OMG for the new year - 2020

I got the last one of the month - the December goal, really happy with that, and how well the OMG really helped me in 2019.  So I'm looking at continuing on. 

I really need to get the UFOs down.  I just added 5 more to the list, so the idea is to not start any more this coming year, just concentrate on finishing a number of the UFOs.  

So the goal for January is to finish the "Time for all Seasons" quilt as a Bar Door.  I'm using the "quilt as you go" idea, doing four squares at a time.  I still need to complete September to December's blocks before I go with this, but during the holidays, I completed one "four block" section and working on the next one.  I also completed one of the December blocks.  Soooooo, my goal is to complete this and have it up on my door by the end of January.  That will be one box containing one UFO and moving on to the next one.  The next time you see this one you'll see it on my Barn door.  

Things to do:

• Make another 6 square block (I need 10 blocks a piece for each door).
• Make 6 more squares  so I have enough for each door.  I'm short 6 squares.
• Quilt all the blocks.

More on to the next.  Hooking up to OMG.

Goal Planning for 2020 and Reflection of 2019

It's been a busy year, not just in sewing but in my job as well.  Because I've gone to teaching full time, without the computer repairs I am now teaching seven classes in the four blocks that I teach.  But next term I have my spare so I'm hoping to have more time to be creative.

So with that in mind I'm looking at joining the #2020PlanningParty at Quilting Jetgirl's blog to help me plan.    You can read many of the other participants in this party and see what they're doing so you have an idea of what you want to think about and try as well.

I want to consider what I've done last year and what I will try to complete this coming year.

Summary of 2019

• I completed 21 quilts, one was an edit to make a black wool quilt bigger so my mother could use it on her bed for the winters in Manitoba.  A number of the quilts were gifts, for babies, for a wedding and for birthdays, even one (made of books) for a librarian that retired June (lucky her).
• I kept two of the quilts for myself for my bed, gray and white one as well as for now the Harry Potter quilt.  I also have the two quilts that I put in the Guild's quilt show.  That's way too many quilts, I have to give some away.  I don't need that many quilts....
• I created four painting, three of which I gave to others as gifts.  I'm really enjoying painting and I am learning a lot.  It's "ME" time and it relaxes me, which is the most important thing.  
• I've read over 30 books, and I'm in a book club which although it means 12 books in the year, I've been reading even more than that, because it relaxes me.  
• I've tried to cut back on my work load, but that didn't work.  I started a camera club with grade 8 students and although they seem to like it (there are 10 students) it's every Tuesday from 3:30 till 4:30, and it's taking quite a bit of my time.  Some days I'm just tired, so I have to get more sleep to help me out.
• I've taken up guitar and lessons online.  But I've been busy so that didn't work.  Need to try again and to at least practice four times a day for at least 20 minutes.
• Stopped exercising because I'm so busy, so I need to start that up again.

Quilts

• I've made only 4 baby quilts this past year and two of them I donated through our guild to the hospital for preemie babies.  But I want to do more.  So this year I would like to make at least 8 giving me four months which I can miss in case life gets too busy.
• I have a big doorway in my house and the only way to make it a private room was to do a barn door or to make barn door quilts.  I have three planned for this year:
• A Time for All Season's BOM
• Florence Flamingo quilt from Elizabeth Hartman
• A design of my own from fabric that's really modern looking.
• A bat quilt from a book by SewKindOfWonderful 
• A black and white modern paper pieced quilt for the bedroom
• I would like to do another hand sewn wool quilt that is at least five years old.

Things to Try Out.

