That is not a typo – I eagerly made this small quilt last January (2015) with the intention of sharing the pattern with my blog friends. But..I thought if I wanted things to be perfect, I should quilt and bind it. I think this little quilt messed with my quilting karma all last year. I do like it and it’s on my finish list for this year. Just to be safe, I’ll add a “7” when I draw the pattern.
I haven’t done a blog post since May 24, 2015, and I’ve only managed 16 over the last two years. That’s not even one per month. Now, don’t think I kid myself and imagine there are readers just waiting for me to ramble on about (mostly) quilting. But, thinking about what to say on my blog kept me thinking about quilting. And if I was thinking about quilting enough I was usually doing some quilting. My number of blog entries about quilting directly correlate to the amount of time spent on quilting. How’s that for being statistical about it?
One of the first things I’m doing is turning my scraps from a mess of fabrics jammed in a box to squares cut into a variety of useful sizes. I save scraps in very small sizes and am almost embarrassed to say how long it took to cut up the tiny pieces in this box.
I started 2016 with instructions to myself…lose the phrases “I want to…” and “I will be…” I also asked myself, “If not now, when?” If I’m not sewing today, every day, when will I sew? If it makes me so happy, why don’t I sew? I looked around me and saw many quilting projects that were already planned and most were started. How many? Not sure. That’s a question for another moment of soul searching. I looked at what I am doing instead of sewing and, frankly, was a bit embarrassed to admit that I was on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook oogling what other quilters were accomplishing so much that I virtually stopped quilting myself.
You’ve seen these little guys before but I still love making them. I stash them around my house and on my bulletin board at work. Sometimes I send them to quilting friends when I think they need a little lift. I just love having a tiny quilt to pet.
Thanks to my wonderful daughter, I even got a new tool to help me get my *stuff* together. I think those of us who are naturally disorganized have a special affinity for organizational tools because they give us hope. For Christmas, she gave me what I consider the zenith of planners, the “Get to Work Book.” Ironically, we discovered it on Instagram. What’s my favorite part of the Get to Work Book? The graph paper. This planner has prompts, nudges and not-so-subtle motivational phrases along with enough project planning pages to actually plan some projects. When I cracked it open, I thought to myself, “if not now, when” and I was off… The two things I have committed to each day is to end that day with no more in my house than when the sun rose (reduce or at least don’t increase the clutter) and make sure I’m doing something that brings me happiness. It’s a to-do: Do something to make me happy.
Get to Work planner. Seriously, check it out.
Got the photo from their website so visit Gettowork.com
One of the first things I did was to take the two little quilts that were on the chair in my sewing room for m-o-n-t-h-s to Bellwether for hand quilting. Sounds easy but someday I’ll have to figure out why they sat there until I wrote it down on my to-do list. Check, done. Next, I dug out an ancient WIP to assess and restart. Well, I told myself to dig it out. It became more of an odyssey to locate the parts. The part of the top that was half done was in the basement (aka the Stash Cave) in a bin labeled Works in Progress, but the remaining blocks were not with it. I found the blocks in a cart in my sewing room (aka the laundry room) while the fabric needed to complete the quilt was MIA. Now, this fabric was manufactured sometime around 1998-2000. If I couldn’t locate it I was out of luck. It literally took me 3 hours to find that fabric. I would have given up if I didn’t absolutely know I still had it. I even found two pieces of already cut sashing and a cornerstone on my bedside table. They were marking the page in a book I started reading two years ago.
Benjamin Biggs Block #6
If it were July 2014 I’d be all caught up!
So, what’s old is new again. My WIP is my new project to finish. Once I got all the parts located and lined up for sewing I …. went back to hand appliqueing my sixth Benjamin Biggs block. Maybe I should also work on my attention span this year.
I'll be here to encourage you!! It is nice to be honest with ourselves every now and then. 🙂 Glad to see this blog post- and who cares how long it takes to finish a quilt?!
