January Goals

After writing down my goals for 2016, I just want to run and do it ALL. But I have to pace myself, I know. I realize I can't do it all in one day. And funnily enough, the project I want to work on this month doesn't have anything to do with my goals for the year--it's a leftover Christmas project I didn't finish.

I want to make three of these Pillows for my sisters-in-law.

Babco Unlimited - Flower Petal Pillow Completed Project

I had a stroke of genius about five days before Christmas--to make this pillow for my mother-in-law. She had seen a picture of the one I had made and jokingly requested one in peach. I thought it would be a perfect Christmas gift.



Flower Petal Pillow

But as I shopped for fabric and accessories, I thought "I should do one for my sisters-in-law, too. Shouldn't take me very long." So I started to buy stuff to make three extra pillows. Only problem--it took me two days to track down peach felt, and I ran out of time.

So now I have stuff for three more pillows, and I don't want all the stuff to lay around my sewing room forever.

2016 Here I Come!

I had to laugh when I read this, because it's kinda true. Not that I didn't accomplish any of my goals from 2015, but because I looked over my goals from 2015 to help determine my goals for 2016. (And a few did make the list for 2016 again.)

Honestly, setting goals do help me focus. I review them monthly to help me determine what to work on.


GOAL #1 -- Organize: Organize my sewing room, my home, and my life.

• My Sewing Room: When I was sewing a few Christmas gifts, I needed a hand needle. Could I find one? Not to save my life. Did I own one? I know I own many, but couldn't find them. I'm tired of not being able to find and use my things. 
• My Home: I have now been in my new home for just over a year. I've gotten a feel for where I like things and how I live in this space. When we moved in, we kinda just threw things in rooms. It's time to truly organize and unpack the leftover boxes. 
• My Life: I recently realized I volunteer too much. People ask things of me, and I think to myself "Yeah, I've got time for that." With my many responsibilities, I need to organize so to be most effective.

GOAL # 2 -- Enter 3 Quilt Shows: HMQS, Springville Show, & QuiltFest

I plan on entering my "Painting the Roses Red" Quilt into the HMQS and Springville Shows. However, I need a new quilt to enter the Utah Quilt Fest. Not sure which quilt that will be, so I need to get a crack-a-lacking.


GOAL # 3 -- UFO Project Continues: Finish 6 of my current WIP Projects.

This is a carryover from last year. I only completely finished 3 UFO projects last year. I did make a lot of progress on a few others though. I have an idea of which ones I'd like to complete:

• Red & White Quilt
• A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree Table Topper
• Pocket Full of Pinwheels Quilt
• Butterflies Quilt
• Fractured Flower Quilt
• Another Denim Project

 However, I reserve the right to finish anything on my WIP list and not specifically those listed here.

GOAL # 4 -- Enjoy Life: Find time for me each day.

For me, this can mean a lot of things. It could mean time with scripture, time exercising, time sewing, time reading a book, or time working on one of these goals. I feel more balanced and less overwhelmed when I have had some time for myself.

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year! I'm excited about 2016 will bring.

Updated Picture - Red & White Quilt

As promised. Here is a picture of my completed top for my Red & White Quilt. I had to get 2 little helpers to hold this one up for me.



 

Red & White Quilt

My boys are used to this request: Will you hold a quilt for me? They know the drill and are good sports about it.

I'm having moments of panic about the size. I intended this to be a Queen sized quilt. Technically, it is. However, it is on the small side of Queen size. After taking measurements of this top (76" x 96") and my Queen sized mattress, I realize it will work. But, I want it just a tad bit wider for comfort.

So, it's been decided to add a boarder. I'm thinking a red and white striped border. Well, it would actually be white, red, white stripes with a red binding. This would add another 6" (3" on each side) making the quilt 82" x 102".

My goal for December is to add a border to this quilt.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.
Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.

