Help, I'm drowning!

Hello, my name is Peggi. And I have a lot of clutter. This is a picture of my long-arm frame, with STUFF piled on top of it. I am trying to spend 15 minutes in my sewing room every day, organizing. But, truth be told, organizing, in my case, simply consists of moving things from one location to another. Perhaps it's stored in a different container, or in a different place - but it's really just moved. It's not sorted. So - while it looks neater, it doesn't make it any easier for me to find it later.

It's so easy to know what the answer is - to take the time and truly sort and then store/use/give away - whatever. But it's REALLY hard to get from here to there.

So. This is my goal. To have a more decluttered life. And I'm going to try to document it here. Since the blog already exists, and this is my quilting room, after all. Who would like to join me? And who would like to offer support?

Please understand that comments such as - "Just dump it all." or "Clutter is clutter - just clean it up." aren't helpful in the long run. This is a journey, and it's not an easy one.

Who's up for the long haul?

Peggi

Baby Quilt

The top is finally finished. Isn't this the most busy quilt you have ever seen?

Peggi

And More Recycling

A while ago, the local Humane Society listed "file folders" on its wish list of supplies needed. I've been saving them up - because I just happen to have too many. Now I'm told they have enough, thank you very much. It's getting more difficult to recycle, it seems.

Natter, natter, natter...

Clearly I need to do more sewing.

Peggi

Recycling

In related news (well, it's related because it's me that has the question), for reasons only partially known to me, I have become infected with the recycling bug. (Okay, I already had it for fabric, but that's different, right?) I have been looking for places close to home for recycling floppy disks. Our local community is having an e-Waste collection event tomorrow - so I asked them. Nope. Put them in the trash, they said. There must be some place that takes these. (As in, it's not a good thing to clutter up landfill, right? And let's not even think about environmental effects of throwing out lots of plastic!)

So - wish me luck. Because I've got a LOT of these suckers, and I only need a small number of coasters. (Oh, wait. I've already got lots of those. See what I mean?)

Keep sewing,

Peggi

Almost there

Only one more seam for the baby quilt I've been working on, and then I'm off to start a new project.

Why yes, that means I still have to quilt and bind the baby quilt. But that's a task for another day - when I actually have my other sewing machine desk cleared off.

What are you working on today?

Peggi

Echoes in an Empty Room

Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?

Oops

That moment when you realize you're almost finished resewing the squares together, and you've done some backwards, or upside down, or both...

Today's frogging is brought to you courtesy of Chris de Burgh's Spanish Train and other Stories.

Retirement and Musing and Such

Today is the first official retirement Monday. It also marks the end of my first full week of retirement. I figured it would be a good day to start chronicling finishes from my vast list of UFOs. After all, truly one's whole life is a UFO. So here's the first finish:

This is a cat bed, similar to the ones shown in my last post, that I donate to the cat rescue group.  It's fairly large, as you can see, and my husband likes the colours. Oddly enough, he likes the colours in every one I make. I think I'll keep him. :-)

So what are you working on today?

Peggi

Cats

In my spare time, or to keep my hands busy while watching television, I crochet. Nothing fancy, although I have been known to do some amigurumi, just some cat blankets.

These are donated to Cuddly Cats Rescue and Sanctuary, and Jackie was kind enough to share a couple of photos of cats sharing one of the blankets.

These are made from yarn scraps, so no two blankets are the same. Like I said, nothing fancy, but it's nice to see that they are used and appreciated.

Keep stitching!

Peggi

This Time I Measured More Carefully

No picture today, but I did finish off the "bad" block, and then cut a new one ready to sew back together. Yes, I was more careful with my measuring this time, so I'm sure this one will at least look more balanced.

In the meantime, I use leaders and enders to piece together a postage stamp mini-quilt for donation to an animal shelter. Progress is a good thing.

Peggi

And On I Go....

A friend suggested I just "ignore" my mistake and move forward. So I did. Here's the block in two pieces instead of four. Onwards and upwards...

