Category Archives: resolution

wip wednesday: dear diary update

Posted on by
2

Happy belated new year! I have no lofty resolutions to share with you this year, but I have decided to simply quilt every day. Could be a decade-old UFO or a brand new project, … something, anything.

So far in 2011 I’ve finished a quilt that I started in 2004, made progress on a new quilt pattern (scheduled to be released in Spring 2011), and started stitching together my Dear Diary 2010 blocks.

This wasn’t the layout I was envisioning last year … I mistakenly thought I only made a handful of blocks and intended the open spaces to not only add visual interest, but increase the quilt dimensions as well.

After I started sewing the blocks together potholder-quilt style, I discovered this stack of blocks in varying stages of completion. Guess I needn’t have worried about the finished quilt being too small. I’m still glad I’m doing it this way, not only will there be less sewing in the assembly, I think it’s going to look better.

Stay tuned this year for further Dear Diary 2010 updates, breaking news on my new quilt patterns, and more quilting adventures! Although I’m not going to be blogging every day, I will be quilting every day and therefore should have no problem figuring out what to blog about. I promise to periodically set down my needle and thread to post a blog entry or two from time to time. :)

tip tuesday: take 10

Posted on by
Reply

10Did you resolve to make or finish more quilts in the new year? Think you can do it in just 10 minutes a day?

Not all of us can take off on a week-long quilting retreat, but just about everybody can carve out 10 minutes a day for quilting-related tasks. Here’s how it works:

  1. Choose a quilting project to devote 10 minutes a day to. Avoid complicated patterns. You want something simple that you can jump right in and out of without getting mixed up.
  2. Set aside 10 minutes each day. Schedule it in. Early in the morning works best for some people, while others prefer evening or late night. Choose a time that works for you. Don’t be afraid to mix it up once in awhile as needed. If you’re ironing the laundry one afternoon, the ironing board is set up and the iron’s hot, take advantage of that. After ironing your clothes, take 10 and press the fabric for your 10-minute project.
  3. Divide the steps into short, manageable chunks and assign days to them. For example, Sunday: press the fabric. Monday: cut strips for fabric A. Tuesday: subcut units for fabric A. Wednesday: cut strips for fabric B. Thursday: subcut units for fabric B.  Friday: chain piece unit A-Bs. Saturday: press unit A-Bs. And so on. If you don’t have a dedicated sewing space set up and it takes too much time and effort to clear the dining room table and set up for just 10 minutes, then use your 10-minute days for prep work only. When you do have an afternoon or even an hour or two for quilting, you’ll be ready to jump right in and get stitching!

seven for 2007

Posted on by
5

Here are my quilty goals for 2007:
1. CHALLENGE: Complete all 12 each of Fast Friday Fabric and 12x12x12 Portfolio challenges, and finish at least half of them on time.
2. ENTER: Submit my work to 2 quilt shows, contests, or other exhibition venues.
3. FINISH: Finish at least 3 UFOs.
4. GIVE: Complete and give 6 handmade gifts.
5. LEARN: Learn to do real hand-quilting, use the Clover needle felting tool, and Shiva paintsticks.
6. TEACH: Develop and teach 4 different classes.
7. WRITE: Write 1 article and submit it to a suitable quilt magazine for publication.

I scaled the requirements back somewhat in deference to my one resolution:
Be balanced.
Be healthy but not fanatical…
Not too messy, not too neat…
Work hard, but also play, etc.

In reality though, the goals do overlap a lot. Any of the pieces I complete can be used as gifts, the basis for a new class, or a show entry; a class outline can be rewritten into an article, and so on.

have a creative and productive new year!

adventures of a quilting diva