Keep On Going

Posted on February 4, 2020 by prairiemoonquilts in Organizing

It’s been one month since we wrapped up The Final Countdown.

Normally, I lose momentum on the tasks I don’t get finished, and move on to something else, as it is my flitting nature to do.

But this year, I really, really want to get my paper under control, and my projects all organized, so I’ve still been chipping away at those things.

I haven’t checked anything off my 2020 Project List yet, but I did complete my #2 for the APQResolution challenge, which was the Mickey & Minnie panel quilt.

You can see the Mickey & Minnie panel quilt HERE if you missed it earlier. This month’s number is 9, which is another quilt I’ve had on my list for several years that only needs to be quilted and bound, so hopefully this is the month. This is coincidentally also the project I’m supposed to be working on for my local guild’s UFO challenge this month, so I can knock something off both lists with one project!

Here’s an old blurry photo of my Scrap Jar Stars quilt (pattern info HERE). I’m not sure yet exactly how I’m going to quilt it. Hopefully, it will speak to me fairly quickly once I get it loaded on the frame. I’m seriously considering a stars pantograph to make it quick and easy.

I also finished a quilt top, but then I was cleaning and found a mystery box, opened it up, and inside it, found ELEVEN quilt tops that need to be quilted. So I didn’t come out ahead on that effort! Just like last year, I’m trying to finish at least 3 projects before I allow myself to start a new one, and so far, I haven’t started anything new, but I can feel that’s about to change!

So far, having the habit trackers set up is helping me move lots of things forward. I practiced during the last week of January to see if I could handle what I wanted to do. I said I was going to machine piece for 30 minutes a day, but I could quickly see that 30 minutes wasn’t going to get me very far, so I upped it to an hour. Altho that’s a bit more difficult, it’s necessary, and I can get more accomplished in a day that way.

I put 4 things on my tracker for February:

  • • Machine piece 1 hour a day
    • Work on getting the scraps and fabric stash under control 30 minutes a day
    • Get rid of 5 things a day
    • Knit at least 2 rows on a knitting project

If you want the tracker, and missed getting it, you can find it HERE.

So far I’m concentrating my knitting efforts on my Temperature Scarf (details on that HERE) because it’s also on my APQResolution list, and I need to have it further along by the time they draw that number, or I won’t get done!

I’m hoping my house and studio are a lot emptier and cleaner by the end of the month!

I also started a mother/daughter Book Club with my oldest daughter, who is a seriously dedicated bookworm. Our first read is “Helter Skelter”, because I want her to read it, and then watch the movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. If only the movie was really the way that story had played out instead of like the book. So tragic and sad.

How’s your year going so far? Are you all organized and can now just concentrate on sewing? Are you making headway on your UFOs or other projects? Did you start some new fun stuff? Keep on going!

8 responses to “Keep On Going”

  1. Johnna Clarke says:

    I am making headway on the temperature quilt. I also tried paper piecing. I am NOT a fan. I’ll just stick with how I do it now. Hey, at least now I can say I KNOW I don’t like it!

  2. Ells says:

    Too many scraps and stash is way out of hand. Have decided that 2020 needs to have projects that use the scraps and what is already in my stash. So far this year completed 2 UFOs completely out of the scrap bin and by “shopping in my stash”.

  3. Marcia in TX says:

    Love the quilt and happy to hear your plan is coming along. Also enjoyed the pics of your animals when I followed the click.

  4. PAULA M MORGAN says:

    I started prepping ” Eastmoreland” by Kathy Schmitz. My sewing area mostly organized, and areas cleared to cut, press and sew…Really the only quilt I “need” to get done is my husbands T-Shirt quilt, which I am learning QAYG to complete it. I am really trying not to join another 100 day 100 block sal…and this year concentrate on finishing all I started since 2015.

  5. Marlene Clausen says:

    I find both your and Angela Walter’s advice on “how do I quilt it?” to be very liberating: edge to edge, git ‘er done; done is better than perfect; how will it be used and how much do you love who is getting it.” I am taking that advice to heart and am using it to perfect different types of meandering and loop all-over quilting. Finishing is coming along a lot faster these days!

  6. Carolyn S says:

    With making a move and downsizing, I know this is a great time to get organized. Right now everything is sitting in boxes. Have given a box of scraps to a fellow guild members and taken boxes of magazines to my guild, but I think I’m still going to have to donate some stuff elsewhere. And I have to get busy on quilt for grandson graduating from h.s. Want to make Sasha pattern by Shannon Brinkley. Wish me luck and send me any extra minutes from your day. Think I’m going to need it

  7. Elle says:

    I belong to an online quilting group. 1 of our members, many years ago, started a “WITB” self challenge. This stands for “what’s in the box”. Many of us have joined her. So, we select a box, and for an entire month we focus on using it’s contents. Sometimes the bin is empty and sometimes not. I don’t have many bins so I select a specific ‘stack’ of fabric in my stash (95% of my stash is folded and on shelves in full view). Last year I finished 2 stacks, 1 bin that held all 2.5″ scrap strips and squares and I started on my 2″ bin of scrap strips and squares as well as the gifted fabric samples.

    So far this year, I have emptied WITB #1 which was the continuation of the fabric sample bin-it is EMPTY-having made 3 large quilt tops! WITB #2 is the continuation of the 2″ scrap strip/squares bin.
    WITB #3 is the stack of gifted kiddo quilt fabrics from a few friends over the recent 5y. It was originally 5 stuffed boxes and now a stack about 8″ tall.

    I’m looking forward to a productive 2020 quilty year and new spaces on my stash shelves!!!!

    I hope my methods help someone achieve their focus and goals.

  8. Christopher Thomas says:

    so far I am doing good one working on my hand work around an hour each night, hope to keep that up and have a lot of tea towels to give away at christmas

    will be working on more blocks this weekend

    i need to get some quilts sent off to the quilters and have them done so i can have them on hand to give away as well

    hope all is going great for everyone

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