Setting Goals - January 2013

I have just come across a terrific idea on soscrappy that may help me accomplish more this year. Last year I had 7 specific projects that I was trying to get done by the end of the year as well as trying to finish 12 projects/ufo's in the year. This year, I am going to do something different.

 How about picking FOUR quilting goals to achieve every MONTH? Setting more manageable goals might just help me accomplish MORE and lets face it, I don't have to STOP at 4.....just as long as I FINISH my 4.  And while I am at it WHY NOT pick 4 non quilting goals aswell?


I have spent the whole day giving this some thought and here they are:

Quilty Goals for January 2013
1.  Get "Blue Hydrangea" flimsy sent off for quilting
2   Finish building rows for "Rusty's Quilt"
3.  Finish piecing "My Garden" made a start in week 1
4.  Complete block 3 and 4 of "Betsy's Closet"

Non-Quilty Goals for January 2013
1.  Lose 2kg this month  - 300g down in week 1 (hope I am not going to struggle to lose 2)
2.  Finish reading Voyager by Diana Gabaldon DONE
3.  Go and visit the dentist
4.  Complete my Pantry makeover

Would you like to join me?.....I could make this a linky party and you could link your goals and each month set new ones and report on achievements.

Here is something else I have planned for 2013.....A  give away that lasts 12 months.  Here's how it works.  Become a follower and comment on my blog whenever I post....I will put your name into a "hat" each time you comment and at the end of the month, I will draw a winner and mail off a little surprise to that person.  Might be some 5" squares or buttons or even a length of ribbon....as long as I can fit it into a regular envelope.  The more often you leave a comment, the more chance you have to win. I have already started with posts published so far this year. 


 

Something to treasure from Bobs

I wanted to show you this little gift that my 8 year old niece in Ireland,  hand made for me and sent to me for Christmas.

In the accompanying letter, she tells me that she had hardly any help making it.  I will treasure it always as this little girl (nicknamed Bobs) has had such a hard year, losing her dad (my brother) back in April 2012.

When I last visited her and her dad, I fell in love with the cat they had adopted and sat with it curled up in my lap the whole time so she knows that I like cats.  Infact something that she and I have in common, is that we both have a love for animals.

This is the cat, Lucy, asleep next to me. Can I just say the cat was called Lucy and then it was discovered that she was actually a he but by that time "Lucy" stuck. 


 

UN-decking the halls

I do like to have everything chrismassy packed up by the 1 January but since I spent the day at work yesterday, I will be getting it done today.

 I am a little sad this year as I really did love the red and white colour theme which is suprising as red is not my most favourite colour.

These white ones will make an appearance next year as I have already planned to team them with silver and blue as the colour theme.

My favourite decoration on the tree was this tinsel which I bought several years ago but never used until this year.

 Have you packed your Christmas Decoractions up yet?


 

Happy New Year

Midnight has just ticked over and I have been listening to the Fireworks that have gone on for the last 15 minutes. I am suprised that I am still up as I expected to have an early night, but since I am still awake let me take this opportunity to wish you all near and far, a very Happy New Year! I look forward to joining you in blog land for 2013.

May yours be filled with happiness, good health and much creativity!
 

Blooming Beauty

In the past this has been called Sunday blessings but I realise that more often than not, it is photos of flowers that make an appearance so I will be changing the title to Blooming Beauty.

Nothing appeals to my senses more than flowers. Receiving a big bunch of flowers will reduce me to tears (and not much else does)

These are some hibuscus blooms from our front yard....bright and beautiful, you could be excused for thinking I live in Hawaii!

I hope you see the beauty in your day and enjoy the last weekend of 2012.
 

Let's Review 2012

I was over at Charlotte's Web  and Wendy had posted a collage of pictures from what she had achieved in 2012.  I hope she doesn't mind that I picked up her idea and so here is my year in review.

First a collage of all I achieved. I wanted to make it 12 finishes in 2012.  I was one short although I did create some other items like my needle nanny and the spring wreathe.

