Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This #holidaytrimmingsquilt is a fast and easy project. The pattern releases TODAY! Head over to Shereece's site @sewhookedontreasures to grab your copy.
It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsqui It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsquilt pattern release is coming June 9th. I was happy to test this lovely quilt and even more happy with the way it turned out. Thanks, @sewhookedontreasures. I can't wait to show the full reveal!!
Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top toge Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top together. Look for this fun new quilt pattern coming soon from @sewhookedontreasures!

#holidaytrimmingsquilt #quiltpatterntester #patchworksampler
Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmin Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmingsquilt by Shereece @sewhookedontreasures. 

Does the new Hustle and Bustle fabric by @official_basicgrey on a Grunge Hits the Spot background put you in the holiday spirit?
This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last bit of binding just about a half hour ago! I love the fabrics in this quilt and they were just random fabrics from my stash. The pattern is #theellaquilt by @kitchentablequilting. I may have to hang this in my family room until it finds a new home.

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day14 #patchworksampler
Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat bl Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat blocks and these three items are my essentials for achieving that: white fluffy bath towel, cheap Black & Decker iron that steams like crazy, and a Jackson's Woodworks square clapper.

I have a wool pressing mat, but I like the bath towel better. It has enough nap to "grab" the fabrics for a super flat press and it can be tossed in the washer and dryer. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day12 #patchworksampler
One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. T One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. This album quilt was made by members of a club I ran for many years when I had a brick and mortar shop. Several members continued to meet in my home monthly until COVID hit. 

It is special to me because it is a reminder of what is important; the friendships, camaraderie, and encouragement that developed within the group. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day9 #patchworksampler
This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites fo This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First it is proof that any fabric works when you cut it small enough and second I pieced it on a little mini retreat with a couple of friends. The pattern is Rectangle Wrangle by Bonnie Hunter.

I love, love, love scrap quilts, the more fabrics the better, and that's how I justify buying all the fabric I do.

This particular quilt was chosen for today's prompt because tomorrow it will be on its way to Poland along with nine others from my "quilt room" (see day 3 prompt).

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day8 #patchworksampler #scrapquilt
Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the th Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the things I've learned through quilting, but one I can't seem to get through my head is that I don't like foundation piecing, paper piecing, or hand piecing.  Slow stitching is a concept I can't wrap my head around.

This String Spiderweb was started at a retreat so I jumped on the bandwagon without thinking it through. I have a bunch of these units made but no interest in continuing. As I was snapping the photo though, I had an idea. Stay tuned.

Are there quilting techniques or methods you don't enjoy?

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day7 #patchworksampler
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Patchwork Sampler

Make quilts. Use fabric. Have fun.

quilting · May 17, 2020

Sunday Philosopher: What to Do When You Just Can’t Concentrate

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Does anyone else have squirrel syndrome right now? Squirrel syndrome was introduced back in 2009 in the movie “Up.” Experts say it is the inability to concentrate on a task and chasing one shiny thing after another. This results in tasks delayed or abandoned. I don’t know about you, but this pandemic has given me an almost paralyzing case of squirrel syndrome. It seems like I can’t focus on anything.

This is my most recent example. I was moving right along on the Pieceful Times Mystery quilt. While pressing blocks  a bag of fabric caught my eye. I picked it up and saw it was a Scrap Bag Log Cabin Quilt kit that we sold back in the day. The kit has fifty 2” strips with a chunk of fabric for the block centers and the strips are pretty random. As in they don’t go together at all! So instead of continuing with my current UFO project, I started another. I sorted through the bag and selected the strips that look okay together. Then I got my drawer of 2” strips and dug through that until I found some more that should work. After a little thought, I decided I really didn’t want to make that log cabin so spent some time thinking about what to do with the strips instead. A friend recently completed a Scrappy Trips quilt from Bonnie Hunter. You can use either 2” or 2-1/2” strips for Scrappy Trips, so decision made!

Several quilting friends have shared similar scenarios. Here we have all this extra time to sew but we’re not staying focused but are going in many different directions. For me, this is not only happening with quilting, but I can’t concentrate enough to read a book either. In the past 9 weeks that I’ve been home, I haven’t read a single book. In normal circumstances, I read a book every week to 10 days. I have listened to a few audiobooks while I walk, but that’s it. I’m not sure why this is happening, but I’m looking for ways to get back on track.

I love Austin Kleon’s books, Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going and follow his website. Last week he wrote a post entitled “If you are having trouble reading…”. He makes suggestions on how to handle to inability to focus on reading. Some can carry over or be adapted to other areas. Here are a few things to try if you can’t stay focused on a quilting project.

  1. Work on easier projects. If a double wedding ring seems impossible, work on an easy quilt, like Yellow Brick Road, that offers almost instant gratification.
  2. Work on several projects until one draws you in. Even if that never happens, you will have made progress on a number of projects.
  3. Visit an old favorite. If you can’t concentrate on figuring out a new technique, fall back on something you’ve made before. Love churn dashes, log cabins or rail fence. Pull out some fabric and make these familiar blocks.
  4. If you can’t focus on a project and feel you are spinning your wheels, put it away for happier times. There’s no sense in getting frustrated or having to rip out seams when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
  5. Listen to music, an audiobook or podcasts while doing mindless sewing. Make four patches, nine patches or half square triangles. These are simple enough and can be used to make many different blocks.
  6. Forget about sewing for awhile and take a walk, work a jigsaw puzzle, bake a cake, or watch a movie. Your quilting projects will wait.

These Scrappy Trips blocks are quick and easy to make. I love scrap quilts and it’s fun to see these old favorite fabrics again. In the end, will this be a competition quilt? No, but it will keep me sewing and make a great donation quilt.

Hope you are finding ways to keep sewing!

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In: quilting · Tagged: scrappy trips, staying focused

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Comments

  1. Jacqi Levy says

    May 18, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    Sometimes, what helps me, is to make a list. Yep, the old fashioned list. Then when I run into a project that distracts me from the current project, I pack it up and put it on “The List”. At this point in the conversation, I have to admit, I have multiple lists. Case in point, today I came across a pin cushion I had started and was eager to finish. But I’m working on some other protects right now that are time sensitive…so I had to put it down (because it had already jumped into my hands and was crying out ‘finish me’). But I did not cave in. I set in on the shelf and looked at the lists I had started. Then combined 2 of them into one. And added the pin cushion. I can’t wait to get the 3 time sensitive projects done – this week – and then I’ll be able to pick something off the list as my REWARD! I know this isn’t an answer for everyone, or every project. But it does help me. I look at the projects as rewards.

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