2013 - the year of the UFO!

UFOs are taking over for 2013!! No worries - these are just unfinished objects, not the UFOs with the little green men :) I have soooooo many quilts I've started and this is the year I will finally finish them ALL! That is right - you heard me - ALL OF THEM will be done by this time next year. It is a big undertaking but someone has to do it and unless anyone else is volunteering to come over and baste/quilt/bind all of these for me... guess I should get started! :)

Here is a lovely list of my UFOs that I'd like to tackle  WILL FINISH in 2013:

Starting from the top left - next steps for each quilt:

1. Zig Zag QAL - needs pieced

2. Kaleidescope QAL - needs pieced

3. Argyle quilt for hubby - needs basted & quilted

4. Fall Disappearing 9 Patch - needs basted & quilted

5. Queen sized double hourglass - needs pieced

6. Pips Stepping Stones - needs pieced

7. Moda Film Strip - finish quilting (50% done)

8. Orange Aqua Grey Bee Blocks - needs basted and quilted

9. Botany Crazy Log Cabin - finish piecing (50% done)

So 4 finished tops that need basted and quilted, one half way pieced, and 4 more that need pieced. This is a lot to take on but I'm going to get it all done and get every last one of these 9 quilts FINISHED by the end of 2013! 

There are other pillow and purse UFOs floating around my sewing room somewhere too but I figure these 9 are enough to take on this year and I will fit those other smaller projects in around these. I really really REALLY want to end 2013 with new WIPs (works in progress) and 9 beautiful finished quilts :)

First steps to tackle: #3 for my hubby ~ need to figure out the backing & #7 - finish quilting it ASAP, it is so close to being done so this will be a quick win!

Will keep you apprised of my progress :) 

Happy end of 2012 everyone and good luck with all your 2013 projects and goals! 

2012 in Pictures

2012 has been a big year for pillow swaps ~ my favorite kind!!

Here is what I made:

Sew Sew Modern, Pillow Talk Swap, For a friend, Modern She Made, For  my Mom, Pillow Talk Swap

Here is what I received:

Modern She Made, Swap with Marika, Pillow Talk Swap, For the Love of Solids, Pillow Talk Swap, For the love of solids extra, Modern she made (not a pillow but I had to get these beauties on here :))

I also was able to get a few quilts finished up and try out a few new purse and pouch patterns:

All in all I feel like I had a very productive year full of fun swaps, new skills, new online sewing buddies, and of course Sewing Summit. It is nice to look back and see what I've achieved ~ espec. since I usually give everything away and forget what I've made haha.

Goodbye to a wonderful sewing year, and hello to 2013 - a new year full of possibilities!! 

Lucky Stars Paperpieced BoM Club/QAL!

I was lucky enough to take a foundation paper piecing class with Don’t Call me Betsy (Elizabeth) and Lee at Sewing Summit this year and it was by far one of my favorite classes. As soon as I saw Elizabeth advertising this paper pieced Block of the Month club, I knew I had to jump on the bandwagon! In class we made a foundation paper pieced star block that made me realize paper piecing isn’t as scary as it looks and it was so pretty and fun, so I'm super excited to try some more!

Until January 5th it is only $10 for the club for the year and you get a practice block as well as instructions and templates for a block each month – which I think is a great deal! On top of that, you get a fun group to learn with as well as a great instructor for questions and troubleshooting – I definitely need that haha. This was a little extra Christmas present from me to me and I’m super glad I signed up :)  Click on the picture above to go to her blog page with more information.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontcallmebetsy/8300612079/in/pool-1732490@N25
Above is a link to the practice block she sent out today. It is so pretty and looks so scary - I'm excited to get started on it and conquer my fears lol! Each pattern comes with a 6” and 12” template which is awesome – check out her blog post for ideas on what to do with the smaller ones, love her little zipper bags with paper pieced blocks on them! I’m not sure which option I will do for the QAL/BoM club… probably 12” because I want to make a sampler quilt in the end if I’m going to spend all this time and fabric making so many paper pieced blocks.

So stay tuned as I figure out fabric choices and try out these blocks each month - and I look forward to seeing the progress of everyone else who is participating too!

(I am in no way affilitated with "Don't call me Betsy" nor was I asked to write this blog post. I'm just excited about a QAL from one of my favorite Sewing Summit teachers and wanted to share with my friends :))

A bit of sewing...

I've been more motivated lately to work on finishing up little projects and have been able to get a few WIPs completed ~ here are a few of my newest creations:

1. My main item for the Sew Sew Modern Swap - if my partner still likes it:



Front of pillow - first time using binding on a pillow




Back of pillow - love those metro circles!

 2. My in-laws came to visit us from Germany and my sister-in-law ordered some Guetermann purse frame glue for me so I was finally able to make one of these pouches from my Sewing Summit class (pattern issues in class so I never got to make mine):

I'm having some issues getting the fabric to stick strong enough to be able to hold stuff. I need to re-glue a few more places for the 3rd time but hey - that is what practice is for right? :)

3. I finally got the right interfacing to finish this Idea Pouch - another pattern from Sewing Summit, although I wasn't in that class:



Matching drawstring bag to make a little Christmas set for someone special :)



Inside pouch is great for an ipad or notebook, small pleated pouch covers multiple pen pockets



I love making matching fabric buttons!!

 4. And as mentioned in my last post - the Evelyn bag - a few more pictures just because I love it :)

And that my friends is the end of this crafty picture show. Hope everyone is able to finish up their last minute Christmas preparations and able to take time to RELAX and ENJOY the holidays with family and friends :) Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!

New Bag & Guest Pattern Review @ Sew Sweetness

I had the fun opportunity to review a bag pattern for a new sponsor of one of my absolutely favorite bloggers - Sara at Sew Sweetness. Check out her post HERE for more information on Chris W Designs and to read the reviews - there is a coupon included too if you fancy a new bag pattern as a little personal Christmas present ;-)

My fancy new Evelyn Bag - LOVE IT :)