To-Do Tuesday - Week of Dec 29, 2020 to January 4, 2020

 Merry Christmas and very Happy (better) New Year! Let's all hope that we can put the dumpster fire of 2020 behind us, and that 2021 is the best it can be.

Depression raised its ugly head again, and although I was able to function somewhat normally for work and family relationships, my personal well-being took a hit. I was looking forward at the beginning of the year to have a dedicated crafting/sewing space again, but as much as I am happy with it, I was not motivated at all. I've had a quilt beside me to bind for months now, and have only managed to stitch 1 1/2 sides. 

Blogging has always helped me get motivated and accountable to myself, so here I go once again.

Here is this week's to-do list:

1. Box up, sort, purge and organize back room, in preparation for the installation of a mini-kitchen area. This has become a dumping area over the last nine months, and I can't use the excuse of no time anymore! (Keeping it real here!)

Fridge alcove and sink/counter area to the left.

Sink/counter area is now on the right - it won't be big but the sink will be big enough to clean paint brushes and the counter to make a coffee! The front area is only about 7 ft wide, enough for a small table perhaps.

This wall is opposite the counter area. It will mainly be overflow storage for projects and supplies. The garage door can be seen in the background.

2, Finish binding this damn quilt! It guilts me every day!

3. Use a past project UFO  to use as a Leader/Ender project for the week. I've picked On Ringo Lake, a mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter. I am still on Step 2, and I'd like to complete it this week! 

It has been sitting like this for about a month now. It's not the best pic, it's a bit gloomy today, but you can see some finished units in the upper left hand corner of the board.

Bonus project: I bought a little footstool on Facebook Marketplace sometime ago (maybe a year?), and want to recover the top, make a new lining for the inside and the underside of the top and paint it for my sitting room. I love hand-sewing and embroidery, and it would be nice to keep my supplies handy. I would love to finish this project this week, but only if I get the decluttering done.

It is definitely home-made, but with some interesting details. I'll take of the old cover and pad the new top a little better, I suspect it only has layers of fabric as it isn't very soft as a footstool. I have a piece of fabric I created from selvedges that I think would make a great cover.

As much as that under-top pocket looks in good shape, it is a pretty loose weave and some of the stitching has let go. It's also grimy on the edges and a little musty, so I would like to replace it.

I'm joining the Tuesday To Do Linky Party over at Home Sewn by Us for the first time. I hope to keep it up this coming year as a motivation to move some of my UFOS along! 

The last few years, I have chosen a word to represent what I'd like to achieve for the year. Some past words have been Joy, Nurture, Focus. I'm considering what to use this year, using what I've learned this year. The impact of COVID-19 has changed so much this year, and I'm going to use my blog as a journal this coming year, with some reflections and changes I'm going to make moving forward.

As far as my family and I go, we have been fortunate not to suffer the effects of the disease itself, nor any of the economic suffering of others. We have been incredibly grateful for these blessings, and are doing our part following our government guidelines and wearing masks to protect others, so that maybe our community can reopen sooner rather than later. I hope you and yours remain safe. 

Until next time, 

Terri in BC

July To-Do List, Day 2 of 31 days of blogging

We had a great time yesterday celebrating Canada's birthday.  I saw on the news it's going to be a huge party in 3 years, our sesquicentennial (150 years).  There are websites galore already planning - here are just a couple.  I would love to go to PEI, it is the only province I haven't been to yet.

 

Ottawa (our nation's Capital)

 

Prince Edward Island (where the Confederation was signed)

 

 

I accomplish more when I set goals so I have decided on finishing the following free projects this month:

 

 

1.  Super-Mario quilt for great-nephew, Konner:

 

 

 

2 blocks done, 4 to go.  Using this tutorial from Cut to Pieces, I upsized the blocks to 1 1/2 finished, so the blocks are 27" finished.

 

 

2. I-spy quilt for great-nephew, Brayden:

 

 

 

It will be similar to this one.  I have made one for each of my grand-kids and grand-nephews when they turn 2 or 3, and Brayden is now 2.  That makes 6 in all, but there are 2 new babies coming later this year, so I'll have to hang on to those I-Spy prints a little longer (I was about to bundle them and sell them off).

 

3. Celtic Solstice for me

 

You can't get the pattern now, it was Bonnie Hunter's mystery last year and will appear in her next book. I only have 5 more blocks to make, so I have been playing with border designs.  I think I'm going to finish off all the white points and make the diamonds as shown.  I also varied the corner from Bonnie's

 

Now, for something new:

 

 

I have to reward myself so I purchased the pattern for the Nested Churn Dash from Quilt Jane for the low price of $2.00 Australian, which only came to $2.10 Cdn.  I probably could have figured it out on my own, but when someone else has already done the math, why not!  Click on my Craftsy button (to the right) and search for Quilt Jane, and you will see her lovely patterns.  (Note: Disclosure - I am a Craftsy affiliate so I will make a few pennies if you link to Craftsy through me).

 

I will be making mine with these lovely fabrics:

 

Pardon the lighting, it was nighttime.  This partial bundle is truer to colour.

The fabrics came from Warp & Weft, and are my quilt guild's summer challenge fabrics.