Happy New Year! My Goals for 2014!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Welcome to 2014!

As I wrote this list, I started to see a number appear in most of my goals - 4.  So I went back in and made all but one of them 4.  It's 2014 after all!

This year's list of goals feels like an attainable stretch.  I'm excited to see how far I get.

1. Sketch quilting designs/motifs 4 or more times a week. Create new ones & practice old ones.
2. Submit 4 quilt designs for publication.
3. Finish 4 bed sized quilts.
4. Make 4 sets of seasonal quilted placemats and/or table runners for dining room table.
5. Enter 4 quilt shows.
6. Finish 4 UFOs.
7. Approach 4 quilt shops about teaching a quilting class.
8. Finish 1 whole cloth quilt.

I need to start by organizing my quilting projects & stash.  You can probably tell that each of these are within reach, but when you put them all together it becomes the stretch.  As long as I plan my time properly, I should be able to do most.  I'm looking forward to sharing my progress on each of my 2014 goals!

Quilt. Create. Enjoy!

Anna

BONUS GOAL: Start a red, white & blue Dear Jane quilt.

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Reflecting on 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Years Eve!  I was  going to share my favorite free motion quilting tips and what I've completed this year, but first I want to share some thanks.


Reflecting On Those That Matter
I have had an awesome 2013!  I want to thank my wonderful husband Eric.  He supports me, helps me, indulges me, cheers me on and, when needed, he's there to drag me forward.  I feel like I've done some very beautiful work this year and it would have been impossible without him.  I also want to thank my two awesome kids, Samantha & Eric.  I see something quilty in their futures.

The seemingly random fabrics, thread spools, project bags, finished tops waiting to be quilted, and quilts waiting for their binding are all in various nooks and crannies and sometimes they're right in the way.  As with many quilting families, they help with all of it.  Each of them has spent time carrying bolts of fabric, looking for some obscure notion or looking for just the right red fabric to bring the whole quilt together.  They also protect all my things quilt related with a fervor most people and one cat find surprising.  For all these things, I thank them.  Coupled with who they are and all they do, I love them more & more each day and am thankful to have been blessed with an amazing family.

Favorite FMQ'ing Tips
I had planned on sharing my favorite free motion quilting tips, but I don't want to short change any of the planned topics.  With that in mind, I'm moving my favorite free motion quilting tips to Friday.

Completed in 2013
I wanted to include an accounting of my quilting for the year, but work took more time than I had expected today.  I'll update this post with my list tomorrow, but here's the general idea.

- 5 lap quilt tops
- 3 bed quilt tops
- 2 lap sized quilts completed for quilt shows
- @10 mug rugs/wall hangings
-  2 dozen swap blocks

I do not measure success only by 100% finished quilts.  My completed tops are just as important to me.  When I think back to all of the responsibilities I have outside of quilting, I am impressed with myself.

I am happy with what I've accomplished.  I am looking forward to what I'll accomplish in 2014!

Have a happy, safe & quilty new year!!!

Quilt. Create. Enjoy!

Anna

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Motif Monday 5

Ooops...a day late!


Today's motif is a free motion, continuous line oak leaf.  I used this as a block motif and a border motif.

First, a little about the project I used it in.  I did a 10" fall fabric square swap in September.  I'm a little funny about fabric swaps.  The varying fabric preferences can lead to either a great swap or a less than fulfilling swap.  I've come to terms with the occasional interesting (sticks out like a sore thumb) fabric selection.  What I don't like is mixing LQS and non-LQS fabrics.  For this last swap, we were all very specific about what was being swapped and all went well.

Back to the actual quilt.  Here's the top pinned using #1 curved pins with Quilters Delight Safety Pin Quilt Covers and a Kwik Klip. You can see the nice group of fall fabrics we were working with.

Fall Quilt Pinned

Here it is quilted:

Quilted with Binding on Front
For the block motif, you'll be FMQ'ing forward and backward.  It's a simple enough pattern.  Even if you're not accustomed to quilting in all directions, you can use this motif to help build the your directional skills. I started at the bottom of the stem for the block and border.

My test block
And here's the border:

Border
I'll post a directional photo and the border on black next Monday.

I really like how nicely these worked for my quilt.  I hope one of them is useful to you.

Quilt. Create. Enjoy!

Anna

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My Quilting Roller Coaster!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

While I've been terrible about the blog, I'm actually quite happy with my progress on quilting.  I was spending so much time focusing on the down parts of my quilting roller coaster that I'd all but discounted the ups and the soaring ride in general.


First, a big THANK YOU! and I LOVE YOU! to my hubby.  He surprised me with exactly what I wanted on Christmas morning.

The Birds of a Feather weekend quilting retreat with Virginia Longarm Network at the beautiful Founders Inn & Spa in Virginia Beach, VA.

Best. Christmas. Present. Ever!

It's exactly what I wanted & needed to keep my quilty juices flowing.  Let me know if you're going to be there.

I just finished putting the binding on my fall quilt.  I'll be stitching the back down this evening.  I haven't named it yet so I don't have the label.  I'd planned on a bottom left corner placement, so I'd better get thinking.

Pouring rain outside, so kitchen pic it is!

I'm determined to get back to my old normal posting schedule. Here's what I have planned for the coming week.

Motif Monday: I've got a nice block motif to share tomorrow.  You can see a sneak peek of it above.

Technique Tuesday: I'm going to share my favorite free motion quilting tips and what I've completed this year.

Wednesday: Happy New Year!  I'll share my goals for 2014.

Thoroughly Modern Thursday: I have a pattern for a quick win modern quilt I designed. 

Free Form Friday: I have time to decide on this one!

…with more to come.

As I sit here writing this post, I realize that I've really missed writing about my quilt journey.  There's something therapeutic about sharing my quilting hopes, successes & failures.

Don't forget to appreciate and reflect on all parts of your roller coaster!!!

Quilt. Create. Enjoy!

Anna

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It's Finished! And Named!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

I worked feverishly to get this done for the fair and I almost made it, but then life happened.  Oh well!  I can enter it next year.  I am so very excited it's done and I'm able to share it here.


I don't want to over do it with the pictures so I'm just including 3.  I'll add some detail pictures later in the week with some insight into the decision making process.

The entire quilt was completed with free motion quilting.

Introducing...Down the Rabbit Hole!  See if you can find the hidden pics.

Down the Rabbit Hole - Front

Down the Rabbit Hole - Back


Down the Rabbit Hole - Label

Hubby and I decided that the view from our backyard looks oddly fake - a little too picture perfect.  We've also decided the beautiful view of the sky is one of the reasons our little house on the hill is so awesome.

Make sure you stop in during the week.  In addition to a little more Down the Rabbit Hole, I'll be sharing pictures from Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA last weekend.

Quilt. Create. Enjoy!

Anna

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