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.

More work on the spring fling quilts.

I have made some progress on the quilts from the weekend.

The toile quilt is quilted and its binding cut.  I expect it will be done by the end of this week.  The fabric did most of the work, so the quilting was simple, just in the ditch for the horizontal and vertical strips and also across the big diagonal lines.  It was quick and done in a few hours yesterday.

The Fancy Forrest quilt is put together and the backing and binding are washed.  Ironing, sandwiching, quilting and binding are to be done.  Again, I am hoping by the end of the week.

A friend stopped by yesterday and I had made 2 fabric buckets with sheep who knit.  I thought I took pictures, but they are now both with happy knitters.  I'm glad they are enjoying them, but sad that I didn't get a picture.

This week, I will also work on digging out my next UFO, a peasant blouse.  I got the fabric years ago and we are approaching the right weather for a lawn cotton blouse, so the timing is good.  I sued to make a lot of clothes, but it has been a long time.  I find getting blouses with patterns I like a little difficult so I'd be thrilled to work up one that I like and possibly make a few more.

Spring Fling Hangover - Sew Much Sewing!

Last weekend some Rising Star Quilters descended upon the Lake Winnipesaukee Region for 3 nights and 4 days of quilting fun.  We brought our projects, our machines, our ideas, and a great sense of fun.  I brought 3 projects - a toile quilt, a baby quilt (Fancy Forrest) and an alphabet panel/baby quilt.  There were others, but I didn't think I'd really get to them.  An added bonus to the wonderful friends is that Keepsake Quilting is just down the road and always a treat to visit.

I finished the top for my toile quilt and picked out a backing and binding.  I collected these fabrics in 2004 (I can tell by the date on the selvage) for a challenge sponsored by the Allentown Art Museum, who had also had some of these fabrics printed.   I never did it, and to further complicate matters, I bought a very limited amount (mostly half yards), probably because the challenge was for a smallsize quilt.  That made it difficult to do everything I wanted, but in the end I am pretty happy.  In this photo it is on the design wall and nearly done.  It took about a half day of sewing and half day of cutting the week before.  I designed the pattern on EQ7 and even scanned in my fabric.  I was really proud of all of that.  A few caveats I discovered - best to recheck the math - EQ 7 didn't count pieces or yardage quite right.  Not sure if it was user error or not, but I am thinking of developing a spreadsheet for this to double check (or using another application).

 

The other quilt has all the blocks done.   It is the Fancy Forrest pattern by Elizabeth Harman.  I so love it.   It is for friends who are having a baby in June, and it will briefly live at Cambridge Quilt, once completed.   The key to this quilt is organization and paying attention to the directionality of the pieces.   Patience too helps.

I love the way it turned out and have a little work to do maybe with organizing the location of the blocks, but the top should be ready to quilt next week.  Hip Hip Hooray.  I also was able to pick a binding a back for this quilt.  

Two more pictures, the lake and the sky....a beautiful part of the world.

FInish it Up 3 for #APQresolution

I finished my project #3 for my third month - two pillows for my living room in Maine.  They weren't hard, just kept getting pushed aside.   They are done and installed in Maine.  Not much of interest, lovely fabric purchased this summer on a Row by Row adventure.  I did add a little interest by using a ribbon that came with one of my Row by Row fabric purchases.