WIP Wednesdays

So - I said I wasn't making goals for this year - but I have SO MANY quilts I want to get to - I decided I needed to make a list to keep me on track. 

My biggest goal for this year is to finish some of the projects I have started.  I've told myself - each month, even if I'm working on a new project - I need to have an UFO out and getting done as well. 

Here is a list of UFO's for this year - these are projects I have actually started - as in have completed blocks. 
- Route 44
- Swoon
- Christmas Granny Square
- Lincoln
- Vintage
- Round and Round
- Halloween Little Lollies
- HST - Marmalade (LOVING THIS QUILT)
- Scrumptious Squares

On my list of quilts I want to make - I've been looking through my Quilts I Love pinterest page and my goal this year is to get some of these quilts - or types of quilts made.  Starting with an Irish Chain.  I'm loving Irish Chains lately - just debating on a 2 color way or scrappy fun like this one.  I'm leaning this way using Happy Go Lucky....

So my list of new projects
- Irish Chain
- On a Whim (have fabrics out of High Streets)
- Christmas Round and Round (cut - just need to start it)
- April Showers blue/green quilt
- Cotton way - Cabin Christmas
- Plan C - JUST LIKE THIS (I also have it out of 12 days of Christmas and martinque  maybe I'll get them all done together)
- Scrap Jar Star out of my Florence fat quarters
- Jacob's Ladder quilt - something like this
- Button Box - like this one!
- Snow Blossoms  - out of Scrumptious

If you've made it this far down my list thanks!  Here is what I started working on in December.  I had big goals to be done by January - now I'm being a little more realistic and say - by the end of February. 

- Saw this on Instagram and had to have my own.  I've got everything cut out and working through my blocks.

- HST in Marmalade - I started these blocks a year ago after taking Camille's first Craftsy class.  During Christmas break - Carrie and Thelma worked their way through a HST quilt which got me motivated to get mine out again.  I am LOVING working on this quilt and am so excited to get it done.  5 blocks down - making more HST and going to try Sherri's method - I'm thinking it will cut down some time in the trimming process for me.

- Route 44 - I took a class from Carrie of the Ms Rosie fame a few years back and I LOVE these blocks - no idea why it got pushed aside .... ok maybe I do - I think I had a 2 month old at the time of the class.  But - I dug it out - and had a few blocks to finish - they are all finished and trimmed and I just need to lay it out!  I've been working on cleaning my sewing room - from the tornado of 2013 and will have plenty of space to start this project back up in the next few days. 

- Lincoln - I have 2 of these quilts in the work - one for me and one for a bday present someone ordered in july..... I'm slow - but my goal is to have it finished by the end of February.  Loving the low volume prints from French General.  This is going to be a beautiful, classy looking quilt!    Its twin sized - so I'm figuring out how to enlarge the pattern without ruining its perfection.  I think that is why I've procrastinated - seems like so many more blocks have to be done! 

These are my main projects I'm working on - REALLY trying to finish them before starting another one - but I can't make any promises.  I feel like my April Showers fabric is calling my name!  I may need to start on a small project in the meantime so I have it finished by the time yardage arrives.  I'm hoping to have a few kits of a quilt in store for you all!  I'll keep you posted. 

Thanks for sticking with my lengthy post!  I think I'm getting my mojo back!

Happy New Balanced Year

WOW - I feel like last year flew by and can't believe we are half way through January already!  After the Christmas rush I kind of went into a comma.  Between Christmas, quilting, kids out of school, burn out from life - I just wanted to lay in bed and do nothing for a few days.

Just as I was getting my mojo back - we got hit with a horrible LINGERING head cold/flu thing that we just can't seem to shake!  Needless to say I have had a very slow start to getting my New Year started out right!

I have had a lot of time to reflect on last year.  I am amazed at all of you and the creativity you sent my way.  I am so grateful for all the support you have shown me over the last year.  This little "hobby" of mine has turned into an actual "business" and I'm so excited for what the new year has in store for us and for you!  It has been a busy wild ride that I have loved!  I'm so tired - but so inspired! I am in awe over the quilts that continue to come through my door each and every day.  My to do list is getting longer and longer because I want to make all these quilts for myself.  Its getting harder and harder to send them back!

