2011 in Review // 2012 Goals

2011

I am so glad that I signed up for Little Green Quilters UFO Challenge with Susan at Blackberry Creek Home Arts.  http://www.blackberrycreek.typepad.com/ 

It is good for me to have weekly accountability regarding progress on so many unfinished quilting projects. I feel I have made great progress this year; I only had four finishes, but many quilt tops are completed!

2012

I am going to continue to link up with the Friday updates with Susan. My plan for the new year is to machine quilt a majority of the tops listed on the right. The first six are either minatures or baby quilts. I'll start with those to get some practice before tackling the larger lap, twin, or queen size quilts!

I am looking forwards to the challenge of quilting with my Juki. When I grow weary or discouraged, I have many piecing projects to work on...I hope to make great progress in both areas!

Here's to a productive New Year!

Little bits here and there...

Slow progress on my Christmas Sampler. I've got the setting triangles in place. Next up is the green sashing between the rows.

Here is a 10-minute table runner; it is beautiful!

 I made another table runner using left over Christmas charm squares from another project. I had to try out the Curve Master Presser Foot that I bought for a dollar at an estate sale this summer. It works! No need to pin the curves, just use the special foot!

When I found a piece of flannel at Goodwill, I knew I could whip up a pair of pj pants; I found a nice red fleece top with a red tag ($1.29!), and voila...a new set of pajamas for under $5. Hooray for me!

Another doll jacket. This is Kit modelling a warm white fleece coat, perfect for those cold winter days.

 And look what was harvested from the garden! Lovely lovely carrots, extra sweet now because of the recent frosts. The ground does not freeze here, so the carrots stay in the ground until we eat them. There are still more out there!

What I've been up to this week...

The Christmas Zigzag quilt is still in process. When I posted a picture last week, it was not yet bound. So I made bias binding with striped fabric and sewed it down. I love how it looks! I must finish hand stitching the binding to the back.

This is Juliet. Apparently she canNOT travel to the Midwest for Christmas without a pretty red jacket, so I sewed one up for her! I used gaberdine (it was the right color) and boy, does it ravel! I don't have a serger; instead I zig zag stitched around every piece before assembling the garment. Juliet is now safe from having loose threads tickling her tender skin.

 Daughter and I stopped at Goodwill today. I found a few more carolers for my (Christmas) collection! Poor ladies, the wind is really blowing their dresses. And the gentleman must be chilly for he hugs his arms to his chest! They look so vintage!

 I also found three Christmasy dinner plates. I don't have Christmas china, but I always thought it would be fun to have some special dinnerware to use during the month of December. There are sooo many patterns out there, and most are just not my style. But when I saw these...and only $.99 each...I fell in love. Who can resist birds and holly?!!!

 Of course when I got home, I went online to Replacements, curious to see if they carried this line of china. Yes, they did have one plate, and they want $11.99 (plus S&H) for it. Nope, there are three in my family, and three is all I need. If company comes over during the holiday season, we will just use the regular good dishes!

Here is our traditional Gingerbread House for this year. Daughter and Daddy decorate one every year. I must say, this year they outdid themselves! It turned out just beautiful!

 Even the backside is looking festive!

I am linking up with Susan and the Little Green Quilter's Update at http://www.blackberrycreek.typepad.com/ 

The Not-So-Traditional Christmas Quilt

Last year I found this delightful fabric at Joanns. I bought about four yards of it (on sale, of course) simply because I enjoyed the design. I love the addition of unconventional lime green and light blue to the expected red and green Christmas colors!

What to do with such a happy fabric? Well, I have always wanted to make a zigzag quilt, and AmandaJean (of crazymomquilts) did a great no-triangle tutorial over at BeeSquare Fabrics.

http://beesquarefabrics.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-zig-zag-quilt-without.html

I pulled each of the colors from the focus fabric and made this!

I can't tell you how much I love this quilt! It is so Christmasy and not so Christmasy! It is one quilt that will hold us over through the whole winter.

To see more great Christmas quilt ideas, go check out SewCalGal's Christmas Quilt Show!

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/11/2011-christmas-quilt-show-welcome.html

I have also linked up with Susan for my regular Little Green Quilters UFO update...

http://www.blackberrycreek.typepad.com/