One last page on the 2016 finishes....next up 2017 list

I thought it would be fun to see this list from the UFO Challenge in 2016.  My prior post you can see the pictures relating to a lot of these projects.  The two that finished in January 2017 will be shown in the next blog and are both done!  

Somehow time keeps escaping me, but hoping for a productive, though short February.

2016 Finishes

I am proud to list my 2016 finishes.

I participated in the 2016 APQ UFO challenge and finished 6 in 2016 and 2 the first month of 2016.  Those 2 are not listed here.

One of the things that happens to me is that projects creep up due to a new pattern or idea or wanting to teach something new at the LQS, Cambridge Quilt Shop.  One example is the Fancy Forrest Quilt. The story goes like this:  A new pattern arrives at the store....  OH  AH  must have it to make someday....  Then, I think, hmmm maybe I'll make a store sample.  Suddenly, I remember a special baby arriving and say that baby is getting this quilt.  And, there goes the distraction and a new project is added to the list.

Without much further ado, here is the 2016 list.

Diva Wallet

2 Cuddledown blankets/siblings blanket

Peasant Blouse

Jonathan hat #2 (knitting)

Label Park Bench, Plaid Quilt

Christmas Stars

Casco Bay Pillows

Placemats for Jodi

Row by Row #1 - Maine… the way life should be

Maipoison, French Swoon

Fancy Forrest  AKA Amazing Animal Forrest

Toile Quilt

Red/white/Black doll quilt

Solid leftovers baby quilt

Row by row pennants tablerunner

Fall Leaf Applique

12’ block RSQ

Percy

Many of the pictures are on my blog but I did put together this little slide show.  I will try to figure out a way to embed this, but for now, here they are!

http://www.photosnack.com/KathleenMcCormick/img057015.html

Percy Doodle, a finished mini quilt

Here's a little quilt I made last year.  I saw a call from Made by Marney for pictures of dogs.  I sent her one of mine and she turned him into a pattern.   Her version is in grey but it kept Percy's name.  I had fun gathering some fabrics from my stash and creating this likeness of our  wonderful dog.  This was not on my to do list, but I was so thrilled when she turned his picture into a pattern.  You can see her rendition and the picture I sent her here.  You may notice a watermark on the picture.  This is one of the things that slowed me up on my blog.   I decided I don't have to be consistent with it, but I will try to do this more often, and get better at it (I know the color is nearly impossible to see). 

There are two fun features on this quilt.  One is that I did a two fabric binding, from another blog that I follow sewfreshquilts.  It was easy and I love finish.  The back isn't quite perfect, but I'll get it there.

 And finally, there is this new label.  I saw ones that Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl ordered and I was hooked.  I had different labels before but never this many.  I ordered them from Kim @Tagtopia and they came promptly.  This is the first quilt I added them to and while I will do other labels by hand, I also love the idea of adding these.

Planning for the New Year

I admit to falling behind in 2016, but I am set to approach 2017 with new energy and commitment.

I did a massive reorganization of my lists and am entering them into the planner.  I found that there are probably not enough quilt planner pages, so I may need to add in a few more as the year goes on.  Another approach is to only use those for the original projects, so I stopped entering and turned to this....


Shorter Term/Actionable Goals
Join the #APQResolution2017 (2 carryovers from 2016 will join this list)
Plan one quilt a every 3 months with EQ7 - using up 4 stash fabric piles
Post weekly on my blog
Post one tutorial in even months
Attend on major quilt show
Work with 1-2 patterns to produce or submit in the fall
Quilt the Antique Grandmother Flower Garden

Big Picture Goals
Adventures with the new retiree-my husband
Let go of quilt/craft tools I am not using
Learn some new skills in social media/publishing
Get to some of the household organizing projects

Here's what my desk looks like in this process - planning tools, sewing project and nail polish and remover.  A lot of things taking up a little space.  I thought I'd be quilting this week, but again too many things have gotten in the way.  I'm grateful for some of them and saddened by a few others.  I am learning to carve out time again for me and this is a big help scheduling all the quilting plans and some other organizing plans too.

In January, I'll catch up my blog with a few of my projects that I did accomplish while not paying attention to my blog.  I never expected having my son back from college and my husband deciding to retire to take up so much of my time!

A baby quilt and sibling comfort blankets

It's been a few busy days.  I had finished the baby quilt awhile back, but decide that the sibs should have comfort blankets too.  Also, the quilt needed a label, so I have quite a bit to show.

First, the newborn's quilt....Amazing Animal Forest.

And the label....

And the comfort quilts for Grace and Brody....the sibs who have a big job ahead of them.

They are made with Cuddle and double gauze and were pretty quick to make.  I did break two sewing machine needles, but it wasn't too bad.  I enjoyed the process and will make more of these I am sure.  I did vacuum right after I cut the cuddle, which helped keep the bits from blowing around the sewing room.  It was a great project and I am glad that I did it.  

Now to pack them up to give away.   I hope they enjoy them!

Where have I been??? UFO done....

Where have I been indeed?  I have been to my son's graduation.  Yes, I am the proud Mama of a Johns Hopkins graduate this year.  So, we went to Baltimore at the end of May for the ceremony and to meet some of his friends.  It was a delightful trip and yes, we are glad not to be empty nesters and have him home for some time.

But, it seems to have helped in the derailment of me keeping up with my quilting, along with that part-time job that I mentioned.  So, I need to restructure my days, but it is happening, so I can get to this once a week and celebrate quilting (and other things).

I did finish my #APQResolution UFO for the month.  Fortunately it was a small one, a doll quilt from scraps from a twister quilt I did some time ago.  Not much, but it is done.  In some ways, this is what it is about, getting UFOs done and off the list.

 

I did finish another little quilt.  It will go for auction in the fall at the Rising Star Quilt Guild show October 14 and 15th at St. Brigid's Church in Lexington, MA.  It was made with scraps from our spring fling challenge and were just too cute to abandon.  It is about 12" square and just right for the auction.

Another UFO, some digressions, and a Graduation

I finished one more UFO.  I am not in love with it.  It was a peasant blouse I had been putting off for quite some time.  I am glad its done, and I will wear it, but I will think about whether to adjust the pattern more for my liking.  The instructions were not really the best.

I have made garments since the 70s, but not too many lately.  This was from a book called Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.   It had no instructions for laying it out and I found it was nearly impossible on the piece of fabric I bought for it.   That being said, it was an easy pattern.  A few adjustments and I might love it as an option.

My digressions are around a part-time job that I have added to my plate.  It has taken me a bit away from my sewing and concentrating on my blog, but I hope to return to a more structured way of living soon, so that I get time for everything - new endeavor, part-time work at the quilt store, time in Maine and time with my loved ones.

Next up is a little quilt, although not quite done, it is a 12" block for our guild show in October.  The spring fling weekend added to my work in two ways:  a huge bag of strings to turn into a few benefit quilts and this mini block.  I couldn't abandon this fabric panel so it became a little quilt.  I'll quilt next week, and bind (or refresh a skill)

Last, but not least, John graduates in 18 days from Johns Hopkins!   I can hardly believe it - my baby is growing up.  I am so proud of him.