My 2019 Quilty Inventory

Okay like many of you, with the New Year ahead, I have found myself taking "inventory" of my stash. As I keep calm and carry on, I decided to make a list of my inventory along with "why" I bought or started each, in hopes to inspire myself to tackle a few them in 2019.

KITS

So here we go:

1. Hollyhock Flowers bought as I was inspired by some new techniques included in this kit.

2. It's Good To Be Square bought to make a summer quilt for hubby.

3. Brown Bear  Brown Bear bought as a great story quilt for the grands.

4. Kinder layer cake bought just because I like the fabric! LOL!
5. Material for two receiving blankets because my gift inventory is low.
6. A Bloomin Dozen Wall Quilt by Kim Schaefer.
7. Home is Best Wallhanging by Timeless Treasures
8. Buggy Barn Winter Blooms (Potted Hearts)
7. My Lori Holt Picture block quilt. I joined as a block of the week to create a quilt for our master bed. But! The store got wayyyy behind on their kits...thus, I got way thrown off. These blocks are always fun to make, I'm thinking of doing them as a block of the week again, I mean I have the kits!

W.I.P

These three are top priority. They are all ALMOST done! I'm going to be intentional about finishing each one as I love them. I plan to hang the Bee Happy in my laundry room, the houses and birdies in my living room and My Scrap Dance Tango from Carole's 2017 Mystery QAL I'll continue into a Queen size so I can use it on our Master Bed as our Winter Quilt.
Also, but not pictured: My Metro Rings Polka Dot Quilt

HAND SEWING

I am probably "two movies" away from finishing my Anne Downs quilt and though this has  providing some wonderful winter stitching, I'm ready for something new! Some cotton applique and not wool, as I miss my needle turned applique. These are kits I have on hand that I could rejuvenate:
1. Two Kim Schaefer Calendar Quilts: February, March and April
2. All Around Town by Susan Garman (2000)
3. My Hexi Flowers! (This one is almost embarrassing to admit!)

QUILTING

Looks like I have about a half a dozen quilts to get on the long arm. Not bad really.

Annnnnd I think my BIGGEST area of exploration is in having the confidence to do some custom quilting! Seriously, I'm my worst enemy in this area and literally have unquilted quilts hanging in my house! LOL!!! I'm afraid I'll ruin my quilts.So this week, I will BEGIN with our grands guys cow quilt. Not going to over think it...just going to dive in!!  

EXPERIMENTING

In our process of downsizing, I'm also experimenting with a different "sewing station". I'm 5'10" and have long legs. I'm using a pub size level table for my sewing right now and so far it is proving to be much more comfortable. My back doesn't hurt and my legs can extend. I'm kinda liking it. As we  continue to downsize, I'm also hoping to donate a few quilts and fulfill my foster care quilt mission for kids at our elementary school andddd play with my scraps more! (More on this Sunday)

Notice I'm not really committing to anything...but have to admit, taking inventory inspires me.

I'm looking forward to the New Year and close wishing you the very best as we all welcome 2019!!!! 

Sharing and linking with everyone else at:

The Most Adorable Cookies!

Personal resolution #2 this new school year:

I will join a sewing group of some kind. 

And this week I'm doing just that! I feel so lucky that our previous applique teacher, who taught at our local quilt store before it went out of business, put together an Applique Club where a few of us will get together for a "sit-n-stitch" the second Tuesday of every month. She is the nicest and most talented person. I had these adorable cookies made for our first meeting and my wool birdies for my Sunny Side of the Street quilt are cut, pinned and ready to stitch. I can't wait!! Stay tuned once again.

A Sew Day!

Personal resolution #1 this new school year:

I will get out at least once a month for a sew day.

I have a tendency to become a hermit once the weekend comes around yet, I miss that inspiration that comes from sewing with other women. The chit chat chatter. The laughs. The sharing of projects and ideas. So this Labor Day finds me packed and ready to go. My friend reserved the library in a small town nearby for us all to meet up and sew in (as she has the same resolution). Stay tuned!

Hope your Labor Day is restful and perhaps filled with a little sewing as well.

PS: Jackson only thinks he gets to go.

Tuesday Archives #143: New Year Goals

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: NEW YEAR GOALS

Here's to many happy stitches and completed projects in 2017.

