County Clare Has Been Promoted

March started with a good cleaning of the sewing room work space.  I really missed out on a good before and after photo!

After rediscovering the table top, I decided to promote the Leader & Ender project "County Clare" to focus project.  I had originally thought I'd just make 9 blocks and turn it into a baby/kid quilt since that is what I most often need, but I have good stash of those now.  The new possibility of making quilts for North Carolina has me very excited.  But I want these quilts to be larger.

The last few County Clare units.

So I prepped enough pieces to make 3 more large blocks and working on those was my project all week.  When I joined the 4 smaller blocks to make the 12" block, I noticed that the blocks that I had sewed as true leader & enders were not as well made as when I sewed just them this week.  A few adaptations came to mind, but in the end I just started unsewing and adjusting seam allowances on the ones that needed it.  That will take another day or two, but I think will give the best finished product in the end.  It was a good reminder to check sizes more often as I work, especially with such small pieces.

The beginning of an idea.

My idea is a 3x4 layout with sashing and blue setting stones.  In my cleaning I rediscovered these units from Grand Illusion that I'd like to work in as a border.   I think the math will work.  I'm not sure about the black corners and may switch them for white or just go with it.   So many of my blues in County Clare are dark, it might work.  We'll see when I get to that step.

Can I use up this pile in the process?!?!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute day/March = 8/8

15 minute days/2025 = 59/67

Success Rate = 88%

Mindless sewing was really what I needed this week, but not enough got done to move the numbers.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 17.2 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 10.2 more yards used

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

Linking to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

February PhD Report

Here I am at the end of February with two finishes.  Having a plan makes a huge difference.   

The Carnival Quilt had not been on the list for long and had a due date, so it got finished quickly.  I make an auction quilt with my class each year, and I think this is one of my favorites.

2025 Auction Quilt

After that I decided to work on my least favorite on the PhD list - the red, green, and fruit squares. Once I started getting the borders on, I began to really like it.  

Red, green, & fruits!

All in all, this turned into a nice quilt.  Definitely no longer my least favorite!  This is as far as I'm going on this one.  I will pass it off to get finished and sent on to someone in need in Helene ravaged North Carolina.

As tired as I was on Friday after school, I made myself finish the backing so that I could call this one done in February.  Having goals really helps move things along!

Now to decide what to work on next.  The bar has been set pretty high to get another finish next month as well!

Linking up to Ms. P Designs USA to give a PhD Update for February. 

Another Finish

This week I kept working on on the red, green, and fruit squares.  Once I started getting the borders on, I began to really like it.  

68" x 78"

It turned out that with the extra inner border, I did not have enough backing fabric.  I pieced some of the red dots into the truck fabric and brought it up to large enough.  All in all, this turned into a nice quilt.  Definitely no longer my least favorite!  

Not quite what I envisioned, but it will work.

This is as far as I'm going on this one.  I will pass it off to get finished and sent on to someone in need in Helene-ravaged North Carolina.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute day/March = 1/1

15 minute day/Feb = 24/28

15 minute days/2025 = 52/60
Success Rate = 87%

The red, green, and fruit quilt top and backing are finished!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  6.89 yards

Used year to date: 17.2 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 10.2 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

Week of February 16

It was a strange week, and I worked on a mix of projects.  One day I didn't feel good so came home from school quickly and after a 3 hour nap I looked at old magazines to find inspiration.  I ended up finding a good project for my next leader & ender project.  So the next few days I cut out pieces to get me started.  

Seems like a simple but cute project for leaders & enders!

Over winter break I had seen this cute hexagon hot pad pattern and thought it would be fun to make for the girls.  I still had extra hexagons from the baby quilts I had made a while back and they turned out to be the right size.  On the first one I made the mistake of trying to do it in a QAYG fashion over the batting, and that did not work.  I made it work, but I won't do that again.  The pieces were just too small to manage easily.  

Halfway done!

This morning I made myself finish the first one since I had all the parts ready to go.  I was nervous about binding the angles, but it came out fine.  Next time I will make sure the binding ends meet farther away from the loop.  I have the next top ready.  These are definitely not on the front burner and once I finish the 3 of them, I pretty sure I'm done.  Super cute, not hard, but just not my thing.    

I also worked on this quilt that was made from donated squares and then set aside several years ago since I didn't really like it and didn't have anything that remotely coordinated to add borders or finish or anything.  Well, when I went to use up my Joann's gift card I found the red polka dot that I thought was close enough for a border.  

Top is intended backing, black is for another project, red is the borders and maybe binding.

