Getting Ready for February

February is my month to present the blocks for our current quilt guild project.  This year (and into next year) we are doing blocks from Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt.  I chose the Butter Churn block (top) and the Milking Day block (bottom).  I did mine in the 12-inch size.  I would not have wanted to do the milking day block in the 6-inch size, simply because of the pieces that make up the handles on the sides of the milking can.  The little "flippy corner" piece is cut at 3/4 inch square for the 6-inch block.  That is quite small. 

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the blocks, because I'm not planning to make the guild project quilt this time.  I tried to come up with a pattern to use multiples of just these two blocks, since I have to cut extras to show how the block is put together, but I couldn't come up with one that I liked.  Below are pictures of the blocks with the extra pieces to use in the demonstration.

The Milking Day blocks are identical to each other, but the Butter Churn blocks use different fabrics.

Some thoughts on last year

Looking back at last year (2015), I feel like I had a less than productive year, at least compared to some recent years.  I completed 12 projects, which really isn't that bad, but it is my minimum goal for each year to finish one project per month.  At the beginning of the year, I had set out 5 goals for myself:  hand quilt something, make a batik quilt, make one quilt from the quilting books I got for Christmas (in 2014), donate a quilt to charity, and make a quilt for my bed (queen size).  I only accomplished one of those goals - donate a quilt to charity.

I'm not sure how 2015 got so out of hand.  Not only did I fall behind on my quilting goals, I also fell behind on my reading.  In 2014, I read 22 books, and in 2015, I only read 16.  And the most pathetic thing is that I read 6 out of those 16 in January!  Between September and December, I only read ONE.  Now true, it was 555 page Charlotte Bronte novel, but it still shouldn't have taken me 3 months to read it.

Now, in all fairness, I did accomplish something pretty major in 2015.  Back in August, I started on a Baby Steps to 5K program that was on one of the apps on my phone.  I completed the program and now I walk 5K three times a week and I do it in under 45 minutes.  I also lost over 15 pounds in 2015, through the increased exercise, a gradual calorie reduction process, and trying to eat healthier meals.  I know that took a good bit of my time and energy, and I'm very happy that I did it.  I also want to continue the exercise and healthy eating and make sure it becomes a part of my lifestyle going forward.  But I also want to make sure that I find more time for reading and quilting in 2016 than I did in 2015.  Finding a good balance, that is my goal for 2016.  Wish me luck.

Hand quilt something

Make a batik quilt

Make at least one project from the books I got for Christmas

Donate at least one quilt to charity   Sent quilt to Project Linus on 4/17/15

Make a quilt for my bed

- See more at: http://the-creative-side-of-me.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-years-resolutions-sort-of.html#sthash.qOTgsb11.dpuf

Hand quilt something

Make a batik quilt

Make at least one project from the books I got for Christmas

Donate at least one quilt to charity   Sent quilt to Project Linus on 4/17/15

Make a quilt for my bed

- See more at: http://the-creative-side-of-me.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-years-resolutions-sort-of.html#sthash.qOTgsb11.dpuf

Hand quilt something

Make a batik quilt

Make at least one project from the books I got for Christmas

Donate at least one quilt to charity   Sent quilt to Project Linus on 4/17/15

Make a quilt for my bed

- See more at: http://the-creative-side-of-me.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-years-resolutions-sort-of.html#sthash.qOTgsb11.dpuf

Hand quilt something

Make a batik quilt

Make at least one project from the books I got for Christmas

Donate at least one quilt to charity   Sent quilt to Project Linus on 4/17/15

Make a quilt for my bed

- See more at: http://the-creative-side-of-me.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-years-resolutions-sort-of.html#sthash.qOTgsb11.dpuf