Tag Archives: goal setting

2025 Goals

I admit, I haven’t given a lot of thought to sewing goals (or any goals) for the new year.

I am participating in Karen Brown’s DeClutter Challenge 2025.

This is my 5th year participating. Karen makes it easy…you approach it with a timer. 15 minutes.

You can handle 15 minutes of declutter a day, can’t you?!

2025 Declutter Challenge Sewing Studio

Karen’s challenge has become so popular now…woodworkers are cleaning their spaces, along with kitchens, closets, offices, and any space that one wants to tackle in easy increments!

This challenge has just started, so if you’d like to join, it is definitely not too late!

Just click on the ‘DeClutter Challenge I’m In’ photo in my sidebar!

2025 Declutter Challenge Sewing Studio

My sewing space is small and always looks cluttered, even when I do have it cleaned up!

The current project involves a lot of strips, so it is spread out on the tables.

I do have a goal of using up stash in 2025. Bonnie Hunter’s Silk Path pattern is one of my solutions towards that goal.

I am using my 1-1/2″ strips and that is what you see in progress in the studio photos.

Bonnie Hunter Silk Path Pattern

I like Bonnie’s patterns! She uses scraps and her patterns are well written.

I hope to make a few more scrap quilts to use up stash.

I will also continue to make pillowcases for donation. You can see some of those by clicking here and here.

I have one other goal for 2025, and that is to do more hand embroidery. Once upon a time and long ago, I did a lot of embroidery and I’d like to get back to it.

Once I complete the DeClutter Challenge, I will consider other goals. I know there are UFOs and kits hanging out in the studio that need to be made. I still need seasonal table toppers and the gift box is empty too!

Have fun and carry on!

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge – April

I joined up with the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge for the motivation to move projects forward, and perhaps even finish a few. So far, so good!

Participants publicly posted a list of 10 numbered projects. Each month a number is drawn, and the corresponding project is worked on. There are linkups where projects can be posted and participants can cheer one another on.

In March, number 4 was drawn. My number 4 was to sew pajama bottoms, and you can see that I did that by clicking here for my post that shows that I completed this project.

For April, the number 9 was drawn. My number 9 is to make a table runner. You can see my project list here.

I am thinking about making the Golden Peaks block into a table runner. Julie Cefalu, of The Crafty Quilter, shared a great tutorial of this block, and it looks like fun to play with.

Besides yard work, and other life distractions, I have been working on the 365 Monster.

Just so ya know.

365 Challenge

365 Challenge

Progress is slow going, but still progress.

365 Challenge

Who knows? Maybe I can get this thing finished this month!

Maybe.

365 Challenge

I am linking up at Dreamworthy Quilts. Come on over to see other participants!

Have fun and carry on!

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge February Update

The February Chookshed Stitchers challenge number was #2; the 365 Challenge quilt for me.

This is a large quilt, and my plan to move this project forward was to get it basted.

365 Challenge

365 Challenge

Goal accomplished!

365 Challenge

I had no idea how I wanted to quilt this, but I thought about it while I was pin-basting, and stitching-in-the-ditch.

I am not quilting this monster in a large space, but it hasn’t been difficult. If I need more space, there is a sewing machine to the left of the Juki that I can move off of the table.

365 Challenge

I am not using a walking foot. That is a better choice no doubt, but I chose to quilt the entire quilt with a free motion foot.

365 Challenge

After quilting the center, I suffered from a lack of sewjo. Who could be in the mood to sew with an automatic thread cutter running amuck? The cutter would do its thing whenever it felt like it!

After a bit of searching, I found the following solution, and it is working for me so far. Maybe it will help another Juki user.

My bobbin tension was very tight, so I loosened that. Almost everything is working great now.

Almost.

I am also having a problem with the thread shredding whenever I sew backwards. The Hubster found a tiny burr on the face plate and sanded that down. I haven’t sewn yet, but hopefully, that solves that issue.

The sun has shined, too, so that calls me outdoors to get some much needed exercise and Vitamin D.

And, hey, I now have a defrosted and clean freezer, and a clean refrigerator!

Back to sewing. I have a border that I can show you. The thread looks dark, but that is because it is wet. I use a blue marker to mark registration dots to keep me sort of on track while I free motion quilt the border. Then I spray the border with water to remove the dots.

365 Challenge

I am linking up with other challenge participants at Dreamworthy Quilts.

January completed blocks.

February completed blocks.

March completed blocks.

April completed blocks.

May completed blocks.

June completed blocks.

July completed blocks.

August completed blocks.

September completed blocks.

October completed blocks.

November completed blocks.

December 2022 OMG Update

Have fun and carry on!