December 2013 End-of-Month Report

December is such a short month!!!  

Don't you think so?  If you figure the time you lose for all the Christmas-related activities - traveling, visitors, shopping, cooking, wrapping, decorating, gifting, parties - there's just not a lot of time in there to Get It Done!  Add to that the two weeks I was sick with bronchitis, and it's a wonder I got anything done, right?  I do love Christmas, but the older I get, the more of a hassle it gets!!!

Soooooo, let's see, how did I do on my Get It Done list for December?

December 2013 Goals:

Blog:  Prepare and post about TWO Giveaway Blog Hops!!  DONE!!!

Quilting (domestic sewing machine DSM): - Mom's Valentine table-topper.  DONE!!!  All that's left for this project is to sew down the binding, which I will finish up today :)

Quilting (longarm) - UFO - Indian Summer - Still in the bag - way too much going on this month for me and Joanne to find a day for just play.  It will continue to be next on the list :)

Bind Christmas Geese - DONE!!!  Picture below of this wonderful quilt on its frame, decorating our home this Christmas season! :)

Finish piecing the Bargello Tree Skirt - Never even got a chance to touch this project :(

Make a couple of Christmas gifts, mainly small gifts for stockings - DONE!!!  :*)  A few are still not yet gifted so I can't show them.

Yarn Projects: - continue Wingspan; cast on new Red Socks for ME!!! DONE!!!  I also managed a few knitted Christmas gifts :)

Guild Prep (new category):  I have agreed to head up a "Bees" Group sit-n-sew after our meetings each month, and I need to have all my ducks in a row for the announcement and roll-out in January.  DONE!!!

Christmas Geese on its frame - I SO enjoyed its cheerful presence this Christmas!!!

Details of quilting and binding for Christmas Geese

Not too bad, I suppose.  I'm cutting my January list a little short too, because I already know I will be traveling one week of that month.

January 2014 Goals:

• January Dinosaur - The Blue Collection!
• NewFO Project
• Rainbow Scrap Challenge Project
• Bertie's Year BOM for February
• EQ7 - begin getting re-famliarized with the software and start playing with it!
• Continue washing the Stash :(  UGH!!!

For 2014, I'm planning to FOCUS on some of my Dinosaur UFO's..... you know the ones....  they're so ancient, their dust has dust!  They've been around so long, they've reached "fable" status!  People are beginning to believe you never even started such a quilt!  You're not even sure where they are anymore!  And they have become big bullies - growling and taunting you, daring you to finish them off......   Right?  Am I all alone in this, my friends?  I don't think so!!!

Photo courtesy of Cruzine.com

In 2014, I'm declaring all-out WAR on these Dinosaurs!  I'm going to put a "Most Wanted" List on my blog so I can shoot them down one by one!  Each Dinosaur has been assigned a month on my calendar where it will be hunted down and shot given my main focus that month.  I may switch them around according to any timing changes each month, but I think the projects themselves will remain the same on the list.  I'm hoping to finish each one during the month, but of course I need to be realistic and accept that it's not always possible :*D  I'll be disappointed if I don't finish it, but I'll survive and come back another day to attack that monster!  (Aren't you glad?)

January's Dinosaur will be The Blue Collection.

Photo & Quilt by Maggie Walker

You can click on the name to see more about it if you are new to the blog.  If you're not, then you KNOW how long I have been working on this Dinosaur!!!  I actually obtained most of the patterns at least 7 years ago from a friend who was moving out of the state and didn't want to move her entire sewing room.  She sold off a lot of stuff, and three-quarters of these patterns were in the set that I bought.  I got the rest from the designer, Maggie Walker.  It's been a long road, but I'm finally rounding the home turn on this project - wish me luck!!!

As for my other normal monthly projects in December - some I got to, and some I didn't.  Of course, I did manage to start a NewFO to meet the December 2013 Challenge - Barbara at Cat Patches is hostessing this fun party again in 2014, so be sure to check it out & join in!!!  You can see some of my potential NewFO's for 2014 by clicking HERE.

