Five's the Limit, Hotties. Hold Me to it!

So now that the festivities are over, and in this house the festivities of Christmas and the new year also include three of five of our family birthdays within the last 9 days of December, and NO we were not smart for having twins on December 30 but we enjoyed the tax deduction immensely, it's time to refocus. Reset. Reprioritize. And apparently set aside a little time to ponder why one cannot reproritize since it appears not to be a word.

In a consortium of creative professionals I belong to (you didn't think all this awesomeness happened without being vetted and discussed sometimes, did you?), the idea of a focus word for 2016 has been bandied about with great passion over the last few weeks. I resisted for a while, because my modus operandi is generally to wake up and figure out what I feel like doing creativity wise on any given day, and who wants to be tied down to a word to make me focus amongst my fabric? But eventually I caved, and I think it will be good for me.
 
Because let's face it, the current modus may be freeing, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to let the creative side of my business get too out of hand. As much as I love that I work so far outside of my box that I can't see the box most of the time, will try anything once (and probably fall in love with it and do over and again), and my design wall has to be huge because it's a rare day when it sees only one project on it at a time, I must admit that this whole "Squirrel!" fabric play mentality has become at times rather detrimental, as this past year I was probably more creative than ever but suffered by far the most episodes of burnout when it came to pattern completion of my ten year career. So it's time to change a thing or two.

My word of the year is FIVE. As in "I will not allow myself to be actively working on more than five projects at one time." Should a new project come along that I simply must start, then by my own new rules I simply must set a current one aside, and by set aside I mean actively put it in the UFO pile, not just shove it off to a far corner of the design wall stacked up with pins, where I can still see it and can still tell myself it's a project I'm working on. If I truly believe a design has potential, I should finish it rather than UFO it. If I truly believe a new idea has potential, it should be able to wait til one of the other five potentials is out of the queue.

I'm also actively considering using the word queue in public this year because my Anglophile daughter will go nuts with joy. But back to five.

 As of today, these three projects are on my design wall. All of them I believe in and will be completing, she said with conviction:

#1 -  Remember that free block pattern I had for a limited time early last fall? It's almost a top and WILL be a real pattern, because I believe in this project and will complete it, hopefully during DAGMT this February.

Missed the free block? I'm sorry. It was a limited time  thank you to my facebook followers. It's one of those you snooze you lose situations, and therefore I am not even showing it in full here so that you don't have to be all upset that you missed it. I'm always looking out for you, you know. The pattern will be even more fun than the block alone, of course. And it will be done because it is my top #1.

#2 -  Then there is the annual January Jumpstart group project. More details will be announced this week, and my sample block is done. In the "two birds" category, I'm also going to be using this block for my guild's Feb BOM. But as yours come in, this project will be a huge priority for me. If you've taken part in my scrappy group projects in January before, you know they are usually pretty quick and fun and you get your block on a pattern cover just for testing for me. I'm so thankful you all work so cheap.

There will be a blog post, a newsletter, and a FB announcement to join this group project, test, and swap on January 6. I expect to fill all 40 slots quickly. If you are interested, make sure you read one or all of those sources on Wednesday and let me know ASAP if you are in.

 #3 - Blue Nickel Studios "Painted Trees" pattern won me over. It's rare these days that I work on someone else's pattern, but I think it's important to do it now and then. Following another designer's instructions is pretty enlightening, both about what I could do better and where I rock it big time, thankyouverymuch. I'm thoroughly enjoying this fun scrappy pattern, and the color scheme definitely was an influence on the January Jumpstart block. This one will likely end up in the UFO bin now and again if I have to make way for other projects, but I do hope it will be on the wall more than it is off. Plus in the discovering of it I got to know the designer, Scott Hansen, a little better and he is a riot. Branching out (ha ha, pun with the trees) is always awesome.

So that's three, and that covers my design wall. #4 - is a free block I am designing so I can take part in Block Stock, and #5 is by far the most craziest piece of insanity I've ever decided to take on, but I'll be attempting a Millefiori EPP project using "The New Hexagon - 52 Blocks to Paper Piece" by Katja Marek. I've joined a FB group dedicated to the project, bought the book, and the end product should look something like this one, except with my fabric choices.

By Katja Marek

Because I'm crazy.

I'm not going to kid myself, this one will end up in the UFO bin now and again too. But I'm choosing to give it a go this year and am giving it a slot in my top five right now because I think it's going to be a great lesson and good practice in tone, value, fabric choice, fussy cutting, patience, and seeing just how many tiny scraps of fabric Mr Quilting Hottie can handle on the floor of the living room at any given time. My over/under is about 13.

So FIVE. Cinco. Cinque. It's my word of the year, and by limiting myself I hope to smash my own creative boundaries.

I'm so poetic, right?

Quilting Gallery turns 5, you get 6 fabrics

The Quilting Gallery is celebrating the big 0-5 this week, and we bloglanders are all coming together to shower YOU with gifts. First you receive the gift of discovering my blog. A gift which will truly keep on giving should you return, and if you ask me, you should definitely return. I have some fantastic new events coming up in 2013, kicking right off in January with a new group quilt project followed by "Drop and Give Me Twenty", the web's biggest UFO busting blog event as proclaimed by me. If you have even one UFO in your pile you'll want to check out the details. If you have only one UFO, though, it is debatable if you can consider yourself a real quilter, you know, so get to sewing! It is our duty as quilters to leave piles of fabric and half finished quilts for our children and grandchildren to find homes for someday.

And if that is not enough for you, you might even win my prize, a set of six 1/3 yard cuts of these yummers Christmas fabrics from Northcott's Stonehenge line.

Aren't they delish? I used them in the cover quilt for a pattern I am working on and they feel as good as they look. I can barely part with some of these leftovers, but for the sake of you and your happiness, I will brush away a tear as I ship them off to lands unknown. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

To enter, please sign up to be a follower of Quilting Hottie Haven and then tell me in a comment on this post how many UFOs you currently have in your stash (approximate number is fine, I am not about to ask you to actually count and even if I did, how would I know you actually did it? It's all in the name of trust, hotties. But I will say if you tell me you have 50 or more I might be skeptical that you padded it a tad.), and which one you would most like to finish in the near future. And by near future I mean "before you go to the great quilt studio in the sky".

Good luck, and happy blog hopping!

Edited to add: Holy flipping UFOage, hotties! I no longer think you are padding it at close to 50 since there are so many of you in that category, but I do think quilters seem to suffer from a very specific form of ADHD wherein we must start three projects while in the process of working on one. Yet another reason to join us in February! 

Sightings of UFOs less frequent

Please join me as I welcome Nan Baker, from Purrfect Spots blog and pattern design, as my guest blogger today. Nan is talented in many areas of fiber arts and is apparently on a UFO cleanup extravaganza! Come see how she's doing!

"Don't you just love it when you finish a UFO – (Unfinished
Object)? Well I am in the process of doing just that as I am working on 2 quilt
designs and just needed to step back for a day or two. Being a little frazzled,
I decided it was time to clean the C.A.T. House –




that stands for Creative Arts & Textiles now although it
used to be where the kitties lived until they got their own condo! But that's
another story….

Well, in clearing the cutting table, folding fabrics, putting
books up, and straightening shelves, I stumbled upon several UFOs. They were
neatly folded and tucked away for safe keeping. That's no good. I worked hard
on those. What are they doing on the shelf? I decided their shelf life was over
and quickly got to work.

Now these UFOs are not my designs – they are what I call my
"Fun Stitching"! I can just get lost in someone else's pattern and not try to create all the time. It gives my brain a rest and I usually keep one of these going all the time for a
breather, so to speak. I can just chill!

Now these particular items were from my embroidery, cross stitch
and needlepoint days! Ok – I've got to stop here and just let it be known. I LOVE
HANDWORK! I also love sewing on the sewing machine as well and the many hours I
have spent on my old reliable Singer is like spending quality time with a very
good friend. The whirr of the motor, the turn of the wheel – it just feels right
and when you have been away too long it feels so good to get reacquainted! I
know you stitchers know exactly what I am talking about!

But then there is HANDWORK. There is just something about
feeling those threads in your fabric creating beautiful and intricate designs plus
painting pictures with floss. You can sit curled up in your comfortable chair
(with a kitty sleeping near by) and have a "purrfect" little world
all to yourself – thanks to fabric, needle, thread & scissors (plus
glasses). For me it is the one place that I am "in control" of my
life. But as the years have gone by I discovered that embroidery, cross stitch,
needlepoint, knitting and crocheting are not the only forms of handwork for me.
I discovered Hand Quilting! Never
thought I would and said many times – no way would I quilt by hand. Lesson
learned – never say never! Everytime I see small squares I want to sew them
together and just keep going. Here is one of my hand quilts (I've given the
others away).



But I digress.


So to return to the UFOs - I guess at one point I thought I
was going to get them framed so put them aside until I could do that. However
now that quilting has entered the picture there are endless possibilities for
these projects. They were just waiting for me to discover the right finish for
them! The first project completed was a traditional British wool embroidery kit
from Phillipa Turnbull of The Crewel Work Company. It is called
"Elizabethan Snails" (You know I have to have some form of wildlife).
I won't tell you how many years it took me to stitch the 2 snails (I mean they
are snails and not big) but it took awhile! Anyway, I thought a lovely forestry
fabric was just the right thing for a lovely woodland pillow. You can just
imagine these snails on the forest floor. Don't you agree?




I then turned to my needlepoint piece. Yes it is a Dalmatian
dog. I do love "spots". It is from the Ansley
Needlepoint Collection. Isn't he great? I added the red
strips to the sides and used polka dots for the back.







And last but not least there is the cross stitch piece.
Isn't this fun? It is by Dimples Designs and it is called The Mushroom
Tabernacle Choir. I did the Christmas version which features the red and green
floss and
beads. I found an earthy fabric that matches the mushrooms
and used strips on the side and back.



It is such a good feeling to finish projects and be able to
display them in your house rather than have them on a shelf or tucked away in a
drawer. And the best part of all, I have been able to combine all my favorite
forms of stitching together so to speak. It just doesn't get much better than
that! Would love to hear your thoughts or see your projects!

Thank you Beth for letting me share my thoughts and projects
on your blog!

Nan Baker – PURRFECT SPOTS – http://www.purrfectspots.blogspot.com/
and
The Quilt Pattern Magazine – Marketing – http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com

Thank you, Nan! I love the idea of having another designer's project going as "fun stitching" at all times. We all need to get away from our own ideas now and then, especially when they aren't working out as planned. Not that that ever happens to me of course. But there are just so many fun patterns out there I want to try; I must make time to do so.

Visions of summer picnics ahead

Regular readers will recall that summer is not my favorite season. The heat. The bugs. The constant packing up of towels, snacks, goggles, etc for an afternoon at the pool, to be closely followed by an evening of unpacking a variety of empty snack wrappings and wet towels. Packing for day or overnight trips almost every weekend, wherein I as the mom get to make sure all bills are paid; everyone's laundry is clean; supervise packing for three young girls who remember their DS games but forget their actual clothes (yes, this has happened); be sure we have all accoutrements for wherever we may be going which may or may not be limited to food for a week, bicycles, scooters, 765 floaties, air mattresses, air pump, sleeping bags or other bedding, enough towels for 10, projects and books for everyone, and Smore making supplies; load it all in the car along with the children after having set up the video system and have the husband stroll in 15 minutes before we leave, throw his bag in the back and say "Wow. We did a great job packing and we're only 10 minutes off schedule." Operative word: We. Operative level of annoyance: High.

But I am not bitter. He's lucky to be cute and he does do most of the cooking at the lake.

Anyway, even in midst the deepest cold we've seen thusfar this winter, I must turn my thoughts to summer, because I am participating in Becky from Patchwork Posse's latest Round Robin adventure, which this year has the theme of "Summer Picnic". So I must start thinking of ideas for my row which do not involve heaps of laundry, attack bees swarming my daughter, sweating off 10 pounds a day during heat waves, or the words "I'm bored." Hmmm......maybe gin and tonics. It's all I've got at the moment.

I participated in Becky's round robin last year, and the result is just about to be quilted. This means, of course, that it has been hanging on one of the ladders in my sewing studio buried under several other UFOs for almost a year. But yeah, it's time to quilt it. I'm thinking of adding another of the top and bottom borders (which also happened to be my contribution to the project) to the sides. What do we think?

The new project starts January 13 and goes to May. Lots of awesome designers will be participating, and dreams of summer will dance in your heads. Or give you nightmares, as the case may be. Check it out at www.patchworkposse.com/blog! Hope to have you participate!

Tour De Clean Studio

Strike while the iron is hot, hotties. You know it can't stay this clean and organized very long. I give it until Thanksgiving, tops. Many, many thanks to my friend Jennifer Hannon, who uploaded 18 months of my photos off my camera onto her computer so that she could email me these few photos and I could share them here. Let's all say a little prayer that my laptop is actually fixed this week, shall we?

