Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Sometimes, Life gets in the way...

We all plan things, life, or try. Some of us plan more than others (yeah, me--why I do project management.) In the project planning world we have contingency plans, reserves, "buffers"; in life these are illnesses, family crises, friend crises, personal crises. Under the clock in my sewing room (visible from the sewing machine) is a sign..it reminds me that there are rarely plans that don't need revising.


And a wonderful dear lady- Clare Rice Dreyer- who runs a most wonderful program called -Starting Over Success-set a wonderful self talk that reminds me not to "should" myself. You've got to go through her seminar to fully appreciate the impact of that "simple" act.

That being said I have a pile of stuff cut and staged to sew, and the borders are finally on the Row x Row quilt top. With the wider sashings and extra borders she comes out to 97" x 97" My current, and still in use Christmas quilt is 23 years or so old, so I think she could use a bit of respite with the addition of a helper. Our Christmas quilts are also used as "sick day" quilts, because they are tied and have high loft in them for snuggling (and tent building of course.)

 
The quality control inspector in the back that you can see that was so diligently "helping me lay it out, measure and take pictures is Sushi. The one you can't  see is Lilo-she has run off with the tape measure.... Here they were a few hours ago being angels.
 
 
Sleeping behind dads recliner on their pillow.
 
Hope you are all progressing on your Christmas projects, I am not behind (I planned for the expected delay stuff), but I would sure rather have more done. Might help if I quit adding projects, but that just wouldn't fit in my life right. There are 89 days until Christmas!
 
 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

It's National Sewing Month..

...and I have been busy. More Christmas presents. The 5th row on the row x row quilt




There have been a few problems with this pattern. For this row and row 6, I've decided to square up the rectangular blocks, and there will need to be some peicework added to the ends (I don't like chopping a block off).

I have also decided to change fabric "C" to a blue, instead of the small scale white-ish print I originally picked. It is the sashing and border. I will probably add 2 other borders as well, one of Faric "A" and one of Fabric "B", maybe with cornerstones...I will have to wait until after I sash and put the first border on. As I have said many times; the fabric sometimes has a mind of its own.
To the right is my Saturday BOM batik block. There is a cream color in the center nine pathc, the surround border is actually a light blue.  And now I must get back to doing some quilting...or other Christmas project.
How is your Santa's workshop moving along? The Christmas Clock says only 111 days left. Just for sanity sake, at 1/2 an hour a day that is only 55 1/2 hours of sewing ....so if that is all you have, plan accordingly...