2013 Goals

Here I was several years ago getting instructed on handling my new car.  No new car on this January 1, but a new year that I need to "handle", or at least get a handle on!  I have been cogitating on this subject, and here are the results.

Quilting GOALS (not resolutions):

1] Finish/dispose of/repurpose HALF of the UFOs in the cupboard.  How many are there?  I asked, and I currently have seen 28.  So half will mean slightly more than one a month through the year.

2] Finish THREE of these UFOs into neonatal quilts by the March Guild meeting when they are collected.  Continue with more through the year.

3] Finish at least THREE quilts for Margaret's Hope Chest.

4] Secret Sister gift must be made of her 6 FQs by the December bee meeting.

5] Make the Christmas duvet cover into an actual quilt by next Christmas.

6] Do something FUN!

Now I can see that #2 and #3 can be done with the UFOs in #1, and I might even find that some of those are FUN.

Judy Laquidara asked us to list FOUR things that we are planning to accomplish in the month of January.  Good way to get started on the long list for the whole year.  So here are my four for January:

1) Finish Striped Triangles neonatal quilt/ UFO.
2) Quilt and bind one more neonatal UFO
3) Finish QAYG and bind Carolina Crossroads
4) Reorganize ONE bookcase of fabric

Now I need to print this off and put it somewhere I will see it every day!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Only two meals today
Jumbo shrimp
Playing "Follow the Star" [family Christmas game]

On the Needles

Quite a bit of progress on Charlie's next pair of sox, made from leftover yarn.  I'm up the ankle about an inch.  The toes, to the right, and heels are charcoal colored so are not very visible against the dark brown.  I hope to get far enough up the ankle that whatever colored yarn I have to use next won't show too much when Charlie crosses his knees!

4th Day of Christmas saw Martha and her family leaving for their drive back to St. Louis, my going to a lab for a blood draw, and then more knitting and a NAP.

Making vague plans for New Year's Day quilt work.  I'm NOT going to join in a Mystery for that day, but see if I can't get one of my UFOs turned into a neonatal quilt or two.  So before that I need to straighten up the room and get out the materials.

Sara

Gratitudes:

Leftover ham for lunch sandwich
Short line at the lab
Naptime quilts

Second Day of Christmas

The 26th of December is our son-in-law John's birthday.  The regular crazy event was held at son Peter and DIL Lynne's house.

We ate  some of the HOTTEST chili of our experience.

Which required a lot of beer chasers!

And the dogs romped and chased underfoot.

In other words, I good time was had by all!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Family togetherness
Peter's great cooking
Finally some SNOW

Xmas Eve preparations

Rum cake out of the oven. After it cools we'll make the rum glaze and pour it on for tomorrow's dessert.

During the baking time I finished turning the second sock heel on the "mixed yarn" socks for Charlie.

Christmas cookies and the tree are still to be decorated this afternoon.  Clam chowder for supper is our tradition.

I wish you a blessed Christmas in your own home with your traditions!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Family in good enough health to be present
Plenty of food and shelter for all
So many blessings in the darkness

What's on the Needles?

I'm starting to use up leftover sock yarn, knitting two socks at a time. I have a skein of charcoal to use as toes and heels, and maybe some stripes.  And I've pulled the bits of "manly" colors to make a pair for DH Charlie.  So far a dark brown patterned yarn, but there is some beige and grey coming, and maybe some patterned blue and purple.  This is an experiment!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Some snow on the ground
Cleaning crew came and left
Liz is bringing us December soup

Secret Sister Reveal

Patty seems happy to receive her quilt.  And even likes the back side!

The paper bags piled in front of us contain the six FQs from each of us for next year's gifts.

And a great surprise:  Patty had also drawn MY name last year for Secret Sister.  As I had requested in last year's bag, she used my FQs to make neonatal quilts and one pillow cover.  So they will be donated at our next Guild meeting.

Sara

Gratitudes:

Good time had by all at the party
Advertised winter storm did not arrive to disrupt our travel
A couple of quiet days ahead.

Secret Sister quilt finished

Look, here you can see part of the label written on the back as well as the completed binding.
All that is left is to go over front and back removing the snippets of threads.

Since I can't show the quilt yet, here is a little glimpse of "spare parts" used on the back:

This is my first use of a wool batt.  It was terribly wrinkled and I had difficulty getting it even partially smoothed out.  However, as many people have reported, it is very light and feels quite WARM.

Usually I wash every quilt I make before giving it away.  Since this batt requires drying FLAT on absorbant material and with a fan blowing over it, I don't think I have time before tomorrow's party.  Hmmm, guess I'll just have to explain what to do to the recipient.

Got very tired this morning doing the Christmas grocery shopping trip.  It took an hour and a half in Meijer's to get everything into the cart and then there was a longish line for checkout.  Next there was loading it all  into the car and then into the kitchen.  After the refrigerated items were put away I left all the rest sitting out and took a NAP.  Most of it is now out of sight at least.

And I forgot to put a few things on the list!  Oh, well, someone will have to go back before Christmas Eve to pick up the prime rib from the butcher, so more can be picked up then.

Sara

Gratitudes:

GRWC concert went well on Saturday, big crowd!
More light in the darkness with third Advent candle
Snow coming before Christmas

Wordless Wednesday

Next piece of the quilt back

I thought I was going to get the next part of the quilt quilted today, but making the back and using up my leftover fabric is taking longer than expected.

I now have this back side piece done, using up the extra HSTs and a good chunk of red solid.

I like the way this looks.  I'm using just a little tiny bit of red on the "right" side, but I generally like a lot of red. so this is appealing!

And there are some of the parts prepared for the other side piece, which will also have a chunk of red.

I hope to get this section quilted in place tomorrow.

Sara

Gratitudes:

Beautiful snow on the ground and trees
Dinner with Peter and Lynne tonight [DS & DDIL]
Continuing progress on the quilt

Scraps for the back

  I have sewn the majority of the scraps for this quilt into long, 5" segments for the back.

Now I need to figure out if the BIG pieces added to these will make the right size for the rest of the back.

Chili was a success last night at our "Dinner for Eight" of friends from Dominican Chapel, and the interesting conversation kept going until after 10 pm.

Sara

Gratitudes:

All of Charlie's help
First snow predicted
Two quilts  on the bed