Wednesday, January 31, 2018

January Finish

I can't believe it is the last day of January already. I feel like I have started the year already behind what with being sick the first half of the month. I am getting back in the groove and have got a little bit of work accomplished. While this little two heart table runner was not on either of my 12 for 12 lists, it is something I wanted to get done before the first of the month and I just barely made it. I got it quilted yesterday morning and bound last night.

I also got one from my 12 for 12 to be quilted list done. I just haven't taken the time to photograph it. This is a Sisters Choice block that I made from Thimbleberry scraps.

It has been in my to be quilted stack for several years so it feels good to get it done, finally.

 12 for 12 Quilted list

1 Scrapy Trip
2. Boxy Stars
3. Civil war stars
4. Sisters Choice---------------------------------January Finish
5.Brown and gold runner
6. Blue and Yellow backroads
7. Christmas Ribbons
8. Blue All Around
9. yellow/orange brick road
10. Double nine patch
11. Bowties
12. 30's dancing nine patch



I also got two quilted for friends so I guess it hasn't been too bad a start for the year.


Happy Stitching,

Teresa


Monday, January 22, 2018

Making Plans

In an attempt to stay focused and finish some previously started projects last year I made a 12 for 12 list. These were 12 previously started projects that had got pushed back in a project box or bag that had not been finished. The idea was to do one project a month , hence the second 12. I did real well the first 9 months but had not anticipated how busy I would get quilting for others that last quarter of the year so I only finished 9 from the list. I also got several other projects that were not on the list done so I had a really good retired again year. I still want to do it again this year but I am going to do it a little different. I am going to have two lists. I am going to have a list of 12 WIP (works in progress) that still have piecing to do on them and I am going to have a list of 12 tops that are ready to be quilted. These are tops that I have the back and binding ready and have already taken them out to the quilt shack. Ideally I would like to finish one from each list but that probably won't work every month. So if I can get one finished on the piecing side or one quilted and bound it will be a good month. I am also going to remember how busy my fourth quarter was last year and try to do more than one a month. Ambitious YES, but doable.

12 for 12 WIP list

1.Rick Rack Nines
2. Jacob's Ladder
3. Jamestown Landing
4. Ringo Lake
5.  Mosaic
6. Split Rail
7. Rainbow Challenge 2017
8.  Master Checkerboard
9. Garden Party
10. Floral Log Cabin
11. Alabama
12. Red and Cream

 12 for 12 Quilted list

1 Scrapy Trip
2. Boxy Stars
3. Civil war stars
4. Sisters Choice
5.Brown and gold runner
6. Blue and Yellow backroads
7. Christmas Ribbons
8. Blue All Around
9. yellow/orange brick road
10. Double nine patch
11. Bowties
12. 30's dancing nine patch

I would like to say if I got all these done I would be caught up, but I didn't get the "queen of the UFO projects" title for nothing. It would however put a huge dent in that title. As you can see I am going to be busy and this is in addition to the quilting I do for others and charity projects. Who is with me in trying to finish some of these older projects?

Happy Stitching,

Teresa


Sunday, January 21, 2018

Matters of the Heart

I try to do something with a Valentine theme this time of the year. Last year I made a heart wall hanging so this year I thought I would do a two heart table runner.

Then for some reason I couldn't decide which way to point the hearts. I originally planned to point them out but think they look just as well pointing in, so I conferred with good friend Ivy and she agrees out. She says then someone could place a vase of flowers in the center. Good thinking, so now to finish sewing it together and then decide how to quilt them. I hope that is not too big a decision for me. It seems like 3 weeks of being under the weather has effected my brain process.

I am still fine tuning my list and if I don't get in a hurry I am going to be a month behind before I even start.


Happy Stitching,

Teresa 

Friday, January 12, 2018

No Snow

It is a dreary cold no snow, dud kind of afternoon. I am in my sewing room trying organize all this into some sort of civilized chaos. I know this room will never be perfect, mainly because I am not ready to part with too much of it. But honestly I have more started projects than any one person should have. This all started while I was trying to make a list of 12 projects I would like to see finished in 2018. Really couldn't narrow it down to 12. So I am taking a break, yea that happens too often, and am going to go back through my pictures and see just how much I got done in 2017. Maybe that will give me a more realistic incite into what I can do this year.
I may have missed one, but if I am counting right here is 15 quilts plus pillows and wall hangings. I didn't show all the bibs, mug rugs and fabric boxes I made. Nor did a show you all the different wall hangings I made to put in my booth at Antique Basket. Plus I quilted a good many for paying customers and several for charity. So I guess I did get a lot done in 2017. Oh yea, remember all those placemats the guild was doing for Meals on Wheels, 325 yep we got them done with some spares.

Check back later and I will have a list for 2018 plus a couple of bonus items. If I could not start anything new I might get my WIP's (works in progress) under control, but I know that want happen.

Happy Stitching,


Teresa

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

A New Year

It is a new year and new challenges. The first challenge I am facing this year is overcoming this crud that is going all around. The really bad part is Johnny and I have both had it so we have had to fend for ourselves as best as we can. I think we are on the uphill side of it now but still a ways to go. We both still tire easily. I have not felt like going out to my quilt shack yet this year and that is a big disappointment. Hopefully I will get out there in the next few days.

Last year I made a 12 for 12 list of projects I wanted to get finished and I did great on it until the last three months of the year. I had not anticipated having so many request for quilting projects from others for Christmas. By the time I got all of those finished I was ready for a quilting break and it was time for Bonnie Hunters mystery. This year it was called On Ringo Lake. I was able to get enough piecing time in to keep up with the weekly clues but by the reveal on New Years Day I had come down with this crud so I have not got it put together.

I have started putting it together. If you are following the mystery can see that I am not using the sashing strips. I tried putting them in but they were too distracting for me so I will use them in a border.

Check back later for my list for 2018.


Happy Stitching,

Teresa