Looking Back on 2017 and Forward to 2018

So this has been a strange year.  Personally that is.  I would rather just look ahead hoping that things will get settled soon.

For quilting I didn't do a lot, for blogging I didn't do a lot.  I don't have a lot of things to point to..  Oh well.


After reading Shasta's post, I was reminded that it is nice to make plans for the year ahead.

I'm jumping on the plan for the year bandwagon. If you have a plan, and document progress then it counts! And it is fun to be eligible for new fun the prizes via Yvonne AKA JetGirl's Planning party!

So this year I will work on Leah Day's Walking Foot Class and finish the older Building Blocks project too.  Anything else is frosting on the quilting cake. (I am pretty sure I will at least start the Starry Bright Sky QAL. It looks very pretty and I'm interested in the textured blocks side event too!)

I would like to finish at least three of my older projects and have some quilts that stay in the house instead of going out the door for charity or gifts.  Perhaps the tumbler quilt, the purple and black quilt, and the denim quilt.

I want to continue going thru items in the house so I know what we have, what we need, what we can give away, etc.  A little every month.

I want to have people over on a more regular basis through out the year, not just the winter holidays and birthdays!

I want to get better than what I am now!

and I want to blog to document my journey.

Project 1-2018: Leah Day's Explore Walking Foot Quilting and 2-2018: Leah Day Building Blocks Quilt

I got the eVersion of Leah Day's Explore Walking Foot Quilting book and have been having fun reading bits and pieces.

I hope I can keep up - knew that we are to start with making her rainbow log cabin - 80 inches square - then quilt it all within the first two months. I should have started making the blocks months ago but didn't get the pattern until the book arrived...  Have to have the quilt top done quickly though as during week 4 we will already be stitching in the ditch!  For some reason she then has us switch to a more manageable quilt as you go quilt. Maybe using a walking foot will make the quilting easier so 80 inches will be okay to start with? I don't know.

I don't like mystery quilts so haven't even tried the Leah Day project from the last two years, I'm glad to already have the book and written notes, but will not do anything before seeing the weekly videos! I will need the hand holding and support from that.

I spent today working on what may be the back of my Leah Day Explore Walking Foot Marvelous Mosaic Quilt. The front is where the action will be, and that will be done on solid fabrics so the quilting work will show up clearly!  This is a scrap quilt I was just making with fabric as I came across it (charms I won in a give away, fabric from my mom or Godmother, etc.), or finished up a charity quilt and had fabric to add to the quilt.  Each block is made up of two 4-patches. In an attempt to control the wild look a bit,  each 4-patch I have used always the same fabric that reads as grey.  With a few pinwheels thrown in as I had them... This is a quilt as you go project so the out side of each block will lose an inch so the fabric, that will perhaps make the back more interesting.

Well, I hope I can keep up with Leah's 2018 project timeline.  Now that it's closer it seems impossible, but I will at least give it the college try. I have four more blocks to make and then to decide on the front fabric and make the sandwiches.

I haven't finished her Building Block quilt yet, but it's nicely organized with each block fabric in a zip lock bag with the design to quilt included too so it will be easy to finish.  Okay that will be my second 2018 project to work on!

2018-1 Explore Walking Foot Online Lessons with Leah Day and associated three projects: a-Rainbow Log Cabin, b-Marvelous Mosaic Quilt, c-Prism Path Baby Quilt (Weekly Monday updates from Leah.)

2018-2 Finish the Building Blocks with Leah Day quilt! (On my own.)

Busy, busy - and a Quiltscapes pattern winner!

It will take some time to get a little caught up with the blog, I have been doing so many things.  Some quilt related - some not.  But I've decided to get back into posting so I can look back and remember how I'm spending my days...!

Last week though I discovered the Virtual Cookie Swap blog hop and spent so much time looking at all the recipes and the quilts on the blogs.  So much fun.  Many of the sites had giveaways too so that was even more motivating to read and dream...

I received an email:

So much fun! I just sent her the list of the three patterns that I selected... I picked one that had different sizes figured out, one that was a full bed quilt size (suggested fabric - denim!) and one that results in a quilt that can be scanned.  I know I will learn from reading the patterns, and even more when I start cutting and sewing!

Deonn shared her recipe for Christmas Spritz cookies - somewhere I have one of those presses and will make them.  http://www.quiltscapesqs.com/2017/12/virtual-cookie-exchange.html She notes though that if I can't find the press to still make the recipe:  either roll out and use cookie cutter or roll in balls and flatten with the bottom of a glass then bake and enjoy!  Sounds delicious.  I remember making these with my mom and the Brownie troop in our kitchen. 

Cookies:

I already made 3/4 ingredient cookies from the cookie swap - these were delicious!
From: http://selinaquilts.blogspot.com/2017/12/virtual-cookie-exchange-2018.html She has a link to all the blogs in the blog hop in her post.

I signed up to be part of the heart blog hop: 

If you'd like to join in, just send Carol an email with your first name, email, blog name and blog URL. Here is a link with her information and more inspiration:

http://www.justletmequilt.com/2017/12/7-blocks-done-in-30-quilt-blocks-in-30.html