Ponderings revisited

As we are here in the last weekend of the year, I was pondering a bit about my goals that I had set for myself seems a tad Lofty and I felt that I might have to rethink the whole thing.   But first I had decided that I would be the breakfast maker today with visions of biscuits and sausage gravy wetting my palette.  I also topped them with fried eggs and everyone made short work of their plates.  It's a real treat since the last time I made them was when my boy was here for the summer.  He is currently here for his winter break and it was a good reason to make it again.

I know that a couple of weeks ago I had posted my goals for the new year but I feel that as I looked at them again, I'm setting myself up for possible failure by thinking I can work at such an almost grueling pace. I believe that would be unreasonable and would take the joy out of the process. Making them more a "JOB" then anything else. And in my eyes, that is just not acceptable by any means at all! 

I mean there are those two larger UFO's that are on my list that I wanted to finish as in complete with quilting and binding. They both are queen/king size pieces which will be a challenge in it's self.  We all know I'm more for making smaller pieces like table runners and wall hangings. I'm at the point with these that the majority of the work now requires me doing hand work on them.  So I'm thinking that if I got one of the tops done and in the floor hoop for the hand quilting I would be most happy with that so this would be a long term project.  And this would still allow me to still take part in a few small swaps or other small UFO's  through out the new year have when I need a change without getting stale.  

I currently have "Sunflowers & Crows" in the hoop and yes - even though it is of lap quilt size, I'm hand quilting an one inch grid design on it. It's a time consuming design but I think it was the best type of quilting for this piece.  I know I would possibly make the Amish Quilters, that had kind of taught me how to hand quilt; proud as I'm getting on average 8 to 10 top stitches for inch.  I feel a sense of pride in this accomplishment as it makes me slow down and enjoy the whole process.
   
Do you ever find yourself doodling aimlessly and later think that it might make for an interesting quilt pattern?  Do ever want to do something completely out of you "normal"? For those of you who design - how do you find your inspirations?   

Today I'm doing some transferring of a pattern to muslin to prep it for stitching.  This is going to be one of my own designs and unlike anything that I have done before. I have been working on said design for much of the past week.  Although I might use only half of the pattern for the first making, I'll do the whole piece a bit later.

Then I must try to finish this last snowflake that I'm appliqueing. From there, I have to make a few snowball blocks for this runner.  For some reason this thing is taking me longer than I projected.  I'm sure that it will come out quite nicely but I'm going to enjoy putting this one in the mail when the day comes.  

Sewing this week will actually not be the main focus this week - as I'm going to be taking time to spend time with my boy.  We are going to make home made cookies at some point. And I think we are going to go see the Hobbit movie as part of his Christmas present along with a dinner out.  I'm sure that in the evenings when have our down time I'm going to be doing some of my hand work. 

I was really surprised that I didn't have ANY comments on last weeks post.  I was so looking forward to reading some of your stories.  Well I guess maybe everyone was busy with all their holiday plans.  Maybe I'll revisit the PIF subject at another time.  I'm actually thinking of doing something with my boy on this.  He is in Cub Scouts this year and think making pillowcases and/or small scrappy doll blankets throughout this new year to give to our village kids as gifts during Holiday party and Santa Claus visit. 

So what you up to? Are you sewing the new year in? Taking part in a New Years Day mystery?  Or did you decide to take some time off following the Holiday Gift making marathon? 

Right Y'all - I'm off & running.... so toodles,
Tricia