ATTENTION ALL SWAPPERS! DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS FEBRUARY 15TH. YOU MUST EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ADDRESS AT thepinkquilter@gmail.com.

DEADLINE TO SEND OUT BLOCKS IS APRIL 10TH.

Let’s start planning before December turns into January 2024. Wow, the time sure does go by quickly!

Shall we try the same standard block or try a different variation on strings?

This one is really very pretty and can be found here:

https://magnoliabayquilts.blogspot.com/2010/01/string-blocks-tutorial.html

I think that the maximum size should be 9.5 inches squared.

Another idea is to make postcards or mug rugs.

If you have any ideas, please post below, all suggestions are welcome.

And yes, this group was set up for swapping originally and I know that not everyone wants to swap and that is fine with me. But you do have the option of following along and making your own string blocks for yourself.

Depending on how many sign up, shall we do, if more than 6 players, 3 blocks to each person, and if we have less than 5 players, 4 blocks to each person. I think that this is a fair number, please let me know otherwise.

Please post below and also email me your choice at thepinkquilter@gmail.com before February 15th.

Thank you!

PS: We will be doing it along with our sister group, SQ String Theory.

Let’s Have some fun. Time to jump in and play. This month we are doing a Valentine Mug rug swap. Recommended No smaller than approximately 6 x 9 inches (15x23cm) no larger than 10 x 12 inches (25x30cm). You can start making your mug rug while you’re waiting for your partners name.

Sign up now partners given on Jan 17.

Please mail your Mug Rug no later than January 31.

Please contact me at thepinkquilter@gmail.com or Karen Wythe at karen.wythe@gmail.com for more info.

Thank you!

Is it to become organized.

To finish projects that may be hiding and that you have been avoiding.

To tame the stash.

My goal for 2024 is to finish up as many sew-along projects that I have started with this group, probably going back 6 years ago. I do have them started and close to being flimsies but not completed. Yes, I do admit that I start off strong and then stall about 2/3rds of the way. But I do post all the directions. I get distracted by something else, or family or health issues get in the way.

BUT! This year is when I am going to get them finished, all the way to quilted and bound! That is my goal for 2024, Just Get It Done! And now that I have laid down the gauntlet, who is with me?

My list includes:

Mini Block Club In progress of becoming a flimsy.

Donna’s Double Dare. Now that my embroidery machine and I are on speaking terms, I can get those blocks finished.

Hidden Treasures. I have to admit that I just do not like it, but I committed to it and I will finish it.

Oh, My Stars. Making blocks, got sidelined by knee replacement.

Spring Stars. See above.

I am hoping that my friends here will help hold me to these projects and that maybe we can altogether get these finished!

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I am home from our guild’s 3 day retreat, everything is out of the car, thanks to DH, but I haven’t unpacked anything yet.  We had a wonderful time, visiting, sewing, show and tell, and yummy food and desserts!  I felt so spoiled not having to cook for 3 days!  What a luxury!  

There were 30 of us and we had a blast and I got to know some new people including a deaf woman.  We hit off instantly!  I love making connections like that, instant friendships.  Our lunches and dinners were catered, from falafel, to street tacos, and huge sandwiches.  All of it was delicious plus desserts!  

I didn’t finish anything but I did make a few new starts.  We had show and tell and what a wondrous delight for the eyes of all the gorgeous quilts!  I forgot to take pictures as I was awestruck!  

My only regret is that we have to wait a full year for the next retreat!  

I will be posting the Bust and Bits Pieces Party either later today or tomorrow morning.  My apologies for the delay!

Well, in order to get into my room I have to put stuff away.  Amazing how much stuff you take with you and how can all of that come out of one little room?!

I set a goal of finishing and/or flimsifying 12 projects by the end of August.  There might be a few more than that and that doesn’t include kits.  I watched Karen Brown’s video on When To Quilt, Which Projects Are Worth Finishing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7rCCyzZQ58&t=921s) and I have already sandwiched one quilt, another one almost ready, and decided that there are 2 projects that I just do not love or want to do.  Those will be given to the guild for donation.  I decided that I am tired of looking at the totes full of UFOs and I want them done and donated and/or gifted!!

If I want to reach this goal, I need to get started.   I was out for most of the morning and I feel very motivated to get moving.  I already have one ready for the quilter, another one that is close to that stage and a little more quilting on a table runner.  

Who wants to join me in this challenge?  Any takers?

I have been cleaning my sewing room for the last few days, deciding what I want to keep, work on, or possibly rehome. I have gone through all of my large scraps and those are organized according to color and size. Don’t even ask about my jelly roll collection, that is one mess I am not ready to deal with yet.