With this new business - my point of starting it was to eventually be able to quit my day job and stay home with my kids.  To spend more time with them.  I knew it would be hard to do both - but I never realized my goal of staying home with them - would actually make me a ghost to them in the meantime.  I've struggled with balancing work/kids/work-at-home/husband/cleaning life to say the least.  So this year - my first goal and maybe my "word" of the year needs to be balance.  I know most women struggle with this - the balance of trying to do it all.  I've learned this year - that I can't do it all.  I am SO lucky to have such a supporting husband who helps me all the time.  He is Disneyland dad - and my kids count down the seconds til he gets home each day.

This new year I have already implemented an earlier bedtime (bedtime?  whats that?  is how we lived our lives last year).  My kids will be happier with more sleep - it structures our nights a little better and I don't feel as guilty quilting the nights away when they are sound asleep!  So I'm working towards scheduling our home life a little better.  I feel like I'm running around with my head cut off 99% of the time - and I hope to calm things down a bit this year.

More fun time, more active time (I've even snuck in a short workout between the comma and sickness!) bike rides in the cold, bowling family time, dinners at home with real food.  Healthier, happier home life - Jodi from Pleasant Home mentioned in a post that she decided to put her family first last year and was amazed at how everything else fell into place.  I read this when I was having a down day - and it was exactly what I needed to hear.  Jodi has been such a support and sounding board to me already - and then to read such profound words - I felt they were directed to me - even though I'm sure they helped others as well.

So this year - I'm not making a list of goals - I usually do and I always fall short.  So I'm just going to say I'm going to balance things a little better.  I'm sure some days will be better than others.  But I'm going to try.  My goal for this week is to just get back into the swing of things!  Blogging being one of them.  I know everyone does Instagram now, including me!  I'm kind of obsessed.  But I still check my favorite blogs each day.  I love seeing more detail and pictures and stories behind the quilts and family goings on.  So I hope you do too! 

Come back soon - I even have my first finish of 2014 to show you along with some cute quilts I worked on this last week! 

Here's to a start to 2014!

A New Year

 

Quilts to be quilted - count them - yes there are 10 there.  I made a goal to have them all bound by the end of the year - obviously this didn't happen. 

 

At the beginning of the year I always try to make a few resolutions.  In the last few years, I've even tried to be realistic and make only resolutions I think I can actually keep - yet somehow life gets in the way and goals fall into the deep dark hole of things I don't get to. 

But here I am again - making a few resolutions - both personal and sewing related. 

1 - Spend more quality time with my kids.  Read to them (I actually started with this tonight, so I'm headed in the right direction!) We use to have Monday night game night - I'm going to implement this again.  If I take them time to read at least 1 book a day - and spend a whole night once a week completely focused on the kids - its a good start.

2 - Go on a date once a month - I've put this one on the list before, and we have failed at this one miserably.  We are now doing a kid swap with my brother - so hopefully this year - we can make this happen. May ultimate goal is to find me a go to sitter that comes once a week.

3 - Work Out - I know I know - this is ALWAYS on the list.  But folks, things are getting crazy with this body of mine.  Its out of control and something has got to change.  I'm thinking working out will make me feel better (as in healthy) plus lift my spirits, self esteem, energy level - along with shedding a few pounds. 

4 - Eat at home - We eat out a lot, which makes it hard to always be healthy - this year this is going to change.  Not only will this help us be healthier, but will save us money and me pounds!

5 - Go outside - even when its cold - once a week during the winter I'm going to make an effort to spend some time outside whenever the sun is shining.  My kids are into riding their bikes now, so come spring this will be easy and I can't wait!

6 - Organize - a drawer, a closet - something once a month.  Maybe once I get started I'll get motivated to get it done.  I have a couple big closets I need to tackle - and 2013 will be that year!

7 - Binding (see picture above) - my goal for those quilts is to get binding on all of them in the month of January.  (Four currently have binding sewn on, just need to be completed) I will work on these quilts as I can - and want to have them all done by March.  As for new quilts - once they are quilted, binding is put on immediatley and I am going to keep up!

8 - Quilts in progress - Finish 1 WIP every 2 months.  I will be posting pics of these each month so I can be held accountable for my projects.

