If you are new to the blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?" I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily. I just can't. Sooooo, what happens is I document a day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place. See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too. It's a great system for me.
In years past, I have set goals for each month and I will continue to do that simply to keep myself on track. I AM still in an ongoing UFO mode around here and trying oh so hard to use or clean out the stash. It will be an continuing project this year. If I want something to come in -- something has to go out. That is one goal. The balances change each month (hopefully) and will always show up at the bottom of the update if you read that far - and they are joined by links to the previous monthly updates for the year.
Now, grab a cuppa and sit back for a fun read and perhaps a new idea or two. (P.S. I format on a computer, so if you are reading on a phone, well sometimes the pictures will be before or after the story. It is what it is.)
So --- here's March and all the wonderful fun it provided. Please remember that any links in here will open in a separate window so that you can keep your place on this page at the same time and there are no ads or popups EVER.
1st - March roared in last night with wind and rain. As I've looked back on Facebook memories, it appears this is a regular occurrence. Apparently the saying has merit. At any rate, it's cooler today and I'm trying to start out the month being productive. It's worth a try anyway. Since I've cut all the parts and finished the applique on two skinnies, borders can go on. Working with this backing fabric makes my eyes go a little bonkers as I sew.
All borders go on AND I make the binding for these two skinnies and two more that I'm working on as well. Onward we go. 
2nd - I'm out for an appointment early this morning and while I know this is a quilting blog, I just want to leave this one picture I took (inside a MEDICAL office) for you to think about. See if you can spot the issues I see. At any rate, after my appointment, it was off to Costco for a few items and then a quick stop at the quilt shop for Grunge fat quarters that will be needed at an upcoming retreat before returning back home. Three items on my errand list are checked off and now it is well after 1:00 in the afternoon and lunch is needed as I haven't eaten all day. Stupid? Yes. By 2 I am finally sitting down at the machine and starting in on two more of the Whims blocks. Movie in the laptop and today it is The Devil Wears Prada. I'm enjoying the revisit of many loved dvd's. By te time evening arrives, I have almost finished them but both need a bit more work.
3rd - Up and going. That's the plan for today. While the oatmeal is cooking, a quick slip to the machine and the two blocks are finished and ready to go. It's a great start to the day.
With a full belly, I would like to get more checks on my errand list. Today's agenda is to make sure that all the parts for the upcoming barn quilt retreat project are in the house. After talking with Val, it is decided to buy precut boards instead of begging Lowe's to cut a sheet of plywood in quarters and then REALLY begging Mister to cut those into 12" squares. It just seems like a lot less mental stress even though it is a bit more pricey. Not much though -- The sheet of plywood was going to cost me $60 (thank you winter storm) and the individuals were $75. I'll take it. I am able to locate 18 of them at Michaels in Dallas and then they send me to Mesquite where the inventory shows 6 more packets of 3. Off I go only to discover it is a wild goose chase. Fortunately, Sherri messages me right about now and a quick call shows what a wonderful savior she can be. Woot woot, by the time I'm back at Lowe's for paint, she has the remaining pieces picked up down in San Antonio. Yes!
As for Lowe's? Well the paint man there is another saint and explains exactly what to use and how to prime and base coat these all at once. Deal. Paint and sandpaper is purchased and I'm on the way home to say enough is enough today. All parts are purchased and we are ready to go. Sherri has remaining boards and Val has patterns and drop cloths. Bring it on. Only one mark on the errand list, but it took a long time and several stores to get that mark.
4th - I have some quilting to do. Today, that means movies and I'm going to revisit the Twilight series. I have two wall hangings and a couple of Whims blocks to work on and that will take most of the day. I know it seems simple, but it just never goes that quick. Some straight line quilting means bringing out the tape. I can do that and by the time the day comes to an end, I have managed to quilt all four items (well, truth be told there are too many threads on the one block to call it done so I'm stopping to bury threads before finishing it, but there is very little left) AND bury the threads on one wall hanging before adding the binding and doing all the hand work. It does leave me with a TA-DA though.
