Productivity is my thing, this week. I feel like I am making headway in a few different areas. The Decluttering is going along, these past few days have been about Kits and UFOs. I went through my kits and wrote them all down on the white board and corralled them all together on a shelf. I have not done this with the UFOs, partially because I need to devote a bit of time to the decision process – keep/salvage or chuck. I might just group them together and do the culling another time. One of this weeks prompts was to go through pre-cuts. I feel like I need to get a handle on this section of stash as well. I have many charm packs languishing and even a FQ pack or two that need to be made into something. That is one of the pitfalls of decluttering, tangential project planning and not staying on task. The project that gave me the most satisfaction this week was cleaning out my notions drawer. It was stuffed with all kinds of things and in the bottom of the drawer was a plastic drawer organizer thing that wasn’t any help. I took everything out and separated by category and function. Now all the zippers are not a tangled mess, the covered button blanks have a spot and the purse hardware is all together. Best of all I can easily open and close the drawer.

In the finished pile this week are the custom Apron (Sam’s Apron pattern) the two Thomas the tank Engine tops, the binding on the xmas placemats and two small quilts. I am accumulating a pile for photography and posting to the store.

Speaking of stores, I went to an actual quilt store yesterday The Granary. I am trying to get the solids for the Awesome Ocean quilt collected. There are ten FQs needed, and even though I have two FQ packs for blues and greens, they aren’t the “right” ones. Let’s also mention that the background Essex linen I ordered 1/3/26 isn’t here yet. I ended up ordering more from another online shop in hopes it will be here soon. I was able to check on line to see if they had the colors I was missing, they had 6 of the eight I needed. I took a ride and got them. It was so nice to go into this shop, brightly lit, lots of shoppers and helpful peoples. I missed this feeling of camaraderie, where everyone knows what you’re talking about, how to do it and why. I never get/got this feeling at Michaels or at Joanns, just the blank looks and “I can show you where it is” helpfulness. There are three Fabric/quilt stores equidistant from me, about 30 minutes drive. The Granary, one that is for sale, and one I haven’t been to yet. I’d like to think that since Joanns closed, maybe people will open a shop nearer to me. Probably not though, rents a terribly high, and the costs of fabric are so expensive. I did get all the solids cut and sorted for the Awesome Ocean top once I got home.

The Quandary quilt is quilted in the center, I just have three more borders to sew. I am on the fence about whether to stitch the bottom horizontal and turn the quilt, or finagle the side borders into sections. I need to get this giant off the frame and quilt the custom (Santa Land) and the Awesome Ocean needs to be done by mid February.

The Lilies cross stitch is getting more X’s, I am almost finished with the words. I have chosen my next project, it’s the Mirabella Mermaid. I went through the flosses and ordered all the ones I am missing. I had to substitute some of the Mill Hill beads, they don’t make the delicata ones any more. I choose some small ones in colors that may or may not work. It will be nice not to have a giant project, and different subject matter to stitch. I am also about half way done with knitting the Nessie hat, the serpent is emerging row by row.

I am having difficulties uploading photos, so I will get them here next time.

Be Kind.