get it perfect or get it done?

Last weekend I finished all 48 blocks of my postage stamp quilt....
I DID NOT use pins at the seams SO they do not all match perfectly!!...
SO I was in a turmoil...should I go back and redo some of them?...
I really need to get this finished....
I took photos of the blocks layed out on the floor...
trying to decide....

then yesterday I was reading the Daily Motivator by Ralph Marston...
about choosing between getting it done or getting it perfect...
I think this was meant for me to read...

two quotes from the article:
"By all means, let perfection be your goal. Just be sure not to let it become your excuse."
"Even if you can't get it perfect, go ahead and get it done."
And that is what I am doing....
I will go for the finish...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

this month's block exchange

another month of blocks for our guild block exchange...
the photo is those blocks done by others...
all the blocks I layed together in a pile...
bright colors and some Halloween fabrics...

the second photo shows the two blocks I did for this month...
these blocks were challenging....
paper piecing AND sewing curves!!!...

I'm hoping to have easier blocks to do for next month...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Happy Valentines Day

punches used:
Marvy scalloped square
Martha Stewart studded heart
Martha Stewart eyelet heart
Tulip strawberry paper paint
giddy fabric pieces

pieces cut and waiting to sew since 1/16...
for the Heart Struck Runner...

squares sewn together since 1/19 for more heart ornaments...
the last two photos are projects from the Be Mine Blog Tour...
how did it get to be valentines day so fast!!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

small quilt groups are the best

sharing our projects and sharing our lives...

several weeks ago I learned about the above block from Naomi...
I follow her blog...
it is a 3 seam block by Suzanne McNeill....
I shared this with my quilt group this week....
and here is where you can watch it on you tube....
I tested it with 5 charm squares...
but in the video she uses 10" squares...

and on the subject of small quilt groups...
one of my sisters is in a small quilt group in Arizona...
and the following photo I took when I visited recently....

they meet on Saturdays in the am for coffee/tea and goodies...
they have show and tell, work on projects and have lunch together...
I really enjoyed visiting with this group...
AND I really like My Tuesday night group too...

for those who aren't in a small quilt group right now...
it is something you should think about doing...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

postage stamp giddy

the postage stamp quilt along is so fun...
it started with 2 jelly rolls...
giddy by Sandy Gervais and white...
purchased online at FatQuarterShop.com...

sorted fabrics and sewed strips following Rachel's instructions...

cut the strips into segments....

more photos on flickr in the postage stamp quilt along...
and there is a lot of activity in this group...

We were out of town and I am really behind...
working on making the blocks now...
I need 48 blocks for the quilt...
to speed things up I decided NOT to pin the seams...
just butt them up and hold and sew...
it should speed up the process...
I have ALWAYS pinned before....
so hoping the quilt police don't come after me!!

some of the group have the top complete...
quilt alongs are fun...
if you haven't tried one....be sure to look for one to join!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

guild quilt blocks

block exchange for this month at our guild....
the photo shows the directions and blocks made by others....
the requirements were to use blacks and whites and batiks....

my fabric choices and pieces cut out for block A....

my fabric choices and pieces cut out for block B...

block A finished....

block B finished....
these were turned in at our January meeting....

I've been working on the postage stamp quilt along....
will post about that later....photos on flickr...
also working on heart projects from the Be Mine Blog Tour...
lots of blog hops and blog tours going on all over the internet...
very inspiring!!!......
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

college basketball

Oh my gosh...I am such a fan of college basketball...
and this year the San Diego Aztecs are nationally ranked!!...
at the start of the season they were ranked 25th...
then gradually went higher and now they are ranked 6th...
my sister was a HUGE Duke fan...
and this time of year we would be cheering our teams...
and this week Duke lost after winning 25 in a row...
NOW the SD Aztecs have the longest winning streak at 18-0...
since my sister is gone...I had to send this into the universe...
today the Aztecs play in the "pit" at New Mexico...
and it will be a great game...hard to beat them there!!...
now I have to hurry and get more sewing done before the game!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

starting a valentine tree

I got the idea for a valentine tree...
from the Be Mine Blog Tour....
I left the snow people ornament on the tree too...

The fabric for these is Hearts aflutter....

stamp is Branch Heart Memory Box E1310...
Fabrico garnet craft ink...
stitched with red thread through center of branches around heart...

I used black perle thread 8 to stitch the front to the back....
I used batting with the front and back....
I plan on making more of these fun ornaments...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

blog tour starting today

Be Mine blog tour starts today....
click on the button on the right side.....
check out the heart ornaments....
check out the giddy!!!....
and there is a flickr group to post photos...
it will be a fun week...

AND tomorrow the Hero Arts Blog Hop starts...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

quilt along

I'm joining Rachel's postage stamp quilt along...
why am I doing this when I have a lot of UFO's to do??....
why not!!!...it sounds like fun...
I wonder which jelly roll I will use?...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

1-1-11

Something to think about:
"Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed."
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I have enjoyed doing this blog this year...
I thought it would be like a diary/journal to document some of my life...
I never dreamt it could be as much fun as it has been....
getting acquainted with other bloggers from all over has been a fun experience...
Reading others blogs and making comments and getting comments are sooo fun...
For those people who don't have a blog and are thinking of doing a blog....
Just do it....you learn one step at a time...reread the saying above!!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Japan star is finished

I started this in May of this year...
and then went on to other projects...

this is No. 15 Japan from the Carol Doak Mariner's Compass Stars book....

The book has a CD and it is easy to print the patterns onto paper...
I used Carol Doak's foundation paper this time...
I listened to Carol on TQS to review her tips....

trim---sew---press---and repeat...
paper piecing is fun once you get in the rhythm of it!!!...
I used clear thread to quilt and did stitch in the ditch...
I used Holly Holderman antique dots for the binding...
any questions? I would be glad to answer...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl