Goodbye 2013 & Hello 2014!

My main quilting goal for 2014 is to finish up my many UFO's!!!I am even considering entering a couple of the UFO challenges here in blog land.

Well the good news is that I finished this adorable ABC Boy version quilt before 2013 ended! I promised myself, I would not start the girl version until this one was done, which means I can start tracing the girl embroideries whenever I want now! I know I can make the girl quilt completely from my stash just as I did with the boy quilt.

I also pieced the last season quilt I inherited from my sister. It has also been pinned and I am hand quilting it with perle cotton and chunky stitches. This time of year, I love hand quilting! I think it is because it is cold outside and I spend a lot of time inside curled up on the couch.

I made this last night. It took like 30 minutes and will be even faster next time, now that I know what I am doing! This pouch was so quick and cute! This is the tutorial I used http://modernquiltlove.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/perfect-box-pouch-tutorial/ It is rather tiny and I think I will make a bigger version as a little sewing kit, but I know what I am making for little Christmas gifties next year for my friends and coworkers. All I would need to add is some chocolate, lip balm, or hand cream and they would be precious little gifties. I will stock up on zippers from Joann's throughout the year! It will be much cheaper and more personal than the travel mugs and candles I bought this year...

So, I was looking through the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine I got in my Christmas stocking last night and came across this "Love Blooms Here" quilt pattern they are featuring. They show it in this version with flannel and wool felt, batiks, or redwork. I know I can make it completely from my stash of wool felt. Plus, I have been itching to get back to working with wool felt, so I am heading to the store to buy the Quiltmaker January/February 2014 magazine and will subscribe to the magazine for the rest of the patterns. I know this is not a UFO, but if I can make it completely from materials on hand, and I am ok with that! My goal for January is to make the two wool felt applique blocks.

I am also excited to see the Country Threads new BOM for 2014 and likely will start that as a stash buster project. I vow to keep track of my finishes this year on this blog, so hopefully I can look back on what I complete and be satisfied. What are your quilting goals for the new year?