Spring Fling Blog Hop

As a former Island Batik Ambassador, I am in the ranks of IB Alumni Ambassador. We, the Alumni, try to stay in touch and share our quilting on a private FB group. 

Fellow Alumni, Patti Bochey, wanted to get some of us together via the internet for a blog hop. We all have some pieces, bit, scraps, chunks, and such, of Island Batik fabrics left in our stashes. So the Spring Fling Blog Hop is focusing on the idea: 

 Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

We are making small items. I really like Island Batik fabrics and have some scraps that are 2 inches and larger. I am going to use these scraps

and these larger pieces. 

I haven't used my Accuquilt Go! in a while, so I am going to cut pieces for flying geese units. I am not sure of the final project, but I will be ready to show my project on April 21. 

Be sure to follow along starting April 16. 

Here is the list of participating alumni and their post dates:

Monday, April 16, 2018 

Lemon Tree Snippets

Beaquilter

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 

Seams To Be Sew 

Mary Mack's Blog

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

One Quilting Circle

Seams Like a Dream 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Tammarinis

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Friday, April 20, 2018 Inspired Layers Saturday, April 21, 2018 Purrfect Spots Patchwork Breeze
Sunday, April 22, 2018 For Quilts Sake

Week's Quilting Summary

My quilting accomplishments this week:

I made four hotpads for The Yellow Window Boutique with the hopes of selling them. I get loads of  free motion quilting practice when making these. My binding work is better, too!

I found these items that I began Y-E-A-R-S ago! I kept them so long, I decided I should finish them. 

The first two are quilt-as-you-go log cabin sofa pillows. I added a pocket back. They are ready for the pillow form and then I will donate them to a local charity for kids. 

I made this block in the early 80s. I heard that Y-seams had to be done by hand, not with a sewing machine. That challenged me way back then to sew the pieces with my sewing machine. The fabrics are not all cottons but that's what we had back then. (What colors!)

 I layered it and am free motion quilting on my machine! I am going to put it in a frame for "old time's sake."

I am making a T-Shirt quilt for a graduate. It took 2 days to wash, cut, attach fusible and sew the top together. It is 72" x 98", he's very tall. I only use woven fusible on t-shirts. I find it backs them very well and doesn't shred or rip. Next week I am going to my friend's to use her longarm  machine. I am only showing a bit of it for privacy. 

Upcoming Blog Hop!

I am participating in the X-Block Blog Hop hosted by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy. You can read about it HERE. 

I bought this template about 10 years ago with all the best intentions of using it. I haven't used it yet, but NOW I will! I am looking forward to making a small quilt. I hope you will visit and see what everyone makes. You can see what the template designer has been up to HERE.

I wish you happy quilting. 

Quilting Anew

Anew!

Yes, that is how I am working at my quilting today.  "More positive" describes my attempt.

For a month my husband and I wintered in Florida. We enjoyed the weather, the excursions to museums, and the beach--fishing for him and collecting shells for me. (I am not a sunbather!) We enjoyed the people we met.

But! (Yes, a "but.") We missed home! I missed my sewing machine and my projects, my friends. While away, I did little with social media. I think that was somewhat good. I realize I enjoy sharing what I am making and finding out what others are working on.

Arriving home, we unpacked, stocked the refrigerator, and got back into our regular routine. Except my routine now includes truly sorting, organizing and cleaning out my crafty areas (we have a small room makeover planned where I sew). I am approaching it in a new way.

I read a post by my friend Elizabeth at OPQuilt.com and I, too, need to use a paper calendar. I will  see what I have committed to doing, upcoming events, and better plan my blog posts.

I decided to sew up projects that are stacking up instead of moving them back and forth, here and there in my room. I'm calling it Get It Done--Don't Move It! I've wasted productive time moving things around.

Today, the first thing I saw was fabric for a pillowcase for my son-in-law. Half of it was cut. I completed and packaged it to mail out tomorrow! Oh, how happy that makes me. I will move on, one project at a time, and am sure I will make progress.

Now, off to get the calendar and fill in my quilting commitments.

How do you keep focused on your projects?