Quilts for 2011

I look back at my completed list for 2011 and I'm so excited I got so many things done!  I think 2011 was the year of the table runner.  I really got into runners.

I have to say fall brought in the most runners for me this year - I went crazy for pinwheels!

I went through a swoon phase - and made a fall swoon table topper, a baby swoon quilt, and am 2/3rds of the way through my big Hometown Swoon quilt.  My goal is to finish up my swoon quilt by March.

I made a few baby quilts that are some of my all time favorites.

And the zig zag....

I made several larger quilts that have yet to be quilted.  So I haven't add them to my completed list yet.  My quilting goals for 2012 will be a little different from last year.  Instead of giving myself deadlines, as I don't seem to follow through with that due to life... I'm telling myself once a quilt is finished, it gets quilted and binding added to it all at the same time - before starting something new.  At least this way the quilts won't continue to pile up in my closet waiting to be completed.  The other goal is to quilt at least 1 a month that is hanging up staring me down every time I walk into the room.  My goal this year is to focus more on quilts I want to make for me - and less on quilting for others - and quilts for the etsy shop.  I don't want to give that up - but it seems whenever a holiday rolls around I start projects for my etsy shop and then I have nothing new for me.  I'm going to do it the other way around this year - make a project for myself first - then move onto the shop.  I've been wanting a 4th of July quilt of my own for years now - I think this is the year!  I also want to complete a few UFO's I have laying around.  Swoon, Route 44, Grace Star quilt and a few My 3 Stars quilts I have in mind.  

I'm excited for all the projects I have waiting for me - and most of all trying to use up a lot of my stash this year! 

Fandango Turning Twenty - Christmas Quilt Project

This was my final quilt from my Christmas Quilt project I started about December 10th or so.  This quilt was for my sister and was done out of Fandango by Kate Spain.  I used the Turning Twenty quilt pattern as she loves the big block look in quilts.

This was the only quilt I bought a back for.  I felt like the fabrics were different enough that I couldn't just slap on some random back.

I love this fabric line and my sister does too - so it worked out great!  I finished binding it on Christmas Eve - just in time to give it to her Christmas morning.  It was so fun being able to give so many quilts this year.

I had one for Mike that didn't get quilted - but I think I'll save it for Valentine's Day and do one for all my boys!  Gotta get started on that now.

Menu Mondays - on Tuesday

I know I'm late - but I've spent the last day or so researching recipes, making grocery lists, going to the store in hopes to help keep me on the straight and narrow.  So here goes my menu planning again.

Tuesday - Steaks and Pear and Blue Cheese Salad (the salad was delicious)
Wednesday - Pork chops, green beans and cooked apples
Thursday - Tacos - I may even turn mine into this
Friday - Chicken over Toast
Saturday - Turkey Sandwiches
Sunday - Pork Roast, roasted veggies, noodles

Bliss Zig Zag

Awhile ago I made this quilt and had it sitting in my "to be quilted" pile for a few months.  I finally got around to quilting it because Marta decided she needed a quilt on her wall in her new cheery office - and this quilt was auditioned and won the part.

I love this quilt.  LOVE this quilt - the fun colors from the Bliss line by Bonnie and Camille - the modern look of the zig zag or chevron style quilt mixed with white.  The polka dot border.  It was one of my favorites from the moment I laid eyes on it through someone else's blog and new I had to have one.  This is my first zig zag and I loved working on it.  I had decided I wanted some clean line quilting for this quilt and thought it would take me forever!  I was so happy with the results and so glad I stuck with the line idea.

I did little lines about an inch apart in the outer border - outlined the inner border - and did a zig zag motion through the zigs and the zags.  I'm so pleased with how it turned out.

I knew if I let this quilt go it would have to go to someone who would appreciate this quilt and love it as much as I did - and Marta is that person.  I was counting the number of quilts and table runners she has at our cousin party in December and I think she may take the prize for most Abby quilts in one location.  So I was happy to let this one go to live with her.  She will take excellent care of it and I can't wait to see it at home on her wall.

Thanks for sending the pictures Mart - can't believe I forgot to take them!

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!

Fa La La La Star Quilt - Christmas Quilt Project

Fa La La La by French General is quickly becoming one of my favorite Christmas lines. I have been buying bundles and yardage the past few months and have several quilts to go out of this line.

For this quilt I tried to use less Christmasy fabrics in hopes the quilt could be used all year long.  I used the Country Threads Big Star pattern.  I love this pattern as it looks great finished - but is very quick to throw together.

I love this line and thinks it looks very classy. Love the greys French General comes out with.

For the back I used a gingham cream and red from my stash.  Sticking with the idea of not having to buy anything new.  The colors went together perfectly.

This is one of my favorites and I enough enough to make myself one...gotta get working on that!

Chocolate Bars - Christmas Quilt Project

This may be my most favorite quilt I've made so far.  I had originally thought to give it to Mike, but the longer I worked on it - the more it was screaming someone else's name.  It is going to be hard to part with.

I used the Chocolate Bars pattern by Cotton Way.  Copied the front pattern to a T.  The line is by 3 Sisters called Chocolate.  It was my all time most favorite 3 Sisters line.  I loved the prints, the wovens, even the border is from that line and is a very almost flannel like brown color.  The only issue I had is working with the wovens and the soft brown everything was stretching!  Makes it hard to get  my sashings to line up.

For the back I used a small plaid/gingham and used a blue and brown stripe on the bias for the binding.  I quilted it in a simple stipple design.  This screams my brother's name and I think he'll be excited to have a warm blanket to take home.

This is a quick and easy pattern and I think screams boy - which is hard to find sometimes.  I think I'm most excited to give this quilt to him than anyone this year.  Hope he likes it!