When I returned from Market, I had no choice but to follow through on the threat I had made to my family before I left that I was going to lock myself in the studio and not come out until it was workable again. I considered "before" photos, and truly you would have benefitted from seeing how horrific it was pre-massive cleanout, but in all honesty, you also would have never respected me as a person, if you do at all now. It was that bad. So as you are taking my virtual studio tour, I want you to just picture in your mind every item you are seeing in the photos thrown in the air into a massive wind machine creating a artificial cyclone in the room and landing whereever it wanted. My husband says that is a completely accurate description.

So here we go!

This is what you would see first if you came to visit me while I was working. If you were here to actually help me work, I would be thrilled to see you. If you were under 9 and here to ask if you could play on the computer while fighting with your sisters over the mouse, I would not be so much thrilled. But either way, your first view is of this ladder displaying some completed quilts. This is actually only 1/3 of a 20 foot apple ladder I got off of Freecycle several years ago and I love it. You'll see another 1/3 later. The final 1/3 is in my living room holding quilts we use on a daily basis. Don't you love being a party to my cheap decorating secrets?

As for the door, that's just our utility closet. It's also where I deposited a ton of crap during my redo. In the words of Jim Carrey/Ace Ventura, "Do NOT go in there!" Trust me.

Immediately to your right as you turn into the room you will now find this cozy little nook where you can sit down and chat with me. This couch used to be against the wall with my Syncopated Ribbons quilt on it, and also used to be a depository for armloads and armloads of general stuff brought down to the basement and not put away. It also cut off my floor space, so I'm trying this arrangement for a while. I also have a basket of UFOs right there on the floor next to it in plain sight so I can be inspired to finish them. Pause for hysterical laughter.

Right around the corner of that wall the quilt was hanging on in the last photo is my favorite part of my redo. My "scrap central" bookshelf, where I have organized all my scraps, which for purposes of redo were defined as "anything less than 1/4 yard in size that I think I might use again at some point for a scrap quilt before I die even if I truly have no idea what possessed me to buy the fabric in the first place". Each little tub is labeled with the color family within, so I can't get lazy and just throw them anywhere. Here you will also see some bolts and rolls and NQFs (non quilting fabrics) that I just know someday I will use, if only to annoy my children with their very presence when said children have to clean out my studio after they move me into a nursing home. This bookshelf used to contain my books (imagine that), some UFOs, some completed quilts, and I even found a quilt on it while cleaning out that I honestly thought was lost forever about two years ago. Total score.

Here's my new and improved cutting corner. I used to have that little dresser at the front end of my awesome cutting table, which again messed with my floor space and ended up being another repository for random bits of stuff, and my pressing station was on top of the cutting table and took up way too much space. In a brilliant HGTV-esque space saving move, I relocated the dresser (which contains lots of tools like Mystifuse and pressing cloths as well as kit fabrics) over in the corner, stuck the iron on top of it, and gained a pressing corner and more room for projects on my table. My books are now on the little built-in shelf, and that half-open tub contains the remainder of my kit fabrics, conveniently located close to the cutting table for kitting. I used to keep all my fabrics in bins on the shelf under the table, which was truly a disaster at all times. I took them all out and redistributed them around the room, and am now using the shelf as a flat storage area for my quilts. One my daughter's friends saw it a few nights ago and asked if it was a little bed. I hadn't considered that I had added napping space to my studio, but hey, from the mouths of babes.

Here's where the magic happens. Machine, thread racks, design wall (created from a leftover piece of foam insulation from when we finished off this side of the basement covered with batting), and another ladder part, this one containing mostly quilts that are ready for a binding or quilting. I don't ever think about what might happen if that wastewater pipe ever burst.

All of my "Bigger than a fat quarter but still probably not much bigger than a yard because I am the cheapest quilter on earth" fabrics are out of their bins and into these racks now and I love being able to actually see them. Each little cube space is big enough for four stacks of fabrics, and I tried to color coordinate as much as possible. In the process I discovered I own NO red fabrics. Apparently I hate red. Who knew? My fat quarters in this photo are in that blue crate; since this photo was taken I have removed them to a much more attractive organizer thing I bought at Target. But I'm too lazy to rephotograph.

Pegboard full of random bits and bites. Had to share because I truly cannot look at this giraffe picture Paige drew in art class in Kindergarten without cracking up, which is why I keep it there. Frued would have a field day.

Our final stop in the tour, because you don't get to see my computer area to the left of this wall due to a file stack that is still unorganized, is my little wall of fame. Operative word is little, but it keeps me going when I get discouraged and need to remember that yeah, I've done some cool things so far in my career as EPQD and will do more in the future.

Many thanks for stopping by! I'd love to know some of your studio organizing tips, so sound off in comments if you like!