What a Week!

There are not enough words to describe the week.  Due to major changes at school, each class on our entire grade level (7 4th grade classes) got 2-4 new students last week.  I got three, one of whom is known in teacher lingo as a "special client"!  To his - and my - credit, we had a good week.  Then the other boot dropped just after dismissal on Friday and due to totally different grade level difficulty, I will be getting a "special, special client" this coming week.  I can't even think about it.  

On top of that my professional development course that is hard to get into and not flexible timewise started on Monday.  It is more complex that I even imagined,but at least I find it interesting!  So every waking moment has been spent on that.  Thankfully this week was academics "light" with the new students and I didn't have a lot of grading or prep.  Also, thankfully, I had a plan in place for sewing.  

Slow and Steady on the Sapphire Jubilee

I set up the quilt to just do spirals and that's all I did!  Usually sewing is soothing, but this week it wasn't.  Maybe it helped me and I didn't realize it.  I will continue with it this coming week.  My sewing took a hit since I was on autopilot, but that's okay.  I knew not to force it but just do what my mind and body needed.

 2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 5/7

15 minute days/Feb = 24/28

15 minute days/2026 = 52/59 

Success Rate 2025 = 88%

No notable stash movement this week. 

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards  

Used year to date: 10.16 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 10.16 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at  quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at SoScrappy

What I'm Working On

How did I do on the LIST FOR FEBRUARY 15-21?

• add tips to blue and green crayons  DONE
• prep leaders and enders  PROGRESS
• decide which UFO/PhD to work on next DONE
• get the UFO/PhD ready for after school sewing DONE
• deconstruct dress for wedding NO PROGRESS
• finish sorting fabrics that came back from Guatemala  PROGRESS

It's going to be a busy week.  I'm getting 3 new students due to major changes in our grade level, which is unusual at this time of year.  I had already registered for a professional development training that pays! It starts Monday and has a strict timeline and is known for making us work hard for the money, so I can't slack on that.  With all that in mind, I decided to work on quilting this.  

Smaller variation of Sapphire Jubilee.

It has been sandwiched and ready for months and months.  I had planned to do a giant spiral, and that works well in that I can just sew a few rounds each afternoon without much thought.

TO DO LIST FOR FEBRUARY 22-28:

• work on quilting Sapphire Jubilee as after school sewing
• deconstruct dress for wedding
• finish sorting fabrics that came back from Guatemala

Good Progress

I was starting with nearly a blank slate this week, which isn't always a good thing.  I was determined to not get bogged down over thinking!  

Blue & Green Crayons are finished!!

I jumped right in with my crayon idea for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I finished the crayons and even sharpened the tips! I mostly used the green and blue crayons as leaders & enders for each other.  When I couldn't do that anymore I used the blocks that I had prepped for the Scrappy Spools.  

Scrappy Spools are progressing well.

Since the design wall was overflowing, I cut the side and corner triangles and got the ocean waves blocks joined into a center.  I got more of the Scrappy Spools finished as leaders & enders with that. 

Ocean Waves is a center!

I'm going to think on the Ocean Waves before I do anything else.  It is way better than it was originally, but I think it needs more.  I'm thinking a thin neutral border and then maybe a piano key border if I can find enough similar fabrics to keep the look. 

Prepping more spools.

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Feb = 19/21

15 minute days/2026 = 48/52 

Success Rate 2025 = 92%

No notable stash movement this week. 

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards  

Used year to date: 10.16 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 10.16 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces  

Donna at  quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at SoScrappy

What I'm Working On

 How did I do on the LIST FOR FEBRUARY 8-14:

• prepare backing for Carnival Quilt  DONE
• sandwich Carnival Quilt with students??  DONE - with the students!
• quilt Carnival Quilt with students  DONE
• prepare binding  DONE
• attach binding  DONE
• choose fabrics for RSC block - DONE
• deconstruct dress for wedding - NO PROGRESS
• sort fabrics that came back from Guatemala - SOME PROGRESS
• cut 40 10" squares for library craft activity  DONE

What a relief to get the Carnival completely finished - and in time!! I changed my plan completely for the RSC.  I'm now making crayons, and it is coming together nicely.  I have the blue (January) and green (February) crayons ready for a nice sharp tip!

These crayons need sharpening!!

LIST FOR FEBRUARY 15-23:

• add tips to blue and green crayons
• prep leaders and enders
• decide which UFO/PhD to work on next 
• get the UFO/PhD ready for after school sewing
• deconstruct dress for wedding
• finish sorting fabrics that came back from Guatemala

Home Alone

We finished the Carnival Quilt this week.  Whew!  That's a big check off the to do list for school.

something is wrong with my phone camera - every photo recently is blurry

The students sewed diagonally through their blocks and then I sewed more diagonals in the border.  I thought I would put the binding on with them or leave a section undone to show them, but I was making such good progress last night I just went ahead and finished it.

pieced backing - frogs & lizards!

Several students asked what I was going to do this weekend since it was a three-day weekend.  I thought I might sew a lot or read.  But what I really needed to do was deal with the accumulated mess in nearly every room.  It turned out that I was home alone today, which almost never happens.  

intense concentration

I doubt if I am the only one that makes a bigger mess in order to deal with the mess!!  I got all the mess except my school things on the dining room table taken care of - even some things that were on the maybe in the future category.  What a huge relief!  Thanks to FB marketplace I didn't even have to drop things off at Goodwill - I just posted them for free and POOF they are gone!  It feels good to start the weekend with a clean slate - literally.   

Blue crayon in the works!

In thinking about what to work on next, I did a complete 180 on my RSC.  I had thought to do butterflies because that is pretty much what I am known for at school.  I even worked out the math, but I just wasn't feeling it.  I looked at ideas for RSC and when I saw the crayons, I knew that was it.  Years ago I wanted to make a crayon quilt.  I cut telephone pages for string piecing and chose strips from my stash users drawers and it is coming together.  Blue was last month, but it is the color I have the most of, so I started there anyways.  

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Feb = 12/14

15 minute days/2026 = 41/45 

Success Rate 2025 = 91%

The Carnival Quilt is finished so I can report that stash movement!!  

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 2.63 yards for Carnival Quilt backing and binding

Used year to date: 10.16 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 10.16 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces 

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at SoScrappy

What I'm Working On

HOW DID I DO ON THE LIST FOR JANUARY 25-31?

Due to my trip, this got extended into February 1-7 as well.

• have last students finish sewing the borders to their squares for Carnival Quilt  DONE
• have students finish joining blocks into rows  DONE
• have students join rows into flimsy  DONE
• start piano key border for Carnival Quilt - FOUND A STRIPED FABRIC THAT IS AN EXCELLENT SUBSTITURE - DONE 
• choose backing for Carnival Quilt  DONE
• choose fabrics for RSC block  NO PROGRESS

TO DO LIST FOR FEBRUARY 8-14:

• prepare backing for Carnival Quilt
• sandwich Carnival Quilt with students??
• quilt Carnival Quilt with students
• prepare binding
• attach binding
• choose fabrics for RSC block
• deconstruct dress for wedding
• sort fabrics that came back from Guatemala
• cut 40 10" squares for library craft activity

This list is long.  I might have over-planned, but I feel like things are slowing down at school (fingers crossed) and I am ready to spend more time sewing.  Also, the carnival is in two weeks and I'd really like to have the quilt ready and not present an IOU to the winner!

Getting Caught Up

It took all week to get caught up at school after the long weekend trip to Guatemala.  I never realized how much effort I put in each day to staying on top of grading, prepping, planning, etc.  Creating sub plans for three days beforehand  instead of doing the usual school work plus not grading while I was gone, put me WAY behind.  Interims are due on Monday and I am happy to say that I am ready with time to spare!!  

Now I can sew!!  I would love to get the Carnival Quilt finished this week.  With some focus I think I can.  Finding a striped fabric to use as the outer border instead of making a piano key border was a huge stroke of luck.  It will also work well to make the frog fabric wide enough for the backing.

I need to get something new prepped for leaders & enders.  I had been working on the chunky churn dash blocks, but it would be a better use of my time to get a good plan for the RSC and prep that instead.  Prioritizing got the floppy bunny finished in record time in early January, so I need to stick with that strategy.  

It feels so good to be thinking about sewing and not grading papers!!

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 5/7

15 minute days/Feb = 5/7

15 minute days/2026 = 34/38 

Success Rate 2025 = 89%

The Carnival Quilt is a flimsy so I can report that stash movement!! I still have not sorted the fabric that I brought back from Guatemala, so that report is still pending. 

