Quilting on 'Burst

I'm stopping mid-plan to take a few photos of my work so far on the mini/multi starburst quilt. Right at this breaking point, it is very lightly quilted. My goal had been to do quite a bit more, but I'm growing concerned that too much quilting will keep it from draping nicely.

It's challenging to see the quilting, but so far I've gone with lines of my machine's preset scallop-ish pattern running in one direction across the quilt. It's not very dense - but my little test scrap got stiff quickly, and I am worried that quilting it as heavily as I'd initially planned will reduce some of the cuddle-ability of the quilt.

I pushed on until I could safely remove the basting pins. Now I'm taking a bit of a breather to regroup and rethink. I'd initially planned to do a lot of quilting to make the stars show case a little better, but now I'm wondering about simply going across in another direction with the same preset stitch. It would be a little more 'boxy' than I wanted (even with the scallop-y lines rather than straight), so I'm not set on that idea, but I think it needs a little more than I've done so far.

Oh - I did remember to grab a picture of the very scrappy back this time!

I think I warned you it was a little intense? Most of the pieces are scraps from either this project or others I've worked on in the last couple months - the central panel was specifically chosen from my stash, and the black/floral in the bottom left was a larger scrap I've never used that just happened to fit my opening. It is intense, but I think it's fun too. I wish I had a little more of the central panel fabric, but I used half of what I had for this - so I imagine the remainder will someday be part of another very scrappy quilt back. I'd hate to chop it into any smaller of pieces!

This went quickly, but I just feel like it's not done yet. I'm going to call it a night and think on this for a couple days. I want to compliment the blocks, and do a little more so it feels slightly more finished - but I'm so hesitant to over quilt and end up with something more suitable as a wall hanging than a baby quilt!

While Waiting on Tech Support...

In the growing list of things that are keeping me from accomplishing my non-hobby goals, last night I got to spend way too long waiting on tech support for my computer - and not solving anything. So, while I'm still waiting on getting that figured out - and unfortunately, a securely working computer is important to just about all the other steps I'm supposed to be working on - I am happy to report that I put that time spent waiting to use trying something new.

Though, it occurs to me now that I should have used that time working on the 2013 cross stitch portrait. Whoops. Maybe next time - since there's going to be one!

While I was waiting, I was trying to organize my leftover/scrap pile - left overs from other projects or odd blocks with no homes. I have a hard time throwing something away unless it's just a tiny trimming I'll never be able to reuse. I came across some excess that was trimmed off the back of the Happily Ever After Quilt after quilting. The smallest panel was about 15 by 45 of pieced and quilted backing and batting.

Previously in my waiting-turned-organizing time, I had been looking through some of the things I've pins on Pinterest and rediscovered a tutorial for Pink Stitches' Boxy Pouch. It called for starting with two small quilted panels, some lining fabric, and a zipper - all things I had within reach (except the interfacing, which I don't have and figured I'd skip, as usual). It seemed like fate, so I pulled up the tutorial on my tablet and went to work.

My tutorial following skills weren't quite up to par, what with being very distracted by trying to remain connected to three chat windows and a phone line - but I managed to pull together something fairly similar in only about an hour.

Since my zipper was a 14" and I had lots of panel to cut from, I went with a slightly larger box than the tutorial (the larger size is mentioned toward the beginning of the tutorial, so I didn't feel completely like I was jumping off head first). While my panels are a little more random than I'd have chosen if I had started from scratch, having them already pieced and quilted probably saved me an hour or more.

I started with two 15" by 10" panels and ended up about 10" by 6" finished bag. When it came time to box out the corners, I took out about 1.5" (having already forgotten the suggestion to try 2" on the larger panels) - but I'm very happy with the finished size, so I'm glad I forgot!

The tutorial was easy to follow - if I had this much success while doing four other things, just imagine how good the finished product could look if I'd been concentrating! Previous zipper installation practice probably helped a little, but it certainly isn't necessary; the tutorial makes it very easy. I struggled a little with the two ends of the zipper - again, user error of not marking where to stop/start sewing - and sewing the box corners shut after taking out the 1.5" also gave me a little trouble, but I had a blast and I'm pretty happy with how the finish came out. I really want to try it again - minus the tech support stuff.

My lining leaves a little to be desired. The scrappy aspect isn't my favorite, but it's okay compared to the fit. I cut to the prescribed size, and did my best to follow the directions in terms of seam allowance, but it seems a little too large. This isn't an isolated issue - it's happened to the last several bag projects I've made. I'm not sure what the issue is, but I really want to get it figured out - ill-fitting, baggy lining is a serious peeve. This one isn't far off, and maybe after a little use it'll settle in better.

It's not perfect, but it was fun and I want to make more. I always think that immediately wanting to make more is a sign of a great tutorial and a great project. Seriously though, I need to find a reason to make more of these. So family, you just might be getting these kinds of bags as gifts this year. Don't tell! ;)

Pinterest Challenge: One Pan Enchilada Pasta

I tried to follow One-Pan Enchilada Pasta recipe from Number 2 Pencil (found via Pinterest) - though I realized after cooking that I had completely forgotten to add the onion! It would have been a little better with onion, I think.

The recipe was simple and came together quickly.

Blurry photo - because I was in too much of a hurry to taste it.

Two of my four dinner eaters liked it, though we all agreed the 'mild' sauce was a little more intense than desirable. One didn't say much, though he did have seconds, and one said it was basically do it yourself Hamburger Helper. I don't think I've ever had Hamburger Helper... but I have a general idea what it is, and I have to agree that this does seem quite similar. That said, I don't really care. It was good and it was fast, and there wasn't much clean up involved afterwards - so I still think it's a winner.

Next time, I think I'll remember the onion, and I think I might try adding black beans or something else - especially if I use the same kind of sauce! It was good as I made it, but it felt just a little like it was missing something.

Starbursting Top

It didn't quite turn out how I'd planned - a couple errors I decided to embrace rather than rip out - but I'm pleased to say that the top to my collection of star burst blocks is done.

I think this picture is looking a little more saturated than reality. I know I say it every time, but this one really has been a challenge to photograph ever since I added the raspberry almost-solid fabric. Prior to that it wasn't unmanageable but ever since I've really fought to have the colors turn out close to real at all.

This second picture is a little less in focus - but I think the colors might be closer to true.

Either way, while the plan wasn't to be intense, it is a little over the top on the pink/purple scale. Pink isn't my favorite color, but it's probably no surprise that I am loving this slightly-psychedelic little quilt. Fingers crossed that it'll end up with people who are equally enamored with it!

I made a quite scrappy back to go with it and spent a good hours basting it tightly.

I'll be working again with poly batting, which so far has tended to creep just a little bit more than cotton. I hope I've basted tightly enough to avoid having any major crawling or folding of the fabrics. Since I hope this one is a gift, I would have to fix any quilting issues instead of blowing them off and putting it in a 'maybe I'll need this someday' pile. Stitch ripping is not my favorite thing to do, so I hope the extra hour or so of pinning will help me side step any issues that might require ripping.

And now to decide how to quilt - and quickly, since every last one of my pins are in use at the moment -- not all in this one though! I'm leaning towards straight lines - even though I know it's not my strong suite. Then again, I loved the programmed scallop stitch I used here. Maybe I'll check through my machine's presets again to see if there's anything else that could work. Big loops would be ideal - but I think that's more a free motion type thing, something sadly still beyond me and my machine.

Whatever I decide, looks like I'd better put away all the tempting fabric pieces and focus on actually quilting for a while if I want to make any progress!

Bursting

While I'm still not certain just which set of parents-to-be will be getting this little multi/mini starburst quilt, nothing is stopping me from making more blocks. In fact, I think I have blocks cut to make far more blocks that I am going to use in this one. Guess that means I've probably got another in my future sometime soon!

Over the weekend I spent an evening working on two more bursts.

The largest of the 'bursts began with 4 inch square blocks, and wound up around 21 inches square when finished - significantly larger than my previous blocks.

The fourth and final 'burst (I think) (for this quilt anyway) is about the same size as the smaller two. 

While the 'field' color on this 'burst is darker than any of the other three, the print itself is similar, so I think they still coordinate a little. 

Each of the four bursts has a completely different center block: one pinwheel type block, one a single piece of a contrast print, one a small square on point, and the largest one is actually kind of a pineapple (I think that's the right name) - not that it's noticeable since I used the same fabric for each layer. While subtle even in person, it looks a little more like a rose blossom or something, probably thanks to the pink fabric. 

Since I am trying not to get carried away on this one - even though it's clearly a little too late to hit the breaks on this train - I went a head and test drove a couple of different layouts for the top. My favorite so far relies heavily on my remaining scraps of pink (with a little aqua) batiks and tonal fabrics. 

I'm tempted to see if I can swap the top two stars/background pairings - so that the bright pink background would be diagonal from itself rather than over/under. While this layout works fairly well, it looks a little lopsided to me - what do you think? 

A little quick and dirty copy/paste work illustration: 

Hmm... I think it's a slight improvement - even with the orphaned bit of background hanging out alone. Whew! I figured I'd need to try to make it the raspberry almost-solid print or the other batik for flow, but it doesn't look bad as illustrated above (well, the reasons it looks bad have little to do with the way the fabric is laid out), so I think it's going to work! 

I was up way too late playing around with this - but the last few months of trying hard to be an earlier to bed, earlier to rise, grown-up kind of person haven't changed the fact that my most creative and energy filled hours tend to be between 9 pm and 4 am. I stayed up until 2 for the first time in months - and while I suffered a lack of sleep headache, I got so much more accomplished than usual. I have got to find a way to rearrange my schedule so I can take advantage of these hours!

Speaking of - I'd better get back to sewing! 

Flora Starburst Mini - Chair Recover in Progress!

I only discovered the 'starburst' pattern in January but since then it has become one of my favorite blocks. Despite my busy schedule and/or being more or less on creative burn out, I've managed to make four in the first six weeks of 2014 - and I've cut half the blocks for three more; I just need to dig through my stash for another background fabric to go with them.

I've been spending quite a few hours digging around in my stash, attempting to reorganize and/or shop my stash, and I came across a scrap I'd been holding on to for a couple years. I can't really say why I'd been holding on to it; there wasn't much of this little scrap, less than half a fat quarter, and really the little plants on taupe were cute, but seemed more botanical/country than my usual taste runs. That said, there was something about it that kept me from using it up earlier. This time, I pulled it out, thinking I might be able to use it in the multi-starburst quilt. Nope - but completely by accident the already chopped up pieces wound up sitting on my desk as I went through another project and my favorite olive/avocado green dots landed right next to the botanic print. I tell you it was fate. They were meant to be together.

Seriously, the green could not be a better match for the botanical print. The purple would have been better with a bit more red/pink to it, but it's not a bad match either (especially in person).

After piecing the outer eight blocks, I had three squares leftover from my cutting - two of the floral and one of the purple. I had thought about making the center block all the green dot, but it seemed a shame to add those three leftover squares to my scrap pile. So, I made the center a little scrappier than I'd intended. I'm still debating whether that was a good choice or not, but it's really too late to do anything at this point!

While my first block became the mini-quilt that started this obsession, and my second and third are the beginning of a quilt, my fourth one had a different home in mind. With the help of a little extra fabric, a scrap of batting, and some quick quilting, it's in place and looking amazing!

My sad, old office chair which has seen way too many years (probably even too many decades) since it's last recover finally has a pretty new recover!

Well - almost.

I'm currently just holding everything in place with four safety pins while I try to get my hands on a staple gun (or another way to attach the new miniquilt to the seat). I think I should probably remove the three wooden pieces that lock the seat into the small storage compartment, staple in place, then cover with another piece (just like the last recover did) before reattaching the wooden pieces. It seems like that would be a more professional looking finish.

Ugly underside or not, the top is looking amazing. The path to recovering this chair wasn't easy, but now that it is finally (almost) done, I'm so thrilled. I should have done this right away instead of putting it off - but then again, I didn't discover this pattern -- or the way chopping up a 'too country' print could change it -- until this year.

Now I'm wondering what else in my stash could completely change with a little chopping, the right block pattern, and the right partnering fabrics. Hmm...

Fashion Challenge Check-In #3

The Goal: To use 4 different fashion looks from my Pinterest Fashion Stuff, Shoes, or the accessories on my Window Shopping boards as inspiration in creating a look for me to wear in November or December
-- extended in to January and February.

The Budget: $10 (specifically for tights)

The Inspirations:
1) Dress + Shirt

2) Dress + Cardigan 1, 2, 3, 4, - DONE!

Windy days do not make for great photos - especially not when it's so cold! - but I think this isn't too bad a look - minus the wind blown parts. The cardigan seems a little longer than ideal, compared to the length of the dress, and I do think the dress is begging for a belt or other waist accent, but I think it works alright. And yes, I did actually wear this one out on the town on a date with the husband - though I really wish I'd brought a coat!  

3) Shorts + tights -- DONE! 

4) Statement shoes -- DONE!

5) Accessories/Layers/Etc.:

1) Belt and bracelet.    2) Hobbit -inspired door locket necklace    3) Fish necklace  Plus today: 4) Layers - and tights.



So - what I have left to try is the shirt + dress combination. Which has been proving challenging to accomplish with the things in my closet - and challenging to want to try in this weather. I'm going to keep trying, and keep embracing the selfie so I can show some of the better layering options I've been running -- it might just be the cold, but I think I'm getting pretty good at layering! -- but honestly, I'm about to give up on the idea of dresses for a few months. This bitter cold - and occasional knee high piles of snow - does not make me want to expose my legs any more than absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile, yesterday it was decent and I saw not only dresses, but shorts and open-toed shoes being worn around town. So, maybe I'm just a little wimpy...

On the table today

A Tiny Mini

I made this little bitty mini quilt just for me, and just for the fun of it.

I've been collecting up scraps that'll work for a larger bookshelf style quilt ever since I made my first one last year. The pile is growing, but not quickly enough to really begin working on it yet. I'm still saving up scraps towards making a larger version, but last night I just wanted to play and do something fun -- this month I seem to be very interested in immediate gratification projects -- so I pulled a few favorites and got to work.

It's not much bigger than a large post card or picture, maybe 5 x 8. I bound it in a remnant bias tape from the Twin Quilts last year - one of my favorite orange prints. It sat on my sewing table just long enough for me to grab this photo before I scurried off to rearrange the art on my bedroom wall and incorporate it in. I sacrificed one of my basting safety pins to use in hanging it (the pin is working like a picture hanger on a small headed nail that had already been holding something else on the wall). It's probably not technically the right way to hang a little quilt, but I wasn't thinking of how to display it when I was making it!

I probably say this about everything I make, but I think this is my favorite thing...

Xs and Os - Charmed Update

After finishing the top, I started calling this quilt Xs and Os instead of 'charmed' - perhaps because of Valentine's Day? - and it seems like a better name for it.

Finding fabric to go with it, for backing and binding, has been a challenge. After two dismal searches on my own, I stopped at a different fabric shop when Greg was along - and it was snowing - so he came in with me.

In all fairness to him, not only is he good at choosing fabric that works together, he helps me with it more often than I let on. And he says he doesn't mind, but I know walking through the fabric store with me isn't the most interesting thing, so I try not to make him come too often. I also try to go to places he likes, Game Stop and the local woodworking places these days, even if I am absolutely no help to him while I'm there. 

Within about three minutes of walking in, he'd zeroed in on the fabric we ultimately left with. After a quick pre-wash (not something I always do, but something I do always do when the fabric feels stiff with dye), I pulled it out of the dryer and figured the least I could do is take a photo of the two together.

I think it's going to work well. I'm a little nervous about quilting on it. I think I'll have to go with a light top thread and a darker bobbin thread - my usual snow white would be very high contrast on that brown fabric. I still have almost a whole spool of color-changing brown thread that might work against the brown fabric - but mixing the two kinds of thread makes finding the perfect tension an even bigger problem than usual.

Seeing the two together, I am feeling hopeful and a little bit excited about moving on to the next step. I might just baste them together while I've got the space cleared off. Then again, I might make a little quilt so I can test drive thread tension. Only time will tell - but at least progress is being made!

Progress

I'm a few minutes early for this to post on Friday, but if I wait for morning, I'll forget until Saturday. Life is not going smoothly this month. Nothing really major, but lots of little stresses adding up until I want to scream all the time. I'm trying not to get into it on here because really, the only thing that's going to make a difference is how hard I work to make a difference. And even then, a lot of the things I'm fighting are rather out of my control, even if I do everything I can. Anyway, not much progress this week - but I'm taking the weekend off from work and hope to spend several hours sitting at my sewing machine. I've even picked up the newest season of Sherlock to rewatch (it'll be at least my fourth time through the season already) as well as a couple of rentals - so I'm pretty determined to spend some quality time sewing or cross stitching this weekend. Hopefully I'll be a little more exciting around here next week - and I mean exciting in the best possible way, unlike this week! 

Happy Go Lucky Quilt - DONE! (NEEDS NEW PHOTO)

Yet to Do: square up, buy fabric and make binding, bind, wash.

Pansy Patch Project

No recent progress.
Yet to Do: finish piecing tops together, make back, baste, quilt, bind

Our Bedroom Quilts

Yet to do:

• Cut Reunion fabrics for tops
• Cut sash
• Piece each top
• Pre-wash fabrics for the backs
• Piece each back (choose more fabric?)
• Baste both
• Choose thread/buy thread 
• Quilt
• Make binding 
• Bind
• Wash

Scrappy X and + Pillow: DONE!

Recent Progress: made the top, quilted the center, added a border
Yet to do: find/buy pillow form, make back, finish

Starbursts Quilt

Recent Progress: made 1 2 scrappy starburst block
Yet to do: make at least 2 1 more in various sizes, find a large piece of fabric to use as a field, piece top, make back, baste, quilt, bind, wash,

Vintage/Pixel Heart (Blue/Pink/Yellow/Muted)

Recent Progress: Pieced top
Yet to do: make a back, baste, quilt, bind, wash

Half-Square Triangle Quilts (Saturated/Black and Muted/Brown)

Recent Progress: Bought Fabric
Yet to do: Cut solids (half done), piece tops, make backs, baste, quilt, bind, wash

Xs and Os Charm Quilt

Recent Progress:
Yet to do: Find backing and binding material, baste, quilt, bind, wash

Waiting to Start:

• Second vintage/pixel heart quilt
• Fox/Woods little quilt
• Monster little quilt
• Brown/Aqua minky blanket
• 
  

Multi-Starburst Progress

My love affair with the starburst block is still going strong - and nothing shows it more than the blocks I'm working on for the multi burst quilt I'm working on.

Scrappy - and so far, completely from my stash - and sassy and lovely.

The biggest problem is knowing when to stop making blocks and start turning them into a quilt top. I'm thinking three might be the perfect number for a top... but I want to make more! My initial goal was three bursts, in ascending size. Unfortunately, I forgot that when I was cutting and wound up with two of the same size. I've certainly got enough large scraps I can keep making these from my stash without much worry there - but at some point I've got to call it quits and get a field (or sky) for all the bursts to reside in. Obviously thus far I'm leaning towards a batik or something similar, but I could change my mind and go in a completely different direction.

I might have a very vague plan of how to finish this quilt so far, but I have a much more specific hope on where it's going to end up. I think I'll find out in about 10 weeks whether my hopes for this one are 'on' or missed the mark.



Not pregnant. Just assume I'm not until I say otherwise, no matter how 'hinty' things around here might sound. Yeah, I'm getting some pressure from people, and yeah, LOTS of friends are, but not me. Other people are, including people who let me in so early on that the gender isn't yet known. And while I love this quilt, and I think boys can have purple/pink/floral things, that's not everyone's style - so if the latest reveal is 'boy' instead of 'girl' this one will be hopping off the fast track while I switch gears for them a little. Unless the folks-to-be specifically tell me they too are okay with pink/purple/floral/boy combo... 

