12 for 2012

I'm jumping on the New Year's Resolution bandwagon.  I had 7 resolutions in 2011 and did pretty well, except for "write a letter every month on the 15th."  I only wrote two "snail mail" letters in 2011.  I used to be really good at writing letters, but now most of the generation I wrote to is gone.  My friends and contemporaries all use email or Facebook, and I even sent my holiday greetings via Jacqui Lawson's  e-cards.  I'll try again this year to write more letters.  Here are my "12 for 2012:"

1. 12 knit UFOs
2. 52 quilts in 52 weeks
3. write 12 letters
4. make bed as soon as it's empty
5. fold laundry as soon as it's dry
6. follow Organize in 5 assignment every day
7. empty sink before bed
8. teeth twice daily
9. move every day
10. blog 4X weekly
11. meet friends once monthly
12. refinish bathroom and kitchen
    
    

 The weekend's "UFO Luau Sew-In Party" will help with #2!  I've picked out two UFOs to work on while I'm listening to "One of Our Thursday's is Missing" by Jasper Fford.  

PeaceLoveandHappiness

WIP Wednesday

Here's what's on the design wall today:  The pattern is "Red Velvet" by Thimble Blossoms, the fabric is mostly Joel Dewberry from Mama Said Sew in Old Town Fort Collins.  The orange-sherbet color is the color of my granddaughter's "big girl" bedroom, it's actually called Cantaloupe (paint by Ace Colors for Your Life).  I'm putting off completing it so it can be the first quilt of 2012!  Oh, look -- I'm so glad I took this photo because the blocks in the top and bottom on the far right are turned wrong!

How progresses the 12 in 2012 UFO Challenge gathering?  I have my UFOs sorted and numbered, I'll draw the first number on Saturday morning so we can join Pat Sloan's New Years Eve Sew-a-thon Luau.  I even found 12 knitting UFOs and numbered them -- just in case I get tired of quilting.

The 52nd Quilt of 2011

Here it is:  The 52nd Quilt of 2011!  It's the hourglass block-a-day challenge by Anna Lena for the Autumn season.  Except I made 96 blocks so my quilt would be one row longer.  The fabric is by Denyse Schmidt, and you can't really see it in this indoor photo (hey, I'M not going outside in 12 degrees to take a photo!) but the border is a dark teal with black geometric designs.  This is the last quilt I'll piece this year, I have a gansey to knit!

The assignment for the next week is to organize your UFOs for 12 in 2012.  Pull out 12 of your UFOs (c'mon, I know you've got 'em) and number them 1-12.  The first number will be drawn on December 31 so we can all play Pat Sloan's New Year's Eve UFO Bustin' Sew-along.  Fair Solstice, Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

To the Finish Line

I have two more quilts to bind before Christmas.  This is quilt #28 for 2011, "Organized Chaos."  It was a Brown Bag Surprise project at Ruth's Stitchery.  The cost includes the fabric and pattern , but you don't know what it is until the class starts.  You pays your money and you takes your chances.  So far, I've always liked the quilts we make.  I love the quilting design by Ann Reinelt, it's called "Erin," just like Ann's daughter.  This one is going to the mother of a long-time friend -- good thing I got it bound, huh?  Now back to the sewing room!

Success!

I didn't finish any quilts today, but I did make this cute fabric star.  Directions are on Betz White's blog, here.  She includes a link to a video that makes it easier.  And I think starching the fabric would help, too.  I'm thinking these will make excellent Christmas favors.  Shhh, don't tell DebbieJoyLori!

Here's a closeup:

It uses 3" strips of fabric 14" long.  What a great way to use some scraps!

Fail!

What is it about the 52nd quilt of 2011 that it just doesn't want to be completed?  I have "Cheaper by the Dozen" pieced in Lily Ahsbury's Summerhouse -- but when I ordered border fabric from Hancock's of Paducah, it was on backorder.  So I finished the last 10 hourglass blocks for Anna Lena's block-a-day challenge and sewed all 96 together.  I thought I had enough for the border -- and I'm about 1/4 of a yard short.  Since the National Weather Service says our windchill temperature is 12 degrees Fahrenheit, I am NOT running out to buy that little extra bit of fabric!  Could it be I'm just not meant to finish 52 quilts this year?

Finish it up Friday

Today's Finish it up Friday quilt is already winging its way to Ohio -- hope it makes it there by Christmas!  My friend chose this quilt while it was in the UFO pile, and I know it will match her bedroom perfectly.  It was the mystery quilt for the Northern Colorado shop hop in 2005, #46 for 2011. Journey Home was designed by my favorite mystery quilter, Debbie Caffrey. The colors are not really so yellow, that's what you get for being too lazy to carry the quilt upstairs to photograph in natural light.

Here is a detail of the lovely quilting done by one of my favorite long-armers, Connie Potter.  This is a new design, and it looks just right on this quilt:

And of course, the label:

Happy Christmas, Other Mother!