Quilt Top Done

Just in the nick of time, I completed my November Goal: Complete the top for my Red & White Quilt. And because it is 11:30 pm, I can't get a good picture of it, so I'll use this almost completed picture for now until I can get a good picture to post and still be able to link up to the linky party.



Red & White Quilt Top

I did want to have this done for my Quilt Guild's meeting a week and a half ago, but it didn't happen. Oh well! Just happy to have it done.

I do think I will add borders to it to make it just a bit bigger. We'll see.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

November Goal: Finish top for Red & White Quilt

My crazy goal for November: Finish the top for my Red & White Quilt.

Babco Unlimited - Red & White Quilt in Progress

This is what I get for starting my challenge so late. I really should have the top completed by my November meeting in 2 weeks...but I'm not holding my breath on that one. I just need to be able to bring a completed top by then.

Wish me luck!

Linked up with a Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Red & White Quilt Progress

I can't believe I almost forgot to post about meeting my October goal: to have all my strip sets sewn for my Red & White Quilt. I am happy to report I accomplished my goal and surpassed it! Yahoo! I sewed all my strip sets and sewed all my mini blocks. (88 of Block A and 64 of Block B)

Babco Unlimited - Red & White Quilt in Progress

Sorry for the dark picture. It has been cloudy and rainy in Utah all week. I meant to take a picture this afternoon, but soccer and Halloween and weekend cleaning happened.

I now have all the pieces I need. It's so fun to watch this quilt come together.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Mystery Quilt - Day 4

Mystery Solved!

Babco Unlimited - Mystery Quilt Completed Top

And I have a completed top--YAY!

I've never worked exclusively with solids before. I know I'm late to this trend, but I think I really like it. In fact, I just did a large fabric order of solid fabrics for my next project.

And just like that, I completed my September Goal.

Linked up with Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Friday Finish -- Fractured Flower Quilt Top Done

**Updated photo:

Fractured Flower Quilt Top

Yes, I know I should put this photo AFTER my original post last night, but I like this picture SO much better that I want this one to be the one seen on my feed. Colors so much better! And, a handsome little boy who wanted to hold it for me and be in the picture. 

______________________________________________________________________________

*Original Post:

July Goal DONE! With an hour to spare.

Late Night Picture of Fractured Flowers

I know this picture is just awful. It's now 11:02 pm and the lighting is horrible. I will add better pictures tomorrow when I can take better pictures with natural light.

It is so fun to see this quilt top all done. Woo-Hoo!

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.
Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up to Show Off Saturday here.

Goals for July

I forgot how busy summer time is. With three very active kids, we always have something going on. But I love it. I love all the fun things I get to do with my kids and the time spent together.

Even still, I do need some me time. I plan on using some me time this month to finally finish my Fractured Flower Quilt top.

Fractured Flower Quilt

It is beyond time I am done with this quilt.

I have such a love/hate relationship with this quilt. I started this project three years ago at the Utah Quilt Fest when I took it as a class. I followed some bad advice from the instructor (who did not write the pattern, she just made a quilt from the pattern) and I have been kicking myself ever since. I KNEW better than to do what she said, but I went ahead and did it anyway and could just cry over the results. Now, I just want it to be done and out of my WIP pile.

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

My Year So Far

Can you believe we are half way through 2015? I sure can't.

With 6 months under my belt, I wanted to review my goals for this year to see how I've done so far. Have I stayed on track? Am I making progress towards my goals? What have I accomplished? Do I need to recommit to my goals?

 

It's helpful to look at these goals again to see where I stand. We're six months into 2015--will I be able to finish up all of these within the next six?

Looking over this I can easily see what I have accomplished.  I can cross 3 big projects off my UFO list. How awesome is that? Pretty awesome, I'd say!

I finished this pretty pink Wheel of Fortune Quilt.

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

And this Denim Rag Quilt.

Denim Rag Quilt

And this Cathedral Windows Pillow.

Modern Cathedral Window Quilt Pillow

And, I can see what project I need to work on next.

