Resolutions, etc.

My quilting resolutions:

1)  Free motion quilt at least 2 quilts, not including my UFO from last year

2)  Learn applique, even if I never use it

3)  Include circles in one quilt

Very realistic I think.  I KNOW I’ll make more than 2 quilts this year, and they have to be quilted somehow, so I’ll get it done.  Maybe I’ll take advantage of that 5th class at my LQS and get a little hands-on help.

My parents gave me a nice gift card for Christmas, and my birthday is coming up in a few months, so I’m going to look for a more user-friendly sewing machine.  My little Singer is OK for sewing, but not necessarily for quilting.  It’s tough getting a consistent 1/4 inch seam allowance.  I will allow that it’s possible that it just takes more practice, but there really isn’t a 1/4 inch mark on the needle plate, so I have to get better at eyeballing it.  Given the precision required for patchwork, that isn’t a great approach.

I finished 3 of my 4 projects for the Joy in the New Year Challenge over at Tallgrass Prairie Studio’s blog.  That means that I have 7 entries.  Jacqui is giving away four quilts for this contest, plus other prizes.

Here are my finished Blankets Full of Love for Primo and Segundo.  The boys are  modeling them:

Two new Blankets Full of Love

Last night, New Year’s Eve, my family and I did what we always do on 12/31:  we went to the Globetrotters’ game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.  This is a Milwaukee tradition for over 40 years (my older brothers went with my dad when they were little).  It’s been our tradition for 9 years now.  Last year we also added the afternoon Milwaukee Wave soccer game to the mix and now we’ve done that twice.  We go out for an early dinner in between.  The Milwaukee Wave is a great team and a really fun way to spend an afternoon or evening with family.  We go to every home game we can.  They won 12-10 in an exciting overtime finish.

Globetrotter Hijinks - some "play" basketball; others dance on the sidelines.

Ladies, if you get courtside seats to the Globetrotters' game, leave your purse at home unless you can dance and want to be "invited" to center court. This lady was a good sport but she did not dance.

We had a great time.