you know, i just can't decide if i am a procrastinator or not...I think i am definitely an emotionally driven quilter. I can only quilt when happy or content, but what I gotta remember, is, i get happy and content, when I go in cave.
When am I not content...oh, i schedule in a five minute...um, hmm, don't want to use foul language...not that I do, mindya...a negative break...every day or so...just to keep one from building up.
I save up all negative stuff, and for five minutes, I get to just be good and p.o.'d if I want...funny thing is...when you try stuff like that on purpose...nothing. Hubby volunteers to help with it, sometimes. He's good that way.
Martina, I love your label...that's clever. :wink:
Did you get tendonitis from fabric cutting?
sounds so painful! get really sharp pains in my right forearm and hand, sometimes when typing. It's bc of fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivities, (allergies, of a sort).
Here's hoping your able to get your binding on...your almost there! woo hoo! get ready for the rush! :D

It does sound like your cleaning was productive. Hand sewing is difficult with braces on. My joints swell when it's humid. My knees and wrists especially, but those were injured a lot time ago. I have a hard time quilting, rocking the needle and such, with a brace on, but I can do the binding okay.

Last weekend, I took all of my completed 9Patches and cut them up and repinned them. All that's left on those 3 is assembly now. I am making another sampler that I have officially named Gramma's Sampler. A friend of mine, who appreciates quilting and other handmade art work, has offered me quite a mint for such a small quilt. I couldn't refuse it. I ordered the backing material today, and hope to go get all the top material this weekend. So far, I'm not nervous, but it is my first commissioned piece. Perhaps the nervousness will set in later.

I also have to pick an easy pattern for a couple of baby quilts that have been on my list this year. Hannah is 6 months old already and Yoshi has arrived and is now 2 weeks old. So much for getting his done on time. I'm happy for friends that are patient and understand it takes me FOREVER to get something done. That's why I'm hoping for cute, quick and easy for those 2 quilts.

M

My immediate project is doing a 2 Hour Tulip Bag, it is all laying on the cutting table ready to be cut out and made.
But my next big project is doint a Jewel Box Quilt, I have been accumulating the colors for about a year now and recently broke down and bought the background fabric. It will be a queen size quilt and I have not done one this size before so I am pretty nervous taking on something this long term. Since the quilting will be in straight lines I hope to be able to do it on my machine at home. Wish me luck!

Well, I got three sides down on the binding. Used the binding clips for the first time - BOY DO THEY WORK GREAT!!!!!!

I brought it in (unfinished) to show the gals at work and everyone ooohs and aaaahs and all I can see is the points that don't match and the pucker (I mean "kiss") in the middle.

At this point FINISHED before the deadline is better than perfect. lol

Yes, rotary cutting definitely helped do in my wrists in. Typing doesn't help either. But my job depends on it and my favorite hobbies too. So I grin and brace it.

I'll have a pic later. Whoohoo.

I managed to get in another sewing afternoon yesterday. All 3 D9P's are finally ready for assembly. I messed up somewhere on my 7 year olds and will need to be squared down..A LOT!!

I need to add the borders to my military DS's top so I can get it quilted.

I was commissioned at work to remake Gramma's Sampler. I can't believe it, I've never made anything like that before. It's exciting. While it's not a lot of money, I think it is for a quilt that's only 60 inches square. She knows how precious time is and wants me to be paid for my time. But I'm not going to start it until after I have DS's borders on. I've been thinking about making scallops or something in the border of his...we'll see.

M

phooey! I was almost done with my reply and accidentally clicked, and :!: poof :!:
Sounds like everyone is getting some stuff done.
I mades some changes, bc I was typing and getting pains, and not spending enough time in cave.
I brought my timer in here, to get off my hiny, and took all my wip's out of cabinet, and re-sized boxes, to: 3" x 18" x 20".
That is an excellent project size for me. I stacked them on two shelves, right by my 3 machines, and put in order of priority.
I moved my cutting station, and it is fantastic now. It's bigger, and i put my stool and footstool there, so I can do all kinds of stuff, with less pain.
I am getting ready for a sewing/quilting marathon.
I brought my timer in pc room, to help limit pc time, and I'm ready to rock and roll.
I got two projects to finish up, this week, and then finish a mail project to a special buddy*, and then finish two dresses for gbaby, that originally were for her sister.
Then get my two doggies done for Christmas, a small w.h. for hubby's cousin, and move on to gbby quilts, a new tote for me, a charity quilt to honor someone special, and eventually, back to tulips and roses quilt, right after doing chicken lap quilt I started for a friend.
I am staying out of fabric stores for a few months to make up for recent purchases. They were an excellent idea, bc I got gobs of fabric at mark down prices...great backing fabrics, etc.
I finally got my cave pics posted, and excited to get some stuff done. happy creating to all. TTFN :D

