Starting Something New

Hi, everyone! I've had problems with my Internet being slow and everything freezing up when I uploaded photos to my blog, so I downloaded the latest version of Adobe Flash Player hoping that it helps.

You wouldn't believe the posts that I have started. I gave up and started writing them on paper. Do you do that? Do you write things down first before you type everything, or do you just fly by the seat of your pants and hope for the best? I can't do that. I have to write everything down. Then I edit, and edit, and edit some more. You'll be glad I do that. Sometimes I write 3 pages full of stuff.

So, here's my post about the new quilt I'm starting (that I have tried to post I don't know how many times).

Although it's fun to finish projects that have been on my UFO shelves for years a while, it's also fun to start something new. Don't you agree?

Next week I'm going on the annual quilting retreat that I go to every year. I know. I know. I go on lots of retreats, but this one is different. I have my choice of either sewing on UFO's or taking a couple of classes. I have plenty of UFO's to finish, but I always like to take classes. Not only do I learn something I may not already know, but I also get to make new friends, and visit with ones that I have made over the past 13 years.

My friend, Terry, is teaching this class.


I don't normally make Valentine quilts in the Fall, but this one is so pretty. At least I'll be ready for Valentines Day!

The entire quilt is made with 2 1/2" squares; a million of them. Well, not really, but it seems that way. At first I was going to use my collection of 2 1/2" scrappy squares, but I decided to use reds. I could strip piece them instead of cutting out a million 2 1/2" squares. So, I gathered up my fabrics and tossed them on the floor to see if they all played well together. Some were too orange, some were too burgundy, and some were too busy. If I wasn't sure, I would leave it in the pile and walk out of the room. I would take a little peek when I would pass by the room. If it screamed at me and stuck it's tongue out, I would take it out and put it away with the rest of the reds that were being bad.



The one on top is sort of screaming at me a little bit. It has light and dark parts, so I used it sparingly.

For the past week I have been sewing, sewing, and sewing. Every time I think I've finished a part of the quilt, I realize I need to make more. It just seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

I have felt like a slave to my sewing machine. All day Sunday this saying kept popping into my head "the sum of its parts...the sum of its parts". I googled "sum of its parts" and the saying is "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts". I didn't read any further on the meaning of this saying. I was just excited that I could relate it to this quilt; every quilt, I suppose.

Speaking of which...

The other class I am taking Miss Rosie's "Come On-A My House".

I've been so busy sewing for the first class I haven't even started cutting for this one! Anyone want to "come on-a my house" and help me cut?

So, if my post had worked last week I would have told you about someone else starting something new. Jodi did a total makeover of her blog (new name and all) and it's fantastic. She posted a project in Moda's Bakeshop, so hopefully you knew about her blog and were able to enter the giveaways. In case you didn't though, she's having another giveaway. You can find out about it here.

Okay. So this post I have finally gotten finished. I've been kicked off 4 times since I have been writing this post, and I've hung in there, determined to get this one posted. I hope it works!

Yay!!! It worked!!!!

Amanda