Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts

Thursday, 2 January 2020

Making Plans

Well, that's been a long time coming! I haven't posted a non-finishalong post in I-don't-know-how-long!!! High time to say hello to all of you and let you know of some changes...

I am generally not one to make special resolutions for the New Year. I find the bleak winter months difficult enough to get through, without adding extra pressure by making extreme changes. Of course, I could do with shedding some pounds, keeping better on top of housework, working harder, do exercise, and more of those issues that keep nagging at me to do better.


But this year I think it is time to focus on being KIND. Does the world ever have enough kindness??!

And, that means I have to be kind to myself, too.
Who can be kind to others when not in a good (mental) place themselves?!

So, I will not be promising anything apart from allowing myself a little time (hopefully every day) to do things I enjoy:
  • I will try and allow myself more time for creativity with fabric, fibres and thread - I have so many ideas for things to make! And I hope to make time to post about that journey here, too.
  • I have started a drawing/sketching challenge #30daysketchbookchallenge - though the second day prompt has me already wondering what I've let myself in for... If I don't give up on it, you may get the odd sketch post in between textiles.
  • I will try to deal with a WIP (one at a time) by treating it like a new project - maybe making it into a different item than originally planned, or giving/throwing it away if it really doesn't inspire me any more... I hope to be joining the FAL to be accountable, but no long lists, I think.
  • And I will be KIND - to others as well as myself!

Another change I am making is that I will no longer be a host, co-organiser and social media person for the Finish-A-Long. I am still a host for your finishes from Q4 of 2019 (click for the link-up), but after that linkup closes I will send you to the new hosts for 2020. I have been actively involved for the last three years, and it is time to hand the baton to others. Saying that, I have been asked to still host the 2020 FAL planner, so I will be posting that soon.

Time to put some of these ideas in practice, I'm off to sketch bottle(s) apparently...


Sandra

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Finishalong Quarter 3 - my list is getting longer!

- to find out more about the Finishalong, see my Finishalong PAGE -

Last quarter I only finished one project (again!), and it was a rather small one, too. I enjoyed making it though, and it was another planned project off the list, so I won't complain. It does mean that there are again a lot of projects from my last list rolling over to this one for the third quarter. I even was brave enough to dig out some old project that never made it onto the list before. I'm not promising I have every project on my list now, but we're getting a bit closer. Now I only have to make a proper effort to actually finish some of them!

1. Flower Fans



This project was started a while ago with the local quilt group. I am designing it as I go along, and I am finally using my collection of batiks. I have been working on this since the last quarter, only a small bit done though.

2. Feathered Star top


Yes, you guessed it, this still needs quilting!


3. Hearty

The quilt top from (More) Hearty Good Wishes fabrics and sashiko-stitched linen is finished. It needs to be quilted and bound (not changed from last time).

4. Cubes quilt
Not worked on this at all recently, time to finish it though, it's so close (not changed from last time).

5. Curved improv

The top is (probably) finished, time to turn it into a quilt (not changed from last time).

6. Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my lack of experience too much... (also not changed from last time).

7. Stack and cut log cabin
Another top ready for quilting.

8.Jungle quilt.
 Started as a sample for a quilt-as-you-go workshop many years ago (when my boys might have liked it) it really should be finished and given (sold?) to someone else to be enjoyed.

9. Black and white/folk fabrics quilt


This collection of fabrics are mainly Dutch national costume style fabrics ( I think I have a few more stashed away). I cannot decide whether I will move it to a black and white quilt (leaving out the red and adding different B/W or even grey fabrics), or whether I will keep to the folk style and include the red. Decisions to be made before I can start sewing.

10. Log cabin


I have been looking for a project to take on my holidays, and have decided that some simple hand sewing could work. For a while I have been wanting to make a log cabin quilt, so why not hand sew one (am I mad)? I have raided my stash and decided on these fabrics. The bottom image is of a mock up from laying the fabrics log cabin style. I was surprised myself that the fabrics came out like this, it seems I am more attracted to very saturated colours than I thought. No time to be dithering for very long though, I do need to decide on a holiday project!

11. Top

 For ages I have a few dress making fabrics in the cupboard, and it is high time I did something with them. I intend to dust off my old dress making skills, and start with a simple top (I meant to make it in the last few weeks, but time has run away with that intention). There is enough fabric there for a dress, but I cannot see myself head to toe in this colour, so a top it is. Hopefully my confidence will increase so that I can make a dress next. I may need one some day...

12. ABC doll's quilt set
 Another very old project. The quilt is a panel, and has been hand quilted. But the pillow/cushion is not done. This could make a child's doll or teddy bear very happy, if only it was finished.