9 - New Quilt Projects - start and finish 1 every 6 weeks.  I'm getting close to being out of quilts that need to be quilted now, so I've gotta start sewing again so I can keep trying new quilting patterns.  I am so inspire by all the beautiful fabric and fun patterns I need to actually do something with all the fabric I own!

10 - Spend more time with family - I love my family and I love Mike's family.  I need to make a bigger effort to get together with them all.  It will happen this year.

Here's to another great year.  What are the resolutions you're making?  Do you look back and last years and keep them?  I'd love to hear what you all do!

August Quilt List

Last month I made of list of quilts or quilting projects I wanted to complete.  It was a pretty long list and I'm happy to say I got all but 2 complete!  I thought it would be a good idea to make an August list - and why not go public with the list?

- Quilting for mom (have a project I've been promising her for MONTHS!)
- Quilting for Christine - a client quilt project
- Baseball #2 Turning Twenty - piece the backing, quilt, bind
- Finish Lucy's Crab Shack Tumbler quilt and runner
- Halloween quilt
- Swoon blocks

My goal is to try and stay on top of client quilts, quilt one of my own quilts that have been waiting in the wings, finish or work on a WIP quilt, and start to finish 1 quilt (as most of mine these days are fairly easy patterns).  My hope is from now until the end of the year that I will have a few completed projects if I stick to this.  We'll see how it goes, but 1 or 2 good sewing days a month I can get a lot done - so here's to hoping!

Happy New Year

Sure hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and is ringing in the New Year.  We had a wonderful time with both of our families.  The kids loved their new toys, and I have been lazy most of the week.  Worked a little more than I wanted, didn't clean nearly as much as is needed - but it has been nice to be at home this last week.

Mike and I took our first little getaway together this weekend.  Can you believe we have never left the kids together before?  I've gone on a trip or he's gone out of town - but we've never gone together.  We ran up the mountain to Park City for some alone time and I took my first skiing lesson.  Can you believe I've lived in Utah all my life and never skied before?  It was fun.  I'm still sore 3 days later - but it was fun.  I hope to make this a family affair and start going often.  I can't explain how beautiful the mountain is later at night, when its almost empty.  Going up the lift looking at the mountain - I wish I had a picture cause it took my breath away.... or that could have been from the boots I was wearing the the way my legs were shaking.... but it was a fun time either way.

I'm excited for 2012 and what is has to bring.  Tonight we went to dinner and I watched the kids race back to the car.  I think this is going to be a fun year for our little family.  The kids are FINALLY playing together.  Sam has turned into a little person instead of a baby.  We can get out of the house and go places and he behaves himself (most of the time).  My goal for 2012 - to sit in a movie theater with both my kids and watch the whole movie.... we'll see how that goes.

I was reading my posts from last January - the goals that were set and not kept.  I would say I did sew a little more then the previous year so that was good.  Eating and working out went out the door in January... I'm so fat right now I don't want to leave my house!  Clearly that needs to be priority #1 on my list this year.  Starting tomorrow - work outs will start - healthy dinners will be made - less eating out - no coke - YOU HEARD ME - NO COKE!  I've been cheating on coke with another man - Red Bull - so I'm going to allow myself a Red Bull now and then - but I'm done with the coke.  We have a tripped planned in April and I plan to allow myself to be seen in public in a bathing suit - so I've got to get my butt in gear!

I've got my Jillian Michaels DVDs ready to go, a new nano with some great play lists, the couch to 5k in mind - and I'm going for it.  Stay tuned to see a healthier me this year.  That is my only goal - I'm not even going to give myself a number I want to get to weight wise.  I just want to be healthier - like what I see in the mirror cause I've been very down on myself lately and would like to change that.

The other few things I'd like to do more of this year - finish a few quilts - which I think after doing 5 in 2 weeks I can prove I can get things done.  I have tons of kits and have been working to buy backs when I feel the need to buy fabric.  So I should have plenty to keep me busy this year!

The other goal is to find us a babysitter and try to go out more.  Mike and I have definetly let this part of our lives slide away since having kids and I think its important to bring it back.  At least once a month we are going to have a date night.