How about you? Did you make goals for 2015? Have you stayed on track? What has helped you remember and accomplish your goals?

A Friday Finish --Cathedral Windows Pillow

I have always admired the Cathedral Window Quilts. They are just so beautiful, delicate, and classic. I never imagined I could make one myself--it seemed too difficult.  Even with my fear of the difficulty level, it quickly found a place on my Quilty Bucket List. I'm so glad I faced my fear and tackled this project.  

At QuiltFest, I took a class on making Cathedral Window quilt by machine. I made a small sample....and there it sat in my WIP pile for months. 

Not anymore! I made a pillow!

 

Instead of sewing these blocks by hand, I used a blind hem stitch to stitch down the "flaps." So much faster than hand sewing. 

 

I'm so happy with how it turned out. It finished at 17" square....and I put in an 18" square pillow so it is EXTRA poofy.

One more project to cross off on my WIP list. It is such a good feeling to finish up these UFOs! (UnFinished Objects.)

Linked up with Show Off Saturday here.
Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Goals for June

I feel like I'm on a roll. I managed to complete two UFO (UnFinished Object) projects last month. It is so satisfying--and I want to keep the good feelings going.

This month, I want to finish my Cathedral Window. I just love this classic design--especially all the modern cathedral window quilts popping up. 

I plan on making a pillow with this, so I don't need it to be humongous. Most the prep work is done. I have several background pieces sewn as well as many scrap pieces pre-cut. I just need to sit and sew.

This is actually on my Quilty Bucket List, too. (Have you made a Quilty Bucket List?)

Linked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Spring is Here!

Spring is here! And so is spring ball. It's Baseball season and Soccer season. With all the time I'm spending at the ballparks on the sidelines cheering on my kids, the more I realize it is finally time to finish at least ONE of my denim projects--just an easy peasy denim rag quilt that I can take to the ballpark. 

I have all the pieces--TONS of denim I've pre-cut into 5" pieces and flannel fabric. I have denim needles and cotton thread. What more do I need?

Babco Unlimited - The Denim Project

My goal for May: A Denim Rag Quilt.

Ready, Set, GO!

Linked up with Lovely Year of Finishes here.

March Goals

I just love the name of this project --  A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree by Cindi Edgerton.

A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree

(Pattern can be found here.)

My mom, aunt, and I had a sew day yesterday. We "shopped" from my mom's fabric stash. This is only part of her stash:

I had such a fun time hanging out with my mom and aunt. We chatted while we sewed, told stories, laughed over mistakes, shared tips, and helped with fabric choices.

This pattern is so well written! It is incredibly easy to follow. She gives detailed instructions on each step with so many tips to get great results.

I didn't get a whole lot done because my day was cut short when my oldest son called me from school saying he didn't feel well. He's doing much better today, thankfully.

Well, here's to starting yet another project!

Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up with WIP Wednesday here.

February Goals Finished

I think this is the first time I've finished my goals early in the month. Usually, I'm scrambling the last couple of days to get things all done. I think it had something to do with the fact that I was without a sewing machine for a large part of the month. It forced me to really focus--I was limited in what I could do, so I wasn't as easily distracted. 

GOAL #1: PREP ALL JEANS FOR SEWING

I had so many holey jeans they could no longer fit in my very large storage bin. So, the denim project was born. My goal was to turn all the jeans I had into fabric for other projects. I cut and cut until I had huge piles of 5" squares and 2-1/2" strips.

Babco Unlimited - The Denim Project

I have left a small pile of denim fabric: jeans I've cut away all the seams and holes, but haven't cut into any predetermined size. I did this because there are other things I want to make with my jeans that require other sizes cut from the jeans--I just haven't committed to the project yet.

Babco Unlimited - The Denim Project

Besides, I have a bajillion 5" squares. It was starting to get boring. 

GOAL #2: PREP OLD ITALIAN PAPER FOUNDATION PIECES

I was able to fold and prep about 45 pieces of vellum paper for my Old Italian Project. It is a bit time consuming to make sure each fold is perfect (or pretty close to perfect), but it is worth it in the end.

