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Fast Forward to September 2020 !

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  September 16th, 2020 Yes, it really is 2020.  Year of the C-19, Presidential election, riots, threats of defunding the police departments...and the list could go on. However!  Other countries have faced far worse trials and tribulations...so I'll just keep the focus on Jesus. Now, a few quilts have been made...the SQS (aka Sharon's Quilting Studio) (blame my husband for that misnomer) has been reorganized more than once.  I think the count is up to 5 times since we moved into this beautiful house 2 years ago (in June). And add other STUFF to life and you get the idea why just a few quilts. The biggest project that will soon start is the backyard. Quick memory share.  When we first looked at the house and walked out family room into the backyard, my first thought was - wow, sweet.  Compact back yard.  That thought was soon replaced when the back gate was open.  A few photos may help....  Easy to take care of...(ha)....and then we opened the gate ...well, easier to show with a
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Backed into a Corner....22 January 2019

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Okay, so I am taking a liberty or two with this "backed into a corner" bit.   Quilt backings. Oh, I long for the day when I believed the only way to back a quilt was to use muslin.  Pure, simple, off white muslin.  Easy to use, showed the threads beautifully if quilted correctly.  Showed the threads well if not quilted correctly.   All this to say .... just the perfect batik in my stash to use as backing for Tilt-a-Square was just a tad short.  As in - a good 30 plus inches too short.  Okay, so I piece. For whatever reason, I discarded the idea to just piece together the various lengths of batiks on hand.     Idea #2.   I pulled 7 different batiks and start cutting 10" squares.  Great idea for a backing.  I've done it before...and it worked out quite well.  Until the thought of "just" 10" squares was a bit - well, uninspired.  Snap the fingers (did you hear it?), and viola - HSTs.  And the fun began.... "fun" being an unders
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And It is Done - sort of.... 16 January 2019

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Goals for 2019....in writing....included one quilt a month.  As in fully quilted.  Might be able to finish January's project on time.  Imagine that. Hello, Tilt-a-Square.   You have not been my favorite project (understatement) but I have learned quite a bit about appliqué ... and that's not all bad.   Here she is.....  Started the journey in October and today the last stitch is done.  Now to locate fabric for the backing....which shouldn't be difficult.  Pieced backings are fun...as long as one doesn't choose a backing made of 2 1/2 strips.  Ever try quilting over seam after seam after seam?  Poor Mz Bailey (aka my mid arm) absolutely screams with agony..... And today's delight....SNOW... From the window of the front room.  Okay, granted it was taken several days ago but that white stuff isn't going away any time soon.  Still looks like that now.  If memory serves me correctly, it was a good 9 inches of fluffy white snow.  Whic
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Procrastination and then some .... 10 January 2019

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To date, the 2019 Great Challenge (aka finishing those UFOs/kits) has not happened.  In fact, I think I am slowly on the road to perfecting procrastination. So far, I have made quilted coasters.   Yes, I know.  Just four of them.  But lots and lots of fabric has been cut into strips....waiting. And then there are the wonky placemats.... And more strips were cut.  Absolutely no rhyme or reason or plan....just placemats with somewhat sedate backings.   In the meantime, current quilt project is languishing on the ironing board....and if it's speaking to me, I'm not hearing it.   On the homefront, the kitchen floor is looking very spiffy - as in very clean.   I've spent hours online looking for a specific door handle to the laundry room....which morphed into looking for just the right kitchen mat to go on the spiffy kitchen floor....which morphed into..... After quilting for years (does it sound too melodramatic to use the word
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A Little Bit Quilty and a Little Bit Home - January 8, 2019

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THE Challenge continues.   Randomly selected number (1-71 projects at the time) was.... Tilt-a-Square.  A kit. As to what number that was, I haven't a clue.  It's off the list.  I modified the list, along with reorganizing the SQS.  If I think long and hard enough, SQS could mean something else other than "Sharon's Quilting Studio"....  Like.... "Simply Quiet Space".....or...."Something Quirky Stuff".....or... Darn squirrels. Tilt-a-Square.   Minus the borders....which will be tackled when this headache goes away....   Nothing like a wonderful (small) space to photograph a quilt top.  Once the borders are on, I need a larger floor space.   Honestly, it will never be one of my favorite quilts.  The pros:  I love the wonkiness of the blocks.  I love the colors.  I love that it's all batiks. The cons:  Applique.   Okay - one con.  But enough to either up the game of bettering my applique skills or move on an
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2019: Flexibility - 7 January 2019

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For the past couple of years (five?  six?  three?), I have chosen a word for the year.  Not even sure why this yearly "thing" happened....or even if it made a difference.  Looking back, probably had no impact whatsoever.  However, this year.... Flexibility.  It is now the 7th of January and I've come to the conclusion this word is revealing a portion of my character that does need some work.  Rather than go into great detail (surprise), suffice to share that it's a startling revelation and it isn't pleasant.  When something needs to be changed within, it is never pleasant.   Moving on..... SQS (Sharon's Quilting Studio) underwent a major (to me) organization.  What started out as numbering the fabric bins....anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words. First there was this....behind the closet door.  I sort of liked it.  Okay, it was a brilliant idea to move the cubbies into the closet....four fit very nicely.  This was half of the closet.......
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7 December 2018 ... and on vacation....

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It's been "awhile" since I last posted.   Can't share that I accomplished much other than a plan to reorganize the SQS (that's Sharon's Quilting Studio).  Several plans in fact.  No, make that over a dozen.  There was a quote I read somewhere - something about Perfection being a pipe dream.  God is perfect - I am not. We are in Ft Myers, Florida now and have today & tomorrow to enjoy the balmy temperatures.  Okay - maybe not so balmy.  However, 56F beats 22F at home.  We have a lovely balcony view from the hotel.....yes, this was taken this morning.  Beautiful sunrise.                                                        A bit hazy, yes ... but then my iPhone 5c is a bit - uh, challenged?  Okay - OLD. Brought along 6 placemats to hand quilt.  Wrong thread.  Wrong needles.  Oh heck - I just am not a fan of hand quilting.  Even placemats.   Had quite a bit of B&W ... so why not use some.  Appliquéd flowers (appliquéd by machine,
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