Welcome to 2014! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Everyone in blogland is writing up their New Year's Resolutions. Judging from the posts I've read today, it seems to have reached near epidemic proportions! I keep thinking about what I can do differently to make my quilting better... and have more fun while doing it, of course! You might remember that this blog is also the result of a resolution (if you've been reading it all along) and I'm loving the adventure so far.

I really like the way Dominique over at The Running Thimble broke her resolutions into categories. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I'm copying her here and doing the same! First up...

Quilting Resources

• No new magazines or books - After making this resolution in January 2011, I haven't bought a quilting magazine in two years and dramatically cut down the acquisitions for my quilting library. I didn't add any books to the shelf that I hadn't already had out from the public library for a test drive.  Gifts (or books purchased with gift cards!) are permitted :)
• Purge the magazine shelf - Last year, I started going through my magazines and only keeping the ones that had multiple projects I have made/will make. For solo projects, I'll scan the required pages and send the magazine on to a new home (Look out, Bee mates!)
• Make at least one of the gorgeous Amy Butler patterns I have in my stash

Fabric
Though I admire the thriftiness and general good sense of  those fine quilters participating in a Fabric Fast à la Fabriholics Anonymous, I'm not jumping on this one. I like buying fabric. I love going to my stash and having just what I'm looking for for a project. When I mentioned the mere idea of a Fabric Fast, Himself asked "Why on earth would you do that? Fabric makes you happy!" Such a sensible man. I may even order some more fabric today before the sales end!
That said, I will commit to:

• De-stashing some fabrics that I just don't think I will ever use and sending them on to loving homes
• Making at least two large quilts to give away - using scraps and fabric only from the stash

UFOs/WiP
Last year at this time, I updated my UFO list. I figure I'll do the same this year. I post it at my quilting desk and cross things off as I go. At a couple points this year, everything was crossed off! Another resolution to continue. Here are the items on the WiP list at the moment.

•  Warm/Cool HST - continue making blocks
• Kona Table Runner - layer, quilt, & bind
• Toes in the Sand - Finish last four sets of blocks, piece top, etc.
• Improv Herringbone (ModQImprov Canada) - complete top once the last 3 blocks arrive
• Starburst QAL - layer, quilt, & bind

Giving
Last year, I donated a set of placemats and a baby quilt to a fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Canada and made a couple trips to the IWK. This year, I commit to:

• Donating more quilts to IWK Choices and the Layette Program
• Encouraging other quilters to purge their UFOs or quilt closets to support these programs

So far, it seems like I'm just keepin' on keepin' on. But new things? 

New Business
I'm joining Adrienne's Library Project. How can you not when you think "duh, why didn't I think of that?" I'm taking a hard look at that shelf above my quilting desk. Stayed tuned for the first Link up for more details on this challenge.

I've really enjoyed making a couple blocks a month for my two virtual bees (Global Stash Bee & ModQImprov Canada) and I loved the Quilt Along I hooked up with in December. So why not combine the two? I've narrowed it down to the paper pieced madness of Alison Glass's Feathers pattern.

http://www.add-crafter.com/feathers-qal/

 

 

 Or a Block of the Month skill building quilt through Pile o' Fabric

Decisions, decisions! I do think that's enough resolving for one day/year! How about you? What are you resolving for 2014? Please feel free to leave me a note!

J

P.S. It's fine to resolve to just have fun with fabric! If it's not fun, what's the point? ☺ 

New Year's Resolutions

The date and title of this post don't seem to go together, do they? At the dawn of 2012, some six months ago, I made two New Year's resolutions. Firstly, to buy no quilting magazines or books for a year. No, I am not single-handedly trying to bring down the publishing industry. Let me give you a visual on this...

Can you see why?

Can you see why now?

The personal library is pretty big... not to mention that I have access to the  libraries of the quilters in my Bee(s). I'd also been finding a lot of great inspiration on-line as well. Oh,Pinterest! but that's a resolution for 2013! 

I'm at the halfway point of this resolution and it hasn't been so bad. I waver slightly whenever I see an issue of Quilts and More, but making things from my Pinterest boards and completing projects from my UFO list (more about that another time!) has been really satisfying.

One of the projects I've made in 2012  - Selvage Spools -Inspiration from Tallgrass Prairie Studios

And, though I sometimes have to wait a while, my local library provides me with new, free, quilt-y books. Even if I do have to give them back three weeks later!

Secondly, I've wanted to start a blog... I've been reading a lot of them. There are so many quilters and crafters making cool stuff. I make cool stuff... why shouldn't I blog about it? I can be all artsy about it and say I want to explain my process. I guess that's a part of it.

Resolution #1 - Well underway!

Resolution #2 - You're reading it!

J