November Goal - JOY

If you are like me many of you are thinking, "where did the month of November go?"and "Christmas is going to be here before we know it!"  It has been a busy month here in my sewing room.  I did complete my JOY banner.  I can't remember when it was begun and it was a snap to complete so I am able to check another project off my list.

I also want to share one of the quilts completed this month.

 Village Quilt is complete and has gone home with our daughter in law, Lyndie.

It has been good working on projects and completing them.  I also have been working on some secret sewing for Christmas gifts.  I will take pictures and share them before passing them on to Pat to do the wrapping, he has graciously taken on that job these past few years.  

We have much to be thankful for.  We spent Thanksgiving here at home with one of our daughters and one of our sons and their families.  Because of Pat's health we made the decision not to travel to Atlanta to spend Thanksgiving with our son and his family.  We know it was the right decision but missed them and the traditions we have made there.   It is also the first year without my sweet sister Becky who went home to be the Lord in early December, last year.  Life is ever changing and so full of daily blessings, we just have to keep our eyes and hearts open to them.

Happy Creating!

I will be linking to One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts and 

2019 UFO & WIP Challenge at The Crafty Quilter.

One Monthly Goal November 2019

When I am trying to decide what I will choose for my next finish there is no problem finding unfinished projects in my sewing room.  A while back I went through projects and made a list of UFO's and came up with about 60 items.  This includes projects that have not been started but patterns and materials are gathered and waiting to be used.  These are not projects that I have lost interest in so I hope to get to them.   I will say that I have completed 8 of the projects on these lists though I have not shared all of these here.

This will be my November Monthly Goal and I will share it at Elm Street Quilts.

The embroidery is complete and now to make a banner with them.  I am sure that it won't take long and now is the time.

I have completed a couple of projects recently.

Simple Joys of Winter pillow.

Woodland Wonderland BOM quilt.  I finished the binding this weekend.

It will be fun to use these new winter and Christmas projects.

I Have A Finish Or Two

The time goes by so quickly sometimes.  This is Monday, the last Monday in October.  We will have a new grandson join our family today.  He will share a birthday with his other grandma and a great uncle.  We are looking forward to meeting him.  I was looking at my blog this morning and see that there is work to do to update things.  One of the changes I will need to make is to update the number of grandchildren we have.  

I have done quite a bit of work in my sewing room.  I am trying to complete as many projects as I possibly can.  Hunting down backings for quilts and having some quilted and attempting to quilt a few on my own.  The small projects are what I have focused on to improve my machine quilting skills.  

I do have a  finish to share today, one that was originally my goal for September.  I made two little quilts for my nieces, they were fun to make and showcase the fun fabric.

 Both of the quilts were made using "Lil' Red" fabric by Moda. 

 I used backing and binding fabric I had here in my stash.

I quilted them simply using my walking foot.  

They have been mailed to my two little nieces.

This was another recent finish that was also a gift for my niece.

I plan to set a goal for November to check off a few more projects on my long list.  I also plan to get a bit of work done outside while we are experiencing such perfect fall weather.  There are leaves everywhere waiting for attention.

Happy Fall!

August Sewing

I was looking around my sewing room and realized that I had not shared the pictures of the two quilts I finished up this past month.  One was my March goal that I talked about in this post, I guess it is better late then never.  The little quilt pictured below is my Bungalow quilt, now complete.

I did a bit of machine quilting but plan to do more on my next small quilt.

I love the minky on the back of the quilt.  It is good to check a project off on my long list of UFO's.

The next project that has been checked off my list is my Flag quilt. 

This was made using Stars and Stripes by Camille Roskelley.  I hope to make another from this pattern soon.

   I like the simple wavy line quilting on this one.  

I keep trying to mark finishes off on my long list of UFO's but have added a new project to the list now and then.  Keep finding joy in being creative.  Happy Stitching!

