Setting goals.....

Do you ever have moments around this time of the year that you already start to reflect on what you have accomplished? I know most of us do that in December as New Year's Eve approaches but it is too late then to add to that list of 'items finished'. Perhaps I am experiencing this more potently this year since 2009 has not been an easy year for me. I literally lost a month's time of being able to do my handwork and even more time for quilting. I also think the next logical step in a well tuned stash diet (mine has lasted almost two years now) is to really want to see so many UFOs become finished products.


So last week, without really thinking too much about it, I picked up a couple of older projects and decided to set a goal of having them finished by the end of the year. I started the sweet stitchery BOM along with everyone else out there in blogland when Lynette Anderson started it on her blog. I was enjoying these little blocks immensely! But this, along with other things, got put aside much to my dismay. So I am working on the next block which is where I stopped and am loving it all over again. See my unfinished Noah? He really needs his beard. And I changed the black cat at his feet to Dagi. I figured Dagi would enjoy waving goodbye as Noah and his friends take off on their cruise. *grins*

I am also going to work harder on a project just started in the summer which is a hexagon stocking for Christmas. It is being done with charms of fabric from my our closet and some given to me by my quilt group. I borrowed the perfect colors from my tumblers charm quilt to use for this project.

Last but not least, here is one of my quilt tops that has hung for years on a hanger waiting to be quilted. I used to teach patchwork and had to move on to keep ahead of the ladies I taught. I also had to come up with samples in various stages to show during classes or for my quilt group. The result is a huge stack on unfinished quilt tops. This quilt was one I made for myself and was deciding whether to use it for a workshop. I decided to stop teaching. It still meant many tops hung unloved. *sigh* I thought it would be nice to pick up one of the tops which was holiday themed as Christmas is just around the corner. This is going rather quickly as I am hand quilting it with gold metallic quilt thread. In order to see the effect of this thread, you must quilt in large stitches. After removing stitching because I kept making them too small, I am now in a nice rhythm and have started the quilting of the sixth star on a quilt of nine stars total. I now see how much I have missed sitting down to hand quilt! It is such wonderful therapy.

I should get a good deal of quilting achieved today. My lemon cake has been baked and glazed, awaiting the arrival this afternoon of my friend Elly. She is coming to sit and quilt after which she will join me for dinner. These kinds of afternoons are always very inspiring.

I hope you can make time today for something creative! Have you set any end of the year goals for your handwork?