Welcome 2015

I would like to take a few minutes to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  

Last year was not my favorite year to be sure but 

I am hopeful that this year will be better for me and my family.  

Many people out in blogland and on Instagram are choosing a word to help define their year. 

 I was not sure what word to choose but I am pretty sure it will be hopeful.  

That word has a lot of promise involved with it don't you think?

I have also been thinking about resolutions for the new year. 

 I believe I am just going to work on being a better person and 

tending more to those closest to me and let the rest fall into place.  

I feel like I am at a crossroads of sorts in my life right now.  

It is looking more and more like hubby will just retire rather than search out a new job (lucky him!) and that means I need to carefully consider where this quilting hobby of mine is going. 

 I have been working on designing and publishing my designs, 

but now I am uncertain if that is the direction I should be going.  

If I just sew for myself then I feel I will have more time for my family.  

I am hopeful that God has a plan and I need to slow down long enough to hear what that is.  

All that being said, I do have some things to share with you!  

I began a project as a Leader and Ender and just decided to get on with it.  

Here is the process/progress

I have been saving all those crazy triangles we cut off of everything.  

Then I cut some 5" squares out of a line of fabric I happened to have quite a bit of.  

As I was working on other things I would grab a square and a triangle and sew them like this.

Then I pressed all the triangles and trimmed them to the original 5" square size. 

 I did not cut the original square fabric away like many do.  

Yes it is a little bulkier but it makes sewing things together much easier.  

A trick I learned from Anne Sutton!

I was curious how it was going to look so I laid out a few blocks.

 Finally I sewed the blocks together and made this sweet little baby quilt top.  

I think I am going to add 2 more rows though.  It will be a donation quilt to Mott Children's hospital.

If there is anyone out there that would like the rest of my left over triangles send me and email with your mailing address and I would happily send them to you.  

I did have some help last night as I was attempting to sew some paper pieced geese.  

It always scares me when she is so close to the needle.  

This is behind my machine. 

 I am not sure why this is the favorite spot but it is. 

 I think because it is directly under my Ott light and close enough for a few pets!

So there you have it.  I am still not feeling very well but had to go back to work today anyway!

Have you made any New Year resolutions?

~XOP~