It's time to wrap up 2011 - what a crazy year. I could not have predicted the sewing frenzy that would engulf my life. In a good way. I have grown so much during this past year. But the best part is that I still feel like I'm climbing. There are so many more things I want to learn, explore, and accomplish. All in good time though. After all, there are only so many hours in a day.
2011 Highlights
1. Patterns. I added 2 patterns to my repertoire this year. Each one is such a learning experience!
2. Charmed Prints Quilt Along. Hosting my first solo quilt along was quite a challenge. I am so happy with the results and thoroughly enjoyed watching everyone else's progress too.
3. Rockin' Robin Quilt Along. Co-hosting this row robin quilt gave me the confidence to host one on my own.
4. My first Moda Bake Shop and Riley Blake Cutting Corners tutorials. Generating ideas for projects and having them accepted by the fabric design industry is such fun!
5. {Sew} Beautiful Bee. These girls challenge me each month to try new techniques or expand my creativity.
6. Learn Long-arm quilting. Check! Ok, so technically it's a mid-arm. But I took classes last Jan. to learn how to use an HQ Avante and am now able to quilt my own large quilts with confidence on the frames. Still very much a beginner - but that's ok.
7. Get over my anger and frustration with FMQ. Taking the long-arm class, really helped with understanding what was going wrong with FMQ on my home machine. Although I mostly stipple, I'm very happy with my new found ability to quilt my own smaller quilts at home.
8. Columbus Modern Quilt Guild handover. I founded and ran our CMQG last year (actually it started in late 2010). I had no idea the challenge I was getting myself into when I sent out the first flyers. I think starting up any new group is quite a challenge though - and now that I've handed the leadership on to the next leaders, I do have to say, I am pretty proud of the lovely group of ladies who've join in the fun. I look forward to each meeting and am SO glad I found local friends who are as passionate as I am about quilting.
9. Sewing Summit. What an absolute high! This was only my second trip away since having kids. So refreshing and fun! I only wish I could make it again in 2012.... I met SO many fun people. That was the best part - making new friends. But with a 6 mo. old baby, I don't think I'll be able to trek all the way to SLC. I'm saving up my pennies for 2013 though!
2012 Goals
1. Have a baby, maybe? I usually try to keep a lot of my personal life private on this blog, but I absolutely must list this personal event in the year 2012. Coming soon - March 2012. As I waddle out of bed each morning and attempt to put on my socks (this could take several tries), this goal becomes more and more of my primary focus each day. All of my relatives patted my belly this holiday, remarking on it's cuteness and how it's a little round basketball. It's not. It's a bowling ball. And it sure doesn't feel cute. If you notice slow posting here over the next few months, know it is because I can't fit my belly under the sewing machine any more or because I'm too tired to climb the steps to my PC to write. But I'll still be here - plotting my comeback! MMwaaahaahah!
2. Sew for Me. The first half of the year, I am going to focus solely on what I want to work on. This could be absolutely liberating!
3. Enter a Quilt in a Show. I am currently working on finishing my Supernova quilt, which I plan to enter in the National Quilting Association Show held here in Columbus, OH each year. This should be interesting. It's a very traditional show. We'll see what kind of reaction I get. I'll keep you updated on my experience. Entries are due by April 1st.
4. Blog Design. Since I won't be sewing as much, this winter I've made a personal goal to learn more about blog design. I am a geeky engineer at heart, and I get such a charge when I spend an hour trying to figure out some html code that finally gets me the look I want on screen. So expect me to be playing around with layouts, colors, features, etc.
That's it for 2012! Short and sweet. We've got a big year ahead! I will be cherishing all the sewing I can get in.
2011 Highlights
1. Patterns. I added 2 patterns to my repertoire this year. Each one is such a learning experience!
2. Charmed Prints Quilt Along. Hosting my first solo quilt along was quite a challenge. I am so happy with the results and thoroughly enjoyed watching everyone else's progress too.
4. My first Moda Bake Shop and Riley Blake Cutting Corners tutorials. Generating ideas for projects and having them accepted by the fabric design industry is such fun!
5. {Sew} Beautiful Bee. These girls challenge me each month to try new techniques or expand my creativity.
6. Learn Long-arm quilting. Check! Ok, so technically it's a mid-arm. But I took classes last Jan. to learn how to use an HQ Avante and am now able to quilt my own large quilts with confidence on the frames. Still very much a beginner - but that's ok.
7. Get over my anger and frustration with FMQ. Taking the long-arm class, really helped with understanding what was going wrong with FMQ on my home machine. Although I mostly stipple, I'm very happy with my new found ability to quilt my own smaller quilts at home.
8. Columbus Modern Quilt Guild handover. I founded and ran our CMQG last year (actually it started in late 2010). I had no idea the challenge I was getting myself into when I sent out the first flyers. I think starting up any new group is quite a challenge though - and now that I've handed the leadership on to the next leaders, I do have to say, I am pretty proud of the lovely group of ladies who've join in the fun. I look forward to each meeting and am SO glad I found local friends who are as passionate as I am about quilting.
9. Sewing Summit. What an absolute high! This was only my second trip away since having kids. So refreshing and fun! I only wish I could make it again in 2012.... I met SO many fun people. That was the best part - making new friends. But with a 6 mo. old baby, I don't think I'll be able to trek all the way to SLC. I'm saving up my pennies for 2013 though!
2012 Goals
1. Have a baby, maybe? I usually try to keep a lot of my personal life private on this blog, but I absolutely must list this personal event in the year 2012. Coming soon - March 2012. As I waddle out of bed each morning and attempt to put on my socks (this could take several tries), this goal becomes more and more of my primary focus each day. All of my relatives patted my belly this holiday, remarking on it's cuteness and how it's a little round basketball. It's not. It's a bowling ball. And it sure doesn't feel cute. If you notice slow posting here over the next few months, know it is because I can't fit my belly under the sewing machine any more or because I'm too tired to climb the steps to my PC to write. But I'll still be here - plotting my comeback! MMwaaahaahah!
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| 2.5 weeks ago... |
3. Enter a Quilt in a Show. I am currently working on finishing my Supernova quilt, which I plan to enter in the National Quilting Association Show held here in Columbus, OH each year. This should be interesting. It's a very traditional show. We'll see what kind of reaction I get. I'll keep you updated on my experience. Entries are due by April 1st.
That's it for 2012! Short and sweet. We've got a big year ahead! I will be cherishing all the sewing I can get in.