Only have a couple minutes...as you can see from my last posting, I have been quite busy!
Re-sizing my WIP boxes, is turning out to be a really inspirational thing for me...like a self-challenge, and has me focused on these, instead of focused on, buying more and more an more.
I have been very good about not purchasing new stuff, since I am so busy with current projects.
Washing fabs right now. Will have to take to the laundy mat to dry, later today. Got four mail-off blocks, almost finished last night. One more touch to each and then off they go!
Really excited about this memory quilt. Will take pics for my quilt journal when finished.
So, busy, busy, busy, as we are going to take a mini vacation soon. We haven't done that in many years. Taking some of my stuff with me, and maybe some earplugs. Will be my hubby, my mom and one brother, on this little trip, and expecting them to say, "put that stuff away, your on vacation!" ....but for me,...quilting is a vacation...from everything else :wink:

Boy has it been forever since we posted in here! Shame on us!!

Well, the 3 D9P's are still waiting to be assembled. I hope to have them F******* by Christmas. DS Stairway to Heaven is quilted and ready for binding. He left Iraq for Kuwait, then Kuwait for Germany. He will be home with deployment over tomorrow night!!!

I became commissioned to repeat Grandma's Sampler and 7 of 9 blocks are done. Also, I crossed two baby quilts off my list and made afghans instead. They are done faster and don't have to compete with the other quilts made for the darling babies.

Anyone else making any progress??

well, I have been posting most of my doings in diary, but couple projects are top secret, sort of, and they are not quite finished.
Getting blocks cut for BOM, and getting ready to jump on my Christmas stuff.
Having one of those days, were it's raining, and the 'temp' or atmosphere is not copacetic for sewing, so, what I had planned to do, today has only gotten partially done. Wish the DH would go find something to do, so I could get on with things.
I think I could do a few small things for Christmas if he would just get out of my hair! I have a new qu. magazine. Think I should go read that, and get in a better zone :wink:

Wow, I can't believe it's been 11 months since we started this thread. This was one of the most fun threads to be a part of. I think we should do another one for next year.....but that's jmho.

Happy to say that I never got around to making all those baby quilts, crocheted afghans instead. Too many quilters around the new bundles of joy, but few of anything else. My gift was still different than the rest. :)

I've worked hard the last few hours. The end is in site. I remade Gramma's Sampler, on commission this time. I put the binding on it this afternoon, so now to just hand stitch to the back.

The 3 D9P tops are all finished. Stitched the last seam today. Now, buy batting and backing. I'm just tie tacking them, so I can finish them in 3 weekends. As soon as I can get the pics loaded, I'll post them.

How are all of you doing?

Compared to what I thought I might do this year, the things I have actually done, started or finished are varied and surprising to me.
What I mean is, I have learned in the last 11 months that I am just not a start this project, keep on it, and see it through kind of person. No surprise there.
Some of the smaller projects got finished, more sewing type things, than quilting, and some quilt blocks sent to ppl for charity quilts, gifts, thinking of you, kind of projects.
I learned that I am not real ready to hop on big, big projects. At this stage of my experience, I could logically do it, but emotionally...and I am an emotional quilter,...emotionally, I am not comfortable yet, with queen size quilts.
I have really enjoyed all the smaller projects that I have done this year.
I am one of those ppl that needs to do a project, not talk about it, while in process, and when done, say, "I made this."
I do numbers on myself. I imagine I need to have it done a certain way, by a certain time, etc. That's not fun, and ends up feeling like work.
I'm really glad that I decided to "track" my habits for a year. What I have learned about myself as a quilter has been very beneficial.
Being in a group, even though we are online has definitely helped.
I have no one around me, that really wants to talk "quilt-talk". It's been awesome to have the choice to share, and to learn.
The year is not over, and I started a couple things for friends that I am going to finish. I have struggled over them, not bc they are so difficult, but bc I keep sabotaging my own self confidence. I want to talk quilt with quilters, but afraid to show quilters my stuff. It sounds silly, I know...no quilt police here. Of course not, their in my head!
But, I am going to finish those two projects and I will send them, and if they are shared, I'll live. That will be up to the recipients.
I really believe once those are done, I will be ready for some new projects I have in mind.
This has been a growing process, and I do feel that I have grown,...ah, but I am not done. "I" am a WIP, too! :wink:

Well put quitincrazy.

