Monday, April 10, 2017

Spinning My Wheels


Do you ever get that feeling that you are running, running, running, but your wheels are just spinning, spinning, spinning and you aren't getting anywhere??  I think this post is more for me than you, to assure myself that I am making progress, it's just I can't share a whole lot, just yet.

I swear I haven't fallen completely behind on my BOM craziness, or at least not yet.  I ordered special fabric to make one of the Pat Sloan blocks this month, but it hasn't arrived yet.  Is that crazy, ordering fabric for just one block??  Possibly, but I've admitted to being mad crazy before.  And I'll catch up on the other Pat quilt alongs later this month, just not now.

This weekend, among all the secret sewing, I decided to catch up on Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilt's Jolly Christmas Quilt.  Two blocks have been released since the last time I worked on this project, the Cardinal and Partridge Blocks.  I started off with the Cardinal block and things went so smooth.  This bird pretty much flew together (see what I did there?).  A little West Virginia history and Jeopardy preperation for you, the Cardinal is our state animal,


So when I got up Sunday morning, I was feeling a bit cocky about how quickly I was going to make the Partridge block.  Let me tell you, Tish got her @$$ kicked by a bird.  The first picture in this post was almost all the blocks it took to make this.

At about 3 hours into it (given a few distractions here and there) I had to walk away from the block.


The eye section just wasn't coming out as it should and I couldn't figure out why.  A few of the pieces are only .75" unfinished, so I was feeling a bit rattled.  So I switched gears completely and headed to my Sweet Sixteen for a bit of free motion/ruler therapy.


Here is a sneak peak at the pattern Dave the Quilt Engineer and I will be releasing in the near future.  I have a few versions of the quilt to finish quilting before I'm ready for the big reveal, but I'm feeling pretty confident I will be ready by the end of April/beginning of May.  This is a baby/wall hanging size made by David.

After almost finishing this quilt, I decided to revisit the bird one more time before bed.  Quilting must have been the break I needed, because with very little picking and reconstructing one tiny little section, I got the bird within an acceptable level of finished.


Here are all my blocks up to date.


And lastly, I will leave you with a bit more secrete sewing, that is sort of like a DrEAMi moment, in that I have dropped everything I was working on to make it.  Basically,  all I can show you is the fabrics and well, they are just yummy.


I am in love with that black floral fabric.  I purchased some of it a few weeks ago, but had to go back to the store for more and changed up the coordinating fabrics just a bit too.  I'm drooling over here.

So it is back to the sewing tower for me, to be locked away this week, quilting and piecing and quilting some more.  On a side note, David found some quilting time this weekend.  His schedule has been crazy busy.  If you get a change hop over to Dave the Quilt Engineer and check out what he has been up to in his absence from the blogging world.


Today I'm linking up with Main Crush Monday.

15 comments:

Cut&Alter said...

You are doing so well keeping up to date with this QAL - and I love your blocks. I have been printing out instructions and no doubt will still be rushing around in December trying to get them done!!!

Yanicka said...

I always say that normal is boring :) Lovely blocks

Jen Shaffer said...

I just finished up a secret sewing project that seemed to be never ending. It's a good idea to step back and take a moment to enjoy the progress. Beautiful work!

Paige said...

Tish, I just love your blogging adventures! Thanks for keeping it real!

Susan said...

Could it also be that you're treading water? As Alida at tweloquilting.blogspot.com said, every step counts!

Nancy J said...

The Red Cardinal is definitely my favourite ,Yes, I visited Dave, and the new fabrics, that orange is so good with the patterned black and coloured, guess we have to wait to see more.

Jen said...

A moment to step away is all you need sometimes. Just to regroup and lead your mind down a different path for a bit. I am glad the block worked out for you. :)

Wendy said...

Sometimes stepping away is the best thing to do. Ordering fabric for just one block, well yes, why not?! I was just thinking maybe I should start over on the Solstice blocks and order a line of fabric just for them, so I'm totally on board with ordering fabric for a block. LOL. Can't wait to see the reveal of Dave's quilt. It's looking good!

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

Who knows why things go along swimmingly and then take a wrong turn all of a sudden. I'm glad the quilting break worked for you and that you were albee to finish the second block. Last week I made one block three times and every time it came out a different size - like a half inch difference! What the heck? I threw it down and walked away. Maybe I'll go back to it, maybe I won't. :) I'm excited to see your secret sewing. And I can't wait to finish the blue/yellow quilt I was working on....

Stitchin At Home said...

I've found a break can make all the difference. Secret sewing black fabric print is yummy.

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

Walking away and coming back to a block is definitely the way to go. Your blocks are looking great though and I love the Christmas ones all together. I really need to revisit the ugly sweaters, it would be nice to finish it for this year.

Emily said...

I love all those Christmas blocks! And your mystery fabric pull is beautiful. That black floral is dreamy.

Sandra Walker said...

For all your spinning of wheels you have plenty to show! Love seeing Lorna's blocks all together on your wall; think the candles are still my favourite, well the mittens are adorable too. Those are some teensie pieces on that partridge, yikes! Terrific fabric choices too, and LOVE the mystery ones...

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl said...

I hope this post did show you just how much progress you have been making. I have totally been there on sewing a block before. I am glad the quilting break helped!

Preeti said...

Yes, that black floral is indeed beautiful. If you get tired of it, I will take the scraps :-)
A break can be an excellent time to clean-up (I do that), watch a movie/tv show, try a new recipe, or take a small trip, preferably to meet quilty buddies. I always come back recharged and refreshed.

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