January reckoning

Well here is the end of the first month of the year and already one of my goals has been pushed back.

However my creativity has been flowing and I am so excited about all the new quilt blocks I tried this month that I am not upset that my sampler quilt block hasn't been done.

So January is looking like this:

January

SIL - B'day and Christmas gift - Done - Christmas gift will be finished tonight.

Sampler BOM - Hole in the Barn Door - Not done but have decided to follow Quilt Dads Block-a-palooza instead from 1 Feb

MMQG Block - Done

Finish left over items from 2010 (x2) - 1 done

Bind Jot Dolls Quilt - not done but have at least attached the binding now.

* Fandango Quilt - Cut and Piece - 5 blocks down 11 to go

* Quilts for Queensland Blocks x10 (4 log cabin, 3 disappearing nine patch and 3 stars - not quite sure of their exact name) - complete and will be sent to Corrie at the end of next week

* Sunhat for Jot - done

* Childcare Sheet Bag for Jot - done

* August MMQG Block - The first of my two sample blocks have been made and I am now really excited about this quilt.  I will do the other one next week but you may have to wait till I get my blocks back in August before I show it off :).

The starred items were not on my original list for January so I have done well.

So as off tonight my February list looks like this:

February

BIL1 & Dad - B'day and Christmas gifts

Sampler BOM - Block-a-palooza  at least two blocks

MMQG Block February

MMQG August Sample Block No2

Fandango Quilt - Piece at least 5 more blocks

Bind J&T Wedding quilt this one depends on when it comes back from the quilter.

Bind Jots Doll Quilt

Finish last leftover item from 2010

Lets see how I go and what else I get distracted with.

Have a good week everyone.

Creative Juices are flowing

I have managed 3 more blocks for Retromummy and Quilts for Queensland which brings me up to 7 so far.  I am going to try for three more which will be 10 but as my Mum arrives on Saturday and I am working for the next two days I am not certain if I will manage it.

Sorry the pictures aren't that great.
I also finished up a bag for Jots sleep sheet at childcare.  Now I see it I realise I should have used a simpler pattern for the letters and a more complicated pattern for the bag.  Oh well you live and learn and Jot likes it so that is all that counts.

And a close up of the applique (my machine is having some tension troubles so I decided to hand applique the letters and I am really happy with how my even(ish) my stitches came out.

So now I am off to purchase some fabric for my month of the MMQG Oh Beehave and try to figure decide what to make my SIL for Christmas as I only have 10 days left of January to finish it in.
Take care
Jots Mum

No Technology Evenings

As part of my 'big' Goal for 2011 I decided to limit my use of the tv and internet and wow it has made a huge difference to my productivity at the sewing machine.  I will show the results shortly.
In addition to time spent at the sewing machine I have a knitting project on the go and have read 5 books!  Yes you read that right 5 books (nearly 6) in 2 weeks.  I will admit they are all books I have read before but we finally got round to unpacking our books at Christmas (only 50 weeks after we moved in) and it has been great to rediscover them.  I am reading the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind and am now on Book 6 of 11 'Faith of the Fallen'.  I will also admit to getting so engrossed that I have forgotten to eat dinner a couple of times and been up well past my normal bedtime most nights.  I think that I need to pace myself a bit better.
At the Sewing table I have:
Completed my MMQG Oh Beehave Block for Anna

Create 4 blocks for Quilts for Queensland run by Retromummy

Started on my 'Fandango Quilt' one block complete and 2 partially finished but wanted to get the Q4Q blocks finished before I went back to it

One Sun Hat for Jot for Childcare (she refused to model it for me but she does like it as she chose the fabrics)
 
And I made my SIL birthday present (now I just need to figure out her Christmas one)

I think that is it :).  I have also made up a Kids Tool Belt for my nephew O (who has a Jan birthday) but was in such a rush to get it in the mail to NZ that I forgot to take a photo of it.
I just hope the creativity continues as it makes me feel good about myself and more importantly keeps me away from the chocolate.
Take care
Jots Mum

Its been raining

It rained a lot last week down here.  Nowhere in the region of what they received in Queensland or in parts of regional Victoria that have suffered with flooding but more than I have seen in a while.

The wheelbarrow was empty when we parked it up there on Wednesday evening.  Jot was running her cars around the inside like a race track. 

Yesterday morning it looked like this:

Jot got very wet but enjoyed playing in the water for a change.

Take care

Jots Mum

Quilts for Queensland

It was suggested on my previous post that I use my leftover Fandango squares to make a 'Quilt for Queensland' as run by RetroMummy.  Unfortunately due to the time frame and a lot of things already planned for the next couple of months I think a full quilt is beyond me.  Instead I am going to do up some quilt blocks and send those off so I can still do my bit.

To all of you up in Qld or in the Victiorian towns that have been hit overnight.  Stay safe and we are praying for you all.

Jots Mum

I'm feeling stupid ...

Want to know why?

In my lunch break yesterday I carefully worked out how many 5 inch squares I need for my 'FANDANGO' quilt.  I need 108.

So why am I feeling stupid - you ask?

I just cut 180!!!

So do I:

1. make more blocks with the extra squares and make my quilt much larger
2. use the extra squares for a small lap quilt
3. use the squares for something else completely random.

Jotsmum

Jots Quilt

I mentioned last month that I have actually finished Jots quilt that I started in October 2009.

I had been struggling to find decent weather (in fact I still haven't had a nice day here with not much wind) to take a photo so the other day I gave in and photographed it on our sofa.  Please forgive the photos they really don't do it justice.


I gave it to Jot at Christmas and she loves it even asking for it at bed time so I think it is a hit.

My very first completed quilt.  The first of many more to come.