15 Minute Challenge, Getting It Done and A Lovely Year of Finishes

There were a couple of challenges I had followed along with over the past year or so, but unfortunately, neither one has been continued for 2014. One challenge that has been discontinued is the "15 Minute Challenge" hosted by Kate at Life in Pieces. Kate challenged us all to find at least 15 minutes a day for quilting (or whatever creative endeavors we choose.) Each week we would report how well we managed to make time to quilt. I discovered the benefit of squeezing in little chunks of quilting time whenever possible, since it seems like I rarely get a whole day or even several hours in a day for quilting. I kept track through all of January, and I was able to get at least 15 minutes of quilting time every single day. I have been hand stitching hexies on the morning train, sometimes doing a little bit of cutting or sewing during my lunch hour, and frequently spend an hour or so after dinner in my sewing room. It all adds up, and  I keep making progress on my current projects.

Last year Judy at Patchwork Times hosted the "Get It Done" challenge, where participants posted a list of four or more quilting goals for the month. Then at the end of the month, we reported back on how we did on our goals plus listed a new set of goals for the following month. I found that publicly posting a list of goals really kept me focused on reaching them and reduced (but did not eliminate) the starting of random, unplanned projects. Sometimes those new ideas are just too irresistible!

Because this challenge was such a good experience for me, I am planning to continue it on my own this year. I am a little behind with my wrap-up for January and plans for February. I was quite successful with my January list, completing four out of five goals. 

January 2014 goals:
1.  Scrappy Sampler--finish making bowties for border  DONE 1/18, TOP FINISHED 1/26

2.  Scrap Hexies--make blue hexie star & snowflakes  DONE 1/28 

3.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--decide on my project and make blue blocks DONE 1/13 (9 blue LeMoyne Stars)

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make January blocks  DONE 1/3

5.  Begin quilting Dancing Stars  Nothing done


February 2014 goals:
1.  Bowtie Baby Quilt--finish quilt (finish making blocks, assemble quilt top, and get it quilted/bound--baby's due date is March 11th)
2.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflakes
3.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in pink
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make February blocks  

Planning my "Get It Done" goals for February also fits in with deciding on my February plan for A Lovely Year of Finishes 2014.

My ALYoF project for February is a bowtie baby quilt for a co-worker. I have been making blocks for a week or so and have close to 80 blocks done, plus pieces cut for another 20 or 30 blocks. That will be more than enough for at least two baby quilts. I need to get one of them totally finished by the end of February or early March at the latest. Here is a batch of blocks in one possible layout.

That covers my quilting plans and goals for February. Even though it is a short month, I hope to reach the goals that I have set. Watch for the next update at the beginning of March.

Julie in GA