It's a breezy, chilly day so I am thankful to my dog that gets us outdoors every morning for a hike in the woods. It also means I sneak in some sewing right after. I hope that you can use this and some of my other strategies for getting more sewing time into your day. Enjoy. . Thank you Birch for sponsoring. Visit birchliving.com/quilts to get $400 off your Birch mattress plus two free pillows!
A RUclips channel is trying to connect with you they do a live fabric sale on Tuesday and Saturday here in the United States but they have a lot of good quality fabrics and they were trying to connect with you “SEW YEAH QUILTING “
In the past six months I have made 8 full size quilts to completion from my small scraps. Under 8” pieces. I had way to many scraps. Now a much more manageable bin of scraps. I custom longarm for others so was a good chance to clean and organize my studio space. Thanks for the encouragement.
Working on some scrappy quilts of not so pretty material but getting hung up on the " does it look okay", today my husband said wow that is amazing. It was enough to push me to get it sandwiched, quilted and start binding
I told my boss the day I retired I was doing a data dump and a defrag of my brain so there would be room for quilting and crafts. I left her an envelope. "In case of an emergency open this envelope". Inside it said...the answer is in the process documents in my blue binder on my desk. LOL
I make soooo many mistakes when I am starting to get tired…..even the things that take almost no thought. I have learned the hard way to just STOP and unplug my machine. Thanks for your videos Karen….love them.
Nice tips! They apply well to basically any project or endeavor. I agree that eating the frog first can be a real game changer. I sometimes tell myself, "Future me will be so glad that that is done and out of her hair!" In fact, just last night I worked on painting my daughters' room instead of relaxing because I knew it would pay off today! After the painting, back to the quilts!!
I hope I can post a picture of my latest quilt. I’ve been watching your videos with great joy and happiness. This is my fourth quilt, my first biggish one. It’s my take on a Tudor Quilt pattern designed for the Emporium Collection. I chose similar fabrics and just went for it. Thank you so much, Karen, for helping me make the quilt I wanted to make. 😘
I can relate to it all! The tactics of delay 😞 and the solutions 😊. Thank you for bringing it all together as a great reminder. Btw - I don’t use a physical timer, but I use that technique all the time throughout my daily life. It helps me gets things done (that I don’t want to do) without the drudgery of how long it may take if I do it until completion. Bite-sized pieces across the board gets soooo much more done, and ultimately, I’m much more happy! 😃 Thanks again for all your advice. It’s much appreciated. 👍
I took the video about getting UFOs finished to heart, and before Christmas dropped 8 off at the long arm person. Over $1000 later, I am now working on a quilt as you go tee shirt quilt for my brother-in-law. I think most of my quilts should be quilt as you go because that long arm work was so expensive! I may need to look at buying a long arm! This video is great; I have been procrastinating getting back to lap swimming and exercise bike riding and getting enough exercise to enjoy a trip to Ireland in 3 months. That is my frog! My new habit chart will help with this too. My thirty minute timer has been episodes of Grantchester. I usually watch two of them then move on to another task.
Ooooo- I keep a 5x a week habit of working out via 'habit stacking' as you call it- that would be a great way to do sewing- as well as breaking it up. A lot can get done in 20 or 30 minutes....
I have so many quilt tops made and so many patterns I want to try, so I am making those patterns and making backs. No expense cause I am using stash only. I am ready to tie my patrotic quilt. One quilt at a time, I am working thru the box.
Hey Ms. Brown--for me, it isn't lack of time or organization; it's lack of money!!! I need to send my quilts off to get them longarmed and it can run a pretty penny. On a limited budget, I need to decide if I can send a top off to get longarmed or add to a reserve in the bank account. If I had my own longarm machine it would be a issue but I can't afford a machine and my free motion quilting on my domestic is really awful. That said, bless you for this channel!!!
Have you considered tying your quilts? I just love the texture of tied quilts! When I do it I like to use double strands of embroidery floss (12 strands) or pearl cotton. It’s not very expensive if you buy it on sale and it sure beats paying for a longarmer. Donna Jordan has a how to video on it, but she uses yarn.
My scraps just don't seem to look like they would work very well together. Some scraps are holiday designs, others have colors and/or prints that clash, etc. I have a hard time putting colors together and have decided to stick to project kits or fabric collections in the future but I have a lot of fabrics in my stash. Do you try to select fabrics that look good together or use any and all for scrapy quilts?
What is your dog's name again and what breed? I love dogs even though I don't have one of my own. I also say that Dog is man's best friend because Dog spelled backward is God.
Can I possibly give this episode 8 thumbs up? I'm making yet another list of all my projects and have been feeling the marathon. Habit stacking? I love that idea. Prioritizing is something I'm familiar with, but making that short list is a genius idea I've been ignoring far too long. After that it's a "simple" case of project management and 2 to 4 projects at a time gives me room to avoid burnout on a single project. Still there's always that peer pressure to add another project to the already overlong list. I'm just going to have to get better at saying "No,"
I generally stick to one project at a time and stay on it until it’s finished. Unless it’s a full size quilt and then I limit to one or two smaller projects in the interim because I need the quick win to stay motivated. The biggest issue I have is getting my sleep. Oh boy is that an issue. 🙃 I agree a good mattress and pillows make a huge difference but it still doesn’t actually get me into bed earlier. That’s my own lack of discipline that I need to win. Thank you as always for great tips.
