City Sampler January report

Linking up with Michelle over at Crayon Box Quilts to show my progress with the Tula Pink City Sampler. 

In the last 5 months I have been able to complete -- blocks (which you can see here, here and here). I wanted to get all 70 blocks completed before Stash Bash but as you all know that did not happen and now this break in my foot has limited me in sewing and I had barely touched this project for the last 2 months. My goal for this month if I am being realistic is probably having 50 blocks completed but I'd love to be able to finish all 70 so that I can start on layout and assembly next month. 

In October at the check in the book looked like this ... 

and now it looks like this.... 

See all those little blue tabs -- those are the blocks left to make to get to 70 blocks. You see, I'm also in the process of reevaluating my layout options and I may be choosing to make only 56 blocks (7 x 8 layout) or maybe 63 (7 x 9 layout) depending on how I like the blocks that I have made and how many more in the book that I actually want to make. 

So on to the blocks that I was able to complete.

#33: block 19

#34: block 16

#35: block 49

#36: block 61

#37: block 67

#38: block 88

#39: block 17

#40: block 34

#41: block 94

#42: block 76

#43: block 70

#44: block 65

#45: block 14

#46: block 41

#47: block 44

#48: block 53

Holy Cow that's a lot of blocks, but there are at least 8 more to be made and probably more like 22. I am still loving this project and I even resorted my fabrics this weekend to make sure that I am not leaving out fabrics that I really wanted to include because they got buried in the pile. 

I'm hoping that this winter weather threat that we have for this weekend means sewing time because I've got the itch to put these guys together, soon. 

I have resumed sewing in my sewing room rather than the living room make shift area so that makes me a happy gal and also pleases several of the kitties. 

Happy Quilting everyone -- can't wait to see your progress. 

Linking up with 

2016 Quilting Resolutions

I like making goals, lists and resolutions and whenever a new year starts there are so many fun link ups to join up with so I have decided to throw my hat in on all of them. They all feed off one another and have different goals and time frames. 

First I'll start with the shortest term goal it's a monthly goal plan and is being hosted by Red Letter Quilts -- fun short term goals and hopefully will keep me on track with the larger plans.

My OMG will be to complete the top for my seat cover quilt -- maybe the whole project if I get lucky. 

Next up is the 3 month plan of the quarterly link up for finish along. 2016 has brought some changes to the Finish along and it feels like it will be a good thing -- there are various blogs to link up with and a great group of ladies is now leading this link up to share the fun and spread the word. I've been participating in this link up for the last year and a half and  am throwing out my list of UFP's to hopefully motivate me to keep going on these goals and get some lovely finishes as well as meet new bloggers. 

My carry over goals from 2015 for started projects are .... 

1. kaleidoscope quilt -- ready for backing and basting
2. Tula Pink Sampler quilt -- 32 of 70 blocks made
3. Tessellations Quilt -- half the blocks are made
4. Seat cover or car quilt for Honda -- ready for assembly
5. Spellbound Quilt -- ready for backing and basting
6. Scrappy Cross Roads Quilt -- blocks are ready to be assembled into a top but I may need to make a few. 
7. Moda Modern Building blocks -- 1/3 of the blocks are made (maybe I'll make an abridged version) 
8. Scrappy Trip along quilt -- pile of blocks potentially for 2 charity quilts 
9. Rush Hour Quilt -- needs quilting (my oldest UFO)
10. Scrapped Blocks -- ready for backing and basting 
11. Sew Original BOM -- ready for filler blocks and assembly (this one might be a charity quilt)

My Wish list projects include... 

1. Kate Spain Christmas Quilt (#Sewmystash2016 goal 1)
2. Bag Project pattern I got for Christmas 
3. Swoon
4. Lucky 21
5. Triad 86 quilt for Hubs
6. Kitten Mini Swap (due 4/20) 
7. Skinny Mini Swap (due 2/26)
8. Churn Dash Sampler Quilt 
9. Large Star Quilt
10. Bonnie Hunter's latest Mystery Quilt Allietare
11. Make something with my Quick Curves Ruler 
12. Pixelated Cotton and Steele Heart
13. Priory Square Quilt 
14. Cat Nap Quilt
15. Honda Door Covers 
16. Honda Dash Mat Revamp 
17. stash bash revamp project (4/15)
18. Folk Song Quilt 
19. Mountain's Majesty quilt 
20. sewing machine pouch
21. something from my orphan blocks

I'm also linking up with Jen over at Quilter in the closet for her 100 days challenge where we come up with 3 goals for the first 100 days of the year 

1. Complete at least 2 of my carry over projects from 2015

2. Decrease my stash by 50 yards or more -- through destash or use in ongoing projects

3. Make time to blog every week and link up with other bloggers. 

In the long term for 2016 there is another fun Challenge going on with Stephanie at A quarter inch from the edge  where everyone sets up a manifesto and determines what rules to follow this year as they undertake taming of the stash. 