This linky party is too much fun to miss!  You get PRIZES for starting something new - what's not to love?  AND you don't even have to finish it!  Yep, my kind of party LOL!!!

Bertie's Year - January BOM block
This is coming along quite nicely :)

I started the Bertie's Year BOM this month for my NewFO, and of course since it is a BOM it will be added to my Get It Done goals each month in 2014.  I think you'll enjoy seeing these fun and colorful wall quilts each month :)  So far, Gypsy is giving this project a Two Thumbs Up ..... um, I think I better keep my eye on her around Bertie!

I didn't have time to do anything in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for December, but Angela at SoScrappy is hosting this rainbow-a-licious party again in 2014 - and there will be PRIZES!!!!  Come and join in on the fun!  

This will be my third year in the RSC, and it is always one of my favorite things to do during the month :)  This year I think I am going to have to do at least one block made from crumbs - my crumb jars runneth over!!!   Here are the last two blocks I made during the 2013 Challenge.....Baby Blue!

Lone Starburst

Fantasia

Be sure to hop over to Patchwork Times to share what's on your Get It Done list!!!

(Inquiring minds want to know ☺)

I would like to wish each and every one of you 

a very Happy, Healthy & Prosperous NEW YEAR!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

November 2013 End-of-Month Report

Be sure to get in on the GIVEAWAY!!!!!

My post for the Holiday Hullabaloo Blog Hop is HERE!!!!

Getting it Done!!!

I was amazed at how well I did in November, getting things done!  

If I can just do that well in December, I'll be very pleased :*)  

Hubby always carves the Thanksgiving turkey at Mom's house
Hudson had fun taste testing this year !!!

Finished projects - Wow!!!!

November 2013 Goals:

• Finish and post about Paws in the Garden project - DONE - post is HERE
• Quilting (domestic sewing machine DSM) - G's Banners, Mom's Valentine table-topper - G's Banners is DONE and gifted to that sweet baby girl (see posts HERE and HERE), but Mom's table-topper is still sitting forlorn on my sewing table :(
• Quilting (longarm) - UFO - Christmas Geese (Christmas QAL) - thanks to Joanne, this quilt is DONE - post is HERE.  I also quilted my Pumpkin Sampler quilt - bonus!!!
• Make a baby quilt for newest grandson for shower the week before Thanksgiving - DONE!!!  This has to be the fastest I've ever made a quilt from start to finish!  See Tranquility post HERE.
• Make several receiving blankets, etc., for shower also - DONE!!!  I also made a couple of pacifier keepers to include in the shower gift bag :*)
• Yarn Projects - continue Wingspan; cast on new socks for working on over the holidays :) - also DONE!!!  I got a lot of progress done on Wingspan during our road trip at Thanksgiving.  And not only did I cast on the new socks, but I actually FINISHED them and gifted them to my daughter!  See them HERE - Whoohoo!!!!  They were supposed to go in her stocking, but she insisted she couldn't wait :*)  I also finished up my aqua Surf Socks in November - Post HERE =^..^=
• Enjoy time with family for the Thanksgiving season!!!!!  - This was the easiest "task" on my list LOL!!! - DONE!!!  

So, basically, the only thing on my list that I didn't get done was my Mom's table-topper.  Not bad!  However, I've also decided to make one of these for my sister as well, which I haven't even started, so double that task now for December! :*)

December 2013 Goals:
It's not looking very promising for me to get a lot done this month.  There's that whole thing of Christmas and its many parties and time consuming activities.  Then of course we have a baby due in NC around Christmas time so I'll be trotting off there when Cooper decides to make his sweet appearance :*)  In addition, my stepfather in NC is not doing very well and they put him in the hospital with pneumonia this morning.  He's mid-80's with lots of health issues, so that's not good.  And as if all that's not enough, I've been fighting off the flu for the past few days - ugh!!!

However, I am ever the optimist and incurable list-maker, so I am determined to at least have a To Do list for the month, whether I get any of it done or not!