Hi Karen and Patty! Great video about time management and self care to do more making. It bothers me that I can't stand for long periods of time to do the cutting needed (my back gets angry). When I sit down for a few minutes the squirrels attack so I get super distracted. Like Patty I'm super bad about going to bed early. I need to fix that. Love both of you ladies! Hugs! ~~Lynne
Boy I’m there with you. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve fallen asleep in my recliner in front of the TV in spite of my determination to go to bed at 11:00. If I go to bed earlier I wake up at 3 or 4 am lol. And I fall asleep in the recliner I wake up at 2 am. Most time I can get to sleep in my bed again with my CPAP but I usually wake up by 5 or 6 anyway lol. I don’t get stressed by it bc I am able to take a 15 minute catnap during the day fine (I’ve been able to do that all my life lol). I think bc I’m in my 70s getting older has changed my sleep schedule though I’ve always lived on about 6 hrs sleep a night…
Karen I’m at a stage where 1- I’m inexperienced in top machine quilting, 2- the quilt top that I love I now realized that I have lots of puckers, 3- why didn’t I realize that, 4- it take everything in me to try to make it half way acceptable & taking everything in me to finishing it. Lesson learnt 😩. Thanks for sharing your tips, definitely eating the frog now. 👍❤️😊
The first quilt I made was a queen size tshirt quilt with a heavy fleece backing 🤣 The FMQ was a disaster on a used Brothers Project Runway CW1100 ...luckily our daughter loves the quilt but it makes me cringe to see it in pictures now...I found Karens channel right after that...live and learn
@@marijowakley7770 I actually just finished putting my binding on, and my daughters love the quilt and says it’s not suppose to be perfect. I did get better towards the end and definitely learnt, so onto my next challenge. Thanks for your wise words. 👍
Karen , I am a relatively new quilter, thinking that I will do more as I work less in the future. I have a domestic machine. Can you speak on the next step in machines, eg a long or medium arm, for a hobbyist , including financial considerations. I think that you are a wonderful teacher.
This is very ADHD-smart guidance! Except for "eat the frog first" which approach will often cause (metaphorical) starvation. Start with eating half a "dessert", then have a bite of frog before finishing dessert, repeat at liveable intervaals until the frog is entirely eaten. Then 2 more desserts and a happy dance!
I used to work on only one thing until it was completely finished. Over time, I found that just didn't work for me; I just felt too restricted. Other inspirations come to me from time to time, and if I'm locked into one project, it frustrates me. Some months ago, I completely changed my strategy and gave myself permission to have several projects in various stages of completion. It may be chaotic to some, but it completely frees up my brain and helps me enjoy quilting much more.
I also work until I run out of a supply I might need. (I'm new and not great at planning! Also ... have budget limitations.) Anyway ... I'll pick up something else, usually smaller, to work on in the time being or to finish.
Isn't it interesting, that a hobby that is so creative and fun.... carries with it - so much angst, stress, guilt, and loss of fun-jo.... but I get it.... as I also struggle with all of the above... and I am sometimes puzzled, as to why.. my hubs loves hiking... so why doesn't he struggle with the above? What is it about fabric and sewing... that we feel this way?
Maybe guilt over the expense? And that we’re constantly seeing more beautiful fabric and designs that we want to make; but this greedy commercial system has learned how to capitalize on this fabric fascination by constantly releasing new fabric lines that are only available for “a limited time.” Therefore, the (not so) subtle message is hurry up and buy the fabric because if you wait until you finish your current projects it will no longer be available! So we end up buying too much too soon, and it’s more than we have time to make up into quilts, and then it piles up, and then we start to feel guilty because we bought too much, too soon! We spent all that money, and it’s just sitting there! That’s my take on it! 🧵
Oh boy you speak to my chaos. Seriously though I have days where I function at a high level and days I have to rest. Small projects keep me entertained and motivated. I just did a 12 block scrappy quilt a long from Darlene. I have made quilt tops, never a finished quilt yet. But I got new iron and I'm going to be practicing my ironing skills to get those UFO done. My daughter is due to go to Canada again to live. So that's my first deadline for her quilt. Yes must use the timer. Happy every video I watch with you. It s like a quick visit with a friend. 🇦🇺💜🇺🇸💚🥰💯👍☕🍪
But, how do you get rid of your old mattress if you order a mattress in a box? See? That causes me more stress…the thought of how to get rid of the old.
I had set a New Years resolution to sew just/at least one hour a day!!!! It is the 19th of February and not one stitch has been sewn. But the sewing room has been cleaned and organized following your 28 day program :) and projects are organized and prioritized. Starting my 30 minute sewing session now :) thanks for the inspiration!!
One day at a time. I found that if I wasn't in the frame of mind nothing came out right, especially when I was working. Once I retired my mojo kicked in and all the fabric I had been buying for years started getting used.
Thank you, you have given a lot of great advice. I suffer with chronic illnesses and it makes sewing so difficult but I intend trying to do 30 minutes at least once a day. Great idea! Xx
Carol, this is an issue with me as well. I have chronic neck pain from an old injury. Somedays I cannot sew, but most days I can. It is always an issue, but I do the best I can. If I cannot sit at a machine, I always have some hand sewing available to do while I sit in my recliner with my head supported. I have a quilt I am working on with large hexies, English paper piecing, so I always feel like I can quilt.
Love the strategies, especially the habit stacker. I've been trying to find ways to get that sewing in at the beginning of my day. Perhaps this is the week end that I finally stack it with my "getting ready" for the day habit.
