2017 Goals

Things have been going smoothly so far this year, but I still want to simplify and focus on bigger, more important things.

Like what?

I want to be moving towards buying less, making more, and being a whole lot more intentional about what is coming into my house -- in terms of what I'm buying, what packaging it is coming in, how many plastic bags I end up with, as well as in a less physical more 'attitude' sense.

I've tried to do the reusable shopping bag thing before, but I've got an uncomfortable amount of plastic bags waiting to be used, and it's time to be much, much more intentional.

I'm also getting really tired of throwing away food. I've got to get better at planning meals and especially at using left overs. I've also got to watch how long things sit in my freezer... I throw away more freezer burned  ice cream...

I want to use from my stash as much as possible -- while recognizing that I've got at least 3 projects upcoming or in progress that require purchasing more fabric.

I'm just feeling overwhelmed with the "stuff" of life -- emotional, physical, everything. I want to simplify, while also working hard to ensure that I'm working towards sustainable goals of 'less waste.'

It sounds complicated... but in my head it feels simple -- while something I need to think about every day until it becomes habit.

2017 Goals

1. Go visit Baby C #1 and #2!! and family 
2. Read  5  4! non-fiction books (one done already!)
3. Put an extra $50 towards savings most/all months
4. Have the piano tuned 
5. Get a clothes line
6. Try a new restaurant or cuisine at least twice 
7. Attend a live performance (play, musical, orchestra, concert, etc.) 
8. Baby proof the house as needed 
• locks on outside doors 
• attach bookcases to walls
• anchor dressers
9. Trip to NE to see the family 
10. Clean daily: 
1. Sweep daily
2. Mop at least twice a week
3. 1-2 loads of laundry per day (unless somehow there's none to do)
4. Hand wash dishes daily
11. Kitchen redo (there's a chance this is starting today!)
12. Track books/reading somehow
13. Work on 16 (!!) In Progress Quilts
14. Get a fenced yard
15. Patio progress (walls/banisters)

Things to Make in 2017

1. CQG Quilt (likely to be Dresden Plates)
2. Prayer Quilt for Cousin C -- already in progress, but my most important finish
3. 
   

The Big Goals

1. Use more, throw away less
2. Cook more, out to eat less
3. Buy less 
1. especially clothing (especially for the kiddo)
2. splurge food things
3. 'wants' 
4. fabric I just want to look at instead of use
4. Be more active
5. Be more present / interactive

I both feel like this is too much and too little... but I haven't found anything to add or delete, so I guess that's my year-to-be plan.

And instead of sitting here wondering what I'm missing, I'm off to empty my kitchen into storage so we can start on some kitchen renovations... Yikes! 

2016 -- How'd I do? -- Uuuugh

So, I know 2016 wasn't my best year. A quick glance at my Goal list really shows how much so!

2016 Goals

1. Go visit Baby C #1 and #2!! and family (I've got to stop calling #1 a baby, her parents keep talking about sending her to school next fall!) -- Maybe spring 2017? Traveling is hard! But easier than it used to be... 
2. Bigger car. I hate to trade in our car, but traveling longer than overnight with Baby requires a lot more luggage than we have room for right now. 
3. Read 5 non-fiction books -- I feel like I did this, but I haven't kept track of my reading since the baby was born. I need to find a better way to track my reading. I kind of use Good Reads, but it's impossible to use on my phone and I almost never go on my computer... so it's really not working for me. 
4. Donate or dispose of 50 things from within the house (outgrown baby items don't count)
5. Renaissance Festival trip (with an almost 1 year old? is this too big a dream?) NOPE
6. Put an extra $50 towards savings most/all months -- Nope, but I did put all unexpected cash (tips, gifts, etc.) into the Future Fund for the baby (because I don't know if he's going to go to college, or get married, or whatever, but it's nice to know he's got a little something set aside).
7. Have the piano tuned 
8. Clear off the piano so it's usable nearly every day 
9. Get a clothes line
10. Try a new restaurant or cuisine at least twice 
11. Attend a live performance (play, musical, orchestra, concert, etc.) -- Not even close, but the husband and I did get to go to a movie (in December), so maybe this isn't quite as far out of reach for 2017? If only more live performances were at earlier times. It's hard for me to be gone at bedtime (hard for me, the kiddo has done fine the couple of times it's happened). 
12. Attend 1 baby shower
13. Attend 1-2 birthday parties 
14. Baby proof the nursery as needed 
• cover 2 outlets, 
• deal with mini blinds/cords, 
• ensure mice and all reminders of are really, 100% gone,
• something safer with the doors? -- he's currently in a door shutting phase, but we're keeping them from totally latching, so I think this is working. In 2017 I may have to install some high up locks to keep him in the house though...
• attach bookcases to walls, -- I think about this every single day. But we're about to start another home reshaping project, so to do it now would be foolish. Instead, I follow him at all times. Seriously. He's currently in the kitchen as 'unsupervised' as he gets. I can see him, but he doesn't know it. Except that I forgot to lock the trashcan and just glanced up to find him spreading yesterday's coffee grounds all over the floor. So... the watching could be better as well as the proofing! 
• fix the squeaky heat register flap!! 
• check for any other needs...
15. Convince the baby to start using the nursery (at least for naps) -- probably a spring / summer project -- hahaha, I was so hopeful. But I'm doing what gets us all sleep. And I refuse to care about any 'shoulds' beyond that. 
16. Trip to NE to see all the family (minimum of 3 days -- but what if we need 4 for travel!?)
17. Sweep daily, mop at least twice a week
18. Install cabinet locks in kitchen 
19. Install cabinet locks in bathroom as needed

So, I accomplished about 9 out of 19 things? Close to half my goals, but... that's not really a very good grade. But it's about to get worse...

Things to Make in 2016 

1. Make the Ditto quilt (I own the pattern and the tool, just haven't used it yet) 
2. 2014 cross stitch portrait 
3. 2015 cross stitch portrait? (I think at this point I need to focus on every 5th year and let the annual process go)
4. 2 or more Welcome Baby Packages 
1. Make a quilt or two (use from stash if possible?)
2. 2 hooded towels
3. 4 bibs
4. 
   
5. Complete in progress quilts: 
1. Solids 
2. Stripey Persimmon Quilt (need binding)  
3. Scrappy X+ quilt - Top done, back needed
4. 2 quilts for our bed -- ugh, I made progress early in the year, but haven't come up with a back for the second one, and the idea of basting just exhausts me. 

I'm actually thinking that at this point (2017) it is time to abandon the idea of finishing the 2014 portrait. If I back off from every year (haha) to every 5th, I still need a 2015... Or maybe I just do them for 'big points' like the wedding (that's the first one), and I could do one with a baby/toddler and then... not worry about it for a long time... That sounds good too. 

Making quilts pretty much didn't happen in 2016. I finished 4 quilts (three of which were started in 2015). Most of them went into the 'baby gift' pile, and one was for my kiddo (it's in the car right now, having been used twice when the car was too cold, but otherwise is practically unused). Between gifts, my quiltings, and my kiddo growing so quickly, I'm actually debating moving some of 'his quilts' (like the first one I made when I was pregnant) into the 'gift pile.' It seems odd, but since that one in particular was used twice for photo shoots and is otherwise completely unused (and now too small to use), I'm not sure it's worth hanging onto. (He's got many others that are either more used or a better size that I'll be keeping out of sentimental reasons, or hopes to use them as he gets older.) 

And that's kind of my year.... Here's hoping 2017 is better all around: getting more done and keeping better track of it! 

Quilting the 2016 Starburst!

I ought to find something to knock on, but so far 2017 has been a great year for accomplishing stuff!

I basted quilt.

And quilted it.

And although I don't have a new photo -- I even got it bound!

It hardly took any time at all. Once I jumped in and got going.

It's just the getting started that is hard.

Unless the nearly-toddler is around. Then it's all hard. No matter how little it is.

(Except I'd much rather hang out with him. But I can't do both things at once -- four hands are too many for quilting, and one isn't enough!)

The two above photos kind of show the pattern, but I'm not sure they show the colors...

I quilted it in some colorful thread -- a little reddish pink, a little yellow, and a little green. I really just doodled a pattern, then echoed it out so that the edges were more densely quilted and the center wasn't too densely quilted. I had envisioned trying my hand at some smaller doodles -- maybe more like swirls and circles -- but I need more practice before that's something I'm ready to pull off!

The above shows the colors a little more. In life, the photos show up a lot better but still aren't distracting from the top in any way.

I'm really excited to see how this photographs under better lighting (assuming there will be better lighting). It's spent the better part of the year being worked on in very slow bits and pieces, and I'm very glad that it is finally finished. Finishing this is kind of the... final icing on 2016 being behind me. That's great new. It wasn't the worst year, but it simply seemed like everything was extra frustrating, and extra challenging. I'm hopeful that 2017 will be a less challenging year... and that if it is just as challenging, that I'll be better equipped to rise to meet the challenges!

Playing with Layouts

Truthfully, I've never thought of myself as someone who likes scrappy, chaotic quilts. I'm usually attracted to the more perfect, the more specific. If I'm picking a pattern or purchasing a quilt, that's what I want.

But nothing makes me happier than the absolute puzzle of fitting together totally unmatched, strange sized blocks -- either with each other or adding in lots of excess background.

I had a blast doing that in 2015 when my group made a wonky star quilt. Starting with something more or less like this group of blocks:

 And turning it into a quilt that looked like this:

It's the most strange, freeing yet precise puzzle I have ever done. And I utterly love it.

So, you know I'm having a blast doing it again with my current scrappy quilt.

After looking at the pictures from the other day, I did decide to move the dark brown zig zag quilt into the approximate center of the quilt, and I am more or less working out from there. Right now, it looks kind of like this:

There are a couple of 'blanks' that still need filled (bottom center is most noticeable) but I think it's coming together nicely.

For me, putting this all together is mostly about putting together blocks into bigger and bigger blocks, all while keeping the seams as square and easy as possible. So, I'm going from a couple dozen small blocks in random sizes towards the eventually goal of three super blocks (a left, center, and right) that should go together into a full top in 2 quick seams.

That's the plan anyway.

Right now, the right column super block is in 3 large blocks, and the center column super block is done except the blank spot, which will be built from any trimmings I have left when the left super block is completed (there's some overlap you can't see in the photo, so I know there's some excess). I haven't started putting the left column together yet -- though I know the order and have a plan.

All that said, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to need a bottom row super block (although it could go on top too). I'll have to see how the 'top' measures when I'm finished with the 3 column super blocks, but the quilt is shrinking faster than I anticipated (seam allowances).

I could also just add a solid colored border to size it up. I have been drooling over this all-grey scrappy quilt with a solid border addition (Lauren Hawley, via Pinterest). I'm not sure it would be nearly as appealing with so many colors.

Obviously just a quick mock-up. I kind of like it in the browns (because brown? because tones of a single color? because it goes with the center block?), but it's not quite as appealing as the inspiration.

Well, no reason to get too stressed yet -- we'll just have to see what happens when what I have is finished and how the size turns out. But the more I look at the brown one there, the more I like it.

I'm headed into a short week -- and really need to focus on a different quilt right now -- so I'm thinking this one should take a back seat for a while. But I'm not sure it will. It's still a good size to pull out and work on over breakfast and the few little breaks I get. Basting, not so much. But once I get that basted, I can quilt it in the same times and spaces, so... decisions, decisions!

But it feels really, really good to be back at the machine. Hopefully this suggests 2017 will be a more creative year than 2016.

Whoops

You know what that means...

Yep, even though it is the last thing I really need, I started a new project.

I can justify it all I want -- it's all scraps, I'm using up stuff that was taking room in my storage, it's going so fast, I couldn't have worked on any of the others anyway -- but while those are all true, it really boils down to this: I needed something a little more brainless.

I've got great projects going on. I really do want to be working on them. Even if basting is the worst.

But everything else I'm working on -- or working towards -- requires a lot of attention to detail. Measure twice, press once, measure again, then cut or sew. That's great for a more perfect outcome.

But right now, I need something messy and fast and just plain fun.

So, I'm scrap busting. I'm sewing fast. I'm not even looking at colors or patterns -- only sizes.

I pulled 4 orphaned blocks I've had for 5+ years out of storage, then pulled all the greens, blues, yellows, and a few creams and oranges from my 'too big to be a scrap but too small to be really useful' pile (does anyone else have one of those?). Then, I just matched scraps together in increasingly bigger blocks.

When I took a break because I needed to iron -- and the ironing board was in with the sleeping baby (technically not a toddler for a couple more weeks) -- I whipped out a quick draft layout to see how my progress looked:

There are still a few blank spots to fill in, and the layout will almost certainly change as I keep working, but, it's fun and a little wild, and I kind of love it. You can easily pick out 3 of the 4 blocks, but I think the 4th blends right in (left most, approximate middle). The dark brown zigs stand out, but not as much as I thought they would. I might move them more towards the center -- if they can't be disguised, might as well feature them! -- but I might not. I might keep on with my 'don't look, don't think' plan. 