I put on a show and sat at my mom's light box and folded and folded and folded. By the time my movie was over, I had all my printed vellum paper folded and ready for the next stage.

I will be doing this again and again as I need about 194 blocks for my Queen sized quilt. So far I've only sewn 57 blocks. So, I have a ways to go on this. I think I know what will be part of my goals for next month.


I love being part of A Lovely Year of Finishes. It is so helpful to me to make small goals, be held accountable for them, and mark my successes and failures.

Liked up with A Lovely Year of Finishes here.

February Goals

So, thanks to my broken sewing machine January's goals are a wash. Boo! I still don't have my machine back yet. But soon. Hopefully. Finger's crossed. Please let it be soon!

Deep breath.

Since I don't have a machine right now, and I don't know exactly when I'll get it back, I think I need to play it safe on my February goals and pick a few non-sewing goals.

• GOAL #1: PREP ALL JEANS FOR SEWING

I have LOTS of denim to cut up. After cleaning out my sons' closet, I discovered I had an abundance of denim. So, I need to cut them up. It's time to change my holey jeans into piles of fabric. I plan on cutting them into piles of 5" squares, 2-1/2" strips, and scraps for a string quilt. 

Babco Unlimited - The Denim Project

I have lots of ideas on what to do within these piles and piles of denim fabric.

• GOAL # 2: PREP OLD ITALIAN PAPER FOUNDATION PIECES

This is one of my "Long-Term" projects because of how time consuming it is and because I plan on making this a Queen Sized quilt for my bed.

Babco Unlimited - Old Italian Quilt in Progress

One of the reasons this project takes a long time is the time it takes to prepare the foundation paper. It really is ingenious how it all comes together, but takes some time.

I have a stack of Translucent Vellum Paper all printed with the pattern ready for my next step: Folding.

The way this pattern works, you use a light box (or use this iPad/tablet app hack if you don't have a light box) to match up lines and pre-fold your pattern. This way, you can sew on the lines without wasting any fabric. It also has the added benefit of keeping directional fabric intact.


Well, it's off to my sewing room to not sew.

Linked up with Lovely Year of Finishes here.

January Goals

All those goals I set for myself for 2015 won't happen by themselves! They need some help along the way. I love the 'Lovely Year of Finishes' Linky Party for that very reason. Little steps and small goals in the right direction to keep me moving forward.

JANUARY GOAL: Finish all quilting on Wheel of Fortune Quilt.

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

I'm so close to finishing this quilt! All my spirals are quilted, and I'm so happy with it.

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

I can totally finish up all my quilting on this beauty.

Linked up with Lovely Year of Finishes here.

2015 Here I come!

Calvin just has a way of saying things perfectly, don't you think? I think I'm pretty awesome, but I do have some goals for this coming year. There are projects I want to complete, new skills I want to conquer, and life I want to enjoy.

GOAL #1 -- UFO Project: Finish at least 6 of my current WIP projects.

I need to conquer a few UFOs. As I've been organizing my new sewing room, I've come to realize that several of my UFOs are so close to being completed. I want to finish at least 6 of my current WIP projects, including:

• Project: Fractured Flower Quilt

Fractured Flower Quilt

I'm still mad at this project, so it hangs out in a time-out bin. I just need to buck up and finish it. All the rows are sewn, I just need to sew the rows together. That is all! 

• Project: Wheel of Fortune Quilt

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

Again, so close to finishing this one. Just need to finish quilting the edges. I've already made the binding. Not much longer.

• Project: Cathedral Window Pillow

Modern Cathedral Window Quilt

This only just recently joined my WIP page, but I'm anxious to complete it only because I LOVE Cathedral Window quilts. I want to make a pillow for my quilting Great-Great Aunt's chair I inherited.

