year has started off with a bang as it were.........at least that's how my house looks....working on getting the disaster zone cleaned up tho.

Completions for the last couple of weeks -

1. Valentine Postcards - Finished and delivered to store for display!
2. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Fabric ordered
3. 2 boxes of books - documented and donated!
4. Sorted through all of the clothing fabric stash and downsized drastically.  115+ yds ready to be donated 
5. Alterations (3 sweatpants) for CS - completed and delivered

Commission To-do's for January -

1. Commissioned tote #1 - cats - Nothing more done
2. Commissioned tote #2 - dachshunds - Nothing more done
3. Repair antique Sun Bonnet Sue quilt for SR - started, fabric bought to cover damaged section
4. Sew Cross-stitch blocks together as needed for SR
5. Make fleece doggie coat from red/white print fleece remnant for SR - have remnant and pattern.
6. Postcards for sale as I can make them - Valentine, Easter, and spring ones need to be started

Current For Sale projects & Commissions-

1. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Fabric has been ordered from a shop on Etsy (coming from Slovakia and has been shipped), design is complete
2. Pincushions for sale - make and list

Christmas gifts -

1. Pillowcase(s) for triangle support pillow for PN - Draw up pattern and dig fabric out so this can be made
2. Embellish Sweatshirt for DN
3. Send gifts to the N family

Future Commissions-

1. T-shirt Quilt for friend in an online group (no due date, waiting for shirts and specs)
2. T-shirt quilt for a friend at church (no due date, waiting for shirts, specs)
3. Men's Shirt alterations (multiple, not sure how many at this point) for AJ
4. Hem dress and alter jacket for CJ
5. T-shirt quilts for CA and CA
6. Memory bears for TA
7. Memory Pillows and stuffed pigs (2 each) (customer = friend of my realtor friend) to be done after Christmas

Possible Commissions/Sales -

1. Airplane quilt - need to make sample blocks before getting back with friend to see if she's interested
2. Music Quilt - long time possibility....rumblings about it happening again - Designed, waiting on down payment
3. Teddy Bear Quilt - This needs to be quilted (either for the original order or sold to someone else)
4. Quilt tops that are for sale (Wolf + more)

Other projects that need to be done -

1. List items for sale on Ebay or other fitting site
2. Ship snail quilt out for quilting - Ready to ship, but have to wait till I get paid again 
3. Additional work for the PT job - waiting for an issue to be resolved.
4. Finish 4 UFO's that will be headed to the kids of a family who lost everything in a forest fire in CA - three of four quilted and ready for binding, backing pulled for the remaining one
5. Prep t-shirts for my own t-shirt quilt - t-shirts are all together (and have been for several yrs) but need to back with interfacing and get ready for quilting (doing quilt as you go).
6. Downsize clothing fabric stash - Sorted through, donations boxed up.  Need to find somewhere to donate to. Several pieces sent to others.
7. Find place to donate clothing fabric - One email sent, waiting on response.  More to send
8. Get website set up so that I can sell what I'm making and my quilts - free website with Square started
9. Continue looking for and applying for new, paying jobs

Gratitudes:

1. For having savings when there's no income

2. For the community of IRL and online friends that have supported and encouraged me over the last 18 months and continue to do so.

Re-purposing UFO/Orphan Blocks

More than 5 yrs ago a gal on one of my quilt lists gave me a handful of embellished crazy quilt blocks.  Two of them were given to someone else because I never figured out what to do with them.   Part of me wishes I hadn't done that now....but too late....lol, and it's not like I don't have anything to work with here at the house.

One of them was this baby themed block with machine stitching embellishing the seams.  Almost gave it away, but at the last minute decided to re-purpose it.

 I've a double baby shower (one boy and one girl) coming up in 10 days and need cards of some sort for it.   So I started the process of making them by ironing two pieces of pellon fusible stiffener onto the back of the block and then trimmed around them.















I then took the largest of the pieces left and sewed it to a third piece of pellon.   The addition of a few gold scraps to fill out the needed space and the card was covered.

Some lace, ribbon, and a silk flower and the postcard tops are completed.  Next up will be adding the backs and the edge-stitching.

The top right and the bottom cards will be used for the shower.  The other one will be either saved for the future or displayed for sale.

Gratitudes:

1. For the new glasses really improving the issues I was having with the old pair

2. For the smooth commute to the office today

Stash Goals for 2020 and progress

Those that have seen my fabric stash (and everything else I've got craft wise) know that I have a big stash....and in all honesty I have to admit I've got more fabric than some of the quilt shops that I've been in.   Oops.....

It has been accumulated over many years, some of which I was working in a fabric store (not helpful when you tend to collect too much....but oh that discount....lol).  Even moving frequently did not get the stash under control like it really needs to be.

