New Year's "Goals" 2009--A Year in Review

I don't like to have New Year's Resolutions. Call me lazy--I just feel like it is too restrictive to say a resolution. I do have goals, though, which means that I am working towards them regularly, and they are achievable. For 2009, I had a few quilt-related goals. I didn't have a blog at the time, so I didn't share them then. But here they are, along with how I did:

1. Finish ten quilts
I finished 16! Even I am surprised at this. Granted, a few of those were tops that just needed to be quilted, but I've got a few tops that need to be quilted now, so it all rolls over I guess. While not a goal for me originally, I am very proud that I made more quilts with triangles--I have mostly shied away from anything but squares and rectangles.

2. Give away at least 2 charity quilts
I am disappointed to say I did not meet this goal. I have one waiting to be given away but I didn't give it away, nor did I make a second one. I did partake in a group project, making two quilts for Quilts of Valor. I don't think that totally counts, although it is in the same spirit.

3. Make an x-blocks quilt
I made a baby quilt using the x-blocks template. Picture is here.

4. Make an improvisational quilt
I made two of these. See them here and here.

5. Practice free-motion quilting
Boy, did I do this!!! I quilted all the quilts I made this year, except for one. So one could say that I got lots of practice.

6. A quilt with curves
I started one yesterday, and made a bunch of half-circles. I'll post a picture soon. So it's on its way but I can't say that I made a quilt with curves until it is done. So I sort of met this goal.

7. A quilt from the Modern Quilt Workshop book
I sort of completed this one. I actually made a quilt from a pattern in The Quiltmaker's Color Workshop, written by the same people, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. So I think it counts. And since it is my own goal list, I get to say what counts. :) Also, the half-circles I started yesterday are from that book, so I'm on my way.

8. No quilt pattern repeats
I didn't start any quilts this year that were a repeat pattern of a quilt I've made before. In my "quilts completed 2009" you'll see "bundle of joy" and "pink rail fence". Those are patterns I've made before, but as the tops were finished in 2008, they were started before I made that goal.

I think in general, I did pretty well! So what are my goals for 2010? Tune in tomorrow for that one.

How about you? Did you have goals for 2009? How did you do?

Another finish!

I am so happy with how this quilt turned out. I've shown it before. I found out a few weeks ago that I needed to finish this for Christmas, so I moved it to the top of my priority list. I finished it up on December 22nd, right before I left for Christmas at my in-laws (where I was going to see the recipient, a friend who was in the area). For those of you who are curious, it measures 46 x 67 after washing and shrinkage.

My father in law was very helpful in holding it up for photographing.

Here is the back:

Here's a detail shot:

And a picture of it folded and ready to go!

I bound it in a pale blue. I was thinking black and white and then I realized that would detract from the design too much. So something soft that blends in well turned out to be just right. I love it.

It feels good to check another one off the list. I've got two more tops that need to be quilted. One is on the sewing machine right now and I'm about halfway done quilting it. Hopefully I can finish by December 31st!

Merry Christmas!

I don't know about you, but I get really depressed by the amount of waste that I see on Christmas. There is always the huge garbage bag full of wrapping and tape. Last year I made a bunch of bags for wrapping Christmas presents. This year I did the same.

My sister, who received a bunch of presents in the mail from me (she is in CA and I won't be there this year) got quite excited about them and decided to make some herself. I highly recommend doing so. They are re-usable! Hopefully as you give them away, others will be inspired to think about how they wrap things (and maybe even make their own). There are tutorials from folks here and here, but as you can see, they are pretty easy and I just make mine without measuring--just using the item to be wrapped as a guide.

Merry Christmas!

Fun tutorial

I made these little pincushion organizers for some lovely ladies. I used the tutorial from Elizabeth, found here.They were pretty easy and fun to do.

There is another one not pictured here. I did them "assembly line" style so it took about as much time as it would have take to do one. I think I like the green/brown one the best. I hope the recipients like them!

I love mail!

So I got a package in the mail recently and it made me so happy! I won a giveaway from Heidi who is running the Old Red Barn Quilt Along's Round 4. I was thinking I would do it but I have been traveling too much for work and just haven't been able to keep up. But Heidi was generous enough to give away these lovely fat quarters!

They are from Amy Butler's new LOVE collection. They are delicious. Now I need to decide what to do with them. Maybe I'll just look at them. :)

I've been super busy and I haven't even been home lately. I am hoping that once I get home from all this traveling for work and family that I'll be able to stay home for awhile.

And the winner is...

#101! Trusty random.org brought it up and that turns out to be Diane! Congratulations Diane. And thanks everyone for playing! I appreciate all the lovely comments. I've got a lot of ideas about homemade Christmas presents! Now to get to work...

Giveaway Day!

Welcome to my blog for Giveaway Day! Sew Mama Sew organizes a giveaway day all over blogland, with many fabulous crafters participating. You can see others here. I'll be giving away this cute little bag.

Sorry for the light--when I use a flash it is super washed out. It's a deep purple on the outside, sort of a velour fabric, and a reddish fabric on the inside from Basic Grey's Urban Couture line.
It's got a snap closure and a pocket in the lining. Also included is a fat quarter of fabric!

To enter, just leave a comment telling me what Christmas or holiday gifts you are making this year. If you're not making anything, what would you like to make? Also, please make sure that I have a way to contact you--through your blog, email, Flickr, etc.

I'll use random.org to choose the winner on December 6th--St. Nicholas Day.

Good luck!