When I washed the fabric I got that day, a black for another project was next to the fabrics for this quilt and it looked good together.  So I added a narrow black inner border with a black grunge from my stash.  I think it makes a huge difference.  I actually almost like this now.  I will work on the red borders this week.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute day/Feb = 19/22

15 minute days/2025 = 46/53
Success Rate = 87%

Not enough movement this week to affect the stash, but hopefully next week I'll have some finishes.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 10.31 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 3.31 more yards used

Linking to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

The Carnival Quilt that wasn't a "Carnival" Quilt

Two hours from finishing the Carnival Quilt I found out that there is no Carnival Auction this year.  We have new administration this year and we were told of the change 10 days before the Carnival.  I guess I should have been suspicious that there was no information about, nor requests for, auction items or teacher experiences.  But after decades of Spring Carnival Auctions I never thought to confirm before I started this year's quilt back in December.

47" x 55"

So ..... now what do I do with it?  Personally, I do not need a reminder of this year's class.  But how do I decide who gets it?  Do I just pick someone?  I do have a student in mind who would benefit from an emotional connection and confidence boost by having it.  But how do I make it seem fair and non-partial?

It was with mixed emotions that I finished the last of the quilting and the binding today.  I love the quilt.  The backing fabric had been in the stash for forever and is just what this quilt needed to tie all the colors together.  The backing and binding are the perfect combination and the whole thing is just so soft and cozy.  

I missed sewing last Sunday due to a trip to Savannah to see the girls.  Then on Thursday I came home from school and just plain forgot that sewing was a thing to do!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 5/7

15 minute day/Feb = 13/15

15 minute days/2025 = 40/46
Success Rate = 87%

With the Carnival Quilt finished I have some movement.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 2.12 yards for Carnival Quilt backing and binding

Used year to date: 10.31 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 3.31 more yards used

I dropped off a load at the thrift store and then went in to look for a fish tank filter to replace the one at school that stopped working this week.  No aquarium equipment, but I did find this - 2 unopened packs together for $5.  I don't usually use fusible, but figured I'd find a use for it somewhere at that price. 

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

Linking for quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

Carnival Quilt Continued

The students and I are still working on the Carnival Quilt.  This week we got the center of the top quilted.  It came down to the wire on Friday afternoon, but everyone got a chance to sew so I could finally bring my machine back home.  I had every intention of finishing it this weekend, but that hasn't happened.

Between sewing at school and prepping the back for the Dear Jane quilt at home I was able to work on projects every day this week.  

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute day/Feb = 8/8

15 minute days/2025 = 35/39
Success Rate = 90%

No finishes this week, so the Stash Report remains the same.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 8.19 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 1.19 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to report stash movement.

PhD January Report

When I started I never imagined I would have a finish already for my PhD January Report.  But here I am with my first PhD finish.  Woohoo!!

Being more organized is certainly helping me stay on track to get some starts all the way to the finish line.

I have liked this color combination for forever.  It feels good to have this one finished just because I like it so much.  

It is destined to be gifted either to a child in need at church or a child in need in Teacher E's school.  I always keep kids' quilts on hand.  It seems harder for me to make "boy" quilts, so this is a good addition to the kid quilt pile.

Carnival Quilt

Here is a big project that I totally forgot to put on my PhD list.  Every year I make a quilt with my class to auction off at the school's spring carnival.  The quilt is due in mid-February, so I needed to move it to the front burner.  Most of the kids made their blocks back in December, but I had one straggler and one new student and me who made blocks in January.  They make a design on paper and then copy it onto the fabric square using fabric markers.  For as much trouble as I have with this group, they understood the idea of "details cannot be too fine" better than previous classes.  There were no tears, repeats, or disasters.

A good smile from someone I have a hard time challenging!

Everyone picked their own border fabric. The colors are not uniformly distributed because the blocks are placed in the line order of the students.  When they look at it, they see a pattern of sorts and it makes them happy.

Bright and Cheerful!

The kids had already joined most of their blocks back in December, so I finished it up this week with the remaining blocks and added inner and outer borders.  This fun stripe has been in my stash for ages.  This is the perfect project for it and I think there will be just enough for backing as well.  Backing will be next week's project.  I will sandwich it and then take it all back to school for the kids to use the machine to quilt it with the walking foot.

Little S (probably should be referred to as College S now) has been cross-stitching for a few years.  She is slowing working through kits that have been gifted to her.  This one she finished at Christmas time.  She has been wanting to give it to her Abuela in Guatemala.  Well, Senor G is going down next weekend, so the ball was in my court (an appropriate idiom we used at school this week!) to do the finishing.  We had found a metal hoop the right size at the thrift store in December.  The yellow gingham was still out from the Beachy Words binding, so I used that to add a little color to the trim and I think it came out perfectly.

Mama Cristy is going to love it!  

