End of the Month Goal review and setting some new ones.

At the beginning of the month when I set my goals I remember thinking that I had been VERY ambitious and was already back pedalling on what I would accomplish. However I think in the end I did pretty well.

Make Pencil cases for Handmade Love. I got 8 completed so was very happy with that

Make 3 more casserole carriers. I got one done. Oh well

Pin and Quilt Onya Bike - I didn't get to this mainly because I have decided to leave it till the Patchwork Club I belong to gets their Long Arm machine and I will do it on that.

Make 3 baby quilts. I have the three tops made but need to work on borders for 2 of them. One is pinned ready to quilt

Make backing for My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes - Done and its pinned ready to be quilted

Make Backing for Hexie Quilt - Done. I am waiting on my next bolt of batting to arrive before I get it pinned. Or then again I might do it on the long arm

Assemble Amy Gibson BOM quilt - done! The blocks are together. Now I have to make the backing

Quilt Hashtag quilt - done

Quilt Dash to Japan - done

Get up to date with Summer Reading QAL - done although I might be behind again. I have to put it together

Make Birds in the Air blocks for Twilter block swap. Done. They have arrived at the swap co-ordinators place and soon she will be doing the swap and we will get ours back. Whoo hoo

Sooooo Not a bad effort at all. The only goal I made no progress on was the quilting of Onya Bike and that was for very good reason. 

Now to set the goals for this coming month

• quilt Onya Bike
• finish quilts for my great niece and great nephew who are already here. 
• Finish a quilt for my friends grand daughter and make one for a baby boy born overseas. He gets one featuring Australian animals.
• work on quilt for great niece/nephew due by the end of the year
• quilt Hexie quilt.
• quilt Amy Gibson BOM
• quilt My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes
• make Christmas themed items for HML stall at craft show at the end of the month.
• empty scrap basket
• finish Summer Reading QAL
• get up to date in the mystery quilt my group is running

Tuesday Museday

Greetings and salutations. This blog post is going to be a mixture of updates - monthly Goals, Marchalong and Blogging A to Z.

Starting with the last one - I have just scheduled all my blog posts for the month. I have scheduled them to come out at 8 AM each day of the challenge in April. At the moment they consist of a title, some labels and that is it! It means I am going to have to get my butt into gear and write those posts otherwise you will get a blank blog post. I managed, with the help of my friends on Twilters, to come up with a vaguely patchwork related theme for each day. Some of them are a stretch I acknowledge but you get that sometimes. My daughter (Fangirl) is coming up with 2 separate blogposts for each day AND is cross stitching 2 figures for each day as well. She is mad. But she is also committed, fiendishly organised and.... having just moved to the city not very involved in other things (besides her work). So.... that is where I am at with the challenge.

March Goals.

I have been busy but haven't completed any more of the goals from my last checking

1. Baby quilt for Megan. DONE Bub arrived yesterday but haven't heard the name yet so haven't made the label

2. 15 minutes quilt related work each day. This is part of Darla, the Scientific Quilter, Marchalong for March. Continuing to do more than 15 minutes each day... yay

3 Complete Diamond Dash quilt 1 Dash That Cat. I have started quilting this. I have completed the blocks and am now doing the sashing and border.

4 Work on Diamond Dash Quilt 2 Haven't done any work on this quilt so far this month. 

5 Work on Hexie Quilt I am up to the final bit of the top.... stitching together the sky to the rest of the quilt. Then I have to take out the last of the papers, make the backing and work out how to quilt it.

6 Pin and quilt hashtag quilt The quilt is pinned but not yet quilted. 

7 Make 2 Gruffalo capes for Kylie DONE

8 Empty scrap basket Not yet... 

Marchalong

17th Thursday. Hand stitching on the hexie quilt.

18th Friday. Handstitching on hexie quilt

19th Saturday Busy day with pre-wedding party in the morning, guests for lunch and then a lazy afternoon stitching in my chair 

20th Sunday Handstitching again - working on stitching the little bits into the top of the hexie quilt to even it off - half hexies that will be trimmed down. Also wrote blog posts

21st Monday Started quiting Drat that Cat. Got all the block rows done and started on the sashing strips.

22nd Tuesday Spent the morning at Handmade With Love. Made a little zipper purse and a casserole carrier. Not bad for a mornings work. Home again I have spent several hours on the blog, setting up the blog posts for April's A to Z challenge, and writing this post.

Stash Report and Update on Monthly Goals

It's 10 days into the month and even though I only articulated my goals a few days ago I am excited to be able to report I have made some good progress
1. Set up my fabric tracker for 2016 I've done this. I did it the slow way as my dh (ie Fixit Guy) was busy. He would have been able to do it simply but I did it my way... slow and tedious but got it done.
2. Empty my scrap basket. This did NOT happen... not yet anyway. I have dug through it and used some fabric from it... but largely its sitting there reproachfully near my sewing machine spewing everywhere.

  

3 Review my WIPs and UFOs list. I have done this. I went through my project shelves in the big white cupboard.


 I sorted them out. I didn't get rid of any I must admit. There is one heading that way but I'll marinate on the idea of turfing it for a little bit longer before I act. I wrote a list of all the projects I had and checked off what I had on my list on my blog. I got to take a couple off that had been finished. I have also created a new page which includes some of the projects that I have fabric for, and perhaps ideas for what I am going to do with them, plus the panels that I own. These are projects that haven't really started so I don't count them as WIPs or UFOs.

4. Work on backing for my POD quilt. Yes I have started! I put in a bit of time Friday and Saturday. I am piecing it so it is taking a while but I have made progress

I'm piecing it from a variety of fabrics. Fangirl gave me some fabric  (the owl f, the turquoise  that has various wizard.witch related items, and the wonder woman fabrics) that that I am working  in with a book block that I remade, another Marauders map, and various bits of purple fabric  pictured. Since I took the photo I've worked in some left over background fabric from the font and some leftover piano keyboard strips that were in my orphan block box. Will add some lavendar solid all around to make it big enough

5 Complete the last of the hexies for the Hexagon quilt No progress here at all. I will get there... eventually.

6 Make the label for the quilt I have made for my new great niece Chanel Grace born on New Year's Day. I got the label made and have posted it off to my sister who is going to stitch it onto the quilt and give it to the family for me (and take photos)

So... I was pretty pleased with the progress I have made in just a few days.

And its a zippo on the stash report. Nothing bought or acquired this year so far and no projects finished. That's pretty good too I reckon. I am still having guilts about not recording my purchases and gifts for December. I couldn't do it because my computer was out of action but still... feel guilty... but that is so stupid. Its not like its a crime or a major failing.  As at the end of  November I had a net usage for the year of 68.82m  

New year, new start.


Stats for week 2
                 Fabric used         0.00m
                 Fabric added       0.00

Year to Date
                 Fabric used         0.00m
                 Fabric added       0.00m
Net Used                              0.00m

I wasn't going to do the Linky as I had nothing to report but when I checked, Judy's fabric report was exactly the same so I linked up anyway. Might as well start of the right way

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

End of the Month Goal Review - August,

Just read someone else's goal review and they gave themselves a C- for this month and I got a feeling I am going to do worse than that.

My big failure has been POD. I haven't worked on it AT ALL. I blame my hexagons that have kind of taken over my home sewing time. Anyway Lets go through all of them

1) POD Block. I wanted to complete block 30, remake block 11 and also make the broomstick, the sword of Griffindor, the flying key, photo frame and Dobby. I did nix - nothing - zip

2) Amy Gibson Blocks. I didn't specify a number in the original post but did on my sidebar (6) and that might have freed me up cause I went crazy on these and got HEAPS of them made. - I made 11 including one that I made twice. I only have the curved piecing blocks to go on this one. Its looking great.

3) Bag for my friend Sereana. I got this made. I don't think it is quite what she had wanted (she had asked me to make it) but it was so long between when she had asked and when I did it I had forgotten. Anyway she seemed fairly happy with it in the end. (It had some of my favourite fabric in it so hope she was)

4) Pink Pizzazz. I already had the top done at the beginning of the month although I was wondering about making it bigger. Well I didn't make it any bigger but I did piece a back for it and it is ready to be pinned and quilted. I had hoped to have it pinned by now but....

5) Going Green. At the beginning of the month I had the centre completed but was still thinking about what to do with the borders. I ended up making flying geese borders and also adding a mostly plain green border. I then got the back pieced which as usual seemed to take me a while. Now to pin baste it and get it quilted.

So that is it - overachieved on one goal, completed another, partially achieved 2 more (although I don't think I put  finish Going Green, just work on it so maybe that is actually achieved) and abjectly failed one. Hmmm not TOO bad. Not an overall failure... perhaps a C+ after all or even B-

How about you? Did you set yourself some goals? How did you go? Are you game to rate yourself... or then again maybe you shouldn't... its not a competition sport (at least not at home in your own sewing space. ) Are you satisfied with what you achieved this month?

July Goals

Its the start of a new month and for me that means setting some new goals for this month.

Finish Scrap in a Box: This is currently at the long armer (my friend Kym from Professional Quilting Service) and is due to be posted back to me this week. When it gets here I have to make and attach the binding and label it.

Finish Crop Circles: This too is currently at the long armer and when it gets home it has to be bound and labelled. It will be great to have 2 big finishes one on top of the other

Finish Gold cross banner: Oh boy - this is already done. I started to write this list Monday and I got it finished off on Tuesday but hey... it gets to go on the list. I hope to hang it in church for Sunday. I've named it Growing in Christ. I really love it and hope it adds to the worship of our congregation.

Make towels for Handmade Love stall. We have a stall at the end of the month and I want to get a stack made. I have a lot of towels in the box ready to have the handles put on them

Make zipper pouches for Handmade Love Stall. I have a heap of zippers and the pouches have proved popular. I have some plastic backed curtaining that I am going to try for a lining on some to make them more suitable as toiletry bags.

Finish Community Quilt. This is my Wednesday project for when I am at Patchwork. The quilt centre is together and we have started work on the borders. We want to add a narrow red border and then the black and white square in a square border and then.... another narrow red border and bind it in red as well.

Amy Gibson blocks. Haven't made any of these for a couple of months. I would like to do 6 this month to catch up

POD Blocks 27 - 30. This will be the finish of the blocks.... then to put it together. I have decided to not do labels on the books. Some have them on already but it wasn't really adding to them so I'm going to stop

Complete Beasts beanie. Its on the ring. With several hours in the car coming up I am hoping to get it finished by the end of the weekend.

Make beanie for Kombi Boy. He's asked for a dark grey beanie. I have to buy the wool... this weekend hopefully I will be able to get some.

If I get all this done I shall be really pleased. There may well be a couple of extra projects sprung on me as well but for the moment that will do!!

June Goal update

Its the end of the month so time for update on my goals. At the beginning of the month I set the following goals

Make beanies for my three boys - I have made one for Boyo and have started one for Beast. Kombi Boys hasn't been started

Complete 2 zipper pouches for Hand Made Love's stall. I have made 6

Complete POD Blocks 21-25. These have all been completed

Work on Community Quilt at Patchwork. Lindy and I have been working away on this. The centre is together and we have most of the first border done

Complete Scrapitude- Scrap in a Box. This quilt too is off to the longarmers. We were messaging each other today about it and chose the quilting pattern for it. I won't get it finished by the end of the month as I had planned but should be done within a week or so

Work on Patch n Peace Mystery Quilt. This quilt top has been completed and is currently at the longarmers. I've called it Crop Circles. Kym and I were talking about this one today on facebook and chose a nice pattern for it too. We are continuing on with the circle theme but with some swirls as well.

Sew 2 Amy Gibson blocks. For the second month in a row I haven't worked on these. Hopefully next month!!!

Goals Review

   January is almost over so about time I had a look at my January goals and see how I have gone with them. My goals for this month were

January Goals

1) tidy sewing cupboards and room.

2) locate and list all UFOs order them and make plans for finishing them 

3) complete Vanishing Hours

4) complete Tardis Christmas Tree

I did tidy one of the cupboards (the one with the fabric in it) and also sorted out the sewing desk drawers but not sure you would know it now!

I didn't locate and list all my UFOs but I still want to do that. Might have to bump that goal to next month (or get really busy in the next 2 days!!)

I have completed the top and back of Vanishing Hours and have sent it off to the longarmer. I think that is really what I meant when I made this goal but perhaps I did have hopes of having it completed. That isn't going to happen.

Tardis tree is pinned ready to quilt. It is possible that I might get it done by Saturday night. I still have 3 days.

So haven't really completed any of the goals properly.

Yearly Goals.

Sandy from Quilting for the Rest of Us challenged us to choose a technique for 2015 - something we had wanted to learn or master for a while but had yet to conquer. I chose Paper piecing and have to say that I am going really well with this.

I have joined the POD challenge from Fandom in Stitches (a 30 week challenge of paper pieced blocks based on a book shelf from Harry Potter) I have completed the 3 weekly blocks released so far. I have also completed 3 other paper pieced blocks as well

I also devised some goals of my own.

1) continue to track my fabric use and purchases with an aim to having a bigger net usage this year than last. 

With the help of my husband (Fixit Guy) I have a revised Excel Spreadsheet to track my purchases and usage. Its designed to measure in metres (or part there of) so if anyone would like a copy let me know. He's got it set up so that there is a constant running total both for purchases, usage as well as net position.

2) purchase fabric for usage not for stashing ie having a purpose for fabric bought 

I have stuck to this (yay me... but its only been a month) The only fabric I have bought has been for the POD. I bought the background fabric and the shelf fabric. I did get given some fabric from friends who travelled to Fiji. Can't help gifts. Oops just remembered that I bought some fabric on Massdrop... it wasn't for a specific project. Eek. So that would be a fail then wouldn't it. I haven't got it yet though so maybe I don't have to count it yet.....

