In 2020, at age 64, I started hand sewing because I was a nurse and I needed something to soothe me during Covid and our lockdowns in Melbourne. I decided to learn a new skill and set myself a target of 4 quilts. Large story, photo, memory quilts totally hand sewn and hand quilted. I took 2 years with the first and delivered it to my granddaughter in South Africa. This year I finished the second one, took 20 months, and delivered it to my son in Croatia. I am now busy with the third, 4 months in and hope to finish it by April. Touch wood. I will then start on the last, for my daughter and deliver it to her in South Africa. Each quilt is personalised depending on their professions and hobbies, so I make it up as I go. My only hope is that my health holds. I have taken so much from this video, especially the 10 minutes at the end of the day and celebration of small wins. Thank you.
I'm so pleased that I sewed bindings on 8 queen-sz quilts this week! These have been sitting on two chairs in my dining room for the last 10 months! Once I learned to join the binding properly at the end and get a good corner, I lost the fear of doing a good enough job. Then I also timed how long it took and found I can do one in about an hour so it is not intimidating anymore.
I agree. The worst part of binding is joining the ends to make an invisible join. I have to watch a couple TH-cam videos and read some directions every time I have to do it. Glad to hear that you had success today.
I made a runner for my wonderful niece who was hosting our annual family gathering this weekend. It turned out amazing! I used fall colors and for the border I used this beautiful light green on green floral fabric. It made the whole runner pop. I was so proud to give it to her.
I finished 30 small bowl cozies for mother's day. Now on to 30 large bowl cozies. All for the ladies at church for mother's day. They sew up really fast...but the prep and cutting took a lot of time. All worth while. 😊
I will finish the table runner for the mail lady tomorrow, even though I’ve been told it’s ugly. Thank goodness we all have different ideas of what is ugly.
I completed a zippered pouch for our guild's Christmas gift exchange! Saying "no" can be a hard lesson to learn. When my kids were growing up, I became over-involved in groups, etc. While they were all worthwhile, I realized that I needed to focus non my family first. It was an aha! moment.
I cut apart two sweatshirts and cut the fabric into 4.5” squares for a “sweatshirt” quilt. I still have a bunch of sweatshirts to do, BUT I GOT TWO DONE! I put all of the squares into two stacks and tied them with colorful ties. They look so pretty on my work table. Yay me!
This is such great advice. I quilted two quilts over 6 months ago and they're travelling around my sewing room waiting for bindings. Tomorrow I'm going to trim them and make up binding for them both and I'll make the time to sew the bindings on this week. Thank you 🙏
You are so encouraging!! Thank you. I work full time plus care for my Mom with dementia, plus a spouse and farm with cows, calves and horses that have to be moved, worked etc.. I feel success when I can spend 30 minutes a day either tidying my space, doing some EPP, mending or sewing a few blocks as a part of a BOM that I am 3 months behind on. I just do what I can and try to be satisfied with that.
Today, I received a refund or replacement for over $400 worth of packages stolen off my porch over a week ago. I have phone anxiety and was so nervous asking for a solution. I have remedied the situation by getting a new mailing address elsewhere at shipping store since my address is not safe. I love these kinds of thought-provoking videos, thank you!
Great suggestions for the new year. This month I finished making 4 pillows for my sister-in-law from some of her deceased mother's clothing. The pillows looked great and she was very happy.
Preach it Sister! These daily habits are absolutely spot on. I've got tons and tons and tons of projects that have not even been started but I'm working on a system that will get me moving on some of them. I'm getting 12 projects in their own box and plan to work on one of them each month. I've also got a long term project that I started in 2003 (LOL) and set aside due to all the applique involved. That project will be seeing the light of day in 2025.
Christen, I have taken your “Celebrate your small wins so that you don’t miss out on all the little joys of your journey.” I have sent to a few people who went through so much this year. Thank you.
My new habit is when done with quilt top I cut up the leftovers into 2.5, 2.5x5, 5x5 6.5 x6.5 and 3.5 x 6.5. Put them away. So I drawers full of precuts and when I am feeling scrappy all I have to do is sew. It brings joy cuz one it’s free and it brings back memories.
I finished 3 flannel Christmas pillowcases and 2 pillows this week! Celebrating the victory! You are so right about the celebration of our accomplishments! Thank you for this post!
