Looking Back at 2013 and SOME of my Favorite Projects

Looking back at 2013 and comparing it to 2012 when I started quilting, my quilting and sewing skills have improved immensely.  I learned so many free motion quilting designs, I got a lot more confident and I allowed myself to explore with what I could do.  I have created a few collages of some or rather MOST of the projects I have made this past year.  Most are completed and some are still a work in progress, but mostly I am surprised at the amount I got done.  I am not going to go into too much detail of each of them, but I have included links to the blog posts if you'd like to read more about them.  Some did not make its way here, but I hope you enjoy seeing a few of my favorites.  I've grouped them into quilts, bags, crochet projects, mini quilts and fabric postcards...oh and some of my handmade Christmas gifts too.

Karli's Quilt   *   Gone Golfing, Back Maybe   *   Disappearing Four Patch Baby Quilt     *     Re-purposed Flannel Baby Quilt   *   Asymmetrical Half Square Triangle Quilt

Quilted Tote Bag   *   African Flower Crochet Bag (Small)   *   African Flower Crochet Bag (Large)   *   Charlotte Bag   *   Re-purposed Denim Bag   *   Tote Bag

Crochet Head Band   *   Clamshell Crochet Blanket WIP   *   Pansy Doily   *   Sunburst Granny Square   *  Doilies   *   Chevron Crochet WIP

Quilted Cushions   *   Mini Valentines Quilt   *   Feather Mini Quilts   *   Bright Quilted Cushions   *   Dresden Mini Quilt

Fabric Postcards as part of a world wide swap on Facebook.

Handmade Christmas gifts, the book cover tutorial can be found here.

This past year I enrolled to quite a few BOM's, and quilt alongs, but for some reason I was just not as committed I thought would be, I quickly lost interest and strangely it was not as much fun as I thought it would be.  Sure I would still like to finish what I've started, but I decided to not take it too seriously.  

As for 2014, I will go with the flow.  I have only one goal set out, and that is to design and write my own quilt patterns.  If I only do ONE for the year, I will be happy.  The idea is to have fun with it , so we'll see...

Thanks to each and everyone of you for following along this past year, I hope you will visit regularly.  It is going to be a great one, I know it!

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A little reminder, my anything goes mondays linky party will resume on Monday 6 January 2014.  Hope to see you then.  Happy new year!!!

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Crochet using variegated cotton yarn, NOT the look I had hoped for...

I was really eager to try out these gorgeous variegated cotton yarns to crochet a doily or two.  So once I decided on a pattern I got started.  But halfway through I realized I did not like it as much as I thought I would.  Its still a pretty piece, but not what I thought it would be..

It was as though the design and pattern did not really pop.  Maybe it all depends on the surface you're planning to use them on, but I was not too happy with the result.  So I crocheted the exact same pattern using white yarn and I think it looks much better!  It has a completely different look...

So I will just have to find another project for the rest of the yarns, I have no idea what to make yet... any ideas?

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Pansy Doily

My Mom has the most beautiful crochet center pieces in her home, and one of my many wonderful childhood memories of her, is when she would crochet for days and weeks on end the most beautiful pieces.  Some large enough to cover a large dining room table.   So this week I was very inspired by her, and in part by so many crochet blogs I've visited.

I was looking to make something small and not too complicated to try.  I've never made a doily and the last thing I wanted was to start one and midway get lost or stuck, so it had to be easy.  So I pinned this link on pinterest, the pattern is called Pansy Doily by Yellow Pink and Sparkly.  The pattern itself is simple and the instructions is clear and easy to follow.  Which was exactly what I wanted, since I don't have much experience in crochet. 

In the beginning my left hand cramped up a bit, but once I got a better grip holding the yarn, and twisting it around my little finger it went a lot easier from there.

  

I think this will be the first of many to come.

Happy crocheting.

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