Cherrywood Fabrics Van Gogh challenge - a finish!

I have really enjoyed seeing the last two challenges hosted by Cherrywood Fabrics.  There was the Wicked challenge (see pics HERE) and last year, the Lion King challenge was phenomenal!

While at Road to California in January, I was intrigued with the idea of entering this year's challenge - inspired by Van Gogh.  But I don't think I actually purchased the fabric bundle until QuiltCon in February.  I lacked the confidence and was worried about lack of time as well.  In the end, the colors won me over.  Who could resist the lovely blues??

In true "Jen form", I waited until nearly the last minute to start my challenge piece.  I chose Van Gogh's "Starry Night over the Rhone" as my inspiration and got to work.  Here are some progression pics of the process I used.  I basically used the same technique as My Monet quilt, you can find the tutorial HERE, but I'm sure you will get the gist from the pics below.

My rough plan:



I like to draw out a rough plan, like a road map to see where I am going.




I started blocking in the background colors. I even kept some of the "fringe" edges where the fabric had been ripped.  I figured that rough edge would help me with a blended look along the horizon.



Finally, I started laying down the first "brushstrokes".  These were pieces of fabric fused with Steam a Seam Lite and then cut into random wavy strips.




I just kept adding more and more layers of these little pieces.




More and more layers of detail.  As you can see, I started with larger pieces and moved on to smaller pieces to add details.




Once everything was where I wanted it, I fused the pieces in place with my iron and started quilting in long wavy lines.




Normally, I would have added tulle to the entire quilt before quilting on top of those tiny fused pieces, but I wasn't sure if tulle was allowed in the challenge and I really didn't have time to find out.  Boy, does tulle make things easier!!!  It keeps all your pieces in place and lets the quilting foot just glide over everything.  Without the tulle, some of my fused pieces wanted to flip over and get caught.



In fact, I started free motion quilting this project, but after a few minutes of my pieces getting mangled by the foot, I switched up to my walking foot.  I ended up quilting nearly the entire quilt with my walking foot.




When I first started quilting, I was a little mad at myself for "ruining a perfectly good quilt with too much stitching", but as I added more and more layers and colors of thread, I felt that was in keeping with what I was trying to accomplish as Van Gogh inspired.  I love how it turned out in the end.




What do you think?

I found out today that my quilt was juried into the finalist group.  But I have to send it off to be judged and only then will I know if my quilt was accepted into the traveling exhibition.  I'll find out sometime next month.  I really have my fingers crossed.  I just think it would be so neat to have a quilt traveling around for a year to a bunch of shows!  I may not sleep until I know if it was accepted.

Thanks for reading today!  I hope you found it interesting.

Jen

Blowing off the dust

A finish!  And an old one at that.



I have had this one loaded on the longarm for months, just sitting there.  Waiting.  Waiting for me to feel like it. It's not even like I had to decide what to quilt.  I had already decided to try to do my first pantograph.  I just needed to find my sewing mojo again.

I am happy to report that I have found it!  After months of only going in my sewing room to find stuff that I put in there during the remodel, I have been sewing again.  I literally had to blow the dust off my machines and cutting table.  My first order of business was to finish up this Batik Tile quilt that was one of my oldest UFO's.  The pattern was "Tile Style" by Cheryl Rose Creations and was published in American Patchwork & Quilting back in 2010.  2010!!

One big boost to my sewing mojo was being asked if I wanted to be the featured quilter at our guild's annual quilt show in September.  While I am not sure yet if I have been chosen, I realized that if it happens, I better have some stuff to feature!  So, it has really lit a fire under me!  Now that my longarm is free, I've pulled out a few other finished or close to finished tops to do next.  I've also started piecing my Aviatrix Medallion quilt.  AND......I took a class on a technique that I am so excited to try out!!!  I don't want to tell you about it just yet (in case I fail miserably at it).

In other news, I finished the Whole 30 diet and am right in the middle of reintroducing different problematic foods.  I am still not 100% sure what was causing my issues, but I am feeling so much better.  I've also lost 9 pounds!  The diet was hard!!!  I didn't realize how much I eat to comfort myself or because I was bored.  Identifying these things has helped me though, and I can now recognize cravings vs. real hunger.  I do plan on trying to eat similarly to the diet going forward.