One of my goals for this year is to downsize at least somewhat.........no not dramatically, but to where I know where things are (in other words get it organized) and get what I don't want anymore out of here.

I've got everything from yardage (lots and lots!), FQ's, Precuts, scraps, clothing and quilting fabrics.  I've a couple of totes full of fabrics that were for scrub tops, but between trying to survive and not hearing from the gal these were for several yrs, I'm not sure what to do with this fabric.   I do know I need to figure out what is up with her and if these are still wanted.

In addition, I could possibly end up moving again in order to find a better job.   And I really don't need to continue to haul all of this around. No, I'm not going to get rid of it all...........nope, no way no how will that happen, lol.   However, I do need to downsize and get rid of the things that no longer give me joy or that I no longer work with.

I've gone through most of my non-quilting fabric stash, and have just the tote fabrics left to go once I find which tote or box they are in.     So far I've three packing boxes filled with clothing fabrics that are ready to be donated somewhere (hopefully not just to a thrift shop).   In these boxes are about 115 yds of fabric ready to go to some group that can use them.

I've also gone through my precuts and have pulled several precut sets out to sell.   Just need to get them listed somewhere so I can sell them.

 Out of the 5 xerox boxes that I emptied, were these 5 pieces that I'm keeping at this point for quilts or for tops.  One batik, and 4 pieces that are embroidered.  Time will tell what I do with these.

Lots more to go thru, sort and put into some sort of order.   But at least I've made a start.

Gratitudes:

1.  My new glasses (that weren't in the budget) have arrived and have really helped with the vision problems I was having.......now to find some place that can do the final adjustment needed on them.

2. For not getting the freezing rain that the panhandle got yesterday.

ScrapHappy Day - January 2020

Something a little different today with my ScrapHappy post.  I've finished up two different Cross-Stitch UFO's so far in January.

This was a piece that I made to fit the piece of aida cloth I wanted to use up.  Scraps of floss leftover from assorted finished kits were used to make the top and bottom borders.  The brown was the remaining portion of a skein for DMC 3271 if I recall right.  I don't remember when I made it (maybe 15 yrs ago), but it's been long enough that it  picked up a couple of small spots on the aida - big OOPS there.   One was covered by the finishing fabric, the other has a button sewn on over it.

I used a modified facing technique to finish this and the border fabric covers the back side of the top/bottom border stitching.

This is made to display the collectible enamel pins that can be gotten at various places and shows.

This started out as a rectangular piece of solid cross-stitch.  I just did a free-form design wit many small bits of embroidery floss left over from completed kits.  I debated about making it a pincushion or needle book, and ended up with a needlebook.  Scraps of fabric were used for the pieced lining, and scraps of felt for the pages.


Gratitudes:

1. Safe traffic today as I was driving into work this morning.

2. Getting to have dinner with a friend this evening.

Week 1 Progress

Last week was a busy one for me as I started back to work after 2+ weeks on vacation.  Still managed to get several things accomplished -

Valentine's Day postcards were made - this first pic isn't a great one, but the hearts on the top two are the "conversational" candy hearts.

 Appliqued hearts - both fabric and wooden cut-out ones.  Silk flowers added to two of the cards.

Little felt owls used as appliques, ribbon and silk flowers.

All of these cards have now been sent on to the store for display and hopefully will sell.  Next up - St. Patrick's Day and Easter, and maybe some for UT (that would be U of TX, but might think about U of TN as well).


Also completed last week - two 'A' sized boxes of books were gone through and documented so that I can get them donated.   They are now in the back of the car waiting for me to fill one more box before going by the thrift store.

And I hemmed 3 pairs of sweat pants for a commission.

Gratitudes:

1. New glasses arrived safe and sound today....now to get used to the change in prescription

2. For the nice weather before the next  round of storms is due in tomorrow.

Starting off this week......

....I have two projects in the works so far this week.

The first up is this commission - repairing this vintage Sun Bonnet Sue quilt.

The friend this is for has 4 dogs, and one of them gets very nervous during storms and fireworks.   And when she does then she 'digs'.   This time she dug a hole in this quilt.

 Two holes were the result of the digging....all the way through the quilt.

I've put a piece of batting underneath the holes and have appliqued a piece of muslin over them on the back (yes, by hand).

Next up is digging thru the stash to see if I can find a solid that is similar in color to the hat that was there.   Plan is to cut one out that is just a little larger and then hand-applique it on and  do the embellishing to match what's already there.








Second project I'm working on this week is putting together 12 UFO blocks that were made by people in my Sunshine quilt group.  I've had the blocks for at  least 3 yrs, so it's time to use them.     This will go to one of Sunshine's groups when finished.


Gratitudes:

1. For the encouragement from actually finding a job I could submit for....now for the patience to wait till I hear back on it and for God to work in the situation if that is his will.