I will link this post with Julie's August UFO & WIP Challenge at The Crafty Quilter

Two Little September Goals

So many projects, so little time.  I can't count how many times I have said or thought that.  I am wandering around thinking about what I should try to complete before the end of the month.  I came across two small quilt tops I made for my niece and her soon to arrive little sister.  This is what I must put first in order to make sure they get them before the new baby arrives.

There are two small, very wrinkled lap quilts waiting to be completed.  They are made with fat quarters from the Moda "Lil Red" fabric line.  The pattern is quick to stitch up and showcases the fabrics.  I will be quilting these little quilts on my machine, very simply of course.

I will link this post to September One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Future Plans and Goals

I have not been blogging but often think about it and I like the idea of getting back to some sort of routine.  I have been making plans for sewing and completing projects.  I will say that retirement takes time to adjust to and I haven't quite accomplished that adjustment.

I went to our local library today to pick up books I had on hold.  For the past 28 years I have had my books delivered to my desk in the Library on Wheels department.  I know many of the staff at the Lake Stevens Library so it is always fun to go there.  This day was special in that before I entered the building I saw a friend from high school and her husband.  We did not attend high school in this town but both of us moved here many years ago.  I was not sure that they still lived in this area.  It was so great to see them and I look forward to catching up and having a bit of time to get to know each other again.

I have made quite a list of the projects that have been started or that I have purchased materials for.  The list has 22 projects on it and there are many more I will add, I just thought that I would like to mark a few off as complete before adding to the list. 

Moving forward while looking forward to what the future has for us.  Time for family and friends will be at the top of our list. 

We were blessed with a trip to Hawaii and I love this picture I took on this trip.  Taking time to connect with God's beautiful creation and each other.

Retirement Adjustments and a June Goal

Well my retirement date did arrive and it has been a busy time since.  My last day of work was April 30th.  We then prepared for traveling to the Atlanta area to be there for our oldest granddaughter's graduation.  We spent two weeks with our family there and had a great time.  We are proud of Adria, she works hard at everything she does.

Adria with Grandma and Papa at Baccalaureate

Adria with her parents on Graduation Day

A couple of weeks before our retirement my husband Pat was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  This type of blood cancer is the same cancer that my sister had.  It is a rare cancer, one percent of all of the cancer's diagnosed, so it was a surreal to us to find out that Pat and has the same cancer that  Becky had.  We have been involved in appointments and meetings to make plans for his treatment direction.  We look at each other quite often and say, "this is not how we envisioned our first weeks of retirement."  We don't know yet what our "retirement" looks like but do look forward to settling in to some sort of routine and we know the God knows our future and that knowledge brings us peace.  

I do plan to find time to do a bit more sewing and needlework.  I love participating in goal planning, it always helps me with a focus on a project and who doesn't like checking things off on a list.  My list of projects is quite long and I have chosen one to complete by the end of June.  I would ordinarily link up with One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts sharing my goal but did not get it together before the deadline.
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Mystery Block of the Month 2018 at A Quilting Life

I completed this quilt top a while back during the time we were waiting to put our house back together.  My sewing machine was set up in our little kitchen area and the picture was taken inside as you can see.  I sent the quilt out to be quilted and it should be back to me sometime tomorrow.  My goal will be to get the binding on and gift it to a friend.  That does not seem to be to lofty of a goal but we will have to see what happens.

March Sewing Goal

I have so many projects I want to work on and get finished. I have made quite a list of  UFO's and just love crossing them off.  So many projects, so little time.  I believe I have mentioned that I have plans to retire from a job that I have had for 28 years.  I love the work that I have been a part of for so many years and I know that I will miss it but I also know it is time to make a big change in my life.

With the change in my work life, I hope to do more sewing, gardening, reading and best of all spending time with the people God has brought into my life.  That would include family, church friends, neighbors, blogging friends and the people I have yet to meet.  

With the flooding we had this winter in our home, the first thing I will try to accomplish is putting our space back together and with that do a little more purging and organizing.

Below is a picture of one of the 20 plus projects waiting for completion.  This is the project I chose as my March goal.  I have done a bit of work already and can't wait to finish and share this with a sweet little girl I know.

