OCD can create great options.

OCD can create great options.

Had to sew today after I had sorting dreams all night. Not sorting thread or fabric but dirty dishes in a huge house where I was working. I was willing to do whatever the "masters" requested but they were my worst enemies for organization of the dishwashers. Then I ended up taking all the glasses from the dishwasher to wash by hand but I was short of dishwashing soap.  Then guests were arriving and the tables needed set. Quite a busy dream and I know how it happened!!!! I woke exhausted and went right back to bed and got up at 11:00 a.m.
I went to the sorting container and happily dug out all the "kiddie" or odd prints. Worked great as these seem to pop out of the stacks of patches. And there were lots of them.

I now have 32 nine-patches of wild and happy prints. And I am still making them. I am also making small stacks of my favorite colors (pinks and browns) and another stack of '30's fabrics.

So my OCD was pleased and my sewing was carefree and happy!

YES...

XOXOXO Subee

I was having fun until OCD set in.

I was having fun until OCD set in.

I have been using my 1 1/2" squares as Leaders and Enders all this past week.
And loving how many I was making. I pieced a top for my second daughter's birthday and two copies for Project Linus. The Leaders and Enders then became a major sewing exercise that required no brain work. And a few more days of blissful sewing happened.

There are several quilt blocks that use these precious squares. With the Idaho Square Dance as one goal block, I have a small white container now full of the 3- patch units. And an entire larger plastic container full of 4-patches. Then a smaller container with some Square in a Square finished blocks. And another container with 4-patches of only Civil War fabrics.

And yes I have all my neutral squares pretty neatly stored and easy to grab for sewing. When I want a lighter square I can grab a pinch full  of lighter squares. I am very happy with being organised. But then today something happened.

As I was pulling UNSORTED squares from their large storage container (in the back on the left side) my hands started placing them by color. I knew what was happening but was unable to stop.

To ease my urges I simply made two 9-patch blocks. I even turned off my machine and told my hubby I was going to take a nap.

I did not take a nap. I slowly reached for my sorted by color container. Right on top of the container were 54 colored sixteen-patch blocks and 22 neutral colored sixteen-patch blocks.

Cute little blocks aren't they? They measure 4 1/2".

I then proceeded to make 13 more 9-patch blocks with controlled color. My cake container with the patches sorted by color is nearly empty. I wanted no repeats of fabric in each block. This means I need to color sort that large container.
ARRRGGG!!!!!

On a lighter note I have a new tea cup and three cones of 70 weight thread.

XOXOXOXO Subee

Swapping out my 1 1/2" squares

Here they are. All counted out and sorted through. The cats are waiting to ambush my plastic baskets. I have to keep shooing them away.

But there is a small issue with one of the swappers. She sent 50 unique fabrics in one set of 25 squares. The others all sent 25 fabrics in 25 sets. If they wanted to swap 50 fabrics they sent in another unique set.

I can get this swap done okay but to all the swappers it will seem as if you are a package short!!! Please understand that we used to swap 50 fabrics in one set. It is not her fault.
XOXOXOX Subee

Sorting my 1 1/2" squares from 10 years of swapping on the Postage Stamp group.

Sorting my 1 1/2" squares from 10 years of swapping on the Postage Stamp group. I admit it. I am a hoarder of major proportions. I save almost everything as I may have a need of it later. Dear Hubby has broken me of saving plastic containers. But when he wants one I remind him of his teachings. HA!

I watched 10 episodes of Season 1 of Boardwalk Empire as I sorted my hoard of scrappy postage stamp squares. The bottom container here is full to the brim. (But there are more that are color sorted. I will explain later.)

The top round basket has only neutrals. We need to swap some of these this next year too!!

 Closer view of the neutrals. I had somewhat sorted them a couple of years ago. That little plastic basket fits right into a gallon baggie keeping them clean and together.

My first sorting venture. They are all below this...forgot to take a photo. I am making 16 patch blocks of all close in value patches. This warms my OCD heart. And the sorting is a humbling experience. You need a really good light.

Here are the first blocks made before I started sorting all the color squares. I wanted to see what these little blocks looked like. Love the blocks and love making them.

I made 5 blocks before I decided to just sort all of the squares. I filled a wastebasket three times with plastic bags. I also came across some sets that were sewn together as we used to swap them when I first started. They were difficult to swap as the thread always broke creating a mess.

And here is a birthday quilt for my Granddaughter Arika. Birthday is in March.

XOXOXO Subee

Adventures with Leaders & Enders Bow-Dacious

I have 30 bowties made today from Bonnie Hunter's newest book: Adventures with Leaders & Enders. The snow finally stopped around noon today. DH has been a busy guy around here and doing good neighbor deeds with his shovel and snow blower.
This has given me time to sew!!!!!!!!!

Greens were the first color I sewed with.

Then of course I moved on to blues. And yes there are tiny corners being saved. But it is more to keep the sewing areas neat than planning on using them. But they are soooooo pretty.

Yesterday was spent sorting all my last three swap squares (6000+) into color families.

I also cleaned my machine and polished the cabinet. Fresh needle and a clean work area! "Yes", I say to myself. "All is under control".

The chicken and noodles cooked most of the day. It added humidity and a wonderful homey smell. And it was a great meal. We have made a lifestyle eating change. And chicken and noodles was a meal that is a "no-no". But we ate a small amount and I saved most of the meat for another lean meal.

I just love plastic containers. They keep things so very tidy and you can see inside too!

Reds, purples,oranges, reds,blacks and yellows.

Pinks and browns.................my favorite colors.

Greens and blues.

As I sorted out all my squares I found out that most of the colors I received were blues and greens.

Second was reds, then purples. The least amount (color) was gray...only 20 squares.

I had this balanced on a drawer. Then a kitty was trying to help. I nearly lost the whole box. It was saved and I continued to sort. One of my favorite past times...color control.

Bonnie's pattern (Bow-Dacious) was so perfect for me.