New Year’s Resolutions and Word for the Year

 

New Year’s resolutions, I remember two of them, the usual, exercise and loose weight.  What were the rest of them?  I’m sure I have them wrote down somewhere incase I want to check to see if I’m accomplishing any of them.  I have been pretty good about getting on the tread mill so far, but no luck with loosing weight yet.  My word for the year is “focus”  I sure need to concentrate on that.  It is a good word for me, but “speed” would be an equally good one.  There is never enough hours in the day.  I’ve slowed down so much I only get about 1/3 done that I need/want to do. 

But I have accomplished a few things.  Keeping up with my blog hasn’t been one of them.  I’m still doing the Saturday Sampler from Tiny Stitches and enjoying it.

These are the blocks for October and December.  Seems I was so happy to have finished November and January blocks that I forgot to take pictures, but they are also finished. Now hints are being dropped for the new one starting in June.  Paisleys she says!  How mean I say!  I love paisleys, in fact I’m trying to finish up a quilt top that has paisley prints. No pictures though.  Anyway, starting a new SS in June wasn’t on our agenda, guess it is now.  We just started a new SS at Pickleweeds Quilt shop in Douglasville, an hours trip between the 2 shops. At least we can do both on the same Saturday. Unfortunately we have to leave at 7:00 a.m. to be to the first one by 8:00 a.m. in order to be back home in a timely manner.

This is the first block for Pickleweeds SS.  the 2nd block is done, but of course absent minded me didn’t take a picture, unless I forgot to down load it from my email. 

I have finished a few tops from last years SS, BOMs & Quilt A longs.

The first is Purple Sage which I’ve renamed Purple Haze,  The second one it Retro Kitchen, which I’m naming Grandma’s Kitchen. My granddaughter says that is me in the center block.  Guess the gray hair was the give-a-way. I did get one of them fancy designer Kitchen aid mixers.  Only mine is red. I’ve used it once so far.

This is the Globetrotting BOM. Haven’t decided on a name for it yet.  I’m planning to do Pat’s Vacation Time BOM for 2015. Think I’ve made the January block. 

I’m still working on several other 2014 projects.  Maybe I will complete them by July.

These are the Oct, Nov and Dec Aurifil Blocks. There is a really cute setting for these blocks, but will probably finish some of the easier ones first.

This is Delightful Stars with the first 3 borders on.  The blocks for the fourth border are pieced, just need to get them sewn together and on the quilt.

Right now I’m working on this:

The Grand Illusion Mystery by Bonnie Hunter, parts 2 & 3.   Actually I’m a lot farther along than this. In fact I’m working on the borders.  Borders seem to be my hang up. Have 3 quilt tops that all they need are borders.

Yes, we had a lovely Christmas at our daughter’s house this year!  So odd, but so nice not to have all the cooking and clean up to do.  We put up a live tree this year.  That was because dear daughter ran off with our artificial one.

 

We had to go buy an Angel for the tree top too. Again, ours seemed to be atop  another tree.  Lydia wanted the doll on top of their tree instead of the star her Mom was planning on.  Think I will get some more garland next year. This was a fir tree and I would like to get another if I’m in the mood this year.

We ( Jean, Nancy & I) went to Tiny Stitches Grand Re-opening (they moved to the building next door to the strip mall they were in).  These hot pads was one of the demos they were doing.  I made these for my daughter to use at Christmas. I also made more, 2 for me and 2 for Christine. They are easy enough to make.  I plan to make some for Thanksgiving. Well, I need to make placemats and a table runner too, for that matter.

Dora, Brittney & I went to Sam’s Club yesterday.  We don’t go often so it is an adventure.  Hope I got some good deals because I sure did some damage to the wallet. 

May BOMs Finished

 

Can’t say the same for my Quilt A Longs.  I’m behind on them and getting further behind by the minute.  I didn’t make it into my quilting studio for the past two days.  Today a lady is supposed to bring me a quilt to quilt for her and the Quilty Fun quilt is still on the frame. I’m waiting for more fabric for the “Never Enough Chocolate” quilt A Long and I’m two weeks behind on “Delightful Stars” because of issues with Comcast email.  It seems they have taken a dislike to the Quilting Gallery and won’t let the emails through.  I requested a change of email address for the emails to be delivered to and now have my missing patterns, but haven’t had time to even think about making them. 

