Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Focus Factor!!

 I decided that after reading my own last post, that is was essential that I FOCUS on something!  I couldn't keep lamenting about a lack of focus; I just had to find my DISCIPLINE and DO IT!!  I can be pretty headstrong at times, and I decided that if I wanted to make real progress on anything, I had to just buckle down and DO IT!  So, I went looking through my UFO's.  And found this one!  This is Lisa's Garden, a block of the week from some years ago, from Lisa Bongean at Primitive Gatherings.  I have had all the nine patches cut out, and all the applique prepped, for years now.  What on earth was I procrastinating about?  I sat myself down after house cleaning and pieced all those tiny nine patches yesterday.
 Today, I am working on the applique.  I sometimes think I have to save handwork for a road trip, or waiting times in a doctor's office or something, so I fall woefully behind on some projects I really want to finish.  No more waiting!!  Time's a wastin'!!
 The original background was a dark muslin, in a primitive style.  I wanted to infuse some light into the piece, so I used a light muslin instead.  Now I have a pretty piece of primitive dark muslin to use in something else!! Above are a couple of my favorite blocks.  They finish at 3 inches, so they are pretty tiny!!  I am hand blanket stitching them with ordinary thread.
Best of all?  An empty basket, from the cut out nine patches.  HURRAH!!!




Have a great fourth of July, everyone!!!

Julie

35 comments:

Loris said...

Strong work getting focused! I love those flower blocks too. Also love that one on the left edge with golden yellow blossoms...kind like poppies.
I'm working on yet another baby quilt here :-)

Kindred Quilts said...

It's so wonderfully colorful! Such pretty embroideries! I guess it pays to focus once in awhile! I'll have to try it! :)

Quilter Kathy said...

Congrats on the progress...such a pretty quilt!
Happy 4th!

Donna Keating said...

I need to take a page from your book and just pick something to finish. Your blocks are darling.

Janet O. said...

Congrats on getting down to business, Julie! I love this little quilt. If you hadn't said anything I wouldn't have realized how small it is. Lisa loves small, doesn't she? What a bunch of pretty little blooms!
Blanket stitching with plain thread is how my just finished Black & Blooms was done, too. That was a different experience--I needed really good light and strong glasses. : )

KaHolly said...

Oh, Julie, I LIKE!! It's going to be absolutely beautiful. Guess it was time!

Andrea said...

Go Julie - you can do it x

Andrea said...

Go Julie - you can do it x

Andrea said...

Go Julie - you can do it x

Teresa said...

Your appliqué project is great!

Merilyn said...

I love the arrangement of 9-patchs and those cute little applique blocks!!! This will be a very pretty quilt when completed, good for you to progress with it after all that prep work!!!!

Elyte said...

Good to see that project on the go. I will take your advice and apply it to myself! Thank you.

Diane said...

I really like this, can't wait to see the progress! Have a wonderful fourth!

WoolenSails said...

That is well worth finishing, it is a beautiful quilt.

Debbie

regan said...

I just love those little orange round flowers! SO CUTE! What a great project.....I'm so glad you're getting back to it; it's so charming!

Me and My Stitches said...

I just love this quilt - wish I would have done it! Way to focus!!

Sylvia said...

You go, Julie! Very lovely blocks. All that focus is going to pay off ;)

Valerie the Pumpkin Patch Quilter said...

WOW - this is going to be SO beautiful when you're done!

liz said...

I hope your determination is contagious. It certainly sprang out from your post. I am sooo impressed that you actually got to the point you have. And it's a worthwhile project too. Very sweet.

Miriam said...

Very pretty blocks! I love your choice of the lighter background.

paulette said...

This quilt is going to be gorgeous!!
P

Joyce said...

Wonderful and awesome as always. I really like the lighter background you used. Can't wait to see what kind of a border you put on. You always do something interesting. Have a safe & happy 4th!
Joyce in AZ

Joyce said...

Wonderful and awesome as always. I really like the lighter background you used. Can't wait to see what kind of a border you put on. You always do something interesting. Have a safe & happy 4th!
Joyce in AZ

AnnieO said...

Good job on the focusing--it can't but help that these are tiny blocks and you love tiny :) And also scrappy and you love scrappy :) A complete win-win project!

Kristie said...

Looks beautiful! I know exactly what you mean, I have a hard time focusing on anything nowdays.
Kristie

Loretta said...

"EMPTY CONTAINER"!!

When my daughter was helping me move into and organize my new sewing room, every time we emptied a container we would sing out "empty container" in a lilting sing-songy voice!

She and I still do anytime we empty a box or container. It's become a joke with us!

Congrats on your "empty container"!

audrey said...

LOVE this quilt! Isn't it funny how we can get back into a project so easily when we've been putting it off forever! Yay for focus.:)

Lois Arnold said...

Yep, I lack focus as well. Love the new/old project. Will look forward to seeing it finished! You are much better at that than I am! Have a wonderful 4th!

Lori said...

That is beautiful! I love the muslin background too.

Nancy said...

Good for you, Julie. Sometimes it's just doing something - almost anything - with fabric to get started again. How wonderful that you had something in progress already. And something gorgeous, at that!

mereth said...

I do love an empty basket. Sometimes that's more motivation than the actual project!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I did a 9-patch swap and used the pattern for the flowers and have a version of this one started. I need to haul mine out too and keep on going!

Lynn Dykstra said...

This is a wonderful piece! I think it is a great choice for your focus and I look forward to seeing it all put together.
Love the flowers.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh this is wonderful! I wish I would have seen those flower patterns. They are wonderful!

Kim said...

Oh my! how beautiful...is this wool applique?
You go girl...get it done!
I'm proud of you :0).

Happy Sewing

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