I've also implemented a new weekly night schedule - here's how I see it playing out.  Obviously if we sign Jake up for anymore activities my life will be overtaken by karate or baseball or soccer - but in the meantime this is how its going to work:

Sunday night - hang out
Monday night - Family night - focus on the kids, playing games, reading, an occasional movie night etc
Tuesday night - Abby night - I get to disappear downstairs and not do a thing once Mike gets home
Wednesday night - hang out
Thursday night - Mike's night - to do whatever he wants while I take care of the kids
Friday night - Family night - go out, stay in, but do something fun together
Saturday - Date night or hang out doing whatever

I think by having specific nights set aside for family time - and nights off for both Mike and I we will be a happier family.  Its something I've been thinking about for awhile now and feel its important to focus on.

Anything else???? This is a random post.  I'm excited for 2012 and all that it brings.  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to dig in to the new year!

Sunday Goals

In an effort to get productive in my personal life (the last few weeks have been a bust) I'm making some goals to get done today.

1 - find camera - took it to baseball practice last week haven't seen it since....
2 - finish 4 patch blocks for Route 44 project (wanted to take a picture of my progress, which lead to a missing camera)
3 - make some kind of progress on quilt for my mom
4 - have several quilts to quilt this week - get one on machine and ready to start
5 - workout
6 - all laundry washed AND folded

I'm writing these down so I have someone/place to answer to....seems if I'm held responsible for something I work harder to get the goals achieved.  I'll keep you posted - with pictures!

January 2011 Projects

In an attempt to stay more productive I am going to start listing out projects each month I would like to complete.  Hopefully I'll be able to go above and beyond, but if not, I hope to at least accomplish the ones on my list.

New Quilt -

I've been searching for a fun quilt to make from Bliss.  I am loving this line!  I've finally decided to make a  this quilt.

Its a smaller version of the original Crazy Little Thing Called Love quilt by Buggy Barn Quilts.  I have loved my larger version that hangs in my house this time of year.  I think this quilt in Bliss could be my new favorite!

UFO Quilts:
Remember this one?

I had one block in the lower right hand corner that was turned the wrong way.  So I unpicked it.  I now need to sew it back together and get the borders on.  I love this table topper and need one for my table, so I'm hoping to get this one done soon!

Quilting projects:
I'm hoping both of the above projects will be quilted in January.

I am also wanting to get this quilt done in the next week.

I have a cute snowflake pantograph I want to try out.  I have only done a few pantos, so it will be a fun challenge for me.

I also have my new nephew Dylan's quilt all ready to quilt.  That is the next one up, hopefully tonight!

Binding projects:

- Car mat for Marta

- Baby Dylan's quilt

- Bliss Love quilt

- Star runner quilt

I think I've got my work cut out for me!  I'm excited and I think these can all easily be done.  

Resolutions

Happy New Year!  Doesn't the new year always bring in the need to get organized?  The need to make goals?  I went back and looked at the goals I created last year.  Sadly, most got ignored.  This year I've decided my goals are going to be more general -- and FUN!

General Goals
- Be Healthy
- More Disciplined

Fun Goals
- Complete  new quilt project each month
- Complete a UFO each month
- Quilt an quilt that is hanging in my closet each month
- Bind, bind, bind...always have something to bind
- Hand work - I'm loving hexagons and I have a bag full waiting to be done.

I think if I can keep to my general goals - my fun ones will fall into place.  I am going to post pictures of my upcoming projects each month to get me motivated.  Stay tuned for January's.

Mike also pushed me to clean out my sewing room this week.  (Pushed....or threatened to start burning the fabric that was on the floor).  A clean working space makes for more productive self.  I can't tell you how much I've gotten done in the last week!  I only wish I had taken before and after photos.  No one would really believe what a disaster my room was unless they had actually seen it.

I can't wait to start my life again fresh.  I feel like each new year we get a chance to start over and do it right.  Or at least try.  Here's to a productive 2011!

One Word

Reading my cousin Kelly's blog, she posted this:

one word: encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. explain why you’re choosing that word. now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

2010: Chaotic

cha·os (ks)
n.

