February, Looking Back and Looking Forward

It's the close of another month and time to evaluate my progress on my goals for the year.

I enjoyed attending a quilt retreat at Highland Lake Lodge in Emory, TX with a small group from the Plano quilt guild.  I have enjoyed their retreats in the past and will again in April.  Since I plan to attend the retreat in April, this will fulfill my goal of attending three retreats this year.  I worked on several items at the retreat.  I made the block for my Block of the Month assiciated with the Quilt Sitters program at Bernina of Plano.  I made the binding for the French Braid quilt.  The French Braid is now at the long arm quilter.  I posted a picture in a previous blog. When I get it bound, I will have two of the four quilts I wanted to make this year completed.  I started a cover for my Bernina 830.  The pattern came from http://tinkletimes.com/ blog. Look under Tutorials.  C.J. makes wonderful machine covers that are "to die for" cute.

The top cover is from her tutorial.  The brown cover is my machine cover in progress.  I made the front, back and gusset at the retreat.  I need to embroidery something on the strip.  I just can't decide what that needs to be.  C. J. also has some lovely machine covers that seem to have ruffled skirts.  My 200 and 170 machines need one of those each.  Sign. . . so little time.
I spent time on my "In A Pickle" paper piecing quilt I purchased at the Plano Quilt Show last August.

I got most of the paper pieced sashing strips made. They look like flying geese.  This quilt is made from a kit entirely of batik fabrics.  I hope my husband will want it hung in the game room after I finish.  I will continue to work on this when I attend the April retreat.
Another item I started but did not complete, is a tote bag that will hold my doll making tools when I take them to the American Sewing Guild group meetings.

This will be a tote bag with pockets on the inside to hold the different tools used in making cloth dolls.  I was determined to use only supplies from my stash.  The yo-yos, I made years ago and attached with a button.  The inside pockets will be made from fabric screen material that I used to make grocery bags.  They had the advantage of my being able to see through them to tell what is inside.  I need to finish this before my March meeting.
I have continued to meet weekly with my friend Barbara who is helping me learn how to knit.  I have become a huge fan of circular needles.  I do have a good start on knitting a pair socks at the same time on two circular needles.  I have made two hats and have started a neck warmer.  I also knitted a scarf in the round.

The top left is the start of my neck warmer.  The purple and light blue are both hats.  I purchased a pompom maker to finish the tops.  I will get those on soon.  The scarf is made of Red Heart yarn.  The purple is yarn that Barbara gave me that is better quality.  The neck warmer and light blue hat are made of 100% wool grown and spun by Barbara's daughter.  I love working with wool. Such a difference using a good quality fiber.  Unfortuately, Texas weather does not often need wool for warmth.  Having said that, I plan to help Mary Berry of Fancy Fibers Farm with sheering all of her sheep and goats on Sunday.  Hope the weather is good because I really enjoy spending time on her farm with her animals.

In regard to my other goals, I have slowed down on learning Drupal.  I did enroll in the Drupal Camp that will occur in April.  I hope that will set a fire under me and increase my understanding of this software.

I have done better with being consistent with exercise.  I continue to slowly loose weight - - which is progress.

As I look out my window at the dormant and brown grass, the sunshine makes my thoughts go to planning out my vegetable garden.

Also, as I write this, the Dallas Quilt show will be here in about two weeks. This is a wonderful big show.  Lots of vendors and row upon row of spectacular quilts.  It provides lots of inspiration for future projects. I may go two days of the three day event to make sure I get to see everything.