Needles and Pens

My last project for the 2011 "Get 'er Done Challenge" is finished just under the wire. Lucky for me, it was an easy one. Here's the panel before: And after, quilted and bound: Approximate size, 34" x 43" I'm still just amazed at how these challenges motivated me this year. Even when I fell way behind over the summer, it just made me even more determined to catch up and finish by the end of the year. I just made it, but I did it! I hope the Better Home Challenge works as well! This is my last post for 2011, so I want to say thank you to all who have taken the time to read my blog, and to those who have left kind and encouraging comments throughout the year. I wish you all a very blessed and prosperous 2012. Happy New Year!!

Now that all the Christmas gifts are (hopefully) being used and enjoyed, and there are no more surprises to spoil, I wanted to take a moment to share the last of my homemade gifts. (And then I need to get just one more challenge project finished before New Years!) The better part of my Christmas sewing this year involved lots and lots of mug rugs, which I shared in an earlier post ( Mug Rug Madness ). Then came the hot pads for Grandma... Fleece neck warmers for the guys... And the flannel pajama pants that my kids can't seem to live without... Oh, and one more thing, the flannel pillowcase for this: My camera decided to kick the bucket that day, so I'm glad I got at least a few pictures on Christmas morning. lol I think that's everything! And now it's the time of year where I swear off all this last-minute nonsense and vow to start my Christmas sewing earlier next year... ... yeah, right. ;o)

My twelve areas for the Better Home Challenge are: 1. Front Hall/Stairway 2. Downstairs Bathroom 3. Living/Dining Room 4. Family Room/Laundry Area 5. Kitchen 6. Upstairs Bathroom 7. Master Bedroom/Closet 8. Garage 9. Basement Storage Room 10. Basement Rec Room 11. Basement Spare Bedroom 12. Back Deck/Front Porch My plan of attack is to list everything I'd like to do/have done in each room, regardless of cost. From there, I'll tackle as much of that list as possible, physically and financially, and then make detailed notes on the rest to create a plan for future improvements. I'm actually pretty excited about the possibilities... ... and apparently, I've been talking about all these big plans even more than I realize lately. This is what my hubby bought me for Christmas: LoL I am rarin' to go!

Background and inspiration for the Better Home Challenge Challenge Guidelines Drawing for January Project (#11) Drawing for February Project (#10) Drawing for March Project (#2) Drawing for April Project (#7) Drawing for May Project (#5) Drawing for June Project (#12)

A new challenge for the new year! The 2011 UFO challenge was such a motivational success for me, I'm curious to see if the same idea might help me to finish a few home improvement projects in 2012. It's worth a try! Care to join me? Here are some guidelines... 1. Start with a list of 12 rooms, areas, or specific projects in your home that need your attention. It can be anything from cleaning, to organizing, to decorating, to remodeling. (My list will definitely include some of each!) 2. On the first of each month I'll draw a number, and that will be the project to work on for the month. In some cases, you may need to switch project numbers, i.e, an outdoor area may have to wait for a warmer month, or one area may affect another so the work needs to be done in a certain order. In other words, the number drawn will give you focus and a place to start. Where you go from there is entirely up to you! 3. On the last day of the month, there will be an update post wh...

... it may actually qualify as a disease. But I know the cure. Just make a whole bunch of them, all at once, under a deadline. LoL Ready to wrap, with hot cocoa packets and candy canes... ...and a little note inside. Still not quite finished with my Christmas sewing... but the mug rugs, they are done . :o)

For those who thought my sewing room looked unnaturally neat and tidy the last time I posted a picture of it... here's the week-before-Christmas reality shot: Yikes. What I'm working on today... MUG RUGS. Enough to go under all those Christmas mugs... (I think there were 20 total when I started.) The only two I've actually completed have already been given away. One for my friend and neighbor, Sheila: And one for my son's piano teacher: And I still have pajama pants to make. I have a looong way to go... Best of luck to all the other participants in this week's Design Wall Monday . May all of your projects be finished on time! ;o)

I really can't believe there's only one more week until Christmas. This month is flying by! I've been sewing my fingers to the bone trying to finish my non-Christmas things, so I'll really need to step it up this next week. BUT my mom's birthday quilt is done! (Her birthday is the day after Christmas.) Center tied, the border quilted, and the binding on. My sister came up on Monday and helped me tie it, after realizing there were blocks that would not survive the "crush factor" of machine quilting. (Note to self on similar projects in the future: Make sure everyone knows their siggie block needs to not only be washable, but also crushable! lol) Another big finish this week -- in more ways than one. My niece's baby girls, Brenna Faith and Summer Grace, were born on Monday and they are SO adorable! I finished their quilts and they're in the mail. It looks like they'll be delivered today. Yay! I'm taking a chance and posting this now, ...

A lot was accomplished this weekend, but part of it has to wait a bit, so as not to ruin a surprise. I did, however, finish my December "Get 'er Done" project, the Starlight Angels panel, and that I can share. ;o) Here's the panel before: And after borders, quilting and binding: I also discovered I had a matching pillow panel (where was that when I took my "before" picture?) so I made those up, too. There was an extra Santa pillow, too, which I gave to my grandson. I had to steal pillow forms from other pillows, so I'll have to watch for the next sale on those and replenish my supply. They look so cute on the couch here in my office/family room space. It's nice to have a little touch of Christmas in this room! Lots yet to do this week, but first priority is to finish my mom's birthday quilt. I discovered last week that I won't be able to quilt it without destroying some of the decorative blocks, so my sister and I will be...