A Year in Review and Looking Forward

Well after I got my brother's quilt finished (Coastal Compass) it was suddenly time to get ready for Christmas so I've been missing from my blog for a while. I kind of felt I needed a break as well, you know? Anyway I'm back and thought I might wrap up the year by looking back to see how I went on tackling my UFOs for the year.

1. Broken Herringbone Quilt - finish blocks and put top together  Done!
2. Quilt 'And Sew On' Wallhanging made last year. (don't have a sewing room yet so it got pushed to the side to make way for finishing my Mariner's Compass quilt (No.2 project)! 
3. Mariner's Compass Quilt for my brother Kym (I have ruler set I bought several years ago I want to test out!) Done!
   
4. Complete and quilt QBSA swap star quilt. Have yet to resolve the corners on this one so in limbo for now!
5. Make more blocks using crumb scraps I did four more of these on my retreat in March, now I have 8.
6. Use my rainbow swap charms to make a quilt. Top is done and partly quilted so pretty well done!
7. Complete Cot Quilt for my niece - this is my January challenge project and is underway! Done
8. Make more Star Value scrappy blocks I have cut out all the pieces ready to stitch together, still working on these!
9. Quilt Star Surround Lap Quilt Done - ready and gifted to new great niece in December!
10. Make a Shadow Trapunto project from book by Geta Grama Done - cushion made!
11. Use pinwheel blocks made at sewing getaway into a project - maybe placemats? Done
12. Christmas swap charms - use in a project - perhaps a table runner and/or pot holders? Done
    
13. Castle Ceiling Quilt - continue handpiecing. Well on the way, 9 rows together (diagonal rows).
14. Make handbags from patterns won last year.
15. Project using mixed charms from swaps and scraps using pattern from book I have
16. Make quilt top using Peter Rabbit fabric pieces - long term, don't need it but was given the fabric.
17. Continue with QBSA block swap - have now decided to leave the swap as I was losing interest and would rather let someone else take my place
18. I Spy project using swap blocks - very long term as I don't need this yet.
19. Finish watching all my Craftsy workshops I've signed up for, particularly the Leah Day ones.
20. Try quilting feathers this year!

Well I guess that's not too bad. The top 12 were my UFO projects I was doing as part of the UFO Quiltalong at 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks. If you're interested in taking part you can read the guidelines here (scroll down the page a little!). I can recommend it for keeping yourself on track and focussed (sort of!).

So, onto 2015. I pulled out everything I have either started, or want to start or have on the 'one day' plan and made a list. Not entirely sure that was a good idea as I have 26 items on the list! That was after combining a couple too. For the sake of keeping myself on track here they are. The first 12 will be my UFO projects for 2015 and the others will take their chances!

1.            Finish quilting of Rainbow Charm Quilt; and write pattern/tutorial for Rainbow Charm Quilt
   2.       Practice quilting feathers
   3.       Christmas Presents for 2015:
   ·         Cube Bag
   ·         Placemats
   ·         Cushion using practice folded compass block
   4.       QBSA Star Quilt – needs corners finishing and quilting
   5.       Star Value scrap quilt – make more blocks
   6.       Make more rainbow string blocks/quilt and make more Crumb Blocks
   7.       Make donation quilts for Mary Potter Hospice – perhaps using layer cakes, scraps, orphan blocks
   8.       Make thread catcher bag for sewing machine using laminated fabric.
   9.       Make laptop bag
   10.   Make one or two cushions to match Kym’s Mariner’s Compass quilt for his birthday or Christmas.
   11.   Celestial Star – finish blocks
   12.   Make/design cushion using offcuts from Rainbow Charm Quilt
   
   
   Other Projects I’d Like to Make
   13.   Ironing travel bag/ironing pad (on sewing weekend – with Kerry).
   14.   Quilt the Rainbow Broken Herringbone quilt top.
   15.   Use orphan blocks/bits and pieces in pizza box and make into quilts/cushions
   16.   Leah Day designs – snip and save thumbnails and print for inspirations when quilting.
   17.   Try making a ‘One Fabric Quilt’
   18.   Make quilt using orange and blue panel and fabric, perhaps to donate
   19.   Use layer cakes (4)
   20.   Handbag from Patterns Won
   21.   Finish watching Craftsy Workshops
   22.   Quilt Sewing Themed Wallhanging
   23.   Finish Castle Ceiling quilt top
   24.   Make spool wallhanging won in 2014
   25.   Peter Rabbit Quilt (not urgent – one day project)
   26.   I Spy Quilt (not urgent – one day project)

Okay, so there we have it! The first number for 2015 is 2 so I will be practicing quilting feathers. Not before time too as I did a class in October with Judi Madsen and I haven't really had a chance to practice since. Shame on me! However its not January yet so until then I'm going to sew whatever takes my fancy - what a rebel! 

Best wishes for the new year to you all and thank you for reading my blog this year.