HQAL - December 30, 2018

HQAL

Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for any handwork to be shared and to motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. Click on the HQAL and it will take you to see what everyone else has accomplished. There are some really talented people in this group!

This is the final post for 2018.

It's been a good year as far as crafting is concerned. In fact, when I did a post earlier this year of my year in projects I was surprised how much I'd accomplished because there were so many days when I didn't feel like I'd anything.

So for my last few weeks, there really wasn't much hand work because of working and Christmas preparations. But here is what I'd been working on.

These silly boys are just two of my great nephews. I made pajamas bottoms for Christmas again this year. The "hand" part was running elastic in the waist bands for 14 pairs. 

I did manage to squeeze in one more project before the year rings out.

 

I found this charm pack of baby prints on eBay. The border and backing are from my stash. I machine quilted on my Janome and hand stitched the binding on the back.

Thanks for stopping by.

Verse of the day:

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, 

God lives in them and they in God.

1 John 4:15 NIVUK

New Year's Resolutions

I know that we still have a few days for the calendar to change. But when something is on your heart, you share it.

I stopped making resolutions a long time ago. Change, self improvement should be an on going, everyday happening. I'm always promising myself that I'll eat better, spend less, study more, read more, be more organized, be a better person.

This morning I read a blog post that I just had to share.

All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Follow the link, read the post, print the freebie. 

And go live life in 2019 knowing you are a better person.

Let this post be our New Year's resolution.

Thank you for stopping by.

Let us become weary in doing good.

Galatians 6:9

2018 - My Year in Projects

2018 has been a pretty productive year. More so than I thought, especially once I got distracted with new projects and "challenges". I love looking back and seeing how much I've accomplished.

Here's my year in projects:

JANUARY

What were supposed to be cut out and made as jar covers turned into a sweet "door" hanging for Christmas.

FEBRUARY

Another sweet Christmas wall hanging. Free pattern from Thermoweb.

Activity cube for Bible Study preschool program.

2017 Techniques BOM hosted by Alida. All the blocks were assembled, I finished the quilt.

MARCH

  

Pajama pants and robe for Mom.

Spring wall hanging

APRIL

Worked on projects, but nothing finished :(

MAY

Jacquelyn Steve's design finished during Mystery QAL #1.

JUNE

Mystery QAL #2 - start to finish

JULY

This was just for "fun". The whole project made me happy from start to finish.

AUGUST

Needlebook made for my "Shoebox Swap" partner. She loved it :)

SEPTEMBER

 

 

A collaborative project with Susan of DesertSky Quilting. She made the top and quilted and bound this baby quilt that we gave to my mom for a new arrival. The new parents, as well as my mom loved it :)

Another very happy project. My "Maymaid" quilt. The mermaids were designed by Joy's daughter. 

OCTOBER

A couple of wall hangings for Halloween. The first one is from a panel from the local quilt shop,

This one was a free design from ThermoWeb.

I also managed a couple of scarves for service projects.

NOVEMBER

Late, but this wall hanging was a birthday gift for BFF. I liked it so much, I made one for myself.

Another scarf for service project.

And one for me :)

DECEMBER

I started quite a few new quilts at the beginning of 2018. This is Starry Bright hosted by Alida. 

And what would the year be without my annual pajama marathon :)

These are just two of the 14 !!

I hope you all had a successful, productive year. Here's to an even better 2019. 

Wishing kindness to everyone.

Thanks for stopping by.

Verse of the day:

For in him all things were created;
things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things have been created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:16 NIVUK

December - Week 1

Can you believe December is almost over already? You're probably as tired of hearing that as I am saying it, but this year has just flown by. It's actually been pretty depressing for me. Honey Do and I had a nice conversation about it and my inability to change it so I might as well get over it. I know, a little harsh, but he was right.

So I'm over it. And Week 1 is now Week 3 and into Week 4 !!! I'm not going to say it :)

The weather has been unusual. We'll get rain, lots of it and the backyard is nothing but a mud pit, not that my dogs mind running through it and just having a ball.

And then there's lots of sunshine . . . 

 

and let's not leave out the snow !!!

Unfortunately, for this December baby, there's never too much snow. And we did not have a white Christmas.

Speaking of my sweet man, took myself and son out for lunch for my day and our anniversary. What a nice time we had at a new local sushi place.

This is Honey Do's lunch. He loves his shashimi and sushi. 

I go the orchid :) 

Isn't this just pretty?

