September rolled through quickly or did I just imagine it. Fast paced but still a productive month. I started off focusing on Sue Garman’s Bed of Roses of which I got quite a bit accomplished. Pat on the back. Blocks 7 and 8 are appliqued, one border strip appliqued and one set-in block appliqued. All have been hand washed, pressed and hanging waiting to be put together in a quilt. Whew, are my fingers tired and sore. The quilt is coming together nicely. The goal is getting her to the quilter January 2019.
I had a staycation in September. My routine consisted of sewing room time from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then outside to tackle procrastinated tasks that were starting to haunt me. I worked on clearing out the garage. It’s really a 24 x 32 building that’s more of a shop that I have used as storage. (The building’s not mine, I wish it was. I would have procrastinated longer.) I had a bonfire 4 nights running. I live in the country and am able to have those nice soothing evening bonfires to relax those tired muscles from lifting and going through boxes that had not been opened in 10 years. Those boxes were the last vestiges of my former married life and the only thing going through my mind as I was sorting through everything was, “What in the world was I thinking, why did I hang onto that?” So onto the bonfire it went. Very cathartic.
I also got my she-shed storage building organized. What a job that turned out to be. More lifting and using those muscles again. The shed has a loft, great for storage. My sister gave me a set of metal shelves and we put them together. I was so sure there was no way they would fit through the doorway once we had assembled them, but, I was wrong and it went right through. Those shelves hold tubs. Yea!!!! I also put away the deck furniture for the season. Brought in the plants that will spend the winter in the spare bedroom and spare bathroom. The process of bringing in the plants, organizing them, and repotting some of them burned up a good 6 hours.
By Friday, I said ENOUGH and proclaimed the rest of my staycation was going to be anything I wanted except anything that might involve physical labor. I was actually thankful to go back to work. I’m not used to all the physical labor and my body was starting to rebel.
September was also the month for the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show in Springfield, MO. I entered my A Boy and A Girl pattern quilt by Kim McClean. I did not ribbon, but I got some very good constructive criticism which I will take to heart. I also got to meet several people who share my same interests. Isn’t it awesome that total strangers can have a comfortable dialog just because of one shared interest? Now that the show season for me has come to a close, it is time to get back into the sewing room.
First off I do have to state that it is unseasonably warm and does not really feel like October should feel like. It’s supposed to be cool and rainy. It’s upper 80’s and into 90’s and sunshine. Summer still in full swing here. Will it never end? Wining done. So, October goals : Month 2 of Afternoon Delight, Block 9 and Block 10 of Bed of Roses are at the top of the list. That should keep me pretty busy. If time allows I will be doing a quilt along of Angela’s from Quilting is My Therapy. I need to practice some more and with each practice session, I am getting more and more comfortable machine quilting. When I become complacent about tackling my own quilting jobs, I have to remind myself that is why I bought my Bernina so I could learn to short-arm quilt. It’s awfully easy to just deliver them to Vickie. I mean she does a wonderful job and it frees my time for applique and machine piecing tops.
I think it might be time for me to spend some time piecing a quilt top. I am hearing the siren call of instant gratification. I have been doing so much handwork these last couple of years that I feel the tug to sit at the sewing machine again. I did put a list together of 20 quilts (I know just 20) that need to be completed. My lists keep me going. I just love’m.
My motto for October, no new home projects til next year!! Only sewing room quality time. Would someone tell my sister for me, no new projects. 🙂
Happy Stitches.
Sissy Malone
Appliquenut 