7th - Breakfast out with my sweetie and then a trip to find some pots for the various plants around the yard. It's time for some new ones and the chipped/cracked ones get to depart. Since all plants are being gone through to determine death rate, this is as good a time as any to get 'er done.
Once home, I manage to get a few stitches in on the stocking. Seriously - A FEW!!
Mister is out working in the yard and notices that the bees are using the watering pan quite frequently. It's something that neither of us have really noticed before. The robins are also back. What a strange time in nature.9th - A finish to the Whims block - the quilting is complete. Otherwise, it's been phone calls and booking of rental cars, hotels, etc.
10th - I have a crazy busy day ahead of me today. Laundry is going, bedding being changed, packing and gathering of items for retreat, cleaning up the house, etc., etc., etc. However, I still wish to make some progress so I fit a few bits of sewing in as well. Threads are buried and the final block is good to go.
It's Wednesday to boot. That means some progress in Pfeffernusse needs to happen. The option I go with today is placing four hour-glass blocks together and stitching. I'm only aiming for the first seam. Next month, I'll move on. Once the goal is achieved, I break down the little sewing center I've created in the living room. Go, go, go girl --- so much to do.
After a non-eventful drive down, the room has been set up, people have arrived and I have rehomed three machines, 1 Singer 301a, 1 Singer 403a, and 1 Singer 404. It's a start on thinning the herd and at least 3 more will go to May retreat with me. Now, if you want to share in all of our fun, here is the My Favorite Color LINK. Today's color is PURPLE! Yep, that's my plan - a different color head to foot each day. Ya'll just thought my car was full of sewing stuff.
12th - Coffee on the porch with friends, wild turkeys across the river, and there is a baby goat and it has managed to escape, keeping Mom on the run as well. Jen and I work to get them back into the pen. Silly kid. All in a day on the farm. 
13th - It's the third day of retreat and I am actually going to use my sewing machine. I know -- everyone take a collective breath. There is a wee bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth, but my blocks for April are finished. Woohoo!!!
15th - Okay --- some forward progress must be attained. Today - the borders/sashings on DEL come together. Goodness, but there are a lot of them.
17th - It's the last day of tweener time and that means CLEAN THE HOUSE. Ugh but we get it done and all is ready for the next group tomorrow. I have even managed to finish the DEL top AFTER some horrid final border moments. Again, wish I had a better picture. Oh well. Another movie tonight.
18th - The new group arrives and my color for today is White! Here is the Color My World LINK so that you can enjoy all of our fun vicariously. 
19th - Paula and Gwen went out bright and early to check out a garage sale. They had such great treasures that a couple more groups of us decide to check it out. The best description I can give of it is to use Linda's words, "It's just so overwhelming." There. Was. So. Much. Upon my arrival back, several ask to see my treasures.
It also let y'all see my crazy friend, Val. She ALWAYS goes above and beyond for costumes AND she has dressed in a color each day, too.
20th - Sooooo --- late last night the decision was made to return to the scene of the crime. That's right - we are going back to the garage sale. The sun is rising along with us.
I just start methodically going through all the boxes outside as I didn't even look at them yesterday.
21st - I'm still a couple of seams away from a Grassy Creek top and that is my goal before I have to start the work for today.
Determination is my name as I arrive back home. I methodically unload the car and put each item away correctly as it comes in the house. Mister is working in the yard and covered in dirt so I just let him be ---- yes, he offers to help but I'd rather not have a HUGE pile in the house. This way works wonderfully and I'm happy when finished.
Additionally, these beautiful peach and quince blossoms greet me with a welcome home.
Once Mister finishes, I ask if he would like to get out a bit as he's been home the entire time I've been gone. The answer is yes so pizza and beer it is. A lovely patio meal and time together. The perfect ending to a very busy day.
