Endings and Beginnings keep me focussed

It's a new month! The Quilter's Meet and Greet is complete for another year. Benita has her round up post announcing the winner of the grand prize on her blog. Visit her and you'll still find the links to all of the blogs in case you didn't get to all of them - I know I only got to about half! Plus she is already planning for next year so if you'd like to take part next year, click over and get in touch with her.

I'm also finished my thank you quilt that I made with a panel. My first panel quilt! I enjoyed this challenge and just might make another since I do have a small stash of panels. (don't we all?!) To get a photo fo the quilt by itself 

My husband really likes this quilt and has even said out loud he's not sure about giving it away. I think he's starting to understand how I feel about all of my quilts - it's hard to let go. But I also know that when I start making something with the intention of giving it away that I keep myself from getting overly attached - I try to focus on how much the recipient will like it and not if I do. Still. This one is pretty nice!

What else am I finishing? Writing patterns has become a focus for me lately. I'm thrilled to tell you that two of my patterns are now on Quiltwoman's site. 

They are both available as e-patterns and as print patterns. If you've been waiting to get one of my patterns as a print copy - visit Quiltwoman and get them there.

I have two more patterns being tested right now and a list of more waiting for me! 

Would you like to be a Sew Joy pattern tester? You can send me an email and I'll add you to my list of testers. CLICK here to email me.

A few beginnings to share too! I resisted joining any sewalongs in September but decided to join Pat Sloan's newest Wednesday fun block. I love following Pat because she is so enthusiastic and has easy to do projects that a pieced and happy!

This one is only nine blocks and will be done before Christmas. I decided to jump in when I found out that a layer cake would make the blocks. I bought a layer cake of Nordic Stitches (last year?) and think this will be a perfect quilt for it - with a winter theme quilt and some hearts in this line the quilt will work nicely on the couch for the first few months of the year.
  

At my first guild meeting of the year I picked up some irresistible hand embroidered Sun Bonnet Sue blocks. I have an idea for them - lots actually! One is to make each one a mini quilt so that I can rotate them each month in my room. Another is to make a quilt with them, but I'm concerned about the fabrics and ruining them in the wash. Stay tuned as I'm sure they won't stay stacked in my closet for very long ;)

I also started to get ready for a class teaching my liberated churn dash block. The class got rescheduled until the new year, but I have most of the writing done. On my design wall right now is my sample green churn and a traditional blue churn to show the difference, also a purple churn that I made before thinking about what size I wanted the sample to be. These blocks will get tucked away for a bit but I'm looking forward to more liberated piecing next year.

I've also started working on the blocks for a block of the month that I designed. I get a little bit excited every time I get a chance to move this project a little bit more ahead! I'm going to take this project to work on at my guild's sew day today :)


It's fun to do a post like this once in a while. Reflecting on what you've done and being excited about what's next is one way to stay focussed on what you really want to be spending your quilting time on. Make sure whatever it is, it brings you JOY!

With Joy,

Sarah V.