Yes, despite the difficulty, I recommend the diet.  I feel better, look better and I know I ate better.  I never starved myself.  In fact, I stuffed myself the entire time - but only with foods from the plan (meat, veggies, and fruit).  If you want to check it out, the book is It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig (Affiliate Link***).  If you have any questions, you can also email me.

Thanks for reading today!  Now back to work.....

Jen


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

Decisions - going forward

When I last posted, I was contemplating quitting the blog.   I'm not, but I am not going to continue in the same way that I was previously.

When I first started this blog, I was a different person.  Well, that's not exactly accurate.  I was a person with different things going on in my life.  In fact, when I started quilting and later this blog, I think I was still in my adjustment period in my transition to being at home full time.  I am not going to debate who does more - working moms or stay at home moms.  All I know is that when I first started being at home, I felt like I had some time to fill.  I filled that time with quilting and blogging.  Back then it was easier too, with small kids that napped or when to preschool for some of the day.

My life is no longer like that.  Sure, my kids go to school now,  And one would think I would have even more free time, but I have found new ways to fill my time and feel busier than ever.  Somehow, the time to quilt and blog has dwindled significantly.  While quilting has remained a "fun" and "relaxing" activity in my mind as something to do when I do get the chance.  Blogging has become more of an obligation, and that is not what is supposed to be.  I don't want you to read the negativity between the lines of any of my posts.  When I look back at the posts I've written in the last few months, all of them seem negative.  I want to get back to the upbeat and excited posts.....but I have to feel that way when I'm writing them in order for them to convey those feelings.

So....for now.....I am going to only blog when I feel that way; when I have something exciting to share; when I have some happy news tell you.  I'm also going to remind myself that a blog is supposed to be an online journal.  Somedays, I may have a lot to write.  Somedays I might have two lines.  Sometimes it might be hours between posts, others months.  (I think initially, my posts will be less frequent).  Basically, I'm going to write when I want to write.

Ironically, I have some things today that I am excited to share!!

First, we took a family trip to Italy for Spring Break and had a truly marvelous time.




I posted a bunch of pics on my Instagram feed during our trip, and I will probably make my Flickr album public shortly.

The trip was amazing.  The kids got along.  The adults got along.  We saw so many wonderful things.  We ate like kings.  We visited family.  And we had fun as a family.  It was excellent.  We are already talking about our next Spring Break.

Second, when we got back, I repacked my bags and went on a quilting retreat!  It was just what I needed.  I felt like I hadn't touched anything sewing related in months, and after a long journey, I needed a little down time to craft.

I finished up my Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Challenge.  I made this little mini:




It didn't turn out exactly like I envisioned, but I like it.  I think a couple of the ladies at retreat wanted to take it home with them.

I also took my Aviatrix quilt kit with me to start cutting.  I almost got through all the cutting before it was time to leave.  It was a LOT of cutting!!!  I have since finished up the cutting and will start piecing things together when I have some time.  I'm not rushing myself!

Third, I have started a new diet.  Typically, I am not one to diet.  However, I wasn't feeling very well before our trip and I had the feeling it was something that I was eating.  I felt great while in Italy, but they have different food requirements/laws and seemed to have a lot less processed food (we barely ate anything processed while there).  When I returned, within a day or two I was already not feeling great again.

I happened across a post on Facebook about the Whole 30 and looked into it.  The drastic reduction of food categories actually appealed to me.  You basically only eat meat, veggies, fruit and healthy fat.  No sugar, no dairy, no grains, no legumes, no alcohol.   I suppose I could have randomly chosen a few things in my diet to test if they were making me feel bad, but eliminating nearly everything for 30 days and slowly reintroducing things seems to be a better approach for me.   I don't care so much about weight loss, I just want my body to feel better and my brain to feel better about what I am eating.  Have any of you done the Whole 30?

I am only on Day 3, and I am already feeling better.  Not completely cured, but better all the same.   I hope that things continue.

That's it for now.  I can't tell you when my next post will be, but I hope you pop back by periodically to say hello.


Keep quilting!

Jen

100 Day Challenge - Finale!

Welcome to the finale of the 100 Day Challenge!  I hope everyone got loads of things accomplished (especially since I didn't)!

My 3 things:

1) Update the blog - I haven't done anything on this.  I must admit, I am considering taking a break from blogging altogether.  It is not that I don't enjoy blogging, it is more that I am so stretched on time lately.  I even find it difficult to remember to post the Building Blocks Tuesday link up each week.  I am currently on a bit of a Mom-cation and I intend to do some soul searching on this topic.  It may mean a short hiatus or just a transition to more infrequent posts.  When I return, I expect to have an answer.
2) Aviatrix Medallion Quilt - Life has gotten in the way big time lately, and I haven't moved much past getting the fabric out on this one.  However, I do have a quilting retreat coming up in a couple of weeks and this will be one of two projects I am going to bring, so progress is inevitable.
3) Finish Batik Tile Quilt - I loaded it on my longarm, and chose the thread, but then had a bunch of tension issues.  I've chosen an alternative, but just haven't gotten started yet.  So no progress since last check in.

Wow, so big fail on my part!  But I am not discouraged.  We have had a lot going on as a family since New Year's and it has been hard to keep up.  I can either choose to get down on myself or I can move forward.  I choose the later.

How did you do on your goals?  Link up your progress and then go cheer for someone else!

Thanks for participating!

Jen

Building Blocks Tuesday - hiatus

Building Blocks Tuesday is taking a break.

Thank you for your patience.

Jen

Sawtooth Stars still in progress - Building Blocks Tuesday

I'm still working on these Sawtooth Stars!  Got quite a few, but still need more.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

Sawtooth marathon - Building Blocks Tuesday

And the Sawtooth Star marathon begins!



I finished up all the flying geese components for these Sawtooth Star blocks over the weekend and have been making about 10 stars a day since then.

This is what they look like so far:

The finished quilt will not be so heavy on the yellows/golds.  I just happened to start on those stars first.  The final quilt will have them more evenly distributed with other colors.

This is a commission project.  The recipient is planning on having the guests at her wedding sign the stars and then I will assemble it as a nice keepsake of the occasion.  I love the idea and wish I had thought of it for my wedding.


What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

Geese are flying away with me - Building Blocks Tuesday

The geese are flying away with me!

I've been working on these flying geese components for the Sawtooth Star quilt I am making.  I feel like I've been doing them for months, but really since I only make about 40 at a time, it really hasn't been that long.  I need about 400 for the quilt, and I am probably only 3/4 of the way through.  I hope to have all the Sawtooth blocks done by the end of the month, so I better get crackin!

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

Around the World, by hand - Building Blocks Tuesday

One of the classes I took at QuiltCon this year was hand piecing.  I have been trying to be more selective when taking classes and only signing up for technique driven classes, preferably techniques I don't know how to do.  While I grasped the concept of hand piecing, I have never done it.  Until now!

True, the block above isn't all that large or impressive, but I plan on continuing to work on it here and there.  Those 1 1/2 inch squares are very travel-friendly and it is a relaxing process.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

100 Day Challenge - 60 Day Check In

Welcome back to the 100 Day Challenge!  I can't believe we are already at the 60 day mark.  As usual, time has just flown by.

My 3 things:

1) Update the blog - I haven't done anything on this.  If I am sitting at my computer, I'm not sewing. But, I have a plan!  I'm going to start reviewing my classes each night before going to bed.  I usually read during this time, but I will have to put the books aside for a while.
2) Aviatrix Medallion Quilt - I've gotten out the fabric and pattern, but need to make the templates and start cutting (which still hasn't happened).
3) Finish Batik Tile Quilt - This is the one goal I had made progress on at the last check in; however, I haven't progressed since then.  I loaded it on my longarm, and chose the thread, but then had a bunch of tension issues.  I think it is the thread.  I've chosen an alternative, but just haven't gotten started yet.



So, basically I haven't done anything in the last 30 days, and it got me to thinking.  This challenge is all about shortening the time frame for your goals to help keep you motivated.  But what if that deadline isn't doing anything for your flagging motivation?  I've perused some things on the interwebs and have come up with some advice for you, and me.

How to Stay Motivated on your Goals for the 100 Day Challenge (or what is left of it):

1) Break up your goal into small, manageable pieces and write them down - for me, I need to choose really small tasks.  Tasks that would take 30 minutes or less, even if it takes splitting a task into multiple parts, even if you just set a timer and work for 10 minutes at a time.  For example, I need to start cutting my fabric for the Aviatrix Medallion quilt, but there is a lot of FQ's to sort and cut.  So, I'm going to break it up the task of cutting into very small tasks - like cut 2 colors at a time.  If there are 30 colors, it will take me 15 tasks to complete the cutting, but I will get to cross 2 colors off my list each day.  Which leads me to #2....