Of course, I've had help. Any moment the baby is away, the help comes out of hiding: 

His nap on the creams and yellows might have led to the color choices so far, but I'm not too worried about it. I've honestly not paid any attention to that yet, and I don't intend to. I need a total vacation from thinking -- or over-thinking -- and this is it. It might not look great (although, I actually kind dig it) but I feel great, and that's what really matters right now.

Quilt #31 -- The Scrappy X Plus Quilt

Whew! I kind of raced to finish this one in the little free time I had, but I think it turned out great -- especially for having been forgotten about for so long!

 Maybe it doesn't look much different to anyone else, but there is something about that final step of washing and drying a quilt that takes it from 'eh' to 'oh yes!' for me. I was feeling pretty 'meh' about this one for a long time -- probably part of why it was left to languish under other projects until I completely forgot about it -- but here it is freshly washed and I am in love again!

Oh, I did remember a photo of the back this time:

I was so close to finishing the whole back in yellow -- but I used up every scrap of yellow flannel I had and was just that short! That's okay. I think the dark green goes well with the top.

Actually, that dark green piece of flannel and the dark green/pine tree scraps on the front of the quilt were the two very first fabric purchases I made when I started quilting about 6 years ago. Walmart fat quarters. I worked with them until I was ready to try bigger, more precious pieces. And that memory made them precious to me. So, it's kind of nice to see the last of them (aside from tiny, tiny scraps) turned into a project -- and nice that they got to go together. No one else will ever know, but that's one of the fun things about working in scraps!

While I love the crazy colors, it is obvious that I pulled these together a block at a time with no thought for how they would all work together. I wish I'd been a little more specific about where the different intensities of colors would go -- like all brown/dark plusses with the mid tones on the x parts. But, this was a more or less 'blind' scrap assembly, and not the most exacting piecing either, so let's call it a scrappy little learning curve quilt and know that I'll be coming back to this quilt pattern when I have a little more time in my life.

Scrappy and wonky? Yes. But it turns out I do love it after all. And that roller coaster ride of will it or won't it is part of what I like about the way I quilt. I like the artistic freedom of not having to be perfect, even if I think I might like perfect results too.

When I started this top, I had my baby in mind, but he's got more quilts that I know what to do with -- and I bet he gets more before he's much older! At this point, it's going into the stash for a baby shower (though as always, with a little mental note as to who I'm hoping it'll end up with).

Back at the Machine (for now)

It's been a long time since I've really had a chance to sit down and do a long haul at my machine. My lovely husband got an afternoon off recently and took the baby toddler out for a couple hours so I could actually work on something. We've tried letting them play in the other room while I work on quilting or sewing, but the toddler comes running the moment he hears the machine whirring. He likes to sit on my lap while I try to sew -- which is challenging at best and impossible at other times. 

During my time off, I made a quick patchwork flannel back for my scrappy x-plus quilt. 

And I even managed to get it basted! That's usually where I bog down these days, so even though I wanted to do something more fun, I pushed myself through. Pin basting is just not my favorite -- and I have yet to find a replacement that is any better!

I'm going to try to get through this one as quickly as I can. Yes, "quickly as I can" is not the recipe for a beloved quilt. But, as much as I do like this one, I think we missed 'beloved' quite a while ago. I seem to have that moment with almost all my quilts though, so maybe after quilting and/or washing, I'll feel differently.

I hope so. I like to love all my projects.

Can't wait to see how it looks when I'm done!


Later:

Well, it doesn't look much changed yet -- though I love the way the perfect binding really sets off a quilt top!

I was able to do almost all of three sides in the same brown (leftover) binding, and finished up with two more scraps of brown binding. I had envisioned using black and white -- but there's no black in the whole quilt top! With brown already playing a prominent roll in the top, and just enough brown bias tape left over, it seemed like the perfect solution!

The back is comprised of three different yellow flannels and a tiny patch of dark green flannel. I'm a little worried about the shrinkage when it gets washed... At the moment it is only quilted in one direction (lines between the blocks and a line on either side of the center of the plus). I had intended to quilt the same in both directions, but obviously I didn't. It seemed well quilted when I finished the first direction. We'll see if I'm right or sadly, sadly wrong!

I'm about to pop it in the wash and find out. I'm so excited to have a finish -- and so looking forward to seeing it all done. I really think a quilt isn't finished until it is washed at least once.