Sew Many Plans - September 2013

My long list of stitching plans for August went swimmingly well, in no small part due to the fact that I had two glorious weeks of holidays to free up lots of lovely "me time".

• I stitched the final stitch in my Forever hexagon quilt three years after I started it - yay!
• A giant star quilt top for Bee Blessed was whipped up from a set of beautiful Punctuation fqs;
• My FQR UFO's were made into a cushion and a finished embroidery;
• Fiona's block marked the end of my first year in a bloggy Bee;
• I made time to make a special gift for a very special friend;
• And, there were some wee fundraising makes thrown in for good measure.

Results, I'd say!

Moving into September I have a new commitment to fess up to.   I have joined the Modern Stitching Bee and will start this month by making Leanne's requested blocks.  Her block plans are fab, I just have to pull it off.

Bee Blessed picks up again after a much needed (by me) summer break and there is always plenty to keep us all busy there, not to mention the giant star quilt top that needs some attention too.

hipBees starts its 2nd year this month and I am kicking off as Queen Bee. I have already made my blocks in advance for the instructions sent to the others, but I do have a backing to piece for my first quilt so I'd love to be able to make some progress with that one.

Class - I'm also going back to class as a totally self-indulgent treat to socialise and make a pixellated heart quilt over a six week period.  I am really looking forward to that as it's been a while since I've been able to attend and they are always loads of fun!

Maybe one or two little things might work their way through the sewing room as the month progresses. Who knows?  Still some WIPs and UFOs that could use my attention, but this month I am definitely all about NOT stressing, so we'll see how it goes.

So, looks like I have a plan.  What about you?

Sew Many Plans - August 2013

July's stitching wasn't quite as prolific as I had hoped, but I did still manage to get through the few bits and pieces I had set myself as a target. 

I would like August to have more to show for it in the end, so I have spent some time this weekend sorting and gathering projects in the hope that it will motivate me to find the time to work through them.

I would so love August to be the month I finally finish my hexagons quilt.  Not sure I should make a promise on that but with a bit of a push maybe I could actually do it.

These fabulous donated fabrics are cut and ready for a new quilt top for Bee Blessed.

Fiona is Queen Bee this month in our hipBees so her fabrics should arrive soon to be attended to.  Rumour has it that Amy Butler is on the way!

Then, there are my FQR projects, maybe I'll call them WIPs rather than UFOs just yet.  My "Small Things" embroidery which I would like to finish but also want to take the time to practice some new stitches on the way.

And, of course these two blocks from the portholes class which will make a pretty cushion for the sewing room.

I took this pack of brooches away to FQR to make up in my "free" moments, but basically did too much chatting so they're still awaiting my attention!  I've added a few more bits and bobs to increase the yield and hope these might be saleable at the next Bee Blessed exhibition day.

Lastly, this selection of pretty aquas and linen are for something special, but I can't tell you that now (and that doesn't mean I'm writing a book as it seems that's what people say when they are).

Enough to motivate or to overwhelm me?  I'm not sure, but I do know that having a plan is often the best way for me to achieve at least some of the sewing I want to.  So fingers crossed.

What are your plans for August?

Sew Many Plans - July 2013

Hmmm, I appear to have missed June's Sew Many Plans post completely!  There's been a lot going on, and not much of it stitching.  Still, looking back over the time since my plans for May post, I have done more than I remember, even if not all that I had planned.

I hope to squeeze a few more sewing hours out of this month than usual, making the most of the time that will be freed up by the summer break in Junior's extra-curricular activities.  Gotta admire my own optimism!

So, what am I hoping to be up to?

Well, the special birthday sampler quilt for my MIL is now a pieced top and needs to be basted, quilted and bound this month - really MUST be done or it won't be ready on time.

Tanya has sent us some groovy fabric to make tree blocks for her month as Queen Bee in hipBees.  Another fun challenge for the month!

My Forever Hexagons quilt is still in need of more hand quilting, yep still.

And, of course there this to get ready for ...

Might be a weeny bit excited!

How does your sewing month of July look?

Sew Many Plans - May 2013

Who said it could be May already?  Where did April go?

Feeling a little bit rushed through April but I think I managed to cover nearly all the plans I had listed.

• I had fun whipping up some starflower blocks for Bee Blessed last month and made a ton of binding for three different quilts that the group have been working on, as well as joining in the general quilt progression efforts.
• Karen was kind to hipbees this month with a fun little whirligig block and some beautiful textured white fabric to work with, and I managed to get all my little fabric packages cut, parcelled and posted for my month as Queen Bee in May.
• I started work on my Hexie Globe EPP but didn't get as far as I'd hoped.
• 2 more blocks were added to the Birthday Sampler collection and my wardrobe now houses two little infinity scarves.
• I did not manage to keep the momentum going on my hexagon quilt hand quilting which was a shame, but it's been a slow burner all its existence so I'm sure it won't mind!
• As a last minute decision, I joined Le Challenge in it's inaugural month and made myself a pretty little coaster for their "geometrics" theme, and I made a suitably ridiculous bow tie for my son's school show, which was a fabulous evening of fun and entertainment!

Looking around the sewing room I have several WIPs and UFOs that really need my attention, but I think what scares me more are the PIWs (Projects in Waiting).  There seems to be an ever growing list of things I want to make and have actually been digging out fabrics from my stash for and setting aside in hope of starting.  Dying as I am to get at them, I think it would be a huge and overwhelming mistake to start new projects just now (my little brain goes into meltdown when there's just too much happening). Shame!

So May, I think, will be a month of plodding on with my WIPs and maybe even trying to get a UFO off the shelf and back into the WIPs pile (at least)!

Bee Blessed - I've got a 16 patch block to make up.

HipBees - I am Queen Bee this month so I am going to wait and make my block later in the month but I will be doing some scheming and quilty calculating in the hope of being able to progress my quilt when the blocks are returned.  I would so love to be able to bring a pieced top to FQR in July, but we shall see.

Le Challenge - this month's theme is "wings" and I haven't quite made up my dithering mind what to make yet, but at least there is a shortlist in my head.

Hexie Globe EPP - I would love to make lots of progress on this, but that's about as much as I want to commit to.

Hexagon Quilt - well... hopefully... maybe ... another few flowers handquilted?

Special Birthday Sampler - another two blocks would have me ready for sashing and borders in June, so that's my plan for this one.

UFO to WIP - this is definitely aspirational, but maybe ....

Hope you all have some lovely plans for May stitching!

Sew Many Plans - April 2013

This March is not going out like a lamb that's for sure.  Snow is still lingering in our labyrinthine streets out here in the sticks of NI, and I want to see some spring, pleeeeeeaaase ...

It doesn't feel like I got to the sewing room nearly as often as I'd have liked this month, but there were a few blasts of activity which achieved this little lot:

• Fun Bee Blessed blocks using the Happy Zombie Funky Wrench pattern - I really like how these blocks look and can't wait to see all the variations arriving from you lovely peeps for our quilt top. I also finished piecing a top from the Inspirational words blocks that Judith helped me to make. I think this is what I'm most proud of this month.
• Rachel's beautiful butterscotch Puss in The Corner block was stitched up and despatched back for her hipBees quilt.
• 3 blocks were added to the collection for the Special Birthday Sampler Quilt.
• The crocheted snood was finished and, I'm sad to say, is getting MUCH use.
• Mother's Day was serviced with a Martha May bag and a kindle case.
• Those lingering baby taggies are no longer upsetting my WIP/UFO pile. Hooray!!
• And, I stitched up a wee sunglasses case for a gift and started the preparations for a new EPP project.

So what about April?

Hmmm, I am really torn this month by wanting desperately to do some new things and knowing that I really need to get some of my "already starteds" across the finish line.  Getting the balance right is difficult sometimes...

So here goes,

Bee Blessed - there will be new blocks to be made

hipBees - Karen is our Queen Bee for April - wonder what block she'll ask us to make for her?  Also, it's my turn to be QB in May, so I need to get organised to send out those little packages at the end of the month!

Mystery EPP - there's my new EPP project of course!!

Special Birthday Sampler Quilt - I'd love to get blocks 9 & 10 ticked off, though I haven't decided which blocks they should be yet.

Hexagon Quilt - keep at least a little momentum going on the handquilting front.

An Infinity Scarf - it WILL be spring soon and I WILL be able to retire the snood until the autumn so, living in hope, and believing the folks who say these take no time at all to make, I'd like to sneak one of these into my list for April.

