Alas, I can hardly believe that 2010 is here but it is and I am excited about it! Just something about clean slates, new beginnings, that I enjoy. It's a chance to reflect on the past year, make plans for the new and think about priorities and goals. The above block, Lollypop Trees, is the last of 16 blocks which I completed yesterday. That was just one of my little goals as the year came to a close. It doesn't mean my quilt is close to be completed, as the outer border is all applique so that will probably take me all of 2010 to complete, so again, a quilting goal for me.
I enjoy my hand applique as it gives me time to think, relax and also accomplish some stitching while sitting and comfortable.
I will admit that I am one of those people that always feel they will have more time in the future than they have at present, so I have large goals and often many of them are never attained, but I still enjoy the planning and expecting and anticipation, and eventually get to many of them. I am a list maker and enjoy making my list and then checking things off as they are completed. I guess I need that sense of accomplishment.
So, as far as quilting goals go this year, I have several UFOs that I would like to complete. I'm thinking maybe one per month might be reasonable and I will post a list and see how I come along on it. The list will probably be more than 12 but that will give me more choices, right?
A verse I would like to share and consider more is this: I Thessalonians 4:11. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands.
For the New Year, I began working on my Diagonal Madness quilt again - a Kaffe Fassett class I took in late October. It's been on my design wall all this time so I've had plenty of time to see what I think is working and what is not. I have sewn the first third of the rows together which also helps them stay on the board better. I am still auditioning many fabrics. It is hard to get the vertical rows to stand out enough so many squares have been put up and then taken down again. This is a great quilt to do to play with color, which I truly enjoy!
I need to make a new tablecloth for our kitchen and not wanting to go out and buy more fabrics, decided to use some cherry fabrics which I collected from quilt shops in Michigan when we went there for vacation in 2008. I am doing the Turning Twenty Again pattern and need sixteen blocks so needed sixteen fabrics. I did have to add a few more that did not have cherries but I think they will blend in well and help with my goal of 'quilting from my stash' this year! I'll definitely be having more pieced backs, too, as I don't normally buy large pieces of fabric.
