Embrace the Fear

While I was on the treadmill this morning, I listened to the December 20th episode of the podcast "Quilting for the Rest of Us" by Sandy Hasenauer.  In it, she talked for a few minutes about "embracing the fear" which really resonated with me, as it applies to my pile of UFOs with which I'm going to be reacquainting myself over the next year.

It makes a lot of sense to me that this pile has grown so high, not because of negative feelings about the project, but about my own feelings of fear that my skills don't measure up, that I will somehow mess it up, and the finished object might disappoint me.  As long as these objects remain in pristine, perfect, unfinished condition - I don't have to experience the discomfort and anxiety of failing. 

Furthermore, it's interesting to consider that projects become UFOs for me when they 'get too hard': maybe the technique (for example, blanket stitching around appliqué) didn't look as perfect as the picture in the book and I judge my skills as not quite measuring up, or I don't get around to adding borders because I'm not confident about my creativity, or I get behind on a BOM, so I'm obviously not as productive as everyone else (whoever they are).

Fear keeps us static, never developing, changing, learning.  Embracing fear is a crucial task of growth.  

So, as I move through the year of "Nothing but UFOs" I intend to be mindful of the process, and ask myself "why is this a UFO?" and work through the negative feelings.  This will not simply become an act of striking things off of to-do lists.

Capital T

Capital T is the Grandmother's Choice block from a couple of weeks ago. I paper pieced the Flying Geese sections which accounts for the very near perfect points...however, somehow the corner HSTs finished a tad skimpy.  I will have to be extra careful when sashing this block, because it is a smidge under sized.  (sigh)

SMART UFO quilting goals for 2013

Something social workers pick up early in their careers is the notion of making SMART goals.  To make SMART Quilting goals, there are a few things that I will bear in mind.

Specific:1 should provide enough detail so that there is no indecision as to what exactly you should be doing when the time comes to do it. 

Measurable: the goal should be such that when you are through you have some tangible evidence of completion.

Attainable: this is about 'how' - do you have the skills, knowledge, financial or material resources, the time?

Realistic: don't plan to do things if you are unlikely to follow through. Better to plan only a few things and be successful rather than many things and be unsuccessful. Success breeds success! Start small, with what you can do, experience the joys of meeting your goal

Time-bound: Say when you plan to work at your goal, and break into smaller, more manageable chunks.

So here are my goals for January:

1. catch up, and maintain completion (within one week of posting) of Grandmother's Choice BOWs for a total of 3 blocks from December, and 4 from January. I have lots of fabric for this project, and I usually do the block first thing Saturday morning before Hubby gets out of bed.

2. Dear Jane -  I will complete 2 blocks (each month).  Again, I have plenty of fabric for this project, and I have found all my supplies: pattern, software, rulers.

3. School of Rock quilt - starting off the year slow - this quilt is sooooooooo close to finished.  I will complete the quilting on my domestic machine, prepare and apply binding, and complete.

4. Bookmarks - I will complete all of these, and donate them to Action Read before the end of the month. These are such simple finishes, I will work on one or two during my lunch hours.

5. Mug Mats - hand stitch binding down to finish.  I will give them to co-workers. I will work on while watching TV.



6. I will go to the public library and borrow books featuring quilt borders, and make a decision about how to finish Black & White, Tulip Appliqué, and Virginia Bound, sketching out a few ideas. I will also borrow Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, and make a decision about block setting.

7.  I will organize my sewing notions, sorting by type, gifting anything that I won't use, throwing out broken items, and choose an appropriate storage system. (maybe even ask my Hubby for a new sewing box for my birthday on the 22nd of January). 

Sharpening Up!

With all of the clean up I've been doing recently, I soon realized my rotary cutter blade was getting dull.  When changing the blade, I began to wonder: how do I know I'm doing this right?  Which side up does the "bendy" washer go, and does it matter?

Ah, the internet is a wonderful thing!  I have used the same 28mm Olfa cutter for over 20 years (though I have tried--and indeed own--a 45mm Fiskars - just don't like it - and see no reason to change tools after all these loyal years) so there is no way I remember how it came out of the package.  Here's a video!

By the way - there are some pretty cute projects on the Olfa website! Here's a link.  Be sure to scan through the different classes of project in the left hand sidebar - there's quite a variety.

Is there anything quite as pleasing as the feel of a fresh blade?

I then realized that all of the paper foundation piecing I've been doing recently has certainly dulled my needle. In fact, it was so bad, that when sewing my HSTs, the triangle tips were being pushed down into the the throat plate into the bobbin case with the first stitch, instead of being stabbed through with the needle.  Talk about annoying!  Time to change the needle!  I'm not particular about the needles I use - generally just pick up whatever I see, when I need them.  However, I currently have Fons & Porter needles which work nicely.  

I'm now wondering: is there a brand or type of needle that other quilters prefer?

Now...what's going on with my favourite scissors to cut chain piecing threads?  I have Fiskars Cutter Bee Scissors, which I love - mostly for the size, and the great blade cover.  In fact, I have two pair, I like them so much!  But the blades towards the tip were dull, and I am finding that I can't quickly snip the threads anymore; I have to cut with the deeper area of the blades, which takes longer (if the makes any sense).  