1. A condition or place of great disorder or confusion.
2. A disorderly mass; a jumble: The desk was a chaos of papers and unopened letters.
3. often Chaos The disordered state of unformed matter and infinite space supposed in some cosmogonic views to have existed before the ordered universe.
4. Mathematics A dynamical system that has a sensitive dependence on its initial conditions.
5. Obsolete An abyss; a chasm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English, formless primordial space, from Latin, from Greek khaos.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
cha·otic (-tk) adj.
cha·oti·cal·ly adv.


I use the word chaotic because I feel that is exactly what this last year has been.  I won't lie, adding another child into my little mix rocked my world, and seemed to be more challenging then I ever imagined.  Don't get me wrong, I love little Sam more than words could say, but having kids is rough!

Having a full time job, trying (TRYING being the key word) to keep the house clean and in order, finding time for the kids, for Mike, for me...all I can say is I'm tired....all the time.  My attitude about my house has changed.  I've gotten to the point were I care that its a mess, but have little energy to do anything about it.  If I have any energy left, I want to do something fun.  So although the year has been chaotic.  We have still had a lot of fun.  Lets hope this next year brings more sleep, a cleaner house, and an easier era with two crazy boys!

2011: Discipline

dis·ci·pline (ds-pln)
n.

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3.
   a. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
   b. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
   c. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in      classroom.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

tr.v. dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing, dis·ci·plines

1. To train by instruction and practice, especially to teach self-control to.
2. To teach to obey rules or accept authority. See Synonyms at teach.
3. To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience. See Synonyms at punish.
4. To impose order on: needed to discipline their study habits.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English, from Old French descepline, from Latin disciplna, from discipulus, pupil; see disciple.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
disci·pli·nal (-pl-nl) adj.
disci·pliner n.

I think the only way to bring order to my chaotic life is to implement some discipline.  Not to the rest of my family (except for maybe a new chore chart) but to myself.  I think I have let myself go in all areas of my life.  I need to be more structured with my kids, with my house, working out, sewing, working, spending time with my kids, my husband etc.  I have been spontaneous and done whatever my whole life.  I think I need to change my ways and become a planner.  Sure I make my to do lists, but once written I rarely look at them again.  NO MORE!  I will write my list and check it twice!  I will check things off my list, make weekly schedules, implement a chore chart to get some help.  Take a day a week to myself.  Wake up earlier to get workouts in.  Always have a quilt ready to bind, one on the machine to quilt, and a project ready to sew, that way when I have spare time I have something ready to go.  I will read bedtime stories and laugh with my kids BEFORE putting them to bed EARLY!  Bedtimes will be worked on and schedules will be put in place. ORDER will be brought to the Latimer house hold!

I feel strongly if we change our ways at home our lives will get easier.  Everyone will be happier, and our daily lives won't be so crazy. 

I can't wait to see what 2011 has to offer.

 

Catch up

I am alive and kicking....its been a busy couple of weeks. 

I've traveled to Pittsburgh and back leaving Sam for the first time (and all the boys did great in my absence). 

I've gone to 3 baby showers (2 of which I hosted).

CLEANED MY WHOLE HOUSE - which sadly I have not done in a long time! 

I've had a lot of catching up to do with my kids and Mike so I've lacked in the blogging.  New posts coming soon I promise!

Resolutions

Over the past 2 weeks I've been thinking a lot about resolutions. I've been thinking a lot about what needs to get done in my house, how I can be a better mother, wife, friend, daughter etc. I've made list after list after list, both on paper and in my head.

I just had a post ready to publish that may have been my longest post yet. It had all my resolutions both big and small that I want to accomplish this year. After a long and much needed chat (thanks Marta) I'm revising my post. My resolutions are going to be simple this year. Maybe mid year I'll revisit and revise, but for now with my new little family and crazy life style I need to go for simple. So here goes nothing....

Eat out less
Loose 20 pounds by June 1st
Organize closets (I have a year, 1 a month should be doable)
Clean out laundry room
Clean craft room (this could take me ALL YEAR)
Sew a little every day (even if its just 5 minutes)
Spend time playing with my kids, actually being in the moment with them
Date my husband again
Find something to laugh about everyday

There it is. Written down for all the world to see. Hopefully that will make me stick to achieving my goals. Here's to making 2010 the best year yet!