10/30/12

October NewFO Linky Party and Giveaway


Welcome to my SCARY HALLOWEEN EDITION of the



And what could be scarier than this?  Tomorrow will be the first of November!  Good grief.  Time to start planning those Thanksgiving dinners.  And then it will be time to put up the tree.  And I haven't even taken down the tree from last year yet!  Actually, that's not true.  I just made that up.  But it sure feels as if we barely got it out the door, and it's getting close to time to bring in the new one.  And here's my scary Halloween face thinking about Christmas!  [Cue blood-curdling scream.]


But, as usual, I digress.  We're still in October, and I'll head into November kicking and screaming all the way.  Who's with me?



So, did you start anything new this month?  Anything for Halloween per chance?  Whatever the reason, it's time to show off your October starts.

As you know, I was seriously worried about getting anything new started for October with our plumbing disaster at the beginning of the month.  Despite my contractor working (or, more accurately, not working) his hardest to keep me out of the sewing room, I prevailed.  I am happy to say that I. Am. Back. Baby!  And I made the first block for the Folk Art Cats quilt.  



I've had this pattern virtually forEVER, and when I saw it at my visit to the Stitchin' Post quilt shop in September, I vowed to start it this month.  This was originally a block of the month, and so I started with the October block.


I still need to finish the top-stitching on the appliques.  The cat's eyes are supposed to be buttons, but I'm kind of fond of these hot fix nailheads, and so that's what I used.  All the cats I've made lately have been polka dotted.  I must have someone's spotted coat in mind.  It's a good likeness, don't you think?



Also, I completed the last of the blocks for the Plain and Simple Amish sampler that I started in January (my first NewFO of 2012):


and the last of the blocks for my White Trees quilt, which was my July NewFO.


Both of these quilts are in the sewing-together stage.  NewFO's are all about starting new projects, but I have several quilts in the finishing stages just now.  In the mood to wax poetic, I just now found this quotation from Greg Anderson, a best-selling author [that I've never heard of]:

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

And here's what I have to say about that:  Joy is found not in finishing a quilt, but in starting it.  Although both have their merits, don't you think? 

So that's it for me during October.  I'm feeling pretty happy to have started anything this month having been locked out of the sewing room for three weeks.

Now I'm ready to see what you started during October.  So let the party begin!  Link up and show all of us what you've been up to for the month.  If you link up, you'll be entered to win this month's quilt pin:


All the best-dressed quilters are wearing them these days.  And this one is perfect for fall.  To win, please link-up with your newly started projects, finished or not.  If you feel like it, show us the progress you've made on your other 2012 NewFO projects.  Please link to your blog post, not your blog.  To do that, just click on the title of your post to isolate it from the rest of your blog.  Then copy the URL and use that to link up.  Don't have a blog?  Link to my FlickR group.  If you have questions about how to do that or about how to link up, please email me.  And if you're having trouble posting your image, email it to me as an attachment, and I'll do it for you.

I'm looking forward to see your new projects!  I'll leave this linky open for one week...until 11/7 and then announce the winner.  International entries are welcome.  So come on and party with me!

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31 comments:

Kari @ The Purple Quiltapotamus said...

Thank you for the link up - I just started a Christmas Table Runner this week but its nowhere near done.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I don't have any new photos to add to my post on my NewFO - it's all been seen - still rattled/recovering from the storm.

JLVerde said...

I started work on my first quilt! It's a postage stamp/I spy/scrap quilt. It's going to be a long term project (as I gather up different fabrics to make it fabulous!).

I love your cat quilt. I think you should let Smitty sit on it and take a photo!

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Lovely projects - your cat is very cute!! I'm trying to get my Scrappy Stash log cabin quilt done - wish me luck!

gpc said...

I've still got the same unfinished projects as LAST month, lol. Time to soldier on . . .

Anonymous said...

Love the folk art cats! ..and yes, I can see the resemblance!

My new project is called "Spring" - I needed a shot of cheerful color after a week of rain and gray days.

Thanks for the linky party :)

Anonymous said...

I feel dumb....what does FO stand for? ;-)

Judee said...

That pumpkin is amazing. I love that cat quilt too. It is so appropriate for you.

WoolenSails said...

Love that pumpkin, fun way to carve one. A day of rest for me, need to catch up with my projects and the house.

Debbie

Irina said...
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Irina said...
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Irina said...

mmm... my image doesn't come up... so surprise surprise... people will have to find out by opening the link

Teresa in Music City said...

Definitely kicking & screaming! I'm not ready for the holiday season to kick in yet!!! Love your quote - I really need to take it to heart sometimes :*) You have such great projects in the works. I absolutely LOVE your folk cats!!!! I've got to find that pattern so it can become a NewFO for me too someday soon :*)

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

I started lots of things this year, but I always forget to come and link up. I finally remembered to link up something. Now to finish what I started, I have a week.

Diane Wild said...

Linked up for October but trouble with the thumbnail. (Need a manicure) LOL.

Diane Wild said...

Got it. See what a little manicure can do?

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

You have so many wonderful projects in the works. Love the October cat! I especially like the quote :D

Cathy said...

I have 2 kids quilts done for Christmas, and 2 more to go, and then, maybe I'll be ready for Christmas

Nita said...

Fun! Linking up for the first time. Thanks for hosting!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

What a cute post!

Vickie said...

Almost forgot to link up. Great projects.

Angie in SoCal said...

LOL - I don't seem to have any trouble starting a newfo, even with the umpteen UFOs lying around here. I must just like starting things. Love your Laurel Burch cat quilt.

sew.darn.quilt said...

Another productive month. Everyone has such wonderful projects on the go!

quiltzyx said...

Love the spotty kitty! You ended up getting quite a lot done, amidst (isn't that a great word?) all the work in your sewing room.
I have to take some pictures & get my NewFo post done so I can link up!

Snoodles said...

Yay! Par-tee, par-tee! LOL Thanks for hosting this clambake; it's always fun!

Dana Gaffney said...

I love that cat quilt, it would be purrfect for the annual quilt I make for the Cat people, is that a Laurel Burch?

Linda said...

Love the cat quilt. I might have to add that one to my list of things to make. However, quilting is going to have to take a back seat to real life for a while. We just had Hurricane Sandy blow through, and she left me with an 85-ft oak tree in my family room, several gaping holes in my roof and ceiling in my family room, dining room, and kitchen, and a monumental clean up. The family room floor is damaged, and the tree managed to go through it in one place. I don't even know where to begin.

Linda

make.share.give said...

Finally got to a little sewing! Tonight is trick-or-treating after a delay from Superstorm Sandy. We just had rain and cold, can't complain.

Lyndsey said...

I love your October projects especially the cat. I think this looks like another future project.

Denise :) said...

I loved your cat too, but it's the winter trees that make me exclaim, "Wow!" This month's pin is really cute!! Thanks again for sponsoring this fun link-up party -- I really do enjoy going back through the past month and looking at what I did! :)

Sand and Sunshine said...

Oh this pin is just beautiful this month! Wow! Surely my favorite so far. Great pumpkin by the way, no idea how the in world you'd make something like that, DH was challenged enough this year I think. The eyes on kitty block are perfect much better than buttons, great choice. So many Block of the Month projects for you! It's nice that they are in the finishing up states, it certainly goes well with your newly fixed and restocked sewing room. Happy Sewing!