How's everyone holding up?
So far only two counties in Kansas are enforcing
the full stay-at-home order but we're pretty set here
and would be fine if it came.
I love to spend my mornings at coffee shops when I can--
an indulgence I began allowing myself once the kids
grew up. Of the two closest places, one has closed and
the other, in a very small suburb, remains open--so far.
I feel compelled to help them out.
Small businesses are really getting hurt.
I'm an early-riser so I usually get the shop to myself for
a good hour, though DS was with me in above pic.
I feel pretty safe but I've cut way back and may
stop completely. It's a very small inconvenience
but I miss it greatly. With no distractions, I do my
spiritual reading and journaling. After that, I read blogs,
write, work out my schedule and menu, and so on.
Somehow that just doesn't happenvery well at all when
I'm home. And their internet speed is so much faster!
On my last visit, I downloaded plenty of audio books to
listen to while I sew. With both boys online for school,
I just stay off the home internet during the day but,
again, in light of all else, it's really not a big deal.
The rain has this gardener still very frustrated but
being stuck inside isn't exactly a big deal either.
I spent most of National Quilting Day in the sewing
room getting lots done on my son's quilt...which brings
me finally around to the dones of last week's to-do's.
I now have a total of 30 blocks made.
the full stay-at-home order but we're pretty set here
and would be fine if it came.
I love to spend my mornings at coffee shops when I can--
an indulgence I began allowing myself once the kids
grew up. Of the two closest places, one has closed and
the other, in a very small suburb, remains open--so far.
I feel compelled to help them out.
Small businesses are really getting hurt.
I'm an early-riser so I usually get the shop to myself for
a good hour, though DS was with me in above pic.
I feel pretty safe but I've cut way back and may
stop completely. It's a very small inconvenience
but I miss it greatly. With no distractions, I do my
spiritual reading and journaling. After that, I read blogs,
write, work out my schedule and menu, and so on.
Somehow that just doesn't happen
I'm home. And their internet speed is so much faster!
On my last visit, I downloaded plenty of audio books to
listen to while I sew. With both boys online for school,
I just stay off the home internet during the day but,
again, in light of all else, it's really not a big deal.
The rain has this gardener still very frustrated but
being stuck inside isn't exactly a big deal either.
I spent most of National Quilting Day in the sewing
room getting lots done on my son's quilt...which brings
me finally around to the dones of last week's to-do's.
1) Irish chain quilt
Against my better judgement, I re-tried a thread I haven't
had good luck with. Of course that set off tension issues
left and right. I'm not about to say that I think that I have
it all fixed because I know from experience that saying
things like that will jinx it horribly.
For now, I'll just say things are moving along and feel
free to add my machine's tension into your prayers;
my tension too if you're feeling especially sorry for me.
2) Son's America quilt
This is where I have been putting most of my focus
especially since my son is home. It'd be nice
to get this done and on his bed very soon.
They're not all pictured but I have 14 of 20 blocks
completed. I'm a little concerned about borders as
I'm not sure I have what I want/need.
3) Knitting on cable scarf
The goal was just progress. I made very little
but that's still progress so it counts, though I'm not
bothering with a pic--it looks pretty much the same.
4) Gardening
I can't control the weather. However, I did get
a lot of outdoor cleanup done so I'm feeling good enough
even if I'm lamenting the fact that my potatoes and onions
still are not in, not to mention carrots, lettuces, radishes...
It's supposed to rain again tonight so, in desperation,
I covered a large spot with a tarp and some plastic
once used for my forced-spring "greenhouses" which
I won't get into now but I wish I'd done it this year!
5) Farmer's Wife Blocks
Somehow I forgot to put this on the list but I got
three whole blocks made so I'm super happy here.
And these were all fun.
I now have a total of 30 blocks made.
After the last few weeks' poor showings--and I know
I'm not alone in being plenty distracted--it feels good to
be getting back at it. How many of us are turning
even more to our crafts and hobbies?
Next week's To-do's
1) Irish Chain: Just keep going!
And no crying. There's no crying in quilting.
Or killing.
2) America quilt: Sew all blocks together;
look into border options and maybe get them on.
3) Cable scarf: just make more progress.
4) Farmer's Wife quilt blocks: at least one but more is better.
5) Whatever gardening the weather will allow.
Looking ahead:
I have two quilts that I really want to start once
I get the other two completed, even though
I'm certain I should just focus on the garden.
First, this Bundle of Joy QAL starts tomorrow.
I see so many fun options in this!
I have vowed to not buy more fabric but I can't seem
to find any collection I like for it within my stash.
I'm going to give it one more go and if I still come
up with nothing, it's just going to go on the back burner.
I'll just have to keep my eyes open for a time; doing it
on my own will be fun, too--just not as fun as a QAL.
I have the metallic confetti jelly roll and the background
fabric for this--I just need 2 yds of solid black and hubs
has already agreed to stop by the LQS if I call ahead
and get some ordered up.
(Does this technically count as buying fabric
under these circumstances? Just 2 yds, just
a solid, I already have everything else...).
I'm pretty ready to pull the trigger on this one
because I just keep coming back to it. I have no
plans for it--maybe I'll just let my daughters draw for it.
Actually, I really love that confetti fabric so making
a second quilt would be great--of course this
would require fabric purchasing so that would
be farther down the road...
the "Make Lots of Room In My Stash" Road.
Strange name for a street. You should see the
big sign they had to make for it.
Stay in, stay safe and happy quilting!
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Comments
Your Americana quilt is looking beautiful and timeless in the fabrics you've chosen. I love it. Now, what kind of longarm do you have and which thread is giving you such terrible trouble? Are you using the same thread in the needle and bobbin? I have been in your shoes, cried those tears, and had those murderous thoughts of hefting the longarm out the window after hours of precious quilting time have been lost to tension tantrums... It's a good thing the beast weighs so much; the best I can do it throw a cone of misbehaving thread at the wall to let off a little steam!