• Blog:  Prepare and post about TWO Giveaway Blog Hops!!  The first was yesterday - see link at top of this post; and the second will be Terri Stegmiller's Blog Hop next Monday (12/9) - come back for the fun!!!
• Quilting (domestic sewing machine DSM): - Mom's Valentine table-topper, and any other projects I manage to finish up this month.
• Quilting (longarm) - UFO - Indian Summer - This is only if Joanne has a day free for me to come play on the longarm :*)  This is maybe my oldest UFO, or at least one of the very first for sure.  It is a Judy Niemeyer pattern that I fell in love with when I first started sewing.  It's been folded up on my To-Be-Quilted shelf since 2006!!!!
• Bind Christmas Geese - yes, it is still sitting on my table waiting to have it's binding sewn on!  Poor beautiful quilt ♥♥♥
• Finish piecing the Bargello Tree Skirt - I'd love to have this under the tree this year, but it's not looking too favorable for that right now.
• Make a couple of Christmas gifts, mainly small gifts for stockings :*)
• Yarn Projects: - continue Wingspan; cast on new Red Socks for ME!!! (Actually I had already done that - see photo below - but forgot I wanted to do these in a pattern, not just "plain jane" and had to rip back to do that, got lost and ended up just totally ripping out to start new.)
• Guild Prep (new category):  I have agreed to head up a "Bees" Group sit-n-sew after our meetings each month, and I need to have all my ducks in a row for the announcement and roll-out in January.  Much planning still to be done!

Projects to finish up in December - I hope!!!

A few small gifts to whip up for loved ones :*)

I haven't done any Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks in either October or November - things have been just too hectic!!!  But SoScrappy will be hostessing this again in 2014, so click on the button below to go on over and check it out.  We'd love to see your Rainbow blocks there next year!!!

Linking up with -

Cat Patches - 2013 NewFO Challenge

Patchwork Times - Get It Done!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

October End of Month Reports

Nothing like being just a "little" bit late, right?  Let's see.... October ended a week ago, didn't it?  

Oh my!  Life has just been so busy, and blogging has had to take a back seat.  Actually, that may be the case for much of November too.  I have two baby quilts to finish up in two weeks time - one hasn't even been started yet -  yikes!!!  I promise I'll try to pop in and keep you updated with short posts about my adventures :)

So, what did I accomplish in October?  

October 2013 NewFO Challenge project:  One of my favorite things to do each month is start something fresh and new, and then LINK UP with Barbara at Cat Patches!

Sneak peek - "Paws in the Garden" wool block in process

Terri Stegmiller - amazing mixed-media artist and art quilter! - asked for volunteer pattern testers last month, and I just couldn't resist these adorable, purrsonable kitties in her pattern called "Paws in the Garden" - so I said, "Sign Me Up!"  I thought these kitties would be a really cute addition to my Summertime wool quilt (click on the name to see the designer's quilt).  As a reminder, I'm only doing 9 blocks and substituting some of them with a few of my own choosing - such as my wool rendition Terri's "Paws in the Garden."  I had SO MUCH fun with this NewFO in October :)  You'll be seeing the finished project soon!!!!

As my regular followers have already seen, I finished Moonglow and it won 1st place at our local Oktoberfest Quilt Show (click here for more) - woohoo!!!  

I'm hoping to get a better picture of this quilt soon!

After a marathon quilting session that lasted 2-1/2 weeks, I was pretty much "quilted out!"  I took a much-needed break from the machines and did some soothing hand work instead.  I sat down to my sewing machine for the first time last night to sew together a backing for a quilt to go on Joanne's longarm today.  I'll share pics of that fun finish in a few days :)

We also had some company this month, which is the absolute BEST reason I can think of for not getting all my Get It Done items completed this month, wouldn't you agree? :*)

Mom & me, at Olive Garden with our favorite fellows, celebrating my birthday - shhhhh!!!!!!
(It was such a fun time, we couldn't sit still; hence, the blurry pic LOL!!!)