This has me wondering: what does the world wide web have to say about sharpening my Cutter Bees?  Well, one product reviewer recommends this product - Fiskars SewSharp Scissors Sharpener. I tried checking the Michaels website to see if this is something the local store carries, but I found the search function difficult to navigate.  I'll just have to take a shot and keep my eyes open.  As long as it is relatively inexpensive, it will be worth buying the sharpener rather than new scissors.

I think my next task--before embarking on "UFOs Only 2013" is to give my sewing machine a thorough cleaning and oiling.  I feel like poor old Lucy is going to be getting quite a work out in the near future!

The Last (at last!) of the Left-overs

Itty Bitty helped me put together a pot of turkey stew - the holidays must soon be over!

Actually, I'm planning on spending a little time at the office tomorrow getting a couple of things organized there, so I can start 2013 ahead of the game.  But I'm not actually expected to be back until Wednesday morning.  

I've had the best break!  I should have been more mindful, or perhaps intentional about the purpose of my mini-sabbatical - - but I was having too much fun!  It wasn't until last night that I realized that for the last week and a half, I have not been responsible for anyone's well-being but my own.  I've taken a holiday from caring.  I feel rejuvenated! rested! ready! I've taken care of me - - so I can take care others.

No big New Years Eve plans here.  Itty Bitty has gone back to school for a couple of days to ring in 2013 with friends (he left tonight to go to a concert).  I probably won't even see midnight!

I went looking for my freezer paper...

...and found a Rubbermaid Tote full of UFOs!!!!  What the..????

I swore I had put my hands on every single thing sewing room related over the past three days.  Today, it was time to do some sewing, so I went looking for my freezer paper.  I know I had some somewhere....seems I just bought some not too long ago.  But where could it be?  

I had Itty Bitty look under the bed; look under the cabinet.  That only left the closet where we store out of season clothes, suitcases, and guitar cases.  I knew there was a box that held my knitting and crochet supplies and books in there, so I took a peek, just in case I stuffed it in there.  OMG!!!!!!!

It is full to the brim with quilt tops, waiting, for many years, to be finished.

I don't even know the names of some of these, when I made them, or what my intentions were.  But here goes...

I hand appliquéd each of the different tulip blocks.  I can't remember the book it came from, but the large shapes and easy curves were a joy.  I still have lots of yellow and blue prints left over from this project, and I'm thinking I'd like to add some more borders to this, since it has just way too much work in it to be a throw sized quilt.  It needs to become a bed size.  Any ideas?.  I wish I had some more of the background though - -  it is a pale yellow toile print on white - very pretty.  I'm pretty pleased with the sashing I did on this.

This bad boy is HUGE!  Every fabric is different, and it's all scraps.  I have no intention of finishing it.  I wonder if my sister likes it?  It's got to have ample pillow tuck and drop - it is monstrous - I suppose each block finishes at 12", so - a few simple calculations.....aaaaaand....yup.  Just as I suspected.  It's a big 'un.

I worked hard on this tesselated autumn leaf quilt top.  Each leaf, even the background, is a different fabric.  It took a long time to put this together, because they had to be pieced together very carefully to ensure the right fabrics ended up where they were supposed to be.  

Oh wow!  Was this a Bonnie Hunter quilt?  I remember that the pinwheels in the border were bonus triangles.  I kept enough of the bright blue first border fabric for binding - it's all cut and waiting to go!  I still like this one, with all the bright prints.  Not my typical palette, but I really enjoyed looking at all the different scrappy prints today.  I must have gotten desperate at one point, because there is a pink 30's repro in there.

This was a Border-of-the-Month quilt.  I can't remember what website it came from.  My focus fabric (the red) was a Mary Engelbreit print of little girls sewing and notions.  I believe this is probably the youngest of the UFO's, because I actually remember sewing this on the west side of the basement - the rest were made when my sewing studio was on the east.  Funny remembering that, eh?

This is Egg Money designed by Eleanor Burns.  I put the big wide border on it in order to scallop the edge.  I think that's out of the question now.  I don't have the book anymore - at least I don't think I do - so I don't have the instructions.  That kind of math is just waaaay too difficult for me.  I kept plenty of binding fabric for it, but it's not bias cut, so it wouldn't be any good for binding scallops anyway!  I wanted to hand quilt this one -- maybe some Baptist Fans in the border?  Hmm...we'll see.

Know what?  Never did find my freezer paper.  I sent Itty Bitty to the grocery store, and he picked me up a huge 50' roll, 18" wide for about $6.  Holy moley!  And I've been buying it by the yard at the quilt store!!!

I'm Making Some Progress

I spent allllllll day with my stash!

All of my yardage is now wrapped onto comic book storage boards à la Smashed Peas and Carrots, and arranged by colour in this cabinet.  The boxes above and below represent some UFOs, PIGs, and WIPs that I wrangled today - - now I have a very good sense of what is lurking in the deep crevices of my so-called sewing room.

There is still work to be done -- I have a cardboard box full of uglies that I have to make a decision about - - whether to cut up for strings, toss, or give away.  I still have a great deal of FQs and smaller pieces that may qualify for the ugly pile too - but I need to have a clearer head to process through them.  There is still space in the bottom right hand shelf of my cabinet for neatly folded FQs.

I have another cardboard box full of fabric that is definitely going.  My sister can expect this to be dropped off next time one of us make a trip to St. T.

I also need to go through all of my notions, and put them in some semblance of order.  Right now, they are all over Itty Bitty's bed!

Yes, it was a very good day indeed.  I feel like I really accomplished some stuff.