15 Minutes To Stitch 2021 - Week 45

I loved participating in Kate's Life in Pieces 15 Minutes to Stitch since 2020 and am a fan of her blog. She's continuously hosted since 2011!

My 2021 goal is to stitch at least 15-minutes 50% of the days in the year.

• Week 45: 7 of 7 = 100 %
• 96 minutes/day average across 7-days
• November: 7 of 7 = 100%
• 2021: 274 of 311 = 88 %

On Friday, I got my COVID booster. My arm has been sore for 2 days. Looking forward to going to some Quilt Guild meetings and a workshop next weekend!

My Rocketbook Orbit, clipboard style notebook is just what I wanted. So easy to use and slick pages. I love both the plain sheets for doodling and the lined or dot grid for writing notes or planning.  

As soon as I get the One Monthly Goal quilt top together, I will cut the batting and try the different Basting Sprays made five weekends ago.  

Really enjoying listening to YouTubes of Abraham Hicks each night to soothe and reframe my perspective. Thinking about who I want to be and forming my habits from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, 

So, how did the sewing projects go?

Top items with progress:

1) Finally showing off my Modern Quilt Guild QuiltCon 2022 Artisan Challenge Quilt. It's 14-inches by 14-inches. Artist's Statement: This original design pieced quilt represents the structure needed for Working From Home, overlaid by the Turbulence of the job and home interruptions. Ghosts of activities cancelled impact the best laid plans after working so hard to try and complete goals. Quilting techniques include Stitch in the Ditch, Free Motion and Ruler Work. The Terry Twist quilting ruler by Sally Terry was used to obtain the swooping stitches. This quilt contains a lot of personal firsts: patchwork original design, micro quilting, ruler work, echo quilting and facing. The Windham Artisan Cotton Challenge Fabrics gave the rich depth needed to express the emotions of this experience.

Close-up required for submission:

Remaining steps are to hand sew on the hanging sleeve, create the label and hand-sew to the back. 

2) PBJ Monthly Color Challenge - 3 November Blocks: Complete:

Lil'Trixie with her November Block:

Lil'Trixie's September Block was also finished, slightly changed from original:

Now the official September Blocks photo is available with all 3:

3) String and Story Free Motion Quilting Academy

Different basting sprays to test:

1. S&S HAK Flour paste basting spray with cheap Vodka
2. S&S HAK Flour paste basting spray with isopropyl alcohol
3. Washable Glue diluted with water
4. Washable Glue diluted with cheap Vodka
5. Washable Glue diluted with isopropyl alcohol

My commitment to doodle on 2 pages/day is going pretty well. With the Rocketbook sitting next to me at night, it's definitely easier.

4) Happy Go Lucky Unicorns quilt purchased in 2016: 3 pinwheel rows sashed. 4 Unicorn Rows cut and ready for sashing on the outsides. Moving on to the next step to add sashing to the top and bottom of the pinwheel rows: 

5) Assembling Geo Grid Quilt from Guild Exchange Blocks (FAL #133) has become the new Leader/Ender project since I've sewn all the Easy Breezy kits made from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville 2020 L/E pattern. Blocks have been organized on the design wall:

While the seams don't next everywhere, I've decided to press the block seams left and right in alternating rows. The bottom row needs one more seam. The next to bottom row is in progress.

6) Thomas (FAL #87) now has all his ears, arms and legs sewn together. Need to sew the ears to the sides of the head next:

Updating Mini Archie's Fettle Those Finishes! to continue my focus for the Fourth Quarter of 2021. 

Fettle Those Finishes! priority projects UPDATE (Q4):

1. Due 10/31: PBJ 2021 Color Challenge October 3 blocks - COMPLETED
2. PBJ 2021 Color Challenge September (1 lil block needs FPP) - COMPLETED
3. Due 11/30: PBJ 2021 Color Challenge November 3 blocks - COMPLETED
4. Due 11/12?: Happy Go Lucky Unicorns quilt (FAL #56) - IN PROGRESS
5. QuiltCon 2022 Artisan Cotton Fabric Challenge (FAL #130) - SUBMISSION COMPLETED, FINISHING TOUCHES IN PROGRESS
6. Geo Grid (FAL #133) - IN PROGRESS
7. Due 11/30: The Sandpiper Shuffle - Not Started
8. Free Motion Quilting Academy Practices - IN PROGRESS
9. Due ??/??: Baby Quilt, Just Get It Done Quilts' Stashbuster 4 - Not Started
10. Easy Breezy Leader/Ender quilt for Doggie (FAL #4) - ON HOLD
11. All About Me guild challenge quilt (FAL #132, needs borders) - ON HOLD

What are you working on?

Link-Ups:

• Life in Pieces Week 45 of 2021 - As #7