This is my Schnibbles - Bungalow quilt.  I am planning to quilt it myself using a quilt as you go method and I will be adding Minky to the back.  

I will be linking up at Elm Street Quilts sharing my March goal.

Happy Sewing to those of you who love it and Happy March to all.

Sherry

Woodland Wonderland Quilt Top

This has been a month of cold and snow in the Pacific Northwest.  I do enjoy a bit of snow but my work involves driving vehicles all over two counties providing library service to those who cannot get to the library.  The unusual amount of snow in our area resulted in a couple of closure days and short open hours for our libraries, many closed days for our local schools.  The snow added to the beauty around us, I took a couple of pictures while driving around Lake Stevens.

With a couple of snow days that kept us all home from work and school, I was able to complete the blocks for my quilt.  It is now ready to send out to have it quilted.  It is a fun quilt and I am tempted to make it a permanent home here.  To me this a finish in that I am able to move it on to the next step and soon it will be ready to be used.

I will link up with Elm Street Quilts for the February One Monthly Goal and The Crafty Quilter for the February WIP Challenge. Thank you for the inspiration to keep checking things off on my "finish" list.  

Sherry

February Sewing Plans

I have been working on my Woodland Wonderland BOM quilt from Fig Tree Quilts.  I was a bit behind schedule and decided to see what I could do to get caught up.  I have quite a bit to go to complete the top but I am determined to get it done.  The blocks are fun and I know that I will love this quilt but I also know it will take some effort to complete it.  Setting a goal can only help me stay at it.

These are just a few of the blocks I have completed, now to add fillers and follow the directions to make a complete quilt top.

We are packed in to a small part of our space due to some ground water flooding in our home.  It has been quite an adventure.  I think I will share a few before and after pictures in another post as we go through the process of repairing and putting things back in order.    Finding a spot to take a picture of my sewing is a challenge. This was taken in our dining/sewing/closet next to our living room/bedroom.  Fun times.

I will link this post to February One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts.

If I complete this project, I will also share it as my February finish on The Crafty Quilter. It is one of the projects from my UFO & WIP List.

Sherry

A January Finish - Sort of

2019 is  my second year of focusing on finishes.  Not that I stuck to "no starts, only finishes" last year.  I did add several to my list to finish this year and we all know that it is just too hard to not start some new projects or join just a few sew along groups.  Anyway, I am here to share my "almost finished quilt top".  It is the one I chose from my very long UFO list to "complete" this month.  To me this is a finish because now it is ready to send out to be quilted.  The back is prepared and all is ready to go.  The unique thing about this one is it is a block of the month from 2018 and it is only January and it is pieced together.  I believe that is a record for me.  I still have many BOM projects waiting to be completed from several years back.  This is my quilt from Sherri's Block of the Month at A Quilting Life.

The size of the blocks help to showcase the fabrics used.   

My pictures have been taken inside because I have been leaving for work in the dark and returning after dark.  I am so looking forward to that changing.

I will be linking with The Crafty Quilter to share my finish.  Setting a goal for the month is always a great help to me, it feels great to check projects off the list and put them to use.  It is time to pick out my goal for February.  Looking forward to a little more daylight each day.

Sherry 

January Goal 2019

Wow, it is hard to believe that it is 2019.  So many things have happened this past year and blogging was something that I did not find much time for.  We have many changes coming in the year ahead and I am looking forward to sharing more about that.  My hope is that I will make the time to share projects and family events on a regular basis this year.  I plan to join in and post goals and share those I am able to complete.  

First I will share my goal for January.  The quilt blocks below are my 2018 Block of the Month blocks designed by Sherri at A Quilting Life.   

Twelve blocks complete and ready to be put together.  I will pick up some border fabric this weekend and be ready to complete the quilt top.  Thank you to Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Julie at The Crafty Quilter for their inspiration to pick a project each month and finish it.

I hope to share the finished quilt top very soon.

Sherry