Foto Finish - Goodbye to 2011

Happy New Year's Eve!  If you are going out on the town have fun, be a safe.  We'll stay home, eat cheese and crackers, then watch the ball drop on TV. Will we make it to midnight, maybe/maybe not.  How about you? 

This is the last Foto Finish for 2011.  Barbara has decided to drop the themes, at least for now.  So how to select a photo for today?  This one seemed appropriate for the end of the year.

The sunset Thursday night was just beautiful.  The sky was such a deep, dark red. We just stayed outside and watched the sun sink in the west and the reds, turn to purples then to midnight blue.  It's been a while since I just stood and watched the sun set. 

Sunsets always make me a bit reflective.  This past year has been a good, if hectic one at Life in Pieces.  No big dramas though, for which I'm very thankful.  Next year will see some major changes at work as the company undergoes restructuring.  Our pre-teen will become a teen in about a week.  Kids grow up so fast.  She's demanding a new "blog" name, telling me that she is no longer a "kiddo".  So I'm putting some thought into making that change.  I'm sure we'll have bigger challenges and changes in 2012, but that's part of life.  There's never a dull moment around here.  I wouldn't have it any other way. 

May 2012 be a year of adventure and joy for you and yours. 

2012 NewFO List

Barbara over at Cat Patches did such a good job this year at Judy's UFO challenge that she's left with no UFOs to do the challenge in 2012.  To remedy that situation so it doesn't occur in 2013,  Barbara is going to start one new project a month.   Isn't that a cool idea?  She's even sharing the fun and sponsoring a challenge. 




I do have a few UFOs (click here to see) and have signed on to participate in the 2012 UFO challenge.   But Barbara has reminded me that if I finish all my UFOs in 2012, I won't have any for the challenge in 2013.  So it's obvious that new projects really need to be started this year.  However, knowing how hectic the schedule gets around here, trying to start 12 new projects would just be frustrating.  So the plan is to start 6 new projects in 2012.  Here's my list (more or less in order).  

1.  Mystery Quilt.  The Jan/Feb issue of McCall's Quilting includes the instructions for a three part mystery.  I've done two other mystery quilts and enjoyed each.  I'm intrigued by the fabric choices presented in the magazine, so think this one would be fun to play along with.  Plus it addresses another goal, to actually make a pattern from one of the many magazines I subscribe to. 

2.  Jigsaw from Lehmann Quilting.  This pattern was requested by Kiddo last July and I still haven't started it.  She'd probably like me to finish it before she graduates from high school (in 4 years), so it's second on the list. 

3.  Angel Quilt, from original design.  Two SILs got quilts this Christmas, two didn't.  So I have some sewing to do before next Christmas.  I've started playing with designs, but don't have anything final. I want to use at least one of these fabrics in the quilt. 

4.  Dresden Plate.  This would be a new technique for me.  I'll probably make something based on a pattern from Anelie Belden's "Thoroughly Modern Dresden". This is another two-fer project.  With all the books in my quilting library, it's been a long time since one was used to make a quilt.  It's time to put at least one book to work.

5.  Buzz Lightyear.  One of my PIGS (Projects In Grocery Sacks).  I bought this fabric when Kiddo was about 4 or 5, when Toy Story was popular the first time around.  She picked out the fabrics and helped design the quilt, but it never got made.  I'm thinking this would be a good quilt to donate to the school auction.  But it may end up finding a home with some other little boy, you never know.  I'd just like to get it out of the PIGS pile (another goal).

 

6.  Project Using a Speciality Ruler.   Yes, I'm guilty of collecting gadgets then never using them.  So it seems like a good idea to make something from a ruler in my collection.  I really like the look of quilts made with diamonds separated by a narrow sashing, but I've been too scared to attempt such a project. It's definitely time to get over that. 

So that's my list.   Add in the 4 UFOs and I've just committed myself to working on 10 quilts this year.  Should be interesting to say the least.  

Wordless Wednesday - Sunset

2012 UFO Challenge - Quilt List

Judy of Patchwork Times is again sponsoring a UFO challenge.  I didn't play along last year,  but decided that it would be fun to try my hand at the challenge this year.  I only have 4 UFOs.  However, I also have a day job and Kiddo is playing multiple sports this spring, so it's not likely that I'd be able to finish any of the UFOs in a single month.  Each project has been assigned 3 numbers and I'll switch between the 4 based on what number Judy pulls each month.  If they all get done by the end of the year that would be fabulous. 

Here's my list:

1,2,3:  Purple/Yellow Scrap Quilt - From 2006

Needs borders and the backing made before it can be shipped off for quilting. 

4,5,6:  Scrappy Stars - From 2003

Only 4 blocks completed.  This is supposed to be a queen sized quilt.  I have no idea how many more blocks I need to make. 

7,8,9:  Moose on the Porch Layer Cake Quilt Along - From 2010

All the blocks are completed and the setting has been designed.  Just need to cut and assemble the sashing, the borders, make a back and it can go off for quilting. 

10,11,12 RWB (Red, White and Blue) Stars - from 2005

This started as a technique class at the local quilt shop.  I intended to make a quilt, but didn't get past the first block.

So that's my UFO list for 2012.  Even if they don't all get done, any progress at all would be a plus.   

15 Minute Challenge - 2011 in Review

I hope everyone had a joyous Christmas.  The Life in Pieces crew and extended family all had a good time.  Other than a few excess pounds, I didn't get anything that I didn't want.  I'll be getting a jump on my New Year's resolutions by putting in some time in the gym during Kiddo's swim practice this week. 

This is the last 15 Minute Challenge report of 2011.  Looking back, this challenge started for me back in February, when the lack of progress on my quilting projects was beginning to frustrate me.  Surely I could find 15 minutes every night to sew.  How can it be so hard to find my way up the stairs to the sewing room to do something I really, really like to do?   Actually, really, really need to do to maintain some sense of sanity in my crazy world of work deadlines and family stuff.  I really am a nicer, saner person if I get a daily dose of fabric handling (there must be something to the rumor that fabric gives off mood enhancing pheromones).   I started 5 new quilts this year, finished 7, and am close to finishing 2 others.  I'm pretty sure that challenging myself to spend those 15 minutes sewing each day is a big factor in having made that much progress.

For whatever reason, having to report my success or failure to my blog buddies each week was a good motivator for me.  More often than not, the fact that I had to write a report was the sole motivator getting me up those stairs some weeks. (Doesn't that sound pathetic?)   So the 15 Minute Challenge will continue in 2012.    Rules for 2012 are the same as they were for 2011.  Spend 15 minutes a day, or as many days a week as you think you can routinely manage, doing whatever art/craft (depending upon which camp you are in on that subject) project that brings joy and sanity to your life.  You decide what activities count.  So if organizing your stash is needed, you can count that as your 15 minutes. If shopping for some fabulous fabric is needed to start/finish a project, you can count that. 


So let's wrap up 2011.  Did you get those Christmas gifts sewn and under the tree?  I did better than expected on the finishing gift front.  Geisha became a finished top, the label was added to the Texas Twilight and Flurry was finished.  I had really good (though rushed) week. 

Christmas Eve was the only day I didn't manage to find time to sew.  It was filled with last minute Christmas shopping and other family activities.  

Did your sewing time become present wrapping time, baking time or family time (all very valued activities this time of year)?  Share how your week went by linking up below. 

1. Liz

2. Pat

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