13. Lily Lapin's wrap/shawl

 A small shawl in fine lace weight yarn. I made the pattern up as I went along, and may have to make one for myself one day, too. But first to finish this one. I'll be certainly taking this one with me on holiday!

14. Flannels for a traditional quilt
I won this box of flannels at a guild challenge 18 months ago, and have a pattern in mind, too. I'd like to make a simple Irish chain-style quilt with uneven nine patches. Just the small matter of deciding on colour placement, size of blocks, and sewing it!

15. Goody goody binding kit (swap item)

- no image -

I have joined in with the Modern Quilters Ireland summer swap, for which I need to make a "Goody goody binding kit" from a pattern by Lella Boutique. I have decided on a theme, but it is so personal that I cannot reveal it here, in case the recipient will guess I am making for her... It will have to be finished in two months, so this should be one I will most likely actually finish this quarter.

16.  Flying geese sampler

- no image -

Lastly, I have a Flying Geese quilt hidden away (deeply hidden away, therefore no picture at the moment). It is purples and blues and creams, and has all variations of flying geese blocks in it. I started hand quilting it ages ago, so it needs finishing off the quilting, and binding.


I am sure if I took more time looking, there are more projects lying around. But I think this will keep me busy for the coming three months, if not three years! Maybe even three decades will be needed...


Linking up with the 2017 Quarter 3 Finishalong at She Can Quilt.
#2017FALQ3sewofcourse
#ridiculouslylongfallist
#ridiculouslylongfallistgang

Now I better get busy stitching and sewing on this list!


Sandra

Thursday, 6 April 2017

Second Quarter Goals to Finish

- to find out more about the Finishalong, see my Finishalong PAGE -

Last quarter I only finished one project, and that means one very long-standing UFO has come off my list, so I am happy. However, it also means that there are a lot of projects from my last list rolling over to this one. Of course there are also one or two new ones appearing, so my list is growing! I won't be bored any time soon, that's for sure...

1. Flower Fans



This project was started a short while ago with the local quilt group. I am designing it as I go along, and I am finally using my collection of batiks.

2. Feathered Star top


Yes, you guessed it, this still needs quilting!


3. Hearty

The quilt top from (More) Hearty Good Wishes fabrics and sashiko-stitched linen is finished. It needs to be quilted and bound (not changed from last time).

4. Cubes quilt
Not worked on this at allrecently, time to finish it though, it's so close (not changed from last time).

5. Curved improv

The top is (probably) finished, time to turn it into a quilt (not changed from last time).

6. Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my lack of experience too much... (also not changed from last time).

7. Stack and cut log cabin
Another top ready for quilting.

8. Notebook Cover
My new plain notebook for work deserves a cheerful new cover! Some of these Radiance by Beth Studley fabrics will be just the job!




Linking up with the 2017 Quarter 2 Finishalong at Sew Me.
#2017FALQ2sewofcourse

I need to keep sewing, of course!

Sandra

Thursday, 12 January 2017

Plans for 2017 - Projects to Finish in Quarter 1

- to find out more about the Finishalong, see my Finishalong PAGE -

The first two items on my Finish-A-Long (FAL) list for the last quarter of 2016 have been finished. Lily Lapin, the elegant hare, has been made (see HERE) and dressed (HERE)! And my lovely Drunkard's Path quilt is also done (blogged HERE), so now I'm working on writing up the pattern for that...

Many of the other projects have stayed the same, so my list is not really very different from last time.

1. Feathered Star top


Yes, you guessed it, this still needs quilting!

2. Oakshott
Yes, still a little more quilting needed! Almost there now... Will I be able to get it off the list this time?

3. Hearty

The quilt top from (More) Hearty Good Wishes fabrics and sashiko-stitched linen is finished. It needs to be quilted and bound (not changed from last time).

4. Cubes quilt
Not worked on this at all in quarter 3, time to finish it though, it's so close (not changed from last time).

5. Curved improv

The top is (probably) finished, time to turn it into a quilt (not changed from last time).

6. Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my lack of experience too much... (also not changed from last time).

7. Stack and cut log cabin
Another top ready for quilting (again, not changed from last time)!

There should be some potential finishes in this lot. If only I wouldn't get distracted by new and on-the-spur projects (like I did the last few months), I'd be fine to finish most of them! Especially if the snow keeps coming down like this (today, 2 pm):




Linking up with the 2017 Quarter 1 Finishalong at marcigirldesigns.
#2017FALQ1sewofcourse

Stay warm, and keep sewing, of course!