3) make mini quilts for Anzac Day, Australia Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Birthday

I have started!! I made a mini quilt for Australia Day! Yay me

4) complete quilts for donation as required - aim for 25%

Well so far this year I haven't donated any quilts. I have started one for Angel Baby Quilts

5)list Craftsy classes and work on watching them. Do BOM one from 2012 was it?

I have watched a couple of episodes of the paper piecing class by Carol Doaks

) continue to blog regularly WIP Wednesday, Fitness Friday, Sunday Stash Report on weekly basis and then others as I see fit.

I have 13 blog posts for the month. I haven't always been on time but I have been regular. Fitness Friday has been the least regular but I am up there so that is a start.

How about you? Did you set yourself some goals for the year? How are they going?

Checking in on my August Quilty Goals and setting my September Goals

August Goals

1. Work on Trip around the world (work out a name for it to make it easier to refer to)

Sunburnt Zebras done and dusted AND labelled!.

2 Start work on Teashop quilt - choose background fabric for blocks, trace off applique pieces. Get things prepped for taking it away to work on whilst travelling

I bought the vlisofix  in Brisbane last weekend and have traced off the designs onto it

  

3 Blue Jeans Quilt - get it prepped to take away on holidays with us. This will be my machine project whilst we are travelling. 

I have all the circles cut out for the quilt. I have decided to make it 15 rows by 17 which means 255 circles for the blocks. Still have to draw the 5" squares on the last 65

4 Disappearing Hour Glass quilt - collect together green and cream fabric for this quilt. This will be my project for Patchwork Group.

The hour glass blocks are all made. Yay

5 Cut scrap pieces. The basket is overflowing

I emptied the basket. Its full again. 

6 Make a seasonal wall hanging from Mum's embroideries

I have made the 4 seasonal min quilts as well as making a mini quilt from one of my embroideries. Its of an outhouse and I am going to hang it on the outside of the toilet door. 

 

7 Do projects from Caro Sheridan's photography class on Craftsy. Watch one other craftsy class. 

Given I now have just one day left in the month as I type this I have to concede that this is one that isn't going to be done this month.

8. Label Disappearing into the Blue

Labelled. Yay.

With one day left in this month I can say I have done pretty well with my August goals. I basically accomplished 7 of the 8. Just the Craftsy class that I haven't completed.

Fixit Guy and I are off on a couple of months holiday at the beginning of October. We will be gone for all of October and November and will return home at a date to be determined in December. So September is my last month of sewing at home for this year. So my goals are going to include getting some things finished before I go and getting projects ready to take with me. I am taking my little Janome Gem Platinum with me and when we are hooked up to powered sites I will be able to sew. Lots of the time we will be travelling so I am keen to have some hand projects to do in the car and also whilst we are stopped in camping areas without power.

1) Jeans quilt. The circles are all cut and 190 of them have the 5" square traced onto them. I want to get the other 65 circles marked and the 255 5" squares selected. Actually I have cut more of the circles than I need for just one quilt and have been given more jeans to cut up so think I will probably make a couple of quilt. One for us and one to give away. This will be my machine project for while we are away.

2) Finish tracing off the applique pieces for the tea shop quilt. Select fabric and get the applique ironed onto background fabric ready for our trip. Sort out embroidery threads to take with us. This will be my hand project

3) continue working on Disappearing Hourglass (Think of calling it Time Vanishes) The hourglass blocks are all completed. I have to cut them up, rearrange the pieces and sew them back together again. I have 6 more sewing days - 7 if I go to the Gemmies again for the day (which I will do if anyone else from our group is going out there) before we go. I would love to have the top completed and sent off to the long armer before we head out. (Edit. I ended up calling it Vanishing Hours. Will use Time Vanishes for another Disappearing Hourglass should I make it)

4) put together the quilt that is currently on my design wall. Its various orphan blocks I have dug out. I am trying to put it together in a pleasing way. It will probably become a donation quilt.

5) Do that Photography class on Craftsy. I have watched it right through. Just need to make myself go back and do the practical bits of it. Sigh. This is the third month its been on my to do list. It will be good to be able to take better photos on our trip. I have found my two digital cameras and the instruction books for one of them so its a start. Sigh.

6) Fangirl has bought her own townhouse. She moves in about a month. Its brand new and needs curtains and blinds. I have offered to help get them made so that is really going to be my priority. These other projects are going to fit in around that. So Make curtains as required for the townhouse.

That had been do me then!!
What are your goals for September?