Quilting Goals for 2022

No, I am not going to try to complete 22 quilts this year. I plan to complete 47. Just kidding. I moved a lot of my quilting stuff over to the new quilt room back in the summer and had an idea to revisit several quilt projects and aim for some completions. 

The shelving unit was already in the corner of the new bedroom, so I just filled it up with project boxes from the endless quilting cupboard in my old bedroom. Don't tell my husband of 50 years. I don't think he has noticed them yet. The boxes are 2 rows deep. Not all of them have projects. Some projects are sorted into 3-4 boxes. Those in the top right have completed squares. The thin ones are blocks in progress. The deeper ones have all the rest of the fabric. And the really big ones have fabric collections. On the very top, out of sight, are packages of batting. 

Some of the boxes have fabrics and patterns and are labeled but not yet started so they do not count. There are a few more under the table I use as a desk in my bedroom where I try to write every day. 

Remember the 23 large bins in the back of the hall? They are in the closet now. And they have already multiplied. 

And then there will be the month of May. Time for a challenge of, say, complete a block a day for the month of May. Or, more realistically, complete 31 blocks for May. I did that one year. 

This could be an interesting list of quilts to attempt to complete. After all, I completed 5 courses for my doctorate in 3 months. I can do anything. More realistically would be to choose one closest to completion and complete it.

One of the hindrances to completing my quilts, besides starting more new ones, is that I have chosen some complex, rather large projects. Like the 100 x100 inch Beyond the Cherry Trees. This one was a hand applique project I carted along with me on many trips around the world including India, Australia, Rwanda, England, Poland, and at least 7 different States, and airports in France, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Adis Abba over 6 years. I have yet to quilt it. Another is the 100x100 Ben Biggs Wedding Quilt. I started this one before the BTCT and have been doing it by machine applique but not in recent years. 

Back in 2017 (was that really 5 years ago?) there was a 17 for 2017 Challenge, to revisit 17 ufos and progress them by a few stitches and if a completion took place, well that was a bonus. Well, I spent more time putting them up on the big design wall, taking pictures, and writing about them than actually working on some.

I like the idea of revisiting ufos. But completions would be nice also. Usually, having a deadline or purpose like a wedding or graduation inspires completion. But my projects are so big, broken down into smaller doable units. I just keep making blocks. Maybe I am in denial and don't really know how to complete them. But I still struggle to finish the dishes every day. 

I have looked at the criteria for Quilting Gail's PhD program. But the rules state that there be one completion each month and a new start must be finished in the same year. 

I have finally, after a few tries, decided on 12 ufos to complete. Will I get each of them quilted? And why wouldn't I? Could I? Should I? And Quilting Jetgirl's  2022 Planning Party kicks off on Mon Dec 13. That gives me a few more days to finalize and post my list. 

Blessings,

Chris

No New Quilt Starts (Maybe)

 I am seriously considering no new quilt starts for 2022. I managed to go 2 whole years between starts back in 2018-2020. I was determined to complete the Cherries Quilt. In that time I also completed the 1857 Album and the Dear Daugther Sampler. 

Well, that is not entirely true. I started Dear Daughter in March of 2018. Then nothing new until Ella Maria Deacon in April 2020. So I actually went only a whole year without starting something. 

But what if Gay at Sentimental Stitches comes out with the reproduction of a certain applique quilt she showed us at one of the Shipshewana Retreats? I will have to decide. She has revealed 2 new quilt-a-longs so far in 2022.

potluck-block-of-the-week

This one has many blocks that I have already made in other samplers. But it is in 30s fabrics and I have so many. But then, I still have The 3030 Sampler on the go.  

little-blocks-365

She is offering a repeat of The Little Blocks 365. I did not start that one. I am already making some of those patterns in 4.5 inches to complete the Bright Jane quilt that has been languishing in a project box for years. I started that one in Sept 2014. That will be on my ufo completion list for the coming year. 

 uptown-applique-block-of-the-month

This one is truly unique. 

I don't have to decide today now do I?  

AND, bless her heart, Gay is considering extending the retreat for 2 more days !!!!! So, a whole WEEK of retreat quilting. I'd better get planning.

Blessings,

Chris

15 Minutes Stitching Daily

 I started out the year faithfully stitching at least 15 minutes every day for 3 months. Then I got side-tracked with completing my doctorate and did not get back into the routine again. Not at all. My stitching for the rest of the year was rather sporadic or nonexistent altogether. I have been dealing with a lot of pain in my right hand from the arthritis and then in the wrist. There was quite a bit of discussion about hand pain and carpal tunnel syndrome in blogland recently. My Sweetie is facing surgery on both of his wrists. Not sure of the timelines yet. 

But it is only 15 minutes. And that can include hand or machine stitching, prepping, cutting fabric, even just pressing, and printing off patterns, etc. I do draw the line at reading quilt blogs and quilt books. 

I have finally started doing all the precuts for the Macaron Mystery Quilt from Quilting Gail. I changed my plan for the focus colour after the measurements came out and my original plan would not work. I know I have way too many different solid colours to use, but it is a mystery after all. 

Blessings,

Chris

linking with: inquiringquilter.wednesday-wait-loss-

To-Do Tuesday

I tried doing this a few times last year, but often forgot and sometimes I just posted a couple of times each month. It was a busy year part of the time and I totally forgot to do anything for the summertime. No promises that I will remember each week, but let's give it a try. 