How did you know I needed to eat the frog? Yesterday I finally ate the frog and finished a project that had to be done. You were so right! Not only was I relieved to have it done, I actually felt better physically and I was almost immediately in a more positive mood. Thank you Karen!
Now that all my sewing stuff has a place, I tidy up after every sewing session. It takes no time at all and then I can start fresh the next time my sewing machine comes out. I have to use our dining table as a sewing / cutting table. It still surprises me how much a tidy workspace equals a tidy mind too! Every time I think How grateful I am that I found your channel.
I am generally very much an eat the frog first person, and very much task oriented. But both our own and my parents' personal and business accounting and taxes just stalls me every year.
Thank you so much for the tips Karen. I was wondering what pattern was used for the quilt you put on your bed near the beginning of the video. That one is definitely on my quilts to make list!
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts That was my question as well. Thanks for the answer. I've seen it in a couple videos and have been quite fascinated by it. I've been searching New York Beauty patterns but never found anything exactly like that. Also, I know you said it was fiddly in one video but I have time at the moment for fiddly projects. And I kinda like one now and then.
I have never started the habit of UFO's. I start and then I finish. I won't even cut a new quilt until I've binded my current quilt. I don't think I could handle the pressure. I also do this as a reminder to use what I purchased and I think I might be spending more responsibly.
Well that video was a nice filler for ten minutes of my 30 minute break from hand sewing a pair of 18th Century stays. Thanks. Now, back to backstitching I must go.
Good ideas here! Thanks! I like the reference to things you put off taking up mental space. Good reminder. I do need to get on some paperwork things....:)
By taking your advice, I finished quilting one pre-pandemic quilt top last night. I'm going to start quilting another pre-pandemic quilt top today. It may take me over a week to finish quilting this quilt (it is a very large quilt). By finishing all these UFO's, I'll get a huge part of my sewing room space back. It is never a big problem to find a home for a new finished quilt. Thank you. When the weather gets better, I may sew outside in my carport. I can see so much better in natural light. Plus, there are so many other things to rest my eyes on when I need to rest. I have always loved sewing outside. Thank you.
I try to be in my sewing room everyday and it may be just 20-30 minutes prepping for sitting down at my sewing machine. Some mornings it’s ironing pre-starch fabrics, others say cutting. The treat is sewing after prepping.
Great video! I have adapted many of your practices. I now enjoy my Panasonic iron, have made my ironing station similar to yours and have a sewing triangle. I am apprehensive about using a timer as I think I would feel anxious and rush to get more done in 30 mins lol I will have to work on this. What do you use the green bucket for? Mando looks great! Thanks Karen for another great video!
Thank you for this video!! I luv the expression- eat the frog first! I have a quilt I am fixing for a family member that has several issues. We aren’t sure what happened to it but several parts were cut and shredded through top two layers. I had to wash it a couple of times first (we won’t go into that - suffice to say it was a young teenager I had made the quilt for lol). When I did that two more issues showed up. Certain fabrics started pulling apart not just at the seams but in the middle of the piece. This was a batik quilting kit I bought at a reputable quilt shop several years prior. The other issue that showed up was that it looked like the tension wasn’t right when I quilted the three layers together as it fell apart in many areas after washing. So I picked out all that quilting on the Queen size quilt first. I’m now at point to pick out binding and then pick out stitching to the blocks that need redoing. I’ve bought similar batiks to replace all the pieces that are falling apart as well as the ones that were cut and shredded. It’s been a huge restoration project and it’s taken a year so for as I just put it down and don’t want to continue. But my family member luved it so onwards and upwards….
I made my youngest son a quilt. He moved out on his own and his dog had puppies on it! He brought it to me and asked if I could "fix" it. sigh. I ended up tossing it because it just wasn't worth restoration as it had a smell and a lot of staining that no amount of washing could fix.
What a great list! It should be easy for me to “eat the frog first”, because cutting the pieces is my frog! I love your Habit Stacking tip, and will incorporate it into my routine immediately.
This is unrelated…was wondering if there is a video where you show how you make the wool pin cushions? I remember you mentioning it, but don’t know where to find it.
Karen, one of the quilts you show in this video looks like a bright flying geese (I could be wrong). Do you have a pattern for that or point me where I could find one? Thanks!
Great tips! I’ve got a few of them down, but I always forget to set my timer. Before I know it, I’m exhausted from quilting without taking a break or two. I’m working on it! Thank you again for all your contributions to making my quilting life easier and more fulfilling!
Loved seeing your beautiful quilt on your new Birch mattress! It's gorgeous! Great tips, Karen, I'm going to go Eat the Taxes Frog before I begin sewing/quilting today...at least for 30 minutes. :-)
I usually only get to make one quilt per year. 2018 is finished and bound, 2019 is currently at the long armer, 2020 just needs binding and 2021 is currently still in pieces but half of the blocks are fully assembled and the rest just need the last two seams done. I would realy love to get to a point where I could do more than one per year but with three 3 and under and my kitchen table being my sewing space that may be a tall order.
I've got quite a list of quilts I want to make and they're all organized in bins waiting. I feel like my sewjo is just waiting for me to decide what to do next. I have 2 quilts that are needing to be finished before I start on the new stuff. I'm going to take your advice and do 30 minutes on each to get them out of the way. I'm hoping to get at least one of them finished this weekend. As always, thanks for the video!
