Goodbye February; Hello March!

Welcome to March! In true folklore fashion, it came in like a lion. Our winds were fierce last evening; and overnight we even went to the basement because of a tornado warning. Yours truly did not get much sleep last night, so bring on the caffeine.

That's the worst complaint I can make though, and some folks all too near to us did have some damage. I am just now beginning to see some reports on social media of roofs off barns, trees and power lines down, and roads closed due to flooding. Our electric only flickered once, thankfully.

As we begin a new month, I like to review the accomplishments of the previous month and take a look at my list (arbitrary, as it is) to see what lies ahead.

I feel like February was not overly productive, however, I helped my daughter make a baby quilt and I taught 2 sewing/quilting classes, which requires some prep work ahead of time. So while I did finish Emma's baby quilt, teaching doesn't actually result in finishing things. It is still sewing, though, and I'm glad to be doing it.

The UFO for February was to finish the quilt top of Lorraine, which I did rather handily. It was such a fun quilt to make, and is sure brightened the gray days of the month.

I spent a lot of time hand quilting, another task that is slow to show results. I am working on borders now, so this is steadily coming along. While I quilted on this, I watched Broadchurch, a BBC series available on Netflix. That was fun. After I finished that series (it was only 2 seasons), I started The Crown, also on Netflix. I am really enjoying it.

The baby quilt Emma wanted for her friend is another finish I am going to take credit for - and this was not even on my radar when the month began! It was such cute quilt, and I love seeing what the younger generation prefers.

And, for the two classes, I do have some things that will be useful. The little butterfly table topper is finished and ready for summer on the porch; the Drunkard's Path parts, well, we shall see what happens with them. *grin*

Now, what does March have in store? Well, the UFO for this month is #7, and for me that is what I call "small tumblers." (I also have a large version that is also a UFO.) I have pulled it out and have begun working on it.

In this tub - labeled, even! - I have all the parts to this UFO. And let me tell you, I don't know what I was thinking when I was making these! I have two separate parts and a pile of tumblers. Now why would I have made two part? I am clueless as to the thought process for this. Seems rather odd to me now.

The part pictured above is the smaller of the two. If I planned on connecting these two parts, I would have thought I'd have made them the same width, but no, I didn't. Good grief.

Back to the list...In addition to UFO #7, I also have a couple of items that were on February's list and that appear again on March's list. I just didn't get to them last month. Baby quilts for two babies must be completed. I also want to make something my mother requested, and I'd like to get started on the wall hanging that Emma requested.

And while all those are on the list for this month, yesterday I did this:

This gorgeous star is the center of a Swoon block. Yes, I decided I needed to start, so I did. The pattern I have is the original one which makes a huge block - like 18 or 24 inches. This star is the center of the block and it measures 12.5". Stay tuned for more Swoon fun throughout the month.

I am going to link up to Let's Bee Social; if you have some time, go browse the neat-o stuff other quilters are creating.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Two Clarifying Lists

I am a list maker, and yesterday I made two lists on a single sheet of paper that improved my mood in untold ways. It was quite a clarifying experience, actually. Getting so many of my random and scattered thoughts pulled together in one place and ordered effectively proved to be illuminating.

As I was finishing my morning coffee, I was reading some blogs that I check regularly and happened on one that dealt with time management. Always looking for helpful tips in this area, I clicked it and got as far as list making, which was item 5 on the 10-item list. (I couldn't even tell you what items 6-10 dealt with!) 

I grabbed the nearest pad I could locate and proceeded to jot down 2 lists. These random projects need my attention, but when I don't have a clear plan, I tend to spin my wheels. I never get anything accomplished when my thoughts are so scattered. The lists provide the focus that I so desperately need. I plan to tack this list up on the wall or bulletin board, add to it as needed, and refer to if frequently, checking off items as I go.

One side of the page was labeled UFO List. I have 19 items on the UFO list. Dang, I gotta get busy! And I am so very eager to do just that - get busy on finishing these! The sad fact of the matter is that if I thought about it a little harder, I could add another 5 or 6 or more to this list.

The one drawback of having so many items on a UFO list is finally deciding which one to work on first. I can be quite indecisive at times. This is where I hope the Frankfort girls will help out. We are tossing around ideas for next year - 2017!! - and repeating a UFO Challenge is something we are considering.

The list on the other side of the page is called New Ones to Start. Oh, how I love starting things!! It is what leads so naturally to a long UFO list, unfortunately, but starting new things - oh what delightfulness!

This second list is much, much shorter, and I suppose that is a very good thing. I will try to keep this reigned in as much as possible. I do always leave myself some wiggle room for things that just pop up - the rather impromptu activity that is always so much fun.

Last evening I finished the borders on the last t-shirt quilt; now all that is left is to prep the backing. I do have the batting ready to go, and it all should be in the hands of my quilter by week's end. Hooray!!

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by the projects you've started as well as those you hope to start, try making a list. It sure has benefited me and my state of mind.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Just for Fun: The ABCs of Me

Sinta over at Pink Pincushion did a fun post yesterday. Since I have done zero sewing or quilting the last 2 days, I figured it would be fun to do my version.

The ABC's of Me
A- Age: 53

B- Bed size: Queen

C- Chore you hate: Bathrooms

D- Dog's name: Steve

E- Essential food/item: Cheese

F- Favorite color: Honestly, I have the hardest time with this; I like just about all colors except I’ve never cared much for orange.

G- Gold or silver: Silver

H- Height: 5'9"

I- I am: going to beat this procrastination thing!!

J- Job: Retired high school English teacher; adjunct university instructor

K- Kids: 3: son, 27; daughter 24; daughter 17

L- Living arrangements: We live in a very rural area of south-central Ohio in a 17-yr.-old 2-story house that we had built; we have a pond, woods, and a very long driveway.

M-Mom's name: Jeannie – she is a sports fanatic and a ton of fun.

N- Nickname: When I taught, the kids called me Mrs. H. A few people call me Jaynie.

O- Overnight hospital stay: A week when I was in 6th grade (pneumonia and mono); 3 births; a 3-day gall bladder scare (false alarm, it turned out); and the most unusual: on a trip with students to Italy, one girl came down with appendicitis, and I spent the night in a Venice hospital with her!

P- Pet peeve: Loud, obnoxious people

Q- Quote from a movie: From Pride & Prejudice: “you have bewitched me, body and soul” (Darcy to Elizabeth); From The Count of Monte Cristo: “I don't believe in God.” “It doesn't matter. He believes in you.” (exchange between the priest and Edmond)

R- Right or left handed: Lefty

S- Siblings: 2 younger brothers and 2 younger sisters

T- Time you wake up: 6am on weekdays (I fix breakfast every morning for hubby and daughter!) Just whenever on weekends.

U- Unique thing about your car: Chrysler Town and Country van-a glittery Disney Mickey Mouse ears decorates my antenna.

V- Vegetable you hate: I think I like them all – even brussel sprouts and beets!

W- Ways you run late: I waste time on the computer.

X- X-rays you've had: Just at the dentist’s, I think!

Y- Yummy food you make: Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo. Quiche. “Chocolate Stuff.”

Z- Zoo favorite: I enjoy watching monkeys and gorillas.