Week of January 5

Whew!  Last weekend I thought it would be easy peasy to get the aprons for Teacher E's Kindergarteners finished this week.  I sure am glad I had them prepped and ready to go.  Just when I thought I was done, there was another apron body.  Then after I cut extra ties for it, there was another apron body.  No idea how my count was so off and I didn't notice - twice!  They all got done just in time to drop them off when we took Little S back to college today.  (They are both in Savannah, GA.)

I used fabric for the ties that I am not very likely to use for quilting mostly because of tight or loose weave.  I think they came out super cute.  But boy am I glad they are done.

22 aprons ready to go

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of stitching/sewing/quilting time.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/Jan = 10/11
15 minute days/2025 = 10/11
Success Rate = 91%

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  2.44 yards for apron ties

Used year to date: 2.44 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2025: 2.44 more yards used

With the aprons complete I will have to prepare something else to work on.  I forgot to bring home the stack of papers that need to be graded, so I will have extra time Sunday afternoon for sewing.  Will it be a new project or will it be a PhD that needs to get done?!?!?!

Linking up to Kates Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate for share fabric movement.

Going for My PhD

Ms. P Designs USA has an annual challenge to get some projects across the finish line.  The challenge is to 1) finish twelve UFOs and 2) finish all new starts (unless they are mysteries/BOMs that run into 2026).  Check it out over at PHD in 2025 Project List.

It sounds doable and maybe instead of hemming and hawing about what to work on, I will be more motivated to finish something.

Here's my list:

#1 This was an idea that had been percolating for years to use a bunch of triangles that I had been gifted.  Good size throw.  Top is complete unless I decide to add a border.

#2 Baby Quilt.  There is enough of the focus fabric for at least part of a backing.

#3 Panel Baby Quilt.  I'm having a hard time finding coordinating fabric in my stash for backing.  I added the cream and black outer borders but had to stop there.

#4 Another panel baby quilt.  Not my best effort now that I see the photo.  Backing looks to be picked out already.

#5 Toddler/Baby Quilt from Ruby (Sapphire) Jubilee blocks.

#6 Twin size from Ruby (Sapphire) Jubilee blocks.  Already came back from being quilted.  Just needs binding.

#7 Hexagon baby quilt.  Got it this far years ago.  It is time to get it finished.

#8 Gifted 6" squares got turned into this ho hum quilt.  I thought I had backing for it, but they were not together.  Not my usual work in any sense, so not sure what I'll end up doing with this.

#8  Bonnie Hunter 2024 Leader Ender Challenge.  I have decided that this is a big as I am going to make it, so surely I can get it finished this year.

#10  Dear Jane is ready to get sent out for quilting.  I will not attempt to do this on my own.  I have a backing nearly ready.

#11 I have been eyeing Lori Holt's Scrappy Spools for so long.  I think this year I will finally buy the book and go for it.  

#12 I have also been looking at quilt patterns that use random fabrics.  I have been holding on to some for a while and it is time to use them up.  Not sure yet what I will make, but I will make something.

#13 My 4th grade students gifted me a Wobbles turtle kit.  Our school mascot is a sea turtle and they know I like to sew/craft.  This is outside of my comfort zone, but I'll never finish if I don't try.  

I know I finished some quilts last year, but I also started some that didn't get finished.  This challenge will help me stay on track and keep track.  PHD here I come!! 

Join in the fun at PHD in 2025 Project List.

Off to a Good Start

2025 is off to a good start.  I had quite a bit of sewing time since I only had to work Friday and my family commitments were easy to work around.    

Ready to sew.

I mostly worked on the aprons for Teacher E's kindergartners.  I had done the body of the aprons leading up to New Years Eve.  They were made from real chef aprons that I cut up.  I got 2 kids aprons from each chef apron and just had to hem up the raw side and across the top.  The fabric was a lot heavier to work with than I realized.   

The ties came from my stash - fabric I didn't think I would use for quilting, but was kid friendly.  I did remember that one of the keys to sewing everyday even when I am tired is having projects prepped and ready to go.  So after finishing a bunch, I prepped the ties for the last 7 aprons, but didn't sew them. Instead I made myself do a computer task I had been putting off.  The ties will make a good project when I come home from school and need something mindless.  I also need to remember to pace myself and get things done that I don't want to do and then reward myself with sewing.

Clips were perfect for this project.

