Friday, February 08, 2008

hiding out...and thinking too much

I’m been laying low. Sorry about that. It’s been all about school and tests and it really won’t let up until about Feb 29.

I have not been able to sew. Last weekend I took the time to sew some Valentine’s postcards that were on a panel from last year. That was fun and fast. So that busted an infinitesimal amount of stash and nearly a whole spool of deep red thread. It was nice to do something new.

My sewing funk comes from the idea that I absolutely must finish 1 table runner and 2 quilts for the quilt show in a month. Yes, I know, people work better under a deadline and I am no exception, but since I’ve decided to get UFOs done, starting with those, I’ve been in a funk. And I’ve had to stop myself from full-blown launching into the New Year’s Sudoku quilt challenge, Carolina Crossroads in full force, SITP and the Bargello bowl. 4 items that would have turned into UFOs because another 4 cool ideas would have come along to start. At least I know the source of my madness.

Another question that is coming up in my mind is if I make all these quilts, then where to they all go? Yes I can give them away, but I like these patterns and frankly would like to keep them. But for what? Where? Why? This is moving me deeper into the funk.

Meanwhile I have the family DD birthday party on the 16th (have to clean), 3 exams in 2 days on the 20th and 21st, and then the kid party on the 24th (at the place, not at my house). And Ted is traveling for 5 of those 16 days. My stress is stressed just thinking of everything that needs to be done.

So in order to cope, I have to get a lot of studying done, but besides that, I’ve decided that I will work to certain defined points on the 2 quilts, try to accomplish the table runner, do one or two bobbins’ worth of FMQ on an older UFO (a Bonnie My Blue Heaven) and I can start the bargello. I actually cut an entire 2 gallon Ziploc of 2.5 strips when I was doing the cutting for the Dad quilt. I cut a 5” WOF piece, cut 2 nickels for the bin, 1 nickel for a disappearing 9-patch (a UFO, sadly), pieces for the Dad quilt (a Bonnie Backroads to OK) and then took the rest and cut it lengthwise into 2.5” strips and said hey here we go. I know that there are over 128 different fabs in that bag.

My thought process involved a girl here at work. I have had the pleasure of working with her because I took on a task for the time being at the request of management. She is trying to get pregnant and is having a medical hard time. Since I have had all the troubles I have had, I can relate. So I went by her cube today for some work related thing and she has a sign posted for a benefit (needing silent auction items!!!) for a little boy that is ill. Her DH is a cop and one of the parents of this little boy is a cop or a firefighter or some other civil servant. So I figured I would donate the bargello to the silent auction and the My Blue Heaven to the boy. This way I get to work on new stuff, it doesn’t become another UFO, an old UFO gets finished and put to good use, I and the 3 things I need to get done for the show will see some progress.

How I will manage quilting, cleaning and studying is something I haven’t figured out yet. Work hard, play hard I guess.

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