April - Just Three!

Here's my monthly report and goals!

March's goals:

1) Make a baby quilt.  They're my favorite -- I have many WIPs to finish, or a new one to start.  This little bundle of Les Amis is calling me.

Not quite what I had in mind, but I did manage to whip up a little baby shower gift for my cousin.  And I used Les Amis.  But I finished it at midnight, and didn't get a nice picture... thankfully Steiger held it up for this one. :)

2) Finish the Union Jack quilt for Ty.  

The top is mostly pieced, and I got this great Union Jack focal block made!  (free pattern coming soon)

3) And these three!  These quilts are all going to Lindsay at Eileen Quilts (at some point, you just realize they're not going to get done without a little help -- thank you Lindsay!)  She is donating the quilting for Chelsa's Scrappy Sprouts -- so sweet of her! ♥  I am so looking forward to sitting on the couch and binding these. :)

I got this one back, and am working on the binding still.  But it's GORGEOUS.  So Gorgeous. ♥

Thank you Lindsay!

Sad that this is all I can show of it for now...

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For April:

1) Write up a new pattern (actually, finish one that is in the works)

I'm writing a pattern for this pillow cover right now -- it will be in the next Fat Quarterly.  But I want to get another one done too!

2) Start my new blog linky series (I'll give you more information soon!), but it's going to be a chance to all blog about the same topic, and you'll have plenty of notice on the topic, and all that... :)

3) Finish an old WIP.  I really want to get these done... but seem to be lacking in time or something...

Thank you for playing along!  Happy April!

March - Just Three!

Hi!
It's already been March for a few days! (can you believe it???)

February was not terribly productive for traceyjay quilts.  Steiger and Scarlet were each sick for about 3 weeks out of the month. :(

BUT - say it with me... "it is what it is." 

Last month's report:

1)  Hmmm... I am thinking I want to finish my Chubby Stars.  I feel like it needs to be on my couch.  If not that quilt, then another old WIP.  Maybe if I do one/month I will get them all done this year. :)

Penny Candy is on its way to the quilter finally!  Does that count? ;)  

2) A couple little swap gifts -- I am making a pillow for Crystal, and a surprise for some of my quilty ladies who will be gathering without me (darn high cost of plane tickets!)  

I made a cute bag for Angela!  And I'm working on Crystal's pillow. :)

3) A super fun quilt that uses these:

I got this quilt top done!  Also on its way to the quilter!

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March's goals:

1) Make a baby quilt.  They're my favorite -- I have many WIPs to finish, or a new one to start.  This little bundle of Les Amis is calling me.

This is a card for my friend I made for her little shower.  They didn't peek, so this card was to tell her she'll get her baby's quilt when baby arrives.

hey -- in a month like this one, even little sewing "counts" ;)

2) Finish the Union Jack quilt for Ty.  

These are the fabrics I'm using.

I drafted this Union Jack pattern, and was so proud of myself for paper piecing it, but it didn't match my pattern for some reason???  So I have to try again unfortunately... (sadly this segment doesn't line up with any of them on the flag, and since the friend I'm making this for is actually from England, I thought I would fix it)

3) And these three!  These quilts are all going to Lindsay at Eileen Quilts (at some point, you just realize they're not going to get done without a little help -- thank you Lindsay!)  She is donating the quilting for Chelsa's Scrappy Sprouts -- so sweet of her! ♥  I am so looking forward to sitting on the couch and binding these. :)

Thanks for linking up!  Sorry again about the late post!

February - Just Three!

As 2012 was winding down, I had considered having a little "Finish by February" blog event, in which I listed my old WIPs that I wanted to finish.  But now I'm glad I didn't!  Because it's already February, and my to-do list is NOT shrinking.  

So last month's report!

January's goals:

1) Something old -

I published my Cosmic pattern!  It took a lot of brain work, but became something I'm really proud of.  

I am running a promotion on all my patterns (they're all 20% off right now), with a really good deal on the pattern and templates bundle.  It will run through Monday, February 4 if you want to get it on sale.