Even if you don't care for the food, the presentation is beautiful.

My lunch came in a "bento box". Again, I think it's a beautiful presentation even though it's basically just a fried chicken patty and plain white rice :)

We had a nice time and I had a very relaxing, lazy weekend. I only cooked breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning and made dinner Sunday evening. I'm well rested and happy.

That doesn't mean I haven't been working on something things. 

December is Pajama Marathon time.

I had 14 pairs to be made, 

and they are finished. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of any of them. But I did get a "thank you" photo from my oldest niece of her two youngest.

These are two of the sweetest boys I know <3

Christmas shopping was done via the internet this year. All my gifts were delivered by Christmas eve, although one sat on the front porch for two days because I didn't know that Fedex dropped it off. I got the confirmation email about delivery on December 26. I'm really thankful that if wasn't stolen.

I'm finished working the inventory job from the two weeks before Christmas with the potential of doing some interim inventory throughout the coming year.  Busy makes me happy :)

I hope all your holiday plans went smoothly and you are all happy and healthy.

And if you are like me, I just found out that Craftsy had been sold and there are lots of new changes happening already. The biggest one for me, and probably you, at the moment is if you have patterns you haven't yet downloaded you have until December 27 or 28 to do that. After that, they are gone !!! So between everything else we have going on, we'll have to find some time to get that done. 

For our designer friends, a lot of them are losing their shops and won't be able to provide us new patterns through Craftsy. The ones that are remaining have limited access and control over their own inventory. There are so many things about this that are just not sitting well with me and I have had my account closed, although I checked and it has not been deleted. It will be the last time I access the website.

Make sure you sign up for emails from your favorite designers so that you can stay updated on how you may purchase or download their patterns and designs.

I'm wishing you a very Merry Christmas and God's many blessings as the gift you appreciate and enjoy the most.

And Happy New Year. Looking forward to sharing much more  and following you as we quilt away the days.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with kindness.

Verse of the day:

For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.

John 3:17 NIVUK

HQAL - December

It has been three week since the last post of Hands Quilt A-Long. This year has just flown by, not just the three weeks. I can't really say much has been going on in the hand sewing department. 

I did manage to finish a quilt, hand sewing the final binding.

 

These were some of my favorite blocks.

And there was some hand sewing on the sashing on the back of the quilt. I should probably have been more careful of the direction I placed the stripes and I definitely have some work and practice to do on squaring up my blocks. Now we all know where my inexperiences show up :)

I'm hoping the new year will bring about a little more productivity and reporting, but we'll see what it brings. 

Make sure to check out what all the other participants have been up to. They are a very creative group of ladies.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with kindness.

Verse of the day:

For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.

Proverbs 5:21 NIVUK

2019 UFO Challenge

This is going to be the year of finishes. I want to do new projects, with everything that's in me and I will, but I also need to be able to finish lots of quilts and other projects that are sitting around waiting for their turn to be more than an on-going project. I worked on at least seven new quilts in 2018 alone. That's not to mention how many are UFOs (unfinished objects) and WIPS (works in progress). There are at least double that many that are in various stages of completion. 

I was recently read a blog post on the 2019 UFO Challenge and 12 Things To Get Done Challenge being hosted by Patchwork Times. You can find all the particulars at the link. The rules are pretty simple and can be found at the link. I've decided to participate in both so I can get more things accomplished. 

12 Things To Get Done Challenge

1. Sweet Land of Liberty QAL

2. Service project - toys, baby quilts

3. "Dear Santa" wall hanging

4. Santa is Coming wall hanging

5. Santa ornament

6. Hot Pad of the Month

7. Sunflower doll

8. Allie's "Spring" wall hanging

9. Bear quilt

10. Cross stitch, frame

11. "Bloom" quilt

12. JoAnn's 1997 quilt

2019 UFO Challenge

1. Busy Bee Quilt (2018)

2. Holly Cottage Quilt (2018)

3. Color Bear quilt (2018)

4. Color Challenge quilt (2018)

5. Fall into a Quilt (2018)

6. P&N BOM (2018)

7. Quick Quilt (2016)

8. Maggie's First Dance (2016)

9. DOD Spring RAL (?)

10. Sheep (2017)

11. I Love Home (?)

12. Vintage Farm Girl

You can link up your lists at Patchwork Times. Won't you join us? 2019 is off to a very productive year !!

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with kindness.

Verse of the day:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37 NIVUK