Saturday, January 3, 2015

First New Year's Resolution Already Realized!!

Yup, one of my main resolutions for 2015 was to learn to hand quilt.  Sew, on New Year's day afternoon, Janet O. over at Rogue Quilter invited me out to see her home with all her wonderful Christmas decorations (before she took them down) and to teach me to hand quilt!!  Oh, yeah!!

Here is my first try at hand quilting ~

I hope you can see the stitches

Janet, said I was doing pretty good for a beginner and it was okay that my stitches were as big as they were because the new trend in hand quilting is larger stitches, but just be sure to be consistent in the length.  Wasn't that a sweet way of saying my stitches were not so small?

We had a really nice chat and then when it was about time to go, Janet gave me this darling little handmade ornament from her collection ~


and said I was her best student of the day, and I am sure her favorite New Year's day student!!  :-))  She let me take home the hoop, basting pins and the needle so I could finish at home.

Then yesterday, I went out shopping to get my own supplies so I could give Janet her things back.  


And did I hit the jackpot!!  Everything I got was 50% off at JoAnn's plus an additional 15% off on my entire purchase!!  Oh, except the John James needles - I got those at my LQS because JoAnn's only had the lesser expensive needles and my quilting teacher said to get good needles so they would last longer!!  I AM SO EXCITED!!

THANKS, JANET, YOU ARE A FUN TEACHER!!

Then another one of my resolutions and this is a big one, is to try not to start anything new this year but to finish up all my UFOs including knitting UFOs (one of them is over 40 years old), crocheting UFOs and embroidery UFOs.

This is my first finish of the year and it was a late Christmas gift for some dear friends who are making a patriotic wall in their dining area ~


I put a hanger on the back so they could hang it in a prominent place on their new wall!!

Hey, hey, hey!!  I am on a roll and it is only 3 days into the new year!!


6 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I think your stitches are wonderful and good for you. Yes a good needle is very important and you made some super purchases with a great sale. Congrats on your first finish for the year.

Denise :) said...

Yay!!! Way to get out there and recognize those goals, sweet girl!!! And I'm so tickled that you and your teacher got a day together! Fun stuff. Aaaand, your quilting does look very nice, indeed!!! :)

Nancy said...

Your stitches look perfect to me. I wish mine looked as well. Lucky you and Janet are close enough to visit.
I also made the no new projects resolution and broke it on the first day. ):

jan said...

Awesome kris! I think your stitches look terrific!! Glad your New year is off to a great start! xo jan

elliek said...

Those stitches look pretty good to me and what a fun day. Love all the purchases. You are on a roll with resolutions!

Janet O. said...

*LOL* Somehow I think you have twisted around what I said about your stitches. I think you are doing amazing. Most beginners do not have such success the first day out!!
It was a fun afternoon. Glad you could come.