• my new Bloc Loc Ruler
• mini SewKindOfWonderful curved ruler.
• I designed two pixelated quilt patterns.  One of a cougar and another one of my husband.  I would like to complete one and put it up on my wall in the living room. This would be the 2nd pixelated quilt that I would of made.
• an applique quilt that is totally hand sewn by two sisters.  Never did a full quilt like this before.
• Make a landscape quilt (craftsy)
• Try making a quilt out of fabric flowers.  I have two patterns for this
• Car made up of flowers
• Dress maker dummy made of flowers

UFO's

• I would like to complete at least seven of my UFO's.  My office is getting too crowded to the idea is to focus on getting some of my projects that I have all the material for completed.  Also there's some sewing of clothing in the room as well taking space.  Specifically:
• Blue and yellow star BOM
• Blue star table topper.
• HST BOM  (see side bar)
• Conversation (see side bar)
• Black and White wall hanging
• Carnation Wall hanging
• Blue Paper pieced quilt BOM
• finish the Water Row by Row king size quilt I've been working on.
• Gym bag
• Velvet dress
• black jumper
• flower jumper 

Personal Goals.

These are many and I'm really hoping to do some of these.  Some are in regards to quilting, but most are life goals.  We all have them, so I'm naming them:

• Work out 30 minutes on treadmill at least 4 times a week.
• start swimming at least once a week for a month.
• spend an hour a week sewing.
• Read at least one book a month.  Keeping record of this in a written journal.
• Do at least 5 paintings
• complete 4 of my Craftsy classes.
• Take more pictures with my great camera.
• NOT to join any more BOMs until I get my UFO's down, because there are so many.
• Clean up my sewing/painting room.
• Practice guitar for at least 20 minutes a day.

Seems like a lot, and maybe a little too much but we'll see what we can do.

Last Update for All Peoples' Quilt Listing.

At the start of the year The American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine made a list of things in the "Now Trending" page to help you check off items form your list.  You can download your own list here and read all about it. So I made my list and have been updating it throughout the year.  So here it is in the middle of December and I've decided to finish this before the holidays because I won't have much time then.  (At a glance you can see which ones I did - green and which ones I didn't do (red))

 Lets review what I've gotten done (in green) and my plans are in red.

1. Use acrylic or paper templates to piece a block.  the Gracie SchoolHouse used an acrylic template for it's white pieces. I wasn't that good at it, but the people who I gave the quilt to loved it.

2. Donate a pillowcase to charity. (Add it to the online counter: AllPeopleQuilt.com/donate.)  Didn't make a single pillowcase but I did donate a number of quilts to the hospital for Premie babies.

3. Organize your fabrics and scraps.  Still working on this one.  But look at how it's cleaning up so far....  Desk is clean but still needs the other side working.  Notice the bookcase to the left?  And at the right, most of my projects are in containers for organization.

4. Change your needle - I do this for every quilt I start.
    replace your rotary cutter blade
    clean your machine.

5. Identify a problem area in your sewing space and find a solution.  All the paper patterns I have printed out.  Putting them in binders but still need to organize.

6. Attend a quilt guild meeting in your area.  Every Month.  I am their secretary.

7. Sew accurately using foundation piecing.  No time to even start this one. Black and white quilt or mom's table topper quilt.

8. For one week, set aside 20 minutes a day to sew.  Did this but my marking of homework suffered so I stopped.  Most of my quilting is during the weekend.

9. Sew a quilt using only your scraps and stash.  Done!!  Gave the quilt to my niece who got married.  Put ribbons on every corner and tied them into knots then put the words "Tied the Knot 2019" for the wedding message.  It was great..  

10. Get topsy-turvy with curved piecing.  No time to even start this one.

11. Take a quilting class (in person or online).
No time to even start this one.

12. Read the pattern completely before starting the project. I have read this for all the BOM's because you need to understand how to make the HST's for the HST Quilt.

13. Submit a reader tip to our magazine at apqtips@meredith.com. No time to even start this one.

14. Take your handwork to a surprising location.  Paula's

15. Join a fun quilt-along.  Take your choice - I have 5 of them and I've completed two of them so far.  Read about them here.