I loaded one long piece of backing fabric on my quilting frame and quilted two small, Star Wars quilts, one right after the other. It cut out the need to load two separate backings. What a time saver!
I made a test Funky Friends bear for my bonus granddaughter, and I finally got the nerve to cut the shirt for the actual memory bear! I was nervous that the shirt would scarcely be enough, but I can almost make two bears from one shirt!🤗
I have been cleaning, dusting and scrubbing my sewing corner for the past 3 days to inspire myself to get back to quilting. I haven't done any in probably 4 (?) months. I think I'm ready now. ~~ Lynne
You are awesome honey! So thankful for you and your tips for life changing habits! I'm going to start with 10 minutes at a time in getting my sewing space organized!
Such good encouragement! Last Friday, I made myself the cutest, fluffiest PINK santa hat a couple of hours before a Christmas party because I felt like I had to have one for my outfit. I wasn't sure if it would even turn into a hat I could wear until I flipped it inside out and tried it on! I was and am still so proud of myself!!
I finished a cat quilt top (twin size) with a coordinating pillow and took them to the quilter today. We had a blast deciding on thread color and quilting pattern-so exciting! Picking it up on Friday! Yay! 🥰
I wanted to thank you for your quilt binding workshop. You saved me many hours of time . I can't believe how easy you made joining the ends of the binding & the corners. Thanks so much!!!
This is a wonderful video!! Especially with everything going on, I needed a lot of these reminders. I have made a beautiful top with applique and trains. (I need to share it in the Stitch Sisters). And your quilt retreat was wonderful! I'm so sad I'm missing the January one!
This video has perfect timing. I have been afraid to start so many projects. I am not a beginner, but definitely not an intermediate sewist. I am in the mind set of not good enough. Thank you for sharing this, it has helped me a lot.
Great Daily Habits to have - I appreciate your advice. This is the first winter I'm staying in the cold, so won't be traveling back and forth to Florida. I can stay put in my sewing room and get to work. Love your advice about say NO!!! Thanks for your video.
You are a good motivational speaker! I got the tips but not the batching piece- it was a little confusing . Were you a process engineer during the day? 😜
This wk! I finished just a quilt top for the quilt that’s going to go on my bed! Waay scrappy barn door pattern I think! Used ‘Vintage’ my Moda, kind of busy, but I did it!! The cats love it!
Put a lapped zipper in a wool skirt, added the waistband, attached horsehair braid to the hem. Now over half done with my 12-foot long hem. Almost done with my beautiful embellished skirt!
I'm working on a quilt for my mom and do all the quilting by hand. I am almost finished. Some seams are really crooked. But I am proud of my working process and it is almost queen size 🎉
I just love you girl! You are such a positive light. Your ideas are great. I have ADHD & I use the timer method for so many things, especially big projects I don’t really want to do. My commit to something scary right now is decluttering & cleaning my very large very neglected walk in closet! 😂 Everyone’s comments, ideas & accomplishments are awesome! Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays! ❤
Loved this video. I especially loved the idea of having “systems” inside of the goals. I’ve always struggled with goals - because they feel so big - and I am the person who needs the little pieces to get to that end goal. And I love that part of it - the planning. And I love seeing little parts done along the way to the bigger end goal. I guess I need those little celebrations. (Yay - I’ve got it ironed and starched. Yay, I’ve got it cut out…🎉) My immediate celebration sounds like a lot of others (it’s Christmas!) in that I finished a table runner for one of my sweet daughter-in-laws. I struggled throughout the whole stupid thing - it was a kit and I didn’t like the directions or the material (nothing like the picture!) but I think it turned out okay. It’s done, yay! 🎉🎉
Saying NO. Is a biggie. I finally had to say NO. NO is not being a meany. Self preservation is important. All those projects I am finally getting sewn. I spent a fortune on fabric and kits.. so a finally started to dig in. Charity quilts will get done not this month. Having a work space is extremely important even the most tiny space is a creative space. Thank you.
Proud of making a fabric Christmas tree garland and having to hand pink the edges of a thousand (might be exaggerating a little) strips of fabric so that my grandson and I can put them all together. I tried the pinking rotary cutting disk, but it didn't work for me for whatever reason.