2. For the blessing of friends who take GC's that were paid forward to them and then give them to me as a blessing.

To-do's for January 1st thru 15th, 2020

his week's list and goals will actually go thru the end of the year because I'm headed out on vacation....but taking my machine and a number of projects with me.

Completions for the last couple of weeks -

1. Finish Christmas stocking for Customer - Finished!
2. Basketball quilt totally finished (quilting, binding, label) - Finished and Delivered!
3. Made 3 test stuffed animals for new pattern, and one teddy bear.   All for sale
4. Finished mini pp'd wall-hanging recieved at Christmas
5. Mini wall-hanging for gift (Coffee panel) - Finished!

Commission To-do's for January -

1. Commissioned tote #1 - cats - All fab's pulled, ready to cut and prep fabrics (already paid for)
2. Commissioned tote #2 - dachshunds - All fab's pulled, ready to cut and prep fabrics (already paid for)
3. Repair antique Sun Bonnet Sue quilt for SR
4. Sew Cross-stitch blocks together as needed for SR
5. Postcards for sale as I can make them - Valentine, Easter, and spring ones need to be started

Current For Sale projects & Commissions-

1. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Fabric has been ordered from a shop on Etsy (coming from Slovakia and has been shipped), design is complete
2. Alterations (3 sweatpants) for CS
3. Pincushions for sale - make and list

Christmas gifts -

1. Pillowcase(s) for triangle support pillow for PN - Draw up pattern and dig fabric out so this can be made
2. Embellish Sweatshirt for DN
3. Send gifts to the N family

Future Commissions-

1. T-shirt Quilt for friend in an online group (no due date, waiting for shirts and specs)
2. T-shirt quilt for a friend at church (no due date, waiting for shirts, specs)
3. Men's Shirt alterations (multiple, not sure how many at this point) 
4. Hem dress for wife of #3
5. T-shirt quilts for CA and CA
6. Memory bears for TA
7. Memory Pillows and stuffed pigs (2 each) (customer = friend of my realtor friend) to be done after Christmas

Possible Commissions/Sales -

1. Airplane quilt - need to make sample blocks before getting back with friend to see if she's interested (most likely for Christmas if she decides to do it)
2. Music Quilt - long time possibility....rumblings about it happening again - Designed, waiting on down payment
3. Teddy Bear Quilt - This needs to be quilted so that it can either the commission can be completed or it sold
4. Quilt tops that are for sale (Wolf + more)

Other projects that need to be done -

1. Ship snail quilt out for quilting - Ready to ship, but have to wait till I get paid again 
2. Go thru the two boxes of books that need to go to second hand store and document what is there before donating
3. Additional work for the PT job - Ongoing work......thankfully
4. Finish 4 UFO's that will be headed to the kids of a family who lost everything in a forest fire in CA - three of four quilted and ready for binding, backing pulled for the remaining one
5. Prep t-shirts for my own t-shirt quilt - t-shirts are all together (and have been for several yrs) but need to back with interfacing and get ready for quilting (doing quilt as you go).
6. Downsize clothing fabric stash
7. Find place to donate clothing fabric 
8. Get website set up so that I can sell what I'm making and my quilts

Gratitudes:

1. For having stuffed critters already made that will make the perfect baby shower gifts.  =)

2. For getting to visit with friends who I haven't seen in a while while I was on vacation.

2020 Goals

It's a new year and there's always a division on whether you should make resolutions or not.  I don't set resolutions, but do tend to have goals for the year in terms of what I want or need to accomplish. 

I track what I do every year in a spreadsheet with different pages - completed projects, commissions, UFO's, thread used, and gifts are just a few of them.  To help keep me organized this year and hopefully manage to do more things for myself and/or for gifts, instead of basically only doing commissioned work I've set up a page in my quilt spreadsheet to track what needs to be done in three basic areas.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm easily distracted by new ideas and projects, so I'm hopign this helps me stay focused on getting things done.  The three sections I've started with here are goals for me and/or gifts, goals for the commissions I already have or that are coming in, and goals for things around the house and working to make things easier to deal with.


Goals for my projects and / or gifts:

This is a 2019 RxR kit that I want to get made up into a wall-hanging for my kitchen this year. It still needs to be added to the list above.

Next up tho is getting the pillowcase and sweatshirt finishes up because those are belated Christmas gifts from 2019....oops....sigh.









Commissioned Projects
This area will always be a work in process.   One line already needs to be split into three, and fabric has been ordered (and shipped) for the Owl quilt.

Goals for around the house:

Also to be added to this section is designing a pattern for a bowl cozy for a 9" by 13" pan (requested) and then writing up a pattern for it as well as making some to sell.  I also need to add in to research where things like the clothing fabrics that I no longer want can be donated to.   I've gotten some ideas but need to research and make some contacts to actually find what groups/schools will actually take donations.