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 3.18 yards for Carnival Quilt top

Used year to date: 7.53 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 7.53 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces 

Donna at quiltpaintcreate 

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Angela at SoScrappy

January PhD Report

 I made so much progress with the 2025 PHD Challenge from Ms P Designs USA that I thought I should take the PHD Challenge again.  Many of this year's projects come from deeper within the dark recesses of my UFO stash, so they need much more work than last year's projects. 

Head over to Ms P Designs USA 2026 PHD Jan Report to see what others are working on.  It's inspiring!

TRUE UFOs

#1 Baby Bricks - needs quilting and finishing  -  NO PROGRESS

#2 Blue & Orange - have 13 blocks and some coordinating fabric, need a plan  NO PROGRESS

#3 Blue Strips - started in 1996! Have 1 strip and some cut out pieces, need a plan  NO PROGRESS

#5 Christmas Sampler - need to find the blocks and make a plan  NO PROGRESS

#6 Chunky Churn Dash - started as a leader & ender in 2025, plan is to just keep making blocks.  The blocks are doubled and tripled up by similar colors, so it is hard to see, but there is PROGRESS!

Chunky Churn Dashes and New Flag Scrappy Spool Blocks

#7 Flags - bought at a thrift store years ago for 50c, never touched.  I realized I will never make any more of these flags.  We are a multi-national family and a USA quilt just isn't likely to happen.  However, when I saw the pictures of my UFOs, I realized I should be able to easily convert these to the flag block for the Scrappy Spool quilt.  I went ahead and unsewed them  and already made them into the remaining flag blocks for the Scappy Spool block.  The leftovers are the right size to get worked into other spool blocks or chunky churn dash blocks.  I am so pleased with this solution - WIN WIN! 

#8 Frame Cross-Stitch - the stitching was finished in 2025, now to frame it .  After some research into options, we dropped it off for professional framing.  Little S chose the frame and no mat.  I can see that it is not even in the frame, which is disappointing after having gone the "professional" route for better quality.  But done is good.  COMPLETE

#9 Kaffe Fassett style scraps - from my MIL's stash, need a plan, leaning towards a chandelier quilt  NO PROGRESS

#10 Lighthouse blocks - have 2 blocks and fabrics, need a plan  NO PROGRESS

#11 Ocean Waves - remaking an old quilt, steady progress so far.  I have remade all of the blocks and am starting the setting triangles. For now I like this block placement.   PROGRESS

#12 Red, White, and Green D9P - started on a whim with scraps, don't like it, need a plan  NO PROGRESS

#13 Sapphire Jubilee small version - got it sandwiched last year, need to quilt and finish  NO PROGRESS

#14 Scrappy Spools - planned start last year, plan is to just keep making blocks, no set deadline since I want to enjoy the process.  I made the remaining flag blocks from the UFO flag blocks.   SOME PROGRESS

#15 Stuffed Bunny - Grown Up E asked for this years ago, does she still want it?  She does.  I cut out all the pieces and started sewing it together as leader & enders.  Surprisingly, I got it completely finished pretty quickly.

Floppy Bunny and Extra Outfit

Original panel and outfit from previously made bunny.

#16 USA fabrics - My father bought this to make something for my sister years and years ago.  Is she interested?  No she isn't.  Neither is my brother for my nephews.  Hmmm.  I just can't give this up yet, since my father picked it out.  Travel in the US was a big deal for us growing up.  NO PROGRESS

PLANNED STARTS

#1 Alter dress for wedding by May  NO PROGRESS

#2 Baby quilts for church as needed  NO NEEDS THIS MONTH

#3 Rainbow Scrap Challenge - My first time doing this, so I need a plan.  MINIMAL PROGRESS

#4 Carnival Quilt - quilt I always make in class for a school fund-raiser.  We got a good start on it.   GOOD PROGRESS 

Ready for borders

#5 Rag Quilt for Baby Ana Paula - I had made a formal quilt from a panel that they loved before we knew the baby was a girl.  Their theme is bears, so I wanted to make something else that was more girly, but not a traditional quilt. This was a fun quilt to make.   FINISHED & DELIVERED!  They love it.

Sound asleep under her blanket.

#6 Burp Cloth  I also made a more girly burp cloth.  FINISHED & DELIVERED!

MAYBES

Lupine and Laughter - Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt - Little S loves the reveal, and I have been saving the clues.  Maybe after I finish my deadline projects.  STILL A MAYBE

Carnival Quilt 2026 has a Center

We got all the blocks completed and joined.  Whew!  Now to decide a border and backing.  I have a few ideas, but it is on hold until I am caught up on school work after my long, long weekend trip.  

2026 Carnival Quilt Center

My numbers are not as bad as I thought they would be.  There was prepping and planning as well as sewing, but it all moved me forward on projects, so I will take it.  

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 5/7

15 minute days/Jan = 29/31

15 minute days/2026 = 29/31 

Success Rate 2025 = 94%

Fabric came back with me, but I won't report it until I get unpacked and get it sorted.

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0.00 yards

Used year to date: 4.35 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 4.35 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

and.....  

What I'm Working On

How'd I do? 

TO DO LIST FOR JANUARY 18-24:

• deal with misc piles that accumulated in the sewing room  PROGRESS
• make a final decision on RSC block  DONE
• start the RSC block NO
• work on deconstructing dress for the wedding during TV time NO
• cut the colored border pieces for the students to sew to their squares for the Carnival Quilt  DONE
• start students on sewing the borders to the squares for Carnival Quilt  DONE - must missing 2 students
• have students plan layout for Carnival Quilt  DONE
• have students join blocks  PROGRESS

This was a week of mostly sewing at school since the machine was at school.  I had thought I would start deconstructing the dress in the evenings, but school work multiplied exponentially and kept me quite busy.  

I already know this week will be similar, so my list is short.

TO DO LIST FOR JANUARY 25-31:

• have last students finish sewing the borders to their squares for Carnival Quilt  
• have students finish joining blocks into rows
• have students join rows into flimsy
• start piano key border for Carnival Quilt
• choose backing for Carnival Quilt
• choose fabrics for RSC block

Busy, Busy Week

We sewed every day at school this past week.  Thank goodness, since that was the majority of my sewing activity.  Lots going on a work and it isn't going to slow down this coming week.  Some weeks are like that.

Almost all of the students got their blocks made and sewed a border around it.  We had already planned the layout, so as they finished their blocks, they placed them in position.  As soon as they had a "neighbor" to their block, they started forming rows.  It is so fun to see their enthusiasm.  So much fun that I completely forgot to take pictures!

The 2025 quilt for reference

Here is last year's quilt for reference.  This year will be similar.  Current photo next time.

 2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Jan = 24/24

15 minute days/2026 = 24/24 

Success Rate 2025 = 100%

No stash movement this week.

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0.00 yards

Used year to date: 4.35 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 4.35 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

and.....  

 

What I'm Working On

For a while last year I was making a TO DO list.  It helped me stay on track, so I will try to get back in the habit again.  With so many projects on my PhD list, I need to stick with the plan. 

How did I do on my To Do list from Jan 11-17?

• make the burp cloth for Baby Ana Paula - it is already cut out DONE
• finish framing Little S's cross-stitch for Ana Paula DONE
• work on Stuffed Bunny as leader & ender SURPRISE FINISH
• deal with misc piles that accumulated in the sewing room PROGRESS
• make a final decision on RSC block IDEAS BUT NO FINAL DECISION 
• start the RSC block 
• work on deconstructing dress for the wedding during TV time  NO PROGRESS
• start the Carnival Quilt with my students, plan & draw their quilt squares DONE

I didn't sew much more than the 15 minutes each day since I was so tired from teaching through laryngitis each day.  But it was enough to make some progress.

TO DO LIST FOR JANUARY 18-24:

• deal with misc piles that accumulated in the sewing room
• make a final decision on RSC block
• start the RSC block 
• work on deconstructing dress for the wedding during TV time
• cut the colored border pieces for the students to sew to their squares for the Carnival Quilt  
• start students on sewing the borders to the squares for Carnival Quilt
• have students plan layout for Carnival Quilt
• have students join blocks

This will be a week of mostly sewing at school.  With the machine at school, it will a good time to focus on deconstructing the dress at home.

Slow and Steady Wins Again

A busy week at school and a case of laryngitis made for slow progress.  But progress nonetheless.  Having a plan in place really helped me get something sewn on the afternoons I came home and just didn't want to do anything at all.  

