Saying Goodbye ... and Hello

After six years with Blogger (thank you blogger for helping me record all these crafty adventures) I am saying goodbye, and setting up shop at WORDPRESS.com.  Please follow me to my new blog here.  Thank you!

The top

is complete!  I'm so pleased with how this quilt has come together.  I think the plum sashing just makes all the stars pop.  Lots of work to do yet, but it feels like I'm at the top of the mountain and the train is coming down the hill!  Yet to do:  quilt back, sandwich the quilt (top, batting, back), quilting, binding.

October Progress

Thanks to my Mom who came to help me - I was able to make quite a dent on my October goals!  Here's the progress I have made!

October Progress:

1. Commissioned Quilt - all 20 stars are completed and I have purchased the sashing, batting, backing fabric and binding fabric! 

2. September and October OLW prompts - just today I finished September's prompt, still need to do October.

3. Continue studying for flying! Four flights under my belt - so much to learn and know.

4. Photo books - I got some good deals at Shutterfly this month and finished 3 books!

November Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt - to finish the top (sashing between stars, and border)

2. October and November OLW prompts

3. Continue to study for flying

4. Start getting ready for Christmas

5. Finish December Daily 2011

Other projects that are on my list (for me to tackle in the future):

1. Use the beautiful fabric sent to me from Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). 
2. Make a quilt for Olivia (I already have the fabric)
3. Joshua's baby books (put pictures in the beautiful book my friends made for us, and make him a shutterfly baby book).
4. Deal with my photos:
a) print and put in albums Sept 2009 to November 2010, and 2012 (September to present)
b) deal with the huge box of photos under my desk (2005-2009)
5. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.

Lofty goals -- 15 minutes at a time and it will all get done =)

September Progress

So I know it's odd to start my progress report of last month's crafty endeavours with a picture of me in an airplane (flying) but I think it's appropriate.  September was my month to learn to fly - as in ground school at our local aviation academy.  3 weeks of extensive information ... I have so much to learn!  Anyway, I hope that explains my lack of craftyness ...

September Progress:

1. Commissioned Quilt - I made one square this month - 12 to go (but happily, today I've spent 2.5 hours on this project and have all the white pieces cut out, and two more stars done.)

2. August and September OLW prompts  - August is done, September I've been considering the prompt

3. Studying for ground training (I'm learning to become a pilot so I can FLY!)

4. Photo book for April and May 2012 done (Shutterfly was having a sale!)

October Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt - I would like to have the top completed by the end of the month (might be a lofty goal as it takes me about 45 minutes to make a star).

2. September and October prompts

3. Continue studying for flying!

Other projects that are on my list (for me to tackle in the future):
1. Use the beautiful fabric sent to me from Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). 
2. Make a quilt for Olivia (I already have the fabric)
3. Joshua's baby books (put pictures in the beautiful book my friends made for us, and make him a shutterfly baby book).
4. Deal with my photos:
a) print and put in albums Sept 2009 to November 2010, and 2012 (June to present)
b) deal with the huge box of photos under my desk (2005-2009)
5. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.

6. December Daily 2011.

Lofty goals -- 15 minutes at a time and it will all get done =)

FLY (August OLW)

My project for the One Little Word course I'm taking at Big Picture Scrapbooking (led by Ali Edwards).  "No one can predict to what heights you can soar.  Even you will not know until you spread your wings." - unknown

This photo is was taken a few weeks ago - our whole family went climbing and I thought I'd try it too!  It was so good because it requires some skill, some strength (I have way more than I used to because of exercising on a regular basis!), resisting FEAR, and having faith - in God, in Matt (that he won't drop me) and in myself that I can do it!  I was so pleased with the fact that I made it all the way to the top and that I repelled down too!

This week will be another opportunity to spread my wings ... ground school starts on Tuesday evening - the first step in getting my private pilot's licence.

August Progress

What a fun month we had, full of many cool adventures.  And I even had some time to work on crafty stuff:

August Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt

I am sewing  a quilt out of some cherished clothing.  Each star is made out of one shirt (I have 7 that I am working with).  This month I was able to make 5 more stars - 12 to go!  I will be putting sashing around each star to make them stand out.

2. August OLW prompt
I have my photo but haven't actually executed the prompt.  Will be on my September list.

September Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt
2. August and September OLW prompts
3. Studying for ground training (I'm learning to become a pilot so I can FLY!)

