Exclamation! Completed

My kids are C-R-A-Z-Y busy during the school year.  Now, the school year has ended and it is time for me to squeeze in some quilting time.  Yes, I realize I am the opposite of every other quilter on the planet.  What can I say?  I am the only quilter I know who dislikes yard work.  I haven't been completely out of practice though.  My Exclamation! quilt just arrived back from the long arm.  Thanks Rhonda!  Time to bind before this lovely quilt gets raffled off!

I am currently taking a few minutes to blog while I am washing beautiful red fabric for the Canadian Maple quilt from Patrick Lose Studios I am about to start. But first, I need to patiently wait for the dryer!!

Happy Canada Day!  And happy sewing.

Fabriholics Anonymous continued........

My last post, committing to a 6 month destashing was so fast, I didn't even share the pledge or my UFO list!  What can I say.  I didn't want to give myself a chance to change my mind.  Here it is from Making Rebecca Lynne. I have made an adjustment (or two) to suit my habit a little bit.

 

GOALS:

- To use the Stash I already have!

- Finish UFOs without distraction

- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.(especially feeding my cardinal and red fabric fetish)

- Save the $$ I spend on stashing.(to pay for my new sewing machine)

- Destash the fabrics (and UFOs) that I realize I am never going to use/finish

 

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   

2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.

3) Create a UFO list and complete them!

4) Exceptions

• Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
• Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too. HOWEVER, since I have way too many magazines and notions, minimize any purchases.

Making a UFO list sounded very depressing.  Partly because the list is so long and partly because I have done that in the past with little or no success.  As a bit of motivation, I joined pinterest and created 2 boards.  The first are some pics of my quilts.  But the second are pictures of quilts that I either have started, have a kit for or have made mental plans to use my stash toward.  It is a work in process.  But the visual representation is helping. My own special list!  Although there is a lot of guilt wrapped up in the those pictures.

There is a little hitch in my plans.  My third baby (aka my Bernina 230) could use a little TLC.  Tomorrow it heads to the shop for a good cleaning.  Until it comes back, I think my rotary cutter and I will be great friends!  I can get prepared for my spring retreat!!  Example #1 is a lot of 10" blocks (about 160ish) for Guild cuddle quilts.  Part of my fabric binge in the last week of 2013.  Rag quilts, here I come! At least once my machine is feeling better.

Happy Quilting!

Fabriholics Anonymous

My name is Diane and I am a Fabriholic.

In my last post I talked about how I wasn't going to make any "sweeping" resolutions about not buying fabric this year.  Seemed very rationale.... until I realized I have purchased 21 meters of fabric since Christmas!  I can tell you about the incredible deals I found.  Seriously.... $4 a yard for lovely flannel! $7/meter for the perfect Northcott backing for another project! In the end I am simply rationalizing my addiction.  I spent an entire hour today debating the purchase of the Rhapsody in Red and Blue fabric from Connecting Threads.  I have also planned on attending another sale/open house at a local fabric store tomorrow.  The madness must end!!!

I had read Rebecca Lynne's post already and hadn't taken the bait.  But with the extension today I knew I simply had to get my act together.  I spent time today cutting that beautiful flannel into 10 inch squares to make cuddle quilts I have talked about for ages.  I then cut the first month of my Border Creek Station Mystery Quilt.  Notice how none of these were on my January list :)  Or on any UFO list! The point is, I have a fabric problem and I am using this challenge as an opportunity.  Now, to put my UFO list together!! 

Happy Quilting!