Absolute great post! I believe we reap inspiration from other Quilters, BUT we sometimes end up where you found yourself. This year I am only downloading 2 on line BOMs and NOT printing them out. They will just wait until I decide if I will do them or not. So far my goals are in tack for 2016 – multi working on several different projects. NOW the only thing I have not done is to document each day what I am working on and documenting the quilt project! Hum wonder if I can start that one in 2017! Missed your posts and glad to see you on line. But this too takes time away from our quilting!
Great sense of humor – thanks for the smile today! I can relate really well to your post today. Those mini's are just darling! Such a pretty Ben Biggs block (I too am way behind on that one) Happy to hear you will continue on with this quilt.
I enjoyed reading your post today. It reminds me that, if we don't have some kind of organizational plan, the quilts we start will never get done. I had to chuckle at how many different places your one quilt parts were found. I can relate.
I lingered over every word in your post and reread each one again – you certainly touched many quilting souls!!! Mine included. Most quilters are very social and sharing. We feed off of each other. It is a constantly inspiring art form and that is a good thing. So glad you have taken up with Benjamin Biggs again…we will continue to cheer you on. I decided a few weeks ago to make this the year of finishes – it has hit me that turning 72 this year means I had better pick up the pace:-). Although one of my guild sisters is 90 and continues to complete blue ribbon quality quilts and always is like a ray of sunshine to us. A great post Taryn and so nice to see you back.
It's so good to hear from you again. I do look forward to what you have to say and see what you are doing. I wish I had started Benjamin Biggs but "regret" doesn't make things happen. I'm glad to hear you are determined to finish it. It's a lovely quilt. You'll never "regret" it.
OMG. Are we related??? I'm right there with you in the "yearning to quilt" but "easily distracted" mode. What is up with that? And by the way, my own blog was terminated from neglect, so don't beat yourself up. At least yours was still intact when you returned to it! I have three queen-size tops started — two are nearly finished — and finishing those is my immediate goal for this year. You hang in there, honey, and we'll git 'er done!
So good to hear from you again and see what you have been doing. I appreciate the insight into what you are doing to get organized. We could use some of that in my neck of the woods. Your tiny quilts inspire me. I want to make a little quilt like that, but there are too many others in the works. : )
Oh my gosh, you just described my life! I've been cleaning out my sewing room. Sorting, organizing, purging. I find things and wonder, where did this come from from? I don't even remember! I am making a list of all my WIPs. It's long. If only I can stay focused…love your blog.
I too have been a slack blogger, the pc is a time sucker. I get on here and then realized an hour has gone by and I haven't taken a stitch and then my personal sewing time has disappeared. I love IG,
What a laugh! but I'm sure we have all been there.. So glad you are back and still going on with BBiggs – that block is beautiful! I've just started on IG and find it a good motivator in small doses LOL! what is your IG name ..would love to follow you there too:)
So nice to see a Quilty Post from YOU! Love, Love your MINIs. Great advice to end the day with less clutter. Getting those WIP's into tops is a good start.
Except for the facebook and instagram (& pinterest stuff), you sound just like me, even the book, that's been sitting by your bed for 2 years, waiting to be finished. Good luck with your quilting.
Oh Taryn… you could have been talking about me! I think I better get that book. And yes, I DO look forward to reading your blog, and happy to see your post today. Welcome back!
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How ever often you feel moved to post is just fine. I read when you post and I don't worry about it if you don't! Keeping it positive!
All sounds so familiar ;-(. It is nice to see you back. I, too, am more productive when blogging.
I'll be here to encourage you!! It is nice to be honest with ourselves every now and then. 🙂 Glad to see this blog post- and who cares how long it takes to finish a quilt?!
