January NewFO Link-up and Giveaway

This being the last day of January, it's time to show off your NewFO projects.  Remember, you don't have to finish your NewFO's this month, this year, or EVER, if you're feeling so bold.  The idea with the NewFO Challenge is to have fun and to start something new.  And honestly, who wrote the rule that every project has to be completed, no matter how ugly, boring, challenging, frightening, tedious, or distasteful?  So shake off those old sewing projects that bind and be audacious!

As for me, I had the audacity to start several new projects this month.  Maybe I'll finish them this year, and maybe I won't.  The point of quilting is to have fun, and I definitely had a lot of fun in January.  By the way, don't feel you have to start as many projects as I did.  My attention span is approximately three nanoseconds long.  For quilters with better judgment than I, one new project per month is a perfectly stunning accomplishment.

The one project I had planned to start this month was the Amish Sampler quilt.

Think of this project as my own personal block of the month.  The January blocks are finished.  These are called Amish Bars:

But I couldn't stop there.  No, no, no. The Just Takes 2 quilt that many of you are working on grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go.  What choice did I have?  I'm up-to-date with the first two sets of blocks, and the next set should be out today or tomorrow.

But I could never let two measly new projects hold me back from starting more.  No way.  So I took on the Promises & Borders BOM too, and I'm happy to say that I completed the first block for that one.

Finally, I started two doll quilts for my friend Lisa's granddaughters.  The Pretty Little Ponies doll quilt still needs to be quilted, and then it will be finished.  I just started on Castles in the Air, and so it has a ways to go.

Did you notice?  All starts.  No finishes.  This challenge is about celebrating starts and having fun.  You can always finish them later . . . much later.  In my book instant gratification wins out over tedium and perseverance every time.

Now . . . about that giveaway.  Each month of 2012, I'll be hosting a link-up party for you to show us your NewFO project of the month.  When you link-up, you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win one of these sweet quilt pins.  These little cuties are about two inches square, and they are actual tiny cloth quilt blocks, handmade by someone with a lot of patience (someone who isn't me).

If you have a blog, please write up a blog post and link to your post (not to your blog).  If you don't have a blog, feel free to link to an image in your FlickR album, or some other photosharing site.  Please link only to the one image you want us to see (not to your whole album).

I'll leave the linky party open for one week.  Then, I'll draw a winner at random and notify you on this blog and via email.  Make sure you leave a valid email address somewhere.  If you are linking to your blog, make sure I can get your email that way.  If you're linking from your FlickR or other photosharing account, make sure I'm able to contact you that way.  And if neither of those are available, you can leave a comment with your name and email.  If I cannot contact you, you cannot win.

Ready?  Here we go:

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