Whether your list is long or short, please don't forget to enjoy the journey!

My 2017 Quilty Goals!

Happy New Year Blog friends!

Here's to many happy stitches and completed projects in 2017!

I've spent a good portion of my day in my sewing studio contemplating what I'd like to accomplish in the year ahead. As I went through my stash it became obvious that UFO's did not emerge to be a problem (YEAH!) but I did find enough projects to join OMG for the year! See: 

I'm looking forward to rejuvenating my Wonky RSC Flowers and second Saturday Sampler adventures with my quilty friend. My heart feels JOYFUL (little sampler quilt coming soon) and thus I've chosen JOY to be my word for the year. I'm looking forward to dedicating each third Thursday post to celebrating and sharing JOYFUL "stuff". (Who knows what I'll come up with but it will be fun)

My goals are posted right where I can see them  every single day which is going to be important as  my sewing routine will be going through a wonderful, but kinda major overhaul. After three years of NOT having weekends together, hubby and I are back on the same Monday through Friday work schedule! We're both really looking forward to this change as it will allow us to take mini weekend adventures together whenever we want and we won't have to take time off from work to do so. Thus, having an intentional plan for the year will keep me focused and productive, as I'm going to have to learn to fit smaller but more frequent times in to sew. But don't worry, he's already searching for his own recliner for the studio with plans to relax and watch TV as I sew. Of course I told him, we can rearrange the furniture however he needs. (Well kinda...but don't tell him!) LOL!

Wow! I already feel motivated to have things planned....and well, since it continues to snow...

View from my studio window.

...I think I'll get started!

Welcome to 2017.

This week's theme: NEW YEAR GOALS

Dec.OMG-Christmas Fat Quarter Quilt

"Roar".... as my grandson's dinosaur (my current pencil holder) would say....but look:

I bought this polka-dotted bundle of Christmas fat quarters probably two years ago and ya know what, this month I'm going to dust them off and get them made into a quilt! 

Hey, it might just be a quick and easy pinwheel quilt...but they'll finally be a quilt.

Goal setting and linking up with everyone at the Dec. OMG. 

Welcome December!!

Our December themes have been posted on the sidebar.

Nov. OMG: Batik Finish

I met my November goal with time to spare this month! 

I even met up with my friend whom I intended this quilty hug for right before the holiday.

She was genuinely touched by the use of my Breast Cancer pantograph and soft minky backing.

She leaves this weekend for her six weeks of radiation and sadly, due to the stage of her breast cancer, she found out she will have to endure six months of chemo afterwards. If she ends up getting a port I will definitely be getting her one of Carole's Port Softies. As a cancer survivor myself, I'm so grateful to have had the time to visit and allowed the opportunity to give her hope and support.

And guys look!

 As I promised myself after our Tuesday Archives: Quilt Labels linky earlier this month,

 I was SURE to label this one! Thank you for your inspiration to label my quilts.

Linking up and sharing with everyone at OMG.

Next week's theme is: Memory Quilts

November OMG-Batik Lap Quilt

I won this quilt kit for participating in the 2014 ALYofF. The pattern is designed by Amanda Konarske for Honey, Bunny and Doll. I dug it our of my "kit" pile as I finally found the perfect recipient for it. A dear work friend started our school year with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Now, with surgery behind here, she starts six weeks of radiation after the Thanksgiving holiday. 

I plan to get this finished and gifted for my November One Monthly Goal.  

Luckily I have a long three day weekend coming up, hubby has some long work shifts, because  I need to get 'er done in like two and half weeks! Luckily it easy sewing. I plan to back it with a soft, cuddly minky and quilt it using my breast cancer ribbon pantograph. It will end up being the perfect lap size quilt measuring 45" x 72". Okay...well, that's what I'm up to guys.

Also a big thank you to Patty, who blogs at Elm Street Quilts, for continuing our OMG linky. 

Click the picture below to link and share your November goal with us.

So many inspiring LABEL posts shared at this week's T.A. linky.

Click HERE to check them out and share a post yourself if ya have one.

