Happy New Year 2017!

Happy New Year everyone! I love the beginning of a new year... it's a beautifully pristine blank slate!

I'm starting off this year with a little destash of a couple of my UFO projects. I'm going to offer them here, at a discounted price, just in case someone would like them and if there are no takers, I'll put them in my etsy shop.

A couple of years ago, I was interested in knitting and felting bags. Lots of them were being done, but they were all so small. I wanted to do tote size or larger so I started experimenting and knitting huge - I mean really huge - bags so I could felt them. Felting created a very thick and very soft "fabric". I did several in various colors and sizes and it was a fun process. I always planned to finish them and use them, but as is so often the case with me, they were set aside. Now I found I've lost interest. The handles are included with the bags, but they are not attached. None of them are lined.

This first bag is the largest:

14" Wide
16" High (with cuff rolled down)
21" High (with cuff left up)
6 1/2" Deep
Handle 33 1/2" end to end

$36.00 includes shipping via USPS flat rate medium box

This second bag is:

14" Wide
15 1/2" High (with cuff rolled down)
19" High (with cuff left up)
3 1/2" Deep
Handle 30" end to end

$30.00 includes shipping via USPS flat rate medium box

Take care,

I'm starting 2017 with UFO projects: 32
I have found (buried in my sewing room and elsewhere in the house) YTD:0
I have started YTD:0
I have given away UFO projects YTD:0
I have thrown out or otherwise dismantled YTD:0
I have sold unfinished UFO projects YTD:0
I have finished YTD:0
Projects remaining YTD: 32

2016 Project Progress Recap...

2016 was the first year I've kept track (via a progress chart) of my UFOs and new projects and I've been surprised at how motivating it has been. I plan to do it again for 2017, although I have no specific yearly goal other than to finish as many projects as possible.

I started 2016 with UFO projects: 38
I found (buried in my sewing room and elsewhere in the house) YTD:  +13
I started YTD:  +7
I gave away UFO projects YTD: -4
I threw out or otherwise dismantled YTD: -4
I sold unfinished UFO projects YTD: -2
I finished YTD: -16
Projects remaining YTD: 32

I do have one final finish for the year to show you (and which has already been included in my finished count)... surprise, surprise... it's another pair of Tesserae socks, (they are already listed for sale in the shop). The taupe/beige "stripe" in the yarn color is actually darker than shows in the photo making much less contrast between the "stripes".

As 2016 ends and 2017 begins, I'm making some changes in my life that I probably should have made long ago. Nothing too, too major, but little things that will improve the quality and happiness of life for me. Wish me luck!!

I wish you all the best possible new year!

Take care,

An accounting of sorts...

I have finished 12 projects so far this year! Although I finished these three mug rugs (on 8/31/16), I'm only going to count them as one project since they were all squirreled away together in the UFO pile. I'm giving myself a huge pat on the back for getting this much done already this year.

These two will be in the shop soon...

 And, this one I'm giving to a friend!

Of course, my UFO list is still quite long and, for sure, will carry over into 2017 and possibly 2018, but that doesn't matter to me because I'm making progress. As the saying goes, I "can see light at the end of the tunnel". Admittedly, it's a very long tunnel!! :)

Here's the accounting:

Started the year with UFO projects: 38
Found YTD:  +13 more
Started YTD:  +1 new
Gave away YTD: -3
Trashed YTD: -3
Sold YTD: -2
Finished YTD: -12 (I don't have a specific yearly goal other than to finish as many as possible)

Remaining total YTD = 32 as of today!! By doing the math, you realize that I was up to 51 UFOs at one time, don't you? Who knows how many more I will find along the way. Apparently, I've hidden them away all over the house. :)

Linking up with Colorways by Vicki!

Take care,

Six!! The Zenith Quilt

This quilt is the Zenith Quilt Pattern by Stephanie Prescott and it's an easy quilt to make using 60 degree half rectangles. I tried an experiment with this quilt, trying to use fabrics that didn't seem all that compatible with each other since I'm trying to expand my ability to combine interesting (and not just pretty) fabrics.  I'm really pleased with the end result. Please excuse the crease/fold down the middle of the quilt that's from having it folded tightly. It will disappear with use. As you all already know, I'm enjoying being able to count up my completed projects and cross them off my ever-growing (it seems like) UFO/WIP list! This is number six.

The quilting is the same as what I did for the Scrap Vomit, and the Many Trips Around the World quilts... wavy horizontal lines. I love the feel that it gives the quilt and it's super simple to quilt.

And, this is the backing...

