Are you doing the hustle?

Marit at Sy, elsk, lev (Sew, Love, Live) clued me in to a great little "party" going on over at Kelsey Sews, called the 100 Day Hustle.  Basically, we try to finish up our to do list before the end of the year (now less than 100 days left).

Really the key to success is choosing a list that can actually be accomplished, right?  Not really my strong suit, but here it goes:

• 12 Bee blocks for the 3 x 6 Bee - I am putting these on the list because they are high priority and have to be done by October 15th, which is within the 100 days.  I have already decided to take next quarter off, so I can work on the rest of my list.
• I will also have 3 blocks for the Star of Africa bee that will need to be finished by the end of the year.  
• At least one block for the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop - my day is October 10th (like right around the corner!!!)
• Pillowcases for my daughter's preschool - I committed to this months and months ago, and they finally got me the fabric a couple of weeks ago.  They are relaxed about the finish date, but it really should be by the end of the year.
• Finish Totally Groovy - to be given as a gift for Christmas
• Quilt the Batik Stripe quilt - this one is just for me.
• small gifties for a few of my bee mates 
• Another small gift for my daughters' teachers (2)
• The Sashiko coasters from my Handstitched class - these too would make great gifts.
• finish the Vintage Holiday QAL top
• Finish Olivia's applique quilt - the blocks are done.

This list seems small (especially compared to the UFO Sunday one I made), but it includes 4 quilts to be quilted, and quilting takes me a while.  I will truly be lucky if I get those done.  I also know that there will undoubtedly be other things that will "pop" up between now and then.

Wish me luck!  Lord knows I am going to need it!

Jen

Hey, it's something! - WIP Wednesday

I haven't made as much progress on my project during the last few days as I hoped.  I've had a little one home sick, and instead of sewing I've been watching the latest Barbie movie and the Little Mermaid over and over and over and over again!  The upside is that the music is fairly good in both movies!

Gram's place mats all sandwiched and ready to go.  Thank you to everyone who helped me see that the yellow background on the 2nd one really needed to be changed!  I like this cream much better!

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Trial block for solid's group of 3x6 Bee (hey it's a start!)
• Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop Item - Done, done, and done - come back TOMORROW for the reveal!

On-going Projects:

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - top needs to be put together
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - started, albeit a small start
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - I might need to put this one aside for a little while.  Luckily the QAL goes through January, so I will have plenty of time to catch up.
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• Star of Africa Bee - September's block
• "Tree" themed quilt for the guild - since I got my top done for the LGABH, I actually started this one. I am not sure I like how it is going nor am I sure I will get it done by the deadline.
• Grammie's place mats - tops are done.  Quilting will commence tonight after the kiddos are in bed. Deadline Sept 22nd (because my plane leaves on the 23rd!)
• 12 Bee Blocks - piecing in progress.
• Leaf's Me Happy block(s) - I finally got my date for this blog hop - October 10th.  Designs in progress

Back Burner:

I am determined not to forget these projects!  Keeping them in this category reminds me of them on a weekly basis.

• Handstitched goodies - several projects in limbo.  I am preparing a few of these for my week long trip next week.  I figure it is the perfect time to make some progress on these items, especially the small ones.
• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  
• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress, but put well out of the way.  I need to be in a paper-piecing mood to resume.
• June UFO - "A Christmas Something for myself" -EPP in progress. 
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 1 + 1 block
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 9-ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .

Saturday dilemma

I need some help.  I started the tops for my gram's place mats, but I'm not in love with one of them and would like your advice.

(My Gram is a bookworm, thus the book-inspired theme.)

Here is the first one:

Love this one.  I think it turned out great.  It is adapted (almost exactly) from the header at Gen X Quilters Block page, which by the way, is AWESOME.  It lists a bunch of free block patterns/tutorials from around the web - with photo thumbnails!  It is such a great idea.

The second top, I am not in love with.

I like the design.  What I am not in love with is that yellow background.  Originally, I thought it would brighten things up, but now that it is done......  I'm just not sure if it is my dislike of the color yellow that is clouding my judgement or if it really is truly heinous and needs to be redone with, oh say, a cream background.  What do you think? I took this pic outside so you can see just how "mustardy" this color is.

I think I have just enough time to redo the block if I need to.  Thoughts?  Opinions?

Thanks for the help!

Jen