What are you doing?
 

From reading posts and blogs about quilters, it seems a lot of us are "stay at homers". I definitely am. Tell me I have to stay home and not go anywhere for an unknown amount of time and I'm in heaven. I've been so happy this last week. Something is telling me, I'm home so get busy!! I've been in my sewing room every day for hours and hours. I've got a bucket of fancy fabrics that I've been saving. Printed out those hexagon blocks from Pintangle. And have 6 beautiful crazy quilt blocks ready for the hand embroidery. Yes, hand embroidery only. Yesterday I mixed up several colors of inks, dyes and paints to get just the right color pink to paint on a lace. It's gorgeous. i will post a picture of my blocks. Today I tea dyed some laces. And have a face mask almost sewn up. I need to look for elastic. Free pattern from http://gefiltequilt.blogspot.com
What are you doing with all this uninterrupted time?

my hubby and I just got back from having gone up to our camper just for the day to see how things fared over the winter........we're home now, and I'm ready for a nap........usually have no problem falling asleep for a nap but then won't be able to sleep tonight. So , I'll go downstairs to sew some more on my log cabin blocks.....been working on and off on those for months....so boring........but I'm determined to continue till it's finished.....have fun everybody and stay healthy!!!

I've begun tackling a feather border on a queen size quilt.
I think I've watched the video a dozen times to see how she does it and I've got 1/8th of the border done. It doesn't look as nice as the one in the video, but it will do.

I'm also making string blocks. Maybe I'll get down to the bottom of my string drawer before the end of all this.

Watson

I work from home for an accounting firm, so no time off for me. I'm trying to be thankful and grateful that this is having such a small impact on my life so far, but all my friends are in their sewing & quilting rooms, gleefully throwing fabric in the air and making snow angels, so I feel a little bit whiny. :D
However, I am playing a little bit in the evenings with a scalloped flange binding, and so far I really like it!

Just finished 3 charity quilts for my SIL’s Church Group Prayer Quilts...Well stocked w/food and fabric!

Members of my guild make small children's quilts to donate to Ronald McDonald House. I have pieced, quilted, and finished four. I have also been doing a lot of jigsaw puzzles online, reading, and taking webinar classes on gardening topics.

I started a new quilt for my baby granddaughter and it's almost finished! That wouldn't have happened so quickly otherwise.
I sewed and binge watched Boardwalk Empire. :) ( for the second time!)
I sewed it on my FW and had a ball.

I’ve cleaned some closets, organized my pantry & recipe files. Changed out a tv stand today so now we have one to donate. I told myself tomorrow I start on my sewing room and I have pictures from my parents house & a storeroom that needs my attention. Walked to library today, it’s locked but I returned a book in the outside collection box. It was nice to be outside. Watch Netflix with DH at night while doing embroidery work but that’s finished up now. I’ve got kid size quilts to cut out for church. I can bring my Featherweight to the kitchen table & see the tv so might sew there. I keep in touch with friends by phone. I am not bored !

Today I finished the body of a quilt for my DGS#1 graduation as an RN. Need to cut the borders and attach them, make the back, and get the batting ready. Ordered the thread to quilt it yesterday. Also finished cutting the fabric for my next quilt. DH is happy I have something to entertain myself during this time. I like staying home too. The only thing I will really miss is seeing my great grandson. His father, my DGS#1 works at the hospital.

I'm retired, so my life isn't changed dramatically with the self isolation in general recommendations. I do have some outside activities that have been cancelled, but while I miss them, I can manage!
I'm working on finishing a bunch of UFO's and so far I've completed a D9P that's been laying around for 4 years, pieced and quilted a panel kit that I bought a few years ago, and also quilted and bound a UFO of a log cabin variation quilt from 2 years ago. This afternoon I just finished the borders on a UFO star based quilt from at least 6 years ago that got put aside because I hated how it was turning out. I hope to quilt it tomorrow.... getting lots done!

No uninterrupted time here. I can only wish. My husband and I run a small business and we are still working and hoping for the best. I'm so glad to hear people enjoying their time at home. It seems like so many people think of staying home as a kind of punishment. I love my home time!

Today I made 8 pillowcases, 2 hand towels to hang on the oven door and a set of placemats. I also cleaned out two drawers in my sewing desk and cleaned some stuff up. I think tomorrow I will make more placemats, load up a quilt to get quilted and clean up organize another messy area.

I'm piecing quilts, quilting quilts, and crocheting. I bought several "cakes" of the color-changing yarn and have some new star shaped blanket patterns to try. I should be able to get a couple of baby star blankets made up while quarantined here at home. I'm easily amused....

One thing I like about being at home now is that I don't have to worry about what I touch! I had to go to town yesterday and I was so nervous about touching any surfaces or my face. Washed hands half a dozen times before noon!

same thing with me. Try to remember not to touch too much things or my face before I come back home and wash my hands. I sure will have to go out when my sewing machine "doctor" calls to let me know that it's ready to come home. In the meantime I am hand sewing the binding on a queen size quilt.

We retired four years ago so staying home is usual for us. Weather temps have been going up and down so easy to stay home.

Of course, I sew on quilts, ready to lay out another one.

I stayed home with three kids for 25 years before working for 29-1/2 years. I always like staying home.

my part time job was indefinitely suspended so lots of more time. I started a kit, Passages, but messed up on one part of the cutting so had to order some more fabric from Missouri Star Quilt Co. and waiting for that. In meantime I've pieced a modern quilt that I had designed--pretty simple piecing but can't wait to get it on the long arm. And marked another modern quilt ready for quilting too. We have gotten so much rain here all week that the yard is just a swamp. But if we get the sunshine forecast for Friday, I'm going to start doing some deep cleaning--long overdue! Oh, the other thing I did today was to fix the vacumn I use for the basement, too.

Yesterday (wed) in my was too beautiful to be inside. I was able to get into my classroom for 2 hrs and cleaned up. Then I went for a good long walk in a local nature preserve. Turtles in the sun!

When it was dark - I did a webinar on Distance learning and folded/organized some of my stash.

I have to say, it is humbling to read through these post and feel the sense of calm. We are fortunate to have hobbies we enjoy and it nurtures us, puzzles, knitting, hand sewing, quilting, gardening, ect....
Currently, which as we all know can change quickly, I am still working, but very limited. I work at an orthopedic practice. We have cancelled all elective appointments, we are seeing our post op patients and fractures only, which is only a handful 2 days a week, otherwise we are being sent home. All elective surgeries have been cancelled for 6 weeks at our hospital. This all was mandated this week and implimented. I am getting extra time at my sewing machine so am very happy about that. Yesterday I finished up on bibdanas, patriotic theme for this summer, and the rest of the cheater blocked baby quilts, was a good feeling to get these done. Got a quilt loaded on the midarm to work on today. :thumbup: Stay healthy and safe and enjoy this time doing your favorite activity.

I'm packing for a move but have two unexpected weeks to fill since my trip west is cancelled. Sure looks strange to see my calendar blank...
So I'm preparing to pack up my office then I get to finish off a quilt for my DGD and depending on how much more time I have to fill - I'm starting a quilt for her little brother (because his nose will be out of joint if he doesn't get something from Grammy too!) Fortunately that kit is easy to get to since my DDs packed up my sewing room and stash a couple of weeks ago.….

I agree, i love being able to stay home now that I am semi retired. I think of those who own small businesses and hope they can weather the storm...DH and I just sold one of our small businesses and simply closed the second one which was woman’s retail clothing store. Retail has changed drastically over the past 12 years as so many folks shop on line...

I did a thorough tidying of my sewing room yesterday and am working on a paper piecing project that didn’t get finished from a class I took at Quilt Con last year in Nashville. I will also tackle the 5th row from Sugaridoo Bernina QAL that has just been posted. Be well fellow quilters.

The pantry is organized and stocked now. The laundry is done. I shopped for groceries for DD yesterday. It would have been challenging for her to navigate the stores with her 3 year old. We are keeping him home from daycare right now. She is now stocked up too.

A friend and I have determined that our food choices will be interesting and may not be the normal routines in the coming weeks.

I am using this time to paint the trim around the windows on our house. We are installing hurricane shutters in the next couple of weeks so this is a perfect time for a spruce up. Next, I'll work on a dinosaur quilt on the embroidery machine for grandson. I used some scrap strips and made a couple of placemats. They just need to be sandwiched and quilted. I wanted to try making bread but there isn't any yeast in our stores right now. That task will have to wait for another time.

May you have happy stitching times and enjoy your days at home!

The only thing I'm really bummed about is our visit to see our sweet baby this weekend. I'm so glad we have facetime or else I'd go crazy missing her. We've gotten daily pics too since the day she was born. It helps (a little) :)

I am attacking my scraps to make donation quilts. That is usually what I do in January and it is a real chore to get started but love the results.

I am doing the two thing I am usually doing since I am a homebody anyway. I get on the computer first thing with a cup of coffee in the early morning then it is onto my sewing. I have 2 projects I am working on right now my Boom 24 blocks and a QAYG quilt I am making. It is about 1/2 finished. The Boom blocks right now are the priority. Other than those kind of sewing things I have a couple small charity quilts to work on.

I am so envious! My husband and I are among millions who are out of country and cannot get home. This country is in total lock-down; no flights either domestic or international; restrictions on ALL outdoor activities except those deemed essential ; cars off the road by 5:00; curfew for people from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am. We feel quite safe but we do want to return home.

I've been piecing and appliquing on a quilt I've had kitted for over a year so it feels wonderful to finally work on it. Plus, I started a fun project that will be a wall hanging that includes applique and lots of hand embroidery, buttons..etc.....this is my "Life in Isolation" memory project. Lol... I do a little bit a day.

I cut out a new purse. Have not started to sew it yet maybe today. I cannot stop watching cnn.

Nothing has changed for us. Hubby is still getting up super early and driving the 85 miles to work everyday. I'm grateful that the jobsite hasn't decided to close down yet. Each day is a blessing. I'm a stay at home mom, so absolutely nothing has changed for me! I'm a home body and really don't like going out anyway. I don't get much sewing time, but enjoy what little I can get.

Where are you? You can't go outside even to just sit on your own porch?
We've had sun and moderate temps lately, I've been trying to spend at least half an hour outside every day, in my own yard of course. The fresh air and sunlight do wonders for my mental health.

You're braver than me. I turned off all news. Again - it's doing wonders for my mental health.

I am a stay at home mom, so my life hasn’t changed much. The kids I babysit stayed home this week. I went to a dear friend’s house on Monday and cut fabric for three projects. I’m going to her house again today and will start the process of cutting my drawer of scraps into useful sizes. We discussed the risk factor and we both feel that, for us, it is low. We are both homebodies and don’t go out much. It is also her birthday today, so it’s important to me to at least try to make it special by seeing her.

Before the social distancing and isolation recommendations came about, I started ordering my groceries online for pick up. It started as a way to save time. Shopping with a chatty and eternally curious four year old can be challenging at times. It also saves me money by not purchasing unneeded items that I pass in the aisles.

My husband works as a Personal Care Assistant at an assisted living facility so he is still working but his employer has also limited their exposure to the public greatly.

I’m so grateful to have a hobby that keeps me occupied! I wish good physical and mental health for all in this time.

My Mother is in end of life care, and recently rallied, no rules there, so any visitors, no masks, no social distancing. Being in the older category and with health issues, I am having great difficulty visiting. I feel as a daughter I should visit, but when I think about my health, I am very concerned about visiting. This is a great problem for me!!!
So what I have been doing is visiting when she typically doesn't get any visitors and limiting my time. Big dilemma and causing a lot of anxiety!!!

I am totally unmotivated. I don’t like feeling trapped at home but I am grateful to be retired on a secure pension and realize so many have it worse. The son is is sick so we go between our houses - most nights at his house. I have identical sewing machines set up at both places and no good reason I can’t sew but for now my mojo is the only thing cruising around outside. But one day it will return so I just roll with it.

I'm a teacher so I've been spending time figuring out how to put my classes online. We can't get into our rooms, so I'm pulling things together with what I brought home and my online resources. This is new for my students and for me. Our governor has closed schools until April 17. DH is home and I've got a list of things for him to fix. DS is working doing online work and is doing fine.

However, I did make a Bionic Gear Bag that I'd had cut out for months. It's so cute! I'm going to make two more as time permits. I have some cross stitch and knitting projects to work on too.

I'm checking in by phone with my elderly mom and aunts. I do worry about them.

Today, I met with a contractor who'll rebuild our entry deck.

Our church has a new pastor and family. They're close to our DD age, so could easily be out children. She has a work from home job and now has 4 children at home. For 2 weeks now 1/wk I've helped her cook dinner. There's no C-19 in our local and we call each other to check on health. Last week we made chicken enchiladas and an extra pan. It's all gone. Also fruit and a kole family slaw. They ate all of that too. This week was chicken and dumplings and fruit salad. As I left the kids were digging in with gusto.

It's good to socialize some and help out. And I'm getting to know them.

I have a doxie dog quilt I am trying to assemble into a top. It is fighting me the whole way. I guess I will prevail, but, it is disheartening to do this much work piecing and be in so much trouble just sewing long sashing strips. Crazy but, there you have it. I will go up and struggle again today and muddle through. My avatar is the pillow to it that has been finished for a long time.

Since the parents of the grands are working from home and have to have quiet when talking to clients I am keeping the grands during the day. I am loving every minute of it. I can sew anytime but don't get to keep the grands anytime. We have baked, played games, doing puzzles, played with fabric scraps, take walks, and read stories. Ages 5, 6, 7 and occasionally 7 months old is here. My stay at home days go buy faster then ever.

I am happy to stay home. I dug out a hand sewing project i started years ago and trying to finish it. Happy just sitting here sewing.

Prayers to Maggie Sue. Take care of yourself.

Staying in here. Fortunately both DH and I are retired, so we are not yet experiencing the financial hardship of those younger folks who have been put out of work by Covid-19. I’m a bit of an introvert, so am less bothered by not being able to leave the house and yard than is DH, but he is also coping well. He loves to cook and has been being very inventive in the kitchen. We’ve also both been spending time connecting with friends on social media and talking about what we’re having for dinner or doing around the house and checking in by phone with my elderly parents to see how they’re handling this. And, as always, I’ve been playing in my studio most days once I’m done with house chores. Today I’m going to finish quilting the central panel of a BOM I’ve been working on. Then will put that away and work on a couple of UFOs that I want to get finished by the end of the month! Like SewingSuz, I am still watching CNN and local news because I want to stay informed, but am trying to limit my watching to just a bit each day.

I find that reading QB and keeping my hands busy helps me overcome the anxiety that this current situation is causing.

sending virtual hugs to all my QB friends

Rob

Working on a string quilt using patriotic themed fabric. It will go to my Guild's contribution to the Honor Flight Program. Keeping the faith that all these things wil! happen this year. Happy I bought a bolt of muslin that Hobby Lobby had on sale before the quarantine happened.