Floppy bunny for Grown Up E

I had been using the parts of the floppy bunny as leaders & enders while I made the rag quilt last week.  This week it was far enough along that it turned into my main project.  I never imagined it would be finished so soon.  Slow and steady wins the race.

Another burp cloth for AP!

I also finished the burp cloth I  had cut out when I was cutting for the rag quilt.

Flag blocks ready to sew

I always forget how important it is to leave things ready to go.  Having to figure things out when I'm not up to it leads to no progress.  I pulled out the Scrappy Spools again and got some pieces ready to sew.

 2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Jan = 17/17

15 minute days/2026 = 17/17 

Success Rate 2025 = 100%

More stash movement this week!

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0.33 for burp cloth + 1.00  for floppy bunny

Used year to date: 4.35 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 4.35 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces 

Donna at  quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

and..... so scrappy

 

First Finish of 2026

The rag quilt for my nephew's new baby girl has a tight deadline - end of January.  I got right on it once I had a plan and it went together pretty quickly.  Even with going back to work and doing last errands to prepare Little S to head back to college, I got it done this week.  

All ready to go into the dryer for extra "fluff"

I got it all cut out last weekend and used up a lot of bits and pieces of flannel.  Then just kept sewing and sewing.  Each day I added a strip and then cut the seams while watching TV in the evenings.  My scissor tips were not sharp enough to cut all 4 layers at once, but I was able to cut 2 layers and that was just at the limit of cramping my hands.

Seams are trimmed and already pretty fluffy!

Little S likes it so much she wants one of her own - much larger though.  We planned that she can make it herself since she has the skill set.  She thinks she could maybe even use the sewing machines in one of the art studios on campus.  We will revisit this idea at Spring Break.

2026 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days this week = 7/7

15 minute days/Jan = 10/10

15 minute days/2026 = 10/10 

Success Rate 2025 = 100%

In addition to the rag quilt, I also did some mending for Little S.  She has a pair of overalls that were "high waters."  I added a faux cuff to the legs with a coordinating fabric and then a matching band on the bib pocket.  No picture, but she is happy with the finished product.  

So I have stash movement this week already!

2026 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0.22 for overalls + 2.8 for rag quilt

Used year to date: 3.02 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards  

Acquired year to date: 0 yards

Net used in 2026: 3.02 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate 

Frederique at quiltingpatch

and..... so scrappy

 

Going for My PHD in 2026

I made so much progress with the 2025 PHD Challenge from Ms P Designs USA that I thought I should take the PHD Challenge again.  Many of this year's projects come from deeper within the dark recesses of my UFO stash, so they need much more work than last year's projects. 

Head over to Ms P Designs USA 2026 PHD Challenge to see what others are working on.  It's inspiring!

TRUE UFOs

#1 Baby Bricks - needs quilting and finishing

#2 Blue & Orange - have 13 blocks and some coordinating fabric, need a plan

#3 Blue Strips - started in 1996! Have 1 strip and some cut out pieces, need a plan

#5 Christmas Sampler - need to find the blocks and make a plan

#6 Chunky Churn Dash - started as a leader & ender in 2025, plan is to just keep making blocks

#7 Flags - bought at a thrift store years ago for 50c, never touched

#8 Frame Cross-Stitch - the stitching was finished in 2025, now to frame it

#9 Kaffe Fassett style scraps - from my MIL's stash, need a plan, leaning towards a chandelier quilt

#10 Lighthouse blocks - have 2 blocks and fabrics, need a plan

#11 Ocean Waves - remaking an old quilt, steady progress so far

#12 Red, White, and Green D9P - started on a whim with scraps, don't like it, need a plan

#13 Sapphire Jubilee small version - got it sandwiched last year, need to quilt and finish

#14 Scrappy Spools - planned start last year, plan is to just keep making blocks, no set deadline since I want to enjoy the process

#15 Stuffed Bunny - Grown Up E asked for this years ago, does she still want it?

#16 USA fabrics - My father bought this to make something for my sister years and years ago.  Is she interested?

PLANNED STARTS

#1 Alter dress for wedding by May

#2 Baby quilts for church as needed

#3 Rainbow Scrap Challenge - My first time doing this, so I need a plan.

#4 Carnival Quilt - quilt we make in class for a school fund-raiser

MAYBES

Lupine and Laughter - Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt - Little S likes the colors, but there was no time in the fall.  Maybe after the reveal if she still likes it.