Making Potions

It's been a few months since my last Monday morning post.  So far, 2022 has been calmer then the end of 2021. Fingers crossed that remains the case as we get deeper into January.  

I didn't get as much stitching time this weekend has I had hoped.  It was the Scientist in Training's birthday, so we went out to dinner for her family celebration then did lunch with a friend so she could celebrate with a buddy.  She's back at college for her last undergraduate semester. Her impending graduation has me working to finish up a couple of quilts for her mentors. 

 

Potions by Flying Parrot Designs

I'm halfway through the test tubes.  I'm hoping to have all of those made by the end of the week.  Then it will be time to start on the beakers.  

Linking up with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday and Love Laugh Quilt for Making Monday.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 2 of 2022

The first full week of 2022 is in the bag.  I survived the first week back in the office. Things started off slow, things will ramp up pretty quickly, but hopeful not to the point they did last year.  

The Scientist in Training has been home this week. Tomorrow she heads back to college for her last semester of undergraduate.  It's been nice to have someone to hang out with in the sewing room. It does make it easier to make the trek upstairs when you know someone is waiting on you.  Hopefully I don't fall back into bad habits when she leaves because it was a really good week on the stitching front. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 8/8 days
• 15 minute days/2022 = 8/8 days
• Success rate = 100%  

So far, so good on getting into the sewing room each day for at least 15 minutes.  How did you fare with finding time to stitch this second week of the new year? 

1. Ivani 2. karen 3. Julie in GA 4. maggie f 5. Colletta's Kitchen Sink 6. Melissa G 7. Meloney

8. Sherrie 9. DonnaleeQ 10. Laundered Cotton Quilts 11. Melisa - Pinker n Punkin Quilting 12. Quilting Gail 13. DawnyK 14. Andre

15. Shasta @ High Road 16. Carol @ Quilt Schmilt 17. Stitching Loving Nana :) 18. amanda 19. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts

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Photo Challenge Week 28: Something at Night

A little late posting again this week.  Everyone had their photos last night, but we were all so tired by the time we got home, no one wanted to get on their computers and deal with sending me photos. By the time we all got moving this morning, it was time to head out for the Scientist in Training's birthday celebration with friends.  So I just didn't get a post up before we left.  

So here's week 28:

We all had a similar theme this week. All the photos were taken around town.  

Kate:  The Tower at Night

We actually have high rises in our downtown.  This is one of the original office buildings the served as corporate headquarters for many years. The bottom floor still houses the company cafeteria.  It's pretty impressive lit up at night. 

My Guy: Native Color at Unity Park

This is an art exhibit built within the last year as part of the creation of a new park in downtown.  My Guy did a walk through down town after hitting the gym one night. It was too cold for my bones.  

The Scientist in Training:  Downtown Friday Night

We went out to dinner last night and the SIT grabbed this shot as we were heading home.  It's just down the street from the most popular pizza place in town. 

This week wasn't as challenging as some of the more recent weeks have been.  Next week's challenge will require some technical knowledge to set up the shots.  

My Guy has a lot of experience with taking photos of the stars and such, so he has a fair amount of knowledge about this subject. But it's not something he's done with his digital SLR.  So this week should be interesting.  

PHD in 2022

This will be my 4th year playing along with Quilting Gail for the annual PHD (Projects Half Done) challenge.  

I've yet to successfully complete the PHD challenge. But it's fun and motivating, so if all I do is make a bit of progress at working down the UFO list that works for me.  Here's my list for 2022. 

Here's the pictorial view.  

There are 3 Rainbow Scrap projects and 4 Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt along projects in the mix. There are 2 other mystery quilt alongs on the list plus three other of just wanted to make it projects. The hexy project (number 3 in the bottom row) is my oldest UFO.  Number 2 and number 4 in row one, plus number 2 in row 2 are my new starts from 2021.  I don't count something as a UFO unless it's been on my list for a year. But finishing them means that my UFO numbers don't go up.  

If I can move 6 projects along this year, I'll be pretty pleased with progress in 2022.  Linking up with Quilting Gail for the PHD in 2022.

One Monthly Goal: January 2022

I haven't quite mastered getting the year right when writing out the date. That's probably going to take a few weeks rather than the few days of the new year that have passed so far.  I'm mostly wrapped up with last year's stuff and can concentrate on what's in the works for this year.  Participating in the One Monthly Goal over at Elm Street Quilts has always been a great motivator, so I'm going to play along again this year. 

I have two quilts that need to be finished in time for the Scientist in Training's college graduation in May.  The first of those is off being quilted, so that one should easily be finished. The second of those I've just started.  

Photo from Flying Parrot Quilts

The pattern is Potions from Flying Parrot Quilts. You can purchase a downloadable PDF here.  I need to have all the blocks pieced and the quilt assembled with a back made by the beginning of April for it to be finished by early May. I really hate working to a deadline, but I can if needed.  The pattern is broken down into four sections; test tubes, beakers, flasks and assembly.  My plan is to try to finish each  section within two weeks, that would put it ready for quilting in March.  I'm not likely to meet that aggressive of goal, but if I don't push, it won't get done.  

The blocks aren't difficult, but they are fiddly. You have to get the seam allowances just right or the block doesn't look quite right. I've only finished 3 test tube blocks so far. 

The third one went together a lot quicker than the first and second, so maybe I'm getting the hang of it.  Even so there a lot of blocks to finish in the near term. So my goal for January is to finish all the test tube blocks and have at least half the beaker blocks made. 

That's my plan for January.  Hopefully I can stay on track this month. If I do, my life will be much easier in February.  Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the January One Monthly Goal.