Other projects that are on my list (for me to tackle in the future):


1. Use the beautiful fabric sent to me from Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). 
2. Make a quilt for Olivia (I already have the fabric)
3. Joshua's baby books (put pictures in the beautiful book my friends made for us, and make him a shutterfly baby book).
4. Deal with my photos:
a) print and put in albums Sept 2009 to November 2010, and 2012 (April to present)
b) deal with the huge box of photos under my desk (2005-2009)
5. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.
6. December Daily 2011.

July Progress

We have enjoyed July 2012 - I have made it my goal to have adventures this month with the kids - and we have!  I have also spent some time on my crafty ventures.  Here's my progress for July:

July Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt.  I have the first two stars completed.  18 to go - thinking I may put a sashing around the stars.  We'll see.

2. May, June, July prompts for OLW.  Goals written, craftyness explored, soundtrack chosen and application for Skywings aviation academy sent.  I have accomplished what I set out to do!

August Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt

2. August OLW prompt

Other projects that are on my list (for me to tackle in the future):
1. Use the beautiful fabric sent to me from Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). 
2. Make a quilt for Olivia (I already have the fabric)
3. Joshua's baby books (put pictures in the beautiful book my friends made for us, and make him a shutterfly baby book).
4. Deal with my photos:
a) print and put in albums Sept 2009 to November 2010, and 2012 (April to present)
b) deal with the huge box of photos under my desk (2005-2009)
5. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.

6. December Daily 2011.

7. Hope Valley Quilt. 

Lofty goals ... but 15 minutes at a time I can get it all done! Go me!

Quilt Inspiration???

We went to the Museum on Monday and there was an exhibit of giant moths - enlarged photos of regular moths - that Mom and I thought had some great ideas for a quilt or two ...

June Progress

June was a wonderful month filled with exciting adventures (a wedding in Washington, a Seattle Mariner's game, a visit to see a new nephew, and baseball games), and so this is my excuse for the minimal crafty progress I have made.

My goals for June:

1. Commissioned Quilt. Start on this!  I finalized the design and now have started on the stars using Elizabeth Hartman's instructions from her book: The Practical Guide to Patchwork (Superstar pattern).  Lots of work to go on this one!

2. Baby bucket quilt for William.  This one is off the list - they have something else to use for this.

3. May and June prompts for OLW.  I didn't even look at this one.  

July Goals:

1. Commissioned Quilt.

2. May, June, July prompts for OLW.

Other projects that are on my list (for me to tackle in the future):
1. Use the beautiful fabric sent to me from Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). 
2. Make a quilt for Olivia (I already have the fabric)
3. Joshua's baby books (put pictures in the beautiful book my friends made for us, and make him a shutterfly baby book).
4. Deal with my photos:
a) print and put in albums Sept 2009 to November 2010 and June to August 2011 and 2012
b) deal with the huge box of photos under my desk (2005-2009)
5. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.

6. December Daily 2011.

7. Hope Valley Quilt. 

Lofty goals ... but 15 minutes at a time I can get it all done! Go me!

May's Progress

A little late ... but still good to set some crafty goals for June.  Here is May's progress report:

My goals for May:

1. Hope Valley Quilt.  Completed the top! Have all the necessary ingredients to finish it including the binding fabric.  Had my sewing machine serviced so it's ready to go.  This project is going on the back burner for a while because of a commissioned quilt.

2. May prompt for OLW course. Still needs to be completed.

3. December Daily 2011. Print 23 days and bind book. Still needs to be completed (having some printing and procrastinating problems for this one).

4. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.  (No work done on this one)

My goals for June:

1. Commissioned Quilt. Start on this!

2. Baby bucket quilt for William.
3. May and June prompts for OLW

I'm making June's goals short due to the fact that summer is almost here and we are going to want to be outside!

Other projects that are on my list (for me to tackle in the future):
1. Use the beautiful fabric sent to me from Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). 
2. Make a quilt for Olivia (I already have the fabric)
3. Joshua's baby books (put pictures in the beautiful book my friends made for us, and make him a shutterfly baby book).
4. Deal with my photos:
a) print and put in albums Sept 2009 to November 2010 and June to August 2011 and 2012
b) deal with the huge box of photos under my desk (2005-2009)
5. Hang up photos and artwork we have framed on our walls.

6. December Daily 2011.

7. Hope Valley Quilt. 

Lofty goals ... but 15 minutes at a time I can get it all done! Go me!