2) Cross items off your to-do list.  I can't tell you how satisfying this is.  Sometimes I even write tasks down that I have already done for the day, just so I can then cross them off.  It gives you a sense of accomplishment even when your day hasn't gone according to your original plan.

3) Make a game out of it, and REWARD yourself - Can you cross one item off your list for 5 days in a row?  Or maybe cross everything off your list that has a specific word in it, like "organize" or "press" or "blue".  Whatever you pick that day.  Reward yourself.  Have a piece of chocolate if you cross 2 things off your list for the day.  Buy that FQ bundle you've been eyeing at the quilt shop if you complete all your cutting on a project.  Finished a project completely?  Reward yourself with a break from quilting all together and read a book for the rest of the evening.  Whatever you decide!

4) Learn something new - Maybe what you need to kick yourself into gear is a new skill.  I often find that when I am excited about learning a new skill, I can't wait to try it out on an existing project.  Whether it be a new quilting design or technique, or even just a more efficient way of cutting.  Take a Craftsy class, watch some YouTube, or search Pinterest for a technique you are interested in, and try it out on one of your goals for the challenge.

5) Variety is the spice of life - While I would like to be the type of person that only focuses on one project and finishes it before moving on to the next.  I'm just not that person.  I get bored.  I get tired of looking at the same fabrics for too long.  So, if you are like that - mix it up!  You've got your list.  Choose tasks from different projects each day.  Or at the very least, different types of task.  Cut one project one day, quilt a different project the next, organize a 3rd project before piecing the first.  Keep your brain wondering what is next, but still reward it for crossing things off your list.  You will be amazed how quickly all your tasks get done!

6) Remind yourself of the Big Picture - all of the above suggestions have you focusing on small things and you need to do that to keep going, but every so often remind yourself of your end goal.  Are you making a quilt for a special someone?  Imagine the look on his/her face when they receive it.  Are you making a project for yourself?  Imagine snuggling up under your quilt while watching your favorite show, or see that cross-stitch project hanging on the wall in your hallway.  Visualize! and then get back to the small stuff.

7) Reassess - If the above all sounds dandy, but you are still struggling to engage, reassess your goals.  You still have 40+ days to complete your challenge.  Do you need to switch out one of your goals for something different?  It is OK.  Tell yourself it is OK too.  The purpose of this challenge is to get stuff done.  If one of your goals is just not going to happen, but you need to make something else.  Change it.  No one is going to judge you, it's your list after all!

Do you have any other suggestions for everyone??

I'm off to make my ridiculously long, detailed list of tiny tasks.  What will you do?  What have you done?  Link up your progress below, and don't be afraid to share both your triumphs and your let downs.  Also, please visit others in the link up and cheer them on.  It is crunch time and we all like to hear friendly encouragement.

Thanks for reading,

Jennie

Little EPP pillow - Building Blocks Tuesday

Finally, a block to share!

I just got back from QuiltCon and wow! was it a great time!  I hope to tell you all about it in another post.

Meanwhile, I am going to be teaching an English Paper Piecing class on March 25th and I needed to get my class sample finished.  After talking with the guild president for a while, we decided an easy little pillow to highlight the technique would be fun.  I've finished the EPP and applique part, now I just need to quilt it and turn it into a pillow.





What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

I'm in a slump - Building Blocks Tuesday

What the what?  I can't believe what a slacker I am with regard to this blog lately.  I just can't seem to find the balance I think I once had.  Perhaps it wasn't balance at all, but instead a more intense desire to connect.  It's not that I don't want to connect now, but the giddiness in sharing every little detail of what I was up to has waned.  I feel like it has to be something really spectacular to be worth the time to sit down and write about.  It shouldn't be that way.  I like being an "ordinary" person that sometimes does "ordinary" things.  Not everything I write about needs to be special.  Also, not helping, is that when I do sit down at the computer to write, time flies by.  My computer is a time vacuum, sucking the minutes I could be doing something else...away.

I have no new blocks to share for the last two weeks.  I have no finishes.  I have spent some time in my sewing room, mostly cutting the pieces for the Sawtooth Star quilt I am making as a commission, or preparing my supplies for QuiltCon this weekend.  But I haven't actually sewn a darn thing!

Instead, I've been spending nearly all my time in the garden - the other time vacuum I own.  One would think that it would be far to early to get started on the summer garden.  I would think that!  But of course, this year I decided to concentrate on planting more permanent items - fruit trees and perennials.  I had 6 or so trees that I bought last year that never got planted, but I ordered another 20.  So much for my "a few trees each year" approach.  Of course when you have 26 trees, most bare rooted, lying around and lots of rain in the forecast, you feel need.  Need to get these darn trees in the ground!  "Take advantage of those raindrops, they are so rare here."  "But don't dig in wet soil, let it dry out a bit before you plant!"  Ugh.  I have all but 3 potted trees left.  That was a lot of holes in the ground and I am shocked and dismayed how long it took me.  My back is also not pleased with me.  And because a bunch of trees wasn't enough, I also ordered about 40 berry bushes.  I haven't planted them yet, and I am crossing my fingers that they don't dry out or sprout before I get back after the weekend. At least the holes for them will be smaller.

I am exhausted.  Manual labor has beaten me and whipped me.  I am very much looking forward to getting away for the weekend and just learning about some new skills.  I am a bit terrified that I might fall asleep in my classes.

What classes am I taking?  Ironically, a lot of hand work classes.  I am taking a hand piecing class and an embroidery class.  I'm also taking a design clinic with Anne from Play-Crafts.  I admit, I signed up for that one just to hang out and hopefully spark some inspiration and motivation.  Finally, on Sunday, I got into a quilting class I had been waitlisted for.  I had already made my flight reservations before I got in, so I will have to leave the class early to catch my plane, but hopefully, the first half will be the informative part.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

30-ish Day Check In for the 100 Day Challenge

Welcome back to the 100 Day Challenge!  I am excited to see what progress you have made on your 3 goals!

First let me apologize for the tardiness of this check in; we are a few days past the 30 day mark.  I've been having some computer problems.  I hope they are remedied and will not cause any further delays.

So?  How is it going?  How far have you progressed on your goals?

I must admit that I haven't gotten as far as I hoped, but I keep telling myself that just starting is progress.

My 3 things:

1) Update the blog - I haven't done any of this.  Computer problems weren't the only reason.
2) Aviatrix Medallion Quilt - I've gotten out the fabric and pattern, but need to make the templates and start cutting (which hasn't happened).
3) Finish Batik Tile Quilt - This is the one goal I have made progress on!  I completed all the blocks needed, and put the top together.  I even made a backing and put it on the frame.  There all progress stopped.  I actually need to put it back on the frame since my cat, Tookie, chose to lay on it while we were gone for the weekend and the pins holding it to the leaders just couldn't take her weight!



So there you have it!  My progress.

If you just stumbled upon this today, you can still join up.  To recap, we are shortening up the timetable for those New Year's Resolutions so we don't conveniently forget about them over the course of the year.  100 days is just long enough to accomplish something BIG and short enough that keeping the momentum/motivation going should be easier.  You can check out the Kick off post HERE, but you can also join in below.  Your time will be a bit shorter than the 100 days, but all are welcome!

Thanks for reading,

Jen

Pardon the delay - Building Blocks Tuesday

I apologize, I've been having computer difficulty the last few weeks.  I hope all is resolved now and there will not be any further delays in posting.

Here is the link up for the month of February for Building Block Tuesday.  I actually don't have any new blocks to share this week, but I've done a bunch of cutting, so I hope to have something next week.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

Batik tile progress - Building Blocks Tuesday

I finished up all my Batik tile blocks this week!



One good thing about the wet weather we have been having is that it has kept me inside, which has given me time to put the flimsy together.



I must admit that this is nothing like I pictured it when I chose these fabrics years ago.  I really don't know what I was thinking.  The original pattern had a lot of teal, and some copper in it.  But, at the time I couldn't find exact matches so I went with what I could find and it looks like I made some interesting choices.  For me, the yellow just doesn't belong, and worse it totally drowns out the navy with copper fabric that is my favorite of this group.  BUT....it is finished.  And finished is better than perfect!

Now to piece a backing together, and start quilting it.  It looks like I might have a chance of getting at least one of my 100 Day Challenge items done.  Speaking of....we are only about 10 days away from our first check in.  I hope you have all been working hard, and I can't wait to see your progress.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

More Batik tile blocks - Building Blocks Tuesday

I made a few more of these Batik tile blocks this week, in between packing up my kitchen into boxes and squirreling away plates and glassware anywhere I could fit them.  We are remodeling our kitchen and the current one had to be cleared out for demo yesterday.  I thought I had eliminated most of the junk when we moved last year, but I found myself packing up plenty of items that I haven't used at all in the last year and a half.

This brings my blocks up to:



Man, is this not my style at all!  I've got one more color way to go, and I may need to repeat one of the color combos to finish up the corner.  At least it is farther along now than it was a couple of weeks ago.

I also need to start on those Sawtooth Star blocks this week, and I have a TON of gardening chores to do while the contractors are busy making a disaster of my house.  It will be raining dust for weeks, no doubt.  But, I am sure it will all be worth it in the end.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

Batik tile blocks - Building Blocks Tuesday

Wow!  The 100 Day Challenge has really kicked off with a bang!  So many people have jumped right on their challenges.  It inspired me to get out my old Batik Tile UFO and try to assess where I was in regards to completion of the project....I've got to tell you, it wasn't easy!



(I am not sure why the block above looks so bright and colorful on the floor, must be the lighting on the floor compared to the lighting on the wall. It really is more drab.)

I pulled this project out of the closet a few months ago and put the blocks up on the wall for a few days, but I really didn't stop to see how many more blocks I needed to make, and if I had enough fabric.  To make things a little more complicated, I discovered that I must have chosen some different colors than the pattern called for because I got some weird stuff that looks nothing like the pattern.  Basically, I spent the morning asking myself, "What was I thinking?".

I got as far as figuring out where I was in the completion process and how many blocks I needed to make to finish the rows I was working on.  So today, I went from this:



to this:



I still have quite a few more blocks to make.  In making the block up at the top today, I realized it isn't the blocks that I don't like about this project.  They actually come together rather easily.  It is the fabric - gasp!  I think of Batiks like I think about the color, Orange.  I don't particularly like it.  I can appreciate it, and find beauty in select oranges, but in general I don't like working with it.  Just the way I am!

So there they are, the first blocks of the New Year and part of my 100 Day Challenge.

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

100 Day Challenge 2017 - Kicking it off

Welcome to the kick off of the 100 Day Challenge!  I am excited that you are here and ready to get some stuff DONE!  Do you have your 3 things you are going to complete in the next 100 days?

Just stumbled upon this today?  To recap, we are shortening up the timetable for those New Year's Resolutions so we don't conveniently forget about them over the course of the year.  100 days is just long enough to accomplish something BIG and short enough that keeping the momentum/motivation going should be easier.

1) Pick 3 specific Quilty/Craft goals - finish some UFO's?  try something new?  make that baby quilt?  declutter/destash?  easy/hard?  Doesn't matter, just be specific.  Specificity helps so we don't justify changing our goals or rationalizing that we generally completed them when we only tried.
2) Today, leave your 3 goals in a comment below, or write your own blog post with your intentions and link them up to the linky below.  Writing them down and posting them on the interwebs will give you a feeling of accountability to the universe.
3) Cheer each other on!  I've even created a hashtag for those of you on Twitter and Instagram: #100daychallenge2017 AND a new blog button!  Go ahead and grab it if you like.  It's in the right hand border of this post.
4) Get to work - this part is all up to you!  Did I mention that I hope we will all cheer each other on?!?!!!  Support is so nice.
5) Check in linky's will be posted at Day 30, Day 60, and Day 85.  (You can also tell us your progress in the comments section of the post that day if you don't want to link up).
6) Finale will be April 15th (easy to remember as it is tax day in the US), when you will tell us how you did on your goals.
7) Celebrate!!  Perhaps pick 3 more things to do next??

Kick off Link up:



Don't forget, you may also just leave your 3 things in a comment on this post.

My 3 things:

1) Update the blog - some things are long overdue!
2) Aviatrix Medallion Quilt - this quilt is crazy beautiful
3) Finish Batik Tile Quilt - I just want this one out of my house!


Thanks for reading,

Jen

Blocks of 2016 - Building Blocks Tuesday

Behold! The Blocks 0f 2016!