I would really love to add some more new projects to the list, but this seems like more than enough to be getting on with and much as I want to start new things, I don't want to increase that UFO list over there on the right! (Placing sensible head on.)

Hope you all have a fabulous Easter break and lots of time to indulge your stitchy passions.

Sew Many Plans - March 2013

Helloooo?  Could somebody bring back February please?  It feels a little like I blinked and missed a whole month, or most of it anyway.  Although my February plans didn't seem overly ambitious when I made them, I have fallen just a little short of completing them.

• In February Bee Blessed projects seemed to get most of my attention.  There's such a lot on the go for our donations list and of course, I started work with Judith on the words quilt too.  It's great to know all of this stitching is for such worthy causes.
• Some fun was had in the stitching and temporary kidnapping of Di's Ruby Geese.
• I finished the recycled shirts squares and strips quilt for my son.
• I stitched and stitched and stitched some more trying to attach the back hexagon border to my hexie quilt.  Jeepers that was a loooong process!
• I just about squeezed in the sampler blocks for my MIL's quilt - though I did make three which was a bonus.
• But unfortunately, the snood is still on my crochet hook rather than a completed, wearable garment as I had hoped.

March will hopefully not fly by so quickly and will be kind enough to lend me a little more sewing time (she says keeping fingers crossed).  So here's my plan:

hipBees - It's Rachel's month in hipBees and she has chosen a lovely block for us and is sending liberty  and lovely teal or butterscotch solids.  Looking forward to this block.

Bee Blessed - The words quilt needs more magic worked on it and I'll try to keep up with the monthly block too.

Special Birthday Sampler Quilt - I have been enjoying these sampler blocks and think maybe a granny square will be on my list this month along with one other - so many choices ....

Snood - hoping for a finish this month.  I really don't have much more to stitch, just need to find time to do it.

And, having my head buried in real life I failed to note that Mother's Day is just around the corner, so if I can I might need to come up with a make that will be enjoyed by mum.  We'll see how it goes.

Being honest, I'm not feeling hopeful about this month's plans as life just feels very hectic but I'm working on an aim-high-hit-halfway-and-it'll-still-be-something kind of policy.

Hope you have great plans for your new sewing month!

Sew Many Plans - February 2013

Looking back on January, I wondered how I managed to post 17 times (18 now) with the little sewing I did this month.  Seems I was in a chatty mood, sharing my pre-Christmas gift makes, lots of Bee Blessed news and posting my new weekly Making Me Smile pics.

Everything I had planned was achieved or progressed and I even snuck in a wee taggy tutorial and a recycled shorts pouch and watch keeper tray for DS.  There was also unexpected progress on the recycled shirts quilt which is now calling to me from the sewing room begging for me to finish the other half of the quilting.  Soon, soon my friend ...

So February's sewing plans have kind of been shaping themselves and look like this.

HipBees - Mama Bee Di is this month's hipBees Queen Bee and has chosen a fabulous wild flying geese block for us to tackle in her gorgeous Ruby fabrics.  Can't wait for her wee parcel to arrive to get trying it out!

Bee Blessed - No doubt there will be plenty of Bee Blessed activity to contribute to this month.

Squares and Strips Recycled Shirts Quilt - I have a wee son who is looking longingly at his half-quilted humdinger, so I'd really like to get this one finished for him soon.  Threads have just arrived, and I'm waiting on some binding fabric which I hope will be suitable!

Special Birthday Sampler Quilt - I'm hoping to make a further two blocks for this sampler quilt this month to keep steady progress on this project.

Hexagon Quilt - this handstitching progress is always slow but last month I did work at it steadily and the hexagon border for the back of the quilt is coming together.  I would love to finish stitching it to the quilt and maybe even manage to baste and prepare the quilt in anticipation of hand-quilting in March.  Too ambitious? Perhaps, we'll see.

Crocheted Snood - I did start this snood and keep working at it but it never seems to reach it's final length!  I'm sure it will and this month I have some exciting hours pencilled in to sit through swimming lessons again so hopefully I'll finish it too.

Hmmm, better stop blogging and get sewing methinks!

Hope you have a great February of stitching ahead.