Long Deep Breath...................

Today is the first day of my long summer holiday from school, after taking a long, deep breath I have compiled this list

• Spend time with my eldest son who lives 300 miles away - I've only seen him for a couple of days since Christmas
• Sort out, chuck out and get ready everything I need for going back to work
• Catch up on the housework and big cleaning jobs
• Catch up on my studying - I need to do 6 long modules for one qualification and probably 30 or 40 shorter pieces of work for the other qualification - intention is to split that down and try to do X number per week.  Got to keep going - it all ends in January and I'll have free time again!
• I'd like to do a bit of painting - of the decorative sort if time allows
• and lastly, I have several quilts to make and it will be a chance to get to know my new Janome Horizon machine a lot better.

To Do..........or Not To Do?

Will there be a 2010 To Do list?  No, there won't.

Despite accomplishing a lot of creativity in 2008 and 2009, I felt disappointment each time I reviewed the To Do list.  The lists for both years were more than a challenge, they became unrealistic expectations.

2010 will see a Work In Progress list with the sole aim being :-

Finish What You Start, or if it's doomed to failure, for whatever reason, bin it and move on...

To Do List - Reviewed

Here we are, almost at the end of 2009.  I think I've been sidetracked, well, that's as good as an excuse as I'm going to offer.  I have done a lot of sewing and quilting in 2009 - just not a lot from the To Do list.  Should 2010 have a To Do list?  I'm not sure, will think on it.


Gecko Wallhanging - Done

Cow Quilt

Finish Around the Twist Quilt-Nearly  - Done

Make myself at least one garment

Complete each quilt workshop project before the next one - So far so good!!! Only one left to bind

Join in at least five embellisher swaps - Managed Three

Christmas throw quilt for 2009 - Made two and two cushions - (cushions and one quilt were gifts)

Replace window treatment in upstairs cloakroom with a new blind or curtains

Make at least one more Colonial Cushion - Done

Knit a jacket (the only thing which has stopped me so far is finding the right yarn) - Still looking for some decent yarn

New cushion covers for the lounge

Start Christmas sewing in summer and include using the embroidery machine - Started in summer but the embroidery machine didn't get a look in

Complete Turquoise quilt - Done

Complete Baby Blue quilt - Nearly - Done and on Rachelle's bed

African quilt - Just the binding to do

So with some lenient scoring that's 11 out of 15 makes 73.3%

To Do List 2009 - Update on progress

We're approaching the half way mark in 2009, so it's time to review this year's To Do List.

Gecko Wallhanging - Done
Cow Quilt
Finish Around the Twist Quilt-Nearly
Make myself at least one garment
Complete each quilt workshop project before the next one - So far so good!!!
Join in at least five embellisher swaps
Christmas throw quilt for 2009
Replace window treatment in upstairs cloakroom with a new blind or curtains
Make at least one more Colonial Cushion - Done
Knit a jacket (the only thing which has stopped me so far is finding the right yarn)
New cushion covers for the lounge
Start Christmas sewing in summer and include using the embroidery machine
Complete Turquoise quilt
Complete Baby Blue quilt - Nearly
African quilt

5 out of 15 - a third - 33.3%

I think I have some catching up to do.

2009 "TO DO" List

I like the idea of setting out a list of my sewing "To Do", it does motivate me, and as I managed 50% of the 2008 list, I am aiming to equal or better that figure in 2009. With 15 projects on the list it may be a bit ambitious but I'll give it a go. Several are already in progress or the fabric is in my stash so they will be the priorities.

1. Gecko Wallhanging


2. Cow Quilt


3. Finish Around the Twist Quilt


4. Make myself at least one garment


5. Complete each quilt workshop project before the next one


6. Join in at least five embellisher swaps


7. Christmas throw quilt for 2009


8. Replace window treatment in upstairs cloakroom with a new blind or curtains


9. Make at least one more Colonial Cushion


10. Knit a jacket (the only thing which has stopped me so far is finding the right yarn)


11. New cushion covers for the lounge


12. Start Christmas sewing in summer and include using the embroidery machine
    
13. Complete Turquoise quilt


14. Complete Baby Blue quilt


15. African quilt

Work in progress - Turquoise Quilt and Baby Blue Quilt

Revisiting the 2008 To Do list...........

Here is the update posted in July on the progress of my "To Do" list. As Christmas is fast approaching, and time for blogging will be limited, I thought I would see how I've done.

In July I'd managed 3 out of 12 projects from the list (or 25%) - now I've completed 6. Rachelle has new bedroom curtains, the poppy quilt is all done and getting lots of use on these bitterly cold evenings and the kitchen has new curtains.

I'm officially abandoning the remaining half of the list, none of them are important, or some even relevant any more.

What have I got done that wasn't on the list:-

I've been to eight monthly quilt workshops and finished (or near to) all but the most recent quilts, made a dog blanket, worked on an embellisher cuff swap, two baby quilts, an ATC swap, helped Rachelle make a school bag, made a card for my son's 18th, done some decorative painting, adopted a dog, visited Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, experimented with lutradur and evolon, made a pin cushion for UK Embellisher swaps, downsized two pairs of work trousers for me and done all the rest of the family's repairs and alterations.

I'm satisfied that my creative side has not been idle this year.

To Do List - revisited

I thought I should look again at the "To Do" list I so enthusiastically wrote at the beginning of the year............. 2 January 2008.

Finish poppy quilt - No

Make a box for UK Embellisher Swap group - Yes

Christmas placemats - I always intended them to be for 2008 - honestly!! Ha Ha - maybe 2009!

Start and finish the 'cow quilt' - No

Get new measurements into PMB - things have changed, for the better I think! - No still changing........

Hanging loops on towels - No

Alter some bed linen to fit - It is worth it?

New curtains for Rachelle - following hamster accident! - Can't find the right fabric

Finish new kitchen curtains - Yes

Make something for me on the embellisher - almost everything so far has gone on swaps - but I have had nice things in return - No

Prepare for tailored jacket workshop - I bought everything, stabilisers, pattern, pure wool fabric, lining and organiser emigrated at short notice. Must be the most expensive project I never did - LOL. I have the instructions, but not the will to tackle it on my own.

Choose fabric and make new front door curtains - Yes

So that's 3 out of 12. Does 25% sound better? Not really.

So what have I done with my time; I've been to five monthly quilt workshops and finished (or near to) all but the most recent quilt, made a dog blanket, worked on an embellisher cuff swap, two baby quilts, an ATC swap, helped Rachelle make a school bag, made a card for my son's 18th, done some decorative painting and adopted a dog!!!!!!!!!! I'm doing much better Off To Do List than On To Do List actually - now I feel better.

Happy New Year

No resolutions - but I have a "To Do" list. Mainly comprising UFOs (UnFinished Objects). I'd really like to never have WIPs (Work In Progresses), but that's not the way I work - easily distracted by something new. Here's the list in no particular order and probably not complete:-

• Finish poppy quilt
• Make a box for UK Embellisher Swap group
• Christmas placemats - I always intended them to be for 2008 - honestly!! Ha Ha
• Start and finish the 'cow quilt'
• Get new measurements into PMB - things have changed, for the better I think!
• Hanging loops on towels
• Alter some bed linen to fit
• New curtains for Rachelle - following hamster accident!
• Finish new kitchen curtains
• Make something for me on the embellisher - almost everything so far has gone on swaps - but I have had nice things in return
• Prepare for tailored jacket workshop
• Choose fabric and make new front door curtains.

Better leave it there or I'll be so overwhelmed I won't get started on anything.

Hope everyone who visits has a peaceful and happy 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVII8fklsHQ