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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Daily Goals vs. Time to Play

When I go to a quilt retreat I make a list of projects to work on. I like to set daily goals and give myself a bit of structure. 
I do this because I know that I can fall down into a rabbit hole quickly and start new projects accidentally (see the accidental quilt post). Starting new projects does NOT result in any projects being finished!
Also I am not one of those quilters who can bring 1 project and work on it for days. I usually work on 3 different projects each day - one piecing, one quilting, and one hand work for the evening. 
While at retreat I was gifted bits of fabrics and leftover scraps. This package arrived from a retreater's sister. I was so touched by the lovely note and the gift of scraps from a deceased quilter, and look forward to making some wonderful projects from this collection. It was very hard to focus on my retreat goals after receiving this gift, full of so much potential sewing fun.

 But showing great self restraint, I did stay focused!

For the first 2 days of retreat I only worked on my 150 Canadian Women project and would not allow myself to play with anything else until I had some rows sewn together. 
But after that was accomplished I allowed myself play time with scraps and HST collections.

 Here is a good example... My friend Jackie gave me a bag of red and white triangles, which were corners cut off of pieced blocks. Instead of throwing them in the garbage, Jackie gifted them to me. 
morning play time at quilt retreat
This was the second year that this bag of bits attended quilt retreat. I spent many happy hours sewing the triangles together, squaring the HST's to similar sizes, and playing with various block patterns. Some blocks have 4 HST's, and one block has 72 HST's. So fun! This is going to be my miniature quilt project for March.

 Do you set quilting goals for retreat or do you just play with whatever strikes your fancy? Do you ever play with another quilter's garbage?!?

13 comments:

  1. TuridThursday, February 27, 2020

    I feel we are twins. I could have given you a yard or two of fabrics, but never the bags with those small scraps. I often use others scrap bags. And I always have to make plans, not only for retreats, but every day. Else I would have fallen into the rabbit hole all the time. Good luck with your scraps.

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  2. Carole @ From My Carolina HomeThursday, February 27, 2020

    I tend to take more projects than I think I can finish, in a variety of things to do like making elements for one project, doing sashing on a block project, assembling time consuming blocks like paper pieced or a sampler pattern, and then one speed piecing project. I then work on whatever strikes my fancy at the time. I always get more done than I think possible.

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  3. Jan @Cocoa QuiltsThursday, February 27, 2020

    I love those little red HSTs. The blocks look perfect and I can hardly wait to see them all together.

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  4. julieQThursday, February 27, 2020

    That is about all I play with, is scraps, LOL!! Scraps are certainly my thing...what a lovely gift you received! I like your start for March..pretty pinwheels!

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  5. Karen - Quilts...etc.Thursday, February 27, 2020

    sounds like a good idea to take a variety of projects with you to work on, love the little bitty red and white blocks

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  6. Chris Thursday, February 27, 2020

    When I go to the Shipshewana retreat, it is 5 days of quilting time. I take 4-5 different projects because I am ADHD and cannot focus on the same one all the time or boredom sets in and I am unproductive. I set attainable goals for some and have at least one big thing that may not get done. I too like to change it up and have simple machine sewing, foundation piecing, simple machine applique and of course, some handwork.

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  7. ShelinaThursday, February 27, 2020

    These red and white blocks are so beautiful. It is interesting how different they look in different sizes. I would take a variety of projects to a retreat too.

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  8. The Joyful QuilterThursday, February 27, 2020

    I usually bring 3 - 5 projects depending on size and deadlines for finishing. LOVE those Bonus HSTs!!

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  9. JennyThursday, February 27, 2020

    I do so enjoy reading your posts Kathy, you are such a happy, positive person. You have done wonders with your bag of red and white scraps, dont they look pretty all sitting side by side!

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  10. Deanna WThursday, February 27, 2020

    I don't have to garbage can dive...retreaters just leave their scraps on my table!! haha I usually take 3 or 4 projects to work on in the sewing room and some hand work like hexies or knitting for in the evening. Love all those red and white hst...can't wait to see what you do with them.

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  11. Janet O.Friday, February 28, 2020

    The retreat I attend is usually three days. I tend to take a different large project for each day and then one project box full of little projects. I work on my large project as long as I can each day, and then I pull out a small project. Sometimes I go back to the large project before the day is over, and sometimes not.
    I have saved other people's scraps at retreat, but I don't usually play with them until I get home.
    Love all those blocks you have made from the red/white scraps.

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  12. Cheryl's Teapots2QuiltingFriday, February 28, 2020

    I think my favorite part of my large quilt guild is the freebie table. Lots of 'junk' from other quilters (one person's trash is another person's treasure). I tend to bring more than one project to work on, in case I get bored.

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  13. SarahSaturday, February 29, 2020

    I like a good plan! Besides you need several projects so you can swap around when the mood takes you. LOVE those red and white blocks!

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