April Goal! {No Pictures}

Another boring goal post for another month. Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I figured it's just not worth the time to take a simple picture of two little dresses that haven't been sewn up yet :)

Yup, my April goal is to make two dresses... one for E and a coordinating one for her cousin Kae. Kae's is a gift for her official adoption which happened two months ago - eek! We'll give it to her at her baptism the first Sunday in May. Perfect goal for April!

The dresses are cut out and they've had a few lines stitched... it's the Sally Dress by Very Shannon. I've always wanted to try this pattern, so I'm excited to finally be doing it!



PS: Happy 3rd Birthday, E! :)

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Summer Clothes for E, JT and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next is the birthday dress (birthday dress didn't happen! The Sally Dress is a good alternative)
• Onesies!  - done!!! Just need to make matching skirts!
• Baby Bag... waiting on Mom to work on the name appliqué, but I suppose I should be picking out fabric so I'm ready to go when she finishes

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 5 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding 
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
• A new table runner from a mini charm pack won from a giveaway recently

March Goal {Sorry, no picture this time!}

I had a hard time making a goal for this month. It seems that nothing is very pressing at the moment, although I still have a lot on my "want-to-sew-right-now" list. I also have several photo books to create (I use Snapfish), and now that James is getting older and the weather is getting warmer, I've really been having a painting itch... I have several crafty projects that I want to work on this spring and summer. Sigh. There is always more to do... I love my creative side, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with EVERYTHING that I want to work on (especially when the baby hasn't been napping well...).


With all that said, I think I want to finish the onesies that I currently have cut out. While none of the babies are due this month, it will make me feel better when I have these done and ready to go - less to do later when I may have more on my plate!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next is the birthday dress and then on to summer clothing!
• Onesies! 
• Baby Bag... waiting on Mom to work on the name appliqué, but I suppose I should be picking out fabric so I'm ready to go when she finishes

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 5 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding 
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
• A new table runner from a mini charm pack won from a giveaway recently

Two Baby Quilts Finished! {February Goal Success}

My February Goal is complete :)

I finished two baby quilts this month. One top was already ready for the quilting/binding process, but I ended up making another top for the 2nd quilt (even though I have several tops ready to go - I really wanted a boyish I-Spy quilt, which I didn't have on hand already!).

Here is the quilt that already had the top and binding ready. All I had to do was baste, quilt and bind. Both quilts were basted and quilted at my parents' house when we were there the first weekend of February. Mom's workhorse of a Viking sewing machine has a much better walking foot than my machine, so I know I can trust hers to work well (and quickly!) for me! 

The top fabric came from Fat Quarter Shop several years ago when I realized I didn't have many fabrics on hand that would work for boyish quilts. This is the second and final quilt made from this line. You may still see a few matching squares here and there in I-Spy quilts, though! 

The backing came from a destash purchase a year or two ago. Both quilts are quilted with straight, diagonal lines... simple yet effective!

 "Oh the Places You'll Go!" Perfect for a little baby boy!

And here is the I-Spy quilt! This baby boy has an older brother who may need some entertaining while Mom is busy with the new baby... so really, this quilt is for both the baby and the brother! 

This backing also came from an Instagram destash back when destashing over social media was just taking off. I haven't looked on the destash hashtag in a long time! But, what I did buy back then has surely come in handy :)

I hope the two babies feel loved and prayed for when they are cuddled with (or crawling over) these quilts!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Dress for E     (Finished! - link and link)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next are the birthday and Easter dresses, but I have a bit of time before they are needed :)
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ the top is finished, now to baste, quilt and bind - completed!
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind - completed!
• Onesies! - 3 finished (link and link), several more to go... the pregnant friend list just keeps growing!

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 5 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding 
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
• A new table runner from a mini charm pack won from a giveaway recently

February Goal

A friend is having a baby this month... time for another baby quilt!

While I have several tops all made up, I wanted a special I-Spy quilt for this baby. I like the idea that the quilt can help entertain the toddler big brother a little during nursing and rocking sessions :)

My goal is to finish this by the end of the month! I also hope to have one onesie made to send with it... wish me luck!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Dress for E 
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next are the birthday and Easter dresses, but I have a bit of time before they are needed :)
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ the top is finished, now to baste, quilt and bind
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind
• Onesies! 

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done in February (see above)
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
  
  

January Goal Post {End of the Month}

My January Goal was to make 3 Hope Dresses for Violette Field Threads' Give Hope Campaign that they hosted during the month of January. 

Time ran short, however, since a few other sewing gift projects popped up, so I only finished one Hope dress. This fabric is from my mother-in-law when she downgraded her stash several years ago. It came in handy - don't the fabrics make such a sweet size 4 dress?

The pattern itself is very easy to follow, and yet this dress takes up a lot of fabric... and because it's reversible the hemline takes a little extra work than I usually enjoy putting into dresses (I can be quite lazy when it comes to tedious steps like ironing hems and such!).

I love being able to use my sewing skills to help out wonderful causes. This dress has already arrived to the VFT headquarters where it will wait with the other donations before being shipped to the Casa Guatemala orphanage. I hope that the little girl who receives this dress enjoys it!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Skirt for E ~ Finished
• 3 Hope Dresses for donation ~ Only 1 done... the other 2 scrapped
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - namely a Valentine's Dress ~ VDay dress is done!
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ fabrics chosen, need to iron and then sew ~ layout chosen, now to sew the squares together
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind
• Onesies! I have fabric chosen and the pattern pieces ready to cut out... I'm so excited about this one! ~ 1 done... many more to go!

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February (see above)
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc

My Own January Goal

Even though there isn't an official "A Lovely Year of Finishes," this year, I still hope to make and keep a monthly goal. Mostly, it helps me focus on what needs to be done, and it is a great way to keep track of my WIP and UFO lists!

 So, along with several other projects, I hope to sew up 3 "Hope" dresses to donate to Violette Field Threads' Give Hope Campaign for a Guatemalan orphanage. You can find more information here :)

I already have the dress pieces cut out, but I need to cut out the ruffles and then sew, sew, sew!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Skirt for E :)
• 3 Hope Dresses for donation
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - namely a Valentine's Dress
• Baby Quilt for a friend... fabrics chosen, need to iron and then sew
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind
• Onesies! I have fabric chosen and the pattern pieces ready to cut out... I'm so excited about this one!

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February (see above)
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc

WIP and ALYOF {September Goal}

I had a couple of yards of this yellow knit that I purchased at Hancock Fabric in Rapid City when I was in the Hills for a wedding last summer. I bought more than I had planned because it was nearing the end of the bolt so I just bought the remnant as well. I always figured I'd make a top or a dress for E, and maybe even for her cousins. Instead, I've decided on making E and her two cousins matching pajamas. It will be perfect for when they're all at Grandpa/Grandma's farm this fall and winter.

Pattern: EYMM Riley Nightgown
Fabric: Yellow Jersey knit from Hancock. Pink and purple accents from my stash - no idea when/where I purchased :)

Official Goal: Finish sewing three nightgowns!

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Finally, an updated WIP and UFO list :)

WIP (works in progress) List

• 1 Monikered Baby Bag (fabric chosen, cut and interfaced... waiting on Mom for the name appliqué... then need to sew it)
• 3 nightgowns (fabric cut - just need to sew it)
• Christmas lap quilt (quilting done... need to attach and finish binding)
• E's Halloween Costume (fabric and pattern chosen... need to cut and sew)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew)

UFO (unfinished objects) List...

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc

WIP: An Air Force Pillow {May ALYOF Goal}

I know, I know... I just had a baby a few weeks ago... why in the world am I making a sewing goal for this month??? 

Well, this one shouldn't take me too long, and it will be good to have a goal to try to get me to do something just for me this month!

I received this panel from a good blogger friend's giveaway last year sometime. It's time to finally make it into the pillow that I always planned on... it's for another good friend whose husband is in the Air Force. I don't plan on doing anything too fancy. There are actually two panels, but I'll just use one and then send the other along so she can make something with that one :)

Wish me luck!


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WIP (works in progress) List

• 1 pillow cover using the Air Force Panel (current post)
• 1 Manhattan top for E (I cut out the pieces before JT arrived)

UFO (unfinished objects) List...

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 1 lap quilt needing quilting then binding 
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc