Tis the Season... for New Year's Resolutions!!

I have had a very interesting past month.  Okay.  So not true.  BUT during my recuperation time of not being able to work, sew or type (for longer than a sentence of two at least) I have had a lot of time to think.  Not necessarily positive or productive thinking.  But time to think.  Add to that a milestone birthday coming my way. Yikes!!

The result is a little too much time to focus on the aspects of my life I would like to change.  I WILL NOT bore you with all my nasty little habits.  But you already know my biggest quilting "flaws":
1/ No follow thru to complete projects (aka the queen of the ufo)
2/ Fabric collector

Instead of sweeping promises I can never keep, such as "I won't buy fabric this year" or "I will finish all my UFO's in 2014", I have decided to take a much softer approach.  I am going to pick a quilting and a non-quilting objective every month.  Nothing monumental.  Just an attempt to check some items off of my list in 2014.  What can I say?  I was inspired by Making Christmas and The Happiness Project :)

January's Objectives:
 - finish the top to my son's "Out of this World" Quilt AND bring it to the long arm quilter
-  Book (and actually show up) to see my financial planner

My inspiration was starting (and actually finishing!) the below yo yo tree for Christmas this year.

Happy New Year!!! And Happy Quilting

Durham Trillium Quilt Guild - Tri-Annual Quilt Show!!

This weekend is my Guild's tri-annual quilt show.  So much fun!!  Fantastic quilts and a lot of inspiration.  But the best parts??  The vendors :)  I finally found the perfect quilt for my baby boy.  Honestly, I am so pleased!  The sailboat quilt I had been working on is simply too young for him anymore.  That's what happens when it takes almost 4 years to make a quilt. So  now, I am starting all over again next weekend at the retreat with an astronomy quilt I bought the kit for today.  The fabric even glows in the dark for a short period of time. More picks to come soon!

I also bought fabric for 4 Christmas pillowcases, a Christmas pattern book and a large bag from the Guild's boutique store.  And that is only day 1! I actually exceeded my budget by 10 am!  Yikes!! 

Well sewing this weekend will be tough.  Regardless, here is my Making Christmas list.  More additions than completions.


Making Christmas List (Week 4):
Quilt for my son - Warp Speed
Exclamation Quilt for Ice Fyre Raffle - Still two borders left
Espresso Christmas  Ornaments - No Progress
Cardinal Pillow from this month's McCall's Quilting!!!! Fabric chosen, embroidery almost done
Bag for my daughter for Christmas - No progress
Christmas Presents for Teachers - Napkins Complete!!
Addition: Coasters to match Christmas napkins
Christmas Present for my fantastic sitter - No progress; Still no idea what to make.....
Addition: Other remaining 9 blocks for my Northcott BoM Quilt. It is a little backward, but I am inspired now that the log cabins are complete
Addition: 4 Christmas Pillowcases for my kids - a purchase from the Quilt Show

Happy Quilting!!

Check!! Christmas Napkins Done!

Well Making Christmas is "making" me obsessed with my list! 

I have a heavy November ahead and a December where I won't physically be able to sew. That means I have a lot of pressure on me (self induced, of course) to finish my list.  I can officially cross my children's Teachers' gifts off the list.  Yeah!!  Although, I am thinking a matching set of coasters....  Too much?  Yes, I have reread my first couple sentences.  But I have the fabric.  It would be such a shame to not add them to the package of 4 of these Christmas Tree napkins :)  Right?

This weekend is the Durham Trillium Quilt Show in Oshawa, Ontario.  A weekend of quilts... but no quilting.  Still, I am so excited to see the wonderfully creative work of my friends and fellow quilters.

Happy Quilting!

Log Cabins - A quilter's staple

This has been a busy week!  Actually, looking at my calendar for the next month I am a little overwhelmed to be honest.  And when I get stressed I sew!  Luckily, my calendar includes a much needed quilting retreat.  This past weekend, I attended a Twilight Tea!  A fun way to hang out with great friends, great food and sewing until midnight.  I wish I had more items crossed off of my list.  However, I do have 24 log cabin blocks (just like the one below) to show for my sewing adventure as an update to my Making Christmas list.  But now, it is time for sleep before a week of work and children's activities.

Making Christmas List (Week 3):
Quilt for my son (very much past due!) - Backing fabric arrived from Connecting Threads on Friday!
Exclamation Quilt for Ice Fyre Raffle (UFO from my last post) - Still two borders left
Espresso Christmas  Ornaments - No Progress
Log Cabins for my Northcott BoM Quilt - Complete!!!
Cardinal Pillow from this month's McCall's Quilting!!!! Fabric chosen, embroidery started
Bag for my daughter for Christmas - No progress
Christmas Presents for Teachers - Almost done!!!
Christmas Present for my fantastic sitter - No progress; Not even an idea of what to make!!!
Addition: Other remaining 9 blocks for my Northcott BoM Quilt (what can I say, I am inspired now that the log cabins are complete)

If anyone has any ideas what I can make for my sitter to go with her present, please let me know in the comments section.

