Not Like the Others...

One of these things is not like the others...  Remember that old Sesame Street song?  Now, applying your keen powers of differentiation, can you tell what about the bottom row in my Hands2Help quilt is not like the others?

Actually, there are two things, but I'm talking about the one thing that I will probably have to unsew/fix.  I say "probably" because it doesn't bug me all that much, and I kind of like the way it affects the outside edge.

Did you find it?   The part that may require a seam ripper is that I have the horizontal rails upside down in the last row.

So tell me, what would you do?  Leave it or fix it?  I'm just curious.

You may also have noticed that I'm using a solid red versus a print in the bottom row.  That's because I ran out of one of the red print fabrics, which I figured I might, but I'm okay with that.  It's actually even less noticeable in natural light, without the camera flash.  And I might even reshuffle the blocks so it's more scrappy overall and less obvious than a whole row of a different fabric.  I'll play with that idea.  Of course if I do that, I'll definitely fix those blocks first.

I didn't keep up with my 15 Minute Challenge chart this past week, but I have spent quite a bit of time in the sewing room on this particular quilt top, and I am happy with the progress made on it.

On a sad note, my former neighbor, for whom I made this quilt a couple months ago, lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday.  

Dad had stopped in to see her on Monday, and she was sleeping but did rouse to say a few words.  She had the quilt over her.  It is good to know it provided some comfort to her in her final days.

15-Minute Challenge Weekly Update

I'm a day late posting my 15-Minute Challenge stats for the week, but I am nevertheless happy to report that those little bits of time did add up to something in the way of a finish.

The week didn't start out well, as I seemed to have gotten comfortable in the habit of not doing anything sewing related for a few days.  How easy it is to fall into that pattern.  On Tuesday, I did manage to throw some fabric for a pair of scrub pants into the washer and dryer. Does that count?  Okay, probably not.

Things picked up on Wednesday when I thought I'd take 15 minutes to remove the paper from the paper-pieced blocks.  Ha!  Fortunately, there was something interesting on TV to take my mind off the fact that the paper was not going to go quietly.  Various implements and maneuvers were employed to separate the reluctant vellum from the fabric while simultaneously trying to preserve the stitches and not stretch the shape.  I could have torn all my hair out faster than it seemed to take to remove the foundation paper on those blocks—and I'm pretty sure I would have, had there been more than four squares to deal with.

At any rate, the momentum continued through the rest of the week, and I got the backing for the paper pieced project made and started quilting it on the weekend.  My Juki sewing machine came through nicely (no bobbin winding issues).  Come back Friday for pictures of the finished project!

A peek at the back of  the paper-pieced Easter Table Topper.

This week, the mailman brought a package from my Hands2Help Charity Quilt swap partner, Sharon, on Monday.  Here are the fabrics she sent:

Aren't those kids cute?  The wheels are turning as to what I'm going to make, and I'm sure I'll settle on a plan soon enough.  We have a couple months to get these quilts finished and mailed in, which is good because I need to finish some other PhDs (Projects Half Done), in the meantime!

Ch-Ch-Challenges!

How YOU doin'?

Recent thrift store find from a friend for my collection!

That's what I imagine these horses are saying as they have a little confab over the fence.  It's also what I'm wondering of my fellow 15-Minute Challenge peeps.  I'm sure to find out soon enough when Kate has the linky up tomorrow.  If I don't post this now,though, it may never get done.

I missed the party last week, but I have been keeping track.  Here are the stats from the past two weeks.

I didn't do so well this weekend (insert excuses here...i.e., I had company, had to get ready for company, worked, spent time outside on Sunday because it was 80 degrees—woot!—and so on).

I'm hoping to get back on the horse this week.  So, how YOU doin'?

Another challenge I want to mention is the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge that Sarah and Judi are collaborating on. 


Sign-ups are going on this week, and you can find all the details by clicking the link or the button over on the sidebar.  It is such a worthy cause, and sounds like a lot of fun.  There's even a giveaway for those who sign up!

