Organization - Clip Boards

The next step in my search for an organized design business: clip boards.

I found these on Amazon (no affiliation). I was looking for boards I can hang easily, plus they are pretty. Right now my plan is to have a pattern design on each clip board, and yes, I went back and rewrote the post it notes on my Kanban board to match the board the pattern is on. Even writing that makes me happy.

To help keep track of all the information needed for each design, I found an awesome Project Tracking Form on Hunter's Design Studio blog in her We Are Sew Worth It area. Check out the free resources she has for keeping track of all the important little things that make up running a business.

Once again I'm using some 3M hooks to hang my organization tools.

I've hung all 6 above my cutting mat area, this way I can have the cutting instructions available without taking up precious cutting area. Since they are on hooks they will be easy to take with me to the machine or switch around if I need to work on something else.

How are your organizational plans coming along so far? I'm feeling a little more optimistic about staying on top of everything this year.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Don't miss the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge, Link up is open until Wednesday, January 31, 11:59 PM CST.

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Link Up Tutorial

I've had a few emails about linking up with Instagram accounts and have put together a quick tutorial to make the process a little smoother.

First open your Instagram on your computer, though you can't load pictures to Instagram from your computer, you can look at them and get a link.

Select the picture you want to share.

Highlight the link and copy it. (Shown in blue.)

Next, go to the link up page by clicking "Click here to enter". Paste your link in the first line.  Fill out the next two fields.

Now click on the "From File" button.

Choose to upload file.

Find the photo you want to upload.

  

Make sure it is highlighted then click "open".

It will ask you to crop your photo, make sure your picture is centered in the square and then click the Crop button.

Success!!

Hopefully. If you are still having a hard time getting it to load, please email me! patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

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January Color Challenge Link Up

It's here!

The first link up of the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge.

The Link Up runs from January 24 - January 31. To be eligible link up something red that you made this month. One entry per person, you can link up your blog post, Instagram or Flickr. If you need help please email me! patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com

Your entry does not need to be the block provided HERE, nor does it need to be quilting related. It just needs to be something red that you made.

A reminder of the prize sponsored by Northcott: this beautiful package of purple 2 1/2" shimmer strips.

I've added a tutorial to help with linking up your Instagram accounts HERE.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

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Organization - Kanban Board

It's a new year, and with it comes wishes of organization.

Enter the Kanban Board. I first found this idea from Cora's Quilts. As a visual person, I fell in love with this it. Plus, you get to buy sharpies and post it notes. Sold!

I had to use my ruler to make my lines, I'm slightly anal like that.

I chose my own focus pieces, but admit to using Cora's ideas for each little column.

Should I choose to change any of these it's easy to erase the permanent marker. Simply go over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker, then wipe.

P.S. This works on most plastic surfaces.

Unfortunately, my dry erase board didn't come with little eyelets to hang, and I didn't catch that until after garbage day. So I grabbed a couple of these. I'll let you know how they hold.

There she is in all her glory! I'm so excited to see this in motion. I'm in need of a big visual way of organization and I think this will work well, though I know I will need to tweak it a bit as I go. What are your favorite organizational tools? What are your organizational weakness?

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Did you see what is under  "developing?" Hmmmm, you might want to take a look at The Border Quilt pattern and start dreaming a little.

Don't miss the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge just getting started.

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Beginners Unite - Square In A Square

I'm adding a little how to for the Square in a Square Unit.

I started thinking that a tutorial for trimming the Square in a Square (SIS from now on) unit might be helpful, since our January block for the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge has one front and center.


Tips for stitching a Square in a Square Unit

You will need one square and four triangles. I am making a 4" finished SIS for this tutorial. My square is 3 3/8" and the triangles are two squares 3 3/8" cut once on the diagonal.  I like Quiltville's chart for sizes.

The triangles are over sized, meaning in this case we don't have to align centers, we can just eyeball it.

Sew a triangle to opposite sides on the square. Use a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Finding the correct seam allowance is important, I have a post about it HERE.

Press towards triangles.

Repeat with the last two triangles.

Press towards triangles. Give it one final *good* press to make sure you're working with a flat piece for trimming.

Trimming

If you don't have a specialty ruler for trimming SIS, you can still use a regular ruler. This is how I have trimmed my SIS units in the past. Now, I love the Square2 ruler from Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design.

Find the 1/4" seam allowance, from the top point and right point, and line up your ruler.

You will have a good amount to trim.

Rotate, line up the 1/4" seam allowance as well as lining up your 45 degree angle on the bottom left corner.  Your left and bottom edges should align with the needed measurement. In this case, the 4 1/2" lines.

Perfectly square, with 1/4" seam allowance from each point.

Happy Stitching!
Jen

Don't miss the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge, going on now!

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December 2017 Finishes

December finishes were not a plenty. I'm going to share them (it) anyway, just to keep up the habit.

The December Muggamo was my one and only quilty finish that I can share. The best thing I ever did was come up with the Muggamo series, if only because it meant one finish a month that I could show you.

This one looks like a finish, but it wasn't, the binding is pinned. It's been added to the Q1 2018 Finish-A-Long goal list though, and it will be finished.

Does finishing a crazy elephant coloring page count as a finish?

Thank goodness I had the Muggamo! For 2018 I am hosting a 2018 Monthly Color Challenge to keep my blogging going. Don't miss out, there are prizes each month, and there is still *plenty* of time to make the January block. 

Happy Stitching!

Jen

PS Next month's color is blue, you need a light, medium and dark. Start pulling!

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2018 - Q1 Finish - A - Long Goals List

This is my first year joining the Finish-A-Long.

For this first quarter, which ends April 1 (why does that suddenly sound like it's right around the corner), I chose three WIP to finish.


Here A Square There A Square

First on the list is putting the binding on the Here A Square There A Square quilt. It's been quilted since the last QAL post, and there it has sat.  Time to finish it up.

Suite Life

Second, I'm going to finish the binding on the Suite life. It looks finished, doesn't it?

Not so much!

2017 AQS Christmas Countdown

Last on my list is finishing up the Christmas Countdown put on by America Quilter's Society. I finished...four.

I won't have enough of the blue to finish, but I found that pretty grey and I think that will work in well.

I'm excited to try and get these finished up. I admittedly chose easy finishes, just to see if I can actually finish them with the other thing going on. The great thing is that if I don't finish, I can roll it over to quarter 2, 3...or 4.

Will you be joining the Finish-A-Long? There are a lot of quilters/seamstresses linking up and you can join until Monday, January 15.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Linking up at Marci Girl Designs.

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Island Batik Ambassador!

Yesterday I received the news that I was accepted as an Island Batik Ambassador.

I'm really excited to begin this new journey.

(Pictures of collections added for your visual enjoyment, with links to each line.)

Diner Days

Each month, beginning in February I believe, there is a challenge issued with a deadline (there's the real challenge hahah) and the challenge is made with the beautiful fabrics provided by Island Batiks.

Solstice

I'm so ready for the beautiful fabric to arrive! I drooled over the pictures of the boxes that arrived last year.

Cherry Berry

As a complete newbie to this venture I have no idea what you can expect from me, other than pieces made from beautiful batik fabrics from Island Batik.

Alpine Ice

Are you a fan of using batiks in your quilting projects? Let me know your favorite batik make. If you haven't used batiks, let me know why, just not a fan or is there a concern. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and addressing them throughout the year.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Don't miss the January Color Challenge block. It's free!

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