Ready, Set, GO!

So, 2016 was a challenge in so many ways. I enter 2017 with a sewing room that needs a lot of organization but is, thank you very much, functional. I also limp in after some surgery that's knocked me back several months worth. So it goes. That said, I'm ready to get back up and doing.

A year back I was doing my own personal challenge, the GO! Sew Challenge. I felt like I wasn't using my Accuquilt GO! enough, so I decided that every week I would work on a project that used it in some way. Sometimes it felt intimidating figuring out what I was going to do, but I actually really liked how it kept me moving. So, in that spirit, that's how I'm starting out the new year.

I have two big sewing intentions to begin with -- one, another GO! Sew Challenge, and two, working on finishing up some of the backlog of projects in process.

Week 1. I've pulled out a project I worked on earlier this year -- it uses the Hexagon and Fall Medley dies to create hot pads. I just need to add binding to one of the hot pads and I'll be done.

I think they're pretty darn cute.

I need to make a shades of red quilt for a mini quilt swap and the GO! is great for cutting out triangles trimmed just the way I need for the paper foundations. These will finish at 1 inch square.

Here's a broader view of the quilt in process:

And in the spirit of finishing, I also finally got to quilting the red and white everlasting tree quilt. Now it just needs binding.

So, here it is. A good start, I think.

Am I Blue?

There's a lot of blue going on around here.

There's more denim rag circles.

And then with the French General added.

I love that combination, the red, grey, and tan of the French General against the blue denim. But yikes, that quilt project seems to be one I can only work on in small doses! (It's so heavy and hard to maneuver once I'm joining rows).

Plus some more crochet.

Dishcloths. Because, why not?

And a little coffee mug cozy and coaster. (I've got no excuse).

A couple of new GO! dies showed up at the house yesterday. Perhaps I can find something fun to do with them this week?

Christmas in July

Now that I have a sewing space to work in again (finally!), I'm getting done some of the little Christmas gifts I like to get started on during summer break. Well, first there was a birthday gift for a little girl -- pretty in pink!

And I've been making up some more to have ready for the end of the semester. I love these little bags with the vinyl windows. Such a brilliant idea! So useful! I can never remember what I put in a bag, being able to see it without opening it up? Genius. Kudos to whoever thought of it.

And another more somber one.

Is that manly?  From the back?

And I haven't completely ignored the AccuQuilt GO! either -- some Xmas hotpads for the newlyweds.  Notice the owls in love?  Awwwww!

It's been so long since I've had a sewing space, I'm out of practice. I'm starting to warm up though. I've got plans.

Truth is, I always have plans, more plans than conclusions, truth be told. I'm telling myself there's a good amount of fun to be had in dreaming, too.  It's my story and I'm sticking by it!