Shinier... If Still a Mess

I spent most of last weekend just being grateful for the time off - and now that I'm back in the heavy and hard swing of the week, I'm all the more grateful for the time I had to get a few things done around here before life got so intense again. I didn't manage to accomplish everything I wanted, but I did get a lot done - in many 5 intensive increments pieces between tons of other, less interesting stuff.

So, here's where I am today.

Office:

1. Finish the 2011-2013 photo book
2. Shut down the old computer for the last time
3. Put old computer parts into storage/reuse piles
4. Move the new computer in the computer nook
5. Temporary new computer area now becomes sewing storage 
1. Trying to decide if this will work or if I want to go back to the temporary way. It takes me a while to adapt to changes, even changes I'm in charge of deciding to try, and I'm still going back and forth on whether I like this or not. One of the great things about having my own space right now is that I can rearrange as many times as I need and no one else is impacted.  
6. Rearrange base cabinet storage
7. Clear off black baker's rack (currently holding batting, books, and stuffed animals) and remove from office
8. Sweep and mop all floor
9. Move cedar chest and place lamp in corner of office
10. Rearrange/purge in closet so there's storage space for computer parts as needed
11. Begin re-hanging art and spool storage as needed 

Kitchen:

Former fabric storage baker's rack is new pantry space

1. Swap old gas stove for newer electric (big project, in progress)
2. Move trash and litter box* to temporary homes
3. Bring black baker's rack from office to kitchen
4. Swap pantry items, bookshelf items into baker's rack
5. Take pantry (a small armoir style desk) and bookshelf out of kitchen (possibly to office?) 
6. Put litter box where old pantry was
7. Begin re-hanging art
8. Find home for trash can!!! -- Still floating around the middle of the kitchen. Very annoying. 
9. Consider painting revealed wood panel wall??
10. Invest in a larger, corner style litter box

Bedroom:

Dresser rearranging - more drawer than ever before

1. Empty white dresser onto bed
2. Move white dresser to other side of bed
3. Empty childhood dresser at parents' house
4. Move childhood dresser to my side of bed
5. Refill with my stuff
6. Empty Greg's dresser into white dresser, overflow into childhood dresser as needed
7. Determine we have to get another cat hiding spot before we get rid of now empty dresser
8. Start shopping 

Other: 

1. Attend local quilt festival? 
2. Attend family reunion
3. Cook something for family reunion
4. Laundry
5. Get some quilting done! 

Obviously there's still a few major steps waiting to get done, or minor things that feel major. The trashcan issue is just one little piece, but it is throwing the whole kitchen into disarray. Aside from that, the new pantry area is working really well - though I'll have to dust a little more than I used to - and even having the litter box in the kitchen seems to be working out (no accidents since we brought home the corner unit anyway).

One of the biggest issues is finding a new cat power spot for the bedroom. Momo does really rely on being able to hide under the dresser we're ready to give to my parents in exchange for my childhood dresser. I hate to remove something he relies on so much. On the other hand, he also has been using the chairs on either side of the dresser as scratching posts (every single night) and I am ready to do just about anything to put a stop to that (even if it means giving away two of my very favorite chairs). The two issues alone aren't huge, but they do feed each other and wind up pushing us towards a large, cat centered purchase (or possible diy) very, very soon. I for one am tired of waking up to the sound of claws shredding velvet style upholstery.

All apparent progress aside, I haven't done a thing around the house since Monday morning final touches on the pantry area. It could use another couple days off of attention, followed by daily maintenance. I know the last few weeks have gotten me out of the habit of daily housework,but I have got to get back into it. 

* Why is there a litter box in the kitchen? Good question. Despite that very expensive clean bill of health we got on Momo last week, things are not all good in the litter box department. Unfortunately, we learned this after he chose the least water-proof area of our new flooring to use instead of the box (leading to that part of the flooring floating more than we'd like and 'thunking' back into place every time it's stepped on. I'm hopeful it'll dry out and be okay... removing enough flooring to try to do anything there would basically require redoing the entire living room. This is why you want to attach your trim all the way around the room instead of assuming it's okay 'floating' in a couple places where attaching it is harder). Since there isn't room in the guest bath for his litter box, the only place left with old laminate flooring is the kitchen, so we've all been adjusting. I don't think anyone likes it, but it's a lot easier to clean. 

Progress on the Stress Front

The stress level isn't down any, but I am still having a blast pulling these scrappy blocks together from my stash of scraps and unloved fabrics. I had hoped I managed to pull a few that would tie together with the pink/blue/lowest volume one, but it still seem to be a slight misfit against the others. The day will come when that one has a few more matches, but it may be a while in coming. I did make a conscious effort to add more blues and purples, and I do think that paid off. Still seems to need a little more yellow, and a few more low volume prints, so I'll give my stash another combing through. I think I also have some really unwanted fabric in my parents' garage that I may look through for something else in the right colors.

I am also going to have to look for some more low volume neutrals for the triangle blocks. I'm almost out of the last of my current cut. So I'll be keeping an eye out, but I don't really want to purchase any fabric specifically for this someday quilt. That could be tricky since low volumes aren't really my usual purchase. Maybe this will help push me out of my comfort zone next time I need a coordinating piece or sash fabric. I think I have enough to make three more blocks, so I could make three and call it good - it looks like a decent size for a crib quilt or something - but I think I want to keep going and just see where this is in a couple months of scrap busting and working whenever my 'real projects' feel too restrictive.

This is one of those projects I can work on a block (or less) at a time, but that looks like a mess until it all comes together. Or maybe it looks like a mess anyway -- but hopefully it's the kind of mess that works together into a scrappy, cohesive whole.

Whatever it is, I'm having a blast with it.

Pinterest Challenge: Doughnut Strawberry Shortcake

Inspired by pins of pictures from Oven Adventures, I decided months ago what I wanted to have for my birthday cake this August. Except that when the time came to it, I was out of town and couldn't. When I got back home, there weren't any strawberries to be had in my town.

So, I made do. Just like I made do with purchased whipped cream. Actually, that one had to do with being lazy.

Peaches were a little tart compared to the sweetness of the doughnut, and let's face it, they just weren't strawberries, but all in all it was really good. And, since I skipped making my own whipped cream, easy and fast too.

Even with the comparable tartness of the peaches, this was yummy. And I am going to do this again with strawberries. Prossibly this weekend.

Assuming I can make it to the store this week. Which is not looking like a bet I'd want to take. Then again, for yummy sugary breakfast, I might just run out Saturday morning after my walk.

Xs and Os Update

After way too many months of sitting in the basted-but-not-quilted pile, I have finally been making some progress on getting Xs and Os quilted and ready for binding. This little quilt has been waiting for a surge of creativity, and in the process, holding up several other projects as it is a test for a new batting, was using up most of my basting pins, and I'm hoping to bind one more quilt in the same material I use on this one.

Creativity did not exactly strike. I had hoped to do something across the whole thing -- a stippling type effect -- but when push came to shove, I just couldn't bring myself to quilt over the top of those fabrics. Instead, although it's nearly impossible to see from the top, from the back you might be able to see that I more or less outlined the neutral solid and ignored all of the print blocks.

This does leave about 6.5 inches of non quilted space in the center of every X -- but I double checked my bag of batting and it claims I can go 10 inches between lines of quilting. I'm not sure it's true, but I think I'm going to take my chances. I'm testing this batting anyway, so it would be good to know what it is capable of. So far, I'm not very fond of it. Even with a new, small needle, the back side (bobbin side) has a lot of batting strings that pulled through each needle hole. I am hoping that this will wash out and be less of an issue, but I'm glad I tested this on a little, so far homeless quilt, rather than on our bedroom quilts like I'd intended.

My goal is to whip out the binding as quickly as I can so I can get it washed and really test how well the batting works, whether it needs more quilting than the 10 inch spacing, and whether the loose stringy pieces of batting that pulled through to the back get a little less noticeable. Of course I'm hoping for 'yes' on all of these issues, but only time -- and a washing -- will tell!

Fabric Crush and Store Crush

On Tuesday as I was scrolling through my facebook feed, I happened to pay attention to a little post from Southern Fabric offering a charm pack of Kate & Birdie Paper Co.'s Autumn Woods for only $2. Having some very recent experience quilting on both Bluebird Park, Winter's Lane -- other lines from this designer -- I was thrilled to learn there was another option I hadn't seen anywhere yet. And for $2? How could I not?

Except that of course, once I was shopping, I had to add a little more yardage, and then a little more... so I wound up buying a little more than just a charm pack. But I justify that by saying it was all on sale...

The most visible yardage is some of the Lily Ashbury Folklore line - which I think will be turned into new pillowcases to coordinate with my new bedroom quilt -- whenever that gets done. I had hoped to pick up the same print in another color as well, but when I was shopping they were all sold out already, so I jumped on this one immediately.

Hiding under the Folklore yardage is a small panel that coordinates with the Autumn Woods charms. I think I will regret not ordering a large piece of this - but maybe I can get creative in my use and make it work anyway. I can also order more -- unless it too has been snatched up by other shoppers!

Ugh - my lampshade really discolored these photos and this was the best I could do. I promise it coordinates. 

I'm really happy with the Autumn Woods line - so I took several photos to celebrate the cuteness.

 Autumnal words - autumn woodland, acorns, leaves, fireflies.

 Unlike my camera, please focus on the adorable little bitty acorns!

