2012 NewFO Challenge

If you've read my previous blog entries (both of them) you know I don't really need any motivation to start new projects. I start more things than I finish. I do have a list of things I'd like to do some day though, and I get excited about new things I see and don't ever get around to those things I'd really like to do.
That's why I love the challenge that Barbara at Cat Patches has come up with for 2012. She is encouraging us to make a list and start something new each month. There is no pressure to finish it, just start it. By making the list now it will be those things I have been planning to start some day, not the newest thing to hit the blogs and get me excited. I don't actually have 12 specific patterns on my list yet, but I have ideas for most months.

Here's my list: Click on the button to the left in order to see the other lists of NewFO projects and find out about the prizes Barbara is offering.

1. Log Cabin/Friendship star for my friend. Her birthday is in February and I plan for this to be my January start. I've been collecting purple fabric (her favorite color) for several months. I do plan on finishing this one. Here's a picture of some of my lovely purple fabrics.

2. BOM kit that I bought at a yard sell. It is from JoAnn's and all the months and finishing kit are there and only one had even been opened. Perhaps I should tell that lady about this challenge. I think I'll start this in February then try to do one block a month after that. Here's a picture of the package.

3. Sudoku kit throw for my living room - bought the kit in fabrics to match my new LR furniture. If I don't get it done soon it won't be new furniture - LOL

4. Something applique - I want to improve my applique skills and the only way to do this is to do some applique. I have several things on my Pinterest boards and will have to decide and just do it. It will probably be a pillow or wall hanging.

5. Christmas Tree Skirt - I bought the kit last year, but never started it. If I haven't started this by July I will start it then to give me plenty of time to finish.
6. Cathedral window pillow - I remember watching my grandmother make a CW quilt when I was a girl. I want to learn the technique and make something that I will finish that will remind me of her.

7. Black or dark background quilt - no pattern yet, but I have seen several that I like.

8. Christmas stockings for Hubby and me

That's all I have for now. I know there will be other things I will start this year - mystery quilts or fun challenges, but I think this challenge will help me start some of these on my wish list.

2012 UFO Challenge

We all have them - those UnFinished Objects hiding in our craft room. We started out all excited with the pattern or the fabric or, usually, both then other projects stepped in and they got pushed aside. Well, Judy at Patchwork Times has a challenge to help us rid our craft rooms of those UFO's and finish some great quilts.

I've decided to participate. Most of my UFO's are from several years ago when I first started quilting then took a long break from it. A few of them though are from the last year when I have started more than I've finished.

The idea is that you list your projects and at the beginning of the month Judy will draw a number and you work on and try to finish the project that corresponds to that number. Sounds like a fun way to stay motivated and clear out some things.

Without further adieu here is my list for the challenge.

1. A seasonal project - explained below
2. Hexagon Flag - One of those insane things that you aren't sure how you dreamed it up, but all the hexies are done, so I just need to get them together and quilted and bound.
3. Orca Bay Mystery - I am still working slowly on this and there are more clues left, but I am so far behind I know it is bound to need a push to get finished this year.
4. Another seasonal project
5. Flower Basket 1 - My mother-in-law got 12 beautiful appliqued blocks in a swap through her guild several years ago and gave them to me to encourage me to get back into quilting. I split them into two twin sized quilts. One I need to finish the quilting and bind.
6. Flower Basket 2 - the second one from above. Still in pieces.
7. Seasonal again
8. Embroidery wall hanging for my sewing room - small project but I still need to finish the embroidery.
9. Pineapple Blossom - I won the block lotto in May and got 36 of these wonderful blocks. They need to be a quilt.
10. The last seasonal project
11. Embroidery Quilt Along Quilt - 2 more stitcheries to finish then put it all together, quilt and bind.
12. Crumb quilt from the crumb along earlier this year. Most of the blocks are done.

The seasonal ones are a Spring Table Runner, a summer beach wall hanging, a fall table runner and a Christmas quilt (actually Judy's Road to Brownwood made in Christmas colors). I want to finish the spring one by spring, summer by summer, etc... and since Judy will be drawing the numbers each month I wanted some flexibility.

I don't know if I will get all 12 completed. I will also be starting new things and have a few that are long term works in progress, but I like a challenge and hope it will motivate me. If your closet has some of these go check out the challenge and play along.

What have I talked myself into this time?

I can't believe I have started a blog. I've been playing with the idea for a few months, but couldn't quite make that leap from blog reader to blog writer (owner?). Anyway, here I am.

I plan for this to be a place that I can share my enthusiasm for quilting, scrapbooking and all the other creative things that catch my attention from time to time. I also hope sharing with others will give me more motivation to finish some of the projects I have started and to try new things.

I'm sure I will also be sharing bits and pieces of the rest of my life. We don't live or create in little boxes, so the overlap will be there. Whatever I decide to share here I hope you will enjoy it and come back from time to time to see what I am up to.

Now, I read somewhere that you can't have a good blog post without at least one picture, so I how about I share a picture of the quilt I made for my son last summer. It is the last thing I finished, though I have started several since then (See, I need that motivation). Oh, I'm also hoping sharing photos will help me improve my photography skills as a bonus to this undertaking.