By the Numbers
I find myself making my way through the day by the numbers. Sometimes it helps reassure me I am actually accomplishing things when it is so easy to focus on all I still want to do. Finish one thing and like digging a hole in the sand, water quickly fills the void. When I am not counting what I have achieved, as well as what is left to do, I notice myself counting the steps required to perform a task.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
Once again, I had very little studio time this week. However, I did manage to set up two more cat blocks to be pieced for my 2026 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt, Cats in the Attic. Paper piecing is all about doing it by the numbers. It ensures accuracy, especially when there are tiny pieces, such as those 0.5″ half square triangles. In order to keep track of which fabric goes where, I make notes on the block. For example, CAT is where the cat fabric appears and Bk stands for background. If you just look at the pieces it is next to impossible to see they will form a cat sitting in a window, yet they do!
Now that I know what I am piecing, I can bring the scraps and paper to the sewing machine.
This week I opted to work on two blue blocks simultaneously. No, your eyes don’t deceive you. Those fabrics in the image above are the cats’s fur and noses. However the windows and frames will be blue.
Keeping It Reel
I created a reel that shows my fabrics for the two cat blocks. One block focuses on dark blue and the other leans towards aqua. You can view the reel on both Instagram and Facebook. Although it isn’t essential, I do select classical music to accompany my reels, so you may want to be sure your audio is on, if that is something you enjoy.
SEDOSO
SEDESO, the Senior Executive Director of Studio Operations, is also doing it by the numbers. He continues to build his strength and mobility during his stay at the rehabilitation center. Every day he meets his physical and occupational therapists. They have him counting reps, whether it is standing up and sitting backdown from a chair, raising his legs or walking up and down the corridor. Although, neither of us know when he might be strong enough to return home, we are both counting the days/weeks until that day comes.
Question of the Week
Do you find themes creating paths during your week? What are they?
I’m linking up to the following posts:
I’m glad SEDOSO is gaining strength; hoping you’ll be home together again soon. As for ‘themes’…not so much. I tend to have a winter routine and a spring/summer one, as to which textile crafts to work on. I do very little quilting or rug-hooking in the warm weather, prefering to be out in my yard and garden with knitting, spinning or cross stitch. I knit every day, year’ round. In the cooler/colder weather, though I don’t generally spin, but do lots of quilting, rug-hooking (for the wall), and even more cross-stitch and knitting. The only gardening I do is tending to the house-plants and the geraniums I over-winter inside!
Thank you, Margaret. We are fortunate that SEDESO can recover from his fracture. I love the glimpses of your garden I have seen over the years. It is easy to imagine you there with some handwork.
Sounds like SEDSOSO is making great progress which is awesome! The last two weeks have been family themed. I’ve been enjoying playtime with a four year old and doing a tiny about of stitching.
Four years old is one of my favorite times. Old enough to have social interactions with, play games, go for walks and explore. The days of NO! are over and they are happy to explore.
Yes, each week SEDESO gets incrementally better. Thank you!
I bet you are both counting the days or week until your SEDOSO can come home! I hope it isn’t too many. Sounds like he is doing well! Your cat blocks are so fun, Gwyned. When I am paper-piecing, I like to label the papers, too. My weeks seem to go by the theme of “what needs to be accomplished?” This week I was hosting my local quilt group at my house for our Thursday meeting, so it has been all about getting ready for that. Glad, now, to have a free weekend!
I am enjoying the cat blocks. Since I never had more than 30 minutes or so at time and only had 3 or 4 of those time blocks this week, the cat blocks were the perfect pick up, put down project.
Good news with SEDESO’s progress. I don’t know that I would call my chores themes. There certainly is an underlying rhythm and sameness. Then there is the extra on top, like Diann, next Friday DH is hosting his boy’s lunch group and Saturday I am hosting my design group to put together our group quilt and then have lunch. This ought to be stressful and fun.
Sometimes I feel like the nursery rhyme where each day represents a different chore. They do provide a path to follow during the week, don’t they? Then there are the extras that come with hosting. Your event sounds like so much fun. Trust we will get to see the fruits of your group’s labors.
All those exercises will have your husband mobile again. Sounds like he is working hard to recover so he can come home. Your cat project is perfect for the little bits of sewing time that you are getting right now. I once made a chicken quilt and set each chicken in a shadow box. I called it “In the Coop”. Take care of yourself.
Gail, that chicken quilt sounds too precious. Although I am a suburban girl, I do love quilts containing chickens, they are so colorful.
Yes, SEDESO is working very hard. It will be 3 weeks this coming Monday since his fall. Today is the first day he truly looked himself and his brain was firing on all cylinders.
P.S. you had asked about creative themes in my week. I always have a variety of projects underway at any one time so there is always something to do depending on how much time/energy I have. I find the creative projects that require thinking need larger blocks of time. I also volunteer at our local hospice and lead a monthly book club. I’m on the guild executive too as the chair of the program committee. I like taking classes that spark my creativity- ones that teach a concept and then each participant comes up with something unique. I hope that answers your question.
Gail, we are very much alike. I volunteered for past guild for 20 years of which half those years were on the Board and prefer concept classes over projects. So, you your weekly journey is guided by your volunteerism and zest for learning.
I’ve learned to actually appreciate the numbers. I used to progress on projects by assumptions (“Oh, I can get that done in a few days or a week”) and then beat myself up when I didn’t meet what was ultimately not a realisitc goal. Learning to actually examine and count out (all) the steps gives me a better idea about what I need to accomplish and to reevaluate the time it takes to do things as I progress (and push expectations forward when needed). As a result, I am far more satisfied with what I do get done. I am more patient with myself because I quickly understand why I didn’t meet it and even more thrilled when I do. Love the PP Cats project as an RSC project, great idea!
Vivian, I too find it difficult to work out in advance how much time it takes to tackle a project, even something as a simple PP the cat block. Like you, I find numbers help. Not sure when, but years back, I started counting how many pieces I seamed together over the course of a full day of stitching. These were pieces that many needed to have been cut as well. My average is around 100. (Sick that I know that right?) So, why I am surprised that if a cat block has 25 or so pieces I can’t finish it in an hour? So, Like you I have learned to be patient and more realistic.
Your cats are lovely, FPP is one of my favorite technique! I also write down the numbers and use a colored pencil to mark the colors.
Good luck to both of you, I’m glad to hear the good news and l know how painful therapy sessions can be.
Thank you for sharing and linking up, have a great week.
Thank you, Frédérique. Why am I not surprised to hear you mark you PP patterns, too?
I chuckled at your foundations, because I do the same thing! I write all over them so I don’t get confused. It’s paper & is getting tossed-so write the notes!! I feel like you need to count the daily wins with SEDESO so you see the progress. When it’s slow, it’s easy to think nothing is happening. And he’s getting stronger every day! Praying he’s home soon.
I would be so lost if I didn’t make notations on my PP patterns. I’ve never been good at mirror images, so the notes help me compensate.
Today was the first day I say SEDESO looking his old self. Pretty amazing considering how much he has been through. Thank you for your prayers.
I am glad to here that SEDESO is making progress. doing thinks by the numbers is important in rehab. I am a numbers person (a retired math teacher) and I find myself counting all the time. Sometimes its crochet stitches, knitting rows or threads for cross-stitching. I also have to continuously complete exercises and reps to keep my back from giving me problems. I think my “theme” would be counting all the time.
Our daughter is a math teacher, as well. Thought I was going to be one. 🙂 We are a very heavy maths/science family. So, numbers come naturally to us. So, like you counting comes naturally.
SEDESO is one of my followers. I know he appreciates reading all the comments encouraging his progress. Thank you, Cathie.
Your Cats in the Attics project is really cute! Hope your SEDESO continues to improve and is home soon.
Thank you, Kate. I fell in love with Cats in the Attic when I saw a similar quilt on Pinterest. I modified and resized the 4 block patterns in EQ and added sashing. I hope to embroider some mini mice on the sashing.
Love the cats!
So glad the SEDOSO is prgressing.
I confess, I am a cat person. Glad they resonate with you. SEDOSO improves daily. Stay tuned.