Using what I've Learned

I mentioned not long ago that I’ve decided to take a break from ONLY working on my own quilts and working on a couple of quilts by a few other people or designers or patterns that I’ve found that I like.

One of the things I’ve wanted to do was learn a few more tips and things on how to make some blocks or styles that so far I have never tried to date.

Well, I only started this a few weeks ago, really, but I wanted to let you know that I was able to use some of the principles or lessons I’ve learned already in a couple of quilts I had to work on this week. Yes, we had to submit designs for the 2025 All Florida Shop Hop already. Whew. That seemed really fast.

My computer screen when working on EQ - this is something I started with back in 2022. This is not anything I’ve actually worked on lately - never fear.

So, while having some of those things in the back of my mind, I proceeded to ignore the deadline (May 15) and just continue to take a break from the EQ program. I wanted to sew - not sit at the computer.

Then, as the time grew near, I decided to go for a couple of things I wanted to make and made them up. They weren’t very similar to what we submitted last year. We’ll see if any of them are accepted and let you all know eventually if we do get one accepted for the magazine. Whenever we can.

But I was actually so encouraged that I was able to do something that up til now I wasn’t sure I would have known how to even draw it up except for the fact that I have recently gone on a little pattern detour. I used to love these types of Family Circus cartoons.

I realize if one is learning things, it’s not really a detour - it’s a broadening experience.

Right? I think it is anyway. We learn new techniques and types of things by trying new styles and patterns.

So….I feel a tiny bit of success about that.

I also was listening to a podcast earlier in the week where Sherry McConnell was talking about a nonfiction book she read called Uptime by Laura Mae Martin. I was reminded that the question, “What is the worst thing that can happen if this doesn’t get done?” is one worth remembering. (It’s not a new idea to me, but I was reminded of it.) I was a bit frustrated with myself over not creating the number of different patterns that I thought I wanted to make (so I could get Rachael to check out a whole bunch) but then I remembered how tired we were this past March/April and how we decided to make fewer patterns/quilts, etc. So, I just went with what “I most wanted to make” and quit trying to figure out what the planners of the Shop Hop wanted and let it go at that.

That way I had fewer ideas for Rachael to veto or polish up with her fellow comrades at the shop who are usually glad to give input.

Rachael and I were able to actually finish up a day early and get my designs submitted, and that made me feel great.

That left me with a relatively free May 15, which is the date I had previously thought I was going to be frantic. That was also good because I needed some extra time to deal with a couple of meetings we had with people here for some upcoming activities that we will be participating in here in Poland.

Note - I have already shared a finished quilt and two tops this week. It isn’t realistic to actually finish up more than three items a week - at least not for me, currently.


I am going through my fabric shelves in my fabric storage room/guest room and refolding and organizing the fabric there and trying to make it all look neat again as well as incorporate the boxes of fabric I just received that we sent to myself from Florida (along with charity tops, etc.) now that I have ruler folded it all.

Rachael originally put the labels on the bookcases for me in 2016. I have kept them until now. I do need to remove the one called embroidery backs as I’ve taken them off the shelf and put them elsewhere. They had degenerated to a piece of denim and another heavyweight piece of fabric, anyway. I will probably take them upstairs closer to my embroidery machine. It’s definitely a work in progress and changes constantly as I work from the shelves - taking away, using and putting back.

I was already doing this when I got news that we will have overnight company next Friday so I need to be done by then as that’s the room I was going to put him in. So there’s that. (I’m trying to do that for one hour a day.) I hope I can finish. I am not having to redo every shelf, but after 8 years, some of it did need some serious straightening. :) Of course I could up the number of hours a day I do it but I find myself much more productive when I work for a limited amount of time and really focus rather than give myself a time such as 2 or 3 days…and sort of panic. I could actually put him in the other room we have downstairs, but I am using this deadline as a way to force myself to get this done. We’ll see. I’m really enjoying going through all the fabrics in these colors. So far I’ve done pinks, reds, grays/blacks (one bookcase) and now browns, oranges, yellows and still working on the whites (the second bookcase).

Just out of sight of the photo and behind where I’m standing are a bunch of fabrics that I am putting back on these shelves, or else removing them for another purpose. I brought back a lot of the whites that are on the floor. I will put them on the bottom shelf as they are actually easier to get to than the ones higher up. :) I also found that I had a bunch of unsorted things down on the bottom shelf and want them removed and force myself to sort them and put them where I can use them.

Thanks so much for coming along with me on this journey!

I do appreciate you all!

Have a great day wherever you are reding this!















Becky Petersen2 Comments