We want to send all of our friends the Happiest New Year wishes for 2011. If you are a numerologist, then we hope 01/01/11 brings you luck and joy for the rest of the year. If you are just a happy-go-lucky kind of person, then we know you will have a great year.
Let's talk about a few resolutions on this first day of the new decade. Probably the first resolution on every quilters list, every year is "FINISH the PIPs (projects in progress) and the UFPs (unfinished projects)". No matter what we call them we are still determined to make this year the one it will get done in.
The next resolution we hear a lot of is "reduce my stash". If you are a true quilter and your love for beautiful fabric is equal to or higher on your list than chocolate, Starbucks, or both, then skip this resolution. It just isn't going to happen. There is too much great new fabric on the way to the stores right now that will melt your resistance to liquid butter and you won't be able to add to your supply. Let's re-word this resolution then, how about "Use up or circulate the old stash and make room for the new fabric".
Another quilter's resolution has to do with the scraps. What quilter (besides my friend, Shirley) doesn't save the other half of the half square triangles, the leftover binding strips and any piece of fabric larger than a 1 ½" square. Scrap quilts are the soul of quilting. They are the foundation of the Great American story. Let's do it then! Let's make scrap quilts. Here is a challenge for all of you to make at least one scrap quilt this year.
2010 Scrap Quilt
How about learning a new technique or piecing method, is that on your resolution list this year. Sign up to take some great classes. Learn how to sew curved pieces or perfect points. If you think hand appliqué is too time consuming but love the look, take a class or two to learn new or different appliqué methods. There is more than one way to skin that cat! How many of us love redwork quilts? Join a Redwork group. It is amazing what you can do when you work with several other quilters towards the same goal! Challenge yourself to move to a new level of machine quilting. Even if you send your full size quilts to the great long-arm quilters in our area, you can learn to machine quilt your table runners, tote and hand-bags, and wall hangings with something besides stitching in the ditch!
There are so many more resolutions we could add to our quilting list. Charity quilts, new tools, Quilt Guild or Chapter related goals, or organizing our sewing rooms…. The list is endless. Let's make this decade the "decade of resolution and growth".
2011, here we come!
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