I learned a lot of things this year too. Made new blocks at levels I've never made before, finished my first big handquilting project (queen), and for the first time hand quilted somewhere that was not the ditch.

I love this board. I've met people here, though haven't been able to chat much since spring, and have learned countless things. I love the idea of a group and threads here are much cheaper than calling all of my quilting friends out of state and asking each of their opinions.

I'm a work in progress to, but I think I've made more strides this year than ever before. I'm still one of those that does not like having a ton of projects going at once. I want to finish what I start. Though I did figure out that if I have one project in the cutting stage, one in the piecing stage, and one in the quilting stage, I can still count that as one at a time!! :D :wink:

And quiltncrazy, you have had a lot of wonderful contributions to the quilting community that is this board.

aww, :oops: I am so touched by your compliment, m!
I like to think although I don't produce at the same rate as some, I am still a busy little mouse, and never lazy!
If the things I do, help anybody besides me, then I will look back on this year with warm fuzzy feelings. This has been a productive year, just in many different ways.
I hope to continue the growth and production into 2010 too! :D

well, kiddo's, here we are: January 5th, 2010!
We have had a 2-0 in front of the year for nine years, but somehow, it's now a 20 (twenty)...makes it seem so modern, futuristic.
I don't make new years resolutions. Setting myself up to meet goals is just not something that works for me.
Having said that, I do ok, with saying what I 'hope' to accomplish this coming year.
If I can get a number of my WIP'S finished, and maybe squeeze in a few small things, spontaneously, to break up the process...keep out of a rut, so to speak...I'll be a happy camper.
Keeping track like this, all of last year was so helpful.
I learned about quilting from this board, but I learned about me 'as a quilter', from this thread :wink:
Melissa, I think if I ever get my many projects pared down, I will probably be happier working like you described.
Maybe having two or three at the most, but at different stages on each one. Not doing the same thing three times in a row.
I have reorganized and reorganized my sewing-cave over the years, so many times. Each time learning ways to become more efficient.
Currently, almost all my fabrics are on shelves, and most of the WIP's are on the shelves directly in front of my machine. I keep my shelves covered to protect my fabrics, and so I am not looking at all those projects and becoming overwhelmed.
Some of those are just 18' X 20" boxes, about 2 1/2" deep, holding the fabrics, uncut, for a particular person, with an idea in mind.
So, it would make the most sense to sew the cut ones first.
I'm actually looking forward to all this. I can't get them all done this year, but I can sure put a dent in it.
I'm never gonna stop quilt-dreaming, or adding to my projects, I just intend to not add as fast, or faster than I can create.
Space is on my side. I have almost run out, LOL! :lol:
So, I feel really good about 2009 and what i learned, shared and got done.
I'm hoping that I will feel just as good at the end of this year, and look back and say, "wow! I did it! I broke my old record, and got even more done this year, than I did last year!"
No matter, what, I've said it before, I plan to have fun, no matter how many quilts are cranked out. Learning to quilt more, with less stress. I accept that I am never going to quilt at the same rate as a lot of ppl, but as long as we are all happy, who cares? :mrgreen:

Working on a doll quilt.

Quiltncrazy,

I don't know if you ever found the 2010 thread, so I wanted to post it here for easy access for you.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-32911-2.htm#700399

I hope someday I can have my own quilt-cave with wips and such nice shelving...in the meantime, the room in my quilt-closet has gotten less and less as I accumulate more and more. I've tried to purchase a little bit more than I need for every project this past year and am almost looking at a stash. I did have a wonderful benefactress who sent me quite a treasure trove. I had more quilting accomplishments in 2009 than I ever have before. I think I might be exiting beginner/newbie quilter and be going onto "beginner/intermediate". :-)

I would love to see you work on those WIPS and you absolutely HAVE to post some pictures. We have to keep up on eachother's projects just like we would if we were in close demographic proximity!

May we all be forever in stitches, and may everyone have a blessed 2010!

~Melissa~