16. Creatively piece your quilt backing.  Done.  The last quilt really showed it and I was doing QAYG with it

17. Go on a quilt retreat. No time to even do this one.

18. Machine-sew a decorative stitch sample.  No time to even start this one.

19. Label a quilt. (Don’t forget your name and the date!)  Do this all the time now.

20. Take a picture/journal about each quilt you make this year.  This is my journal

21. Assemble a pincushion.

22. Sew a quilt for charity.    One of three I gave this year.

23. Meet your quilting hero (in person or online).  I'm so excited, I've been talking to Lorna from SewFreshQuilts.  She's my absolute hero in quilting.  I love all her designs, all her work.  Another great thing about her is that she's Canadian.  I finished her last QAL for Harry Potter.  It came out as a King Size and I used quilting as you go because of it's size.  Anyway, the company who was suppose to give me a prize didn't and in the end she contacted me to discuss it.  She complimented me a couple of times on blogging and she was so graceful or polite that it only enforced the fact that she is a wonderful person.  The entire experience gave me such a warm feeling.  

24. Make a quilt using only solids. Sorry, no time to do this.

25. Slow down and hand-quilt.  The Wool Quilt that I added to.  Put I must admit that I didn't do a lot.  I would like to do more next year.

26. Make a bed-size quilt, then snuggle under it.

27. Attend a national quilt show.  My Guild had a quilt show this June but it's not national.  I had 2 quilts in it.  Here is one of them.

28. Read your sewing machine manual.  Had to when I had to clean my sewing machine.

29. Change out all your quilts for a new season.  Christmas is over, changing to a spring theme.  Then back again.  Like changing.

30. Visit a new quilt shop (with your best quilting buddies).  Sorry, no time to do this.

31. Try English paper piecing.  Sorry, no time to do this.

32. Explore a quilt museum.  Sorry, no time to do this but I did go to several quilt shows to see other people's work and get inspired.

33. Safely wash and store your quilts.  I send them to the the cleaners

34. Finish a Christmas project before December.  Just did this

35. Splurge on a quilting tool you’ve been eyeing.  Easy to do.

To make curves, something that I'm not very strong at.

36. Quilt your own project. (You can do it!)  I do all of my quilting.

37. Stay calm when you realize you’ve run out of bobbin thread while sewing.  I do a number of bobbins before each project and then I do more when I run out.  It's a signal to me to take a break and walk around..

38. Add a little (or a lot) of appliqué to a project.   Did not do this one this year.

39. Post a photo of a quilt you’re proud of on social media.  My blog.

40. Learn a new embroidery stitch.   Did not do this one this year.

41. Go on a shop hop. Did this with a friend.  She and I went looking at a number of shops for a jelly roll to make her son a quilt.

42. For a week, spend 3 minutes picking up your work space after each sewing session.  Did this but it didn't make much of a difference

43. Teach someone to sew.  Taught a friend how to make a jelly roll quilt for her son's wedding gift.  She's almost done...  This is what she completed.  See #41

44. Finish a UFO.  Polar fleece on the other side.  Sewology Quilt

45. Make a two-color quilt.  Looking at a red and white quilt or blue log quilt.  Didn't finish this.

46. Take part in a block exchange or swap fabric with a friend. Didn't do this.

47. Alter a pattern to a size or colorway you like.  See #44.  I made this queen size.

48. Make a pix-elated quilt.  Didn't finish this.  Did start cutting the pieces.  A lot of pieces.

49. Make an animal (wolf or horse or Northern animals) quilt.  Gave the quilt away to someone who just had a baby.

50. Make a collage quilt with flowers.  Didn't finish this.  Maybe next year.


That's what I've completed this year with 4 -5 more quilts.  It's a lot, there's tons more to do, and I'm starting to make my goals for next year.  I have not bought material for about 2 months except for anything to finish a quilt.  But really, I have way to much.  So not I'm making a list of UFOs that I really should complete so I can buy something new.

Right now Craftsy which is really called MyBluePrint is having a major sale of "12 days of Christmas" and some of their kits are super super cheap.  Have a look.

So on to the next year...  Happy quilting.

