December OMG 2018 Goal Update

It is time to be accountable and declare what I accomplished with my December OMG (One Monthly Goal).

Because of Christmas and the e-commerce explosion (I work at a post office), I kept my goal light…I really did not expect to accomplish much.  I thought I just might have time to machine quilt half of The Case of the Secret Garden (a Linda Franz/Inklingo mystery from 2013).

But I put my nose to the grindstone, and quilted at every opportunity that I could, and I am so happy to report a finish!

If you click on the link above, you can find links to the beginning of this project, and each clue that I worked on it, as well as find where it originated on Linda Franz’ website, Inklingo.  

Some of the pictures aren’t that great (it is hard to take good pics indoors in the midst of winter), but they show that I finished this baby!

By clicking on a photo, you can see it enlarged.  This quilt was machine quilted on a domestic sewing machine.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and see the other goals that were accomplished for December!  

December OMG 2018 Goal

Funny how what goes around comes around.

For my December OMG, I decided to focus on a UFO called The Case of the Secret Garden.

I dug through the blog to see when I last worked on this project.  It appears it was also my goal for December OMG 2017.  Hmmmmmm.

If you click on the links above, you can find links to the beginning of this project, and each clue that I worked on it, as well as find where it originated on Linda Franz’ website, Inklingo.  Linda began this enjoyable mystery in the year 2013.

So, why did I wad this project up in a corner?

Partly because I went through a tough time (why do I throw my creativity aside when I need it the most…another mystery), and partly because I changed my mind about my fabric choices.

I like the fabric choices.  I don’t like the fabric choices.  I like the fabric choices.  I can’t stand the fabric choices.

Oh brother!

But then, my Mom and a couple of sisters visited for Thanksgiving.  One of my sisters said, “I really like this!”

Nothing like a little positive motivation!

So this top is pin basted, and I am in the process of machine quilting it.

I hope to complete the quilting, of course, but realistically, because it is December, and the busiest time of the year, my goal is to complete half of the machine quilting.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and see the other goals for December!  Maybe you would like to add a goal!

On Ringo Lake Mystery Quilt Progress

I think my last On Ringo Lake mystery quilt update was back in February 2018.

For me…I am speeding along.  Ha, ha!

I am happy to report that I have finished quilting the top!

I used a pantograph for the very first time.

I learned a thing or two, including that it is important to load the quilt on the frame properly (oops).

The quilting isn’t fancy, or perfect.  

But it is finished, and I am excited about that!

Next up will be to square the quilt and apply binding.  Then this quilt really will be finished.

In record time…for me!

February OMG 2018 Update

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does.  Keep going. – Sam Levenson

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius

I had a lovely Sunday afternoon that I could completely devote to piecing the mystery quilt, On Ringo Lake. This made it easier to complete the project into a flimsy in stolen bits of time throughout the rest of the month. I am happy with that!

February’s OMG  completed. And now this impulsive project, that was almost a nuclear explosion in my sewing room, will be relegated to a hangar in the closet until such time as I can bring myself to look at it again. Ha, ha!

A little tangent…

Why are Sundays so important for me? On average, there are four Sundays in a month. That means that I have four days off per month. That’s right. Four days per month to accomplish my goals (and that is fitting the goals in between the must do’s and want-to-do’s…like shopping, laundry, and visiting kinfolk). In other words, I work six days a week, so, yeah, I am slow to reach goals. Any goals. I may have to carry it over month to month, but little by little…in small increments, and the goal gets done.

I am sure there are others out there, who for one reason or another, are slow to accomplish their goals. Don’t give up! You can reach your goals. It is going to take you longer, but the important thing is to get to the finish line at your pace!

(I may be a tiny bit influenced by the Olympics this month!)

My second goal for February was to print and cut out the pattern pieces to make a Laundry Day Tee tunic.

The next picture is boring, but it shows that I completed that small goal and have a tunic ready to sew.  I used freezer paper to trace my pattern onto.  You are looking at the shiny side in the photo…not the side where  I drew my grainlines and other markings. 

The knit fabric is notoriously slinky!  It is a challenge for me!

After baking bread today, I intend to spend some time working on this project.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and see what other goals were accomplished for February. I find it inspiring and motivating!

February OMG 2018

I am going to carry over January’s goal to February.  In other words, I really do want to get the On Ringo Lake mystery quilt pieced into a flimsy.

If I manage to do that, then I would like to begin sewing on a tunic for myself.

I purchased the Laundry Day Tee pattern (from Love Notions), and some knit fabric.  The goal will be to get my paper pattern printed and pieced together (already working on this), and then cut my pieces from the knit fabric.

I have six solid color knit yardage pieces to eventually sew into six tunics.

But I will start with one and learn as I go.  A garment maker, I am not.

At least, I hope I can manage to get this much done.  Doesn’t seem like much, but it is the way I roll.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and see what other goals are set for February.  I find it inspiring and motivating!