Tuesday, January 29, 2013

15 minute challenge...week 29

Happy Tuesday!  Time to check in with Kate at Life in Pieces for the 15 minute challenge!

Tuesday: Scrappy Trip

Wednesday: none

Thursday: none

Friday: Scrappy Trip

Saturday: Scrappy Trip

Sunday: Starburst

Monday: none

Ok...4 of 7, I'm gonna call that a-ok for this week.  Overall for the month of January I have done pretty good, had a few machine related setbacks, but did a decent job of setting and maintaining some kind of schedule for my sewing time.  I hope to continue to schedule my sewing time, so that I'm not missing out on some me time!

In other news...got word today the other part for my machine Goldie has arrived and (fingers crossed) I should have her back by Friday.  Woohoo!  I'm going to stay positive that this part will fix her and we have no more problems!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

FNSI...results

Well, I got started kind of late on my Friday Night sewing for FNSI, but I did get a little bit of stitching done.  I worked solely on my Scrappy Trip Along blocks, and actually had a lot of success in the preparation more than the completion.

I finished 2 Scrappy Trip blocks, got 3 more in the final prep stage, and got enough fabric cut for at least 3 more blocks.

That put me at 17 finished blocks, and everything laid out to get me to 23 blocks.  I think I want to have at least 35 for my final quilt top.  I have some other stitching I need to finish up today, so I'll be using my Scrappy Trip stuff for leaders/enders.

Here is a pic of all of my finished (so far) blocks laid out:


and now I'm off to spend today stitching away!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Big girl pants...

...time for me to pull them up.  I have been very pouty the last few days and zero sewing has been accomplished because of that.  Last Friday I got word that they had figured out what was wrong with Goldie (my main machine) and that the part had been ordered, and would be done this week.

My dear Guy called them on Tuesday to check the status to be told it would be ready that night or Wednesday.  I did the happy dance!

Less than 24 hours later they called us...the part they replaced did not completely fix the problem...they have had to order another part.

So we are approaching 3 weeks without my main gal!  And I started to pout.

Now, let me say that the dealer I got Goldie through is very reputable, and have been fabulous for the past two years that I've had Goldie.  None of my disgruntlement has anything whatsoever to do with them!  This is me just plain feeling sorry for myself.

Since Goldie has been in the shop, I have done lots o' piecing on little Bitty.  But what I really want to be doing is FINISHING some quilts!  So I had to walk away from Bitty the other day.  My creative outlet needs were not being met.

Well...enough is enough...time to get over it!  This is what I have to work with, and I must make the best of it!   It also happens to be the first Friday Night Sew In of the year...so an even better reason to get my rear in gear!  So off I go to piece away...and to apologize to Bitty for being so rude ;)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

15 minute challenge...week 28

Tuesday: Sisters' Ten, Scrappy Trip

Wednesday: none

Thursday: Sisters' Ten

Friday: Starburst (cutting)

Saturday: Starburst (cutting)

Sunday: Scrappy Trip

Monday: Scrappy Trip

This week was much harder to stay on schedule and get my tail end to the sewing table...and when I did...it was often ONLY for 15 minutes (back to setting a timer for myself!).  The switch to nights has been a little rougher than I anticipated, and my original schedule goals of sewing before work just wasn't happening as the week progressed.

I do not normally work nights at this time of the year, usually it's during the spring/early summer time (April-May).  My day job is as a Nuclear Operations Instructor at a nuclear power plant.  Every year the licensed operators at the plant are required to take a requalification exam.  I've been part of the development team for that exam for the past 3-4 years.  Unfortunately to develop this exam requires us to work odd hours, hence the night shift.

Goldie is STILL in the shop...hopefully the needed part arrived today and I'll be getting her back soon.

Overall, I'm hanging in there, getting bits and pieces done here and there!  Time for me to link up over at Life in Pieces and see how everyone did this week!



Sunday, January 20, 2013

There is something very addictive...

...about a Quilt-a-long!  After first seeing the posts for the Starburst Quilt-A-Long by Melissa at Happy Quilting...I really wanted to...but told myself to wait and see...wait and see if in the midst of this crazy work schedule I'm on that I would have time to play along!  So I got up Friday after the best sleep I've had all week...and went...hmmmm...why not!

Thankfully I have LOTS of FQs in my stash.  After taking a look at all of them, I decided to go with Prairie Paisley 2 by Minick and Simpson and make myself a Red, White and Blue quilt!!!  (I'm very excited to see how this one comes out!).

I laid all 12 FQs out to decide what would make up what part of my stars:


Then I got to cutting (making the 32" blocks), and here it all is:


and a closer look at the fabric for the stars:


I have not cut out the sashing strips yet, I want to see how the blocks look and perhaps go a little scrappy with the sashing.  

Since I have tomorrow off from work (woohoo!), I'm hoping to be able to start on the next part of the QAL as soon as it's posted!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Sisters' Ten BOM - January

After much hemming and hawing...and staring at the lovely Sisters' Ten BOM January blocks that have been popping into the flickr group...I finally got down to putting my blocks together!

January Block 1:

January Block 2:

I have to admit...block 2 is my favorite...but when I put them together:


block 1 has some things going on that I really like also!  And I love how different the two blocks are, even though it's the same pattern for each!  I'm very excited to see how this all turns out in the end!  Can't wait for February!


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

15 minute challenge...week 27

Even though I had a machine set back...I only missed one day this week in the 15 minute challenge!

Tuesday: none

Wednesday: Scrappy Trip

Thursday: Scrappy Trip and HST BOM

Friday: Scrappy Trip and HST BOM

Saturday: Scrappy Trip

Sunday: Sisters' Ten BOM

and as much as I am enjoying Bitty and getting lots of piecing done (10 Scrappy Trip blocks, and HST BOM sewn in rows and all sashing ready to go)...I'm ready to finish some stuff...and for that I need Goldie back.  Hopefully we'll hear something soon on her progress and if she can be fixed.

Schedule wise...it's working out fairly well.  Except on the weekends.  It was difficult this weekend getting some sewing time in...mainly because we had beautiful, warm weather...so we spent a great deal of time running around, going to the zoo, spending time with friends...that I got a few minutes done in the morning and that was about it!  This week my work schedule shifts to 11 pm to 9 am, so we'll see how the first few days go as I transition to daytime sleeping.  So far, doing my stitching while my breakfast settles (before my workout) is working out, hopefully the shift in schedule doesn't throw that off.

Linking up at Life in Pieces to see how everyone is doing with their 15 minutes and scheduling!