I have done quite a bit of work this year on my BOM's & WIP's.
BOMs
Teddy Bear Tea Party -All 12 blocks are complete and ready to join into a quilt
My Garden by Lynette Anderson - All 9 blocks are complete and the quilt is almost pieced
Farmyard Frolics by Millamac - I am on Block 7 of 8 (but I need to go back and finish some blocks off)
Merry Merry Snowmen by Bunny Hill Designs - I am on Block 1 of 9?
The Edwardian House by Robyn Allen Waters - I am on Block 8a/b of 12
Betsy's Closet - Block 4 of 9
Bric-a-Brac by Robyn Allen Waters - Block 3
Tail Feather - Starting block 2
Long Time ago in Bethlehem by Homespun - Block 1 ready to stitch

WIPs

Rusty's Quilt - Queen size quilt - in process of building rows.
…’twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s downunder…. - wallhanging - still appliqueing design.

 Bring on 2013!

Merry Christmas to one and all.

Oh how I have neglected this poor little blog in the last few weeks. It has been a very busy time for us all but I feel so very guilty that I haven't made the effort to even read many of your blogs. I feel like I have been ignoring all my best friends so here is a little peek into our Christmas Day.

It was an incredibly hot, hot day here and we decided to take all the dogs (our two and Red's Clover) to the beach for a play in the waves.  In the rush to get going and get all the puppies settled into the back of the car, I forgot to pick up my camera which was a bit of a shame cos they had a ball.

We came home to a Christmas breakfast outside on the patio. This has never been our tradition before but miss M decided she would like to have breakfast with everyone before we opened our presents.  I think this may be a new tradition.

After breakfast, we headed inside into the Air=conditioning to open some presents. Miss M put together a photo montage of her trip to Europe earlier this year and we listened to stories about her travels.

And then one of my favourite traditions which gave us alot of laughter......presenting gifts to our furbabies. Callie loves this.  We fill paper bags with dog treats, a big chewy bone and a toy. Callie couldn't get her bone out of the bag quick enough and got herself all tangled up in the handles trying to get the bag out of the way. 

Clover took one look at the chew bone and took off with it as far as she could get.  Red had to take the rest of the treats to her around the other side of the house.

My little princess Lila who celebrated her first full year living with us, dived straight into the bag to fish out the treats before she even saw the chew bone. 

Interestingly enough, non of them were terribly interested in their new bouncy balls!!

With them all happily chewing on their treats, we headed inside again for our seafood feast.  Because it is so hot in Queensland, this has become our Xmas feast of choice and enjoyed by all of us. Accompanied by ice cold glasses of Champagne.

All in all, I really loved our "Red & White" themed Christmas

 I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

 

This and That

I know I have been notably absent for some weeks what with one thing or another. Life just does that sometimes. So.......what have I been doing for the last few weeks?

 I have completed block two of Bric-a-Brac

 and block 7 of Edwardian House.

We all travelled to Melbourne for my MIL's 90th birthday party

Miss M walking ahead of me in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne....a beautiful park that reminds me so much of the London parks.

Back to sewing

My Garden is slowly getting the borders added onto it but I did one block incorrectly and will have to do some dreaded reverse sewing before I can continue.

I have picked out some fabrics from my stash

and together with my new book

am going to make the quilt on the cover called "Spaghetti Junction"

I have also traced the first block of "Long Time ago in Bethlehem"

All this inbetween various Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, extended trade hours at work and Christmas decorating.

My dear friend Helen and I at our work Xmas Party.  We were part of a group of 6 dressed as Angels.

Last picture....I promise.  This is our Christmas Tree this year. Miss M decorated it for me as directed in red and white.  It looks stunning, especially with the lights on.

Sunday Beauty and I Return

Thanks to those who have tried to help me overcome the issues that I was having posting photos in my blog (for me a blog is not worth doing without pictures). Susan from Susan's Sewing Space was kind enough to direct me to Chookyblues post about emailing your photos direct to your post which was invaluable and this was my second effort which was successful.  Don't know where my first email went! So....Susan and Chookyblue.....I love you!!!

 

This picture is of the opened agapanthus that I wanted to share with you amongst other lovely finds in my garden this past week.

Sunday Beauty

Mmmmm.....I haven't been around for awhile but here I am to post another Sunday Beauty. WAIT!

But Alas.....Blogger says I have used my quota of 1GB so cannot publish anymore photos without buying more storage room.

Has anyone else had this issue?  When I view my current account, it specifies that 0% has been used.  I am bewildered and confused.

Unless anyone has some advise for me, I will have to close my blog after only 1 year of blogging *insert very sad face here*