January NewFO - 2013

Barbara over at Cat Patches has graciously agreed to host the NewFO challenge again for 2013.  The only requirement for this challenge is to start a new project, definitely not one of the harder things on a quilters list.   I had planned to start three new projects in January, but I only managed to start one of those.  

Calico Cats has been one of those projects that's been buzzing around my brain since I saw the pattern in the July 2006 issue of The Quilter Magazine.  The original pattern did the cats in blacks and whites, my vision was for "calico" cats with a blue background. So far I've finished 2 of kitty blocks.

Calico Cats
Pattern is Fat Cats from the
The Quilter Magazine (July 2006)
by Lucy A. Fazely and Micheal L. Burns

Only 18 left to go!  I'm hoping that I've learned all the problem spots with this block so that my unsewing time from here on out will be minimum.  The challenge doesn't require that you finish quilts, but this project needs to be done by May because it is a gift.  I best get busy on those remaining blocks.  

Hop over to Cat Patches to check out all the other NewFOs started this month.  

15 Minute Challenge - January Wrap Up

January 2013 is just about over.  As part of the 15 Minute Challenge this year, I'm looking for ways to not only find the time to sew, but  make that 15 minutes more creative.  The topic this month has been "Scheduling".  Here's a summary of what's been covered in the previous posts:

• Set a scheduled time to sew each day.
• If that doesn't work try mapping out your time each week or month and deliberately schedule in your creative time.  
• Be prepared.  Look ahead and prep projects for those times when creative time is going to be at a premium.
• Use "found" time, or that time you thought was going to be devoted to something else - being prepared helps here.
• Focus on making progress, not meeting goals when you are pressed for time.  However if you do the "be prepared" part right you can make progress on your goals.  

A few other stray thoughts on scheduling creative time:

• Ask for sewing/creative time as a gift - This should be a great one if your guy never knows what to get you.  Or if the kids want do something special for you but don't yet have the means.
• Use "down time" such as doctor office waits and the mom's ever present "wait for whatever practice" to end.  I think most of us have our "mobile" projects for just such times.
• Balance the "have to stuff" in your schedule with the "want to stuff". Spend 15 minutes on the mess that is the kid's toys and 15 minutes in your sewing room.  Or when you've got the laundry folded, take a 15 minute break in your sewing room before heading on to the next chore. 

I promised a give away for those who linked up in the month of January with a post that included a "diary" of your weekly sewing time for the previous 7 days and mentions the 15 Minute Challenge.  

Adis Erla's book "My Runners Keep Going" and
a layer cake of Connecting Threads Batiks

This is your last chance to link up for the give away.  I'll announce a winner next Tuesday along with the fostering creativity topic for February.   

So how have I been doing on scheduling my 15 minutes of sewing time?  It's been a very busy month at our house with multiple volleyball tournaments, business trips and unfortunately one sick teenager.  Looking back at the month, I've managed to find at least 15 minutes to sew 23 out of the last 29 days, that is a 79% success rate. Not bad at all (unless you are getting a grade, then it just a high C).  Here's how the last week went.  

To manage 5 out of 7 days with a 3 day business trip and a sick teenager falling in this week alone is not a bad week.  February looks to be as busy as well, so I'll get lots of practice scheduling my creative time.  

How did you do this week in finding 15 minutes to sew/knit/create?  

1. Amanda, Seabreeze Quilts 2. Julie in GA

3. Thea 4. Kate

5. Lesley A 6. Gloria

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Design Wall Monday - January 28th

Not a lot of sewing this last week.  Between the business trip early in the week and than having a sick kiddo over the weekend, sewing time has been a bit scarce.  Drama Teen came down with the flu on Friday.  Poor kid has had a rough weekend.  She's gone from feeling like she's been run over by a bus on Saturday to being run over by a VW bug last night (her descriptors).  She's not up yet this morning, so I'm not sure how she's feeling today.  I took a day of vacation so I could be home with her today.  Hopefully she'll turn the corner today and start feeling more herself.  

Not much has changed on the design wall from this week to last week.  I've added one block each to Mon Ami and the Scrappy Star projects since last week.  I did finish block 1 for the Calico Cats quilt and am almost finished with block 2. 

Calico Cats
Pattern is Fat Cats from the
The Quilter Magazine (July 2006)
by Lucy A. Fazely and Micheal L. Burns

These blocks are tricky, I've had to do a bit of unsewing during the construction of both.  Hopefully the third time is the charm and I'll have the assemble process down for it.  

For more eye candy, check out the links over at Patchwork Times.  

Slow Stitching Sunday - January 27th

One of the challenges in linking up with "challenges" is having the time to get the photos and then write the posts.  On weekends, it's especially a challenge because we are so often headed out the door for something or other (usually at o'dark thirty, heading to someplace that doesn't have Internet access).  During the week, the choice lately has been do I blog or do I sew.  I've cut back on the blogging in order to spend a bit more time in the sewing room.  

I did work on some embroidery over Christmas and during some of the volleyball tournaments earlier this month.  I've made progress on the piece for the Medallion Quilt. 

Not a lot of progress, but there is some.  If I ever want to get this finished, I'm going to need to work on it more.  This may start showing up in my "Finished Project" goals each month.  Maybe then I would make more progress on it.  It would probably also help if I commit to linking up with Kathy's Quilts' Slow Stitching Sunday the last Sunday of the month.   Looks like I've already got a start on February's goals.  

Drama Teen Update - She's still pretty sick with the flu, but is showing signs of improvement.  She was actually able to sleep most of the night last night and her fever is a lot lower.  Her words this morning, "I still feel yucky, but less yucky than yesterday." 

Stash Report - Week 4

This has not been one of our better weekends.  Drama Teen has the flu. I had forgotten just how badly the flu knocks you down.  She's on Tamiflu and has been taking regular doses of Advil/Tylenol, with the occasional bath thrown in to keep the fever at bay.  I'm hoping that she turns the corner today and starts feeling better (I know she's hoping for that too!).

On the sewing front, it wasn't a stellar week.  I had a business trip during the first part of the week, so no sewing those nights.  Yesterday was laundry day and I do mean day.  It took almost the whole day to get caught up there, plus keep a handle on how DT was doing.  Still a little sewing went on and even better, no button pushing this week.  

Used last week:  0.27 yards
Added last week:  0 yards

Used for 2013: 7.21 yards
Added for 2013: 1.5 yards

Net busted for 2013:  5.71 yards  

So I'm still in the black at the end of week 4.  I am hoping to get in some more sewing time this week.  I'd like to use 100 yards this year, that means 8.33 yards a month.  That seems doable this month.  

I'm linking up with Patchwork Times.  Grab a cup of coffee and check out all the other stash reports.