I making my first quilt (jelly roll) well I machine stitching it and in a section the backing got bunched up and I am trying to take it loose and start again but the backing is getting messed up cause I use a fancy stitch and it is hard to take loose. Help please
1. Make mental and physical space for creativity. Take 10 minutes at end of day to just clean up a little. Project boxes. Make a list to make some space in your brain. 2. Practice saying no so you can say yes to the things that really matter. 3.. Start small and finish big. You can break projects up into smaller pieces 10-15 minutes a night. 4. Build systems, not goals. 5. Celebrate all of your wins. 6. Commit to something scary . Just to help me remember. If I had been smarter, I would have used time stamps!
@@cbernier6967 went to my first quilt show this year for my 60th birthday! Houston International Quilt Show. It was a bucket list thing. I went by myself and really enjoyed it.
In 2020, at age 64, I started hand sewing because I was a nurse and I needed something to soothe me during Covid and our lockdowns in Melbourne. I decided to learn a new skill and set myself a target of 4 quilts. Large story, photo, memory quilts totally hand sewn and hand quilted. I took 2 years with the first and delivered it to my granddaughter in South Africa. This year I finished the second one, took 20 months, and delivered it to my son in Croatia. I am now busy with the third, 4 months in and hope to finish it by April. Touch wood. I will then start on the last, for my daughter and deliver it to her in South Africa. Each quilt is personalised depending on their professions and hobbies, so I make it up as I go. My only hope is that my health holds. I have taken so much from this video, especially the 10 minutes at the end of the day and celebration of small wins. Thank you.
At my mom’s 100th birthday party, I had guests write messages for her on 5” squares. I finished the quilt top today. Great advice, thank you!
That's a wonderful gift for your mom!
@@kathiesilva3546 that's a great idea. What a wonderful way to tell someone how special and loved they are.
Great!
❤❤❤ Shut up!! That is one of the best ideas I've ever heard ❤❤❤
I'm so pleased that I sewed bindings on 8 queen-sz quilts this week! These have been sitting on two chairs in my dining room for the last 10 months! Once I learned to join the binding properly at the end and get a good corner, I lost the fear of doing a good enough job. Then I also timed how long it took and found I can do one in about an hour so it is not intimidating anymore.
It’s a great feeling when you conquer a sewing challenge!
How do you do binding like this?
I finished a Christmas table runner for my daughter. I always have trouble joining the last piece of binding. I figured it out today!!!!
I agree. The worst part of binding is joining the ends to make an invisible join. I have to watch a couple TH-cam videos and read some directions every time I have to do it. Glad to hear that you had success today.
May! Good for you!
I love that, so glad you were able to get it done.
I made a runner for my wonderful niece who was hosting our annual family gathering this weekend. It turned out amazing! I used fall colors and for the border I used this beautiful light green on green floral fabric. It made the whole runner pop. I was so proud to give it to her.
It sounds so beautiful. I know she was so happy to have that gift.
I finished 30 small bowl cozies for mother's day. Now on to 30 large bowl cozies. All for the ladies at church for mother's day. They sew up really fast...but the prep and cutting took a lot of time. All worth while. 😊
What a sweet gift, great job Ann!
I will finish the table runner for the mail lady tomorrow, even though I’ve been told it’s ugly. Thank goodness we all have different ideas of what is ugly.
Oh my goodness, yes do finish it. What an amazing gift that will be for her, and I know it is beautiful.
I completed a zippered pouch for our guild's Christmas gift exchange! Saying "no" can be a hard lesson to learn. When my kids were growing up, I became over-involved in groups, etc. While they were all worthwhile, I realized that I needed to focus non my family first. It was an aha! moment.
So so true. We do need to learn to say NO to things.
I have cut all my strips for a project. Sewing starts tomorrow!
Yahoo! Let the fun begin.
I cut apart two sweatshirts and cut the fabric into 4.5” squares for a “sweatshirt” quilt. I still have a bunch of sweatshirts to do, BUT I GOT TWO DONE! I put all of the squares into two stacks and tied them with colorful ties. They look so pretty on my work table. Yay me!
You are doing great, keep going!
I put the binding on my Christmas quilt from 2 years ago 😊
Amazing!
This is such great advice. I quilted two quilts over 6 months ago and they're travelling around my sewing room waiting for bindings. Tomorrow I'm going to trim them and make up binding for them both and I'll make the time to sew the bindings on this week. Thank you 🙏
It sounds like you are really going to make great progress this week!
You are so encouraging!! Thank you. I work full time plus care for my Mom with dementia, plus a spouse and farm with cows, calves and horses that have to be moved, worked etc.. I feel success when I can spend 30 minutes a day either tidying my space, doing some EPP, mending or sewing a few blocks as a part of a BOM that I am 3 months behind on. I just do what I can and try to be satisfied with that.
I love that you are doing what you can, and celebrating small wins!
Today, I received a refund or replacement for over $400 worth of packages stolen off my porch over a week ago. I have phone anxiety and was so nervous asking for a solution. I have remedied the situation by getting a new mailing address elsewhere at shipping store since my address is not safe. I love these kinds of thought-provoking videos, thank you!
I am so glad you were able to find a solution and they helped you. Great job working through all of that, and I am so sorry that happened to you.
Great suggestions for the new year. This month I finished making 4 pillows for my sister-in-law from some of her deceased mother's clothing. The pillows looked great and she was very happy.
What a thoughtful and beautiful gift!
Preach it Sister! These daily habits are absolutely spot on. I've got tons and tons and tons of projects that have not even been started but I'm working on a system that will get me moving on some of them. I'm getting 12 projects in their own box and plan to work on one of them each month. I've also got a long term project that I started in 2003 (LOL) and set aside due to all the applique involved. That project will be seeing the light of day in 2025.
I'm going to do the same thing -12 bins and randomly pick a number then focus for the month!
It is such a good feeling to start conquering what we love and seeing the finished project. I can't wait to hear all you do.
Hi. Really great video. Wonderful advice not just for sewing. Thank you.
You’re most welcome. I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Christen, I have taken your “Celebrate your small wins so that you don’t miss out on all the little joys of your journey.” I have sent to a few people who went through so much this year. Thank you.
That's awesome, I'm glad it resonated with you!
I completed all the machine applique blocks needed for a memory quilt 🎉
That is so wonderful!
My new habit is when done with quilt top I cut up the leftovers into 2.5, 2.5x5, 5x5 6.5 x6.5 and 3.5 x 6.5. Put them away. So I drawers full of precuts and when I am feeling scrappy all I have to do is sew. It brings joy cuz one it’s free and it brings back memories.
I love that you are pre-cutting and keeping your scraps organized!
I got caught up on my London Town sew along, including my self drafted red telephone booth 🎉
How cute. Great job!
I finished 3 flannel Christmas pillowcases and 2 pillows this week! Celebrating the victory!
You are so right about the celebration of our accomplishments! Thank you for this post!
You're welcome! That's a big accomplishment - celebrate it!
I finished 20 handmade Christmas cards this week.
That is so impressive!
I loaded one long piece of backing fabric on my quilting frame and quilted two small, Star Wars quilts, one right after the other. It cut out the need to load two separate backings. What a time saver!
That is amazing. Well done.
Learning to hand quilt every 20 minutes at the end of the day. Great video
I love that you are working on hand quilting every day!
I made a test Funky Friends bear for my bonus granddaughter, and I finally got the nerve to cut the shirt for the actual memory bear! I was nervous that the shirt would scarcely be enough, but I can almost make two bears from one shirt!🤗
That's awesome!
I plan on doing the 10 minute time. I have 10 minutes for sure, but getting in there needs to be the priority each day. TFS. Great tips.
You are so welcome. I hope you can do it.
If we spend 15 minutes a day doing something we love that adds up to 6 weeks a year!! Think about that. This a great video. Thanks so much!!
It is so true, time does add up so quickly!
I needed to hear all this today. Thank you for sharing your suggestions.
I use that ten minute tip all the time! So helpful!
That is so great to hear.
I have been cleaning, dusting and scrubbing my sewing corner for the past 3 days to inspire myself to get back to quilting. I haven't done any in probably 4 (?) months. I think I'm ready now. ~~ Lynne
Great job! You will love getting back at it.
🎉I finished 35 Christmas stockings and crocheted 25 soap sacks for a Christmas party at the women/children’s shelter. Taking them in this week
You are such a blessing, great job!
You are awesome honey! So thankful for you and your tips for life changing habits! I'm going to start with 10 minutes at a time in getting my sewing space organized!
We are all in this together. I know you can do it.
I am making my first king size quilt. It has been very overwhelming. But now with what you said I can finish it. Thanks. 😊😊
That is a big project, but I know you can do it.
@ISeeStarsQuilting thanks for your encouragement.
I trimmed and pressed 160 hst today
OGG! God on you!!
Wow, way to go after it.
I finished a mini snow globe pillow. Very inspiring. Thank You
That sounds so cute!
Great suggestions. Thank you
Such good encouragement! Last Friday, I made myself the cutest, fluffiest PINK santa hat a couple of hours before a Christmas party because I felt like I had to have one for my outfit. I wasn't sure if it would even turn into a hat I could wear until I flipped it inside out and tried it on! I was and am still so proud of myself!!
Love it!! That is amazing, well done!
I finished a cat quilt top (twin size) with a coordinating pillow and took them to the quilter today. We had a blast deciding on thread color and quilting pattern-so exciting! Picking it up on Friday! Yay! 🥰
That sounds so exciting! I bet it will be beautiful.
I just finished writing my first quilt pattern! It was super fun.
Congratulations on your first pattern!
I wanted to thank you for your quilt binding workshop. You saved me many hours of time . I can't believe how easy you made joining the ends of the binding & the corners. Thanks so much!!!
Wow, thank you for saying that. I am so glad you were able to get it done.
This is a wonderful video!! Especially with everything going on, I needed a lot of these reminders. I have made a beautiful top with applique and trains. (I need to share it in the Stitch Sisters). And your quilt retreat was wonderful! I'm so sad I'm missing the January one!
I am so glad you are finding the daily habits helpful!
@@ISeeStarsQuilting I found it so helpful, I sent it to non-quilters 😊
Very inspiring! TY♥️🌲🌲
I’m glad you found it helpful!
This video has perfect timing. I have been afraid to start so many projects. I am not a beginner, but definitely not an intermediate sewist. I am in the mind set of not good enough. Thank you for sharing this, it has helped me a lot.
You are so welcome, I hope it helps. You are good enough, and we sew because we enjoy it. :)
Love your suggestions. Many things I can easily apply. Thanks so much for sharing.
You are very welcome. Thank you for watching.
Great tips, Christen. The systems approach resonates with me. That makes sense when trying to fit quilting into work, family, life!
It is all about finding what works for you!
Thank You! I made 2 pillow cases today. It may not seem like much but I got them off my “to do” list!!!
You made progress, that is all that maters.
Great Daily Habits to have - I appreciate your advice. This is the first winter I'm staying in the cold, so won't be traveling back and forth to Florida. I can stay put in my sewing room and get to work. Love your advice about say NO!!! Thanks for your video.
I am glad you found the advice helpful!
I finished all the blocks for quilt. Yay!!
Congrats!!! Way to go!
You are a good motivational speaker! I got the tips but not the batching piece- it was a little confusing . Were you a process engineer during the day? 😜
LOL no not at all. :)
I finished quilting and binding on 3 small wall hangings that sat around for ages so far this month. I have two more to finish this month- hopefully
You’re on a roll!
I got a quilt totally finished today! Weight off ny shoulders! Yea🎉
Wonderful!
This wk! I finished just a quilt top for the quilt that’s going to go on my bed! Waay scrappy barn door pattern I think! Used ‘Vintage’ my Moda, kind of busy, but I did it!! The cats love it!
That sounds like a fun project.
Learned how to make the towels that go over the oven handle. 😊
That's a great idea!
Hi, I have cleaned up under my sewing table and the window sill. This is great thank you xx
Great job!!!
This was such an inspiring video. Thank you so much! ❤
You are so welcome!
Put a lapped zipper in a wool skirt, added the waistband, attached horsehair braid to the hem. Now over half done with my 12-foot long hem. Almost done with my beautiful embellished skirt!
What a great project, you are so close to finishing.
Great creative advice! Luv ur inspiration posts! 🎉
Thank you so much friend!
I finished a crumb quilt top and started to sandwich it.👍🏼
YES! I’m going with #1 😂 then onward! TYSM
YAY! So proud of you.
I need to write those down an post them in my sew studio.
I'm working on a quilt for my mom and do all the quilting by hand. I am almost finished. Some seams are really crooked. But I am proud of my working process and it is almost queen size 🎉
That sounds amazing. She will love it.
That 10 minute is something I can do
You got this!
I just love you girl! You are such a positive light. Your ideas are great. I have ADHD & I use the timer method for so many things, especially big projects I don’t really want to do. My commit to something scary right now is decluttering & cleaning my very large very neglected walk in closet! 😂 Everyone’s comments, ideas & accomplishments are awesome! Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays! ❤
You've got this! I know it can be a daunting task, but you’re going to feel amazing when you finish.
Hi. I've gotten most of my fabric ironed and put away. Had a clothes basket full!
That's a great accomplishment.
Little bitty moments do add up!
They sure do!
Loved this video. I especially loved the idea of having “systems” inside of the goals. I’ve always struggled with goals - because they feel so big - and I am the person who needs the little pieces to get to that end goal. And I love that part of it - the planning. And I love seeing little parts done along the way to the bigger end goal. I guess I need those little celebrations. (Yay - I’ve got it ironed and starched. Yay, I’ve got it cut out…🎉) My immediate celebration sounds like a lot of others (it’s Christmas!) in that I finished a table runner for one of my sweet daughter-in-laws. I struggled throughout the whole stupid thing - it was a kit and I didn’t like the directions or the material (nothing like the picture!) but I think it turned out okay. It’s done, yay! 🎉🎉
That’s great you finished that table runner! It’s amazing you powered through the challenges.
I’m finish up Christmas ornaments that have been waiting a year and a half to get done
YAY, that will feel so great to get them done.
Saying NO. Is a biggie. I finally had to say NO. NO is not being a meany. Self preservation is important. All those projects I am finally getting sewn. I spent a fortune on fabric and kits.. so a finally started to dig in. Charity quilts will get done not this month. Having a work space is extremely important even the most tiny space is a creative space. Thank you.
Yes! Self-preservation is key, and a dedicated space is essential.
And the something scary is to make the mini blocks for the quilt kit in the sewing room! Scrap blocks to test!
Are the snowflakes behind you trapunto? They’re so cute!
Celebrating cleaning my sewing room.. I can see the floor.
That is a wonderful feeling for sure.
❤
Proud of making a fabric Christmas tree garland and having to hand pink the edges of a thousand (might be exaggerating a little) strips of fabric so that my grandson and I can put them all together. I tried the pinking rotary cutting disk, but it didn't work for me for whatever reason.
It's wonderful you made time to do a project with your grandson!
1 box - 1 project, perfect!
When it comes to making sashings and borders, you know where the fabric is! 🩷🌸🩷
That's a great way to keep your fabric organized. 😊
I’m going to start up a new longarm group
That sounds wonderful!
I used up some scraps to create zipper pouches. I sewed zippers.....ya me
Yahoo!!!
I'm making a quilt for a extended family member that has cancer.
I making my first quilt (jelly roll) well I machine stitching it and in a section the backing got bunched up and I am trying to take it loose and start again but the backing is getting messed up cause I use a fancy stitch and it is hard to take loose. Help please
1. Make mental and physical space for creativity. Take 10 minutes at end of day to just clean up a little. Project boxes. Make a list to make some space in your brain. 2. Practice saying no so you can say yes to the things that really matter. 3.. Start small and finish big. You can break projects up into smaller pieces 10-15 minutes a night. 4. Build systems, not goals. 5. Celebrate all of your wins. 6. Commit to something scary .
Just to help me remember. If I had been smarter, I would have used time stamps!
Love the list, thank you for sharing.
I finished a quilt ... the blocks have been sitting around for I don't know how long ... 2, 3, 4 years??
That's wonderful, what a great accomplishment!
I would add, get comfortable donating projects that you are no longer interested in, and get them out of your life. Out of sight is out of mind.
That’s a great tip to help declutter your space!
🎉you are so cracking awesome… I want to go to a quilt show or retreat this coming year for myself!!🪡👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🫶🏼
@@cbernier6967 went to my first quilt show this year for my 60th birthday! Houston International Quilt Show. It was a bucket list thing. I went by myself and really enjoyed it.
That would be so lovely! I hope you can go.