Karen, I love the geometric quilt at the bottom of your stack on this video, and love the quilting on it as well. Have you shown us how to make this one, and, if not, I hope you will consider doing a tutorial on it; it looks like a lot of fun. Thank you so much for generously sharing your knowledge with us; it's incredibly helpful.
Thank you Karen. The quilting community on youtube is so positive and encouraging. I stay subscribed to your channel because you think about things differently than I do. I like it. I love that timer. Genius! I come to you for so many of my issues with not just time but permission to fail. I have recently come up with a 1 + 2 = 3 formula with buying more fabric as my reward. This video, that I watched while not sewing, helped me see the forest through the trees. I need to use my passion for quilting as a reward for getting my chores done. I want to thank you for taking the time to put these videos together.
Recently I finished a quilt top, cut batting and backing. Walking into the kitchen, I was half talking to myself and said "I need to call the longarm lady". My husband was at the sink and I saw him bent over laughing. Apparently, he does not know quilting terms. Well, now he knows at least one of them. It is kind of funny when you think about him wondering why I need to call a lady with long arms.
Great video...and all info was right-on...especially for me the one about not allowing myself to sew because there are some other things that need doing....so I do nothing! Thanks for your wisdom. kj
you had a really cute "helper/supervisor" assisting you in the putting together of your bed! how adorable! Now i tell you, i love to look at videos on Quilting but i will never make one, although i like the process of doing it to make front pouches to my canvas tote bags.
I am a long time subscriber to your channel. I love your videos especially your interviews. In the beginning I continued to watch you because i loved the fact that you are a fellow Canadian and I loved to accompany you on your walks in the woods. . I understand that you need to generate advertising revenues in order to continue producing your wonderful videos. Call me sensitive but I was disappointed with your ad for the Birch mattress...not because of the product because I would have been very interested in purchasing one were it not for the $250 shipping fee to Canada. It would have been nice to disclose that fact to your fellow Canadians.
I can relate to all of these issues. I have decided to finish everything I have going before I start a new quilt. I feel overwhelmed. I saw a sewer once who had a dry erase board and she prioritized and listed everything. I am going to try that.
I like to schedule sewing after dinner. That's when all my other obligations for the day have been met and I have me time. I don't have to stop and do or take care of something else and I can fill my bucket for as long or as little as I need. Using a timer doesn't work for me but trying it did help me identify what does, and I eat the frog second lol, after a quick win. Your tips make me mindful of what my process is and how I can experiment with project management, thank you!
For me.... this was one of the very best videos that you have put out there... and Every single thing made sense to my brain. Thank you so very much!! I do some of these steps and need to do some of the others. i wrote down almost every word today... you spoke to my quilters soul.....
The quilt on your bed is beautiful! That was an enormous venture and happy you included us in the journey. Thank you for all of these strategies today 🥰
Thank you, Karen for all your inspiration! Because of you, this year my sewing room is decluttered, I am finishing UFO's, and blessing others with Charity Quilts.
Sleep is crucial to health. Improving sleep hygiene and sleep quality is always good advice. Like all your advice! I found the information about the Birch mattress interesting, especially since I have researched and purchased bed-in-a-box mattresses before.
It's a breezy, chilly day so I am thankful to my dog that gets us outdoors every morning for a hike in the woods. It also means I sneak in some sewing right after. I hope that you can use this and some of my other strategies for getting more sewing time into your day. Enjoy.
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Thank you Birch for sponsoring. Visit birchliving.com/quilts to get $400 off your Birch mattress plus two free pillows!
A RUclips channel is trying to connect with you they do a live fabric sale on Tuesday and Saturday here in the United States but they have a lot of good quality fabrics and they were trying to connect with you
“SEW YEAH QUILTING “
In the past six months I have made 8 full size quilts to completion from my small scraps. Under 8” pieces. I had way to many scraps. Now a much more manageable bin of scraps. I custom longarm for others so was a good chance to clean and organize my studio space. Thanks for the encouragement.
Well that is just amazing!!
Working on some scrappy quilts of not so pretty material but getting hung up on the " does it look okay", today my husband said wow that is amazing. It was enough to push me to get it sandwiched, quilted and start binding
Bonnie, isn’t that the best? I’ve tried so hard to stop second guessing my scrappy creations. I’m always amazed how much others like them!
@@jeanninemorgan3526 somebody loves our pieces we don't like as much.
I made a super scrappy quilt that I called my ugly quilt… it turned out beautiful! Yours will be too. 💗
Good man 👍
God bless a good hubby!
Tart Cherry Juice before bed has been proven to help with sleep. I love it. I just retired and could not turn off my brain. This helped.
I told my boss the day I retired I was doing a data dump and a defrag of my brain so there would be room for quilting and crafts. I left her an envelope. "In case of an emergency open this envelope". Inside it said...the answer is in the process documents in my blue binder on my desk. LOL
Such good advice Karen! Thank you for the encouragement and useful tips to get me out of the "paralyzed by projects" stage!
I make soooo many mistakes when I am starting to get tired…..even the things that take almost no thought. I have learned the hard way to just STOP and unplug my machine. Thanks for your videos Karen….love them.
Nice tips! They apply well to basically any project or endeavor. I agree that eating the frog first can be a real game changer. I sometimes tell myself, "Future me will be so glad that that is done and out of her hair!"
In fact, just last night I worked on painting my daughters' room instead of relaxing because I knew it would pay off today! After the painting, back to the quilts!!
✋
I love the blue, yellow and white quilt behind you. Have you done a video on that type of quilt?
It’s from Speed Date with improv by Poppyprint
Guess patterns aren't available...