June OMG: 9-Patch/Raw Edged Flower Quilt

Okayyyy this fabric has literally been sitting in this exact spot since...JANUARY 23rd!! Seriously, how does that happen? Soooo I'm going to dust these piles off and get them made into a 9-Patch/Raw Edged Flower  Queen size quilt! Yes, I said queen. I'm sooo excited because this means we are finally going to have a quilt on our master bed!! Anddd I'll get to do a little redecorating! YEAH!!

 But I have a "game" plan all sketched out in my Quilter's Planner and my secret weapon...I'm going to a three day retreat with my quilty friend mid-month!! She's making one too, so our pre-retreat plan is to have all our blocks and flowers cut out before we go. That's 250 3 1/2" squares for the nine patches,  49 9 1/2" background squares and 150 flowers. UGH!

And on the healthy side of life, I plan to go through this big jug of lemon, cucumber, ginger water every two days. Yep I even have a water bottle nearby to fill and grab as I dart out the door for errands and walks. I'm just always so amazed how much better I feel when I keep hydrated.

Welll..those are my two major goals this June...but as ya know, summer is my busy quilting time and I'll have a lot going on in the studio...but to get that pile of fabric made into a queen size flimsy on top of all my other quilty projects would be amazing!! 

 And, Heidi thanks for this monthly OMG linky! It helps...though I know I'm kinda late to the party. 

Next week's theme is: Faces.

May OMG...or two!

After being gone every other weekend, since March, May looks wide open!

Which means...time to make a few quilty goals. I'm linking up with everyone else at 

OMG at Red Letter Quilts  as I get back to my happy sewing.

I have two easy peasy, chain piecing quilts that I've been sporadically sewing:

1. My H2H Happy Chemo  Eye-Spy Quilt will get sewn, quilted, and mailed!

2. My Rainbow Girls: I want to get the fun border and hand stitching done. It will then be ready for some fun FMQ when I get out of school from teaching for the summer!

Kinda motivated now that I've "committed". Thanks for the OMG linky Heidi!!

Tomorrrow's linky theme is: Equalaterial Triangles

Tuesday Archives #95: Our 2016 Goals

Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

The linky party that let's you rejuvinate OLD blogging posts.

. If you are new to our linky, click over the here to read the details about this fun, weekly linky party.

(You can also check out all our past Tuesday Archives themes by clicking right here.)

This week's theme is: your 2016 Goals:

This week we're 'breaking the rules" a bit and I'm encouraging you to share your goals for 2016 and thus, that could mean creating a new post to share with us, your friends here at Tuesday Archives. 

Your goals can be personal:

Like many of you, I'm a list maker. Thus, very excited was I when my Quilter's Planner arrived in the mail yesterday!! The fact I can now have a "catch all" for all aspects of my life in one book creates motivation. I've chosen FABULOUS as my "word" for 2016 (more about that in January) and this planner has a place for my to-do list, my goals, my sketchbook....everything all in one place to ensure I stay on track for creating a FABULOUS year!

As a bonus, we even received a pattern to make a zippy cover for our planner. It will hold my blog/business cards, and even include a zipper pockets for coloring pencils and such! 

I also purchased a new Weight Watcher journal to track my meals and thus leading me towards reaching my health and well being goals by Spring.

Finally, I was inspired my Diane's list of creative books and ordered myself this journal as well:

It's offers a prompt for each week of the year, that requires a list response. The lists are a starting point for developing new habits or changing behavior. This is very doable for me, and will offer just the amount of reflection I also need to "stay on track" in creating a FABULOUS 2016..for as the quote on my WW journal says: "It's choice not chance that determines our destiny."

And your goals can be Quilty:

With that said, Quilting is my hobby...my creative outlet, my reprieve from the work world, my solitude, my rejuvination. My new planner will ensure I keep a balance of that in my life. I'm hoping to do more creative improvising like my Oh Happy Day quilt this year and I know I want to make a Kim Diehl inspired quilt for our Master Bedroom. But no list here...just creative flow.

Quilting and blogging are very important to me...as without the support of eachother none of this would be as worthwhile would it?? I want to thank you for your enthusiastic support of Tuesday Archives and of me as a quilter through your kind comments and emails. I'm truly looking forward 2016 as we continue to share our ideas, inspiration and passion for this hobby as we link, share, support and participate in eachother's events, blogs and creative endeavors.

Also sharing my 2016 goals here: