The Year of the Pig

As I'm sure you know, the Chinese name each year after a different animal. For me, this year is the Year of the Pig. I have sooooo many PIGS ( also known as UFOs) in my sewing room that it has truly become a PIG STY! I spent a good hour ( Here Piggy, Piggy, Piggy! ) looking in every nook and cranny for those PIGS in hiding. I came up with a list of 25 (not too bad) which you will see in my sidebar now called Pigs in the Poke. I had forgotten about some of them but others have been calling to me. "Finish me, pick me next!" I can't take the squealing any longer!!!!


So the first of my resolutions for 2009 is to get as many of these piggies done as possible. Surprisingly, some just need binding, others are flimsies that need to be quilted, and there are a few that are truly just a few blocks in a bag. I really want to spend the first couple of months of the year clearing out old projects and freeing up space not only in my sewing room but in my head. I still like all of these projects but for one reason or another, I never got them done. I feel like they are weighing me down like a quilted albatross around my neck. I hope by finishing these up it will free my head creatively to work on other things.


The second thing I'd like to do is finish cutting up my scraps. I have one (sort of LARGE) wicker basket that needs to be sorted, ironed and cut. My scrap management system ala Bonnie is in place so I just need to allot some time each day to iron and cut. I hope to spend 15-20 minutes a day on this little project.


The third is to do some knitting and quilting for charity. I am hooked on the knitting and I have only so many nephews and nieces with heads and hands (well, they all have head and hands, LOL) to be covered. I am looking into different organizations to donate hats, mittens and scarves. If anyone knows of a worthy group, let me know. And three of the quilts on my list are already earmarked as charity quilts.


Once I get the Pigs out of the Poke, I'm headed for my quilt bookshelf. I know there was someone out there who wanted to try and make at least one project from every book on her bookshelf. I have soo many books, patterns, and a couple of kits that I would like to revisit. I must have at least 7 bag patterns. So this year may become the Year of the Bag as well.


In the spirit of keeping resolutions and as a part of my promise to Finn's Fantastic Finnishes before the New Year, here is the first charity top of the year. I have this top done and another 1/2 done.. Finn, it's not totally finished but it will be quilted and in the hands of someone by the end of the year!

This is my helper. He insisted that I put a picture of him on as well as the quilt. This is called "Chinese Coins" or "Crayon Box". It was a day class that our guild holds every November. I used all sorts of crazy fabric that I had collected. It always amazes me when you put it all together that it looks good! This will go to some gentleman at the Southington Care Center where we ocasionally hold our guild meetings. I really tried to pick "masculine" fabrics in browns and greens.


Well, we are heading out early tomorrow morning for NJ to visit friends for the New Year. Connecticut is expecting 4 to 6 inches of snow starting early in the morning and going all day so we will be up and out early. Seww, a very Quilty New Year to all of my blogger gals!!! I'll see you in January!

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas to everyone from the East Coast to West, in snowy Wisconsin and balmy Hawaii, in Australia, England, wherever you may be! Best wishes to you and your families from me, my Hubby, Bob, Mr. B and Miss Holly.

We had a wonderful but quiet day. Our DS called from Colorado and we opened gifts with him via cell phone. He is having a wonderful time in Colorado.

I am on vacation next week and hope to do some sewing before heading to NJ to visit friends for New Year's Eve. If I don't get back before then, have a Quilty New Year~

P.S. I can't wait to see what all of you have in mind for New Year Quilty Resolutions~

A snowy update

Here are some of the things I have been working on for Christmas. The sweater is for my greatniece, Bella, who lives in Florida. I know it seems weird to knit a sweater for a baby in Florida. But they live in Jacksonville and it can get COLD. I think they had a very large 12 month old in mind. Well, she will grow into it. I made a really cute Santa apron for her mom but of course forgot to take a picture before I wrapped it. She loves to cook. Hopefully she will send me a picture of her in it.

The scarves are gifts for my MIL (the red one) and my coworker ( the multi color mohair one). Eli's scarf was really fun to make and worked up fast. It has a little ruffle on both ends. I got the pattern for this one in a book called "101 One Skein Wonders". It has lots of patterns for scarfs, hats, bags and other little things. I like how the book sections off the patterns by yarn weight.


The little snowman door hanger is one of a dozen that I made. I have sent him out to all parts of the country to friends and relatives and even saved one for myself.

The last picture was taken yesterday. We were hit with about a foot of snow from Friday at noon through Saturday morning. My hubby and I spent about an hour out there clearing the driveway before heading out to do some last minute shopping. The nice thing about shoveling is that you don't have to go to the gym that day!! Mother Nature provided us with our workout. We knew that another storm was on the way and when we got up this morning it was snowing again. It's about 12:30 now and it is still snowing. We expect another 6 inches. It's supposed to turn to sleet then rain. I'm hoping it doesn't as this makes cleanup really yucky!
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We received a package from Colorado yesterday which we haven't opened yet but it is nice and cushy! Hmmm, wonder what it is. Alex is battling his first cold of the season on his own. When we talked to him yesterday, he sounded pretty lousy. I'm hoping he feels better soon!

Well, I'm off to do some sewing and have some cookies to make!!

I hate to brag but...

I don't have any quilty pictures since it has been so crappy (weatherwise) the last few days, the light has been terrible for taking pictures. But I do have a little movie to share. As you know, I have two kitties, Miss Holly and Mr. B.

Holly is a lovebug and loves a good lap or a warm dark place like the laundry room and a basket of "just out of the dryer" clean clothes to nap in. She is the proverbial "dumb blonde" of the kitty world. Very pretty and a girly girl but not very bright.

Mr. B, on the other hand, is a bit aloof, but very curious and quite smart. Here is a little movie of his latest trick. Pay NO attention to the lady in the bathrobe. Not one of my better mornings!

I promise to be back with pictures of my quilty gifts in the next few days. I've never uploaded a video so hopefully this works!!

HELLO!! REMEMBER ME?????

I know it's been a month. All I can say is BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!! I know that is the case with all of us. This time of year is always hectic. I have been sewing and knitting feverishly but can't show anything yet as most of them are gifts or still in process.

I do have a couple of things to show! One is the latest Round Robin I did. This is the last round before we embellish. I added the 3D flying geese units to this one, which is BRIGHT and BOLD and definitely reflects the gal who it is going to. I am now working on the last round of this project. There were five of us and we hope to do the final reveal at the end of December.



I also can show the spiffy ribbons that I made for our Parade of Pigs (Projects in Grocery Sacks) or UFOS to many of us. I am still waiting for pictures. Hey Lesa!!! Send me the PIG pictures!! I have to thank Nellie for the ribbon directions. She made them for her guild's show last year and she generously offered the directions on her blog. Everyone loved them!! I think we will have more gals participating just to get a ribbon!

And here is a picture of me modeling my PIG which has a dual purpose. It is also one of my FINNTASTIC FINNISHES for Finn's end of the year challenge. This jacket has been in process for about two years. I wove the fabric panels about two years ago. I had done them as a demo for my guild. I bought the jacket pattern from a vendor who did a jacket and purse trunk show for our guild last year. It is lined with flannel and was pretty easy to put together. The time consuming part was quilting the panels. I really like how it came out and have been wearing it quite a bit!

Thanks to all of you who have emailed me to make to check if I was still inhabiting this planet!! It makes me feel so blessed to know there are gals out there thinking of me.. I have been visiting some of you periodically. If I haven't been by in a bit, don't worry! I hope to get to everyone soon.

For those of you who have been asking about my son, he is currently working three part-time jobs in Vail waiting for the season to open. They had snow recently and he got his free Vail pass so he has been riding. I can always tell from his voice when the snow has arrived. He gets very mellow! LOL. He loves snow like his mom loves fabric. It's a ZEN moment.

This will be our first Christmas without him. Just me, my hubby and the kitties at home on Christmas morning. It will definitely be a little sadder but I'm sure we'll get through it. Even though he isn't a little boy anymore, having Alwx here to open presents was always a highlight for me. Better get busy packing that box for Colorado!!