Early in the month, we had our oldest grand-daughter Emma for a week - always a pleasure!  And then last week we had the rare treat of my mom and stepfather here for a few days while on their way to visit my brother in Los Angeles.  My friend Lynn came in from Seattle for a visit also last week, and we enjoyed some wonderful time together piled up in the recliners and covered with comfy quilts while I introduced her to the excellent PBS series, Call the Midwife. This is absolutely my favorite show on TV right now.  They are showing repeats right now, gearing up for the 3rd season which starts in March 2014 - can't wait!!!

Since I was in a place where I just wanted to rest and relax, I picked up my needles and put on a new pair of plain jane socks - and I finished them in 10 days!  If you had told me a year ago that I could make a pair of socks in 10 days, I would have sworn it was impossible!  But here is the proof...

Surf Serenity socks
Two at a time using Magic Loop

They fit very nicely!  

Still a tad loose around the foot though - I'll take a few more stitches out of my next pair.

For the cuff, I went to DPN needles one size smaller than those used on the socks, 

and tried out a new-to-me method called Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off.

The cuffs are easy to stretch out but hug nicely when worn and

go back to shape quickly when I take them off  ----

Yes, I was happy with Jeny's bind-off and I'll use it again :*)

So, in summary, my October accomplishments - or lack thereof - look something like this ..... *drumroll please!*

October 2013 Goals:

• RSC Challenge Blocks - The color was Black/Gray, so I chose to let these blocks slide last month so I could concentrate on getting Moonglow quilted.
• NewFO project - ?????? - I want to do a pumpkin project - will I have time???  No, I didn't have time for a pumpkin project :(  However, "Paws in the Garden" has been great fun!!!
• Quilting - Moonglow, Genevieve's Banners, Mom's Valentine table-topper - Moonglow is DONE, but the other two are still on the To Do pile at the side of my machine.  They MUST be done by the week before Thanksgiving - yikes!
• Finish prepping and begin stitching on the next Summertime block - DONE!
• Yarn Projects - start Wingspan knitted shawl so I'll have an easy take-along, no-brainer yarn project - YES STARTED and two "wings" done :)
• Christmas QAL - Finish Bargello Tree Skirt; start on Jovial if I have time - NOT TOUCHED!
• Make at least half of the Talkin' Turkey flying geese - Cut most of the neutral pieces, but still a lot of cutting to do before I can even start sewing on these geese :(
• Continue washing stash - this one is ongoing and I did make some progress this month - Yay!!!

November 2013 Goals:

• Finish and post about Paws in the Garden project
• Quilting (domestic sewing machine DSM) - G's Banners, Mom's Valentine table-topper
• Quilting (longarm) - UFO - Christmas Geese (Christmas QAL)
• Make a baby quilt for newest grandson for shower the week before Thanksgiving
• Make several receiving blankets, etc., for shower also
• Yarn Projects - continue Wingspan; cast on new socks for working on over the holidays :)
• Enjoy time with family for the Thanksgiving season!!!!!

Linking up with -

Cat Patches - 2013 NewFO Challenge

Patchwork Times - Get It Done!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

End of Month Reports: September 2013

This month was not quite as successful as last month for getting things done, but all in all, I'm satisfied with what was accomplished - especially considering that I spent a week at retreat and a week getting ready for it.  All that cutting and washing fabrics - ugh!  It takes so much work to get ready to start new projects now that I have to wash everything first!!!

September 2013 NewFO Challenge project:  linking up with Cat Patches

Summertime Wool Applique - remember this new project?

Vintage Valentine Table Topper gift for Mom....

