I had a fantastic week– finally, finally getting over the virus from H*LL. I fostered an attitude of less overthinking, more actual working. I did hit a ton of projects this week, so it’s more of an overall progress than a single huge step ahead for one thing, if that makes sense. So let’s get started!

Longarm goals for the year, well, are just to LONGARM! I had this little table runner all queued up since October. Finally spent a couple of nights on it, and it will only take a couple more to drag it over the finish line.

This is the perfect example of not overthinking– I’m just doing very simple stitch in the ditch with an X in the stars and a little extra outline inside the apples or oranges, whatever they are. Yes, I have a longarm, but just and example of how you could easily finish a table runner on your home machine. I did use ProCreate to sketch about a thousand fancy feathers for the inside of the apple/oranges, but overall they just felt like dusty old, stuffy feathers, so I’m skipping it. I do have an idea for something hugely clever and sophisticated, but oh, so easy to do. So a tiny bit of overthinking, maybe. Come back next week and we’ll both find out if I did it!

“Cross My Heart” is the working name for my Village of the Month quilt, since this is so full of all of my favorite things and it’s cross stitch.

I did get the heart block done which I am trying hard to love! The overthinking part of me is seeing these pointy things that really weren’t apparent in the pinky finger size sketch I did.

What’s a quilter to do? This year, I’m just moving on! I learned something from the block about how to make them more smooth, so subsequent blocks will be– more smooth. When I am finished, the heart probably won’t bother me at all– I’ve learned that from experience!

The goal was to finish the first row by the end of January, so if I get the Shamrock block done this week– a smooooooth Shamrock block, I’ll be right on target. Weekly and monthly goals work so well for me.

Moonbeams got stuck this week– not my fault. I was waiting for the extra greens I need for my Trees of Life and Dragons. They finally got here Saturday. I also ordered a little bit extra red. The sister of the bride is helping me design and color the blocks, since I know nothing about dragons! Apparently, RED is a traditional dragon. Who knew?

I’m really excited to the dragon blocks which I drew myself, but at the same time the trees block came with the kit and would be easy to just follow instructions. So it depends if I’m feeling like a creative or copy cat this week as to which get done. Over the hump on this quilt!

So that’s what I bought. Now, we’re going to have a discussion on what I didn’t buy this week! My two biggest drags on finishing projects are #1-Overthinking and #2-Thinking of New Things to Start. Less thinking, please.

I saw this– (less scrolling might also be a help.)

So this is super cute and honestly I’m still really tempted. But, I have enough Fig Tree fabric to make six of these already. Before I click any buttons, I’m trying to think of all the wonderful things I already started that would get kicked to the curb to start new things. This type of thinking has helped.

These two things are on my wish list at Fat Quarter Shop. They are the free Halloween and Christmas projects they do each year. The fall one has Fig Tree fabric going for it– the Christmas one says “HO, HO, HO” which I have learned from sneak peeks they’ve done. Super cute. Again, the patterns are free– don’t I already have enough fabric to make a dozen? These kits are priced very economically, though, at about $65 each. No hours spent sorting through stash. So every time I go to Fat Quarter Shop, my finger trembles over the “Add to Cart” button. What do I want out of my life?

This is the last new start idea I’ve struggled with this week, and it doesn’t even involve a purchase. I succumbed to Lori Holt’s newest Christmas fat quarters over the holiday, and I already have the book. Fat Quarter Shop is hosting a stitch a long. Do the planets ever align as well?

These are all 6″ blocks, and you make four a month– that’s one a week. Sounds easy, right. A few people online are complaining about the tiny pieces, so you know even at one block a week, this could eat up a couple of nights. So I got my book out, and then I find this alternate quilt that uses 12″ blocks, and you only need 25 instead of 42. Plus, you get a much bigger quilt! I’d add another row at the bottom and I’d really have something I’d love on my bed in December.

Would it really hurt to just make a couple of blocks? And the correct answer is YES! It would hurt. I already have my Farm Girl quilt that’s been waiting since 2015 to be finished. It’s a really special one, because my daughter and I made about 40 blocks together the summer before she left for college. It makes total sense to just make a few more blocks for that and finish it than start a Christmas one!

So that’s my struggle– I’m curious about your buying vs. finishing habits are shaping up so far this year? You can comment below.

The Uber-sort has begun in my studio– I am now micro-organizing my entire room. More on this in a later post. I came across a lot of my old scrapbook stuff– it’s like a chance meeting with old friends. I would love to do scrapbook again… so I did! This is my old house when we had Storm Juno in 2015– 30.”

I got project shamed recently– I had someone over, and I showed them all of my scrapbooks– I have books from about 1997-2012 and each year is in its own book. So some are complete, others just have a couple of pages. I happened to pick a lesser one out to show– boy, you should have seen the look of horror that came over this person’s face! All that unfinished work!

Well, hell, I’m not a profane woman, but there it is. Listen, bub, If I took all of my finished pages and just condensed them down to six or seven books, I would have some wonderful memories and chock full books, not to be sneezed at! So this person really did me a favor– I am now more determined than ever to work on them. This year, 2025– I am going to complete my 2005, 2015, and even a 2025 book of my new life here in Maine. See what I’m doing there? Years that end in 5. As long as I don’t try to make every page a Rembrandt, month by month, I really think I can do it. 2005 was almost done, might I say. Then by 2034, using this method, I will have thirty-seven completed books and maybe I will even invite my “friend” back over by then to see them, too. Heehee!

On the embroidery front, my beautiful Wreath of the Month is almost done. It’s long past time I get back to some of this type of complicated thread work. While cross stitch is my best-seller, the artist in me longs for another gorgeous quilt. So let’s do it! Thank you to all for your enthusiasm on social media.

If you feel miffed that January is almost over, this series is not for you– come back in December. Or just leave the word January off. This set is another “scrapbook” of my life here in western Maine, and the inspiration is coming from what I see around me that month– so to start February– it needs to be February, right? (I am going to go for a walk on February 1st to see what I find. I’ll take you with me. I’ll be in six layers of coats– you won’t have to be. xox) The hoop is just a happy accident– I may display my months in them as we go along. I found the perfect ribbon with my scrapbook stuff to easily and gorgeously finish it. The loos fabric can just be pulled to the back so I can then still use the blocks for my quilt at the end of the year.

I’m also working on this– it’s the long overdue Superior to Madeira thread conversion chart. It is difficult, that’s why it gets taken out and put away. I mean, no two colors ever exactly match. I think I can come up with something very close using my real thread samples, and once you have Madeira, it unlocks other brands who already have done their own conversion charts from Madeira. I think it will be very helpful for those with a big mix of thread brands. It’s like fabric– use what you have.

Whew, what a week! Hand stitching is always last. I finished the first snow man on the snowman row of the Appalling Cross Stitch. I think Snowmom is going to have trouble getting the tree to withstand that big ornament. Snowdad is next. Enthusiasm is still high.

Finally, I pulled out Block 12 of the Lori Holt Prairie Meadow applique. It would take nothing to finish it, and the whole quilt would be ready to assemble. (I’m just using this as an excuse to show off the beautiful project bags my friend made me– a friend NOT to be confused with my scrapbooking “friend,” LOL.)

So there we are!

I. AM. GOING. TO. DO. IT. ALL.

I hope my enthusiasm is infectious and you all have a great week.

xox
Carol