What a productive week I’ve had. I got my arm finished-that only took 1 year of procrastination-dealt with internet thievery and finished my new quilt top. Ooh, and I got a shower radio for $5.

Here’s the top, in situ:

It’s not finished, not even close. I need to make the back (which will be pieced with leftovers from the top plus whatever extra I need), quilt it, then the binding and a label on the back. So, I’m halfway there.

People have been super nice-it’s funny how the internet has this awful reputation for trolls, I guess they don’t read my blog-about all my work lately. I really appreciate positive comments and feedback, it does stoke the fire. I’ve also heard a lot of “I wish I could do that” type stuff. Honestly it’s not that hard. I was thinking about what advice I wish I’d had coming into quilting so I will share with you what I’ve learned.

1-it’s not cheap. You need decent scissors, rotary cutter, mats, rulers, iron and ironing board, pins, thread, fabric and a sewing machine. Fabric is crazy expensive. So far, on this project alone, I figure I’ve spent at least $100, and I still need to get batting and fabric for binding and the back, another $100 probably. It’s big, right now it measures approximately 80″ square, so that’s a lot of material, but still.

2-Space. Man, you need space to sew. I have a shit-ton of it here and I could still do with more. I’d love to have a project wall, like a giant pin board to tack fabric or blocks onto, to figure out how to arrange them. Yes, I can use the floor but more often than not it’s super dusty in the main room and no matter how well I sweep and mop, it’s dirty. I dread leaving this space for that very reason (although I am eagerly anticipating it for every other reason).

3-Energy and momentum. My problem is putting projects down. When I injured my hand in December it stopped me from finishing the 2 quilts that I’d started for my parents (both completely done now, last hand finishes just a couple days ago). Well, that was my excuse (legitimately!) but worse was that I’d lost the momentum on them. I’d finished the fun part, picking fabrics, cutting, piecing, organizing and sewing the tops, but the drudgery, the sandwich and pinning and quilting and binding, ugh. I basically sewed this green top completely yesterday, including cutting the green strips that go between each block. That took a couple coffees and Coke Zeros.

4. Practice. I’ve fiddled with my new sewing machine a lot so I’m pretty confident about how it works and what it can do. This quilt is my 6th project and I do feel like I’m starting to figure it all out. I’m certainly not an Outlier, I’m no where near 40, 000 hours, but practice makes perfect. For everything.

That’s all. I mean, I reserve the right to add to this list as I need to, but those are my basic tips.

Ok. And about internet thievery-that’s an exaggeration. Someone I used to be friends with took one of my recipes, changed it a bit and published it as her own. And by published I don’t mean on their blog, but in an actual newsletter that goes out to people who will think that it’s an original. Now, I know we’re not friends any longer, I can live with that, but giving credit where it’s due is only fair. Even if it’s just a small nothing credit (“I adapted this recipe from an old friend”), it’s still meaningful. Obviously it’s time for me to update my google reader subscription feed and dump her blog to avoid any further upsets (and forced, unpleasant contact). After 2 years, I know I should. But I guess I’ve been hopeful for some sort of reconciliation.  And because I was there throughout her pregnancy and the first two years her kids were alive, I’m still interested in their growth and development. How very selfish of me.