My secret to quilt finishes - lists!

Manage your Focus, not your Time

 This quote from Robin Sharma scrolled by in my facebook feed recently. Needless to say it worked! I stopped scrolling and got behind my sewing machine instead. This post will share a few of the tools (read - lists!) I use to keep me focused and quilting!



Fall feels like a new beginning for me, a time to take a big breath of fresh, crisp air and figure out what I still want to accomplish before the New Year. This can be overwhelming - there are always so many things! Trying to squeeze them all in means I don't really enjoy any of it. With everyone else's schedule filling up too (my daughter started Gr. 11, my son Gr. 4, and a husband a new job!), finding the time is also tricky.

Visual Project List board

 For a couple of years now I have been using a Visual Project list board to help me stay focused on the quilt projects I want to do.  I go over in a bit of detail how I use it  in this blog post to keep myself from joining too many new quilt alongs or block of the months or any other of the kazillion new quilty things that pop up - especially this time of year.

 Sign up for my newsletter and get your own Visual Project list board tool.

Here's a photo of what my current VP list board looks like:

I'm using the crazy patch potholder I made over at QUILTsocial as my current board. I like to switch it up as a different mini quilt to keep me inspired and looking at it;)
Right now my board has very few items on it - which is good because I'm just starting to plan my quilting for Fall.

One Quilt a Month

In addition to this board, I've added a QUILT Focus list this year. It's been working out really well. I wrote down each month of the year on a small piece of paper I keep by my computer, and picked ONE quilt that I wanted to complete that month. There are several groups out there doing this as an accountability exercise - some are really fun where you number your UFOs to work on and whichever number gets picked for the month is the project you work on. Fun, right! For me I chose mostly seasonal quilts or special occasion quilts so I needed a bit more control of when they would be worked on and finished.

The results - I have finished quilts this year!

 I finished my Halloween 1904,

 created and finished my Churn, Baby, Churn Baby quilt,

 created and finished Wish Upon a Star for Spring quilt using Northcott Fabrics for QUILTsocial,

 and made my first quilt from a kit for my son's birthday. 

I figured out what I wanted to do with the cottage blocks

 for my anniversary quilt and got the top completed in time too!

All this while supply teaching and working on some more of my own designs, plus keeping up with the projects on my VP list! Notice that it's September and I don't have 8 finished quilts; I started with February and left one month open to give myself some breathing room on a deadline quilt and I'm glad I did. I had some health issues in April and was able to recuperate without feeling stressed about my quilting. So 5 quilts in 6 months - not including some behind the scenes (aka secret sewing) quilts too;)

With the help of the Visual Project list board and the One Quilt a Month list I've kept on track with two great benefits - completed quilts and wiggle room to join in on a few projects as they popped up - like Temecula Quilt Company's Four Patch Work during the Olympics.

 Perhaps the greatest benefit is knowing what to work on when I have time to quilt.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with quilting projects? Share in the comments and let's see if we can help each other ENJOY the process:)


With Joy,

Sarah V.

p.s. here's the link for my newsletter signup again. Try out the Visual Project list board and see if it helps you focus too.

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Five 15s

My Easter tabletopper is ready and waiting. . . and waiting to be quilted. 

I am home from work today and no excuses. 

Just need to go and buy milk.

Write a cheque.

Mail the cheque.

Decide on Easter dinner.

Sweep kitchen floor.

Okay, okay, you get the idea! I can get THIS close to finishing and stop in my tracks.

My solution this time around?

Five 15s.

Five segments of 15 minutes at the machine.

I figure if I can trick my mind into five 15s, I just might keep going!

Wish me luck!

Tell me how do you get projects completed?

 Just in case my latest attempt fails

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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Take Time To Change the World!

What Matters Now

Take time to check out this compilation I found through Seth Godin.
I found Seth through Pink Chalk Studios.

Green Bag Lady


I made these 5 Green Bag Lady bags as part of Sew, Mama, Sew's "Grocery Bag Sew Off".
You can click on the Quilting for Peace Team button in my sidebar to read more about it. (You can win things too!)

There's a link at Sew, Mama, Sew forum to participate.

You can visit the Green Bag Lady's blog to be inspired,
and to find directions on how to make the bags.

Or you can watch the video.

She also has instructions for a gift bag.

Time Tips for Making Green Bag Lady Bags

Use up those odd fabrics you've bought or been given. The ones you wouldn't put in a quilt because of weight or non-cotton status:)



When using a large piece of yardage, you don't need to cut 2 panels for the sides of the bag. You can fold your fabric and have the 2 pieces already joined at the bottom.


Use your ruler to make the bottom corner cuts. I found lining it up with the grid on my cutting mat and then cutting both sides with my rotary cutter to be the most accurate way to get my squares.

And, last but not least (and not too obvious in the written instructions) you will need 2 handles - so cut 2 strips of 3x18 fabric.
I actually cut my 3 1/2 x 18 so that I can turn under a seam allowance for a finished edge.


