The 100 Day Project - #100Days100ThingsDecluttered - Week 4

Welcome to Week 4 of the 2025 edition of #100Days100ThingsDecluttered, a special edition mini-series here at The Joyful Quilter!!  I started The 100 Day Project last week.  I'm excited that I've committed to it, again.  It's particularly popular on Instagram.  I was hesitant to participate before last year.  I'll be releasing weekly updates on Tidy Up Tuesday for those of you who might be interested in seeing what goes out the door.

What did you say your project was, again, Joyful???

I signed up with a different idea in mind than most.  You can read about it HERE.  That link will tell you all about my project.

The gist of my focus...

Decluttering my home and studio in an effort to free up space for MORE creativity.

Here is the list of items from Week 4:

1 disintegrating jar opener

2 dried up paint markers

3 more balls of yarn

4 food jars saved for MONTHS to reuse (now recycled!)

5 outdated personal items

Total: 15/100

Updated 100 Day Project Total: 132/100

Thank you to those of you who encouraged me in my decluttering efforts last week!  I appreciate your kind comments and your willingness to cheer me along.  It really helps keep me going on this decluttering journey.

Chantal @ At the Corner of Scraps and Quilts had the following to say:

Congratulations on this accomplishment. You put us all to shame or encouraging us to make more of an effort to get rid of stuff. Either way, kudos to you. ;^)

To which I replied:

Thanks, Chantal! I decided to get a little more realistic about what I might or might not use. The yarn I got rid of was NEVER going to get used for anything. At least NOT by me!

Sara @ My Sewing Room blog responded with the following - and a decluttering post, too:

No fair!! 65 balls of leftover yarn - Wow!!! But really, great job! I've focused on decluttering the bookcase in my office this week.

I chimed in with this reply:

LOL! All's fair in love and decluttering, Sara.  :P

Decluttering the bookcase in your office sounds like a MUCH more challenging task. I have a really hard time getting rid of books!

In case you didn't see last week's post...

In Week 3, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!  I'm thrilled to have met my goal of 100 items decluttered in 100 days.  That's right, friends!  I got rid of 117 things in just 21 days, but I'm not done yet!  I'm going to keep at it.  Next, I will see if I can double my progress.

@dothe100dayproject

#The100DayProject

#DoThe100DayProject

#100Days100Things_TheDeclutterEdition

#100Days100ThingsDecluttered

#filltheboxjoy

Come back next week to see what goes in the box during the next 7 days.  You can also follow me on Instagram @thejoyfulquilter, if you are there more often than in BlogLand.

Until next time...

Do the 100 Day Project!!!

ProjectQUILTING - PQ 16.6 - Button It Up

BUTTON IT UP

Welcome to The Joyful Quilter!!  And... Welcome to the wonderful world of Project QUILTING hosted by Kim Lapacek @ Persimon Dreams!!  This is my 6th year of participation in the Challenge.  Trish Frankland @ QuiltChicken is the creator of the crazy challenges that participants will face during the next week.

Sassy @ Farm Quilter got me started at the beginning of Season 11 by inviting her readers to join in the fun.  I accepted her invitation and the rest is history.  As I have for the past two years, I will be dragging along my friend LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color again this season, as she enjoys having a reason to stretch her creative wings.  Would YOU like to join me in this creative journey, too?  

FAIR WARNING:  It's a wild ride, but oh SEW rewarding!

Challenges are given and start to finish you have ONE WEEK to complete your project.  PQ 16.6 can be found at THIS LINK:

Step One...

Respond with a flash of excitement, as the Button It Up theme reminded me of a project that I have been wanting to revisit.  The gift, given a number of years ago, was damaged in a fire and this might be the perfect time to recreate it.

Step Two...

Shake my head in disbelief that it took me until 4 PM on Sunday to check the prompt for this week and then it took another hour before reading the instructions to see what is required of the sixth and final challenge of the season.  Here's what Trish had to say:

PQ 16.6 BUTTON IT UP

This week, we’re talking about closure. Get it done. Finish Things. I want you to “button it up” – both the season, and your one-week deadline!

What does the phrase “button it up” mean to you? Fastening clothing, or keeping your mouth shut? Mashing the elevator buttons or signing the final contract?

Political pins and band badges – those have always been my jam, and my ’80s jean jacket and ’90s backpack pledged endorsement to brands, bands and beliefs held strongly.

This week, your buttons can be literal or inspirational. You may use actual buttons in your project, or skip the notions and use the word/phrase as inspiration.

And don’t forget to have fun!

Step Three...

Head to the closet to see if I can find the fabric that I need for what I have in mind.

