Mystery Monday #9 - A UFO Finally Finished

Do you ever have projects that you just want to get done but are waiting for something to motivate you?  This happens to me too often but I am thankful that I was motivated to complete this project. One of my co-workers was leaving us for another job and I often sew a bag of some sort when this happens.  I work for a library system and book bags, story bags and bags for all sorts of uses are around everywhere.  So this unfinished bag I started when following Mystery Monday #9 at Little Bits of This and That.  Thank you Sherri for taking the time to create this Mystery Monday project.

Here it is ready to be filled with all sorts of things.  It was made with charm squares so it has so many fun fabrics in it.

This projects was number 2 on my Allpeoplequilt's UFO Challenge 2016 list.

I know that this bag will be enjoyed and I had fun with the process.  Another project complete and I can cross it off my long list.

Fun With Fabric

This is my a mug rug I made for my daughter for Christmas.  I used a pattern designed by Julie Cefalu of The Crafty Quilter.  I forgot to add the steam coming from the cup, I didn't notice until I took a look at this picture.  I'll do that next time and do a better job on the binding too.  It is interesting what you notice when you take a good look at the pictures you are adding to a blog post.

Lori Holt's calendar

My friend Melanie gave me this fun calendar when I visited her shop last week.  I love Lori's patterns and designs, this calendar is full of beautiful pictures. Melanie's shop is called Fabric Chicks.  You should visit her shop here on Facebook or here on Instagram, she has some great items on sale.

Fabric therapy - Strawberry Fields Revisited by Fig Tree.  Melanie knows that I love Fig Tree fabrics so she set this aside for me.  I know this will be fun to work with and make a beautiful quilt top.

I went to a baby shower last weekend.  The couple has decided not to wait to see if it is a boy or a girl.  I decided to make a couple of reversible bibs.  This was a fun and quick project.

Sewing is so much fun!

First Finish 2016

I have finished my first project for 2016, a pillow I made for my sister for Christmas.  I am a little late getting it done but was slowed down by the nineteen pillowcases I completed for my grandchildren.  I thought that my sister would understand the delay a little better than the little ones.

This picture shows four of the nineteen pillowcases.  I was in such a hurry to get everything wrapped and forgot to take a picture.  The zipper bag was one of the six I made for my daughters and daughters in law.

My sisters and I drew names and got together before Christmas to exchange gifts and have a progressive dinner.  Our husbands came to the dinner and we had a great time.  I chose this pillow cover from the Better Homes and Gardens Make It Yourself magazine Fall and Winter 2015. This project was designed by Amy Sinibaldi of Nana Company.  

This is Lynda's pillow cover completed.  It was fun to put together and nice to complete my first project for the year.  This project was listed on my first quarter 2016 Finish Along post here.  Now on to the next one!

                                                    

I will be linking this post to the Q1 2016 Finish Along post at Clover and Violet

First Quarter Finish Goals

I was thinking about my goals for this year and it is pretty easy to find a word to describe what I want to do regarding sewing and other projects and the word is FINISH.  I looked around to find so many things I have begun working on.  I really love most of them and want to finish them.  I want to complete projects and share the finished items with friends and loved ones that will enjoy them and use them.

I do have another word that I want to keep in mind in the next year.  That word is AVAILABLE.  I want to be available to those around me and aware of what I might be able to do to enrich some one's life.   I want to ask myself this question, "Am I available to others when I might be a help or encouragement?"  I don't want my "Finish" goals to be so consuming that I don't see others around me.  With that said, I am going to share pictures of some of my projects that I would love to finish this quarter.

Spools quilt - ready for binding

Christmas pillow, gift to my sister, needs binding.

Sunnyside quilt kit, 6 blocks complete 18 to go.

Mini quilt from Konda's book ready to make a pillow or mini.

Another, sames a above.

Number 3 from Konda's stitch along.

I finished this quilt top from  he Simply Retro book,  This quilt is one I am going to try to quilt myself.

My Petals table topper is ready for quilting and binding.

I have 3 quilts I just got back from my quilter and getting the binding on all three of these quilts in also an important part of my goal list.  I will be linking with Clover & Violet for the 2016 Finish Along.

I will work to complete as many of these things as possible but focus on remaining available to those around me.  I hope your new year brings many blessings.

Christmas Ornament Swap

I almost forgot to share the fun things I received in a Christmas ornament swap I participated in this year.  It was sponsored by Mdm Samm at Sew We Stitch.  My partner for this swap was Gracie, she blogs at Needles Pins and Dragonflies .  This is the package she sent to me.

It was fun to open each package to see what was inside.

This beautiful ornament was inside one of the packages.

The other items were this adorable pincushion, beautiful fabric, a cute little notebook I have already started using, and a little jar of  Prickly Pear Cactus Honey.  I have already started using the little notebook to list fabrics I need to complete projects and carry it with me in case I see just the right thing.

This is what I sent to Gracie.  It was a fun swap and I hope I have a little more time this year to join a swap or two.