A flimsy and some pins...

Yesterday I manage to finish the last 2 blocks as I'd hoped and since I was off today, I was able to finish the top! I am very pleased with the way it has turned out. What do you think? 

colors are not accurate

Although I was very careful in making those tedious HRT, I wasn't too sure that the points would match up. I'm glad to say that they really didn't give me any trouble. All these fabrics [except the Kona White] is used out of my 'less preferred' stash, the 3rd quilt of my challenge. Next up, I'll be looking through my stash for fabric that I could use for the backing. 

I am joining in on the Pincushion Parade over at Love Laugh Quilt! Here are some of my pincushions:

Life's a Stitch Dress Form

Sorry for the bad quality picture

 Tea Cup

Sunflower and Pinwheels 

I received the 2 pinwheel pincushions in a swap from Kelly of Charming Chatter

A Hen and a Velvet Tomato

Edit: the hen pincushion is a tutorial from my friend Deonn at Quiltscapes. 

 Heart

A FNSI win from Heidi of Handmade by Heidi 

The Ghastlie Knitters

From the Ghastlie blog hop

And a little play on words :D

On my way to check out some other pincushions. Won't you join me?

A challenge and a tiny finish

Last post I told you about my word of the year...challenge. I also mentioned the reading challenge that I signed up for since it sounded like fun. Here is a bit more about it.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
4. A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.
Now that is only 6 books which I'm sure will be easy enough. I'm hoping on finding some new authors to read by visiting with other readers on the challenge. 

I'm still working on my 'less preferred' stash quilt and have finished 9 of the 20.  

Almost halfway done! 

I also finished this cute pin cushion, inspiration here. 

I had a few scraps of plaid that I found going through my stash, sew I stitched up this guy. Sometimes I just find myself off on a tangent. Back to those 'less preferred' blocks.

Refreshing

Sew the first week of the new year is over and it is back to work/school tomorrow.  Our house is once again quiet as we said goodbye to DD3 on Friday. Before she left, she asked if I could make a pennant banner for her dorm room.  So using the tutorial I pinned here, I made this.

Sew what else have I been doing on this first week of the new year? Organizing... Amber over at A LIttle Bit Biased posts Tuesday Tips about inspiring sewing rooms.  Anna from Thimbleanna guest posted a link about folding your fabrics nice and tidy. Hmmm...my stash is housed in an old dresser and each drawer is stuffed. Definitely not folded nice and tidy.

before

Sew I went about ironing and folding all most some of my stash. Here are some of the finished drawers.

stacked by color before going into the drawer

nice neat and tidy piles of stash

mostly blues, reds and greens in here.

I also weeded out smaller pieces and added them to my scrap bins. I did need to go out and buy 5 more bins. It's a good thing that I'm following the Sew Scrap Along over at Pleasant Home. [Button on my sidebar.] I haven't started on a scrap quilt yet because between ironing and folding,  I worked on...

...putting sashing and borders on my Birdie Quilt. I need to buy backing fabric and some batting before sandwiching this cutie.

I am also working on my 3rd personnel quilt made from my 'less preferred' stash fabric. Here is a peek at the blocks.

These finish at 16" and I have 7 out of 20 done. 

 Last year, Kelly from Charming Chatter challenged us to come up with a word for the year. My word last year was JOY. To feel joy in all areas of my life. One of the most joyful times of this year was celebrating our DD2's wedding and welcoming our SIL to our family! 

 My Word Up for 2012 will be 'challenge'. I already have challenged myself with my 'less preferred stash' quilt goal but I would like to challenge myself in other ways too! Sew to speak, try new things, think outside the box...not only in quilting but in all areas of my life. Here is a fun reading challenge I will be doing to start. 

I will leave you with this picture of my Christmas Cranberry Almond Coffee cake that, as tradition, we have on Christmas morning that I meant to post before but forgot. It is delicious!