23rd - I spent most of the day out in the studio working on going through bins and removing fabric I KNOW I won't use and adding in the new pretties. By the time I'm finished I have an overflowing fat quarter bag of fabric that I think will make an appearance on the swap table in May. No pictures, but trust me, it looks better.
24th - The last of the cleaning up from retreat --- all my treasures. Isn't this just so much fun?
Sewing DOES happen. I've laid out Grassy Creek in order to figure out the borders and sew them together.
It takes a bit, but I've got them now.
However, it is Wednesday and I need to do the UFO work for this week so I stop the progress and head to the machine to finish up the four-patches for Sandcastles. There are soooo many of them but they are in the DONE column. That's it for today.
25th - The first thing I need to share is that I have THREE empty project boxes. It won't last through the day, but I do have them right now. I also cleaned out the closet in my room and organized the current projects in the order they need attention. It helps every now and then to make sense of stuff. After some time at the cutting table, I have all border/bindings that are needed right now and sewed/pressed them. Yes, that dark blue binding is for Dawn's Early Light and was among my treasured finds from the garage sale AS was the grey AND gold for border and binding on Grassy Creek. It is already being put to use.
I have hauled in strings of various colors and am working on the pieces for some skinnies. Once those are finished, I move onto another project that was discovered during the closet clean. The machine is tapping and the only thing I didn't do earlier was change the needle. I do that and then ------ nothing. She never works again and I put in at least two hours trying to determine why. The best I can come up with is that somehow the timing is messed up and that is what the tapping was. It's not the needle, that much I DO know. I'm really fussy now - yes, Sherri, I stole your word.
As a result, I focus on the new project in a different way. Pulling out some other, non-string parts, I'm ready to sew, sew, sew,.
Taking the time to find these, helps and it's back to the computer trenches I go. My attitude sucks and I know it --- I can do change, just not so much at once and now my emails/pictures are a complete and utter disaster. ARGH. Time for a drink. Or two. Or three. Yep, that's where I am today.
28th - We are out of the house bright and early for a stop at Dallas Blooms 2021. Yep, that's a link to the pictures I have. Mister has many more and I'll try to add them to the link when he gives them to me. Here are a few to wet your whistle.
29th - Finishing up the pressing, I am ready to move on with these. Just not right now. Dog-ears have been removed from the hst's. Snip, snip, snip.
30th - I have a list a mile long of things to work on, but for some reason, I am in the studio ironing more fabrics to pre-drawn fusible. I have one more skinnie and four row by rows finished along with all their assorted parts before going into the house. Yep, more came from that "don't plan to use" bag. Back into the house and all the backings, etc. are cut and ready to go.
A little bit of sewing on the parts for the Grassy Creek backing and then I realize that I REALLY need another row by row for it and have one on the machine out back. Tomorrow, I'll get that done.
For the evening, I cut out a ton of my little pieces. I have many more to go but these are the kits so far. Even the batting and interfacing pieces have been cut. Yep, I've spent a lot of time with a rotary cutter this past week.
Wanting to break away from the screen, I remember that it is Wednesday and that means UFO -- this week is Scrap Crystals and I have chosen to work on the sashings. Lots and lots of strips are sewn together and I do so love black and red. It makes my heart happy and I know that in the end I'll have another quilt for our room. Once all are pressed, it's time to cut.
UFO's to quilt:
BOM #2 - quilted and bound
BOM #3 - quilted and bound
Winter Wonderland - quilted and bound
Current Projects:
UFO Items to work on:
All Neutral strings -
1 Row by Row block (dragonfly) - buried some threads, does that count?
BAD blocks as leader/enders - some made
Stash Buster project -
UFO Handwork Items:
Hand Quilting --
Links to Previous 2021 Monthly Posts
Great post, Deb. You didn’t mention the nanaimo bars.... 😉
ReplyDeleteI didn't and I also didn't take a single picture. I was sooooo off my game. I promise to do better in the future.
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