2017 Finish-A-Long Announcement!

Hey!  Surprise!!!

I get to be one of the hosts for the Finish Along of 2017.  I'm super excited.  There is an amazing group of women running it this year.  (I'm kind of shocked I'm in the same group.)

Here are the other hostesses with the most-esses!

• Rhonda - Rhonda's [Quilt] Ramblings - USA

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

• Nicky - Mrs Sew & Sow - Great Britain

• Jess - Elven Garden Quilts - Australia

• Abigail - Cut & Alter - Great Britian

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA (Me!)

• Lucy - Charm about You - Great Britain

• Sarah - Sew me - Northern Ireland

• Judith - Just Jude - Northern Ireland

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA

I've pattern tested for Jess for a long time and have had the pleasure of meeting Karen in person many years ago at Sewing Summit in Salt Lake City.  I've gotten to know a few of the other ladies from blogging over the years.

EEEEP!  I'm so excited!

I've added a page with all the lowdown on the Finish-A-Long's history and links, buttons, etc. on the blog.

There will be more updates coming soon.  If you haven't already, link up your 2016 finishes!

If you've not been a participant to the Finish-A-Long before PLEASE consider joining up.  It's a fun group, lots of cheerleading, no judgement.  I will continue to be my OCD self with CRAZY lists.  

Big thank you to the quilters who hosted 2016!!!

• Debbie - A Quilter's Table - USA

• Jess - Elven Garden Quilts - Australia

• Stacey - SLO Studio - Canada

• Jennie - Clover & Violet - USA

• Helen - Archie the Wonder Dog - UK

• Nicky - Mrs. Sew and Sow -UK

• Cindy - Fluffy Sheep Quilting - Ireland

• Rhonda - Rhonda's Ramblings - USA

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada 

The link up for Quarter 1, 2017 is coming January 8 and will be open for a week.  Get your lists ready!

Wishes for 2017

So, I'm not necessarily big on New Year's Resolutions, but I've realized a few things these past few weeks that I wanted to write down.

In no particular order:

1.  There isn't enough kindness in the world.  No one has ever complained that "Wow, there's just too much kindness out there."  That annoys me.  I plan to add more of it to the universe whenever I can.

2.  Someone who shall remain nameless said, "But they're just words.  Words don't matter" in response to being called out on supporting a cause that was also being endorsed by racist individuals.
Nope.  Words do matter.  Words matter to me to a very high magnitude of importance.  I'm a teacher, an avowed word geek, a lover of language.  I'm going to aim to be more mindful of my words...because, yes, they do matter.  Right now,  given the state of the universe, they matter more than ever...and so do my actions, my voice, my power.

3.  Creating is my recharge.  Without it, my batteries go empty.  I'm seeking to find the balance between giving myself over completely to creating something and keeping manageable lists.  (That said, my 2017 FAL list is CRAZY big, but I'm loving the freedom to pick and choose that the list gives me.)

4.  I'm tired of being out of shape.  It makes me feel old.  I don't like not fitting in my clothes.  2017 is the year of losing weight, of getting back into dance shape.  Then this summer will be the GREAT CLOTHING PURGE of 2017.  All clothes closets will be purged.  I'm doing the #quiltyourweightoff2017 over on IG and refocusing on WW.

5.  I need people, specific people.  I don't get to see my favorite peeps enough.  I'm trying to find a way into the effective juggling of my time with the time of others.

6.  I miss reading.  I feel like my brain has altered and has made it harder for me to read and stay focused.  I need to carve out more regular time...and to not waste my time finishing a book I don't like.


That seems like enough for now.

What does 2017 have in store for you?

FAL, Quarter 4, 2016

My initial list was cray cray and posted here.


I got a fair amount done!

Sewing

4.  Epic Sampler  DONE



5.  John Adams quilt  DONE


6.  Summer Sampler    DONE


9.  Hospice 2  DONE


16.  Simple Sampler QAL  DONE...I made 2.



19.  Serenity triangle quilt  DONE



21.  Pixel Pillow  DONE


22.  Rail fence quilt  (Patchwork from Scrap class)  DONE



26.  Quilt for Erin  (TUNNEL QUILT DONE...Erin actually got the John Adams quilt)




30.  Pi pillows for school  DONE




35.  Avengers top




44.  journal cover for quilt guild swap



65.  magenta dress  DONE


66.  zebra washi  DONE



77.  Michael Miller challenge  DONE


Knitting

6.  Exploration station shawl  DONE

7.  Rose City Rollers  DONE

Finishes: 15  (still missing pics of the knits...so 17.)
Linking up!

