Pandemic Power Sewing...

This afternoon I dumped a basketful of 2 1/2" strips I've had for way too long and started some...

...power chain piecing.

I'm sewing three strips together, then cutting them into 5 1/4" squares.


There's really no rhyme or reason behind what I'm doing except that I plan on sewing them
into a scrappy Crazy Rails quilt pattern. I don't even know what size this quilt will make. LOL!
But I love my scrappy Thirties Repro fabrics...so know I'll love the quilt as well.
And....having an emptied basket of scraps makes this a win win project don't ya think.

 Honestly, it is just the perfect pandemic/summer sewing for me right now. I find myself feeling blah with little motivation to work on anything that requires much concentration. The afternoons are starting to get hot as our temperatures outside are beginning to near 100 degrees.
(Note: I am NOT a summer/heat person!!!)


So, contently I'll continue my power sewing as I watch old 80's movies and maybe a little toooo much Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles on the cable channels. LOL!
How about you??? Do you find yourself sometimes battling the pandemic/summer blahs?
If so,  please comment and share your "go-to" boredom buster??
With SMILES. Val

Morning Stitching

I have found my Sue Spargo Homegrown creative/wool stitching the perfect mental health project during this pandemic of ours. Each little 5"x 5" block offers creative outlet without being too overwhelming. 

All the bright colors and textures just make me happy!!!

With that said, I'm now creating a needle roll for my growing variety of needles.

My mornings are quiet and slow. 

I get in my daily walk, then will sit and stitch for a little bit before getting going with the day.

My new normal during an unprecedented time.

Have you also found yourself enjoying a new normal in your daily routine? Do share!

With SMILES! Val

Go Ahead and Laugh! I AM!

I FINALLY had my annual eye doctor appointment...after getting my eyes dilated, 

I felt like I'd rather stay at home if this is what going out looks like! LOL!!!

Our new normal feels WEIRD!!!

Still Smiling!! Val

The Hummmmm of Quilting....

Today is a wonderfully overcast summer day.

I already have my daily walk done and plan on finishing this quilt today.

I always enjoy watching a quilt transform right before my eyes...

...and look who is always close by:

Just dropping in to wish you a great day too!
With SMILES! Val

Rejuvenated and A Finish!

 Sometimes a change of scenery is rejuvenating for the soul. I can't believe we've been in this Coronavirus "shutdown" for four months now. Of which have found me transforming from an efficient, organized, productive human being to a total blob who can't remember when she last showered! Accept for my daily exercise routine, I've had motivation to accomplish nothing more. Finally, weekend before last, hubby and I took a long weekend and escaped to the mountains. We were isolated in the middle of the mountains and though we didn't do much, as the town we visited was in a reverse shutdown...we did find this view rejuvenating and was the "spot" for my daily stitching. Jackson also enjoyed watching all the squirrels with his "birds eye view" from the elevated deck. Never the less....

I don't know about you, but I’m about over it … over this new normal, new reality, new whatever we want to call it.  I want to go out to a restaurant.  I want to be able to go shopping and not just for groceries. I’d like to visit friends face to face. I'm so over Zoom! I think we’re all ready for this pandemic to be over especially our heroes on the frontline who are surely exhausted.

But with no end in sight, somehow, somewhere, over our four day get-away, I found myself remotivated when I returned home. After a year of no activity, I started Lizzi once again. 
I played it safe and started with quilting a donation quilt for Project Linus. 

As I began, I noticed stitches skipping. A text to my long-arm lady, a few phone calls, and a pick up by my husband, I replace the vertical encoder on my long-arm. (Not bad for eight years of wear and tear...as the pad on the encoder was torn....causing the skipped stitches.) 

Sooner than later, we were up and running with smooooth stitches once again.

I think Jackson was thrown off with my morning burst of energy as I set out to get this one done. I sewed and pinned the binding and got pictures taken...all before breakfast!

But I get to call it finished! This quilt was sewn by a Project Linus volunteer and measures 37"x72".
I quilted it with a Ruffled Rose Pantograph.

With STILL another month ahead before officials even think of starting school again and no adventures" on the calendar...I hope to get a few more quilt tops checked off the list.
Stay tuned!

With SMILES! Val

Be Kind to YOURSELF

Hello Hello my fellow blogging friends!!

I came to realize that it's almost been FOUR months since I've even blogged.
Yet, after getting my hair cut today and chit chatting with my hairstylist...

(I just LOVE getting my pixie cut...especially with the onset of Summer!)

 

...I was inspired to write this post...as for the first time during this pandemic I felt like I wasn't alone in finding myself needing to navigate unknown terrain yet internally frustrated in NOT finding comfort and motivation in all that use to motivate me. For example, when this pandemic started I had  an ambitious list of all the things I was going to accomplish with this new found time on my hands....especially when school "officially" let out in June! BIG plans I had listed, because there was nowhere to go and nothing to interrupt my progress. Yet, in four months I've only "loaded" a test quilt onto the frame and completed a quilt top started six years ago (Well, I guess THAT's an accomplishment isn't it! LOL!)  But, the sewing room more often than not, remains dark:

There are honestly moments where I feel as if I'm failing this "stay at home" thing after being so use to an active work/social "routine". Why don't I want to quilt like I use to??? My hairstylist and I talked about this...as she is going through the same thing! We're both use to feeling productive. We both have ambitious list that we have NOT gotten to...nor do we care! We have found comfort in new hobbies. Hers has been bullet journaling and pen pal lettering. Mine has been my Sue Spargo Homegrown stitching:

I L O V E this project. I was able to sew during my school ZOOM meetings and continue to enjoy working on it, now that school is "out for the summer". The bright happy colors, creative stitching offer relaxation and fun!  It's not overwhelming. It's a perfect distraction from the news that at this very moment fills my background announcing: "Will face masks be on student's back to school lists?" It calms any anxiousness as like you, it seems like daily we are trying to navigate an unknown terrain. A text from my principal just dinged reminding me of our "blueprint" meeting as we as our school's leadership team, begin to outline the reopening of school in the Fall according to ODE orders. (We hope!!) I will begin my 32nd year as an educator in a very new normal that's for sure!

My hairstylist and I talked about how we just need to show up with kindness. PERIOD.

And not only for others but I'm here to say, for yourself as well!  My mind and body shout daily: "Fresh air! Fresh air! Exercise" so I have been intentional about that. I'm trying new things and added a different variety to my fitness regiment. I'm trying yoga. I bike ride. I walk. I golf.

I'm being kind to myself. I finally gave myself permission to NOT accomplish anything at all if that's how I'm feeling. My number one priority has been to be healthy and take good care of myself. And I'm doing that. I do exercise a minimum of an hour a day. I eat well. Annnnddd, I even sleep in a little longer if I awake and being under a cozy quilt makes lingering a little longer rejuvenating. 

But I also give myself permission to stay in my PJ's all day long! As often it's discouraging to continue to keep a calendar that has actually morphed into a document of everything that I didn't get do and people I didn't get to be with. Of course, that makes me sad.

So I guess what I wanted to share, is if you feel like you have no idea what you are doing, if you feel like you are failing at this stay at home thing, know you are not alone. You DON'T have to do it all. You don't have to clean the kitchen drawers. You don't have to learn anything new or even accomplish something. Nope. You don't, Just BE. Reach out to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them. Go for a walk. Watch an old movie.  But know you are doing the best you can in this moment you are in. And honestly, THAT in itself is incredible! BE safe. BE healthy. BE present. BE happy. Yes! Even if it means staying in your jammies all day!

With SMILES! Val