2014 Goal #27 - 1 of ?

Goal #27 for this year is to try at least two new cuisines or restaurants.

While one of my companions from this outing would argue that an ice cream shop hardly counts as a restaurant, I think it counts - especially when the ice cream in question is made in a new-to-me way: using liquid nitrogen.

My grandparents were dairy farmers, so I can be a bit of an ice cream snob. And yeah, call me old fashioned, but I think I'd rather have the traditionally made ice cream. That said, it's very nice to be able to choose a flavor combination and have it made for you right in front of you. And while that's possible the old fashioned way - it takes a lot longer! We'll be going back again, I'm sure, but it wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped. 

Charming Progress

Things worked about how I suspected, and after sewing everything together it was increasingly clear that I needed to come up with something else to add length in one direction in order to come up with a final shape more pleasing to the eye. Since I had been mostly prepared for this, I've been thinking on it during my non-sewing hours and had an idea. I whipped up a little border piece that could be added on top and bottom and took it for a test run.

It does distract from the overall top a little bit, but I think it's worth it to have the top overall shape looking more rectangular and farther from square - although I suppose I could have embraced the squareness and gone in that direction instead...

Attaching the four additional pieces took no time at all - and I even managed to get a photo in natural light of the finished top.

Of course, the wind came up right as we started, so this was about the only picture we got that shows the whole top - but it doesn't seem like we needed any more. It's looking pretty good - and I'm much more pleased with the overall size and shape now.

The next challenge will be finding fabric for the back. These colors don't seem to coordinate with anything in my stash, and so far shopping trips have only turned up one option (that I wasn't thrilled over). I hadn't expected to love this top as much as I do, so I don't want to just settle for a back that isn't right. I'm also hoping I can find a good shade for binding. I'm leaning towards one of the darker blues, but the olive green or either red could work as well.

Charmed Away

Previous attempts to track how long projects take me have been less than successful since my usual 'hour' of sewing might also consist of 20 minutes of answering the phone, 3 minutes of writing an email, and 10 minutes of chasing the cat off the sewing table. Knowing I had some time that wouldn't be interrupted by any of those usual things (off hours for the phones and emails, and Momo was quite happily sitting on the sofa with Greg) and thus be able to keep better track of actual sewing time made it easier than ever to start a new project.

I had a couple of charm packs waiting for some uninterrupted sewing time - and I even had the needed neutral fabric to do more than just pet the charms.

An hour later, I was ready to iron my first 42 blocks.

Unfortunately, ironing the blocks took the second of my free sewing hours so I ended the night with 42 ironed 5" (mostly) square blocks:

as well as a growing pile of 2" half-square triangles:

which I also ironed (not pictured). And can I add - I finally understand why tiny irons exist. Trying to work these little blocks through my massive iron was a challenge. My fingers are still a little blistered...

I was able to carve out two more hours of sewing time the next night - during which I finished making the rest of my top blocks, ironed them (though I skipped ironing the resulting 2" hst blocks this time), and sewed them together into strips. By the end of my sewing time, I was fangirling over this:

The strips and sash pieces are only laid out together, not yet sewn into a completed top. I wanted to get the layout right so I could iron the seams in the right orientation for happier, flatter seams. Aside from ensuring I didn't wind up with duplicate pieces next to each other, the order of blocks in each row of eight is random. Matching up each row of eight with a partner was easy for once thanks to my four favorite blocks ending up in four different rows. For balance, none of those could be partnered together - so I really only had to compare each favorite row with each of the four others (instead of trying to compare each row to each other - a horrible idea I've done in the past).

It's looking so good! It's my goal to be able to carve out another hour or two tomorrow so I can finish ironing and piecing this much of the top - and maybe get a photo of it taken in natural (or even decent) lighting.

Momo seems to be a fan already - he was determined to walk all over it when I was testing layouts. Greg, who generally has only positive remarks about my projects, not only said that this might be his favorite thing I've made yet but suggested we skip lunch tomorrow to go pick up more of this exact charm pack so I can make another of the same pattern/fabric combination. That's pretty high praise - and dangerous, considering how long I can vanish into my local quilt/fabric shop. I think I'll resist (mostly because I'm setting the fabric money aside towards another goal right now) - probably...

