My New Year Quilty Resolutions

 Sneaky Peaky of a start for #9

1.  Finish 12 Quilty projects in 2012
2.  Improve this blog.
3.  Participate fully and timely in my new Bee...Sew.Bee.Create
4.  Do more hand embroidery.
5.  Try my hand at writing a quilt pattern
6.  Enjoy some QALs but do not join every QAL!!
7.  Co-host a QAL with a friend.
8.  Be more open to trying new techniques.
9.  Be involved in a blog hop.
10.  Organize my sewing space into a more usable zone.

1.  Finish 12 Quilty projects in 2012
This seems to be a common goal amongst bloggers, very lofty for me in the theme of "finished" as I tend to be a bit of a "topper"...I will need to stretch to make this happen!  Among them should be the Civil War BOW I've been working on since June.

2.  Improve this blog.
I would like to post more often and regularly on this blog.  I would like to have tuts and quality posts :).  Probably should work on more blog design, I like a clean simple look though.


3.  Participate fully and timely in my new Bee...Sew.Bee.Create
Thanks to Melissa at happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com, I have jumped into the world of Flickr Bees.  I am excited to get to know this group of ladies and make some great quilts together starting in January.

4.  Do more hand embroidery.
This just makes me happy...I need more happy in 2012!

5.  Try my hand at writing a quilt pattern
I have so many ideas, I would like to focus and work to create a pattern and try to publish or market it.

6.  Enjoy some QALs but do not join every QAL!!
I will need to be judicious in choosing which to participate in, this goes along with getting more finished instead of having many pretty tops with few finished.

7.  Co-host a QAL with a friend. 
Still working on convincing friend, she hasn't officially agreed but I think this would be really fun to do!  "evil laugh"...friend...you know who you are...
  
8.  Be more open to trying new techniques.
I have avoided applique and paper piecing, for example in the past and want to continue to stretch and grow with efforts in those areas as I have done this year.

9.  Be involved in a blog hop.
This will happen in February...thanks Madame Samm!  The pic above is a peak at one of my projects, I am doing traditional and modern takes on a theme...

10.  Organize my sewing space into a more usable zone.
Goodness!  This should be number 1 on the list, my sewing area is full of "project piles"!

Are you working on your list?

Block 7 of Fat Quarter Stars QAL

I like the looks of this one when finished but must confess I am pretty tight with my rotary cutter and getting out the scissors to cut 20 template pieces is not something I looked forward to.  It did go together pretty easily though.  In order to better match my prior blocks I probably should have switched the beige with the green but I didn't think I would like all the dark in the center.  Hopefully, I can throw a couple more dark background blocks into the mix out of the 5 more patterns we have to go.  This has been a change from all the Fig Tree and Kate Spain fabrics I've been working with lately.  I really like the richness of the colors in this line but probably should have taken the time to introduce some solids into these blocks to give them more "pop".  Again, if you want to join us, use the button below or the website to find the patterns is: moosequilts.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas!

Birdie Stitches Top Done!

 I finished December's block this afternoon and immediately got to the task of putting these sweet Birdie Stitches blocks together using the directions on Corey Yoder's Little Miss Shabby site : littlemissshabby.com.

If you would like to do this, grab the button from down below to take you to the patterns!  I have so enjoyed getting these patterns each month and doing the hand embroidery.  I will need to start back in on my Rabbits Prefer Embroidery from Bunny Hill so that I don't go through withdrawal!

Halfway done with the Fat Quarter Stars QAL

Here are my blocks 1-6 of the Fat Quarter Stars QAL from moosequilts.blogspot.com.  There's still time to join in, just grab the button below!  This has been a fun, no-stress QAL and I have enjoyed seeing everyone's variations on Flickr.  Mine is made with Moda's line Kashmir by Sentimental Studios along with a Primitive Muslin from Primitive Gatherings.  I am leaning towards alternating these blocks with an Irish Chain sort of block to make a nice sized throw but there is still time to change my mind as we have 6 more to go!

Christmas Present quilt top finished!

Well, here it is...my latest Christmas project.  Again, this is a modified design from Moda's free pattern for the Kate Spain Flurry line.  I added stars as cornerstones and the extra row with presents and "fa la la" on the bottom.  I also used primarily the 12 Days of Christmas Kate Spain line with just a few pieces of Flurry because I had a good variety of Layer Cake pieces that really read "Christmas wrapping paper" to me!

I used Microsoft Word to print templates for the "fa la la la"...

The font is an italicized and bold one called "Monotye Corsiva".  It seemed to match up best to the print that is in two of the presents.  I will back it with the same print as my Christmas tree skirt and use a green print to bind it.  Hopefully sooner rather than later but I'm guessing not before this Christmas has come and gone!  Definitely for next Christmas though!

FQ Stars and prizes...yay!

So I just got this picture uploaded to Flickr in time for the last drawing (ha-my Christmas project is shoved over in the corner just for the shot!)....and I won something.  How cool is that?  We just got the pattern for Block 6 so we are officially halfway through this QAL.  The button is below if you want to join us.  The latest block incorporates a cathedral window in the star which is the only way you will see me doing that technique!  Interestingly enough, we just had a tutorial on that very thing at Guild Tuesday night...suppose I should try to be more timely with this next one!  I will share my prize when I receive it.

Now back to "wrapping fabric presents"...Kate Spain's Flurry and 12 Days of Christmas fabrics look just like wrapping paper, don't they?

I am still working the borders on this one but am happy with the progress so far...I haven't run out of anything vital yet...it also truly needs a good press!