2) Something new - 

I've got a new design I'm playing with, that I'm having fun doing... using these fabrics.  When I was pulling them, I didn't realize they were such a rainbow.  The palette was inspired by Pantone's color of the year and some of their Spring 2013 colors.

I finished this quilt and have named it Starcrossed.  I will show it to you soon!

3) Chelsa's Scrappy Sprouts. 

 I'm so excited about this one.  Thanks to so many of you, I have all the blocks, and I was organizing them the other night, and need to find a lay-out.  But trust me -- they're so cute!

My backing fabric came for this today, and I seriously do not think I could be happier with how it turned out.  I want to send it for Valentine's day, so perhaps I will be quilting while the Super Bowl is on (though I doubt it, because I am a Niners girl) :)

Overall, I was really happy with this month's progress.  It felt like real progress -- part fun, part business, and part generous.

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February.

1)  Hmmm... I am thinking I want to finish my Chubby Stars.  I feel like it needs to be on my couch.  If not that quilt, then another old WIP.  Maybe if I do one/month I will get them all done this year. :)

2) A couple little swap gifts -- I am making a pillow for Crystal, and a surprise for some of my quilty ladies who will be gathering without me (darn high cost of plane tickets!)  

3) A super fun quilt that uses these:

This quilt is a complete fabric love project, and totally indulgent.  But tricky to do without a baby girl who is willing to leave Mommy's fabric alone.  I might have to leave the house for a day or so to get this one done!

OK. Rules.

1) Pick three goals or priorities for the month (overachievers are welcome, just don't rub it in to the rest of us) ;)

2) Make a blog post about it.

3) Link up here, and please mention you're linking here or add a button to your post (buttons are over there; you might have to scroll down ------>)

Go visit the other reports!  They're fun!

Link up!

(p.s. I apologize for all the repeats of pics in this post; I realized I have nothing original, and maybe *maybe* I will remedy that in the morning.)

January - Just Three

2013!
A new year; a new month; a new "Just Three." :)

I started "Just Three" because I wanted to fight back in my own head against the notion that I needed to get it all done, and also to give a way to link up with others who might be in the category of (choose the one that applies) -- "I am so scattered and need some direction" ... "Life/work/kids/all of the above keep me busy enough but I want to still quilt when I can" ... "I need an idea for a blog post" ... "I want to show off that I did way more than three" ... "it's just fun to share goals" ... whatever.  I started this when miss Scarlet was only 6 months old, almost sleeping through the night consistently, but I needed a little bit of structure.

I feel like a lot of my reports include more of what I didn't finish, than what I did but like many of the rest of the bloggers out there, I made a mosaic of the quilts I finished, and there were actually quite a few of them!

Who knew!?!  (click through to flickr to see more specifics/links)


Now without further ado -- here is last month's report:

1) Really finish Treasure Boxes, and donate! ♥

not done.  Moving on to next month's list.  The top is done.

2) A couple custom orders.

I have this one for baby Harrison up first.  They wanted a re-make of a quilt I made for my cousin's baby, with a Red Sox theme.  I was so happy with how the letters turned out (because I draw them by hand based on the Red Sox font).

I got the Red Sox quilt (#2) done!  (which reminds me -- I need to email Harrison's mama and see if he has made his grand entrance yet)

I still have a couple more custom orders I'll be working on this month -- hoping I have a good chunk of time to sew!

3) And my most important goal this month -- to help give my babies a Merry Christmas...and the big guy too.  ♥ ♥ ♥

This one was definitely a success.  Christmas with kids = SO MUCH FUN!

(And I finished my Christmas quilt in time too). :)

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January's goals:

1) Something old -

I know I need to finish that Treasure Boxes, but my goal is to finish up an old WIP in January.

2) Something new - 

I've got a new design I'm playing with, that I'm having fun doing... using these fabrics.  When I was pulling them, I didn't realize they were such a rainbow.  The palette was inspired by Pantone's color of the year and some of their Spring 2013 colors.

3) Chelsa's Scrappy Sprouts. 

 I'm so excited about this one.  Thanks to so many of you, I have all the blocks, and I was organizing them the other night, and need to find a lay-out.  But trust me -- they're so cute!

Your turn!  