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of stitching/sewing/quilting time.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 4/4

15 minute days/Jan = 4/4
15 minute days/2025 = 4/4
Success Rate = 100%

My numbers will never look this good again, but it is a nice start.  Realistically I think that I can aim for 50-60% over the course of the year.  I teach 4th grade and this year's class is tough.  Some days I just come home and go to bed.  But I also think that if I try harder to work in some stitching time it might get me through the ugghh times.

The clips match the fabric!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 0 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2025: 0 more yards used

Since we moved at the end of 2023, I have been much more aware of all the "stuff" and the "stash."  I am really trying to use it up, give it away, or move it out.  I used a lot in 2024, but have to find all my notes to math it out.  That's a project for when Little S is back at college.

Linking up to Kates Life in Pieces to show progress.

Dear Jane is a Flimsy!!

After 10 years, my Dear Jane is finally a flimsy.  She has been through hurricanes, swim meets, road trips, holidays, and so much more.

At Thanksgiving I knew I was close to finishing.  Since I had started on December 29, 2014 I knew that I had to try to finish at the 10 year mark.  It was the push I needed to get it done.  The center was complete, the triangle blocks were finished, and the solid triangles were cut.  So it was just a matter of attaching the triangles and finishing the corner kites.  Very doable.  Every week I got a little bit more done.  

Little S did the final embroidery.

Last night Little S, who is now College S, put the last stitches in the embroidery (my eyes just can't do that anymore) and I sewed the last kite corner into position.  WOW!  WOW!  WOW!

Last kite corner for Dear Jane. 

My idea for the scallops is to sew a long strip to each side and quilt over it.  After all the quilting is done, I will mark and cut the scallops and then bind.  

Finished Flimsy

I am very pleased with the outcome and with myself for sticking with it.  Every project after this is going to seem easy peasy!

Linking up to Kate's Life in Pieces to share progress.

It's Been Quite a While

It's been over 2 years since my last post.  It seems like forever.  A lot has happened, but I haven't stopped sewing and I have even kept lots of notes on lots of little pieces of paper since I like to document my progress one way or another!  I hope that making myself accountable to the blog will help me find a better balance with work in the future as well. 

So as we finish out 2024, I have successfully completed the first part of my goal - I have gotten back into my account!  Big win for me since I am not techy at all.  Patience and persistence on a rainy day!

My next step in the return to blogging is to figure out how to get pictures to this computer.  I can do this.

Stay tuned - I had HUGE HUGE HUGE finish yesterday that needs to be reported/documented/celebrated since it was 10 years in the making!!! 

 

Two-Step is a Flimsy

 In between Dear Jane blocks, I got the Two-Step blocks all webbed and sewn together.

I liked this pattern the first time I saw it, and I like it even more now that I see it in the bright daylight.

This was a random project at the end of the school year when I couldn't focus on something more detailed.  I'm not sure how I will finish it.  Just leave it or add a border of some sort or add more blocks.  No rush at all.   It was a great pattern and I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to start something brand new.

Stash Report 071022

Fabric In:  Nothing in this week.

Fabric Out:  I finished the Two-Step top.  Nearly all of it came from the Scrap Users Drawers of precuts!  It's a good size for a lap blanket or large baby quilt.  2.1 yards  

Two-Step is a Flimsy

Fabric In This Week: 0 yards

Fabric Received as Donation This Week:  0 yards

Fabric In YTD: 37.46 yards

Fabric Out This Week: 2.1 yards

Fabric Out YTD: 29.32 yards

Stash Movement: 8.14 yards in

As far as time spent sewing ....... 

In total honesty I did not sew at all this week.  For a few reasons. 

1) This was Cousin Camp week when the young nephews come for the week and we entertain them.  Now that my older girls and the nieces have grown and gone it is less cousin and more aunt, but between my sisters and I and Little S it is still fun.  We take turns hosting and entertaining.  Having young kids around sure is different than having Little S, who is 0 maintenance.  It also makes me wonder how I make it through a school day with a classroom full of little bodies.  No wonder I need a break in the summer!

Cousin Camp visits Amelia Island

2) I had a mental goal of finishing the Dear Jane square blocks this summer. Then I would move on to the big girls' photo albums/scrapbooks since that is something that is difficult to spread out and do during the school year.  Since I really did finish the Dear Jane square blocks, July is dedicated to scrapbooking.  I have done that the days I did not have the boys.

Dear Jane Rows A-J.  Rows K-M didn't fit.

Since my summer sewing is taking a planned hiatus, I will not include a 15 Minute Report until I start sewing again. 

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to stay accountable.