Friday, December 29, 2006

Standing in the doorway....

between these last days of 2006 and a new beginning next Monday, January 1, 2007. Oh my! And doesn't it just seem like it was the brink of 2000?? Like many, I set goals last Dec. 31st. I've done just so-so on accomplishing them. There weren't many...
1. Buy no new fabric in 2006. I only bought a little for the Civil War quilt.
2. Finish at least one UFO a month. I actually had 18 done or abandoned by July and then gave up on that.
3. Lose some weight. And that one I failed at, quite miserably!! (I just joined WW online!)
I'm thinking I will do the same resolutions or goals for 2007, and see if I can bring my weight, stacks of UFO projects, and overflowing stash, under control again.
Most of you know I'm a senior quilter..*S*..and that's NOT the same as being a MASTER quilter(as in the Elm Creek books). One of the differences, as I see it, is that I rarely follow someone elses way of making a quilt or combinding blocks. I'm pretty strictly a "block" person. If I see a quilt, or picture I like, I try to figure out what the block is, or how they combined blocks to get that effect. I seem to have mostly missed the road that lead to buying a hang pattern(or in a book for that matter) and saying "I want to make this quilt" I'm not against hang patterns, and I have used my share to get the neat Country Thread looks that were so popular in the 1990's. Debbie Mumm and Thimbleberries are another example. I don't work with patterns from either for the most part. What delights me most is the "play" part of piecing. And the idea of taking a pile of HST's and seeing how many ways they can be combined.
The little "cutout" above, is a Darlene Zimmerman pattern and kit. It a bright and good looking quilt that is a combination of 4 patches and HST's. Hers, of course, is part of the Egg Money line of fabrics and patterns.
I want to make a similar quilt, but I will use scrappy lights and baby/kids fabrics in bright colors. It on my "to do" list....hopefully for 2007. I still have lots of scraps that need cutting up...*VBS*
As for the weekend, sounds like we are going to once again miss most of the snow. It's been raining here for about 3 days now, and is suppose to continue through next Monday and Tuesday.
I have the meatballs mixed up and frozen(did that last night) and will be putting them in the roaster later this evening with their special sauce. They bake about 1 1/2 hours. I've invited my friend Jean to stop by when she gets done work at 8:30 p.m. so she can sample them while they are right out of the oven. They'll cool over night and be ready to travel tomorrow morning..*S*
The plans have changed slightly, DD and SIL will be picking me up in Baldwin, about 20 minutes from my house. It's a bit more driving for them to do that, but they offered. So if there is snow or bad weather, I will only have about 14 miles to get home on county roads. Then I am home for New's Years Eve and day, with no need to worry if it snows alot. Sound like the perfect plan to me...*VBS*

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the achievements in no buy.
Congrast on getting done (or rid of) 18 UFOs.
I hope you get on well with WW - I went to classes 2 years ago and lost 2 stone (mostly stayed off). The program really works if you stick with it :)

Anonymous said...

Finn, I love that quilt pattern you showed and it's so simple. I may have to give it a try. Have a safe trip and we look forward to hearing about your adventures!

Anonymous said...

you did a good job on your goals for the year -- not perfect, but I didn't see that listed as one of your goals :-) Hope you enjoy the family and the start of another new year.

Anonymous said...

Your meatballs sound yummy, Finn...can you FedEx me some, please? LOL I am just not going to make any resolutions! So there, I've said it! :) I NEVER keep them and then I feel bad about it, sooooo I'm just planning on making me a Christmas quilt in January. Then we'll see what's next. LOL Enjoy your family, dear friend, have a safe trip, and we'll be here waiting to hear about it when you get back. ;o)
Quilty Hugs,
Angie

Anonymous said...

Carry on 'playing' Finn - it's more interesting! Have a happy New Year and a good time with your family.

Anonymous said...

Hope you enjoy your trip, Finn.
Where will Ebby be?

I quite often see pics of quilts, & work them out for myself too!

Not that I have done any lately... sort of sewer's block?? haha.

Anonymous said...

Your meatballs sound delish! Have a safe trip!
:)

Anonymous said...

Hey Finn,

Do you brown the meatballs THEN freeze them or just freeze the raw meat?

Sounds good, and I like sketti and meatballs, just don't like all the time to make each little ball and brown it, so I usually end up having regular old meaty sauce... lol

Anonymous said...

Mmmm -- the meatballs sound delish *s* Hope your visit is wonderful and that you have safe travel. I like your way of quilting -- it has taken me this long to begin to notice I can figure out a quilt without a pattern. Some of us are slow starters *s*

Quilts And Pieces said...

Finn, hope you have a wonderful New Years! And I love your quilts! Sr Quilter and all!

Anonymous said...

I will look forward to supporting you in your 2007 goals! WW works great-we have been doing it for a while with positive results-love the idea you posted!
hope you have a wonderful new year celebration-the meatballs sound so very yummy! and will look forward to seeing what you play with over New Years!
big hugs Finn...

Anonymous said...

If being a "senior quilter" is defined as using a pattern as a suggestion and working on your own, then I'm already a senior quilter. I followed patterns for about the first year, then I went off on my own. I've even stopped doing mystery quilts because I don't like to follow directions. :)

Have a safe trip and enjoy yourself!

Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by my blog.

Ali Honey said...

Originals are always better than patterns! I wish you happiness in 2007