Getting it Done in 2013

I came up pretty short with my quilting goals for 2012.  Looking back, I only completely finished two baby quilts and one twin sized quilt.  My resolution for 2013 is 

FIND THE TIME

In keeping with that theme, I've decided to accept Judy's Getting It Done challenge - which is replacing her previous Monthly UFO Challenges.   On the last day of each month, I'll be listing 4 things I hope to complete in the coming month.  The four things I hope to accomplish in January are -

1. Finish quilting and bind baby boy quilt.
2. Start and finish a second baby boy quilt.
3. Finish binding on two baby girl quilts.
4. Start a quilt for Judy's QOV Challenge.  You can read more about Quilts of Valor on Alycia's blog.  

I'm linking up to Judy's post where you can also read what other quilters are hoping to accomplish in January.

There's much more that I hope to FIND THE TIME for in 2013 - not all related to quilting.  If I succeed and FIND THE TIME for something that I feel is interesting enough to share with you - for sure I'll do that!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

12/12/12

I'm way behind on the daily photo project - and I missed getting a picture of what I was doing at 12:12 today - too much distraction happening.  But it was close to that time that I answered the door to receive this incredible edible bouquet for my birthday - sent by Molly and Susan.  All I can say is WOW - and it tasted as good as it looks!

Thanks a million - you brightened a sunny day for me!

Day 7 - Silver

The ring belonged to my Great Aunt Ina - she was a feisty one.  I think her husband died when I was about 5 years old.  Ina lived alone for many years and for a long time had no desire to leave her home, located near Six Mile and Livernois.   In her later years she finally made the move out to the suburbs west of the city.  Thinking of Ina brings back lots of memories - Thanksgiving dinner was at her house all of my growing up years.  She was a sister (or half sister?) to my grandma and was married to my grandpa's brother.  After her husband died, she, along with grandma and another sister Emma, were often seen with grandpa.  He referred to them as "the burlap sisters".  

Auntie Ina died in January, almost 27 years ago.  I remember going with family back to her apartment after the funeral and seeing the Challenger disaster on her TV.

A Little Craftiness

Julie bought some pillow covers for the boys' room.  All I did was add their initials, but I thought they were cute enough to share.

To Eat

or not to eat.  I tried - but decided NOT.

I tried a carry out tonight - that won't be happening again.  Now I'm really craving some of the yummy Chinese food I could get back home.

Home

I took a walk again yesterday, but didn't work up the nerve to capture someone's home.  Apparently, this isn't going to work for me.  To make up for it, I took a little ride with Sharyn today and got a picture of "home".  Maybe I'll have better luck trying the one word prompts as suggested by Yvonne and Barb.

The home I left 48 years ago.  It hasn't changed much - but it would look more like home if that Santa Claus was a wooden cutout on the grass and if there was a milk truck in the driveway.

There's a grinch next door - where George and Clayton once lived.

The word for today is "sign" - which was a good excuse to try a new restaurant once Sharyn and I were out and about.

There's some nice blue sky in there too - to cover day 3 as I try to catch up.

It's always a treat to try a new (to me) restaurant - and this one didn't disappoint.  It even gave me some hands (Day 2) and some pretty white dishes to cover Day 1.

I guess that's stretching it, but I'm going to call myself all caught up.

Missed Monday

It was a damp, foggy, rainy day.  The extent of my walk yesterday was from my car to Barnes & Noble and back.  The only part of me that got any exercise was my right hand.

A Walk in the Dark

After the rain stopped, I enjoyed a short walk this afternoon - but didn't see anything worth capturing.
Instead I'll share a couple of pictures I took in an after dark walk last night.

Can you see the man in the photo above?  As I was taking a picture, he came out to add more lights.  I thought he was coming out to see what kind of weirdo was taking pictures of his house, but he seemed quite pleased that I was appreciating the efforts he put into his light display.

A month of Christmas

I see I didn't post once in the month of November.  I've been missing it, but still have no progress on quilting projects to share.  I decided, for a little change of pace, I'd take you along with me on my daily walks.  I feel a little awkward snapping pictures of strangers' houses, but hopefully I'll get braver as the days go by.

This is the door of a business establishment (o.k. - actually it's a funeral parlor).  It was a little easier than taking a picture of a residence.  Such a pretty wreath - and I love the color and style of the door.

It's weird to be seeing such green grass in December.

I'd love a fence just like this - but I would not love to paint it!

Photo Challenge Day 31 - A Favorite Sweet

I'm not too fussy about sweets -

my favorite would be whatever I happen to have

in the house at the time.

Here's what I've been nibbling on this week.

I'll have to start thinking about what to make next - before it's all gone.

