It’s true. I am afflicted by Bright Shiny Object Syndrome.
My kids used to try walk between me and the displays at the store so I wouldn’t be distracted!
Remember, my word for the year is FOCUS? The Professional Quilter Newsletter arrived in my in-box this morning and I swear that Morna was writing this article for me!
As I formulate my list of to-dos for market in May, I see that there are three teaching engagements, a trip to the East Coast, two kids graduating (High School and College) and at least six projects that have to happen before I can get in the car to drive to Kansas City on May 16th. Holy Cow!
Making a list is key and a great organizational tool that my friend Susan Nelson shared with me is what she calls a T&A. Tasks and Activities, just to be clear . It’s a wonderful chart that lists all of the quilt projects that need to be organized – fabrics chosen, quilts made, quilted and bound, and photographed. Patterns to be written, tested, printed and pattern covers to be designed. I live by it.
The other thing that has helped me stay on track – believe it or not – is taking up knitting! Don’t worry, I’m not crossing over! My BFF Jenni opened a cute little yarn shop last fall. Now the only time I get to see her is if I take a class or hang out at open knitting. Anyway, what I discovered is that knitting feeds my creative soul. It is not work or work related (you know – the QUILT stuff!). It’s something I look forward to doing after the studio closes down. It gives me a reason to switch gears at the end of the day. It has actually helped me FOCUS on what I need to get done. I’m making my first sweater! Who knew?
That’s my word for this year. Actually it’s the first time I’ve declared a word of the year. I chose FOCUS because I have a tendency to start 10 things at one time and proceed to get lost in all of them in a rather disorganized and frustrating way.
I make lists. Plural. Not a good idea. So one of the first things I’m going to do is try my best to keep to one list. I remember when Franklin Planner was all the rage in the business world. I got in on a bunch of that training 20+ years ago. Maybe I should revisit some of the things that I learned! I still have a planner, often from Franklin Covey. It will get some good use.
I sew every day – 365 days of the year. I never imagined that I would have this job, that I love dearly. But I also rarely get a sewing vacation!
My friend Marilyn Foreman from Quilt Moments convinced me to join her and two other friends last March at the Spring Mystery Weekend at Glad Creations in Minneapolis. Glad’s is where is took my first quilting class in 1983. It was like coming home! And even better is that I got to sew just for me!
There is a Fall Mystery Weekend too; it was my turn to do the convincing and tomorrow is the day – Mystery Weekend #48! “Civilian Sewing” is what keeps coming to my mind….I’ll be “off-duty” so to speak. Not teaching, not designing, not responsible for anything but my very own seam allowances!
There is show and tell each time and earlier this week I though maybe I could get a few more blocks finished from the Spring Mystery…unfortunately, this is where my progress stopped…but I got everything out again and reorganized it so I can keep going. Not like I’ll finish this queen sized quilt before I go tomorrow, but I made an effort!
This is the quilt that the Wednesday Quilters at Fabric Town in Apple Valley, MN made when they tested Tranquility, a new pattern that was just released. They had a great idea that I thought just had to be shared. They put their heads together and organized the test class into a quilting bee of sorts to make a quilt to donate to Quilts of Valor. I think it turned out really well – thanks guys!
The newest addition to the “Just for Fun!” line is a great little quilt that would work well as a wall hanging or table topper. It’s got kind of a masculine feel to it. I just love the black border print and the graphic feel of the floral design. It’s La Belle from Northcott. One size 34″ x 34″.
I don’t know where the name for this design came from but it seems to fit. If you love making scrappy quilts, this pattern is a good one. I used Civil War Journals by Judie Rothermel from Marcus Fabrics. What a great line of fabric! Another one block quilt with a twist…can you tell this is a straight setting? The trick in is the border. Three sizes – Topper, Throw and Queen.
If you aren’t a fan of scrappy quilts, this design works great with planned fabric placement.
Tranquility was inspired by the Martindale fabric line from Northcott. I just love the softness of the colors in these prints. The pattern is pretty simple with a twist, of course! You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is make those pinwheels with the cornerstones. Three sizes in the pattern – Topper, Throw and Queen. The new patterns will be on the website soon!
Next on the excitement list is the Aurifil Booth Hop at Market!
This information is from the Aurifil Newsletter….
Join us for the ”Kick up your Heels at the Quilt Market Sock Hop”
What: A Booth hop at Fall Market is a fun way to meet 20 designers that use and love Aurifil thread. PLUS we have prizes!
When: All 3 days of Market, ending at 3pm Monday when the winners names are picked
How: Pick up a Hop Card at the Aurifil and Designer booths – One per Store .
Visit all the booths listed and have the Fabulous designer initial their square
When your card is filled, take it to the Aurifil Booth and put it into the Sock Hop Box
Prizes: A super Grand prize of an Aurifil Suitcase of 216 spools… yum yum!
Plus all our marvelous designers are donating a prize…
see prizes in Aurifil USA, Inc. Booth/s 1356, 58, 1457, 59
There has been a HUGE lack of activity here at A Few Loose Threads. But you know as well as I do that things happen, kids come home, deadlines loom and then there’s that overrated thing called sleep . But really, I don’t like letting things go so long, it makes it hard to catch up! Thanks for hanging in there with me.
Fall is my most favorite time of year…that “new box of crayons” feeling comes over me each and every September. There is a lot coming up and a lot to look forward to these days!
First of all, QUILTMARKET is this weekend in Houston I’m in Booth 1906 and would love to have all of you shop owners stop by and see what’s new….if you can’t make it, you can see my flyer by clicking HERE.
I am thrilled to be offering a new-to-me Tool called the Corner Cutter. It was developed and sold by Joanie Weeden until she retired a few years ago. Joanie has passed this on to me and it is available again! It will be up on my website after market. You use it to make those Fast Flying Geese even faster! Shops….Checker, United Notions and Rubenstein and Ziff all have it in stock.
. It’s a wonderful chart that lists all of the quilt projects that need to be organized – fabrics chosen, quilts made, quilted and bound, and photographed. Patterns to be written, tested, printed and pattern covers to be designed. I live by it.
