Lovely Year of Finishes

Guess what?  I only put one block down for my finish for January because of my carpal tunnel surgery.  But, I went all the way to doing the sashing and finishing the entire quilt top!!!!!

Here it is:

2013 Sugar Block Club.  My Dog Sadie loves it also...

So, there it is, my January, all 12 months done and top finished for Sugar Block Club 2013.  Onward to more Lovely Finishes for 2014!  Love always, Kay

What I did this week...

I dyed my own fabric.  I am so happy about it!

Two colorways of rainbows and a pastel

A bright rainbow

A bit darker more fallish rainbow

And pastels from the brights

 Aren't they fun?  I can't wait to do more.  Love always, k

Blog Hop Coming Soon... I need to get my quilt done!

I am participating in the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop and my day is February 18th.

The project is a secret, but it will be fun!  Please pop by on the 18th to visit.

Globetrotter and Aurifil blocks completed

I am doing two BOMs this year, one is called Globetrotter and it is a special quilt designed by super quilter Pat Sloan.

This is a big block, 24", and is the medallion for the center of the quilt.

I thought this block with all the different prints was a bit busy, but I do like it.  I am not sure I would change anything, just worried that it is a bit busy.  The fabric is mostly from the Nordika collection by Jen Baker.  I really like the feel of this fabric.  It is way different than most.  It has a softness to it and feels almost like a stretch knit.

 This is the January Aurifil block.  It is designed by Bridgitte from Zen Chic.  I really like the modern colors I am using.  It will be interesting to see how the blocks come together as the months roll on.

The fabric is all from my stash and I like to use stash fabric for all the BOMs.

One Little Word, Believe

Responding to Pat Sloan's challenge for us to choose a word that we wish to focus our energy around for 2014.  After giving it a lot of thought (for me, more than two seconds), I decided my word is Believe.  I chose this word because of a conversation that my husband Shawn and I had last night.  He was talking about the synchronicity in the universe, the power of thought, energy, and prayer, and the magic that can only be described as divine.  A miracle happened in my life just this past week:  my son and his family came to see us after six years of separation.  I met my grandson who just turned one.  A miracle.

Kathy (my DIL), Tony (my son), Jackson (my grandson), aren't they a beautiful family?

Happy Dad and Jax

Jackson or Jax, they don't come any cuter.

So, yes, Believe is my word.  I believe in miracles.

Further, 

• I believe in my family, each and every one of them.  
• I believe that I can get better.  I am still struggling with health issues, I have a brain injury that is slowly healing, I have carpal tunnel in both wrists, and my fibromyalgia has been off the charts caused by the car accident a year ago this month.
• I believe I have a lot yet to contribute.  While I turned sixty this past October, I believe I am still a shining star in the world and I need to let my light shine.
• I believe in growth.  I believe I can grow in many ways even though I have disabilities.  I believe I can help my family grow.
• I believe in being present in this moment.  I believe in letting go of the past.  
• I believe in never giving up but rather holding the love and light and believing in miracles.

So, Believe is my focus word.  Thanks Pat Sloan for making me think of it.  love always, Kay

Looking back and a little forward...

Sew Mama Sew is having a special series on 2013 and she has invited us to play along (Sew Mama Sew Special Series).  So, I decided to do just that...

Looking back on 2013, what trends stand out?  I think the biggest trend I have seen is the return more to center.  I think the book (which I have still to read but have followed the authors) Vintage Quilt Revival is a good example of this.  There seems to be an acknowledgment of the value of using the past to create the future, playing with the vintage blocks, adding color and size and new placements to make them new.  In this same vein, I see less of the chaos for chaos' sake, although sometimes that is needed just to break free. 

Was there a personal or an industry high point?  My personal high point was the realization that I have something to contribute, and "if you build it, they will come."  Well, they have not come yet, but I am going to keep contributing.

What did you make that you’re most proud of?  I think I am most proud of the wedding quilt which was my last finish.  I really worked on doing some different quilting and was very proud of it.

I am also proud of the quilt top and back I made for Aria Lane patterns as a tester.  I am proud to be working with Alyssa Lichner at www.pileofabric.com as a tester and proofer.

Whose work inspired or awed you? What was your favorite fabric collection or print?  I have to say that Tula Pink awes and inspires me.  She has such a sense of the playful fairy.

Do you have a book, pattern or class from the past year to recommend?  I have learned the most from Alyssa Lichner and Leah Day.  Both of them have inspired me to try new things and grow.

What are your thoughts about social media? How is it going for you? What do you love or hate? What do you predict for 2014?  I myself am frustrated a bit by social media.  I have a love/hate relationship.  I love to make the blog, but as I have found in all of my work, I am not a self promoter, so no one knows who I am and so what I do is limited in terms of social media.  I wish I could be a self promoter because I turned sixty last year and I really do have a lot to offer...  but I just can't bring myself to get out there.

Who do you think will be a rising star of 2014?  I say, watch Alyssa and Leah.  I think as young mothers everywhere, they are limited by the age of their families in what they can get done.  But I think those two are on the brink of rising to the star status, and they deserve it.

January, A Lovely Year of Finishes

I am going to start January with a small goal, mostly because I am laid up still with a cast on my right wrist from carpal tunnel surgery.  My January goal is to make the December block from Amy Gibson's 2013 Sugar Block Club and at least get a plan for putting it together.  Here is the earlier blocks:

While this picture only shows 9, I do indeed have 11 done but my camera is somewhere unknown and I am trying to dig it out.  I will find it by the time I need to post my success.

So, there you have it, my first 2014 goal...  Love always, Kay