Sunday, January 20, 2008

Starting a New Challenge

I know I'm supposed to be finishing up projects this year. I am making progress on my parent's anniversary quilt. I have the 49 "Puss in the Corner" blocks finished and now I'm working on the flying geese units for the star blocks.

My local quilt store, Pieceful Quilting, is doing a challenge. I decided to make a challenge quilt. It is called the "Old Bag" challenge because you get an old bag filled with fabric to make the quilt. Well my bag had only one fat quarter of fabric and lots of trim and buttons.

Of course, I'm making a Sunbonnet Sue quilt. I using 30s reproduction fabrics in green and orange to go with the supplied fabric. I'll use their fabric as the border and as some yo-yos.

Here is a picture of what was in my bag:


I'll post pictures as I get the blocks done.

Kim

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Hitting the Ground Running - 2008

It is New Year's Day and it is time to get going on a new year, a clean slate. I try to make one big resolution each year. In 2006 it was lose weight. I lost 30 pounds that year and got back into a size 8!

In 2007 I resolved to start my long desired Master's degree. I'm happy to report that I'm a student at Stony Brook University with 4 classes (12 credits) towards my degree already completed. Classes start again for me on Thursday, so this is really a two year resolution!

Unfortunately as I was studying, the pounds crept back on! I guess I have to work on losing them again! I'm back up 30 pounds. The nice slim figure I resolved to get it gone, but at least a Master's degree can't be taken away!

So my 2008 resolution is all about finishing! Finish the degree I started, finish the diet and finish some of the quilts I've started. Yesterday I made a table runner for a lady I work with. She always sets up a wonderful black history month display, so I used some of my collected African fabric to make the table runner.



It is finished! I give it to her tomorrow.

Today I worked on a quilt I started a year ago. My parent celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 1, 2006. At the party I had squares of fabric for the guests to sign. I started the quilt of 50 stars. Either the center of the star will be a square from the party or a photograph. Today I sewed for most of the day. I need to make 50 star blocks and 49 "puss in the corner" blocks for the quilt. Here is what would fit on my design board.




I'm really pleased with how it is coming out! We're Irish, so I decided to sprinkle little bits of Irish novelty fabric. Do you think it detracts? I'm wondering if I should leave out the "kiss me I'm Irish" fabric.

Anyway, I've working again...

Happy New Year.