Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Resolutions and the art of quilting

This year I wasn't able to make very many handmade gifts but I was able to make each of the kids a small quilt and a bear. You all know about Arlo's quilt. He seems to like it so I'm pretty happy. Maisy's quilt is just some Hello Kitty flannel and white flannel. It turned out alright in the end but it was one of "THOSE" projects.

First, I put it off until the last possible moment thinking that I had plenty of time and um, fabric. But when I went to my stash, I realized that my memory was PAINFULLY wrong and I did not have nearly as much fabric as I thought. Hence, the stripes. Then when I was cutting everything, I realized that the Hello Kitty fabric was not 45" wide but a mere 41". After a lot of cursing, I pieced together two 3"x60" strips and put a border on the sides. After that , it was mostly smooth sailing. We don't talk about the fact that one end is wider than the other, it's just not polite conversation.

All in all, I'm really pleased with both quilts. They have become our favorite blankets to snuggle under and have really inspired me to quilt more.

So here come the resolutions:

1. I'm going to be more darning in my projects. I take a very safe route when sewing and I want to experiment more, get a better eye for color and combinations. Worry less about being perfect and focus more on learning.

2. I'm going to make more things for myself.
I love making things for other people and that's not going to stop. I'm just going to fit in more projects for myself because I should get to benefit too.

3. I'm going to find a way to get Maisy more involved in sewing. She has an interest just not the attention span but I really believe that if she worked on it, she would love it.
(I hope.)

4. I'm going to make more quilts. Some from my own design, some from patterns.

5. I'm going to clean my sewing room.
Actually clean is an understatement, I'm going to make my sewing room into a place that I want to be. A place that I can have other crafty people come over, sit comfortably, chat and work. This is my largest goal but the most important.

Okay, I'm going to stop at 5. I could go on and on and on but I want these to be do-able, attainable goals.

So here's wishing everyone a creative, kind and peaceful 2008!
May we all have a wonderful new year.

9 comments:

Heidijayhawk said...

oooo i need to step out of the box with my sewing too. garments perhaps? that scares the everliving pee out of me.

Rachel said...

Those sound like resolutions for all of us! I'm with you on every single one.

Alicia A. said...

I like the resolutions, Michelle! I could use every one of those too.

Best of luck- Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, my dear! Excavating my sewing room is a priority for me too. If we both have happy workspaces, just IMAGINE what we could do.

And the hello kitty quilt looks adorable. As does the girl with it.

Sarah and Jack said...

Happy New Year!

I think once you take the "dangerous" sewing leap, you actually will find it a lot more rewarding. I know I do.

laura capello said...

maisy's hair ROCKS.

Angelina said...

Your children are gorgeous and so flippety-flippin cute!

I'm impressed that you got two quilts made- not because of anything to do with you (I mean I'm not making a sly mean commentary on your own capabilities) but because I got a quilt top made and it's been sitting in my sewing room for one month now waiting to be worked on. I am dying for a quilt for ME. I've only made crib quilts before and I want a full sized one for me and so the fact that you got two made is pretty great!

I think your goals are reasonable and that you'll achieve them. I'm coming over to sew with you just as soon as I can scrounge up the change for airfare. I love imagining you and Laura (and your other local friends too) in an old fashioned sewing circle swearing like sailors while you stitch.

Anonymous said...

Let us be dangerous and daring this year! I err on the side of familiar, too... and these are great resolutions. Bravo on the HK quilt. I know all too well what *those* projects are like!

The Chicken Lady said...

Um, yeah. You just go right ahead and make those resolutions. I'm not makin' any! But yours are good ones. :) I was thinking that if you want Miss M to get involved with sewing, have her make something for a friend! She might be more willing to get into it. My oldest made a quilt for her friend's birthday. It turned out so cute,and she was so happy with it, she made another one for her teacher's new baby. Good luck and have a splendid 2008!