2015 Year in Review
Looking back on 2015…
Fabric: In 2014 I worked on reducing my Christmas fabric stash. 2015 became the year of batik. I love batik! With the exception of Patches and Starshine, all the quilts scrolling above were done with batiks. You can click on the images to see more detail about each quilt.
Honestly it’s not realistic to think I can actually reduce my batik stash because I can’t seem to stop buying it. It will always be my first go to fabric for my projects.
Pattern designs: This is the first year I delved into actually trying to sell my patterns on Craftsy. My first pattern project, Charmed 3D, has done very well. Hip to be Square is still going gang busters. It definitely changed my mindset when designing them. What is clearly obvious to me, is not always so with the pattern recipient, which I’ve learned with one of my free offerings. It is a time-consuming process to write step-by-step instructions but does provide personal satisfaction when it’s done.
Free-motion quilting: Ruler work was the biggie for 2015. I went from “this is way too slow and cumbersome” to “oh my…what can I do next with these?” Once I mastered the quilt/ruler management aspect of the process, I fell in love. I use them at some point with every quilt now.
UFOs: I managed to create a whole new pile in 2015….Delightful Stars from Mishka’s Playground Designs and Aiming for Accuracy II also from Mishka/s Playground Designs are the two biggies I plan to finish in 2016…as soon as I quit starting new projects. I also joined both of Michele’s mini clubs as I thought they provided an excellent avenue for improving piecing and free motion skills. I’m woefully behind on both of those clubs.
Moving forward in 2016…
Fabric: this year I’m going to focus on precuts such as layer cakes, charm packs, jelly rolls and fat quarters. Initially I’d like to reduce my jelly roll stash and already have a couple of pattern ideas floating around in my head.
Pattern designs: I’m slowly updating my free patterns to include more detailed instructions and plan to finish and get them added to Craftsy. They, of course will continue to be available here. And I want to get my jelly roll quilt ideas out of my head and published.
Free motion: lots of wanna do projects in this category. I’d like to take Delightful Stars and video each block as I quilt it. I’m thinking of doing them in the same order as Michele’s booklet which will have me traveling all over the quilt. I want to conquer tension on the Gammill and start playing with different thread weights. And of course I want to continue to explore ruler work.
Website: my goal is the same every year, provide more timely updates of what I’m doing. It’s tough pausing my quilting enough to post. If I can get more regular, I’ll start an email subscription for posting updates. I’ve been incorporating Pinterest pic posts when I post here and would like to add Instagram to the mix.
UFOs: this too is the same annual goal…reduce the pile aka finish what I start before moving on. What do you think the odds of that are? If you quilt, you know the challenge.
Back to work…I have a cute Dr. Seuss quilt I’m finishing up for my grand-niece’s first birthday (pattern in the works). 🙂