Snow Day

It's not exactly news that it's snowing here. Still. Again. Whatever.

It might be a surprise that it sometimes is pretty. Today everything was just sparkling with little tiny rainbows all over from the icy flakes. Unfortunately, my camera didn't pick up a single one. I'm so disappointed.

At least it isn't too deep here. And even though it keeps snowing, the snow is compressing so the total depth isn't getting too much more around here. Still, as of last night it was more than my car could handle -- low clearance car + deep snowy dirt driveway = not going anywhere. That's okay. We've got food, and heat, and water, and most days we're still working too - so isn't like we're snowed in exactly. I'm just not getting out to the library or shopping - at least one of which is probably better for me anyway!

January Wrap Up & February Goals

January Goals: 

Read 5+ books

• "Protector of the Small: Lady Knight" Tamora Pierce
• "Elementary" Edited by Mercedes Lackey
• "The Inheritor's Powder" Sandra Hempel
• "Song of the Lioness: In the Hand of the Goddess" Tamora Pierce
• "Circle of Magic: Briar's Book" Tamora Pierce
• "Song of the Lioness: The Woman Who Rides Like A Man" Tamora Pierce
• "Push" Sapphire

Finish 2013 cross stitch portrait - Barely even started 
Ship 2 packages by January 15

Quilt Goals:
Cut sash for our quilts - Nope. I'm not even sure where this fabric is. I think I'm self-sabotaging this one. Gotta get on it or we'll be completely over them before they're done and I'll be furious at the waste. 

Get photos of Happy Go Lucky finished quilt - Blinding snow + wind + temperatures below twenty do not make for great photography moments. So... while it is done, I think I'm going to have to wait on a little bit of spring to arrive - and it sounds like that won't be any time soon. 

Do something with the vintage sheet stack

January mini quilt for hanging in the kitchen

Pinterest Challenges
1+ non-food

• Vintage Sheet to Pixel Heart
• Scrappy X and + block/pillow
• 
  

1+ food

• Baked Ravoli
• Oven Fajitas

2+ outfits for my fashion challenge: (one) - and one more worn, but not yet processed at all... 

Okay, truth be told - I think I did fairly well for the first two weeks of January, but recently I've kind of hit a wall. Work has been taking more time and energy than I'd like, and there are other currently-secret projects taking up time and energy too (no, not pregnant), but even when I have time to do things, I'm just not feeling it. I spent two hours Saturday morning, and more than four hours Sunday afternoon trying to work on various quilts - and accomplished nothing. Well, I refolded my stash of fabrics - but that wasn't really what I was trying to do. 

I'll probably get into it later this month, but long story short - both work and those projects I'm not currently talking about are all requiring more energy than I've got. As a shy introvert, it's sometimes hard to have enough 'deal with people' -- even for people I like -- by the end of the day. Right now, I'm running on very low reserves, and I think I've been pulling pieces of stored energy from everywhere I can - which means all the happy energy I had for working on my starburst quilt just got sucked away and warped into 'make this phone call' energy. And twice in January even that wasn't enough. Fortunately, after finding me crying (because asking for help is not my strong area), my husband stepped in and managed some of the issues that were challenging me. 

Anyway, I'm feeling a little burned out. So, I think I'm going to take it easy in February. I'm going to keep my formal goals very simple. If I manage more, that's okay, but I'm giving myself permission to take a 'winter break' and give myself a chance to recharge. I'd hoped to wait until March and take a real spring break, complete with a mini-vacation, but it turns out that's already out of the cards. 

February Goals: 
Read 5+ books
Third Fashion Challenge Check-In
Work on the 2013 Cross-stitch portrait
Piece at least 1 starburst block
Relax

Looks good. Unfortunately, I know that I need to add three difficult phone calls and at least two very difficult meetings to that list, which makes the goals above seem like a mountain when they're supposed to be the reward for climbing the mountain!

It's early, but I'm going to bed. Life will look better in the morning.