Sandra

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Quarter 4 Finishing Plans

After a miserably unproductive quarter 3 - NO finishes, in case you are wondering - I am editing and lengthening my Q3 list for quarter 4. After all, if I give up on these projects they will never be finished! And having them in the list at least motivates me to pick some of these up and work on them. While finishes are the aim of the finish-along, my personal aim is progress...

1. Drunkard's Path


The drunkards path blocks have been transformed into a quilt top, and I have progressed so far that I thought that I would manage a finish in quarter 3. It will surely be done in this last quarter of 2016.

2. Working on a non-quilt project, too.

 The project in this lovely basket (basket described in a previous blog post) has a deadline, and definitely will be done soon!

3. Hearty

The quilt top from (More) Hearty Good Wishes fabrics and sashiko-stitched linen is now finished. It needs to be quilted and bound.

4. Oakshott
If I keep it in the list, it will be finished one day, right?! Every quarter some quilting stitches are made in this one, slow going though! Rolled over from last quarter, still working on it.

5. Cubes quilt
Not worked on this at all in quarter 3, time to finish it though, it's so close!

6. Curved improv

The top is (probably) finished, time to turn it into a quilt.

7.Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my inexperience too much...

8. Stack and cut log cabin
Another top ready for quilting!

9. Feathered Star top
Yes, you guessed it, this still needs quilting!


As you see, more than plenty to be getting on with!

Linking up with the Quarter 4 Finishalong!
#FALQ4sewofcourse


Sandra

Monday, 5 September 2016

The end of summer and Happy New Year

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

"WHAT??!!!" Well, I find the start of September more like the start of a new year than the first day of January! Let me explain.

While our calendars all change with January, every year without fail, in most other aspects it does not feel like the start of something new. The schools have days off from a few days before Christmas right through to several days into January. And then they all go back to where they were before Christmas! Same class, same school, same books, same dark, cold days! The only difference is that number that designates the year - and even that seems to catch on only after a week or more - or am I the only one writing it wrong for at least three weeks after it is supposed to have changed?!

On the other hand, September brings change right from the start (and often a few days early, too):
New school or at least a new school year,
New school uniform, not yet baggy and worn,
New school books, all crisp and newly covered in undamaged plastic,
New copies (notebooks), all those new starts on blank pages!
New routines, especially after being used to no routines for those long summer months,
And even, it seems, a change in the weather with spider webs and mushrooms popping up everywhere!
And, for me at least, a new start after the unstructured days of summer. Being on my own much of the day after waving them all out the door early in the morning. Free to make my own plans...

So this September sees me making resolutions. And writing on the blog again. And sewing, so I'll have something to write about, too!
It is early days yet, and I am still adjusting to the changes to my days. But there are blog posts being planned, and patterns, and sewing, and tutorials...

All in all a NEW START.

And to show that I have not been completely idle over the summer:

This interpretation of the 1 hour basket - a free pattern that used to be on Craftsy - will be winging its way to my secret #mqisummerswap swap partner in the coming days... It will be hard to let go!


Happy sewing,

Sandra

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Goal Setting - Quarter 2 Finishalong

After some finishes, but not as many as I hoped, for the first three months of 2016, I am trying again in this second quarter:

1. Hearty

This quilt top from (More) Hearty Good Wishes fabrics and sashiko-stitched linen is virtually finished. Time to make this top into a quilt!

2. Oakshott
If I keep it in the list, it will be finished one day, right?!

3. Charity quilt no. 2
I finished no. 1 last quarter, let's get this one done!

4. Cubes quilt
This one didn't get looked at in the first quarter, but it's moved up a bit, so there may be a chance this gets done now...

5. Pouch 1


I have been on a pouch making spree lately, this one is halfway so should be finished soon.

6. Pouch 2


Another pouch in the making. This one is cut out, and the panels are ready, I will have to finish this one, too.

7. Circle mini

Mrs_Moog (Instagram) has inspired me to make some tiny circles for appliqué, and as I feared, they are addictive!!! This will become a mini.

8. Curved improv

The top is (probably) finished, time to turn it into a quilt.

9.Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my inexperience too much...

10.Stack and cut log cabin
Another top ready for quilting!

Well, I think I better keep it to this. If I add any more (and yes, there is more!) I will not know where to start and I will get nothing finished. And now I have put these all together I can see a recurring theme: Most of my quilts get stuck at the quilting phase! I really need to get more efficient with my quilting...

Better get back to sewing now, of course!

Linking up with

2016 button 250 best

#FALQ2sewofcourse


Sandra