Why, Joyful???

Well, it's PERFECT for this project!  If I can locate it, it's just what I need to complete this challenge.

Step Four...

Check out the Scrap Station for additional supplies:

photo!!

Tutorial for these baskets can be found HERE.

But...

The "fabric" I was looking for wasn't a good fit for the project

Step Five...

Review the rules:

Rule One: Your project must be inspired by “button it up.”

You have one week to meet the challenge. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline – that is, started on or after March 16th, 2025, and linked up by noon Central Time March 23rd, 2025.

Each piece must stand alone as DONE to count.

Your project does not need to be a traditional quilt, but must meet at least one of these requirements: include patchwork, include appliqué, have 3 layers stitched together by hand or machine.

Incomplete or unfinished does not qualify. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline.

Step Six... Get to work!!!

I began by heading to my local thrift shop to see if there was something more appropriate.  I found two good option from which to choose:

After laundering, this one was the clear choice:

Here is a bit of my construction process...

(Scroll down to the bottom of the post NOW, if you don't care to see a blow by blow of the making of my quilt.)

Step Seven... Play!!!

I was on such a roll with the planning portion of the project that I completely neglected to take any process pictures.  The photo below shows the quilted panel that was incorporated into my project:

This one shows the button closure:

With only ONE day until the deadline...

I'm SEW pleased to present my completed entry for PQ 15.6 shown on our porch swing...

As well as a photo from a different angle and at the shady end of the porch:

There is usually a reason that I participate in these challenges...

... As I mentioned earlier, this time it was because I've been waiting for a reason to remake that special gift that perished in a house fire.  This prompt was the spur that I needed.  Thank you, ProjectQUILTING!!  The replacement pillow is ready for gifting:

There you have it...

Process, product, and the REAL reason for accepting this Challenge.

Follow THIS LINK to the Season 16 overview.  Check back on the Challenge release days (or sign-up to be notified automatically) and there may be one that YOU just can't resist.

It's a SHORT turnaround time!

Depending on the size and complexity of your project, that doesn't HAVE to be insurmountable.  With a little creativity and a few evenings, you really CAN do this!  My project was begun 6 days after the prompt was released and was finished with approximately 24 hours to spare!  My post, however, wasn't ready for release until 3 hours before the Link Party was set to close.  I'm just glad that I managed to complete my entry and accompanying post in time to join Kim's final challenge of Season 16.

Until next time...

Challenge accepted!!!

Remember:  If I can do this, YOU can do it, too!

(Plus, there's a spot to post your completed Project QUILTING inspired projects AFTER the deadline for any of the challenges.)

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC25 - Week 12

WARNING:  Photo Heavy Post!!!

 

Welcome to Week 12 of the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week is my re-entry into the "real world" and I'm not sure what that will mean for my YELLOW scrap sewing.

Read on to find out...

SUNDAY - Recovery Day 9

Today's Weekly Morning Art Zoom was Dare to Roll.  The following prompts were provided - pens, inks, stitching, write it, make some collage fodder, and pocket in Set One.  The top half of the page below was my response:

For Set Two - fabric, sprays, stencils, write it, unique attachment, and tag were the prompts rolled.  The lower half of the page above is what I created.

Britt and I stayed to chat for a few minutes after the others left to go about their day:

I grabbed a quick lunch and headed back upstairs for the opening of the BB Bash with Brooke Henry:

MONDAY - Recovery Day 10

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends!  I wore my hand knit green socks and...

Of course, I had my Shamrock Surprise jacket on when I went to the local thrift store for my first post-surgical drive.  It's close, so if the drive was terrible I could just turn around and head home:

This is what I made during this afternoon's BB Bash Live call:

The forsythia are blooming in North Carolina.  I thought I'd share a photo for my RSC Quilter friends: 

Since my test drive went well, I went to my Quilt Guild meeting tonight:

Our speaker was Susan Brubaker Knapp:

TUESDAY - #100Days100ItemsDecluttered

Day Off

This morning I did a load of laundry, which included the "fabric" purchased during yesterday's thrift shopping trip

While the clothes were waking, I  added the final stitches to my new blue socks: 

Once the laundry was dry, "processing" the shirt came next:

WEDNESDAY - Work

After work I made a quick stop at the grocery store and headed home for my Weekly Zoom Call with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color:

Since I finished the sock I was knitting during my post-surgical recovery time, I decided to look for DK weight yarn for my next pair of socks.  I'm doing a test knit of the Lucky 13 Socks by my friend Tracy @onwoolenpond.  Here is the yarn I've chosen:

THURSDAY - Work

The construction crews at the neighborhood next door were busy today finishing up the roof on one of the two houses in the

cul-de-sac and I'm guessing the added the sidewalks, too:

While at work, I was wishing I was at home sewing.  Here's a bit of  (Firefly) YELLOW for my RSC Quilter friends.  It's one of several new colors available in our YETI offerings:

Art Zoom with Britt after dinner, since we both missed Curiosity Collective today and thought it might be nice to work on Meg's Daily Depth lesson together:

FRIDAY - Day Off

That meant that I spent the morning at Knit Group with these three friends:

It was Linda's last day, so I brought along my latest Quilted Yarn Bowl for her to take with her to her new home...

