Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Quilts for Kids inspiration; Set 2 of "Oh Fransson's" Paintbox

Here's my update from last night (since hubby had the computer when I finally forced myself to leave my quilting room....)

I arrived home from work last night COMPLETELY motivated to get sewing! I caught up on blogs and emails first, and found myself perusing the Quilts For Kids website, admiring finished quilts in the Gallery, and then further on the site to the Downloadable patterns. SUDDEN INSPIRATION when I saw the NICU pattern. A while back (two years ago???), my mother hit a jackpot of baby fabrics (garage sale??? Goodwill??? Church donation???) with some lovely Precious Moments fabrics that she OF COURSE handed over to me. Since this pattern is so small and quick to sew up, I have THREE sewn together, awaiting quilting (which may come tonight).

Measures 33"x33" when finished


And, set 2 of Oh Fransson's Paintbox Quiltalong. My goal is to piece a four-fabric-set (8 blocks) every night. The quiltalong finshed up week 5 (or 6?), so tonight will be my 3rd set and by the weekend I'll be all caught up. I am taking strips of fabric from the roll in order; apparently I hit the "red" spot last night...LOL.


Happy Wednesday

One final thought...
Yes, I have a family in which I feed, cloth; the whole nine yards. Weekends are gloriously filled with basketball, birthday parties and other events that sneak up, but I love to quilt and my family knows my passion is steadfast; therefore, usually 2-3 hours (minimum) on each weekend day are reserved for quilting (even it it means 8:00-11:00 PM). Hubby loves to fish and the girls enjoy taking turns to be the "right-hand-fisherman" for Dad. When the girls are home with me, I split my time between quilting, crafting with the girls, making meals; laundry, the whole nine yards again.
I am rather stress-free at school right now; 3rd term is my FAVORITE because of the schedule: Teach 2 sections of Math 7, then supervise a Junior High study hall. RARELY do I need to bring work home during this quarter.
Therefore, once I get home, the girls usually play until dinner, while I am multi-tasking between making dinner, reading emails and catching up on blogs. After dinner, depending on the evening, I may stay with the family until the girls' bedtime, at which time I usually hibernate downstairs in my quilting room for a couple of hours before 10:00 (or 11:00 IF I'm really motivated and still wide awake). DH usually finds himself on the computer during my quilting hours, so I don't feel guilty when I head downstairs.
Back to multi-tasking for a moment: No offense to men, but I don't think they have the wiring what women do when it comes to multi-tasking (or at least MY husband doesn't have the same wiring **I** do). When I make dinner, I usually am doing more than just making dinner. My version of making dinner is something like this: start meat browning in pan, run water for dishes, start fire in wood furnace, unload dish washer, shut off water, place dishes in water, stir meat, take load of laundry out of dryer, fill washer/dryer with next load, take basket to bedroom, dump out on bed, stir meat, slice potatoes and place in pan, stoke fire, fold t-shirts/pants, add BBQ sauce/ketchup/spices to meat (simple BBQ meal), turn on low heat, stir potatoes, wash sink full of dishes, rinse, set to dry, add next "load" of dishes into sink, peek on girls, have girls set table, continue folding clothes, stoke fire, check meat, stir potatoes, ........
I think you get my drift. Within 30 minutes, dishes are done, table is set (with help of girls), clothes are folded (except socks!!!! Anyone else ANNOYED by folding socks?!?!??), fire is starting to heat the house, and dinner had made its way to the table.

Judy at Patchwork Times has had two "motivation" posts recently---it REALLY is worth a moment to read them because she makes some very DUH statements. You really can't help but nod your head.....
Motivation-Feb. 15
More Motivation-Feb. 16

Here's to you finding your motivation :0)
-Amy

7 comments:

Tracy said...

You are putting me to shame! I have yet to sew a stitch on my first kit...illness, my boys and mine, snowstorms, migraines(mine)and too much company have all conspired against me getting anything done. (I swear I'm trying not to whine!)

Jackie's Stitches said...

You are such an effective user of your time! I am trying to spend and hour or 2 in my sewing room either sewing, stitching or knitting 2 work nights each week and on Sunday. It's amazing how much you can accomplish in even an hour!

Candace said...

What a cute little quilt, some child will be very happy, and another set of beautiful blocks.

Cornfield Quilter said...

I'm with you on this one, I have a hard time just doing one thing and love multi-tasking. The end result seems so much more satisfying and so much more gets done. Hugs!

Amanda said...

What a sweet little quilt; it really is time I did something simple like that, they might be quick and easy but none the less effective for that. Now that I'm retired I wonder how I ever managed to carry on in just the way you've described. Nowadays, there's no need to rush and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Andee said...

You said it Amy...you have described my life (when my kids were young) and I how I got so much done...my favorite is when the DH wants a pat on the back for doing just one of those things we do everyday..gotta have a sense of humor!

scraphappy said...

I was only gone for 5 days!! How did you manage to get all that done while I was away? Now I am feeling the need to go and get something done. My in-laws are gone in the morning and the kids will be in school, guess what I'll be doing? Love the little NICU quilts. I can see how those would come together in a real hurry. Have fun with the quilting.