Thank you Lorretta. It is because of my perfectionist mother! This trait of hers to perfection only shows it's head in my work not my housework!LOL
It is mostly just 15 years of practice with miniatures and challenging myself to see what I can do. I'm so easily bored!! Also it is partly because I have been selling several hundreds hotpads to the local gift store over the last 11 years and several hundred bookmarks plus lesser amounts of the other stuff i sell her. It is lots and lots of practice til I am so sick of making hotpads! I always use the 1 1/2" template in a 6 across by 6 down pattern for my hotpads. and 6 or 8 across x 4 down for the checkbook covers eyeglass cases etc. So it becomes almost routine. When I decide to do something new then it takes me longer to decide how I want to do it so I have to take time to design.
That is the reason I developed these shortcuts so I could get more done in a shorter time. Typically I try to take up an order to Kalona every two or three weeks. That is usually 12 hotpads 3 or 4 eyeglass cases or check book covers and 6-18 bookmarks depending on what she is out of. I also do 3" squares that are 4 blocks across by 4 blocks down (1" blocks) and billfolds --mini quilts 5" x 8" and totes and coin purses. It just depends on what needs replaced. And whether I can keep up! Sometimes her shelves are bare if I have had too many other things to do.