Rules:

RULES -- Pick three goals for the month, and link up here! (You can do more than three if you prefer... I'm flexible like that... and goodness knows I have more than 3 things I'd like to accomplish this month!) :)

Go comment on other people's posts too!

(P.S. I'm linking to Lee's WIP Wednesday!)

December - Just Three!

Here we are... the last month of the year...

My report -- last month's goals:

1) Finish Pickledish! 

Not done -- but still looking good. :)

2) Finish Treasure Boxes 

I have the top done!  I'll be getting the link up for prizes up and ready very soon... so watch for it!  If you'd like to donate your Quilt to "Quilt Hope In" (benefits go to Heartline ministries in Haiti, who run a sewing education center as well as birthing center) -- just email me at traceyjay at gmail dot com, and I will get it listed.  

3) Learn to knit!  Amanda is coming over tomorrow!  yea!

I have learned the basic knit and purl... but haven't practiced enough to finish anything.  But I get the general idea!

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This month's goals:

1) Really finish Treasure Boxes, and donate! ♥

2) A couple custom orders.

I have this one for baby Harrison up first.  They wanted a re-make of a quilt I made for my cousin's baby, with a Red Sox theme.  I was so happy with how the letters turned out (because I draw them by hand based on the Red Sox font).

I'll also be working on this girly one... so cute, no?

3) And my most important goal this month -- to help give my babies a Merry Christmas...and the big guy too.  ♥ ♥ ♥

RULES -- Pick three goals for the month, and link up here! (You can do more than three if you prefer... I'm flexible like that... and goodness knows I have more than 3 things I'd like to accomplish this month!) :)

Linking to Fabric Tuesday! and WIP Wednesday!

November - Just Three Linky!

I'm just going to embrace that it's November.
And be thankful.

The last of the rice was all tucked safely in to its dryers on Tuesday evening, with only one of the harvesters still running.  And then it rained for Halloween -- and I was even extra glad that harvest was over! Seriously -- so grateful to get my hubby back on a more normal schedule!

But -- It's the first of the month.  Time for my "Just Three" report -- and time for you to link up! (I love these reports!)
(Rules -- think of three goals for the month, report them, and then link up here and check out the others!  Of course you can work on whatever you want -- it's mostly meant for fun and a little bit of structure)  The button is in my side-bar over there...

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Here is last month's report!

1) Finish playing with these pretty fabrics, and get this quilt for Laura Gunn done, sent to Lindsay for quilting, and off to Quilt Market!  It will also have a pattern!

The pattern is not ready quite yet -- but soon!  But the quilt was done!

This is my "Cosmic" quilt, and was my entry for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival!

It's voting time at the Festival!  My quilt was nominated as favorite"bed" quilt -- I'd love it if you voted for me. :)

It was fun to be able to contribute something to Laura's pretty booth though!  And I did feel proud of my first Market quilt.  ♥

(Thank you to Katie and Kim for getting this picture for me!)

2)  Give my baby girl a handmade birthday.  She needs a dolly, and a dress.  I need to get started on some little handmade Christmas something's for Steiger as well.

Scarlet's dress needs buttonholes before her pictures tomorrow!  (I haven't made buttonholes since junior high!)

But I did make her a little cozy dolly (I used this little Sleepykins pattern, and made the top patchwork)

3)  Make my pillow talk pillow!

My pillow isn't quite done yet, but I have made progress!  My partner wanted a palette of blue and green, loves scrappy, and Denyse Schmidt fabrics.  I hope she likes this!  (I think she will).

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This month's goals:

1) Finish Pickledish! (it's nearly half-way quilted!)

2) Finish Treasure Boxes (we'll be linking up the week of Nov. 20 for prizes!)

3) Learn to knit!  Amanda is coming over tomorrow!  yea!

(I'm linking to Kati's!) :)

OK -- Link up! :)  And happy Thankful month! ♥

October - Just Three!

I'm in denial that it's really October.
This morning, I woke up extra early to go to the bathroom, and it suddenly hit me...
my baby girl is going to be 1 on Sunday! I of course couldn't fall back to sleep then, because my heart and mind were too full...
*sniff sniff*

Oh baby... how did you get so big???
You can be expecting a full, sappier than sappy blog post coming soon, I'm sure.

