measure once, cut twice

Only after I cut 78 5" charms from Moda muslin to go with my 78 5" charms of Japanese imports did I realize those imported charms actually measured out at 4 and 7/8" by 5 and 1/8". Insert expletives here.

So I spent a morning (almost two weeks ago, now) drinking coffee, chatting on the phone and trimming all 156 charms down to 4 and 7/8" squares. It really wasn't so bad, pretty calming actually. And those little strips look so cute I haven't thrown them away yet. Hoarder alert!

Anyone else ever dealt with defective precuts before? I'll remember to check them first from now on, lesson learned! My woodworking father has always said "measure twice, cut once." An old English proverb that applies just as much to quilting as it does to carpentry.

Since then I've spent some time mindlessly chain piecing, which feels pretty good. Sometimes you just need to DO without having to think too hard about it. But I suppose a little planning ahead of time can be a good thing, since now I think I'll have to rip a couple seams to get the color, value and print placement just right. 

Or perhaps I'll just go with it, finish it up, and love it the way it is. This is always the point in the process where I become paralyzed by decision making. Or lack thereof. Maybe I'll just switch gears again and work on something else? Ding ding ding! We have a winner :P