Just 15 Minutes

By having things prepped, grabbing 15 minutes to sew works well with this busy schedule.  I had to make a few notes to stick in my 'Hillside Houses' tote to remind me of a change.  I thought there were too many blue houses thru the middle and only one brown house in the whole quilt.  So I am changing one blue to a brown (that lite beige).

I found I was behind with the little blocks for the 'Circa 2016' little blocks.  15 minutes is all it takes to quickly make up these blocks.

Since I've already made 100 of these - like stitching in my sleep!  Now I am caught up until next Friday - which won't get done until maybe that following Sunday.

Then the worse thing - someone handed me a bag of scraps!  I should have just tucked it away, but that big tub is empty and stored in a closet now.  NO we are not going to start filling it again.  So I dumped out all these great solids.

I would say that about 60% of them were lining fabrics - coats or for bag linings.  I don't want those in a quilt, but I know someone who can use them and will pass them on.  Some sorting and cutting - these are going into my barrels and string tote.

These, however, are going to be played with.  I fell in love with the 'Maybe Quilt' Tutorial shared by Linda for one of the Hands2Help guest posts.  I'm sure I can grab some bits of time to put this together.

So if you think you don't have time to sew, 15 minutes is all it takes.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Let's Book It - April Winner

Thank you to the few ladies who participated this month - hopefully more will join us next time.

                      

                          Random picked # 3 - Kate

Scrap Play Date

I have a free day to play before the May Mania sets in, so I want to play with my scraps.  I'll be joining Sarah in trying to solve a scrap problem - mine is too many leader/ender projects piled up.

First up will be all those tiny HSTs - 600 1.5" little buggers in those two trays. I just know they are going to get flipped onto the floor one of these days - so let's play.  I pulled one of my shoe totes that has a lot of 3.5" HSTs and my 2.5" squares barrel (that's stuffed).

A start to the process.  I need to run to the post office to send out my Hands2Help quilts (and those pesky monthly bills), but it will be a day to play.

Won't you join the scrap challenge?  Need inspiration?  Be sure to visit THE LINKY PARTY today for some inspiration.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

May Mania

If you have followed my blog for some time you know I usually do a 'May For Me' - well this year I will be lucky to find some ME time during the month of May.  The month is packed and I hope I survive, but it should be a colorful month.

I will try to stay on track with building my houses.  I'm thinking I will take a day and cut all the required pieces for each 'block'/ label/box - prep time should help in being able to grab them when I can.

I've done all the little blocks up in as many colors as I can think, so I just have the column quilt for RSC.  AND the month's color is green - yeah, taming some more of that drawer.

I will have Sundays to relax and some slow stitching will be just the thing.  The 365 circles will be on the list, bindings, and maybe work on a quilt that will be traveling with me.

Then there are blocks with Westering Women (one a month-doable), Adinkra (one a month-doable), and Circa 2016(they are little blocks-doable).

I need to use Sarah's scrap management challenge to deal with this mess.  I had to move my machine to clean it and then clean the table, too.  These are all leader/ender projects - yes, I am that crazy.  The little blocks just need proper storage rather than tucked here and there as they are all completed. I think I have enough Goosey blocks to move on to the next step.  As well as some of the other 'units' are ready to be assembled for their next step - again being used as leader/enders.

I want to get this finished.  At this point I am half way there and binding is waiting.  I have a large quilt prepped and ready to hand off to my long armer.  I need to start thinking about cleaning out that tote of 'to be quilted' - one for me and one for Barb (my LA) - over the next few months.

I need to pick up a mailing box to send off my Hands2Help quilts this week.  I have a guild meeting along with a special guild event with a special guest.  That part of the story will have to wait so not to spoil the surprise.  I have two Hall of Fame meetings this month (and one's on my birthday no less) and those will be a day's travel with a day to recoup.

AND we have an honored event - Suzi Parron is coming to the Valley for the release of her second book.  Yup, release with signing in our little communities - and she's holding up the sale of the book until that weekend with us. I want to pick up a book - our Schoharie County Trail is in the book - what a treat.

This is the Schoharie Library where one of the book signing events is taking place.  April 26th was our local library's 100th birthday.  I will be here on May 12th for a program.  A night of 'Something From Nothing' in the era of the 1940's.  I will be demonstrating hand quilting and will have a display of time period quilts.  There will be other demos and displays of various period crafts showing how items were recycled into new for the time.  Should be fun.

And then we throw in Mother's Day and Memorial weekend.  By the last weekend I am going to feel like not going any where.  Maybe those last few days of May I can use to power sew all those items above. But I am going to be sure I at least get a hot dog or burger on the gril and maybe some S'mores, too.

May your May be Colorful,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon