My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Better late than never -

I started this as my "New Year " post but got sidetracked (and it went into draft) so here it is now - better late than never, they say!
Before I get serious though I will show you the progress I've made on my Farm Girl Vintage quilt which I talked about in my last post -
Since YD and her hubby have been living with us we have had the pleasure of our two step-grandies staying during school holidays...they're not used to spending time with a mad quilter so have been intrigued by the whole process...the number of times I was asked if the quilt was finished yet was mind boggling :-)
So when I got the centre pieced they were very excited to be able to hold it up for me for a photograph session —
Whoops, need to get it right, how do you do this anyway?!
Phew, that's better!
I've got as far as I can for now as there are border decisions to make - that will happen soon I think :-)
— Taking this modelling thing seriously!

On a bit of a high from this interest I pulled out two test blocks I had made for Juliet of Tartankiwi back in July. I had sewn them thinking they would be great made into cushions so I thought it would be nice to pull these out while the girls are still here.
Borders on —
And pinned, all ready to quilt; a quiet hour or so should see these finished and on the girls' beds :-)

Finishing off these will form part of my goals for this year. (Here comes the serious part.)
I really enjoyed visiting everyone's blogs at the start of the month; reading of New Year's promises, pledges, projects, Words of the Year, new QALs, SALs, KALs, CALs, mysteries  and so on - a real cornucopia of inspiration and motivation. However I told myself I was just going to carry on as before and not set any goals or rules for my quilting year that would likely be broken or neglected before the first quarter is out.
But I did read an interesting item in the paper reiterating how important goals and plans are for giving direction (and so on) so I thought maybe a few would be a good idea!
So, I'm not pledging to Not Start Anything New, nor Not Buy Anything, nor Finish All My UFOs but —
I am Hoping to make my way through test blocks like these above, giving them proper finishes and homes.
I am Hoping to LABEL all my quilts - even those already finished!!
I Will continue working my way through my scraps and my stash, using it in projects old and new.
I'd Quite Like to decide which UFOs need a new direction - I love most of my UFOs but there is the odd one that can be repurposed - and maybe even start those on their new journey.
AND Above All, I know I want to continue to Love the Journey, Enjoy the blogging world and Treasure the friendships made ♥
That's as committed as I'm going to get and I'm not going to share photos of the copious amounts of projects the above goals and wishes cover (far too embarassing!). I will draw up a mind map of the the goals and projects to pin beside my desk and, hopefully, motivate me through the year.
On that very positive note, I will sign off!
Happy creating,

37 comments:

  1. those are interesting paper pieced blocks you show - love the cute little mouse. Must be nice to have kids interested in the quilting process! the top looks great!

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  2. Love the blocks all together like that. I can imagine how excited the girls were.

    I enjoyed reading the "serious" part. No goals here either, but I will continue to plug away at the UFOs......and labels!!!

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  3. I do like the positive tone of your goals and plans, especially the last bit about enjoying and so on. Your vintage farm girl top is beautiful in those fabrics. It's great that your step grands are interested in what you're up to.

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  4. Love the photos of the girls wit her the beautiful Vintage Farm Girl ... how nice for them to learn out the quilting process.. maybe there will be two budding quilters ?
    WOW those Foundation Pieced blocks are gorgeous and look great as cushions.....
    I am also not making any promises . Just hope to plug away at UFO s and only use fabrics already purchased for any new projects....
    Have a big one tucked away I bought last year I HOPE to work on.

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  5. Excellent goals. I don’t believe in pressuring myself either. I really want to see your quilt when it’s finished. No pressure though. ;-)

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  6. Looks like you have some keen quilters in the making! Your vintage farm girl top is really lovely, well done you!

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  7. I just LOVE your vintage farm girl top! The mouse and squirrel blocks look difficult, too many tiny pieces. So fun to have girls around, especially if they like quilting. I am with you, no long post about quilting plans. I am also hoping to finish a few things, maybe start a few things, but mostly I wanted to enjoy my quilting.

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  8. Love the farm girl vintage quilt Raewyn & LoVe your models. They will enjoy those cushions - you will have to show us when they are completed. Your goals for the year sound rather like mine. I enjoy the blogging community & the friendships made too.

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  9. Wonderful goals, I admire people who can put up a list of what they are going to do each week or month, but it just doesn't work for me, I get distracted by other things or decide to join a quilt along, or just decide to read a book that day!! But I do LOVE the blogging friends I have made and my goal is to keep in touch with them all. Love your quilt top too Raewyn and the models and maybe future quilters!! the cushions are wonderful too, love those patterns by tartankiwi. The girls will be over the moon with them.

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  10. Very impressed with the work on the Farm Girl quilt. It is looking wonderful. And what fun to have the girls help with the photo shoot.
    I think the blocks you plan to turn into cushions will work really well.
    Good luck with your plans for the year. Hard to do so I wish you luck.

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  11. vintage farm girl looks great mine not started yet but like you have not made any big promises of what I will do this year though would like to get some of the flimsies completed, have done 2 so far and today plan to cut the backings out for a few more, have had some good buys of quilt covers in the sale which will work well when split into 2.
    Not sure if I knew YD and her DH were now living with you how nice, wonder of she is a quilter too if so you will have to watch your stash. Bst of luck making the samples into finishes pieces the 2 you have shared today have worked so well

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  12. Farm Girl Vintage is such a fun pattern. You've done a great job with it, and the girls should be well paid for their modeling work. : )
    I'm with you on the "no serious goals that I will just fail to accomplish". I do have a few quilting standards, but they are intended to help me remember why I do this and what makes the journey enjoyable for me.

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  13. You have two very good models there Raewyn!! The two squirrel test blocks are cute, especially number 2.

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  14. Love Farmgirl! How cute are those sweet girls cuddling your flimsy! I have to say love your plans and goals for the year lol!

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  15. Start some, finish some is going to be my mantra for this year I think. Most importantly it is to have fun along the way and those two girls look like they may well be hooked. Reel them in Raewyn.xx

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  16. Wont be long till those girls will be at your sewing machine you know! Paper piecing, that is on my list this year too. Have been trawling pinterest finding some easy ones to start with. Loved your flimsy too, not much more to do on that one (!) I am in finishing mode this year, need to clean out my sewing room and the only way I am going to do that is finish. Perhaps I need a list too.....

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  17. Those are great goals . Really I think it's what most of us are doing. I love that little mouse Raewyn and I might have to make a pillow or two myself. Thanks for sharing the photos of your models. It looks like they had a lot of fun.

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  18. "AND Above All, I know I want to continue to Love the Journey, Enjoy the blogging world and Treasure the friendships made" -- that is one of the best goals I've seen yet!

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  19. I love your idea of setting your New Year goals! I think I probably run along the same lines as you. A long list of what I should be doing would be quite daunting so I have a "general list" in my head. Use up as many scraps as I can (this is an aim every year and I do use up loads in my projects), finish as many UFOs as possible,and be creative.

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  20. I generally don't set to many specific goals either.
    How nice to be able to spend so much time with your grandies too!

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  21. Love your Farm Girl Vintage quilt. I am itching to get back into quilting. I so have missed it. (and catching up with blog friends).

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  22. Your sentence AND Above all........ Is spot on. That's what I want too!

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  23. what a gorgeous top and lovely helpers too.
    amazing piecing in your soon to be cushions.
    Great sentiments about resolutions and goals.... a little guidance and the rest of it in the hands of the inspiration gods I say.

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  24. Your Farm Girl Vintage Quilt top is looking fabulous and I love the way you bordered your test blocks. Beautiful work! I am so glad you are enjoying time with your granddaughters. :)

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  25. That's a good amount of commitment, I think. Your quilt center is great, and I like your models. They are adorable girls.

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  26. Well well well.... I too have a list .... Birthdays present for a few close friends for the YEAR.... Wrapped and ready..... What projects that need attention ..... Retreats..... UNI.... Start a BLOG.... oh did I say ....Retreats.... And then there are a few books to read.... So I started the year with out a bang..... I forgot the first birthday present.... Doh.... So I'm following your lead.... I'll plan to do things.... And love you models they. Are so cute....

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  27. Well done on your gorgeous quilt, love your models!!

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  28. You could always go your merry way without any goal except sew, sew, sew, like yours truly. ;-) Lovely finish to those test blocks. I'm sure the girls will love them. Next time they come, try them out on a simple sewing project - you might be bringing a new quilter into this world.

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  29. Those girls will be going back to school with many quilting stories. Look how proud they look holding it up . . . you may have planted an inspirational seed in their heads, that will grow another quilter :) Keeping this honored craft alive and well is important. Bravo!!! Oh, and your quilt is goreous . . . perfect in every way :)

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  30. Your quilt top is looking gorgeous - lovely girls, they will love your cushions. Good luck with your plans for 2017. xx

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  31. lovely having the girls to help model - the quilt is looking lovely and the cushions will be perfect. Enjoying the process is the main thing always...

    Hugz

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  32. Your vintage farm girl top is looking great! And it looks like the photo shoot was lots of fun! My goals? More of the same really ... family, friends, fabrics, flowers and fun!

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  33. Really cute animal blocks! And the top is looking also very nice!
    Greetings from Germany,
    Rike

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  34. Your vintage farm quilt is gorgeous and so are your quilt models :) Love the paper piecing blocks... "hope" your "hopes" will come true this year!! xx

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  35. Raewyn - been meaning to get to your blog after officially meeting you in BNE - those words are great...Love the Journey, Enjoy the blogging world and Treasure the friendships made ♥

    I hope you won't mind if I quote you and of course link in this post.

    I don't make resolutions either - though I do create lists of projects and AIM to finish and use up what I have...LOL having said that I have already made several purchases this year!

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  36. You're posts are always so delightful to read! Have fun with your two young visitors! XO

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  37. wow. so much work in these.... LOOVE!

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