As we chatted, I hand wound the yarn selected for my next pair of socks...

It looks quite a bit different all wound up:

Later, during Get Messy's Open Studio time, I did the next step of Meg's lesson:

After dinner, I went upstairs for my Weekly Evening Art Zoom, where I cut the holes in the pages and put the finishing touches on the journal spread for Meg's lesson, including adding stitching to the page...

Then I added the leftover bits to a page in my Get Messy Hangout Journal:

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will join me in visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.  Here is the ONLY scrappy YELLOW sewing I did this week...

Your eyes are not deceiving you if all you see is a YELLOW starter/stopper.  The March Color of the Month just didn't work for the project I had in mind.  Perhaps, there will be more next week.

This afternoon, I finished off my week with a Zoom call with Knittingsuek:

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!

The 100 Day Project - #100Days100ThingsDecluttered - Week 3

Welcome to the 2025 edition of #100Days100ThingsDecluttered, a special edition mini-series here at The Joyful Quilter!!  I started The 100 Day Project last week.  I'm excited that I've committed to it, again.  It's particularly popular on Instagram.  I was hesitant to participate before last year.  I'll be releasing weekly updates on Tidy Up Tuesday for those of you who might be interested in seeing what goes out the door.

What did you say your project was, again, Joyful???

I signed up with a different idea in mind than most.  You can read about it HERE.  That link will tell you all about my project.

The gist of my focus...

Decluttering my home and studio in an effort to free up space for MORE creativity.

Here is the list of items from Week 3:

65 balls of scrap yarn

2 rolling chairs from the garage

Total: 67/100

Updated 100 Day Project Total: 117/100

Thank you to those of you who encouraged me in my decluttering efforts last week!  I appreciate your kind comments and your willingness to cheer me along.  Sara @ My Sewing Room blog gave the following report:

Great job in week #2! I reached the 30/100 totals too. Every box that leaves my house makes me feel good.

 

Thanks, Sara! Glad to hear that your declutter efforts are going well, too.

And...

Chantal @ At the Corner of Scraps and Quilts had the following to say:

Way to go, girl! I'm not even close to 30 but I'll try harder this week. ;^)

To which I responded:

Thanks! I'm a quilter on a mission. It's time to clear the mess in the studio. Just Keep trying, Chantal! We'll both get there... eventually.

So...

Three weeks in and I've accomplished my goal of 100 items decluttered in just 21 of the 100 days.  Not to worry, friends!  I'm going to keep at it.

Will you match last year's total, Joyful???

That remains to be seen.  It is, after all, a VERY tall order!  For those who weren't around then, HERE is the wrap-up post from the 2024 #100Days100ItemsDecluttered challenge so that you can see just where my decluttering efforts got me during last year's event.

@dothe100dayproject

#The100DayProject

#DoThe100DayProject

#100Days100Things_TheDeclutterEdition

#100Days100ThingsDecluttered

#filltheboxjoy

Come back next week to see what goes in the box during the next 7 days.  You can also follow me on Instagram @thejoyfulquilter, if you are there more often than in BlogLand.

Until next time...

Do the 100 Day Project!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC25 - Week 11

Welcome to Week 11 of the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week is all about resting and taking time for my surgical recovery.  If I manage to get up to the studio for a few minutes each day, that will feel like icing on the proverbial cake.  Will it happen?

Only time will tell...

SUNDAY - Recovery Day 2

I stopped by my Weekly Morning Art Zoom for a little while this morning... from my living room sofa.  It was only for a short visit, but longer than Friday night's visit so I considered it a win.  By the time my 15 minutes were up, I was ready for a nap!

MONDAY - Recovery Day 3

I haven't been up to the studio since Thursday!  I really wanted to fix that since Prompt Deck Playground was planned for the midday so I dragged myself up there.  Our fearless leader pulled the following cards for us to gather supplies: Color Card No. 011 - paint straight out of the tube, Medium Card No. 067 - washi tape, and Artist Card No. 115 - Johanna Clough - use papers with torn edges.  To these she added three more cards as we played in our journals.  The additions?  Card No. 028 - grids, Card No. 089 - List of Tiny Delights, and Card No. 056 - Set a 10 minute timer and STOP, no matter what.  Here is the page I created in my Get Messy Hangout Journal using a portion of the large piece made in last week's lesson with Brooke Henry:

It was good to do a bit of art, but afterwards, I went straight in for a nap!

TUESDAY - #100Days100ThingsDecluttered

Recovery Day 4

The other night I had and idea for my March entry for the TABLE SCRAPS Challenge.  Once again, I climbed up the stairs this morning to choose some YELLOW fabric. No decisions were made so there's no photo to share.

Here's what's happening in construction news today.  Prep for roofing the next 3 houses:

WEDNESDAY - Recovery Day 5

A pleasant surprise when I went out on the front porch.  Flowers blooming today...

Today's trip up to the studio found me enjoying my Weekly Zoom Call with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color:

This afternoon we got more new neighbors:

THURSDAY - Recovery Day 6

Well... I've been mostly out of commission for nearly a week.  I really wanted to try leaving the house.  Alas, that didn't happen!  Instead, I went upstairs to find that it's roofing day at the construction site next door...

But the purpose of my climb was for Curiosity Collective at Get Messy.  I wanted to take in today's lesson with Amanda @amandswork on IG. Here's what I made in revisiting my gel print landscape work. The circles/bubbles came from Amanda's journal spread and were included to remind myself that play is the most important part of my art exploration:

Moving right along on my 2nd blue sock.  The 1st one has been waiting for its match:

FRIDAY - Recovery Day 7

Members of my Knit Group attended Carolina Fiber Festival in Raleigh today.  I had hoped that I might be able to go with them, but that didn't happen.  Here are the friends who enjoyed the outing...

While I did some mixed media work with my friends at Get Messy.  I worked on the following project during this afternoon's Open Studio and my Evening Art Zoom, but the final reveal of this gel print on fabric will come a bit later:

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will join me in visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.  There's no YELLOW sewing for me to share this week.

I finished off the afternoon with a quick Zoom with Knittingsuek.  She has been so sweet to check in with me to see how I'm recovering from my surgery:

Thanks, Sue!!

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!

The 100 Day Project - #100Days100ThingsDecluttered - Week 2

Welcome to the 2025 edition of #100Days100ThingsDecluttered, a special edition mini-series here at The Joyful Quilter!!  I started The 100 Day Project last week.  I'm excited that I've committed to it, again.  It's particularly popular on Instagram.  I was hesitant to participate before last year.  I'll be releasing weekly updates on Tidy Up Tuesday for those of you who might be interested in seeing what goes out the door.

What did you say your project was, again, Joyful???

I signed up with a different idea in mind than most.  You can read about it HERE.  That link will tell you all about my project.

The gist of my focus...

Decluttering my home and studio in an effort to free up space for MORE creativity.

Here is the list of items from Week 2:

1 long sleeve shirt (sleeve and body are too short for me)

1 cardboard box

2 notions bags

1 outdated bottle of cooking sauce

1 (big) handful of trash from (finally) cleaning out my purse

3 yards of upholstery fabric

1 warped sewing machine bobbin (I can't tell you how many times I tried to make it fit!)

1 empty glue stick (Kept trying to scrape more glue out of for more than a month.)

8 upholstery samples

3 product packaging that was taking up too much space in the drawer

1 broken basket

7 skein of yarn I won't use

Total: 30/100

Updated 100 Day Project Total: 50/100

The basket didn't fit in my box, but here is the proof that it's gone:

Thank you to those of you who encouraged me in my decluttering efforts as I kicked off this challenge!  I appreciate your kind comments and your willingness to cheer me along.  Carole @ From My Carolina Home participated alongside me last year and shared the following comment regarding 2025:

This is such a good idea. I am not on Instagram, although I have an account, I just don't use it. I like reading blogs because there is more conversation. I need to come up with 100 yards of fabric to move out, LOL!! But maybe I can do more with other areas of the house.

 

Welcome back for another season of decluttering fun!  Best of luck on meeting your goal, Carole.  I'm happy to have another accountability partner to help keep me on track.

@dothe100dayproject

#The100DayProject

#DoThe100DayProject

#100Days100Things_TheDeclutterEdition

#100Days100ThingsDecluttered

#filltheboxjoy

Come back next week to see what goes in the box during the next 7 days.  You can also follow me on Instagram @thejoyfulquilter, if you are there more often than in BlogLand.

Until next time...

Do the 100 Day Project!!!