4/2/13

April Goal Setting

This morning I was up bright and early.  It was 4:00 a.m., so it wasn't terribly bright until I turned on the lamp.  But it was definitely early.  I woke up thinking about my goals for the month, and from there, my busy mind took off.  Today I'm linking up to the goal-setting party for:

And with the first Thursday coming up this week, I'm also going to be linking this post to:

Never Too Hot to Stitch!

You can find both challenges by clicking on these buttons.

In March, I kept my goals modest with a commitment to finish this one quilt for Matthew's birthday:


Today is Matthew's birthday, and I'm giving this goal a big check mark in the completed box.

For April, I'm listing a few more goals than last month.  Hopefully, I'm not being too ambitious because I'm hoping to get more done than what I have listed here.  My Curves workouts have been taking away from my sewing time though, and so I'm finding that I need to scale back expectations somewhat.  Either that or stay fat and flabby.  (Sewing, fat, and flabby vs. Not sewing, not as fat, and not as flabby.  Hm.  Neither option gets me that svelte look that I'm going for.  Carefully considering my options here.)

So here's what's on the list for April:

Non-negotiable:  Bind the Plain & Simple quilt.  This image only shows about half of the quilt.  I'll show a full-up version of it when it's completely finished.


Also Non-negotiable:  My doll quilt for the April Doll Quilt Swap.  This month marks the one year anniversary of the Doll Quilt Swap, and so this month's theme is "Happy Birthday".  I know what I'm making, but it's a surprise for my partner.  You'll have to wait until later.  For now, you can enjoy my little button.  And if you click on it, you can see the Doll Quilters Monthly blog!  Lots of eye candy there.  Check it out.

 Doll Quilters

Non-negotiable, but optional (you have a few of those, right?):  Finish the wallhanging I'm currently working on, Line Dancing:


Also non-negotiable, but optional (since I already have  NewFO in my doll quilt), my officially sanctioned by me NewFO for April, a Hobo Quilt from the book by Deborah Henninger.


Theme quilts are my favorites, and so I'm going to choose my favorite blocks from this book and start making a quilt from them.

Optional by highly desirable goals for this month include getting a start on the Hello Moon QAL:


I note that the March and April blocks are posted now, so I'd better get busy on it.

Also highly desirable would be to make the next blocks for my Doors of Ireland quilt (here's the last door I made):


and the next block for the Folk Art Cats quilt.  These are the blocks I have so far.


Haven't worked on this since before Christmas!  

Finally, and also optional, make quilt blocks from the existing completed embroidery motifs for the Gardener's Journal quilt.  


I have embroidery motifs for the first two blocks, and I'm currently working on the motifs for the third block. When those are finished, I want to make the first three quilt blocks by adding the patchwork to them.

It's a pretty big bite of the apple, but I think I can get it done, barring any unforeseen life complications.  (Those are nearly always a major bummer.)

Today I'm checking in with my Curves coach for my weekly weigh in.  I haven't mentioned my check-ins recently.  Can you guess why?  (Sad face.)  I think today will be a better day.  (Happy face.)  

Also, I'm shipping my old Bernina sewing machine off to her new owner.  Remember Old Bessie?  Old Bessie is going to her new home in Escondido, California.  She has a lot of miscellaneous accessories going with her in the form of an embroidery module, a plexiglass extension table, the signature Bernina Barbie Closet of accessories, manuals and documentation, etc.  She has more baggage than I do when I go scuba diving.  Mike and I tried packing her up last night and then decided it was worth it to just take her to the UPS store and let them handle it.  I really want to get her to her new home without damaging any of her parts.

Speaking of Old Bessie, I suppose you're wondering what I'm calling the new Bernina sewing machine, aren't you?  Admit it.  You've been lying awake at night wondering, haven't you?  I thought so.  If my little 440 was Old Bessie, I'm thinking a good name for my much larger and boat-anchor-like 750 is Big Bertha.  She's a sewing machine with an attitude.

So with that, I'd better get on my way.  Can't keep that list of goals waiting.

14 comments:

sophie said...

I'm having a hard time choosing a project for a lovely April finish because my thought process looks a lot like your blog post--I'm juggling a lot of projects I'd like to wrap up and finish this month :-)

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

I'm planning to keep putting my blocks together into cool items: throws, scarves, window covers (QuiltAins). I had eighty-five blocks when I started to put them together a few days back.

Your projects look like fun. Curves workouts-not so much.

gpc said...

Your projects are all so beautiful, and your plain and simple (my personal favorite) is anything but. Let's not think of it as "less flabby" but rather as "moving in the right direction," since I'm in the same boat, lol!

Mara said...

My Goodness, and I thought my finishes were ambitious. Good Luck.

Lynne said...

That's quite a list but you (and Big Bertha) can do it!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

You just have to sew around the clock like I do!

Anonymous said...

OK, I am officially flat on my back, exhausted just reading that post! I love them all but I don't get that much done in several months!! You are, truly, the "Energizer Bunny"! Blessings, Doreen

Junebug613 said...

That is some list! I hope you get them to a point that you are satisfied with. I like the name Big Bertha. My friend in MA has a truck named the same. It's very fitting. And it does have attitude, with a little fun mixed in. I giggled at "the signature Bernina Barbie Closet of accessories". Being a Barbie lover and collector, I know all too well what that's about.. lol Best wishes on sticking with your Curves program as well. I think it's a good thing and will be worth the sewing time missed.

Kate said...

Fun projects all of them. Have you picked out a photo for the next Ireland door? The ones you've done so far are so cool. It's an ambitious list, but if anyone can do it, you can. Good luck!

Brown Family said...

You have a lot planned but they will go quickly!

Lyndsey said...

An ambitious month but will be fun to try and get it all done. Also love the idea of your NewFO for the month, I will be interested in what you choose from the book. I also love your doors of Ireland it is such a novel idea. Good luck.

Rachel said...

Seriously, I will cheer you on, but I am tired just reading the list :-)

LethargicLass said...

I don't know where you get the energy because I am exhausted just reading that list LOL... I love the Hobo Quilt idea... I may have to find that book and make one myself :)

Chris said...

The guitar quilt is great! He must love it. I LOVE your plain and simple quilt. Fabulous work.