A Couple of Finishes

I finished this miniature coin quilt earlier this week, but realized I had forgotten to take a photo.  I'm quite pleased with the leaves I've machine quilted into it.
 

 

 

I finished the needle-turn applique on my Hawaiian Quilt Pillow top that I found at the thrift store this week.  I tried a different needle last night - size 10 John James Embroidery needles - and found it a much easier go than the sharp I had been using.  I quite liked needle-turn!

I think I'll start the hand quilting tomorrow!

 

 

Today, I am spending the day in my sewing room - cleaning up the dump!  It's gotten pretty bad, with so much stuff piled on top of the tops of piles, that there is danger of avalanche!

Have You Seen This?

(I borrowed stole this image from http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/rosebuds_cottage/page/2/)

Have you seen this box of candy at your LQS?  I found this vision of loveliness - EZ Quilting Mini templates -  at the Greenwood Quiltery this afternoon.  These templates are especially designed for use with Jelly Rolls.  I chose five - I'm just tickled!  They are just adorable!

Thrift Store Score

I stopped into my favourite local thrift store the other day, and scored!

Hawaiian quilted pillow kit - - even included the needles and a spool of thread!  I started to complete it last night - can you believe I've never done needle turn applique before?  I've done a pretty good job so far, if I do say so myself.

1 yd. each of Timtex and Peltex Sew In Stabilizer - - intentionally mail ordered from Keepsake Quilting and Nancy's Notions for some project, I reckon.

I know ... dull.  Nothing colourful. But I think I scored great deals for my stash.  Total: $6.  

Someday, I'm gonna be a tutorial

Sunday randomness

 I was out thrifting with Hubby yesterday, and picked up a bag full of notions. Unexpectedly, there was a sandwich baggie of fabric, which turned out to be good quality quilting cotton - one was a Kaufman. I cut everything up into 2.5", 3", and 5" scraps.

 I wanted to share this tip for hanging small quilts.  I'm sending this Hallowe'en wall hanging to Sailor Boy and future DIL to hang on their apartment door.  A wooden ruler and 3M Command hooks means no nail holes.

I'm also working away at a small project using scraps - a miniature coin quilt of CW repros.  I had to tear it apart because the coin strips were all different lengths.  So - for the first time ever - I've had to block to get them all to equal out--liberally spritzing with water and pinning against a ruler inch by inch.  Slow, but I expect the outcome to be worth it.

A Flimsy Finish

With the exception of the white sashing, all of the scraps for this quilt top came from a bag of scraps that I purchased from Quilter's Nine Patch in Elmira for $5.  On second thought, it might have been two bags, so $10.  
The fabric collection is Fig Tree & Co. "Patisserie".

I was forced to improvise on one block - - 11 blocks are 16-patches, but I ran out or four-patches and had to rig up a 1 part four-patch, 3 parts split rail.  Big deal, eh? 

Missing SewJo and Self-Care

This past week marked the 2nd anniversary of moving to Guelph and beginning to work at my dream job.

As you know, social work is my second career after 20 odd years in long term care nursing. The similarities between the two careers are not necessarily related to the service of others, a drive to care, the quintessential feminine quality to both worlds - - but the opportunity for creativity - designing new solutions, discovering new skills, deciding new approaches.  Theory guides, but both creativity declares.

The last few weeks on the work front have been intense as I finish up older projects, and plan new initiatives, and carry on the normal daily tasks.  I feel pulled in different directions, and unable to give 100% to anything, which is a difficult place for me to find myself.  

My default response to challenge is complete absorption.  It's nearly impossible for me to be able to divide my focus between any two things.   The risk of continuing like this is burn out - a deadly consequence for any nurse or social worker - - or artist.  (GASP!)  The first sign, which I initially didn't associate with the way I was processing work, was the inability to lose myself in a quilting project - my go-to for self-care.  I was completely uninspired by projects already in the works, and all attempts to try something new ended up in the landfill.

Soon I was coming home after work exhausted, irritable.  This week I had three nights in a row when I didn't sleep well at all.  I was waking up in the wee hours thinking about my most complex and challenging clients, and not coming up with any new ideas as to how to help them.  In a few days I started having frequent flutterings (think less butterfly, and more goldfish flopping outside of its bowl) in my chest - a certain sign the stress was becoming too much.  I had ignored taking care of me for too long.

I need to remember - - quilting isn't just something I do to exercise my creativity, it's a key part to wellness for me. It feeds me, and is as important as a good night's sleep, fresh air and sunshine.  I've spent most of the last week or two just cutting scraps.  Today I played with 2.5" squares all day.  I actually ended up piecing a baby quilt top together, and even have the border ready to apply.  I'll post pictures soon.