BUT -- she is a joy to watch grow.  And she and her brother are too sweet with one another...so alas, I will have the strength to face that, indeed, October started yesterday.

And here is my "Just Three" report.



From last month:

1) Make a little Strawberry Shortcake for Scarlet's birthday, as well as a little dress for her Birthday Buddy (Scarlet has a little friend who lives far away who was born the same day as her -- little Addison will be getting a Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday dress). :)

Scarlet's birthday dress is in progress here, and birthday buddy dress just needs bloomers and it's done!  I completed this practice version of her friend's birthday dress to make sure it worked!

It did. :)

Pattern from My Little Plumcake.

2) Publish my "Linky Love" pattern.  (So excited!)

This is done!  You can find the pattern here, or here for instant download. :)

I still want to re-make this one... in Tula's Birds & Bees fabric... 

Kelly was testing it for me, and I think I want to make one of my own too.

3) Stay on track with the Treasure Boxes quilt, and also show you the finished Chubby Stars! :)

I've got all my cutting for Treasure Boxes done -- so I'm technically on track! :)  We're working on piecing now!  Join us in the group!

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Now for October:

1) Finish playing with these pretty fabrics, and get this quilt for Laura Gunn done, sent to Lindsay for quilting, and off to Quilt Market!  It will also have a pattern!

2)  Give my baby girl a handmade birthday.  She needs a dolly, and a dress.  I need to get started on some little handmade Christmas something's for Steiger as well.

3)  Make my pillow talk pillow!

I was helpless to resist.  I signed up for the Pillow Talk Swap again (after taking a few rounds off)

This is the inspiration board I made for my partner.  I'll be showing you fabric pulls and in progress shots soon!  (Must finish above quilt first!)

(click on the picture for links to inspiration pictures)

Harvest is in full swing! (would you guys like to see pictures from that?  To see what the heck it is I'm always whining talking about?)

Much love to you all!

Link up!  (I love reading all these reports) :)

September - Just Three!

September!!!

And time for our "Just Three" report. :)  I can't wait to see everyone's progress and goals!

My report for last month:

1) Make some baby quilts (and crib skirts)

I finished my baby triangles, a love baby quilt, basted a couple more and made one of the crib skirts I wanted to make... as well as a little pillow (to go with this quilt) -- but I finished it at midnight and had to get it in the mail.  But I can't wait to see a picture of it with its new little owner! :)

I also have Scarlet's patchwork curtains hanging. :)

I sit and rock her and look at all the pretty fabric. ♥

2) Make something amazing that I plan to write the pattern for.

Introducing "Linky Love."

I have the pattern almost ready!  yea!  I've got a couple people testing it out now, and I still have to make the cover version, but the practice one, math, and most of the diagrams are done. :)

I'll show you the back... this quilt is going to one of my hubby's friend's wife -- she has been fighting cancer, and Jay wanted to send her something.  Her hubby says she likes U of M... so I chose a palette of blues and yellows, and made the back like this.  

I am really happy with the quilting.  I used the little flowers (like I've used before here), and then straight-line free motioned the diamonds.  That was a new trick, inspired by Val's encouragement, and it turned out! 

3)  Make the Treasure Boxes quilt (for the Treasure Boxes quilt along!)

The quilt top isn't done, but I did make the button (over there on the side).  

Look for a coupon code from Julie @ Intrepid Thread and fabric requirements on Thursday!

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Now for September's goals!  (No, I can't believe it's September either... or that my baby girl will be turning one next month!!!)

1) Make a little Strawberry Shortcake for Scarlet's birthday, as well as a little dress for her Birthday Buddy (Scarlet has a little friend who lives far away who was born the same day as her -- little Addison will be getting a Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday dress). :)

You can see where I'm collecting my inspiration here...

2) Publish my "Linky Love" pattern.  (So excited!)

3) Stay on track with the Treasure Boxes quilt, and also show you the finished Chubby Stars! :)

I'd say that will definitely be enough to keep me busy!  

We'll be starting Harvest this month too... eeps.

OK -- Link up with your reports!  Can't wait to see them all!