Absolute great post! I believe we reap inspiration from other Quilters, BUT we sometimes end up where you found yourself. This year I am only downloading 2 on line BOMs and NOT printing them out. They will just wait until I decide if I will do them or not. So far my goals are in tack for 2016 – multi working on several different projects. NOW the only thing I have not done is to document each day what I am working on and documenting the quilt project! Hum wonder if I can start that one in 2017! Missed your posts and glad to see you on line. But this too takes time away from our quilting!
Great sense of humor – thanks for the smile today!
I can relate really well to your post today.
Those mini's are just darling!
Such a pretty Ben Biggs block (I too am way behind on that one)
Happy to hear you will continue on with this quilt.
I enjoyed reading your post today. It reminds me that, if we don't have some kind of organizational plan, the quilts we start will never get done. I had to chuckle at how many different places your one quilt parts were found. I can relate.
I lingered over every word in your post and reread each one again – you certainly touched many quilting souls!!! Mine included. Most quilters are very social and sharing. We feed off of each other. It is a constantly inspiring art form and that is a good thing. So glad you have taken up with Benjamin Biggs again…we will continue to cheer you on. I decided a few weeks ago to make this the year of finishes – it has hit me that turning 72 this year means I had better pick up the pace:-). Although one of my guild sisters is 90 and continues to complete blue ribbon quality quilts and always is like a ray of sunshine to us.
A great post Taryn and so nice to see you back.
Yup…you are speaking about ME and everyone before me who commented! haha Loved your post…keep 'em coming!
Paulette
It's so good to hear from you again. I do look forward to what you have to say and see what you are doing. I wish I had started Benjamin Biggs but "regret" doesn't make things happen. I'm glad to hear you are determined to finish it. It's a lovely quilt. You'll never "regret" it.
OMG. Are we related??? I'm right there with you in the "yearning to quilt" but "easily distracted" mode. What is up with that? And by the way, my own blog was terminated from neglect, so don't beat yourself up. At least yours was still intact when you returned to it! I have three queen-size tops started — two are nearly finished — and finishing those is my immediate goal for this year. You hang in there, honey, and we'll git 'er done!
Thank you for the pep talk. . . . I also spend way too much time on the computer instead of actually getting stuff done!
Love the pics you posted. . . .look forward to seeing more of you in the future.
We miss hearing from you and love seeing those little quilts. Keep up the good work.
So good to hear from you again and see what you have been doing. I appreciate the insight into what you are doing to get organized. We could use some of that in my neck of the woods.
Your tiny quilts inspire me. I want to make a little quilt like that, but there are too many others in the works. : )
Oh my gosh, you just described my life! I've been cleaning out my sewing room. Sorting, organizing, purging. I find things and wonder, where did this come from from? I don't even remember! I am making a list of all my WIPs. It's long. If only I can stay focused…love your blog.
I too have been a slack blogger, the pc is a time sucker. I get on here and then realized an hour has gone by and I haven't taken a stitch and then my personal sewing time has disappeared. I love IG,
What a laugh! but I'm sure we have all been there..
So glad you are back and still going on with BBiggs – that block is beautiful! I've just started on IG and find it a good motivator in small doses LOL! what is your IG name ..would love to follow you there too:)
Glad to hear from you again. I've missed you. No matter when they were made I always love seeing everyone's projects. Hugs
Sew glad you're back. I've missed hearing from you. Your tiny quilts are adorable.
How lovely to 'see' you! Take care. I hope you get there.
So nice to see a Quilty Post from YOU! Love, Love your MINIs.
Great advice to end the day with less clutter. Getting those WIP's into tops is a good start.
Once a Quilter, always a Quilter! Welcome back. I totally understand the attention issue…I swear I have quilter's ADD.
Except for the facebook and instagram (& pinterest stuff), you sound just like me, even the book, that's been sitting by your bed for 2 years, waiting to be finished. Good luck with your quilting.
Well, I'VE been waiting. Just saying…
Oh Taryn… you could have been talking about me! I think I better get that book.
And yes, I DO look forward to reading your blog, and happy to see your post today.
Welcome back!