Whoop! First Flimsy of the Year & Gettin' Over Myself

Whoop! Whoop!

I'm just too tired for any fancy photo-op'ing

I finished my first flimsy of the year - my Daisy Days Farmhouse Four-Patch, which is a direct replica of Amy Smart's. She was even so kind as to put up a free pattern tutorial for it. Mine came out at 62 x 70.5 inches.

I have to wait for two quilts to be finished before I can put it on the frame - I'm really hoping to have this completely finished and on my reading chair for a Valentine's for myself.

And I've gone insane, surely, but I've picked up the gauntlet laid down by another 18 in 2018'er - In addition to my original list of 18 UFOs I want to finish/advance, I'm curious to see if I can put together 18 flimsies in the year. So this is the start of that list, and my first share of an accomplished item for that challenge.

18 Flimsies in 2018:

1. Daisy Days Farmhouse Four-Patch

But I've also gotten over myself on a major step for me at the longarm. If you don't have one, you may not know some of the things that are incredibly difficult to control at first: anything on a diagonal. Anything at all. And fine detail work, including controlled small curves. Like quilting in S's and U's. 

Turns out I hemmed and hawwed and put this part of the Sapphire Stars quilting off as long as possible for no real good reason. Given the right tool and super slow speed (thank you, stitch regulator!!) - it really wasn't that bad!

And yes, I honestly did repeat out loud while doing this: "The Force is with me; I am one with the Force. . . "  And Leia bobbled her little head encouragingly. Must've worked.  :)

Just goes to show us: Quit Being Afraid!!!  Jump in and try whatever it is you're dragging your feet on!! The worst that could happen is you'd have to pick it out. Honestly, that's not so terrible, and you just might surprise yourself. You'll surely never develop a skill if you don't even try.  


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Linking to:

Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday
18 in 2018 - January

Jan outlook - OMG, 18, 6 and 6, etc., etc.

My OMG for January, the top HAVE TO FINISH quilt, is my Sapphire Stars Mystery Quilt, which is a QOV for my Vietnam-Vet father-in-law. 

I'm excited, because I just scored an authentic Vietnam uniform shirt from his tour years with his retirement rank patches. I'm going to use the patches in the corner spaces (hoping to find 2 more) and the shirt fabric will be harvested for a binding flange. 

I'm a bit anxious, because I only have the background of four stars left to do up before I have to Get Over Myself and learn to use my l'il bean ruler to maintain fine control on curves as I do the U's and S's in the sashing. The A's and F's are already in. [Are you kidding me???  It Wasn't That Bad!! Just need a good little notched ruler!!]

However, I do have Princess Leia/General Organa riding along and bobbing her head in enthusiasm as I work now (most excellent Christmas gift from my 25yo), so I can go Zen and repeatedly mutter "the force is with me and I am one with the force. . ." during moments of intimidation.

Hmmm.  Leia. Millenium.  - may need some falcon wing tattoos for my Millie. . .  #understatedhumor

Clearing that quilt off my frame will let me move to my UFO Challenge #10 (also an 18 in 2018 item) for January - Bohemia. I plan to do a medium-light custom job on that one as the fabrics are pretty busy and won't show intricate quilting very much. Yes, I switched 12 into the 10 spot, because I need that fine-control skill set for curves/applique to do the original #10. #shootmeifyouneedto #butremembertheforceiswithme

The cream around the insets is really the only place detailed quilting would show

Morning work (my longarm wakes the person in the next room who works a swing shift) will focus on finishing the assembly of my Daisy Days Farmhouse 4-Patch (with help from my grand-kitty!) . . . [finished Jan 4]

and then getting the next two stages of my Listen With Your Eyes worked up (assemble the 5 stars-and-NYBs; paper-piece the next set of checkerboard archways). This is also on my 18 in 2018 list. It's going to be months before I'm ready to check this off. [achieved Jan 17]

Those were The Big Four (the afternoon and morning priorities, with the next-up's). Now for the sidelines, used for breathers and times I can only snitch a couple moments here and there:

BOMs.

I want to get the 1-5 section of Wind in the Whiskers applique all fused. . .[Yes!!!! I did this!!!!  You have no idea how many hundreds of hours went into this quilt so far. finished Jan 22]

. . .and get Down the Rabbit Hole past its block. Now that all the pattern is revealed and some folks have finished theirs, I have no excuse to put off the decision-making process to find the fabrics to use in that twisty-border!! Let's aim for having the rabbit borders cut out and rabbits ready to prep, with twisty colors chosen. Plus, get the last three patterns downloaded and safely stored.  [finished Jan 14, changed order around - got the twist border completed and added on. Will create an extra-wide rabbit border when the added background fabric arrives.]


I need to get my little Valentine's quilt for Scott's office fused together. He's been angling for more minis for weeks. It's a cute laser-cut kit I bought in Estes Park while I was there with him. This will be my first New selection for Meredithe and Anne's 6 and 6 in 2018. I already know 2 and 3 will be Valentine's style BOMs that start later, but 4-6 are open for "Ooo-Shiney!" things that I will yet encounter during the year. One of them probably ought to be an original-design studio mascot wall quilt. . . I don't have that much mental energy right now! (My 6 Olds will come straight off the top of my 18 in 2018 list.) [finished Jan 13. Oh, dear! He's requested no less than 6 row quilts in a wildlife theme for his office!]


I want to get two old NETY kits kitted (washed and cut and shoeboxed).fi  [finished Jan 20. Winter Woodlands and Primrose Paths.]

Also, I need to settle on a plan for the first Stash Rehab quilt early in the month. I'm thinking a mystery with dual configurations and a sneak-peak capability.

Good thing I have several hours each day at my disposal, eh? Let's see how much I can accomplish!

18 in 2018 - January Links

Greetings to all! It's a new day - 2018 is here! 

For those who are using the challenge to finish 18 steps on WIPs and UFOs this year, this is the link-up place for your January accomplishments.

This will stay open all month so that you can link a post at any time reporting a finished item from your list. 

For details on this challenge and the place to link-up a planning list of your own,

go to: 18 in 2018.

(This is not the latest BOMs Away linky - that is on the previous post)

An InLinkz Link-up