My spare parts department is starting to get full, so now I need to decide what to do with them. Oh, I also found another bin full of fabric scraps, fq, and whatever and now I have to find a home for them. May be a bit of a challenge as my other bins are becoming muffin topped.

Now, I am looking at a huge pile of UFOs in various stages, from flimsies to pieces that have barely been started. Also throw in a few WHIPPS and WIMS, and it is a big mess. Pictures posted below. The first one is my shelving unit with two organizers on it and another bin, only because there is no room on the table.

The others are pictures of my table piled high. I would love to see pictures of your rooms, if you dare!

Oh, my day started off with a bang and then fizzled.  I brought 4 projects that I thought would go together fairly quickly.  No!  First, I forgot (or thought that I had) my patterns at the house.  I did find them in with the bags.  Then, I was looking at a table runner that I had started and just decided I don’t want to make it and I will drop the blocks off at the guild meeting.

My second project was a table runner and I read it as using 2.5 inch strips.  Wrong project, that was for a tote bag and I left that pattern at home.  I didn’t bring enough fabric to cover the batting (one of those quilt as you go projects), and I didn’t want to buy fabric for it.  Too expensive and I can do it at home.  Third project was My First Crayons, but really not in the mood for it.  

Last and final project was a go!  At least at first.  I had printed the pattern but didn’t realize until I started it that the block sizes were not on there.  I made the first block and it turned out cute, I then got distracted and couldn’t seem to make it the same way a second time.  With this rainy weather I was getting a headache and called it a day at 2 o’clock.  I just wasn’t meant to sew on those projects.  But I had a wonderful time visiting with friends, a good lunch and a little shopping.  I bought a new long Omnigrid ruler and a yard of fabric for borders.  I will be going back tomorrow and this time I will be better prepared!  

This past week has been a little bit of a trial for me with me winding up in the emergency room and spending the night.  I am just now starting to feel like myself again.  I have epilepsy and had 3 seizures in 3 days in the past week along with a side of aphasia (not able to speak.)  Yes, I have grand mal seizures.  I had not had one in over 18 years and thought I was past that.  This means that I cannot drive for at least 3 months (or possibly longer).  My doctor and I think that with all of the drugs I was taking for my knee surgery, they were fairly strong, that they are leaving my system thus causing seizures.  At least we are hoping so.  

I am feeling a lot better but have not been sewing very much lately but today is the day I intend to get in there and start sewing! Watch out for falling patterns to start appearing soon!

Well, I had my call from Kaiser and I will be starting a new medication, actually the brand name of Dilantin. I get to pick it up tomorrow. If it works and I don’t seize for another 3 months I will be safe to drive again. I have an EEG scheduled for next week and will discuss the results the following week. We both agree that it is probably residue from the pain meds that I was using after my knee surgery. I am feeling a lot better now and should be okay from here on out. Thank you everyone for your good thoughts and prayers, they are truly appreciated.

A little update:

I had an odd day at Kaiser Hospital this morning and a funny story to share. I have epilepsy and had not had a seizure in over 19 years. Well, back at the end of February, I had 3 seizures in 3 days and I wound up in the hospital overnight. Do not remember a single thing about it, nothing at all.

Anyway, I was scheduled for an EEG this morning to find out the cause. I arrived on time, got in there for my EEG. Was all set up with electrodes and whatever else. The tech started and the power went off. Only in the offices, not the hallways. It was off for a few minutes and then came back on. We tried it again. A few minutes later, off goes the power again. It came back on again, was on for about 4-5 minutes and then off again. So, we thought the third time would be the charm. WRONG! It went off as she starting again and then we both decided it was time to probably go ahead and reschedule. But I will have to wait until the power comes back on with the reception area so they can call me! Who knows when that might be! We could hear the doctors joking about calling it a day, and it was only 9 am. The tech and I were laughing about maybe needing an extension cord to do the test out in the hall!  She said that she is going to put in my chart to make sure they have extra power next time I come in.  Of course, the test was stopped and I will have to reschedule as we both thought that the test results might be compromised or that the machine may not have recorded all of it. The test takes 45 minutes to complete!

My doctors both think that the medications I was taking early on were too strong, I have a lot of med allergies, and that the half life of some them were leaving my system, even though I was on Dilantin for control. I started off with oxycodone, bad reaction, and went to Norco and Tylenol PM with Naproxen. I am no longer on any pain meds at all and I am just now 3 months out! And tomorrow I will turn another year older. Moral of the story, check with your doctor about any reactions at all to meds and make sure they listen, and report them right away!