Some winter finishes.....

I am still behind in posting pictures, but I have a few projects done.

I made a wallet in a class with Southern Bobbin.



I finished a pi pillow for the Maker's Space and donated my pixel pillow there as well.



I've made some progress on my improv quilt.



I finished a journal cover for the guild swap.



My John's Adam's quilt is done and ready to post.



I made a tunnel quilt and LOVED making it.  I hand quilted it with perle.




I finished two Simple Sampler quilts.  (Here's a pic of one.  The other one is still in my unphotographed pile.)



Not photographed yet, but done:
Epic Sampler quilt
2nd Simple Sampler
Hospice 2 quilt
Serenity Triangle quilt
Rail Fence quilt
Michael Miller challenge quilt

And because every post is better with a sleepy doggy:




Soooooo many presents to finish and so little time.....
How are y'all doing?

FAL 2016, quarter 4

Here's mostly a roll over list, with a few additions.  I think I've been hesitating on the clothes because I haven't been losing weight..but screw it.  I want some new clothes.  Also, I have a boatload of stuff that's meant to be presents on this list.

Sewing

1.  Violet Craft's Lion quilt (it's pieced...still needs to be basted and quilted)


2.  Tula sampler block quilt



3.  Round robin Improv  (haven't done anything with it since I've been home this summer)



4.  Epic Sampler  (basted, not quilted)




5.  John Adams quilt


6.  Summer Sampler  (I still have to catch up on blocks)


7.  Skirt


8.  Hospice 1


9.  Hospice 2


10.  Small World


11.  Doctor Who Sampler


12.  Maker's Tote


13.  Pool Tote 1


14.  Pool Tote 2


15.  Steampunk quilt


16.  Simple Sampler QAL


17.  Trail tote 1


18.  Trail Tote 2


19.  Serenity triangle quilt  (top pieced, not basted or quilted)


20.  Smorgasboard quilt


21.  Pixel Pillow  (Patchwork from Scrap class)



22.  Rail fence quilt  (Patchwork from Scrap class)  (top pieced, not basted or quilted)


23.  Framed quilt


24.  Scrap bags  (Patchwork from Scrap class)



25.  Tree quilt


26.  Quilt for Erin

27.  Project 48 quilt


28.  Hamilton Logo mini.  (One of my students submitted a design to me as part of a math contest.  Long overdue.)

29.  Fish quilt


30.  Pi pillows for school


31.  Aviatrix quilt


32.  Forest Fancy quilt


33.  Sushi Washi


34.  Green batik dress


35.  Avengers top


36.  Octopus top


37.  Cross Quilt improv


38.  Patchwork City quilt


39.  Sprout mini quilt  (Patchwork from Scrap class)


40.  Machine Cover 2  (Patchwork from Scrap class)


41.  churn dash for hospice


42.  Halloween Quilt


43.  coaster set (Patchwork from Scrap class)


44.  journal cover for quilt guild swap


45.  cat head for dad


46.  fairy/butterfly for MIL


47.  Bubble quilt for mom


48.  cat quilt for Sharon


49.  Ninja top


50.  triangle skirt


51.  Purple improv


52.  HST play


53.Tangential quilt (at the longarmer!)


54.  Triforce throw


55.  Single Girl quilt


56.  Meadow quilt


57.  Meadow mini quilt


58.  Project Linus quilt


59.  Cactus tunic


60.  Galaxy dress


61.  Tattoo dress


62.  Leila top


63.  Art student tote


64.  purple flower dress


65.  magenta dress


66.  zebra washi



67.  Arrow skirt


68.  Itty Bitty Broken star quilt


69.  Tear Drop quilt


70.  Dr who shoes (need to resew one and elastic both)


71.  Hospice 3



72.  Ikea look alike bag



73.  Ikea look alike bag 2


74.  Ikea look alike bag 3


75.  Ikea look alike bag 4


76.  Zip bag



77.  Michael Miller challenge




Knitting

1.  Fight the Fairies Shawl


2.  manticore socks



3.  Peacock mittens



4.  Scrap blanket


5.  slip stitch socks


6.  Exploration station shawl


7.  Rose City Rollers

8.  Dalek Dog sweater


9.  Katniss Socks


10.  Raven Swirl socks


11.  Fraggle Squiggle socks


12.  Dishcloths


13.  Sessile socks


14.  Rose City Rollers 2


15.  West Knits Mystery KAL