When I was taking the photographs outside, I noticed that the quilt is much more vibrant because of the beautiful outdoor light. I'll have to make sure I use it/keep it in a room with lots of bright, natural light. Hubby was commenting that the minute we decided to go out and take photos, the wind started to blow. He's right... it did, but it was a nice, cool breeze so we thought it was worth it! :)

Take care,

Time gets away from us, doesn't it?

I've been so involved in other aspects of my life that I haven't been posting nearly as often as I used to. I'm sure those of you who have been reading my blog for years have noticed. I still love my blog, but find it a bit more difficult to think of interesting things to write about. I've also fallen off the photography bandwagon for awhile. I haven't used my good camera in many months and that is something I want to rectify... I miss it!

I have managed to finish another UFO (well, technically I still have one side of the binding to sew down by hand, but I'm counting it as finished since that will happen today). I'm still somewhat surprised at myself for sticking with my goal of working on as many of my UFOs as I can. I seem to have developed a very short attention span over the years. I thought for sure that I would want to start something new by now, but it hasn't happened. This is my 4th finish for the year.

I started this Scrappy Trips Around the World in 2014 - only 2 years ago!!. :) And, I used random fabrics - meaning I just grabbed them out of a basket and sewed them together. I did make sure that I used the darkest fabric for the middle row so the design would work out, but other than that there are some really ugly fabrics in this quilt.  Turns out that I love it!!! I'm going to keep this one (unless someone offers me some good $$ and begs with me to part with it) because it's so cheerful and happy. It's fairly large too.

I quilted it horizontally using wavy lines, which left it soft and cuddly. I seem to gravitate towards the simple quilting styles these days.

It rained Friday and yesterday and it was forecast for today, but so far the clouds have just blown over. Isn't that wonderful? I mean about us getting rain. The landscape is green and lovely right now and the roses are prolific! I don't know if I'm just appreciating them more because of our drought situation or they really are more spectacular than usual, but they are gorgeous!!

Ok... off topic but, I'm wondering why this bill was defeated last week?

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend... I am!!

Take care,

I'm on a roll right now...

I've got another finish for the year (my 3rd) and I'm very happy, to say the least. I love crossing these UFOs off my list. I've been working on this quilt, off and on - mostly off, for six years - and now it's finished. All I have to do is find a place in my house to hang it.

I've already begun working on the next UFO on my list. I started it in early 2012, so it's only been 4 years in the making!

I spent Friday afternoon making Lime Curd for the first time ever, using the many little limes off my tree. It took 16 limes to get 1/2 cup of juice. I used this recipe and I can truly say that it tastes heavenly! It's so good!! I did not make the tart since I wanted only the curd, but it sounds wonderful. I made a second batch on Saturday afternoon using limes given to me by one of my quilting friends. Her limes are prettier and much larger than mine, but the curd tastes just the same! :)

I also wanted to share with you this photo of the most stunning sunrise of a week or so ago. We don't have beautiful sunrises very often so it's always a special occurrence when it happens and this one was extra-special.

Take care,

A great start to 2016!

Wow... it's already 32 days into the new year and you would not believe the "to do" list I have started for 2016! I've got a big year planned.

My UFO list is at 38 and I'm sure I'll find another couple projects in my sewing room that I forgot about. I gave away several projects that I knew I had no interest in finishing and I'm hoping that I'll get to see them completed by the recipient. Actually, it was quite motivating to list and prioritize all of those unfinished projects. I don't plan on finishing all of them, or even half of them, but if I can make a dent, I will be extremely happy. In that regard, I've already completed one project, except for the binding and I'm working on that today. Photo to come soon!

Our year has certainly started off right. We've had rain... and it's been good rain. Rain that can actually be measured. It has cleaned everything - not only the air itself, but streets and buildings.Today, it's cold out but it's supposed to warm up into the high 70's by Saturday/Sunday. I'll bet that sounds nice to those of you in the colder climates, but I would rather have the cold/rainy weather. Our hills are just starting to green up and we haven't seen that in quite awhile.

I have too much going on the first part of the year so I declined to sign up for the Spring Semester of quilting. I'll miss it (I'm sure more than they will miss me), but I'll go back in the Fall. I've got some kitchen remodeling and wood flooring to do and that will keep me busy, I'm sure. And, one of the benefits of sewing at home on Thursday is that I'll be able to get some of the UFO's, that are too large to work on in class, completed. I'm so looking forward to it.

Anybody go to Road to California? I went with some friends and we had a great time. I was so impressed with the quilt pictured above, but feel sad that I didn't get the name of the maker. I can only say that it was truly outstanding!!  Next month, we're going to QuiltCon. I've never been so I'm anxious to see what it's like.

Guess that's it for today!

Take care,