Twenty days into 2023 and a good start both old and new projects

 I have been following a blog that is encouraging us to declutter our sewing studios and gives encouragement and suggestions for a different space every day.  At first I didn't think my space was in need of much decluttering but then, some of the topics made me look a little more closely and I am still working on either removing items from my home or finding a good location for them to live.  

Some of the biggest challenges were my containers of odds and ends, bit and pieces of sewing and quilting equipment and reminding myself of what I had and where it is when I need to find it... an example is point turners... I have 3 but didn't know their exact location. I still have some drawers to go through but will work on them slowly.  Mostly, I believe, that actually touching everything, including UFO's, equipment, supplies and fabric, at least once a year, is a good thing and organizing them is even better. 

My first quilting challenge for 2023 was to dig out all my row by rows from 2015 and 2016.  There was a binder of patterns I had collected, many kits and a lot of supporting fabric.  All of this was in a very large container.  I have now sorted out the kits into the two years of collections and gone through the patterns and have them in a 3 ring binder.  I challenged my Wednesday Diva group to make two per month in order to kick start myself into working on them.  I have loads of license plates and still thinking about what to do with those.

 

I had some completed and took a look at them.  They need the applique stitched down on ALL of them. 

Then I chose a few to work on and I have the applique fused but no stitching.  My plan is to have a stitching day (or two?) and work with all the pieces of a specific colour and get them done... then go onto the next colour etc.  Might take me awhile to get the all the colours done but at least there will be a nice group of them when finished the stitching. 

oops... an upside down picture but you get the idea?   There is one more that I haven't taken a picture of but it is also waiting patiently for stitching down the bits and pieces. 

Early in January my husband had his second carotid artery surgery and I used the time to dig out some salmon from the bottom of the freezer and get it canned.  We love canned salmon and it makes for a quick and easy dinner.  

I was glad I did it the day of his surgery as the hospital released him the next morning.  The nurse explained to me that there were far too many 'sick' patients in the hospital and surgical patients didn't need to be exposed to RSV, Covid, Pneumonia or the flu, all of which were running rampant on the wards and there were very few available beds.  So, home he came and, it was a good thing.  We were out for a walk the next morning!  We chose outside because it wasn't raining and we also figured it was a better health choice that walking indoors and being possibly exposed to sick people or, worse, an infection in his surgical site.  We love the park and there are lots of benches so one can sit when needed.

One of my first projects, other than the row by rows, was to dig out my light and dark scrap strip fabric bins.  Many of these fabrics are leftover bindings or backings and they were outgrowing their containers. What a mess it makes working with scraps but I kept plugging away at the stitching and watching my quilt grow.  I got carried away and ended up with an extra 20 blocks, enough for a good start the next time I want to use up some of the scrappy strips.

I decided to dig out one of my rainbow scrap challenges from 2022 and get those blocks put together.  This wasn't an easy choice of blocks because they are centers with sashings and I had added sashings to many before I realized that I had too many sashings? 

The Patterns by Jen block for January got done.  Once again, I am making two blocks per month with lights and darks reversed.

I had this top put together in December and I had the binding made but it kept getting pushed aside.  It is done and this is a 2021 rainbow scrap challenge.  I also got the binding added to the scrappy strip pieced blocks from RSC 2021, so two UFO projects completed.

January 2023 RSC colour is blue and I used up a lot of scraps. First are the strip pieced blocks and I stitch these on paper and they are 10" squares.

I also made some plus blocks.  There are way too many for a one month contribution to a quilt and am trying to decide if I want to make more and have a blue and white quilt or add one more colour and make a two colour quilt? 

My third choice for an RSC block is the Stashbuster block for 2023.  After making a few blocks, I decided that I really like the blocks better when made all with the same fabric in one block... especially the lights?  I think the challenge for Stashbuster is make one a week and have 52 by the end of the year?

The block above was a challenge from the Modern guild.  We were given envelopes in December that we opened this month and then we were given the instructions on what to do with them.  Done!

I finished the January step for the Meadowland mystery.  Totally up to date with this project. 

While chatting on the phone the other evening, I pressed the quilt tops that I had finished... RSC quilt from 2022, log cabin scrappy from 2023 and a UFO from the modern guild that had me working with some crazy fabrics.  I ended up with two tops that are ready for quilting and binding.  These two quilts are from 2019 so time to get them done and out of here!

A fun day last Saturday.  We had a sew in for the first time in 3 years with the modern guild.  Lots of laughter and sharing of ideas plus encouragement. 

Mother Nature is giving us some fabulous days mixed in with ugly, wet weather.  The old adage "make hay when the sun shines" is my motto.  A good time to wash bedding and have it dry (partially) outside and my dirty windows are calling my name. 

So, I feel that I am off to a good start this year with attacking a few old projects.  I have some on my list that need to be done.

1. Row by rows from 2015 (20 of them)

2. Row by rows from 2016 (18 of them)

3. T-shirt quilt 

4.  A Pat Sloan block of the month project: Solstice 

5. Quilts on hangers waiting for quilting and binding (10 of them).  

6. An assortment of small projects that are in kits and I did make a few in December.  

Twenty days in and progress being made in decluttering, organizing, tidying, and stitching.