Still deciding on fabrics, but getting close.  Think I will go with the fabrics in the blocks on the left, but waiting on another with black background to replace the one with the green in the blocks on the right.

 

This is clue (month) 5 of the M for Mystery.  I especially love the blue paisley fabric that came this month. I want to add some to my “paisley” stash.

 

After nine blocks I really am regretting some of my purple fabric choices.  That’s what comes from working from my stash and refusing to buy more fabric.  Use what is in my stash or forgo the project.  I’ve lighten up a little on that plan.  Although I still think it is a good way to operate. 

 

May Vise Versa blocks.  I so am loving this BOM.  It may be partially due to the colors I picked.

 

So far the May block is my favorite.  This is another scrappy project.  So far I’ve been able to dig through my scrap bin for fabrics. 

 

These plastic molded chairs sure have held up well.  Think I’ve had these for around 20 years.  The one Lydia is sitting in was here mother’s when she was little. 

Working on The BOMs

 

I just about have all of this month’s block of the months done.

Sew Retro Kitchen April block is the tea pot. I’m enjoying doing a little paper piecing every month. Maybe I can hang this in my kitchen when it is finished. I digging through my scrap bin to do this one.  I like doing projects that I can use my scraps to make.

 

The April Aurifil block is the bear paw block.  It seems a little dark because I didn’t use the white background fabric in it.  Think it was supposed to be used as the “paw”.  I’m thinking now I should have used the white where the red is and the red solid for the corner stones.  Well, I’m not going to redo the block just yet.  I prefer to “wait and see” if it stands out too much when more blocks have been made.

 

A star for the Vise Versa April block.  I’m really liking these blocks.  I think the reason is the colors I’m using.

So far so good.  My poinsettias are still alive and have new shoots growing.  It is time to start setting them out side during the day.

Busy, Busy

 

My legs are sore this morning.  Did pump class yesterday.  We were supposed to go this morning but after three months away from the gym, exercising two days in a row is a little too much. 

So far I’ve been keeping up with my current projects. 

Made spool blocks this week for the Quilty Fun Quilt Along.  This is going to be such a cute little quilt when it is finished.  I’ve been enjoying this project.

This month’s paper pieced block for the Sew Retro Kitchen BOM at Quiet Play is a bowl and wooden spoon.  I’m going through my uncut scraps for this one.  I’m thinking it will be mostly reds and blues.

I met the lady wanting the memory quilts yesterday.  We decided on a pattern for the first one and I came home with a bag of clothing, mostly knits.  I will be sorting through the cloths and planning out the quilt today.  First I will finish the March unit of M for Mystery BOM.  Didn’t quite get it finished yesterday.

Still Trying To Get Caught Up

Quiet Play’s Sew Retro Kitchen Jan. & Feb. blocks. This is a paper pieced BOM that  I’m doing. I’m not a big fan of paper piecing but thought one block a month to keep in practice wouldn’t hurt.

 

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Jan. & Feb. Purple Sage blocks.  I’m really liking the purple and gray.

 

This is another fun BOM that I’m doing.  It is called Vise Versa.

 

I finally got to start the Delightful Stars blocks.  Glad it is caught up.  This is a weekly Quilt Along.  The next block (lesson) will be out tomorrow.

 

Our guild is doing a mystery quilt this year.  We are doing one clue a month.  Gives us plenty of time to get each clue done.  I’m doing the first two clues as leaders and enders.

I finished the 1st clue this week end. Maybe I will get the 2nd clue done by the 2nd Tuesday of March.  There are a lot more half square triangles this clue than the first one. 

 

I still have a couple BOMs to get caught up on besides keeping up with the two quilt Alongs.  Wait, think I decided to Do Pat Sloan’s scrap buster challenge/BOM.  Plus I’m supposed to be working on UFOs too each month. At least I won’t run out of quilting projects any time soon.