Saturday, February 7, 2015

Progress

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb. 
Sir Winston Churchill


I am finally able to report a little progress in the studio.  Where did January go? I had way too many days that I was not able to get into my studio.  I don't know that February will be any better since I will be taking a trip for about 11 days.  That's almost half of the month.  I will be taking my machine and computer with me so I may actually make more progress while away than I have been at home.

So what has been demanding my attention?  Well, I got to spend a little time with this little cutie.  She is eight months old now but still not too big.  She's only about 16 lbs.


She has learned how to sit up now and is very pleased with her achievement.

Speaking of achievements.  I have enrolled in a few online classes.  I'll be telling you more about them soon.  The one that I am most excited about is a photography class.  It will also be. and already has, taking some of my time away from quilting.



I got the remaining 5 checkerboard blocks finished for my quilt.  Last night I even got them pressed.  Now all I need to do is play on the design wall for a while.  There is an obvious reminder of what happens when you sew with black fabric here.  It grabs every loose thread and piece of lint it comes in contact with.  Sigh....  I do love the look of quilts with black backgrounds but I was asking myself last night if I really wanted to have a black quilt on my bed.  What do you think?  You can read a little more about this quilt HERE.





I have so many projects that I have started sitting around in my studio.  I've decided that I want to get some of them finished and out of the way this year.  This is one of them.  The Scrappy Trips Around the World blocks that I started a couple of years ago.  I had paired the strips for about 6 more blocks and had these three sliced up and ready to sew into blocks.  I got them done and pressed.  I can't say that I am all that thrilled with them.  individually I like them but together they are very busy.  I have tried to place a lighter strip in the center diagonal in each block.



The novelty prints in this one are fun!  That is a very old calico in the center from the 60s or 70s.  I think I made a blouse from it when I was in school.


The cat faces peeking out at you are fun in this one.  You can see the other blocks that I have made in THIS POST.  The link to Bonnie Hunter's Free pattern is there too.

I also came across a selection of black and white strips and strip units.  Some of them are from a guild auction a few years ago.  I was browsing through the quilting books in JoAnn a few months ago and saw a black and white quilt I liked.  It was the only quilt in the book I liked so I didn't buy it.  I don't remember who the author was but it was triangles cut from strip units like this.  A narrow bright solid strip was inserted in the center seam.

I think I will try a few of the blocks from these before I commit to a large quilt.  Maybe I should make a small project for a change.  I hear they are faster. ;-)  I seldom make anything smaller than lap size.




I have made some progress on the RSC 2015 blocks.  I have made some decisions about what to work on and got a number of blocks cut out.  I'm hoping so get some of them sewn this weekend.  DH just came home and is saying something about the movies so that may not happen either.

I also got a quilt loaded on the longarm last night that I want to get done.  Do you think I have too many things going on?  I think I either need a clone or a maid.

6 comments:

  1. I have an 18 month old who weighs 20 lbs so I know about being on the smaller side! I am looking foward to reading about your online classes - especially the photography class!

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  2. She is so cute. I am right there with you. Doing a whole lot, but not a whole lot to show for it. Have a great trip!

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  3. What a cutie!!!! "Petite" is the word for a little girl. She is more fun than quilting any day.

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  4. It sounds like you have been pretty busy! I like black backgrounds in quilts, but with 8 cats they are not a good idea at my house!

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  5. It sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy :) Hope you have a great trip and get lots.of.opportunities to practise your new photography skills.

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