It would help if the two red pieces in the middle actually met, but that's life.

More tomorrow.

Peggi

Mistakes 'R Us

So - here's what I did:

I'm sure you can spot the mistake.

I'm reasonably certain that I'm not the ONLY person in the world who has made a dumb mistake in piecing a quilt. Who's willing to share some of theirs?

Until next time,

Peggi

I've been too quiet lately. Partly because I need to get my sewing mojo back, and partly because I've been busy. I'm still in the middle of my latest quilt, and, of course, I made a mistake.

I'll take a picture of the mistake tomorrow and post it - and you can all see how easily one can mess up a disappearing nine patch. :-(

Until then,

Peggi

Jan 8 - the Block Continues

No, I didn't take a picture today. But I did continue working on the block. I've decided that I'm going to take my sewing slowly this year - and try to enjoy the process more. This is somewhat new to me, as I'm constantly working to a deadline, or just putter-a**ing along, not doing much of anything. I may not post as much - but I will try very hard to post every time I've made some real progress - as in the blocks are finished, or all the cutting is done, or something like that. And I will take photos of that.

Mostly, this year, I'd just like to be more mindful and purposeful, and maybe get things into a comfortable order.

This will take constant practice on my part. And, of course, encouragement from others is always welcomed.

Happy sewing.

Peggi

January 7 - Progress

As you can see, the nine-patches are beginning to come together. This is going to be such a busy quilt. Oh well, if it's too ugly, I may just keep it for myself.

The top row is on my ironing station, waiting to be pressed.

Now I have to do some reading up on what to do after the nine patches are completed. This will be a new pattern for me to learn, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it works.

Stay warm!

Peggi

January 6

Well, someone has finally guessed it. I'm working on a baby quilt, combining the interests of the parents. One is fannish, and the other likes music.

I've started piecing the nine patches, but somehow I managed not to take a picture of my progress. So instead, I'll share a picture of one of my cats instead.

This is Gandie (short for Gandalf), our Himalayan. He's about 12 years old now, and has the most beautiful blue eyes.

So, enough about me. How are your projects going today?

Peggi

January 5

We've had more guesses - including a pop culture quilt. All of the guesses so far have been partly right. Will it help if I mention that the little one for whom this is intended has parents interested in music and science fiction and fantasy?

I finished cutting out the blocks today, with a bit of inspiration from Crazy Quilter on a Bike. Wow! She talked about advancing on something every day, so I decided I would try that. So the piecing of the initial blocks has started. Yay me!

Here's the arrangement of the nine-patch:

There will be 12 nine-patches, and then the next step begins.

Yes, it's going to be VERY busy.

Peggi

January 4

So, the first guess is that I'm making a Star Trek quilt. Well, yes, and no.

Here's today's clue:

I'm sure you've noticed by now that I'm not very good at taking photographs. I've only got one more set of squares to cut, and then I can arrange them in a "pleasing to me" order, and start sewing.

Today's music was disc one of "Ladies and Gentlemen of Song"

So, what are you working on?

Peggi

January 3

Still no guesses. Okay. Here's the next clue.

The squares are 5", and there will be 12 of each fabric. I didn't get any more cutting done today, so tomorrow I hope to at least finish the cutting part, and maybe start sewing. Although, knowing me, that might be a little too ambitious.

Peggi

January 2

There were no guesses from yesterday's clue, so perhaps I'd better add another one. Does this help?

There was much cutting this afternoon. Many squares were made, and for background music I listened to Spanish Train and Other Stories by Chris de Burgh. There will be much more cutting tomorrow, and if I'm lucky I'll be ready to start sewing by Sunday.

What are you working on?

Peggi

Happy New Year

It's January 1, 2015, and to start the New Year off right, I'm beginning a new project. (Like I don't already have enough UFOs!)

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to guess what it's going to be, based on the clues that I provide.

Here's the first one:

I hope that 2015 brings you much joy and good health. Happy sewing!

Peggi