1. Foxes for Fancy Forest quilt, 2. Geese in the Forest for Lizzie, 3. Rose trellis blocks for Nita, 4. Gi's Star, 5. Bunny blocks multiplied!, 6. economy blocks for Pam, 7. Gi's Star 2, 8. May's Geese in the Forest, 9. For Celine, 10. Alpine Block for Gretchen, 11. Delectable Mountain blocks for Margaret, 12. Broken Herringbone 1, for Shelly, 13. Guild Challenge block, 14. Sawtooth Star, 15. For Celine, 16. owl block, 17. Broken Herringbone 3, for Shelly, 18. blocks for Carrigan comfort quilts, 19. Autumn Leaves for Nita, 20. Garden Fence 2, 21. Prairie Queen block for Pam, 22. Fireflies, 23. Autumn Leaves for Nita, 24. Geese in the Forest blocks for Laurie, 25. The hedgehogs, 26. Prairie Queen block for Pam, 27. Thistle blocks, 28. Bunny block, 29. Garden Fence 1, 30. Broken Herringbone 2, for Shelly, 31. Garden Fence 3, 32. Hedgehog 1, 33. Sawtooth Star, 34. Garden Fence block, 35. More Broken Herringbones, 1, 36. Prairie Queen block for Pam

Wow! Quite a variety.  Some of those blocks were so fun to make, others....meh.  I bet you will see some more of those Fancy Forest creatures in the upcoming year.  My eldest daughter wants me to make her a replica, and I have most of the fabric already cut, so why not?

What blocks have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page on your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading,

Jennie


***This post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links, I may be compensated, but at no additional cost to you!

100 Day Challenge - 2017

Last year, while trying to come up with my New Year's Resolutions, I realized that I do much better with a shorter deadline.  There is something about having the WHOLE year to get something done that is practically a green light for procrastination.  So instead of year-long resolutions, I challenged myself to do 3 things in 100 days, and many of you joined me.  We had all kinds of projects completed - quilts, knitted socks, needlepoint, even new blogs started.  I've been getting lots of questions about hosting it again, so here it is!

How does the 100 Day Challenge work?

1) Pick 3 specific Quilty/Craft goals - finish something old?  try something new?  declutter/destash?  easy/hard?  Doesn't matter, just be SPECIFIC.
2) On Friday, January 6th, either leave your 3 goals in a comment in that day's Kick Off post, or write your own blog post with your intentions and link them up to the linky posted that day.
3) Get to work
4) Check in linky's will be posted at Day 30, Day 60, and Day 85.  (You can also tell us your progress in the comments section of the post that day if you don't want to link up).
5) Finale will be April 15th (easy to remember as it is tax day in the US), when you will tell us how you did on your goals.

What to you think?  Want to join in?

I am picking three specific things to accomplish in 100 days.  Why so specific?  That's another thing I've learned about myself: if I let myself generalize too much, I often can rationalize that I accomplished something when I have not.

Last year, I accomplished 2 of my 3 goals, and I made some progress on that 3rd one.

This year, my specific goals are:

1) update my blog pages.  I knew I had been neglecting my Craftsy reviews, but I didn't realize that when I didn't renew my inlinkz account that all my tutorials were hidden away.  You can still get to them, but it involves multiple clicking.  Time to get that fixed up.  While this goal seems easy enough, I have really been working at not spending as much time at the computer this past year.  I find that if I sit down to even write a few emails, I get sucked into the vortex and hours go by.  I will really have to focus and will likely have to set a timer to keep my time on the computer limited.

2) My guild has a new challenge for 2017, and I think the Aviatrix Medallion Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman would be perfect.  The pattern has a lot of things that I like: bright colors, varied blocks - some easy, some more challenging (they must be since there is a specific help page for the pattern).  I think it will keep me interested.  The real challenge will be when it comes time to quilt it.  I love how Jess at the Elven Garden quilted hers.  That style of heavy quilting is right up my alley, but......it is time-consuming.

3) Batik Tile quilt - why oh why am I choosing this one?  Quite simply, I don't like it and it needs to be gone.  I despise the fabric, don't even like the pattern much, and am tired of seeing it whenever I look through my UFO's.  That said, all the blocks are nearly done and it is just the sort of quilt that my quilt would love as either an auction quilt or a charity quilt.  Plus, I still need practice on my longarm, and I might as well practice on quilts that will be donated for a cause.



So?  Who's In?  Great!  See you Friday!

Jen