Plans for 2019

I like to sew.

A lot!

Sewing brings me joy and keeps my creative mind engaged and happy.

Being a multitasker, I often have more than one project going. My design wall is currently home to my unfinished VFW Double Wedding Ring

My Double Wedding Ring Quilt

and

a Storm Star Quilt.

My Star Storm Quilt

Both are awaiting quilting.

My smaller design board displays the building blocks for one my latest improv quilts.

Red and Teal, A Challenge, AP # 95

This is another in-progress art piece. This one was started during a Heidi Parkes class I took at Blue Bar Quilts. Here’s a sneak peek.

Central Park, AP # 96

In multiple plastic storage tubs are other items waiting for my attention. Some have been started while others look the same way they did when I brought them home.

During 2019 I’ve made a personal goal to work-on and finish as many projects as possible. Many of my unfinished items have been gathered into tubs. Those tubs will be taken to a February quilting retreat. I know that I have packed way more projects than I could ever dream of completing but that doesn’t upset me. Having more than necessary gives me the opportunity to adjust my focus if I get bored.

Even though I have a very long list of items to complete it didn’t stop me from adding several more. So far this year I have added:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe Off the Cuff Block of the Month

A Different Box of Crayons Bricolage Block of the Month

An EPP project

and, last but not least a block of the month challenge (see my Red and Teal photo above) with one of my friends.

2019, like all other years, will be an amazing adventure!

I Have Awesome News!

Have you ever ventured outside your comfort zone?

A Challenge

The Wisconsin Quilt Expo is held every year in September. Early this summer they invited artists to submit their mini quilts to be considered for entry into the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge.

I’ve always wanted to enter a quilt in a competition but never had the nerve to do it. Just like many of you I have

a fear

of

failure.

They say you have to be willing to take rejection as easily as acceptance.

I’ve struggled with that concept all my life. I guess I would never make a good salesperson.

Temptation

This year the temptation of the mini quilt category was too much to resist.

I have a portfolio filled with specimens. There just had to be one that I could be willing to share with my peers. Which one though?

After looking over the possible candidates I decided to select this one.

At An Angle, AP #34

Another Challenge

The deadline for entries was the end of June.

After crossing the stumbling blocks of

possible rejection and

choosing the quilt to enter

I approached my next personal challenge…

It was hard for me to package up and mail my mini quilt. My faith in our delivery system has been tainted by

  • ripped,
  • torn and
  • lost items.

Trusting the USPS to safely and successfully deliver my mini quilt was nerve-racking. Obviously I had to overcome that phobia in order to participate in the challenge.

The Wait

After mailing my item the waiting game began. The Expo Committee said they would make their decision by 7/31/18. I mailed my mini quilt well before the deadline. Mailing it early meant I had 40+ days to wait for their decision.

Let’s fast forward to early August. Of course I just happened to be on vacation with my grandchildren when my letter arrived. While I would have liked to be able to run to the mailbox to find the letter myself, spending time with my daughter and grandchildren was way more important.

My husband was at home so he had the pleasure of opening the envelope.

Here’s the photo he sent me.

Modern Mini Quilt Challenge Acceptance

Woohoo!

I was so excited to find out that my mini art piece would be on display in the Expo Hall. How

awesome

is

that!

There is a well-known quote by Benjamin Franklin that reads:

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

To put it in other words, we must be willing to take a risk in order to achieve something.

I

took a risk

and

I

gained something!

I can’t wait to see my mini quilt,

on display,

amongst the other awesome entries! My camera will be very busy that day.

Now,

go out and take a risk!

Best regards,

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2018 Goal # 2

100 Blocks_Master

I proudly own  Tula Pink’s book City Sampler 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. Aside from thumbing through the pages over and over again I’ve never actually set out to make the blocks, until now. I am declaring 2018 to be the year to conquer this book. If all goes well by December 31, 2018, I will have 100 finished blocks.  I know the goal is a bit lofty but I think it’s attainable.

I hope to make 2018 the year I finally make the 100 blocks I’ve been admiring.

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