Good advice. Thanks.
Thank you, Karen.
I hope I can post a picture of my latest quilt. I’ve been watching your videos with great joy and happiness. This is my fourth quilt, my first biggish one. It’s my take on a Tudor Quilt pattern designed for the Emporium Collection. I chose similar fabrics and just went for it. Thank you so much, Karen, for helping me make the quilt I wanted to make. 😘
Needed a longer version of this video!👍👍👍👍
As always…I feel so motivated after watching one of your videos
I can relate to it all! The tactics of delay 😞 and the solutions 😊. Thank you for bringing it all together as a great reminder. Btw - I don’t use a physical timer, but I use that technique all the time throughout my daily life. It helps me gets things done (that I don’t want to do) without the drudgery of how long it may take if I do it until completion. Bite-sized pieces across the board gets soooo much more done, and ultimately, I’m much more happy! 😃 Thanks again for all your advice. It’s much appreciated. 👍
After a fun filled day in my sewing room, I get to sit with my hand quilting and watch you! Thank you for posting this video!
I took the video about getting UFOs finished to heart, and before Christmas dropped 8 off at the long arm person. Over $1000 later, I am now working on a quilt as you go tee shirt quilt for my brother-in-law. I think most of my quilts should be quilt as you go because that long arm work was so expensive! I may need to look at buying a long arm! This video is great; I have been procrastinating getting back to lap swimming and exercise bike riding and getting enough exercise to enjoy a trip to Ireland in 3 months. That is my frog! My new habit chart will help with this too. My thirty minute timer has been episodes of Grantchester. I usually watch two of them then move on to another task.
I 💖 your inspirational pep videos!
They make me feel like I'm not the only one who's loosing myself in UFO's👍😁 thank you!💖🌹
Such good advice! Thanks for the video. 💕💫
Ooooo- I keep a 5x a week habit of working out via 'habit stacking' as you call it- that would be a great way to do sewing- as well as breaking it up. A lot can get done in 20 or 30 minutes....
Thanks for all the great advice.
Love you videos!
Really good suggestions for quilting and life, thanks!
I have so many quilt tops made and so many patterns I want to try, so I am making those patterns and making backs. No expense cause I am using stash only. I am ready to tie my patrotic quilt. One quilt at a time, I am working thru the box.
OMG!!! Your video is just what I needed!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!
This video was exactly what I needed today!!! Thank you.
Thank you so much for the motivation ! BTW: I love the quilt on your bed!😍 I am going to add it to my to do list…😁
Hey Ms. Brown--for me, it isn't lack of time or organization; it's lack of money!!! I need to send my quilts off to get them longarmed and it can run a pretty penny. On a limited budget, I need to decide if I can send a top off to get longarmed or add to a reserve in the bank account. If I had my own longarm machine it would be a issue but I can't afford a machine and my free motion quilting on my domestic is really awful. That said, bless you for this channel!!!
Have you considered tying your quilts? I just love the texture of tied quilts! When I do it I like to use double strands of embroidery floss (12 strands) or pearl cotton. It’s not very expensive if you buy it on sale and it sure beats paying for a longarmer.
Donna Jordan has a how to video on it, but she uses yarn.
I have a long list of things I want to make after my shoulder heals.
My scraps just don't seem to look like they would work very well together. Some scraps are holiday designs, others have colors and/or prints that clash, etc. I have a hard time putting colors together and have decided to stick to project kits or fabric collections in the future but I have a lot of fabrics in my stash. Do you try to select fabrics that look good together or use any and all for scrapy quilts?
Check out the Just Get It Done videos on colour theory. They are amazing! And I learned new things even as an artist.
Giiirrrlllll, how did you know I was procrastinating about doing my taxes?!!?!!
What is your dog's name again and what breed? I love dogs even though I don't have one of my own. I also say that Dog is man's best friend because Dog spelled backward is God.
I love to sew and quilt but I've found that after 3 PM I'm just a little too tired, I make mistakes and have issues...and end up annoyed
Can I possibly give this episode 8 thumbs up? I'm making yet another list of all my projects and have been feeling the marathon. Habit stacking? I love that idea. Prioritizing is something I'm familiar with, but making that short list is a genius idea I've been ignoring far too long. After that it's a "simple" case of project management and 2 to 4 projects at a time gives me room to avoid burnout on a single project. Still there's always that peer pressure to add another project to the already overlong list. I'm just going to have to get better at saying "No,"
I generally stick to one project at a time and stay on it until it’s finished. Unless it’s a full size quilt and then I limit to one or two smaller projects in the interim because I need the quick win to stay motivated. The biggest issue I have is getting my sleep. Oh boy is that an issue. 🙃 I agree a good mattress and pillows make a huge difference but it still doesn’t actually get me into bed earlier. That’s my own lack of discipline that I need to win. Thank you as always for great tips.
Hi Karen and Patty! Great video about time management and self care to do more making. It bothers me that I can't stand for long periods of time to do the cutting needed (my back gets angry). When I sit down for a few minutes the squirrels attack so I get super distracted. Like Patty I'm super bad about going to bed early. I need to fix that. Love both of you ladies! Hugs! ~~Lynne
Good job! Teach me how to work on 1 project at a time! As soon as I get to a difficult part, I start another quilt.
