Needles and Pens

where you just can't seem to accomplish anything? My lack of motivation hasn't lifted, and I almost made a huge effort today to try and catch up on all the things I didn't do all week... ...but then, I didn't. Here's a look at my to-do list progress since Monday: More string blocks (one block a day): I finished... one block. Now I have four. Still twelve more to go. February's paper-pieced BOM : I actually finished this one! The Wild Goose Chase block from Quilter's Cache. Flannel critter quilt : Well... here's the pattern. I haven't opened it yet. Go through email : Yes! I did get that done. Hopefully I can keep it under control. Bathtub caulking removal : So tedious! I'm trying to get the whole tub edge from this point: to this point: I'm about halfway around now, but I can only work on it for 20-30 minutes before I just have to get out of there. Needless to say, it's slow going. And I also have the caulking at...

I'm feeling incredibly unmotivated today, but I did manage to scratch out a to-do list for the week. Maybe getting it down here will give me that little push I need to get GOING. More string blocks Setting a block-a-day goal for these this week. Hopefully we'll see some progress. February's paper-pieced BOM Considering we're well into March now, I'd really like to have this done. Flannel critter quilt A new Simplicity pattern I bought this weekend. I thought it might be a good seller in the shop. We'll see... Go through email I owe an apology to all of you lovely people who have left blog comments. My email inbox is a MESS. I sincerely appreciate all of your comments, and am usually much better about replying in a timely manner. It's definitely time to get this under control. Bathtub caulking removal Hubby did indeed get that bathtub leveled, and has almost taken care of all of the leaking/dripping issues. I need to get in there now with a scraper, ...

One of the reasons I really enjoy sewing and quilting is that when I finish something, it's finished for good, unlike so many other things I do every day (i.e., laundry, cleaning, paperwork, etc., etc.) But some finishes are even more rewarding than others, and this is one of them. I never expected to actually get it done. I didn't have a place for it, or any particular use for it in mind. I enjoy a little paper-piecing now and then, but I tend to lose momentum rather quickly once I start. For the past five years, this has never been made a priority to finish... but thanks to the UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times , it's done. I'm so pumped! So, this is what I started out with, three finished blocks, a stack of patterns, and the overwhelming feeling that I would, once again, not be finishing my challenge project for the month... But I gave it a go anyway, and found that these little blocks really aren't all that time-consuming... Being rather challenge motiv...

It's Sew & Tell Friday again... another busy week, sewing up a storm, and a little more progress made in the "catching up on my challenges" challenge. The further I get on these projects, the more motivated I am to get caught up before the year ends, despite being several months behind. I'm so glad to have this burst of sewing energy hit me now. I just hope it lasts awhile... First accomplishment this week, my April "Get 'er Done" challenge project, the Pledge of Allegiance wall hanging. Here's the panel before (after being folded up in a box for far too long): And after, borders added, quilted and bound: I actually had this one ready to quilt back in June, but got stuck on the "how to quilt" question, as usual. Since my attempt at free-motion last month went relatively well, I thought I should give it another shot on this one. With the help of my quilting buddies, I figured out my tension dilemma was due to a loose top t...

I've been sewing like a maniac this week, attempting to catch up on my stacks and stacks of projects. I'm happy to report, I've made a ton of progress... My first finish was this, the October "Get 'er Done" Challenge project. (I joined this challenge back in January, hoping to use up some of the panels I've collected over the years.) The Snowman Draft Stopper is one of the few panels I actually bought for myself. Most of my collection came from other peoples' stashes. He's cute, if not actually useful. (His legs aren't long enough to span the doorway, so not likely to stop many drafts.) I think he'll end up on the mantle or hearth this winter. I was impressed with all the details, especially his little jacket, complete with buttonholes. I also got a few more fruit blocks finished for my October UFO Challenge project; the pineapple, strawberries, lemon and lime. (The lime is actually a filler block, because I somehow forg...

While visiting all the awesome bloggers who commented on my UFO challenge post today, I learned about a fun fall giveaway being hosted by Trish at Notes of Sincerity . Check it out! You could win this cute owl candle holder and a candle for your fall decor. :o) And speaking of UFOs, finishing that last one and then seeing all the other September finishes really lit a fire under me to get started on the next one. Yet, when I found out the number drawn for October was #5, I thought, "No way. Can't be done." I have at least another 9 blocks to make (some of them require two of the same block for the quilt layout), and then putting them all together, quilting, binding... I had flashbacks of January's UFO , which seriously almost did me in. But then I dug out the little baggie with my three finished blocks, looked at the next block in line, started poking through my stash for fabrics... ... and finished the block in less than 30 minutes. Sweet! (I just noticed a ...