Tag Archives: goal setting

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge – April

Posted on April 3, 2024 | 10 comments

I joined up with the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge for the motivation to move projects forward, and perhaps even finish a few. So far, so good!

Participants publicly posted a list of 10 numbered projects. Each month a number is drawn, and the corresponding project is worked on. There are linkups where projects can be posted and participants can cheer one another on.

In March, number 4 was drawn. My number 4 was to sew pajama bottoms, and you can see that I did that by clicking here for my post that shows that I completed this project.

For April, the number 9 was drawn. My number 9 is to make a table runner. You can see my project list here.

I am thinking about making the Golden Peaks block into a table runner. Julie Cefalu, of The Crafty Quilter, shared a great tutorial of this block, and it looks like fun to play with.

Besides yard work, and other life distractions, I have been working on the 365 Monster.

Just so ya know.

Progress is slow going, but still progress.

Who knows? Maybe I can get this thing finished this month!

Maybe.

I am linking up at Dreamworthy Quilts. Come on over to see other participants!

Have fun and carry on!

10 Comments

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Tagged 365 Challenge, Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge, Dreamworthy Quilts, goal setting, Golden Peaks quilt block, Julie Cefalu, LCsCottage, motivation, table runner tutorial, the Crafty Quilter, UFO busting, ufo challenge

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge February Update

Posted on February 28, 2024 | 21 comments

The February Chookshed Stitchers challenge number was #2; the 365 Challenge quilt for me.

This is a large quilt, and my plan to move this project forward was to get it basted.

Goal accomplished!

I had no idea how I wanted to quilt this, but I thought about it while I was pin-basting, and stitching-in-the-ditch.

I am not quilting this monster in a large space, but it hasn’t been difficult. If I need more space, there is a sewing machine to the left of the Juki that I can move off of the table.

I am not using a walking foot. That is a better choice no doubt, but I chose to quilt the entire quilt with a free motion foot.

After quilting the center, I suffered from a lack of sewjo. Who could be in the mood to sew with an automatic thread cutter running amuck? The cutter would do its thing whenever it felt like it!

After a bit of searching, I found the following solution, and it is working for me so far. Maybe it will help another Juki user.

My bobbin tension was very tight, so I loosened that. Almost everything is working great now.

Almost.

I am also having a problem with the thread shredding whenever I sew backwards. The Hubster found a tiny burr on the face plate and sanded that down. I haven’t sewn yet, but hopefully, that solves that issue.

The sun has shined, too, so that calls me outdoors to get some much needed exercise and Vitamin D.

And, hey, I now have a defrosted and clean freezer, and a clean refrigerator!

Back to sewing. I have a border that I can show you. The thread looks dark, but that is because it is wet. I use a blue marker to mark registration dots to keep me sort of on track while I free motion quilt the border. Then I spray the border with water to remove the dots.

I am linking up with other challenge participants at Dreamworthy Quilts.

January completed blocks.

February completed blocks.

March completed blocks.

April completed blocks.

May completed blocks.

June completed blocks.

July completed blocks.

August completed blocks.

September completed blocks.

October completed blocks.

November completed blocks.

December 2022 OMG Update

Have fun and carry on!

21 Comments

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Tagged 365 Challenge, Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge, goal planning, goal setting, Juki, LCsCottage, motivation, ufo challenge

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 January Mid-Month Check-in

Posted on January 12, 2024 | 19 comments

It is time for a mid-month check-in.

If you read the Declutter post, then you know that I am following Karen Brown’s declutter challenge.

I have purchased some pencil boxes to keep markers and needles in, rather than having them slide all over the drawers where I had them. I have also sent a very full box of patterns and books out of the building. I need to come up with a better way to store quilting rulers that are not used on a regular basis. I think I have a plan for those that will work for me.

Things are getting tidied up, but, I have no photos to share, so you will have to take my word for it.

I look forward to Karen’s challenge every year. Her methods can also be easily applied to other areas of the home…it doesn’t have to stop with the sewing studio. For instance, one of Karen’s declutter challenges is about cleaning up your emails (I need this one!). I recommend taking this challenge if you have a need for a bit of tidying up!

I am also following 30 Days of Yoga with Adriene on YouTube.

I am far from graceful, but I do my best, and the stretching sure has been good for me!

There are definitely no photos of this! Again, you will just have to take my word for it!

I joined the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge, and the number of the month is 6.

That means that my project for the month is this Santa Door Draft kit (I know the photo is blurry, but you can still see what the project is):

I don’t know where this kit came from (I didn’t purchase it), but it has been hanging out in my studio for years. It just gets tossed from basket to basket, and I need to get this made!

Sure, I could just toss the kit into a donation box, but for some unexplainable and unreasonable reason, I just have to make it myself.

I will be brutally honest. I don’t like this kit. At all. The parts are not proportionate and the instructions are not easy to follow.

Getting this far has been a bit of a bloody and sweaty challenge!

I will not be defeated!

I am linking up with the Check-in Party here.

Have fun and carry on!

19 Comments

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Tagged Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge, Declutter Challenge, door draft, goal planning, goal setting, Karen Brown, LCsCottage, motivation, organization, Santa, ufo challenge

Declutter

Posted on January 1, 2024 | 18 comments

I read a wonderful blog post by the Other Laura last night. She interweaved some personal reflection with a project that she was finishing up and that gave me some thoughts of my own.

Laura defines fun as “in the moment and feeds the need in the now before it withers”.

She defines happiness as “a quest that requires vigilance and can become myopic – in some respects it is frustratingly elusive and not easily sustained”.

I see the two terms as intertwined. Can one have fun without happiness?

I see happiness in terms of the state of my well-being…my contentment. I don’t think it has to be an elusive quest. In fact, I think it is intertwined with gratitude as well. The more fun and gratitude that I have, the more I am happy.

2023 was my most fun year in a very long time. Previous years were tough for me. Some of that toughness was not of my doing. But, in retrospect, some of it indeed was. If I had practiced a gratitude attitude, I am now sure that some things would’ve been easier to deal with.

Pity parties of one are so easy.

Some of what made 2023 so fun was that I had more gratitude (The first complete year without any water issues! Yes, I can honestly say that I am grateful to clean the toilet!). I had more time to visit with family…so precious and so grateful! I had an epic road trip…so much fun! I explored more genealogy (fun for me to learn that I am a descendant of Governor William Bradford and Susanna North Martin as well as learning other family stories). I baked more (and gained pounds)…I love to bake! I have so much to be thankful for…more than I can list here!

I suggest to declutter as much stress as you can! 2023 was less stressful for me and that definitely brings on a state of well-being…happiness.

I believe decluttering relieves stress! My pantry/laundry room/closets/attic spaces have been cleaned and decluttered and I feel great about that! No photos to show, so you will just have to trust me. The Hubster and I have spent the end of 2023 taking care of stuff. Starting fresh in 2024! We don’t live in a sterile environment, not by any means, but we know what we have and where it is (most of the time).

I have joined Karen’s 2024 Declutter Challenge (clicking on the photo below, or in the side bar, will take you there).