2019 January Quilt Update

Hello and welcome to the first Monthly Quilt Update of 2019.  Can you believe I have been doing this for 4 solid years now?  Whoa.  No wonder my fingers hurt sometimes.  Have you joined us in our theme for this year?  Do you know what it is?  Here is your hint and if you want to know all about it -- here is your LINK.  Always remember that in this group all links open in a separate window so you don't lose your place here AND there are no ads or popups EVER.

If you are new to the blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?"  I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily.  I just can't.  Sooooo, what happens is I document a day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place.  See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too.  It's a great system for me.

Miller's B&B Winter Gathering

Back in November, a group of us attended the Houston International Quilt Festival and were gobsmacked by some rulers and a QAYG method we had not tried before.  Naturally, the rulers came home with each of us and we made plans to learn the method together, while enjoying Lake Athens and Miller's B&B.  Yep, pretty much invited ourselves and now here we are and it's time to see what we can do.  Lydia, Rocky and I leave Dallas  BRIGHT and EARLY and are at  Sherri's by a little after 9.

Needle Niche in Athens

Our little friendly retreat is making a quick trip into Athens, which means a stop at The Needle Niche.  What an awesome little shop.  I don't even know if I should say little.  It's renovated from an older home and each room is chock full of goodies.  I LOVE the rock work outside --- all the way up to the chimney.  My heart is happy just looking at the exterior and, yet, I know what the inside holds.  Or at least I think I do.

Waco Shop Hop

It's time --- it's time!!  January means the Waco Shop Hop and a chance to see friends once again.  It signals the end of the holiday friend fast and I am ready. 

Rocky and I are out of town bright and early meet up with Sherri, Paula, and Karen for breakfast.  Arriving in Waco far quicker than we expected, we decide to head over to the Waco Suspension Bridge and watch the sunrise.  It's really quiet and the early morning calm is perfect.

Good Fortune - Clue 7 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

Happy New Year!!!

Bonnie dropped a new clue along with the ball in New York -- right at midnight.  Somehow I made it long enough to check it out and then was off to bed.

She's a tricky one.  This year, for the first time since I've been doing these mysteries, it was not the reveal, but another step.  I LOVE IT!!  We will be building some of the units together to make the blocks go a bit quicker.  For me, that means heaven.

Now, a few hours later and with some sleep in me, I am ready to tackle part of this clue.  We are turning our four patches into 16's with a great pattern being generated as well.  Easy Peasy and it is quickly complete with both sets.

December 2018 Quilt Update

Welcome to the Monthly Update.  What does that mean?  Well, it's just little ol me trying to recap what took place during the month so that I can keep track.  I kind of use it like a journal.  Please sit back and enjoy a peek into a month of my life.

Any links that you click in this post will open in a DIFFERENT window, allowing you to continue reading this without losing the page.

So . . . . If you have followed me in the past, you know that I have set CRAZY goals each month and it's tough when they just don't happen.  I think goals are wonderful - believe me, without them I fear my lack of  movement.  The thing is -- I just don't want another year of unattainable goals making me feel stressed.  I have a busy year ahead with lots of surprises, family happenings, and retreats.  Those items alone give me PLENTY of deadlines to deal with.  As a result, I am introducing the new goal section - hahahaha, it's the same, only reasonable.  Let's hit the ground running . . . or not.  How about a hot drink and a good read?  See, life is good.  Oh, and the goals each month are at the end of the post now.

The previous 2018 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

1st -   The last month of the year has arrived and as I look back, I'm certainly glad I pulled back.  I haven't felt crazy pressure this year BUT I also didn't have very many UFO finishes.  I'm pretty sure that won't change this month, but one never knows.  At any rate, I AM still sewing and that's a good thing.  It is the last month (as I said before but it bears repeating) so 2018 is going to be put to bed and that is a GREAT thing.  So what does today have in store?  How about some early morning cutting on Bonnie's mystery?

2018 Finished Non-Quilt Items

Each year I try and create one post that highlights all that I managed to finish this year.  It's the only way that I truly know just what took place in a quick and easy spot.  This post contains all items that are not a QUILT.  That doesn't mean that they are quilted, just not something to cover up with to keep warm.  Does that make sense?

Here we go - month by month -

January:  Rockin' Bobbin, a local quilt shop, asked me to make samples for a class they wish to offer and I am happy to help out.  I think they turned out pretty cute but I do like the table runner more than the placemats.  The napkin rings are kinda cute too.  These are not mine to keep -- just being a nice person.