It is the first Tuesday of December and quilting goals may be a bit scarce. My brother who lives in Saskatchewan will be visiting here for a week. He is flying in for the Grey Cup Game being hosted in Hamilton this year. The Hamilton TiCats will be hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Why anyone would want to sit outside on bleachers in winter and watch a football game is beyond me. It will be about 2 C. My Sweetie sits in the comfort of our living room and watches on the big screen TV.  Anyway, we will be having a family Christmas dinner on Sat. Come to think of it, our first date was to a football game in Hamilton. That was the night before my 18th birthday. I married him a year later. 

So my To-Do Tuesday this week will include:

• ALL the prep work for a turkey dinner for 15-20 people. 
• Shopping for some of that dinner.
• Not whining about the work it takes to do this.
• I have a cleaning lady coming in Thurs to do the cleaning so I do not have to do it. 
• Make sure the clean-up gets done after the party. 
• No stress here since the guests usually roll up their sleeves and clear away everything and wash up the dishes. 
• I could use paper plates like we did for the anniversary.
• Print off all the rest of the invoices in my inbox for the bookkeeper.  We are doing taxes after Christmas.
• Remember to do a blog post every day.
• I am scheduling posts so should have that under control.
• Virtual Writing Retreat Friday before the dinner. I could write up blog posts since I can write on whichever project I want. 
• Finish cutting out the rest of the fabrics for the Macaron Mystery.
• Do 15 minutes of stitching each day. You know that is not likely.

This should keep me out of trouble this week. 

Blessings,

Chris

Bright Jane

 Why oh why do I keep putting this on the back burner?

I think because 

1. the foundation piecing hurts my hands
2. tearing out the papers hurts my hands
3. the really bright colours hurt my eyes
4. I have no idea what to do with it when it is done
5. more interesting projects keep popping up 
6. totally forgot there should be a lot more appliques
7. I went off the grid a long time ago and am just making small blocks
8. 

Each month I eagerly look for the RSC colour and pull out my project box and bring those colours to the top. 

I have a check list of what is done and how many of each colour still need to be made.

  

Then I promptly forget all about it until the next month. Not going to have a flimsy anytime soon at this rate.

And then didn't I go and buy a wide back in the most interesting spectrum of colours just perfect for this quilt. 

Which grandchild's bed will it live on?  

Blessings,

Chris 

Linking with: smallquiltsanddollquilts.design-wall-monday

Sunday Slow Stitching

 I will be doing some needle-turned hand applique on this Ella Maria Deacon block. I started it around April. It is time to complete it. 

Linking up with Kathy at Slow Sunday Stitching. 
Blessings,

Chris

Dreamer

 It is no secret that I am a dreamer. Often I do my dreaming out loud, or more recently, I do my dreaming here, on my blog. To write about my quilting was a safe place to begin. I started blogging in Sept 2013. I love the process and I love the journey. I love using words to express myself. Some people use music or art, or physical activity to express themselves. I use words. 

I have been reading Julia Cameron's book The Miracle of Morning Pages again. The Morning Pages fascinate me. I have been writing them since Feb 2021.

I am a dreamer. I have scathingly brilliant ideas that come to mind and I want to share them with others in anticipation of them catching the vision and moving forward in it. 

Maybe I am more of a visionary. So what is the difference? When I write, I just start writing and it is interesting to see where the words take me. 

I am a dreamer. I set goals. I write daily To-Do lists and do them not. But it gives me a place to write things down so as not to forget them. But, alas, I quite often forget, or more realistically, I ignore the list. Does this, then become disobedience? Interesting thought. 

I am a dreamer. I was wondering what my dreams and ambitions were when I was young. My only ambition was to get married and have kids. Well, I did get married at 19 and here I am 50 years later still married to the same man. Our children have grown and they now have children. That makes me a gramma. That was not in my early ambitions. It just came along as a bonus and a delightful one at that. 

I am a dreamer. I have always been fascinated with the written word. I love to read. I have been writing for years and years. One does not complete a doctorate without a lot of reading and writing. But I am done with writing academic papers that someone else evaluates. 

I am a dreamer. Somewhere along the way, I got the idea of writing and publishing a book. I think I was still in elementary school when I tried writing my first autobiography. I wrote a title and about one sentence then realized I did not have a story to tell. Yet. 

I wrote my first book longhand two days a week for four weeks at a local retreat center. I knew it would get published one day. That happened 29 years later. But I had a story to share. It is the story of my journey with a profoundly handicapped child. It is the story of a beginning faith in a God who loves me, who created me, who knew what was going on in my life, who had chosen me to be the mother of a very special child. A God who gave his life that I might live. 

I am a dreamer. I had been given the idea to write and publish a second book and a third book by my husband. I guess he saw the potential for something in the future. But I guess it was his dream not mine. Maybe this is one reason why those two books are only half-written. But then, six months ago, I had a new dream to write a book about how to stay married for 50 years. That is half-written also. 

So, the dreamer part is good. The follow-through is difficult. I want to be known as a finisher. I want to be known as one who inspires. I want to be known as one who dropped a small pebble in the water and started a movement. 

Ya. I am a dreamer. The little boys have come over for the weekend. 

Blessings,

Chris