While I'm not always a huge fan of yellow, I love the grey, orange, and kind of slate-ish blue. The yellow works with the others, yellow is just never going to be my favorite color. I do wish there was a fifth color in the set, maybe a olive-ish green, but all in all I'm very happy with my impulse purchase.

I'm also absolutely thrilled with the turn around time on my order. Four days from order to delivery is really impressive, especially since you know I didn't pay for faster delivery or anything. I'm absolutely thrilled with my first experience shopping at Southern Fabric and will certainly be back. I'll also be paying way more attention to their daily deals - there are some really great bargains that way. Then again, is it really a bargain if you didn't need it? My mother would say 'no' but I'm thinking sometimes when it comes to stash building... the answer just might be 'yes.'

Christmas Project

Whoops - this was supposed to go up while I was out of town a couple weeks ago! 

I don't think I've ever made something for Christmas before - other than cloth gift wrapping - and certainly nothing this far in advance. Usually, I'm not much for thinking about holidays before the month of, but this year I'm trying to get a Christmas quilt (or possibly quilted tree skirt) made far in advance.

Progress is slow and tedious. Patchwork and half-square triangles are not my strongest areas. I feel as if I've unpicked more lines than I've sewn, and eventually I've had to give up on chasing perfection. Which means that every time I look at it, I see all the areas I wish were better - and it makes it harder and harder for me to consider using as a gift. I'm hopeful that I'll feel more kindly towards it when it is a little more finished. I do often seem to have these moments of supreme doubt part way through the project!

I do think it looks better from a slight distance than from up close - but that can be the way with projects in the part-way point. This is one of the reasons I am so glad I take the time to photograph projects along the way; it is a great chance for me to take a step back and reassess. It's probably also saved me from undoing a perfectly acceptable project more than once!

I still have a very large pile of 5x5 blocks left for the patchwork border around the outside. I've started piecing those together, but a little more Pinterest window shopping has me wondering about turning them into 5x2.5 or 5x3 rectangles instead. I like the look, but would rectangles look out of place next to all those squares and half-squares?

As for a backing, I'm leaning towards a red minky type fabric, but I'm not sure I'm up for the challenge of quilting with it. The additional movement can sometimes be a pain, and I've had better luck working textured side up (at least with things as slick as minky). Maybe I better save the added challenge of minky for something that won't be a gift... hmmm... Decisions, decisions...


As an update - I made some of the border at 5x5, but haven't attached it yet. Then I went two weeks without turning on my machine. So, I haven't actually made progress or decisions at all. This is one of the things I hope to spend a great deal of time on this weekend! 

Stress = New Project

There's something about being under a lot of stress in my regular life that makes me crave something new to work on, something with less rules and strict guidelines than any of the projects I ought to be wrapping up. Sometimes straight lines and rigidity is a relief, but sometimes, I've just got to do something more wonky and creative and immediately rewarding.

So, I set aside the strips of Greg's quilt - which desperately need 12 more hours of work - and reached for a pile of scraps I started cutting last time I was trying to sort through my stash. I had initially planned to make a scrappy X and Plus quilt (something like this or this), but in my attempt to find scrappy pieces large enough to cut the biggest pieces from, I manage to miscalculate and miscut every stinking big piece by about half an inch. Frustrated, once I'd realized that, I set the pieces aside and walked away for several months.

Well, last night I had the itchy fingers to work on a new project -- and not the ironing two of my practically new projects are calling for - so I broke out my mistakes and went for it anyway.

When these first two were sitting on my desk, I absolutely hated the lighter one - but from across the room -- maybe four feet -- I like it better than the other, louder, block.

I promised myself I could stay awake for one hulu episode of a television show, and let myself sew that whole time.

And here's where I stand at the end of the episode. Five strange little blocks done, and a burning desire to go back through my stash in search of a few more quieter fabrics to add to the mix. My big blocks area  lot of greens, but I think I want to add some more soft pinks (maybe now is the time to use the pink skull fabric?) and some blues if possible (my stash is very low on blue). I think it could also benefit from a little more yellow - and I know I have some of that to spare.

I have no time line and no plan, except a general idea to add more variety to the blocks, and I'm going to leave it that way. I think I may just pick along at this as I find time and scraps large enough. Then again, it may be that this kind of more creative, more 'whatever' project is all I'll be able to stand for the next week or two. Whatever.

That's the phrase of the season. Whatever season began in mid-July and isn't ending any time soon. I don't have the physical or mental energy for perfection -- part of why I'm not pushing myself to work on projects where perfection matters, like our two quilts -- and I don't see that getting better any time soon. I rarely know what work will bring, but the last week has been more that way than I expected, and I know the next few weeks are going to be terrible as well. I'm just trying to hang on.

I'm also pretty happy that I managed to turn on my machine again. I do love the process and it's been too long since I set aside the time to get in here and do something. I've got to remember how happy it makes me, not just how much work it is to get everything set up in the middle of the chaos.