Thursday 1 January 2015

New Year, new list.

A brand new start to a brand new year and I love the positive feel that this brings. I like to think that there is the opportunity to start afresh and make new plans. Last year was a pretty exciting one in lots of ways and may be hard to beat.

The first thing I like to do in the new year is to plan my sewing activities and there are some lovely things happening later in the year. I have yet again written a list. I call it A Quilter's Dozen. Twelve items to be worked on and a thirteenth which invariably gets me into a lot of trouble. The thirteenth item is always so much more exciting and anything goes. If I can tackle those things on the list I shall think I am doing well and any finishes will be loudly cheered. The eagle eyed amongst you might notice several things on there that have appeared on previous lists.


I was given this lovely notebook by my friend Kate. I love notebooks. This one came from the Quilter's Guild of the British Isles. Inside it has a handy little ruler which detaches from the spine and there is a good mix of lined and plain paper. I think it will be quite useful. My new mantra for 2015 is "Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Stitch It". It covers a multitude and in past years my words and resolutions have not lasted very long. This will be a work in progress I think. Does anyone keep to their resolutions? Last years word was Content. I definitely failed to deliver more content on the blogging front but ending on a positive I definitely felt most content on Christmas Day.


Also inside the notebook are a couple of handy plastic pockets and oh joy! Graph paper. I love graph paper. You never know when inspiration is going to hit and you need to jot something down or draw it.


The new year has got off to a good start and I have finished five blocks for the Stonefields Quilt. Cheating a little as I had prepped them a few days ago but it feels good to be able cross something off the list already on day 1.


Total blocks now made comes to 25. I am loving this project but feel glad that I am not following it as a Block of the Month because I get so hopelessly behind. The secret to this project is preparation. For the next set of blocks I may prep a job lot and then I can just stitch.



That leaves me now to just wish you all a very Happy New Year. May your year be filled with love, laughter and plenty of stitching.

Love Shirley.

21 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you and your family too. Your list hopefully will provide you with some guidelines, but be watchful for surprise. They sometimes end being the most fun.

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  2. Dear Shirley,
    Happy New Year, wishing you success with all your goals. The Stonefield is on my list for this year as well, lovely quilt.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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  3. Happy New Year Shirley, it'll be interesting to see if you stick to the list. Don't forget Di is coming and what happened to your St Neots band Sampler????
    Happy stitching my freind.

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  4. Happy, creative new year to you, dearest Shirley! I feel your enthusiasm and share it too! I am most hopeful about this year. I want to explore new directions for my tiny business and shed the four pesky kilos which have crept up on me during my early forties!

    2015 sounds like a wonderful number, full of light and productivity.

    Warmest wishes,

    Stephanie

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  5. Happy new year, Shirley,...

    Wishing you succes with all your goals,...

    Greetings from Holland.

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  6. An official Happy New Year! Perhaps I should have sent the sun to you ;-)

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  7. Happy New Year Shirley, I'm looking forward to seeing everything you sew this year x

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  8. Happy Stitching Shirley! I have not had much success with resolutions so give myself broad guidelines for my behaviour :-) Your Stonefields is going to be so beautiful - enjoy the journey!

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  9. OMG Shirley! You haven't got time to be blogging with everything you need to complete this month on your list! I do wish you well though and I am looking forward to seeing all these projects come alive. Stonefields is looking beautiful xxx

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  10. Happy New Year dear Shirley! And you've had indeed a great start sewing wise ;)! And a great list to boot. I'm sure you'll get lots done, if you keep going as you started!

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  11. What a handy little notebook and I love your Stonefields blocks. Such lovely fabrics! I think we all have resolutions that are easy and those that are hard. I think the important thing is to just keep working at those hard ones and to keep easy ones on the list as they lift our spirits. xox

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  12. Hello dear Shirley, I did enjoy reading your Blog and wish you a good year of happy stitching. Looking forward to sharing with you yours and my work over 2015. Happy New Year Friend Joy xx

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  13. Happy New Year, Shirley! I do live your stonefields quilt. Maks me think about how I have wanted to do a sampler quilt of small blocks (someday).

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  14. Happy New Year to you Shirley. Maybe a quieter year this year? You have some lovely projects on your list and I look forward to watching them grow. My Stonefields is coming out soon after a long rest. I agree, it is all in the preparation.

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  15. Happy New Year Shirley. Love your Stonefields blocks. You've certainly got plenty on your list to keep you out of mischief.

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  16. You will do good Shirley...especially with number 13.. ;0)))
    And that's how it should be!!! Wish you all the luck with the twelve ones too... Hugs and happy happy 2015!!

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  17. Happy New Year Shirley. I love your words for 2015. I often have items that appear on lists year after year. We always have to allow for no 13.

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  18. Happy New Year, Shirley! Your book is a fabulous one and your list? Your list is wonderful - particularly item #13. :-)

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  19. Haha -- I love your item number 13! And ah yes ... the TAW has made the list. I picked mine back up just yesterday. I'm on row 31 (I think?) now and the rows are really taking a long time. It's definitely a labor of love and will take more time.

    LOVE those Stonefields blocks -- seeing that project all over blogland has made it such a temptation!!!

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  20. Hello Shirley !!
    I wish you a happy new year, for you and all your family !
    I think it's a great list and as everybody wrote, specially number 13 ! hi hi !!
    xoxo

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  21. Your Stonefields quilt blocks are looking lovely together. As a group they're so romantic and pink and feminine. They look like your favorite kind of project. Not surprising that you're working on it. I'll enjoy watching your progress,.
    Office supply stores are favorites for me to wander through--and if I saw a notebook like yours with that variety of paper, one or two would go into my shopping basket.
    Happy New Year, and good luck with that list, especially #13. No list for me this year. Making a list just sets me up for disappointment.

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