Just one pic of the mess I need to deal with and actually get into a workable system.  This mess is all the remnants that I've bought over the last 4 yrs or so and then never put up.  Time to deal with them!  And then once the table is cleaned off I can work on other projects.

Some of these remnants will be used as test pieces for the pattern I need to get designed (it's in my mind), others maybe used to items to sell.


I'll also say that the biggest goal of all for this year is not actually on any of the lists...........that's to find a job where I can expect to be paid on a regular basis (and actually experience this!).  So if that happens and/or I end up moving again things could change in a flash.....lol.

Gratitudes:
1. For the long-overdue new glasses that will soon be here.  Hoping they make my life better!

2. For the weather that is warmer than the norm at this time of the year.....now if only the cedar pollen would die down.......

Unusual Patterns for Quilting

For a while now I've been wanting to make another  scrappy quilt along the lines of what I did with this wolf, and the other scrappy tops that I've made (flamingo, dogs, and cats).   I'e especially wanted to do more that were not so frilly or childish so that if someone wanted to give them to a man then that would be a doable thing.

One of the designs I've been thinking about was a deer.   My only problem in actually getting one made has been finding a graph that was small enough to make a quilt that was doable in size.

I think I've figure out a way to do it.   I found this ornament in the after-Christmas holiday sale at Joann's.  My plan is to take and lay it over a piece of 10 sq/in graph paper and trace the outline.   I'll then be able to take and use that as a pattern.

















I also found this cross-stitch as that  I'm planning to use as a pattern.

I do have some cross-stitch patterns, but they are larger in count and I'd have to make the squares used smaller.   One of them tho I really like, so I might break down and do it.

Gratitudes:
1. for things I can use to make quilting patterns

2. For free charts that can be used for quilts.

January 2020 Look at the Bill "Paintings"

At least once per year I do a look back at where my finances stand and how it looks in paying off debt.   

this is where I was in September of 2018.  lots of uncolored flower petals there.






As I look this year, I can see lots of progress in getting smaller flowers colored in (meaning the bills paid off). 

I'm encouraged because I know two of the big flowers in the center one will be paid off this year even if things continue to be rocky with income.  Can't wait for that to happen.

I do need to add two more small ones, one larger one to represent the things that have cropped up this past year.and there's one great big one that I need to add...sigh.   Guess it's time to get another canvas out and start sketching.

Gratitudes:
1. For God faithfulness in supplying all I need over these last couple of yrs of difficulties at work.

2. For being able to keep making progress on getting these bills paid off.

Christmas Gifts

There were a number of gifts that I received this year, a gift of money from the parents that paid for most of my trip, cash from other friends that paid for a chunk of the remaining portion of the trip.  And other goodies.

There were these three Christmas ornaments (I really need a tree next year, or else figure out how to display them without one...lol).  The cross came from the same friend who gave me the goodies below.   And a longtime friend gave me the two ornaments on the bottom.   Love the gnome riding on the snail.

Needless to say she knows me well...lol.

And my one friend wanted me to have a small taste of AZ which I really do miss to bring back home to TX.   The wonderful as always calendar from Arizona Highways and two kitchen towels.

Gratitudes:

1. For friends who know me well and find such sweet things for me.

2. For having been able to spend two weeks out in Phoenix on vacation in December.

What to do......

I've been working to try to put things where they should be sort out, downsize and so on.....a definite ongoing process for me because things have gotten out of hand over the last year and a half.

One of the things I found was this folded fabric (faux-quilted) trim.  It's about 3 inches wide and I've got  a yard of it.   It is made of folded fabrics that were stitched to a open weave stiff backing.   I've had it since before 2006 when I  moved from Phoenix, and have never managed to do anything with it.

Lots of lovely blues, aquas and a green or two in it.

Backing shown here -

I can't remember what I bought it for now.   And really don't know what I could use it for.

Anyone have ideas? Or should I just list it for sale somewhere and let it go?



Gratitudes:
1. For finding interesting things in the stash

2. For interesting emails (relating to job openings)

First Quilty Finishes of 2020

the first finishes of this year were these two mini wall-hangings.

This was a pp'd kit that I received in December in my shoebox of quilty goodies.    The fabrics for the top were included in the kit.  I supplied the fabrics for the binding and backing.  And because I hadn't thought to bring them from home, ended up buying them while in Phoenix on vacation.


















Backing Fabric (the one with the snails) and binding
fabric for the wallhanging were purchased in
Phoenix.

Panel bought during the 2019 Row by Row was finished up into a mini wall-hanging.  Finished size is approximately 14" square.   Quilted from the back to follow the pattern on the backing fabric which is coffee themed, and was a remnant.

Gratitudes:

1. For protection in the drive home from Phoenix, esp. through the near miss in Odessa

2. For the beautiful weather over the weekend and the early part of the week.