2017, Off with a Bang

Hey ya'll.  It's been some time since I sat down and wrote on the blog.  My goal in 2017 is to write at least 2 blog posts a month.   Key is at least.  I would love to write more, and I'm hoping to, but I'm going to push myself to sit down, take time, and write.  I love to share my life with you and to share what quilty things are going on, but I realize that I must blog to share.

A lot has been going on around here lately.  We had a great snow-filled weekend.  I spent most of the weekend sewing, yay!  I did however take time to go sledding on Saturday and Sunday.  Otherwise, my weekend was pretty much a straight sewfest, lol.  My new Yeti Cup that was gifted to me for Christmas was wonderful for fueling my coffee-driven sewing marathon!  You can't see in this picture, but the initials on my cup include a sewing needle and thread.

After spending most of the weekend sewing, on Tuesday, I finished Bonnie Hunter's 2016 mystery, En Provence.  I'm loving this Full-Size quilt and all of its 2800+ pieces.  The design is simply magnificent.  Against my usual style and in an effort to step out of my comfort zone, I went completely with Bonnie's color scheme and I went scrappy.  Yes, I said SCRAPPY.  It is very hard for me to do scrappy quilts, but I am so glad that I did.  I love the different fabrics that I was able to include in my En Provence quilt and the movement that the different fabrics create.  I've got a picture here of the finished top, but check out my Pinterest page for photos from all stages of En Provence construction.  You'll notice that the En Provence mystery is majorly overflowing my design wall.  I was also catching up on past QuiltCams from Bonnie.

After finishing up the En Provence quilt, I decided to bring out the allusive Storm at Sea quilt that I've been working on for nearly a year.  The California King sized quilt has been trying at times, matching so many points that had no choice but to pin match.  There was no way to nest those seams, simply pin, and you all know just how much I love to pin, NOT.  After staying up until almost 12:30, and resuming piecing at 9 am on Wednesday, I was able to finish that top around 1pm on Wednesday.  My friends, John and Samantha who will be getting the Storm at Sea quilt love it and are so excited to get it for their bed.  Now, I simply have to get the quilt to Lisa Mann to get it quilted, then I'll bind it and it will be ready for many years of love and use.

Now, I've got to get started on my two-fabric quilt for A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge.  Nothing like a deadline for me.  I've got until February 25th to get the quilt pieced, quilted, and bound!  I just may make the deadline.

On the business front.  I am excited to announce that I am continuing to work toward my shop.  I will be taking a few small business seminars in February as I continue to work diligently in the shadows to get all of the prep work behind me.  Mind you, I'm still a long way away from getting a brick and mortar shop open, but I continue to prayerfully seek God's guidance and will.  Things are rolling and moving that way.  Stay tuned as things continue to happen.

I am also working on the 2017 class offerings.  Classes will tentatively resume in May at the Cruso Community Center as they have in the last 2 years.  I will be offering a couple of my Advanced Technique classes first, then a beginner class, and close out the season with another couple Advanced Technique classes.  I'm still working on details for those classes, but I hope to have that info out to you soon.

You can also check out my website for some exciting changes.  Maybe your local guild is looking for an instructor for an upcoming guild meeting.  Maybe your shop is looking for an instructor to come teach a class or two.  You can find all the details on my bookings tab at www.crusoquilter.com/booking.  There you'll find my current workshops as well as my contract so that we can get everything set.  I would love to come visit with you and share our quilting experiences in person!

I would also love to know what you're working on.  Be sure to share pictures with me on my Facebook page.  We each bring such diversity into the quilting world, whether it's a new design or pattern, new colorways on old patterns, or even new fabrics that you've hand dyed.  Maybe you've simplified a construction method or you've been working on those old UFO's.  Join me over on Facebook and share those with me.

Have you heard of the Quilter's Planner?  If you haven't let me tell you, this is the best thing yet!  I ordered my planner and got it last Tuesday.  I have never been one to really use a planner, and frankly I think that most of the planners out there are overpriced.  I saw an ad on Facebook for the Quilter's Planner and checked it out.  The folks over at Quilter's Planner have this to say:

You’ve tried to rely on your smart phone and computer to organize your daily life and projects…..You’ve tried to balance your work, your family, your home and your creative quilting life…But you often feel stressed, like there’s just not enough time for everything…The Quilter’s Planner was made just for you.  It has everything you need to organize the work, personal and quilting parts of your life to decrease your stress, increase your creativity and bring your life into balance.

The Quilter's Planner is the best planner I've seen yet.  Not only is it helping me to keep myself organized with what I've got coming up, my work schedule, my church and community schedule, teaching, and so much more, but it also helps me keep track of my projects and to-do lists.  

The Quilter's Planner has a Calendar section with both a monthly look and weekly breakdowns.  It has a Projects section to help me keep track of all of my projects that I've got going on and I can see at a glance just which stage they are in.  I can also use the design pages to quickly sketch out a block of the quilt, what fabrics I'm using, what supplies I might need, and more.  

It also has in the Projects section a place to keep track of important deadlines throughout the year.  

After the Projects section, you'll find a Patterns section and access to 14 patterns included with the purchase of Quilter's Planner.  

Finally there is a Reference section with some of the most common measurements and guides.  It also has some basic piecing techniques and a color chart.  No more having to guess what colors I need, they're right in one convenient location.  There is also some graph paper to sketch out cutting to make sure you get the most use out of your yardage.  There is also blank graph paper and note paper in the back for doodling projects and so much more.

I'm loving my Quilter's Planner and think you should check it out from my friends at quiltersplanner.com.  They're even made right here in the USA!

Well, it's about time that I get ready for work.  Another day at the HRMC for me.  Hopefully tonight, after work, will be a quilt filled night!  

Until next time, quilt on!