Happy Quilting!

And the UFO's Grow......

This week, thanks to my Making Christmas list, I have been listening to the hum of my sewing machine for about 30 to 60 minutes every night.  I am 10 strips out of 15 into my 23 log cabin blocks for my Northcott BoM. A lot of sewing but still so much further to go.  PLUS, I only have 3 of my 12 actual BoM blocks done.  However, this time last week I just had a bunch of strips of fabric, so I am focusing on the progress.  As slow as it is....

I have made progress on other items on my list, but it has meant I have started two new UFO's.  The fabric below is for my cardinal pillows. This is all from my stash, which makes me very happy.

I also added to my stash this week.  I decided to make Tree Napkins for my children's teachers.  That required new fabric, right?  Of course!  The plan is to use something from my stash as the second fabric.  Once I actually make a decision, I will be sure to share.

Making Christmas List (Week 2):

Quilt for my son (very much past due!) - Backing fabric ordered from Connecting Threads!
Exclamation Quilt for Ice Fyre Raffle (UFO from my last post) - Two borders left!
Espresso Christmas  Ornament - No Progress
Log Cabins for my Northcott BoM Quilt - 10 of 15 logs attached
Cardinal Pillow from this month's McCall's Quilting!!!! Fabric chosen, embroidery started
Bag for my daughter for Christmas - No progress
Christmas Presents for Teachers - Fabric Purchased!
Christmas Present for my fantastic sitter - No progress

Wow.  I actually made progress!!  Thanks to Janine and Rebecca for the inspiration!!

Happy Quilting!

"Making Christmas" List

I am enjoying my Thanksgiving by taking some quiet time to read some of my favorite blogs.  The hustle and bustle of the spending time with family and enjoying a turkey and apple pie was yesterday so today I should be relaxing, right?  Well on my reading adventures, I was inspired by Kristy at Quiet Play, which led me to read (and now follow) Janine at Rainbow Hare Quilts.

There are less than 2 months until Christmas!!!!!  So here is my list.

Making Christmas List:

Quilt for my son (very much past due!)
Exclamation Quilt for Ice Fyre Raffle (UFO from my last post)
Espresso Christmas Ornaments
Log Cabins for my Northcott BoM Quilt
Cardinal Pillow from this month's McCall's Quilting!!!!
Bag for my daughter for Christmas
Christmas Presents for Teachers
Christmas Present for my fantastic sitter

Just looking at this list is making me fill a little queasy! Maybe more so because I have only started two of these projects and have no idea what to do for the my kids' teachers and sitter.  I am debating doing the Christmas tree napkins or Christmas paper pieced coasters.  I always give the teachers Chapters gift cards as the main gift.  If they are overwhelmed by "stuff" they can always donate them to the school.  But this year I would love to add something special (but quick!).  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Well, I can't figure out how to put the darn button on my blog (urgh!!) but I am definitely in!  Please be more skilled than me and go to Janine and/or Rebecca's blog, add the button and link up!

Happy Quilting!

Exclamation!

Beds can make the best "design walls".  In most cases, I am designing for a bed quilt anyway, so this is the best way to try it out!  I had laid out the blocks to the quilt on my Mom's bed while I was home in Newfoundland.  Usually I like to label my blocks to ensure I put it together just as I planned.  However, I have learned that my camera can be my best friend for these exercises.  And my baby girl never misses a chance to join the fun!

This quilt is scheduled to be donated to my daughter's synchro skating team as a fundraising raffle.  I am behind (as always), so now instead of a raffle for this year's season, it will have to be next summer/fall.  Good news is I am further ahead than this picture would suggest.  Two borders left on the top.  Then I need to decide if I am going to quilt it or have it quilted.  If only I owned my dream machine, the Tiara, this would not even be a thought :)

Happy Quilting!

Newest Edition to the Family

This baby quilt is for a special addition to the family, our great-niece.  Her big sister already had a quilt, but I believe every newcomer deserves their very own quilt full of love!

I really like the simplicity of the Twister. My daughter enjoys 'putting the puzzle' back together after cutting up the squares so I can resew them. This quilt using the large version was a snap.  I have seen some beautiful versions of a wreath and a heart that I cannot wait to try with the smaller Twister!

Happy Quilting!