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.  I am satisfied with my week.  One night, I had a late meeting an hour south of school, which is 30 minutes south of home, and that ended up wiping me out the next night also.  I went to bed at 7:30 pm and didn't wake up until the alarm went off at 6:00 am for work.  My class thought it was pretty funny that I was asleep before they were!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 5/7

15 minute days/Jan = 27/31

15 minute day/Feb = 1/1
15 minute days/2025 = 28/32
Success Rate = 88%

Stash only moved out this week.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  2.85 yds  Carnival Quilt top & Cross-stitch trim

Used year to date: 8.19 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 1.19 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

First Quilt Finish for 2025

I started the week feeling like I had not prepped enough to keep moving forward each day easily, but it turned out just right.  The previous week I couldn't work on one of my PhD projects because I didn't have batting or a machine that could zigzag and create a frankenbatting.  So, instead of putting it off I went to my sister's one day after school and used her machine and got the batting ready.  Then last Sunday I sandwiched the quilt to work on this week.

Baby Beachy Words All Finished 40" x 40"

I am getting into a better routine after school now that I am deliberately aiming for 15 minutes.  By setting the timer, I am sticking to my goal and getting in a brief amount of "sewing therapy."  After sewing, I move on to whatever home or school task I need to do.  I think it used to be either sewing or tasks, but never both.  You can tell where my preferences are! Using the timer is helping me balance it better and proves that I can do both.

I'm really glad I could also back it in the wordy fabric!

I originally thought I would just use the walking foot and make a big X through each rail fence block. While doing that I noticed that I had pieced a lot of the rails (I made this top at least a year ago!), so I decided to go back and stitch in between the X as well for extra stability.  I think I started with some random blue and yellow strips that I had been given and then added the other yellow gingham and just made it up as I went along.  I love the colors even with it's imperfections. 

Over the course of the week I got it all finished.  I wasn't able to sew one evening due to a lot of urgent tasks for school the next day.  But I moved it forward enough that Saturday morning I was able to finish it up.  It is only 40" square, but still that's progress.  Without the 15 minute challenge and the PhD challenge, it would still be hanging in the closet in limbo.

Not perfect, but finished.

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 = 23/25
15 minute days/2025 = 23/25
Success Rate = 92%

The Stash Report has lots of movement this week.  I finished the Beachy Words baby quilt, but I also went to Joanns to use up a gift card.  I got fabrics to help me bring some tops closer to the finish line.  As hard as I tried I could not find anything even close in my stash.

They go well together, but the black is for another quilt.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  2.9 yds

Used year to date: 5.34 yards

Acquired last Week: 7 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 1.66 more yards gained

Trucks for the backing.  Dots for a border.

I was given the red, green, and fruity squares years ago and turned them into a top.  It is smaller than I'd like, but I didn't have anything to make it bigger so it languished in the closet.  The dots were as close as I could get for a match.  I think it will work for a border.  The trucks were on clearance.  I think it will make an acceptable backing.  This is not even remotely in my comfort zone for fabric choices, but I got this far and I'd like to see it finished. 

Not sure what I will work on this coming week, but I am confident that I will figure it out.  Maybe this red/green/fruity/dotty/truck combo and just be done with it!

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

Decisions, Decisions

I was caught up on everything with with a deadline and finished with anything that required mindless piecing, so I had to decide what to start working on.  It needed to be something that I can do in short spurts after school each day when I don't have the umphh to make a decision or think straight.

I should work off of my PhD list, but there is nothing there that is easy to pick up for just a quick sew.  Or is there .......? 

I thought this would be a good one since the backing was with it and there was enough, but I didn't have enough batting.  The zigzag stitch on my machine is broken so I could not make a frankenbatting  Arrgh. 

Beachy Words quilt is still waiting.

Since most of my UFOs need batting or more brain power than I had, I ended up just looking through the orphan block bin.  I picked the leftovers from a quilt I made years and years ago when I was teaching preschool and my schedule allowed me to go to guild meetings.  I didn't take a photo before I started in on it.  It was ends of rail fence strip sets.  By cross-cutting some, unsewing others, and using the last bits of fabric that was in the bag with it, I was able to come up with 9-patches.  

Last four 9-patches.

Perfectly mindless.  What will I do with them?  Not a clue! I found some fabric in my stash that coordinates enough, so after I finish the 9-patches, I'll figure out the next step. 

Ten complete and waiting for a plan!

I have to admit that I am not off to a good start on my PHD list!!!  But given the rough week at school, I am pleased with any progress.  I went to my sister's one day after school to use her machine to join the batting scraps I had.  Maybe on this 3-day weekend, I will be able to put school behind me and sandwich the beachy words quilt.  

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 = 7/7

15 minute days/Jan = 17/18
15 minute days/2025 = 17/18
Success Rate = 94%

Nothing finished, so nothing new for the Stash Report.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yds

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

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

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.