Reflections and Goals for 2012

One of my favorite activities as a new year begins is to reflect on and review  the previous year. In the past, this was the time that I took my old planner and transferred important dates into my new planner. With the use of electronic calendars (Google calendar and Iphone calendar), this activity is quicker than in the past. I've looked at digital photos from last year on my laptop, reviewed lists, looked at completed quilts (joy!) and reviewed my UFO lists. What a blessing to have all these tools and ways to review, reflect and set goals for a new year.


In 2011, I signed up for several UFO Challenges. This did help to motivate me to complete projects and have deadlines. I plan to work on UFO's again in 2012. This is my list of projects to focus on in 2012.

1. Red and White AP&Q calendar quilt - 
2. Eventide in French General Fabrics from Quilt-along
3. Patches & Pinwheels (Bonnie Hunter pattern; swap project)
4. Machine applique Pumpkin Blocks
5. Flannel quilt in Buggy Barn fabrics; on Design Wall
6. Chelsea Lane BOM from SNQ
7.Retirement Quilt with signatures and book titles
8. Blue and white BOM from QE (one of my oldest UFO's)
9. Star Gazy in black and tan
10. Christmas Pineapple blocks
11. Green, black n white BOM from PC
12. several Schnibbles in progress

At the same time, I don't want to restrict myself to just "old" projects. I do want to embrace  new projects. I've already made a commitment to several new "creative" endeavors and know that I will begin others as the year progresses.  A blog that I discovered in the past couple of weeks is Cat Patches. Barbara is motivating her followers to begin a new project each month. Well, that appeals to me, too. Read more about this NewFO Challenge here.

I've started a list of projects that I would like to begin in 2012.
1. Our guild is doinig a 12 Days of Christmas BOM. I've already paid my $$$ to join this fun.
2. Twister batik quilt for my cousin. Fabric is purchased for this one. It's a technique I'd like to learn.
3. Blueberry Crumb Cake. Love the fabric, but need inspiration on the pattern
4. Blue & tan swap
5. E-reader cases
6. Swap projects with Thimblettes
7. Year of Schnibbles

Sinta and Sherri are hosting their 3rd year of small quilt projects. I already have the pattern for January's project, Full House.

Choosing a word of the year has been helpful, too. Last year my word was Savor - enjoy. The word that seems appropriate for this year is STRETCH. Reach out or stretch in relationships, reading choices, sewing techniques and projects, spiritual time, movement and communication. 


2011 was a year of many blessings! Welcome to 2012 and all its blessings and challenges!

Traveling Stash - Giveaway

"One man's trash is another man's treasure." These words definitely describe quilters. For months, the traveling stash has been visiting the homes of lucky quilters. Like the book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the traveling stash adapts itself to each quilter that it visits. 

I was fortunate to win the box from Sara at Growing Stitches . I was actually in the hospital when I received the email from Sarah saying that she needed my address for an early Christmas gift. Due to the holidays and my recovery time, the Traveling Stash has patiently lived on my dining room table for a couple of weeks. It is anxious to visit another quilter.  Here are the rules for entering the giveaway for this Traveling Stash. 

Here are the rules:

1. You must have an active blog.

2. You may take whatever you want from the stash but you must replenish the box

3. You agree to host a giveaway on your blog and send the Traveling Stash on to the winner.

4. U.S. friends only please due to the shipping costs.

 The box contains a list of directions and a history  of the quilters that the stash has visited.

 It was fun to examine every piece of fabric, study each pattern, and open each bag with "bobbles and bits."

 In spite of the extreme temptation, the treasures that fit me best were some pieces of fabric, quilt labels, thread and a notion for old needles.

In place of these items, I added two older charm packs, Pampered Pooch and Hydrangea Garden, the recent Quiltmaker magazine (I had duplicates), patterns, notion for marking rows, a bag of selvages and whatever else jumps in the box in the next week.

The giveaway begins as soon as I hit "Publish" and will end next Saturday, January 7, 2012 at noon EST.  To enter, leave one comment describing your goals/resolutions/plans for 2012.  

Merry Christmas, dear friends! This holiday has been a wonderfully, quiet one for our family. My surgery went well. Recovery just takes time, good food, naps, physical therapy and prescription meds:) Wishing you and your family, a Christmas filled with much love !!!

Occupy Your Sewing Room

Barbara at Cat Patches challenged bloggers to "Occupy Your Sewing Room." Several times last week, I spent some time in my fabulous sewing cavern. 

The flannel quilt that I began last Summer was placed on the design wall. I was ready to begin piecing the borders when I discovered that I had arranged the blocks in a different design (ie. I didn't follow the pattern), but I like this design so it stays.  The two borders will be next on my sewing list.

 Dad's Christmas gift involves new pairs of slacks. Removing the button and adding zelcro helps with the arthritis in his hands. Three pairs done and actually mailed:)

 I wish I would have take a before photo. My quilting buddies donate fabric and batting scraps for my pet bed projects. I had a MAJOR mess. It took a couple of hours, but several pet beds are near completion and

 fabric was organized for various donations - Goodwill, Guild and an elementary art department.

Rusty received a "Snuggie for Pets" but it was TOO BIG. A little alteration was added so he can stay warm this winter. 

I wasn't able to do as much piecing as I had hoped, but my sewing area is organized and ready for the next sewing session. Thanks, Barbara for challenging us to spend time in our sewing rooms.