Boy I’m there with you. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve fallen asleep in my recliner in front of the TV in spite of my determination to go to bed at 11:00. If I go to bed earlier I wake up at 3 or 4 am lol. And I fall asleep in the recliner I wake up at 2 am. Most time I can get to sleep in my bed again with my CPAP but I usually wake up by 5 or 6 anyway lol. I don’t get stressed by it bc I am able to take a 15 minute catnap during the day fine (I’ve been able to do that all my life lol). I think bc I’m in my 70s getting older has changed my sleep schedule though I’ve always lived on about 6 hrs sleep a night…
And here I am procrastinating about doing our income tax.......Thanks for giving it to me straight!
Thanks for the tips. By the way, I noticed you didn't include "create backing" in your list of quilting steps.
Karen I’m at a stage where 1- I’m inexperienced in top machine quilting, 2- the quilt top that I love I now realized that I have lots of puckers, 3- why didn’t I realize that, 4- it take everything in me to try to make it half way acceptable & taking everything in me to finishing it. Lesson learnt 😩.
Thanks for sharing your tips, definitely eating the frog now. 👍❤️😊
I ripped one off and have still 2 to do🤪
The first quilt I made was a queen size tshirt quilt with a heavy fleece backing 🤣 The FMQ was a disaster on a used Brothers Project Runway CW1100 ...luckily our daughter loves the quilt but it makes me cringe to see it in pictures now...I found Karens channel right after that...live and learn
Carmen, remember that once it's quilted and washed, it will all be crinkly! Usually little puckers will be hidden in the natural quilt crinkle.
@@marijowakley7770 I actually just finished putting my binding on, and my daughters love the quilt and says it’s not suppose to be perfect. I did get better towards the end and definitely learnt, so onto my next challenge. Thanks for your wise words. 👍
Karen , I am a relatively new quilter, thinking that I will do more as I work less in the future. I have a domestic machine. Can you speak on the next step in machines, eg a long or medium arm, for a hobbyist , including financial considerations. I think that you are a wonderful teacher.
Check out the Grace Cutie frame or Q One hoop frame. You can use a domestic machine on it if you want to. I just got one, and I like it.
OMGosh…once again, you’ve nailed it!!! ❤️
A great video, Karen, as always. I'm always excited to see your next video pop up in my notifications. Blessings to you and have a great day!
This is very ADHD-smart guidance! Except for "eat the frog first" which approach will often cause (metaphorical) starvation. Start with eating half a "dessert", then have a bite of frog before finishing dessert, repeat at liveable intervaals until the frog is entirely eaten. Then 2 more desserts and a happy dance!
One of the very best quilting videos I've watched and I will be sharing it. Thank you so much, Karen.
I used to work on only one thing until it was completely finished. Over time, I found that just didn't work for me; I just felt too restricted. Other inspirations come to me from time to time, and if I'm locked into one project, it frustrates me. Some months ago, I completely changed my strategy and gave myself permission to have several projects in various stages of completion. It may be chaotic to some, but it completely frees up my brain and helps me enjoy quilting much more.
I also work until I run out of a supply I might need. (I'm new and not great at planning! Also ... have budget limitations.) Anyway ... I'll pick up something else, usually smaller, to work on in the time being or to finish.
Isn't it interesting, that a hobby that is so creative and fun.... carries with it - so much angst, stress, guilt, and loss of fun-jo.... but I get it.... as I also struggle with all of the above... and I am sometimes puzzled, as to why.. my hubs loves hiking... so why doesn't he struggle with the above? What is it about fabric and sewing... that we feel this way?
Maybe guilt over the expense? And that we’re constantly seeing more beautiful fabric and designs that we want to make; but this greedy commercial system has learned how to capitalize on this fabric fascination by constantly releasing new fabric lines that are only available for “a limited time.” Therefore, the (not so) subtle message is hurry up and buy the fabric because if you wait until you finish your current projects it will no longer be available! So we end up buying too much too soon, and it’s more than we have time to make up into quilts, and then it piles up, and then we start to feel guilty because we bought too much, too soon! We spent all that money, and it’s just sitting there! That’s my take on it! 🧵
Oh boy you speak to my chaos. Seriously though I have days where I function at a high level and days I have to rest. Small projects keep me entertained and motivated.
I just did a 12 block scrappy quilt a long from Darlene.
I have made quilt tops, never a finished quilt yet.
But I got new iron and I'm going to be practicing my ironing skills to get those UFO done.
My daughter is due to go to Canada again to live. So that's my first deadline for her quilt.
Yes must use the timer.
Happy every video I watch with you. It s like a quick visit with a friend.
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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for this video. All eight steps are words of wisdom eat the frog first starts now
But, how do you get rid of your old mattress if you order a mattress in a box? See? That causes me more stress…the thought of how to get rid of the old.
Once again you broke it down into manageable steps. Awesome. Thank you.
I had set a New Years resolution to sew just/at least one hour a day!!!! It is the 19th of February and not one stitch has been sewn. But the sewing room has been cleaned and organized following your 28 day program :) and projects are organized and prioritized. Starting my 30 minute sewing session now :) thanks for the inspiration!!
One day at a time. I found that if I wasn't in the frame of mind nothing came out right, especially when I was working. Once I retired my mojo kicked in and all the fabric I had been buying for years started getting used.
Thank you, you have given a lot of great advice. I suffer with chronic illnesses and it makes sewing so difficult but I intend trying to do 30 minutes at least once a day. Great idea! Xx
Carol, this is an issue with me as well. I have chronic neck pain from an old injury. Somedays I cannot sew, but most days I can. It is always an issue, but I do the best I can. If I cannot sit at a machine, I always have some hand sewing available to do while I sit in my recliner with my head supported. I have a quilt I am working on with large hexies, English paper piecing, so I always feel like I can quilt.
