In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb

Well, March is finally over.  It wasn’t all bad.  In between random snow and too much work, I turned 29 and traveled to Jamaica.  Not bad, eh?  So, how much did I accomplish this month towards A Lovely Year of Finishes?  A lot… but not everything.

• Terrain Quilt, Quilted and Sold
• March Gypsy Wife blocks (almost – dang Pershing block)
• Cut out my NJMQG Block Party Quilt and distribute on March 20th
• Finish Rachel’s block, NJMQG block, ScrapBeeLicious March block (I swear I will catch up!)
• Add to Jess’ Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts and mail it off!
• Baste my husband’s quilt (ain’t nobody got time for that)

Here’s the big goal I set for this month all finished:

Almost all of the March Gypsy Wife Blocks:

And here’s what I managed to squeak out in the last few remaining minutes of March:

I finished my contribution to Jess’ quilt for our Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts!

I made all the Churn Dash blocks… which now I’m looking to make a whole quilt.  Love.

If March has taught me anything, it is this:

Finally, here’s a little bit of Jamai-zing for you!

For April I’m trying to narrow down my focus, and I hope to be a bit smarter about what I want to accomplish… most importantly my Chicopee Quilt.  Most urgent: My Bee Blocks.  Holy Cow.

A Lovely Year of Finishes: March Goals

Here it is.  Time to make my March goals.  I want to make sure I’m a little more realistic about the goals that I set for this month, especially since I’ll be on vacation the last week of March.  So, what can I realistically do in 22 days.

My number one goals is finishing my Terrain quilt top – especially since it already sold!  I want to mail this out by the first weekend in March.  Get it, girl!

Here’s my first finish of March, which was technically due in February.  However, since February was a short month, I’m saying this technically met deadline.  Here’s the start of my Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts medallion!

Then, here are a few more goals I’d love to accomplish:

• March Gypsy Wife blocks
• Cut out my NJMQG Block Party Quilt and distribute on March 20th
• Finish Rachel’s block, NJMQG block, ScrapBeeLicious March block
• Add to Jess’ Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts and mail it off!
• Baste my husband’s quilt
• Two commissioned car seat quilts

Too much?!  Hopefully not, because if I finish all of this, here is my prize: Wee Wander by Sarah Jane.  I am loving this concept of rewards each month.

A Lovely Year of Finishes – February

I am loving writing my goals down.  I’m wonderful with creating ideas, but I struggle with follow through.  It’s been so helpful to have a list to keep me motivated and I have enjoyed checking off each task.

Here are the goals I started with on February 1st:

1. Finish my Cuzco Herringbone quilt
2. Finish my Kaffe Stripes quilt
3. Make all of the February blocks for the Gypsy Wife Quilt (omg.  I am so excited!)
4. Finish my Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts center medallion
5. Finish two January feather blocks for Rachel, and all of my bee blocks for NJMQG
6. Baste my Terrain Quilt top

I finished a few extra projects too!  Since I didn’t get my nice sewing machine back until February 16th, I haven’t completed Rachel’s feather blocks yet – and I’m in the process of finishing my medallion.  It will be done today!  Hey – February was a short month!

Here’s a sneak peek at my Sisterhood Medallion fabric pull:

I’m so happy I procrastinated on this one, because this is no where near what I was planning!

I’m starting to like mixing fabric lines – growing up, people!

I hope you had a wonderfully productive February as well, and that March brings many quilty finishes!  What are you waiting for?  Go check out the other finishes this month!

A Lovely Year of Finishes: February

Well, January was a bust.  A few days after posting my goals, my new Bernina 710 headed to the shop.  For a four week stay.  And she’s still not 100% better so she must return in a week.  I’m about to be out of my mind.  So, I’ll lay out these goals, with a bit of uncertainty surrounding them.  I’m also going to factor in that I might be without quilting capabilities for the majority of the month.

Here is what I would love to accomplish in February:

1. Finish my Cuzco Herringbone quilt
2. Finish my Kaffe Stripes quilt
3. Make all of the February blocks for the Gypsy Wife Quilt (omg.  I am so excited!)
4. Finish my Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts center medallion
5. Finish two January feather blocks for Rachel, and all of my bee blocks for NJMQG
6. Baste my Terrain Quilt top

I’m really hoping that Big Bertha’s next trip to the shop is extremely short and 100% productive.  Sweet girl was way too expensive to be needing so much dern attention this quick.

Have I been too lofty with my goals?  We’ll see.  A lot of them are “must finish” so I think that will help!  Plus, they are all goals that I want to finish.  Why does February have to be such a short month?!

Oh, and to reward myself if all is done – True Colors by AMH.  Do you like how I just created my own prize?  hahahaha. I think I might do this every month.  In fact… for March, maybe Wee Wander…

January Goals

Last year I didn’t catch on to The Lovely Year of Finishes party until about mid-way through the year, so I was delighted to see that Melissa and Shanna are hosting this again.  I’m all about reigning myself in this year and finishing the projects that I start.  Last year I was a bit chaotic with my finishes, and I’d like to be more organized.

For the month of January, I’d love to finish up the quilt I started back in January 2013.  Yep, novel goal right?  They all get finished sometime.  Last year in January, I participated in the Sew Can She Herringbone challenge, and I adore this quilt.

Now it’s time to get it quilted.  Of course, deciding how to quilt it will be a challenge?  Any suggestions?  Be sure to check out the other entries in the goal setting link-up party.  Plus, don’t forget that there are prizes.  We all love prizes!  I’m hoping that The Lovely Year of Finishes will help me stay on track this year.

Here are a few other goals I have for the month of January:

• Finish one baby quilts
• Finish one more throw quilt

Here’s to getting stuff done in 2014!