Design Wall Monday

Here are a few of the Civil War Diary Quilt blocks I have completed this past week. I am not even to the half way point of the 121 blocks in this quilt. They are 6 inch square. My goal is to finish this for my son's room this year. Note that I said to use in his room not for him to "keep." He has several quilts, just not queen sized. :)

I am still asking for any recommendations from everyone on how to organize closets, papers and general stuff! I have made this a goal for this winter. I have several places where things are stored like papers and photos. That is step one to consolidate to one space. I am currently purging papers that aren't needed in files so I have more room. I NEED TIPS AND POINTERS. ANY COMMENTS ARE WELCOME ON ORGANIZING! THANKS everyone.

Yesterday am before the wrestling tournament it was 3 degrees F. I snapped this photo quickly from the parking lot at the High School. Today it was -6 when I first woke up. Not sure if I want to try to snow shoe today. I still have my friends shoes. :) We planned I would return them this week.

Since November, this is where I have been spending much of my time on Wednesday evenings and Saturday , yes all day, for tournaments. It was hard for me to watch at first, but I think I am getting into it now and it isn't so scary to watch. Wrestling is a most difficult sport physically and mentally. It is a sport of good sportsmanship too which I like. Bad sportsmanship is highly frowned upon and will get you hissed by the crowd.

Here is my latest CWDQ block. They are getting easier to make. I think I have the paper piecing thing down. I am making this a very scrappy quilt.

The question of the day: How do you get papers, closets and the house organized? Any and all responses are welcome because I am having a bit of trouble trying to get started. I am weeding through papers and files in the house first. I am trying to organize like things together to determine storage. My problem is now I have like items in several places due to space and not organizing them together. Help, I have never been this disorganized before. I guess it comes with living in the same house for 10 years. In the past we moved every couple of years and that forces me to purge and get organized.

More little blocks!

Here is a special chicken nugget that was in my son's order. Awwww. I had to have a picture with my new little camera! A small Nikon that DH gave me for Christmas, so easy to use and the pictures are great!

The first Civil War Diary Quilt block for 2011. I have about 80 to go. The tiny pieces are not the easiest to do.

I am going to resolve to have a more positive attitude all day when I am at work. Really, you know I would rather be quilting! By the way, lost one pound! On the road to losing 45 more by the end of the year. Just so you know, I ate only one fry when my son ordered the Wendy's ordered pictured.

Last Day of my Christmas Vacation

Here is Christmas morning. We had a wonderful time. My daughter and son in law were here for a week. The whole family watched TV, shopped, snow shoed, went to my son's wrestling tournament, saw Tron and the theater and ate wonderful meals. I really enjoyed the time together.

I spend today taking down the tree. I cleaned. I finished a quilting a queen sized quilt for a customer. I ate lunch with my Dad. I went to Hobby Lobby and decided to redo my whole house. I am starting today. All this before 2 pm!!

2011 I have decided out with the old and in with the new. I am redecorating a bit. I need a change with the house and it will be a long term project. I am going to continue my weight loss and exercise goals. I want to de- clutter and organize. I did start all of that today and plan to do a little several times a week to get organized.

What else? Not sure, but I think growing our Long Arm business and just plain having more fun. I am working on 2 quilts that were started last year and hope to finish them. I have 7 tops to quilt. My husband is getting started with the Highland games and that will be a blast to follow this summer. I have a lot to look forward to this year. Sigh, back to work tomorrow. It really was fun being off but time to get back at it.

Christmas Vacation

I have been taking this week off for a few years as my daughter and her husband have been visiting. My son is home from school and I like to visit with them all. I have had a great week so far visiting with family.

I did have a wonderful Christmas. I enjoyed the gift exchange and church services. I went snowshoeing for the first time yesterday. I have been cooking, not something I do on a regular basis :).

I made myself a ruffle scarf. It is crocheted and made from bamboo yarn and very soft.

I am going to spend 2011 sewing and quilting my Civil War Diary Quilt. I want to finish my Victory quilt. I have a few tops to experiment new stitches on and fabrics to really think about what I want to do with them.


Off to enjoy my vacation from work.

I have been quilting really!

I haven't been doing much piecing because my sewing room is the dining room and well this time of year it is packed up for company. I have been crocheting here at home. I have been shopping until I drop and now I am finished. I am wrapping up the gifts now.

To see what I have been quilting please go to my Long Arm blog here:

http://finishedstitches.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-gifts-are-so-fun-to-finish.html

I am getting a tons of chatter of how more customers and going to bring quilts after Christmas. Our long arm business isn't even a year old and I feel things are really going to pick up.