Love the strategies, especially the habit stacker. I've been trying to find ways to get that sewing in at the beginning of my day. Perhaps this is the week end that I finally stack it with my "getting ready" for the day habit.
How did you know I needed to eat the frog? Yesterday I finally ate the frog and finished a project that had to be done. You were so right! Not only was I relieved to have it done, I actually felt better physically and I was almost immediately in a more positive mood. Thank you Karen!
Now that all my sewing stuff has a place, I tidy up after every sewing session. It takes no time at all and then I can start fresh the next time my sewing machine comes out. I have to use our dining table as a sewing / cutting table. It still surprises me how much a tidy workspace equals a tidy mind too! Every time I think How grateful I am that I found your channel.
I am generally very much an eat the frog first person, and very much task oriented. But both our own and my parents' personal and business accounting and taxes just stalls me every year.
Thank you so much for the tips Karen. I was wondering what pattern was used for the quilt you put on your bed near the beginning of the video. That one is definitely on my quilts to make list!
4th of July by Quiltworx
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts That was my question as well. Thanks for the answer.
I've seen it in a couple videos and have been quite fascinated by it. I've been searching New York Beauty patterns but never found anything exactly like that. Also, I know you said it was fiddly in one video but I have time at the moment for fiddly projects. And I kinda like one now and then.
I have never started the habit of UFO's. I start and then I finish. I won't even cut a new quilt until I've binded my current quilt. I don't think I could handle the pressure. I also do this as a reminder to use what I purchased and I think I might be spending more responsibly.
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Well that video was a nice filler for ten minutes of my 30 minute break from hand sewing a pair of 18th Century stays. Thanks. Now, back to backstitching I must go.
Good ideas here! Thanks! I like the reference to things you put off taking up mental space. Good reminder. I do need to get on some paperwork things....:)
By taking your advice, I finished quilting one pre-pandemic quilt top last night. I'm going to start quilting another pre-pandemic quilt top today. It may take me over a week to finish quilting this quilt (it is a very large quilt). By finishing all these UFO's, I'll get a huge part of my sewing room space back. It is never a big problem to find a home for a new finished quilt. Thank you. When the weather gets better, I may sew outside in my carport. I can see so much better in natural light. Plus, there are so many other things to rest my eyes on when I need to rest. I have always loved sewing outside. Thank you.
I try to be in my sewing room everyday and it may be just 20-30 minutes prepping for sitting down at my sewing machine. Some mornings it’s ironing pre-starch fabrics, others say cutting. The treat is sewing after prepping.
I’m a few minutes in and YOURE SO TALKING TO ME!!!! Everything you’re saying is Me!!
Great video! I have adapted many of your practices. I now enjoy my Panasonic iron, have made my ironing station similar to yours and have a sewing triangle. I am apprehensive about using a timer as I think I would feel anxious and rush to get more done in 30 mins lol I will have to work on this. What do you use the green bucket for? Mando looks great! Thanks Karen for another great video!
i think she puts threads that she cuts in it.
Thank you for this video!! I luv the expression- eat the frog first! I have a quilt I am fixing for a family member that has several issues. We aren’t sure what happened to it but several parts were cut and shredded through top two layers. I had to wash it a couple of times first (we won’t go into that - suffice to say it was a young teenager I had made the quilt for lol). When I did that two more issues showed up. Certain fabrics started pulling apart not just at the seams but in the middle of the piece. This was a batik quilting kit I bought at a reputable quilt shop several years prior. The other issue that showed up was that it looked like the tension wasn’t right when I quilted the three layers together as it fell apart in many areas after washing. So I picked out all that quilting on the Queen size quilt first. I’m now at point to pick out binding and then pick out stitching to the blocks that need redoing. I’ve bought similar batiks to replace all the pieces that are falling apart as well as the ones that were cut and shredded. It’s been a huge restoration project and it’s taken a year so for as I just put it down and don’t want to continue. But my family member luved it so onwards and upwards….
I made my youngest son a quilt. He moved out on his own and his dog had puppies on it! He brought it to me and asked if I could "fix" it. sigh. I ended up tossing it because it just wasn't worth restoration as it had a smell and a lot of staining that no amount of washing could fix.
@@brendagriffin6437 Oh, yikes!!
What a great list! It should be easy for me to “eat the frog first”, because cutting the pieces is my frog! I love your Habit Stacking tip, and will incorporate it into my routine immediately.
As always I love your common sense approach to solving what seem like insurmountable obstacles. Thank you for sharing these tips with us. 🥰
This is unrelated…was wondering if there is a video where you show how you make the wool pin cushions? I remember you mentioning it, but don’t know where to find it.
I love your tips tricks and strategies. Keep it up.
Quilting while grieving is also almost impossible - don’t push it. Just wait until you feel like it.
Karen, one of the quilts you show in this video looks like a bright flying geese (I could be wrong). Do you have a pattern for that or point me where I could find one? Thanks!
I don't yet, but I do have a video on how to make flying geese well
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Thank you!! I have some Kaffe that would be just beautiful for that.
Great tips! I’ve got a few of them down, but I always forget to set my timer. Before I know it, I’m exhausted from quilting without taking a break or two. I’m working on it! Thank you again for all your contributions to making my quilting life easier and more fulfilling!