• Project: Purse

I have been intimidated by this project. I absolutely LOVE this purse, but I've never done anything like this so I'm afraid. I'm afraid I won't understand the instructions. I'm afraid I'll mess it up. I'm afraid mine won't be as pretty. 

My goal is to banish the fear, learn something new, and embrace what comes. (fingers crossed)

GOAL #2 -- Learn New Skills: There is so many things I still want to learn!

• Skill: Free Motion Quilting--I have had so much fun quilting my own projects. I want to explore new FMQ patterns. I especially want to improve my feathers. I've been eyeballing a class on Craftsy called Free-Motion Quilting Feathers. Hmmmm.....maybe I'll take the class.

• Skill: Machine Embroidery--My mom LOVES machine embroidery. It is her  preferred method of quilting her quilts. My new (to me) sewing machine has an emboidery module, and I want to learn how to use it. I might love it, I might hate it, I might thing "meh." But I want to learn the basics. 

• Skill: Crochet--I know this isn't a quilting skill, but I still want to learn to do it. My craft pintrest board is being filled up with more and more crochet projects. 

GOAL #3 -- Enjoy Life: Be Grateful for Each Day!

I want to be able to go to bed each night knowing I accomplished something good. It could be supporting my kids with their various sports activities, making a new friend, finished a quilting goal, or cleaning my fridge.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. -- Psalms 118:24

This has long been my favorite scripture because it reminds me that each day is gift. Each day is a new beginning. And I should make something out of every day.

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year! I'm excited for what 2015 might bring. 

A Finished Quilt

I did it! I finished this quilt the night before my deadline, and I couldn't be more happy with it.

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Finished Quilt

This little lady bug makes me smile.  I found it in my stash and had to piece him in somehow. 

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Finished Quilt

This is only the second quilt I have free motion quilted myself. I admit, I was very nervous about ruining my wonderful quilt top with my beginner quilting skills.

When it came time to quilt my borders, I was at a loss. I searched out inspiration on pintrest and found a few quilting motifs I thought I could manage.

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Finished Quilt

I had to improvise with my thread choices. I had planned on using the same green variegated thread all over the backing. But when it came to quilting the white churn-dash border, I couldn't get my tension right and the green kept pulling up to the top. It was so distracting. (And frustrating!) 

I finally threw my hands in the air and quilted both sides with white thread. I was under a deadline and didn't have time for this nonsense. Now, when I look at the backing, I love how it turned out. 

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Finished Quilt

This is a horrible picture taken by my mom, but here you go. I brought my completed project to my guild meeting last week. 

Painting the Roses Red

And guess what? It was selected to be part of our guild's entry to the AQS show in Grand Rapids, MI. The Quilt Show has a category called "The Ulitimate Guild Challenge" you can read about here.
I was beyond shocked my quilt was selected to be 1 of 8 our guild entered into this National Quilt Show.

Linked up with Anything Goes here.
Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up with Needle and Thread Thursday here.
Linked up with TGIFF here.

A Quilt Top Completed!

"I Looked Out the Window"

I'm moving right along on my challenge quilt. It has come together rather quickly and easily--that's part of the beauty of this pattern....it's all free form. I just sewed randomly to form the flowers until I got the size I wanted. I did try to keep it looking like the light was coming from the upper-right hand corner, but other than that it was just random on where things were sewn.

I know this is kinda crazy, but I basted my quilt on my back patio. (Don't tell the Quilt Police!)

I didn't want to pin baste and wanted to try using 505. But, 505 is messy. I didn't want to have to move furniture off my tile and then mop up afterwards. So....I thought about my back patio. Why not? I taped down my backing. Then sprayed on a layer of 505 and smoothed down my batting.

After another spray of 505, I laid down my quilt top and smoothed it out.

I have to say that 505 is so fast and easy! Loved it! Let's hope it truly keeps things in place while I quilt it.

Now, I'm on to the quilting. Again, I'm nervous I will ruin it with my non-stellar beginning quilting skills. I need to have it completed next week!

Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up with Show Off Saturday here.