Patchwork nine patch row by row is completed

It 's a lovely design from Patchwork Posse.  Each row is a disappearing nine patch that was created, then cut up and moved, and redone.  Thus the different designs for each and every block.  There are nine in total, and the quilt is very very large.  I did 6 of the rows in total, with a strip of fabric in between each row to separate them.

Some were more easier than others, some very elaborate.  My favorite is the one that my cat is modeling. It looks like a mountain range.  A triangle cut up and then resewn but in the opposite direction.  All the material was left over from two other projects.  This quilt row by row was excellent for getting rid of scraps in a wonderful way.  Look at the colors.

I quilted it in large swirls with variegated thread.  

The cat approves.

 The back is pieced as well with different scraps of material from the other quilts.  It looks fantastic, the colors are so rich.  All have flowers on them, so they all match.  I love it.  I also quilted as I went with this quilt with muslin on the back, then added this and quilted some more.  The results....

It's a Christmas gift to someone who asked for a quilt.  She'll adore it but she gets it in the summer.  So one more done before the end of the year.

I'm also hooking up to Elm Street Quilts for their one monthly goal, the last one.  Here's the original link up if you want to see what I started with.  

Dang, missed it.

Missed registering for the end of Novembers OMG club.  It's a lot of fun, and it helps motivate you to finish those UFOs that just lay around, and when it's done, you're sooooo happy that you have another quilt for a gift, or just for yourself... Get over to Elm Street Quilting website and check out all the details.  While you're there take a look at the quilts there, they're amazing...

But what is also amazing is now she's trying to finish the Harry Potter quilt that I just finished!!!  It's a fantastic quilt, super beautiful from Sew Fresh Quilting.  Lorna's designs are absolutely amazing and super easy to do because she uses  "stitch and flip" to make these quilts.  The finished results are what you're looking at.  It's queen/king size...

Each block is quilted circular, and the trips on the side are up and down as is the top and bottom blocks.  To make it look like waves.  It was a lot of work, one block a month and I got behind on the last 4 blocks.  But even though these two blocks (bottom and top strip) were hard, the directions were still super easy.

One block of the bottom...  Check out the quilt and check out something else.

I WON!

Check it out at Sew Fresh's web site and check out all the gorgeous patterns....  You'll get a great idea Elm Street Quilts what it looks like in the end.

Seriously, the fact that I emailed back and forth with my favorite pattern maker makes me ecstatic.  And the compliment that she was so happy another Canadian was blogging and tracking their quilts flattered me to know end.  But there are tons of Canadians out there quilting and blogging about it, so I guess it's just the fact I was talking (ok emailing) to her that made my year..  Thank you Lorna for the beautiful pattern and for being so inspirational.


OK enough gushing, on to the next because like all quilters there is always a next.  Here's my goal for the next

 (Great picture design Elm Street)

While I finished the Harry Potter BOM I wanted to finish another one that I started this month and a friend of mine asked for a quilt since I gave one to her daughter.  Last month I had two rows completed and this month I'm starting with all the rows completed and I just have to quilt.

Here is what it looks like

The pattern is by Patchwork Posse, a great Row Quilt Along.  It has 10 rows, but I put strips of fabric in between each one because this was how I was getting my leftovers (yes I know Thanksgiving  thing...) down.  So I ended up with about 7 or 8 strips.  I needed to calm down my quilt with so many bright colors, thus the fabric strips of lighter colors to take the tone down. 

 I have all the strips made and if you want to see how you do these 9 blocks then cut them up to another shape then Patchwork Posse is the girl for you...  All are redos of blocks made then cut up.  See one of them above.  The strips put together are really big and the last one is December 2, so I'm hoping to get mine all done this month.  My friend won't get the quilt until this summer (in another province) when I visit  but I'll send her a picture for Christmas and tell her she has to wait for it  :)  And you'll have to wait until the very final picture done.

That's my goal, hooking up to Elm Street Quilts. for One More Goal...  OMG