Quilt with your hands and your heart.

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Time Sews On

Happy Anniversary, sis and husband Joseph. I sent them this tablerunner I made. My sis has an Etsy shop you should peek at. She's working hard to finish up things for holiday selling - and gift giving. I don't know how she finds all the time. Well maybe I do - we got those 'organize to the teeth' genes:)

I have a pretty short list of gifts that I'm making this year. I'm trying to enjoy the process this year and not stress my family out. It seems I'm a bit cranky when working to a deadline:)

I made a lot of progress on my Fall wallhanging yesterday.

My two year old hung out and watched movies while I put the pedal down. I'm waiting for my rick rack in the mail, then I can add the leaves and berries.


I even worked ahead and have my borders ready to put on! I really like how quickly this came together. I really like IT too:) I like to give away things that I like - it makes the whole process more enjoyable.

Today I'm working on completing a small wallhanging for one of my nieces. It's my daughter's project, but she hasn't done quilting on a machine yet. She still has some stitching planned to finish it off.

While I was on my hunt through my stash for fabrics for the Fall wallhanging, I ran across this baggie:
What a great TIMESAVER! My extra blocks from a project neatly put away and labeled. Two things I'm going to do to make it even better - write on it the number of blocks in the bag (it was 4 short for a little plan I had stewing) and put it away in a place I can find it again!:)

Hoping you have a sewing filled Tuesday!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Tip: Take Time to Enjoy Tuesday

I finally surrendered yesterday to the two year old's demands and pieced instead of planned. I got another Lady of the Lake block done, put together my daughter's remaining cousin challenge blocks, made a tree block, and decided I like the reindeer mittens 'up and down' instead of even.

But more than this, I realized an important time tip:
remember to give yourself time to be inspired and renewed.

It helps alot when you have great things to look at.

This is the first time I've looked at the Irish quilting magazine - and it won't be my last! I spied the cover quilt online and was delighted to find the pattern in here! It is a very well laid out magazine with lots of projects that I want to do. It speaks intelligently to the reader - do you know what I mean? It doesn't assume knowledge, but suggests techniques and methods in a way to encourage you - not make you think you have to go back to quilter kindergarten.

Pat Sloan is a regular contributor and doesn't disappoint with this quick, cute, bold, folksy wallhanging.




Here's a delightful surprise I found in my public library. There's not too many books there so I rarely check back on the shelf. This one - is a keeper!

STAR QUILTS: With Patterns for More than 30 Stars, Mary Elizabeth Johnson, Clarkson Potter Publishers, New York:1992. (ISBN 0-517-57418-7)

Here's just a few for today. She categorizes the type of star quilts and then has amazing examples of each. You can click on a photograph to enlarge it. (I took them at night at my cutting table, apologizes for some slight discolourations, but the inspiration is still there!)




The author's inspiration quilt. Made 1810-1825, in either Marion or Selma, Alabama, by a Miss Jones: all cotton, some chintzes, never washed; 82 1/2 x 94 inches. (p.16)





Octagon star from the LeMoyne star. 1885, by Isabella Fleming and Doris Boucher, Paducah, Kentucky: 81 inches square. (p.106)





Providence unknown, possibly Chambers County, Alabama; c. 1965; 55 1/2 x 72 inches. (p.60)

This quilt reminds me of Kaffe Fassett, Sarah Fielke, and Mrs. Schmenkman. It has also renewed my desire to make a red quilt!

One more for today. . .



Bull's Eye quilt, by Alverda H. Herb; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; c. 1920; 84 1/2 x 85 1/2 inches. (p.84)

This quilt again draws on red, but also repetition to pull in the viewer and to achieve symmetry.

Take time to be inspired today.

With Joy,

Sarah V

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TODAY is Tuesday! Time Tip and Links to Play With

I forgot TODAY was Tuesday! Sorry,! On with the show, I guess:)

Time Tip: Write it Down, Put it Up!

If you click on the photo you can see each sticky has the cutting amounts for one colour needed for the Halloween quilt I'm making next year. Since I can't resist, I leave these out all the time so when I have the chance I know where I'm at. What I've done. What's left to do.

I've started to do this for another current large project. It's helping keep the hundreds of triangles seem less daunting as I cross of 26 and write 37 out of 290! Little steps, remember!

Writing it down and posting it makes room in your brain for more important things - like picking your next project!!

Now, what I really wanted to blog about today was all the fun that is starting up in Quilt Blogging World! The festive season certainly has the quilters and crafters busy planning quick things to make! And finishing things up to start NEW stuff next year!

Here's two activities to take a look at:
Gudrun's World starts things off on the 9th. Each designer gives tips, techniques, or even a pattern. They have giveaways too! A fun way to check out what some designers are doing for the holidays.


I love the NAME of this challenge! And, yes, more prizes! This time you actually have to challenge yourself and declare publicly how many UFOS you want to finish before the new year. If you succeed, you double your entries for the prizes. Check out the details at Tallgrass Prairie Studios.

Sew, Mama, Sew has great links for projects and things to purchase for gift giving this season. Comment each day to have a chance to win each day's prize - mostly craft books!


You have to play to win! Have fun:)

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Quick Time Tip Tuesday

Pressing Station

This tip took me years to implement! It has resulted in flatter blocks and easier piecing. You don't need a lot of space. I have a mini ironing board that lays across the top of my printer/scanner. My iron can even be tucked behind on the desk so it doesn't stick out temptig little hands when not in use. This desk is on the opposite wall from my sewing machine. Easy access is key.

Now I just stack up some things to press or iron from a couple projects and go for it. Or, if I only have one thing that needs done it's not an ordeal to press it.

Quick and Neat.
Make room for this tip. Your quilt tops will thank you.

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Tuesday Time Tip

This week's Time Tip has a few steps to it. The Basic Idea: Little Steps Add up Quickly!

Who will benefit from this tip:

Any quilter who:

works on more than one quilt at a time

makes quilts with lots of pieces in each block unit

has little blocks of time to sew

wants to read this post!

This week's tip focusses on a few of the little steps involved in getting to the end of my queen size Lady of the Lake quilt.

Each block has 16 Half Square Triangles. I need 4 dark and 4 light fabrics for EACH block. (I'm not including the large half square triangle in the middle - the same process would work though, if like me, you want to make them ALL at the beginning to show your commitment to the quilt!)


I'm only using from my stash. My sister has sent me some fabric from her stash too as I'm not generally a 'light' value fabric collector. This step will go faster for you if you have bought specific fabrics for your project.


I have a few basic tools and used most for this step. First I need light and dark fabrics. LOTS. I also have my long grid ruler and my 6 inch square ruler. Plus my cutting mat and rotary cutter. And my measurement which has now become ingrained in my memory.

2 7/8. Squares. Light and Dark. I pull from my stash regularly. I cut them out of leftover fabric as I work on new projects. I try to build up piles of each.

When I don't have time to build up a pile of various pairs, I make do with what I've got. Here's a picture of 4 darks paired up with 4 lights. The minimum required for 1 block is 4 pairs so I try to make them all different.Here, at least, all the lights are different so things will work out.

To maximize time I lay out pairs of dark squares and top them with light squares, right sides of fabrics facing.

Then I draw my diagonal line down all the pairs. Now instead of laying each pair down and then stacking them, I get my stack ready that much faster. Not a super speedy trick, but did I tell you I need 16 pairs for EACH block?

Then I follow, perhaps one of the greatest tips out there from one of the greatest tipsters and stash busters - Bonnie of Quiltville and her leaders and enders tip.

The MAJORITY of these half square triangles have been sewn together while making other quilts. Lots of other quilts. I am not one to focus on one quilt at a time. But, perhaps by now, you have already figured that out!

Okay, back to the tip! Once I have my most recent pile sewn, or at minimum 4 different pairs, I lay them out again on my cutting mat. This time I have the light side facing up with the pencil line going up and down and try really hard to make neat columns. Then I place my long ruler lined up with the pencil line I made to sew, and cut. Just like that.
A nice little pile, stacked dark side up, to take to the ironing board. For my next chunk of time.

Just to point out:
Each step along the way may be the only step that gets done in one sewing period. Or even one week! Sometimes getting enough pairs to the ironing board takes. . . well, longer than I'd like. It's okay to put the steps together in one sitting and go for it. But this is how I get my blocks done. One step at a time.

I know - there still isn't a finished block here!!!! Tune in next week for my last few steps to finishing a block.

Until then, Enjoy!

Sarah Vee

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Time Tip Tuesday

This is for all of us who would love to and NEED to find time everyday to quilt. To create. To make something new! This is a first attempt. Check back next week. No promises! Enjoy.

Time Tip #1 : Do NOW what you can't do LATER!

For instance; my goal right now is to finish quilting this quilt by the end of October. Some of you might sit right down and stay up late and do it! Yay for you!! For me, that's a no go. I procrastinate at this stage, but I'm working on it. What have I done to tackle this phobia of the finished product?

SEE it done then do it!

I have written out all my plans for quilting each different section of the quilt. When I get a chunk of time without interruptions (or toddlers ) I go for it. I don't have to rethink what I'm going to do or where I'm at. I check off each section as I go so I know where to start next time. You can even write down what thread you plan to use so you don't have to store that info in your brain (save some space up there for dreaming about the next quilt!)

So far so good.

Next Tuesday I may even show you this one done :)

Make a plan for getting through the parts you don't enjoy - or simply can't do during your normal time for sewing.

ENJOY the process (all the way to the end!)

Sarah Vee

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