A Busy Little Quilt

I really did think I was going to stop playing with my fabric and get down to the serious business of quilting a few tops.  But I had a fabric in my stash that has been pestering me for a couple of years to be put into a quilt.  It was harder than I thought it would be.  It took quite a bit of cutting and switching out the sashing and border fabrics to come up with something that would work for me.  It still is busier than I imagined in my head - but it'll do.

O.K. - now I will for sure really start the quilting process and not let myself be distracted by all the thoughts of new quilts rumbling around in my head.

Day 30 Photo Challenge - Full Moon

Day 29 Photo Challenge - Rickety Fence

Rickety definitely sounds more wooden than brick - 

but it's all I've got.

Day 26 Photo Challenge - Graveyard

Lakeview Cemetery - taken before all the leaves disappeared.

Here's one from the Copper Harbor cemetery.

And here's a little "bounty" from one of the days I missed.

Day 26 Photo Challenge - Scattered

I Do Blue too

I decided I better add a blue quilt to my stack of  "to be quilted"  tops.  I had a fun week of playing and stitching.

Although I didn't follow the pattern, my inspiration came from this quilt on the Moda Bake Shop blog.   I have hopes to follow the pattern in another quilt.  I wish I hadn't used up all of the background fabric - it really could use a bit around the edge before it's quilted and bound.   Also, when I look at the picture now, it's obvious that I sewed a row in there upside down - those two orange polka dots weren't supposed to be one on top of the other.  Maybe I'll change it - maybe I won't.

For now, I think I better stop playing with fabric and get busy quilting!

Maybe.

October Photo Challenge

 DAY 22 - ORANGE

Just about the end of this season!

DAY 23 -LEAVES

Some fall color on an evergreen tree.

Day 20 Photo Challenge - Trees

Taken last Sunday on a ride to Copper Harbor

with my mom and sister. 

Day 19 Photo Challenge - Vegetables

Eat your veggies!

Day 18 Photo Challenge - Apples

Two challenges in one.

I tried to add the fifth apple, but failed.

Day 17 Photo Challenge - Hat

Day 16 Photo Challenge - Broom

Broom??  Now that's a challenge.

I bought my house about 25 years ago, and this broom was left behind by the previous owner.  It's starting to show some wear.  It's from Fuller Brush and I think they declared bankruptcy, so some day I'll have to replace it with one of those Stanley brooms that Anne recommends.

Itchin' to Stitch

In September I won a giveaway from Katie - this kit to make a complete quilt top!  She even included a sweet pair of scissors in the package  - and it all arrived in my mailbox today!

Katie designed a great quilt for  Moda Bake Shop and offered this kit to celebrate.  I love the pattern - and the colors in this Fig Tree fabric line (California Girls) are beautiful!

This should motivate me to get busy neatening up here to make room to get started stitching and cutting.  I can hardly wait to see this one put together.

Thanks so much to Katie for a great giveaway!

Day 14 Photo Challenge - In my kitchen

This shelf in my kitchen  once belonged to my grandmother.

It now holds treasured memories from my grandma and my great aunt.

It also hold gifts that I love from my sister, my sister-in-law, 

and some from dear friends.

The pieces I've purchased myself hold memories of

shopping trips with people I love.

The memories are much more dear than the actual objects, 

but it's the objects that bring those sweet memories to mind.

Day 13 Photo Challenge - favorite sweater

A gift from my sister more than 20 years ago.

Eddie Bauer

54% rayon

40% cotton

2% nylon

2% acrylic

2% angora

Seems to be a good mix - no pilling after all these years.

May not be in style, but it's comfy as can be.

Day 12 Photo Challenge - Texture

Is there a good way to eradicate mold from my grass?

Day 11 Photo Challenge - Something I do every day

Day 10 Photo Challenge - Sky

Catching up here after solving some irritating computer problems.

It feels as cold as it looks.

Day 9 Photo Challenge - A smell I adore

I had to steal this one from our previous photo challenge in May

 -- because I know it's not going to happen here today!

I thought it was worth repeating.

In May the challenge was Mother Nature.

Day 8 Photo Challenge - Street Light at Night

Actually a parking lot light - close enough?

Day 7 Photo Challenge - Round

Round

and round

and round

Day 6 Photo Challenge - Noon

This is where I was at noon today.

Here's what was happening outside -

Day 5 Photo Challenge - Signage

Because I retired so that I wouldn't have to go out on days like today, I had to resort to a picture of indoor signage.

Day 4 Photo Challenge - My Handwriting

Day 3 Photo Challenge - Harvest

I love this time of the year when you can still get locally grown fruits and veggies - so tasty!

Day 2 Photo Challenge - Macro

Oh DARN - there's that dust again.

Day 1 Photo Challenge - Part II

1952

Second Grade

I guess I must have told my mom

that I wanted my bangs curled for this one.

Is anyone besides my sister old enough to remember

the cute little paper dolls that 

came with the Toni perms?