What's New in 2012?

Hopefully 2012 is off to a great start for you! It is for me (aside from a doozie of a cold), but it is difficult to say goodbye to some quilty fun I had in 2011. Firstly, Barbara Brackman's Saturday morning posts including history and blocks for her Civil War Commemorative Quilt (available through June 2012). Nancy Rink offered Ode to the Blue and Grey. I love the Beyond the Cherry Trees Album Quilt offered by Sentimental Stitches, Clutch is a smart little dog to have claimed that quilt for his own. With a name like Henrietta Whiskers, how can you resist? Of course, the tail end of 2011 held the unveiling of eight steps on each Friday morning when Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville posted clues to her latest mystery quilt, (spoiler alert!) Orca Bay (<-- click the link to see the 'solution'). Bonnie's Cheddar Bow Ties will have to carry us through to the next mystery quilt.

In San Luis Obispo County there is legislation pending (it will be considered this week!) to ban single-use bags in stores (if it's passed, no more "paper or plastic?"). Consequently I have spent quite a bit of time lately whipping up totes. Of course, I had intended to make them up months ago, but quilts and other fun things came to the forefront. Not anymore! Now I have a collection of totes waiting by the door to carry whatever I need. I even made smaller bags lined with Insul~Bright for frozen/cold items.

It's still early in the year and so many new blocks of the month have surfaced already. Here are a few I will keep my eye on (in alphabetical order). These are each generously offered by the designer for no fee (some for a limited time, for example free for thirty days, then for a fee).
A Year of Mini Quilts by Amy Heaton of Country Junk'tion
Asian Teapots by Angie Padilla of Angie's Bits and Pieces
Country Cottages by Shabby Fabrics
Just Takes 2 by Brenda of Dear Jane and Gayle of Sentimental Stitches
Mumm's the Word Anniversary Sampler by Debbie Mumm
Mystery Mondays with This and That Patterns
Project Quilting Season 3 began yesterday at Kim's Crafty Apple
Scrappy Plate Club by Bunny Hill Designs
Vintage Sampler by Reeze Hanson of Morning Glory Designs (42 garden-inspired blocks!)
With all of that good fun, 2012 promises to be a good year for quilting!

Fabulous Favorite Freebies:
*Always on the lookout for great quilt patterns for large scale fabrics and found Royal Peacocks by Punch Studio. That one is a keeper!
*Make a Kwik-Sew Insulated beverage Cup Cozy.
*An Owl Potholder would be a cute addition to your kitchen, or a great gift.

Hopefully you have resolved to do whatever it is you want or need to do this year and put a plan in place. I am preparing more wholesome meals for myself in 2012. So far I have made chili with cornbread and pumpkin muffins. Mmmm.

Here's wishing you a great 2012!
~~Lisa

Happy New Year

The new year is upon us. Mr. IQ and I had a quiet dinner out and met some friends for a drink too. I celebrated with a chilled Samuel Adams Winterfest followed by plenty of ice water with a twist of lime. Then we watched lots of festivities on television. It's the first time in many years I have stayed up until the stroke of midnight. Happy New Year!

Traditions ~ what folks do to ring in the new year has held my interest this year. I am amazed at the variety of activities people undertake while ringing in the new year. Of course, it's likely the most popular custom in the United States of America is to make resolutions. There is the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California which began in order to celebrate the orange crop ripening. Some people put coins in food for good fortune, consume blackeyed peas for good luck, eat doughnuts (the ring symbolizes coming full circle). In some cultures rice is lucky while in others cabbage (symbolizing paper currency) is eaten. We actually did have doughnuts. How did you celebrate?

New beginnings ~ did you know of Barbara Brackman's new blog to commemorate the anniversary of the start of the Civil War? I was not aware of this until her post today...hmmm, it appears I have a new project already, and it's only January 1. This adventure sounds like a lot of fun with great learning opportunities. Given the belief that the way you begin the year will color the rest of your year it sounds like a year of relaxation, starting new projects and working on current projects will characterize my 2011. Bring it on!

For most of the day I have been turning these pieces

Pieces waiting to be pressed and assembled.
Bonnie K. Hunter's Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery.
The mystery was finally revealed to its followers on Friday, December 31.

into these blocks.

I selected slightly different colors for my mystery quilt.
Bonnie used red, pink, green, brown and neutral and
I used orange, tan, green, brown and neutral.

Though we did take the dogs on a walk in a light rain early this morning. How can we resist?

We have two westies, Madison (L) and Bozley (R).

Hope you have enjoyed 2011 so far. I certainly have.

~~Lisa

Building New Skills in 2011

In a Yahoo! group the members have assembled a list of skills to build in 2011. I like the idea of skill building topics for the year. I don't want to be the same quilter in 2011 I was in 2010. I want to grow and strive to fearlessly undertake challenging projects in order to improve. The skill for January is 'y seams'. I don't mind them by machine or by hand, and I am inclined to join in the fun. Are you?

If you are interested in skill building around 'y seams' consider this primer or read through this pattern.

There are inspiring photos posted by Taryn, Kathie, more Kathie, Lori, Marti Mitchell and photos on Ms. Brackman's Material Culture blog with information about a stars quilt study in Oregon and later in Indiana, USA. Here is one I may consider, just the right size! A lovely antique carolina lily and another carolina lily with gorgeous feathers.

There is even a lone star sew along by Lyn Brown beginning in January.

~~Lisa

Ringing in the New Year

You cannot plough a field
by turning it over in your mind.

~Author Unknown

I create so many quilts in my mind and begin only a small percentage of them, and finish an even smaller percentage of those. Understandably so, since I have a fondness for English paper piecing. On the upside, I have a variety of projects to choose from when I have time to sew. Perhaps I should create smaller projects?!


Additionally, my workspace is small and I think that makes me resistant to getting the tops together, basting and quilting them. Though I do believe I am fortunate to have a space to sew, however congested it is. Miniature quilts are sure cute ~ that is a definite possibility, or maybe quilting as I go.

My space is not too small, it is just small enough that I shy away from assembling blocks and getting the quilt sandwiched and quilted. Anyhow, I resolve to finish two of my works in progress in 2011 and to better organize my space. I have some ideas about reorganizing and we will see how it comes together. Also, I'll make one Whig's Defeat block (inspiration here, possible pattern here) ...and if I love doing that one block I'll make more. Oh, and play with some wool.

Other quilters with thoughts on ringing in the new year: Bonnie K. Hunter, Kristy, ABCs of Quilting and a site with many links, Elizabeth.

I am grateful to have this week off work. Aside from baking and cooking a lot...I have been working on a little something for a friend's baby boy and am still piecing a few for steps 3 and 5 (have not begun step 6 yet either) of Bonnie's Roll Roll Cotton Boll. This mystery has me completely in the dark. According to the most recent mystery clue we will begin block assembly with step 7 which will be released on Friday...and I am looking forward to the possibility of a bit of a reveal too.

If you're feeling a little like a mystery there are a few New Year mysteries going on here, one here, another here, and yet another here. That should keep us busy! Actually I am not sewing a new mystery to start off 2011. Instead I will continue with RRCB, the Thread Head sew along (which I am doing in honor of the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War) and begin on my list of resolutions.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2011.

~~Lisa