In my Manafesto I elect to ...

1. Use more coveted fabrics
2. Make meaningful fabric purchases 
3. Use stashed fabric for bee blocks and swaps 
4. destash things I'm not going to use
5. Track fabrics use from the stash 

Lastly I'm linking up with Leasa of Project Leasa for another round of  Sew My Stash -- last year i was motivated my this link up and managed to purge so many yards of stashed fabric and came out with a stash 150 yards lighter at the end of the year. 

 The link up isn't necessarily about destashing but using coveted fabrics and working with things that we have on hand, it fits nicely with my other goals / manifesto. The initial challenge was to identify special stashed fabric that will be worked with this year -- I choose my Kate Spain Christmas Charm packs since I have nearly all of them now. I may make another jewel box quilt or find another charm friendly project to make. Turns out now I will be waiting a little longer to start this one as Kate announced the next holiday line (North Woods) and I'll be wanting to put that one in too. 

The second challenge is to reevaluate our fabric and crafting supplies and declutter things that no longer fit our style or are things that we will probably not use. I'm off to see what I can accomplish in that department as well. 

Lots of great link ups and I'm sure there will be others as I catch up on my blog reading. I'm hoping to find a few more swaps to join as the year progresses and maintain my bee blocks this year because they were great fun last year and I met some really great new people. Happy 2016 Everyone!!

4th quarter accomplishments and 2015 in review

In looking back on 2015 I always like to look at the numbers and this year turned out pretty good -- considering I have also injured myself twice this year and been down in what I can do as far as crafting in general goes. 

• participated in 16 swaps 
• made 10 pouches 
• made 17 fabric baskets 
• completed 14 small quilts 
• completed 4 large quilts
• attended 2 retreats 
• made 41 bee blocks

Things I finished this quarter -- to link up with Adrianne 

1. Swap with Mallory  
2. Secret Sister Swap Items
3. 16 fabric buckets 
4. Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt 
5. Commission t-shirt quilt 
6. Kate Spain Jewel Box Quilt 
7. Accuquilt Mini #1
8. Accuquilt Mini #2 
9. all my bee blocks for the year

I'll be heading into the new year with 12 UFPs (unfinished projects) 

• Kaleidoscope Quilt 
• Spellbound
• Tula Pink City Sampler
• Tessellations
• Scout for Honda
• Crossroad Bee Blocks
• Moda Modern Building Blocks
• Charity blocks 
• Scrappy Trip Along
•  Rush Hour  
• Sew Original BOM
• Sewingly Yours BOM

I'll also be participating in 2 bees again and have way more things on my to do Wish list than I will probably be able to finish any time soon but who knows what the new year will hold, maybe I will be able to finally cut into a new project and continue using my stash. 

December Sewing and Stashing

It's been 3 weeks -- sorry folks not much to report over her on the finishes and sewing front but I am slowly healing from by break and working with a physical therapist to hopefully get me back in the sewing room soon -- through motivation and hopefully having more energy to do more than rest when I get home. 

Yearly total going into December was 146 yards used -- I'm hoping to hit at least 150 yards by the end of the year so let's see how the year turned out.

December started out with some time off intended for sewing and celebrating my birthday -- well the sewing part is minimal but hubs did gift me with a trip to visit some sewing shops in Raleigh as a part of my birthday gift -- I got these lovely fabrics (+5 yards).

The Wee Bee With it hive was coming to an end this month and Anita picked Christmas star blocks that are part of the Blossom Heart Quilt Bee Hive blocks. These are going to make a great Christmas quilt. (-1 yd)

For those of you that are on Instagram there was a really fun hashtag going around called #getyourquiltywishesgranted where you could wish for something and if someone had it and wanted to share they could choose to grant your wish. I granted 6 wishes and sent out parcels to various parts of the US -- it felt so good and lightened my fabric room about 10 yards worth. 

My quilty wish was for charm packs of Kate Spain's Christmas fabric lines so that I could make another epic Kate Quilt. People really came through for me and I now have 5 of the charm packs, working toward getting all 6 Christmas lines. (+3 yards) -- still missing the Joy line but it's on it's way.

                     

I finished up my Accuquilt mini #2 and mailed it off to the lovely people at Accuquilt for something fun they have planned. Moat of the fabric was sent to me by them but I pulled another yard to make up for a miss cut that I made. 

My totals in December were 8 yards added, 12 yards removed, total for the month 4 yards used. That brings the yearly total to 150 yards lighter since the beginning of the year. I am pretty proud of this and hope 2016 brings another year of sewing my stash.

Once this foot heals I will be able to fully access my sewing room again and start making backings and new projects that have been on hold during these last 2 months. I'm still in multiple bees next year and it looks like we will be making some really fun blocks and at least that little bit of sewing keeps me going.