I got a great start on this project by having all the fusible pieces drawn out and cut in advance!  I had prepared them for this block in the Vintage Valentine quilt quite some time ago - another of my UFO's.   So when Mom requested one of these blocks for her next tabletopper frame quilt, it was easy to just choose a block that had all the fusible papers traced and cut, but not yet fused to fabrics for the quit.  I chose all the fabrics and fused the pieces down on the background before retreat.  All I had to do at Runaway was stitch them all down with a buttonhole stitch - Done!!!  Now I just need to take an afternoon to quilt and bind it, adding a little hanging sleeve for the table topper frame.  This will go to Carolina with me at Thanksgiving :*)

Christmas QAL - Bargello Tree Skirt.... linking up with Needle-Thread-Happiness

Another new start for the NewFO Challenge is this Christmas QAL project that I have been wanting to dig into for the longest time now!!!  My goals list for September listed quilting my Blue & White "The First Tree of Life" quilt..... BUT, I am already quilting a much larger quilt right now which ties up my machine, and I didn't want to quilt at retreat - I much prefer to do my quilting at home where I have plenty of room and lots of tables around me to catch the quilts.  So I decided to start work on the Bargello Tree Skirt at Runaway.  This was a much more complicated project than I thought it would be - which is really saying something since I expected it to be a challenge! - so I didn't finish it, but I'm happy with the progress.  And since it is on my list of Christmas proejcts I want to complete for the holidays this year, I really just substituted one project for another on my Christmas QAL goals :*)

This will go on my October Get It Done list for finishing up!

September 2013 Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks:  BABY BLUE - linking up with SoScrappy

Lone Starburst

Fantasia

Yes, they are pastels!!!  But they were fun to play with, and I'm crossing my fingers for something brighter in October LOL!!!

September Quilting Project:  Moonglow!!!

I'm adding a section to my End of Month goals.  I really NEED to get some of my projects quilted, so I'm scheduling those into my To Do list.  This month I've chosen one of the hardest projects on the shelf - start with the biggest challenge and it's all downhill from there, right???  LOL!!!

This is a Queen-size quit, so I will have to wrestle with it to get it done!  But I've done several queens before, so I know I can do it.  As you can see, this was basted on my friend Joanne's long-arm machine, so I didn't have to get down on the floor to sandwich and pin it - SO MUCH EASIER!!!  I will say though that my fingers keep getting caught in those huge basting stitches :*)

My first task was to stabilize the quilt, so I QID - quilted in the ditch - around the edges
between the center blocks and the borders - my Janome QID Walking foot makes this a breeze!!!
Or, at least it would be if it weren't black on black - so hard to see.....

Another problem with black - it picks up every piece of lint or cat hair in my universe!!!
I surely don't want to quilt those suckers down on my quilt, so....

I keep my lint roller handy and use it on each section before I quilt it.

Pebbling around the star points - VERY time consuming, but I'm liking the results so far....

One Star block DONE!!!
Only 12 more to go LOL!!!
Now if I can just decide how I want to quilt the log cabin alternating blocks.....

***********************

Get it Done - September/October 2013:  linking up with Patchwork Times

September 2013 Goals:

• Finish prep-work on all materials for Runaway class - DONE!
• Continue washing Stash - Continuing.... lots washed for retreat projects, but not much since then.
• RSC Challenge blocks- DONE!
• Complete Genevieve's baby quilt - Top is DONE but it still needs to be sandwiched and quilted.  I had to talk to the Mom before I made a final decision on the backing.  All ready to go now!
• New Tabletop quilt for Mom (NewFO Challenge project)- Top is DONE!  Still needs to be quilted, but it doesn't have to be done until the week of Thanksgiving, so I'm happy! :*)
• Quilt The First Tree of Life - Didn't touch this!  However, I substituted starting my Bargello Tree Skirt for my Christmas project this month, and I got quite a lot of that done at Runaway :*)
• Start quilting Moonglow- DONE!  The quilting on this is going to take a LONG time!!!
• Make flying geese for Talkin' Turkey - Not done!  Joanne and Mary would not let me work on them at Runaway - they insisted that we only work on this project during our sit-n-sew times together!  So I will get started on these this coming Friday :*)
• Finish Dreambird Shawl - I suppose I was way too ambitious on this one considering I had a week-long retreat to go to and days of preparation.  I do have 13 of the 21 feathers done though :)  Look for a picture on Friday when I'll link up with Judy's On the Needles.
• Plan and prepare Runaway projects that I think I can accomplish in 4 days- DONE!

All in all, I don't think I did too very bad this month!  Retreats usually throw me for a loop as far as momentum - do they do that to you too?  I always think I'm going to get SO MUCH done, and then I don't.... but much fun was had, so that's what counts, right?

October 2013 Goals:

• RSC Challenge Blocks
• NewFO project - ?????? - I want to do a pumpkin project - will I have time???
• Quilting - Moonglow, Genevieve's Banners, Mom's Valentine table-topper
• Finish prepping and begin stitching on the next Summertime block
• Yarn Projects - start Wingspan knitted shawl so I'll have an easy take-along, no-brainer yarn project
• Christmas QAL - Finish Bargello Tree Skirt; start on Jovial if I have time
• Make at least half of the Talkin' Turkey flying geese
• Continue washing stash

Well, that's it for me!  I hope you have some really fun projects planned for October!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

End of Month Reports - August 2013

Since I regularly do several posts at the end of the month to update progress or participate in challenges, I thought it would be good idea to try doing one post that covers them all.... I'm hoping that will help me stay organized and save some time.... time that I can use sewing!!!  I think you will all enjoy this post more than you might think, since it will be picture heavy - lots of eye candy on months when I get a lot done, right?

2013 NewFO Challenge project(s) - linking up with Cat Patches

Shop Hop Market Bag - see post HERE

Covered Project Box - see post HERE

Personalized Marker Rollups for Back-to-School gifts - see post HERE

Love my new Selvedge Box!!! - see post HERE

Wow!!!

Yes I was BUSY in August!!!!

2013 Rainbow Scrap Challenge - REDS - linking up with SoScrappy

Fantasia - click HERE to see more Fantasia blocks :*)

Lone Starburst - click HERE to see more blocks like this one

I also did a lot of playing with my red scraps while constructing blocks for Talkin' Turkey, a slow and easy quilt-along project with a couple of friends.

Made 30 nine-patches for the block centers....  Next up - 456 flying geese - YIKES!!!

On the Needles - linking up with Patchwork Times
This month I completed my Cloud Illusions shawl - my first ever knitted lace project!!!

Click HERE to read my posts about this shawl

Completed 3 feathers in my Dreambird Shawl KAL with Judy & Denise...

Click HERE to read more about my Dreambird adventures ....

And I got this far on my Noro Bias Lace Scarf, although this project is now officially on hold until I finish Dreambird.

Get It Done - August/September 2013 - linking up with Patchwork Times
I've really let this handy little organizational tool drop by the wayside in all my busyness these past few months, but I'd like to get back into the mode of having a written plan of what I'd like to accomplish each month, and then be able to look back at the end of the month to see how I've done.  Although I haven't taken the time to write up a post in recent months, I have been writing my goals down on my dry-erase board...

Down and dirty organizational method, but it works for me!

August 2013 - my goals were to:

• Wash Stash fabrics! - DONE - Washed 9 loads!
• Prep for Runaway class - DONE - ordered patterns and emailed participants
• Genevieve's Banners - planned but not yet started
• Hexie Blog Hop - DONE!!!
• Begin quilting Moonglow - not done :(
• Quilt Midnight Runner (Santa Sleigh) - DONE!!!
• RSC Challenge blocks - DONE!!!
• Dishcloths for daughter- DONE knitted 3 and mailed them off to her!!!
• Block Cloud Illusions - DONE!!!
• Start Dreambird - DONE!!!

September 2013 Goals:
I will be at Runaway Retreat for 5 days this month which should equate to getting a LOT done!  I'm teaching one of those days, so I will have to plan some time for preparation for that.

• Finish prep-work on all materials for Runaway class
• Continue washing Stash!
• RSC Challenge blocks
• Complete Genevieve's baby quilt
• New Tabletop quilt for Mom (NewFO Challenge project)
• Quilt The First Tree of Life
• Start quilting Moonglow
• Make flying geese for Talkin' Turkey
• Finish Dreambird Shawl
• Plan and prepare Runaway projects that I think I can accomplish in 4 days

How are you planning your September?
I think I'm ready - BRING IT ON!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=