Progress Report

Time to check in with the 15 Minute Challenge of spending said amount of time per day in the sewing room.  I didn't make any notes this week, so I don't have a day-by-day breakdown, but I do know that I spent at least 15 minutes in the sewing room 4 out of 7 days this past Monday through Sunday, mostly on this: 

Time was spent cutting and sewing together these blocks for a sudoku quilt.  I had intended to get the sashing sewn on as well, but the turquoise Kona solid I thought would look so fabulous...didn't.  So I'm mulling over the options.  I'd like to use stash, if I can find something that will work.  I'm even considering a scrappy sashing.  Not sure how that would look, but then again, this is just something I'm going to throw over myself while I'm watching TV, so who cares? 

Well, maybe a few who might happen upon a picture of it on this blog and think, Hoo-boy, what was she thinking? and recoil a little bit.  But that's what they make those little mouse clickers for, so that one can move along before one gets a migraine or urps lunch.

I wish I had more in the way of sewing/quilting fabulousness to show for the week, but work is still kicking my rump and making me feel a little off to boot*.  Escaping to the sewing room for a while does help.  I only wish it could be for longer. 

It's interesting that I am applying the 15-minute process to other endeavors as well.  For instance, on the way to get groceries on Sunday, I swung by Goodwill for a quick run-through and found a lime green Pyrex casserole (top right in the photo below).  

*or it could be the Reese's Pieces eggs I bought to go in my mouth blue candy dish, even though they contain milk and I should therefore not have them in the house.  Not to mention the carton of Greek yogurt.  I totally caved to advertising.  I hope my GI tract will eventually forgive me. 

Fifteen Minutes

"Busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest..."

That expression has always made me giggle.*  When it applies to me, though, not so much.

Working three jobs with but a rough framework of a schedule sounds like a flexibility lover's dream, and for the most part, it is.  When one or two jobs are status quo or slack, the other often picks up.  When all three get a little busier at the same time, however, it becomes more of a logistical conundrum.  Sit down to do one thing and another brushfire pops up.

And so it goes.

Flowers from a thoughtful employer on my five-year work anniversary this week.

That's why Kate's idea of carving out 15 minutes of sewing room time per day appealed to me.  Fifteen minutes seems manageable even under the busiest of circumstances, and allows me to keep moving forward, even if in baby steps.

I've been trying to do that since last Monday, and I fully intended to report on my progress through the linky on Kate's blog on Tuesday.  But since blogging about anything takes me longer than 15 minutes, the post didn't happen...until now.

Monday 3/14 - Create and post tutorial for St. Patrick's Day mug rug.

Tuesday 3/15 - Trim fabric for a friend's planned Sudoku quilt and get ready to mail.

Wednesday 3/16 - Look through fabric stash for Paper Piece Quilt Along fabrics (nothing suitable found...put "shop for fabric" on to-do list).

Thursday 3/17 - Pull and cut fabric for Just One Star block.

Friday 3/18 - Make Just One Star block.

Saturday 3/19 - Fabric shop for PPQA fabric and fruit & veggie prints for Mom Wald's quilt project.

Sunday 3/20 - Prewash fabric and cut blocks from fruit & veggie prints.

So there you have it.  Nothing mind blowing, but action I'm happy about nonetheless.  I plan to keep it up.  Whether I get around to posting about it every week, I can't say for sure.  So far this week, I'm only one for seven; two if you count the post office run to mail some fabric and a quilt block. 

Next on the agenda is to get another PhD (Project Half Done) finished.  I intended to quilt the cross stitch veggie wall hanging for my sister in time for her birthday.  That didn't happen.  Today is her birthday.  Happy Birthday, Nita!  I promise to get it done before anyone plants a garden around here.

That may be a while.  Winter came back for a visit this week.  

There is a frozen sap-sicle on the river birch in the front yard.  We had the tree trimmed last fall, and when it was warmer last week, the sap fell like raindrops from where a branch had been lopped.

Speaking of things on hold, like springtime in Wisconsin, Sunday Sundry will be doing likewise for a while.  Since I'm having to work more on weekends, I'd like to spend the free hours I do have away from the computer and in the sewing room instead (or the thrift shops, or with family).  When the wave of work passes and things have smoothed out again, Sunday Sundry will be back.

Did I ever show you this crocheted apron I found at the thrift store a couple months ago?  

I love the rickrack and ribbon waistband.

It reminds me there's green grass under the white stuff outside, new green underneath the pile of paperwork, lovely things waiting to pop and grow.  

All that from an apron.  Who knew?

*I thought about cleaning up the language, but it just doesn't have the same effect.  Thanks for reading, if you made it this far without taking offense.  Now go kick some ass!