Oh my goodness, it’s December already! I’ve really enjoyed my monthly action list this year.  I was pretty clear about what my goals were for 2015 and when I’ve had to let some goals go I gave my self permission to do so and not be hard on myself.  It’s a testament to my own personal growth.

Here’s my action items for this month.

1. Continue to count fabric in and out of my stash –  Since I’ve started counting fabric in 2013, the amount I’ve stashed each year has gone down significantly.  I’m still not on the positive side (using more that I’m stashing) but I’m more conscious of my buying habits.  I also know that the more I’m crafting, the less I buy.  When I’m not able to spend time in my sewing room, that means I’m going to buy fabric.  I’d rather play than buy.  But if I can’t help myself and buy fabric, I’m more aware now of what I’ve got (in terms of values and colorways, not exact fabrics and designs) and what I can buy to enhance my stash. 

2. Concentrate on one thing at a time. –

Tell It To The Stars – Quilt this. – I’m mostly through quilting the background portion of this.  I probably have 2 passes left to do.  I need to get this finished this month because I actually want to gift it. 

Scrapitude – Quilt this.  – Once Tell It To The Stars is off the frame, I’ll be putting this one on.  I think this will be easier to quilt because I’m just going to be doing a simply all over meander.  Depending on when Tell It To The Stars is finished will determine whether I can get this quilted this month or not. 

Moon Glow – Piece the back for this – I’ve got the back for this but I still need to put it together right.  It’s going to be one fabric so it will be easy but it still needs to get done.  Again, I’m not going to do this until Scrapitude is up on the frame.  Once it is up on the frame, that means that I will need it ready to jump on once Scrapitude is finished.  These three projects were supposed to get done in 2015 but it isn’t looking like it will be.  Good news is that I’ll be in the black the first part of 2016. 

• Raining Cats and Dogs –
  • Finish the applique on the final block – continue to work on this bit by bit as I have been.  My goal for December is to get all the leaves down.  I think all I need left is 2 leaves and 3 cats and then the embroidery.  That will finish this block and this is the last block.  The next step is to put all the blocks together an finish the top.  I believe there are borders but I can’t remember anymore. 🙂  I’m just looking as far as the next 2-3 steps needs to be and right now, its the leave and the cats. 🙂 

• Hampton Ridge –
  • Borders – I need to finish Border #2, Border #3 and Border #4.  My goal for December is to get #2 and #3 done and started on the HSTs for Border #4. 
• Celtic Solstice –
  • Step 6 – Continue working on Celtic Solstice
• Razzle –
  • Re-Cut the Cornerstones and get those pieced onto the sashings.  I think that once those are done, it will be a quick finish to get the top done and I can add this to my to be quilted pile! 😐
• Missing Ivy –
  • Step 8

3. View and complete Craftsy Classes. – forget about it!  I’ve actually started watching Craftsy Classes again.  For awhile there I wasn’t because I was working on one of the knitting projects.  But then I started watching one of the long arm quilting class and then the crazy quilt class.  And now I’m just watching classes to watch.  It’s very interesting.  There are some I may not do the project for but I enjoy the little tidbits I get especially if I’m working on a similar project for myself. 

4. Complete a project I have a kit for – Same thing – forget about it! – I have a bunch of quilt kits but I will not be starting those until some of my UFOs are completed.  I went through and frogged some of the smaller projects or kits that I had that I wasn’t enjoying anymore.  I still have some pillow cases thrown together somewhere but I’m not sure where they are at the moment.  I think they’re in a bin or in a bag stashed in my closet.  I’m trying to clear out my bins but every time I start a new thing (Allietare and Scrapitude 2016) I just add more. 

5. Scrap system?  – Go through bins and separate Bin #3, Bin #4 and full yardage. – continue to use the system I started in September and see if it continues to work for me. I’ve separated Bin #3 into darks and lights.  It started for Scrapitude.  It’s great for scrappy projects.  In addition, I’ve used a lot of my scraps for Scrapitude.  So Bin #3 is very small right now.  I currently have Grand Illusions in a bin but that’s fast becoming part of bin#3.  I’m starting to pull fabric from there when I need something for Scrapitude.  While I like the idea of having a dark and light bin #3 – I don’t like having too many bins.  It’s a bit confusing as to which bin is what.  Nothing is labeled as I’m constantly reshuffling bins as I go through them to find the fabrics I need.  But I think once I get all my fabric cut for Scrapitude, I’ll put everything for bin #3 into 1 bin regardless of dark and light and Grand Illusions.  I’m frogging it for real.  I’m not even going to try to make mug rugs or place mats or anything.  I just really dislike the color combination.  It’s too bright and jarring for me. 

Here’s to a great finish to a great year!

I’m almost done finalizing my goals for 2016.   I’ll post those once they are final closer to the end of the year.

Happy Quilting!

~Melanie