I love my waterbed. I always get to sleep fast on it. Best is it soothes my severe rheumatoid arthritis. I would be using a walker without it
Loved seeing your beautiful quilt on your new Birch mattress! It's gorgeous! Great tips, Karen, I'm going to go Eat the Taxes Frog before I begin sewing/quilting today...at least for 30 minutes. :-)
It's on my list too ✋
Me too! The taxes have been on my mind, and I have been procrastinating long enough! 30 minutes will at least get me started.
You understand us, Karen. Thanks for understanding and making it all okay!
Nice look . New beginning of vid. I like it! Very professional.
I usually only get to make one quilt per year. 2018 is finished and bound, 2019 is currently at the long armer, 2020 just needs binding and 2021 is currently still in pieces but half of the blocks are fully assembled and the rest just need the last two seams done. I would realy love to get to a point where I could do more than one per year but with three 3 and under and my kitchen table being my sewing space that may be a tall order.
You get woman of the year award! 🥇 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🥇
Karen, another great video. I’ve used the Eat That Frog 🐸 phrase with my college students for over 20 years. It can make such a difference!
I've got quite a list of quilts I want to make and they're all organized in bins waiting. I feel like my sewjo is just waiting for me to decide what to do next. I have 2 quilts that are needing to be finished before I start on the new stuff. I'm going to take your advice and do 30 minutes on each to get them out of the way. I'm hoping to get at least one of them finished this weekend. As always, thanks for the video!
Great tips, Karen! I am just now getting back into quilting after a 3 year hiatus. I have very little time, but miss it so much.
Welcome back!
Karen, I love the geometric quilt at the bottom of your stack on this video, and love the quilting on it as well. Have you shown us how to make this one, and, if not, I hope you will consider doing a tutorial on it; it looks like a lot of fun. Thank you so much for generously sharing your knowledge with us; it's incredibly helpful.
It's the Aviatrix quilt by Elizabeth Hartman
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts OMG, that quilt is amazing. I won't be making it anytime soon, but thank you for the reference.
I don’t know that ht e acronym really mean; eat the frog first.
Thank you Karen. The quilting community on youtube is so positive and encouraging. I stay subscribed to your channel because you think about things differently than I do. I like it. I love that timer. Genius! I come to you for so many of my issues with not just time but permission to fail. I have recently come up with a 1 + 2 = 3 formula with buying more fabric as my reward. This video, that I watched while not sewing, helped me see the forest through the trees. I need to use my passion for quilting as a reward for getting my chores done. I want to thank you for taking the time to put these videos together.
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Recently I finished a quilt top, cut batting and backing. Walking into the kitchen, I was half talking to myself and said "I need to call the
longarm lady". My husband was at the sink and I saw him bent over laughing. Apparently, he does not know quilting terms. Well, now he
knows at least one of them. It is kind of funny when you think about him wondering why I need to call a lady with long arms.
Great video...and all info was right-on...especially for me the one about not allowing myself to sew because there are some other things that need doing....so I do nothing! Thanks for your wisdom. kj
Same!!!
you had a really cute "helper/supervisor" assisting you in the putting together of your bed! how adorable! Now i tell you, i love to look at videos on Quilting but i will never make one, although i like the process of doing it to make front pouches to my canvas tote bags.
Thanks so much for these sensible suggestions!
You're amazing Karen! I love all of your videos!
Thank you so much for the information. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer 😀
I am a long time subscriber to your channel. I love your videos especially your interviews. In the beginning I continued to watch you because i loved the fact that you are a fellow Canadian and I loved to accompany you on your walks in the woods. . I understand that you need to generate advertising revenues in order to continue producing your wonderful videos. Call me sensitive but I was disappointed with your ad for the Birch mattress...not because of the product because I would have been very interested in purchasing one were it not for the $250 shipping fee to Canada. It would have been nice to disclose that fact to your fellow Canadians.
I can relate to all of these issues. I have decided to finish everything I have going before I start a new quilt. I feel overwhelmed. I saw a sewer once who had a dry erase board and she prioritized and listed everything. I am going to try that.
No sewing after 9 p.m.!!
Karen, give us a show and tell. 🐸
I like to schedule sewing after dinner. That's when all my other obligations for the day have been met and I have me time. I don't have to stop and do or take care of something else and I can fill my bucket for as long or as little as I need. Using a timer doesn't work for me but trying it did help me identify what does, and I eat the frog second lol, after a quick win. Your tips make me mindful of what my process is and how I can experiment with project management, thank you!
For me.... this was one of the very best videos that you have put out there... and Every single thing made sense to my brain. Thank you so very much!! I do some of these steps and need to do some of the others. i wrote down almost every word today... you spoke to my quilters soul.....
Great tips. Thanks
The quilt on your bed is beautiful! That was an enormous venture and happy you included us in the journey. Thank you for all of these strategies today 🥰
So what does Eat The Frog mean?
Thank you, Karen for all your inspiration! Because of you, this year my sewing room is decluttered, I am finishing UFO's, and blessing others with Charity Quilts.
Thank you!!!! Finishing my first year quilting and so many UFO's! Thank you for the advice; I am ready for year 2 and FINISHED PROJECTS!
Sleep is crucial to health. Improving sleep hygiene and sleep quality is always good advice. Like all your advice! I found the information about the Birch mattress interesting, especially since I have researched and purchased bed-in-a-box mattresses before.
Subconscious pressure! Yes!
Thank you for making time for all of us. Your calm approach along with your admission of mistakes🙄 keeps me going!