Trying to set up a with my mom. She is competitive, and so am I. is her forte, but it is not my forte at all!

We decided the due date is Christmas 2024 at 7am, queen size, at least a 14" drop, at least 54 trees, and it must be completely finished (i.e., quilted and bound). Whoever loses has to feel the "pain". We are still negotiating the pain portion. /1

So far, ideas have ranged from 12 quarts of homemade canned peaches, a cross-stiched certificate of bragging rights, a gift certificate for commercial quilting, etc. ๐Ÿคฃ

/2

We've decided the loser has to make a handmade gift for the winner. I'm sure we both already have something in the works for the other we could just finish. ๐Ÿ™„ I think I will just focus on my own personal goal of stash-busting!

First load of washed, dried, and folded. I'm getting closer to being able to start on my first block! Yay!

/3

I guess I'm going to have blue trees in this "holiday forest" . ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฒ I've also found some browns for the trunks. ๐Ÿ˜Œ /4

Here are the greens and some whites all washed, dried, folded. I did find some already cut out pieces, but I washed them and I think I can use them. I think I can finally start making a block now! ๐Ÿ˜„

/5

Absolutely LAST stack of red "scraps" washed, dried, folded and I'm off to start making a block now! ๐Ÿ˜„

/6

Okay, first blue ๐Ÿ’™ block is done! I submit to you all for review. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜… *takes a bow*

P.S. There has been a recent development and a revision has been made to the rules: the amount of tree blocks has been lowered from 54 to at least 48 tree blocks. ๐Ÿคจ

/7

Talked to my mom after she saw the picture of my first block. ๐Ÿคจ She wanted to know how long it took me, said she had a "moment" where she was worried that I could possibly finish before she could! ๐Ÿคฃ Said she was still deciding what fabric to use, piecing, etc., but now figured she better make up her mind fast. ๐Ÿ˜‚ Already playing her mind games!

The great race has begun. Let the games begin! Look out! Hahaha *evil, wicked laugh* ๐Ÿ˜ˆ

/8

UPDATE: First red โค block done. Second block, overall. No fun when you run out of a particular fabric and have to end with another...

/9

So, my opponent has apparently not even started. Something about piecing and color motif is still undecided. (However, she has been known to cheat during a game of Monopoly.) The question is: has she started or has she not started? ๐Ÿค” Maybe she just wants me to THINK she hasn't started and she is already four blocks in? ๐Ÿคจ

Today, we talked about barriers to working on blocks. My biggest barrier is the stairs, hers is the cold. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿคจ

/10

I talked to the opposition just now. I'm firmly in the lead, so I told her I was . She made a comment that she was banking on season when she knows I will lose steam and then she will come from behind to take the lead from me! ๐Ÿคฃ She's totally got a point there...

Working on a green block now, which is a bit difficult, trying to make sure things don't clash with limited options... ๐Ÿค”

/11

I think creating stuff/making art is a form of therapy and is a good emotion-focused mechanism for me. I get stressed out easily. Maybe that's why I keep wanting to go up there and make a block? ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿคจ (I'm not a quilter, it's not my thing.) Otherwise, I don't know WHAT THE HECK is happening to me! LOL ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚

/14

Good Morning, CoSoNauts. โ˜•๐Ÿณ I woke up wondering about the weirdest thing: how to use quilting stencils. ๐Ÿ™„๐Ÿคช Now I'm obsessed with choosing which ones I want to use on my . ๐Ÿ˜‚Fascinating stuff! ๐Ÿค”

/15

I've been thinking about my a lot lately. ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚ Haven't gotten anything done really since what, February? ๐Ÿค” My opponent was correct that I would get very distracted by gardening and outdoor projects.

However, the haying is done, the garden is doing it's thing, and I think I am in a lull until the canning begins. I think it's time for some , don't you agree?

/16

Made another tree block for my . This one is wonky and I cannot figure out why! ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿคจ Whatever, that'll teach me to pay closer attention, go back over the directions, etc. I'm a little worried blocks made during the summer when I'm in a rush aren't going to turn out very well! ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜ฌ

At this late point in time, I would have to make 3 blocks per week, if I want it done by deadline. Even then, that's a tight timeline!

/17

I talked to my opponent to wave my newly finished block in her face! (Basically I said, "neener, neener, neener!" ๐Ÿ˜‚) She is looking into getting a table for her bedroom, so she could more easily work on whatever project is most pressing.

Sometimes I think she is way ahead of me. letting me think she has never started, other times, I'm pretty sure I'm competing against myself. Either way, I'm still motivated! .

/18

Trying to stay busy and distracted, so had a session with my mother/opponent. SCOOP: she hasn't even started, she picked out her while we were on the phone! ๐Ÿ˜„ It's been confirmed that I am solidly in the lead. ๐Ÿ˜ŒNew block just dropped. .

/19

Here is a glimpse of the fabrics my opponent chose. I think I would call this more like folksy/folkart? ๐Ÿค” Not sure. .

/20

I spoke to the opposition today and turned it into a lecture. (She hasn't been in her sewing room for months and months.) I told her I was going to tell you all that she conceded. That perked her up and she indignantly said, "I did NOT!" I told her she better get busy! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ I also told her how mad I was going to be if she didn't whittle down the fabric in there and make it into something before she gets too old to sew! ๐Ÿคจ .

/21

My Peeps, I need to have a reality check on this . It's only like 8 to 9 weeks until deadline (Xmas Eve)! ๐Ÿคฏ I got really sidetracked by the Halloween placemats. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

If I want to win, competing against myself & against my opponent (believe you me, I DEFINITELY want those bragging rights!), then I think I'm going to have to make this into ?! ๐Ÿ˜ฒ (41 blocks left to make, & quilting, & binding! ๐Ÿคช) Can it even be done?

/22

I spoke to my opposition and she asked if I was conceding, and I said NEVER! AAARRR! ๐Ÿคจ๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ (She hasn't made a single block yet. I think I'm competing with myself, which is fine.)

Let begin then! It's one block ๐ŸŽ„ per day STARTING NOW! If life gets in the way and I don't make a block, I have to make two blocks the next day to make it up. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜… I'm going to be sweating!

/23

New block ๐ŸŽ„ done. I timed myself. Took me an hour and ten mins to fussy cut scraps and make one block. ๐Ÿ˜… I'm slowly getting faster...

/24

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