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Sunday, January 28, 2007

The best laid plans . . . .

As far back as I can remember - even when I was a small child - I have hated to stop in the middle of a project. Once I'm on a roll I like to proceed to the end - no interruptions, no breaks. I even forget to eat if I'm really deep into something. (Unfortunately for my waistline I don't seem to get that deep into anything any more!)

That's the way I felt about that scrap fabric on my table that was still waiting to be cut. I just couldn't go upstairs to quilt knowing I'd not finished that task. I kept thinking it would take only a little longer. I said that at 10:00, I said it again at noon, and finally just before 3:00 I finished. It took a little longer to put all the different shapes and strips into their various containers and then straighten up the room. What a great feeling to have that done! However, it wouldn't be a good idea for me to spend all my weekends this way. So I filled a small plastic tote with scraps from the big tub and then put the big tub away. The small tote can sit on the corner of my ironing board and I can press and cut a few each day. The big tub really looked emptier when I'd shifted this to the tote. I like this idea - as long as I don't get so involved I forget to do anything else.

The second picture shows the four postage stamp blocks I finished last October, plus the two more I made on Friday night. I have a rich royal purple that I'm going to sash the blocks with - it's a fabric I bought for Sophie's quilt but then didn't use. I need to make 6 more blocks in order to have a quilt of the proper size. This has been my leader ender project for a long time, but now I have enough sewn together to finish it I think. I'm going to shoot for this being one of my UFO finishes in February.

If anyone is interested in reading the story of these postage stamp blocks you can find part 1 here, part 2 here, and part 3 here.




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22 comments:

  1. SilverthimbleJanuary 28, 2007 at 3:47 PM

    I love the postage stamp blocks. Are those squares finishing at 1"? You are tempting me--but I think I would make mine a little bigger. *LOL*

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  2. Paula, the quilterJanuary 28, 2007 at 4:59 PM

    I've gotten into the habit of "picking up the shop" as CarGuy puts it. I find it makes in much nicer to go in a sew. Plus I exercise in this room too and don't want to step on any stray pins or cutters.

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  3. quiltpixieJanuary 28, 2007 at 5:00 PM

    the postage stamps are great! How wide will the sashing be?

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2007 at 5:37 PM

    I adore postage stamp quilts - this one will be a beauty!

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  5. May BrittJanuary 28, 2007 at 9:39 PM

    I envie you a bit when you say you hate to stop in the middle of a project and just continue till its finihed. I have a habit you jump from one project to another one LOL

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  6. UnknownJanuary 28, 2007 at 9:45 PM

    Love the saga of the postage stamp blocks. I hope to have a similar tale using triangles cut from corners, binding connections, etc.. Will probably be a Broken Dishes pattern.

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  7. Susan January 28, 2007 at 11:45 PM

    the blocks look great and I'm able to imagine them with a really nice purple sashing and border. Cutting up scraps is what I do when I'm avoiding doing other things. Happens often enough to keep a pile of squares handy for leader-enders. =)

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  8. TazzieJanuary 29, 2007 at 4:08 AM

    Hey there Patti, your postage stamp blocks are just lovely, I really like them. Also, I love your idea of pressing and cutting a few bits of your scraps each day, I think I may put that into practice too, it can just be too overwhelming otherwise.
    *hugs*
    Tazzie
    :-)

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2007 at 5:00 AM

    oh, you dear soul you. those postage stamp blocks look absolutely wonderful...but i can't imagine putting them all together! lol! but, YOU GO, GIRL!! :oP

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  10. CynthiaJanuary 29, 2007 at 5:33 AM

    thanks for sharing the links to the story behind your postage stamp blocks. I love the scrappy look to it.

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  11. SimonettaJanuary 29, 2007 at 5:46 AM

    Great idea, Patti!!!! It is so lovely!!!!

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  12. DarleneJanuary 29, 2007 at 6:00 AM

    Love your postage stamp blocks. Every time I see a postage stamp quilt I have a desire to make one and then nothing happens. LOL

    Wow, you and Cher had a very productive day - well done!!!!

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  13. tamiJanuary 29, 2007 at 7:32 AM

    That's a great idea having a container of scraps to press every time you go to the ironing board. I think I am going to have to start doing that as well. I would love to get rid of the stray computer paper boxes full of scraps cluttering up my sewing room.

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  14. JudyJanuary 29, 2007 at 7:57 AM

    I love the postage stamp blocks! I lkike that they aren't super tiny and they use up so many scraps!! It's an idea I might have to delve into soon for my scraps too!

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  15. FinnJanuary 29, 2007 at 9:31 AM

    Hi Patti, thanks for all the love and encouragement lately! I too, love your postage stamp project, but then I loved it when you were back at part 3! Sometimes such unrestricted piecing is just what we need, and I applaude your getting more scraps cut up...but am sorry to hear about the death of your iron.
    Hope you make it through the fabric store stop!! Big hugs, Finn

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  16. LeslieJanuary 29, 2007 at 9:34 AM

    Patti, do you know the expression 'Kindred Spirit'? I've been cutting 2" squares for *years* and putting them into neat little stacks in my various pizza boxes. Recently I started a strippy leader and ender inspired by Bonnie. I can totally relate to your sorting and stacking, resorting and restacking. Fun!

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  17. Quilts And PiecesJanuary 29, 2007 at 3:45 PM

    oooo, I love them!

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  18. JenniJanuary 29, 2007 at 5:57 PM

    I really enjoyed the postage stamp story. That's fabric recycling at its best! The blocks look great.

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  19. The Chicken LadyJanuary 30, 2007 at 9:07 AM

    Very nice. I NEED to get more big projects finished so I can finish my scrappy stuff. I love the squares.:)

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  20. Evelyn aka StarfishyJanuary 31, 2007 at 7:25 PM

    I love scrappy quilts, and I loved reading the story of these scraps! How fun that they are now out of the pizza boxes and coming to life as a quilt!

    Cheers!

    Evelyn

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  21. ShelinaFebruary 3, 2007 at 10:07 AM

    These postage stamp blocks are beautiful. These purely scrap quilts are tempting me greatly lately.

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  22. IngaFebruary 11, 2007 at 2:27 AM

    Those postage stamp blocks are just fantastic. Please post a picture of the finished top soon.

    Inga

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