Mike & Gabby: 42-18-29...

42-18-29. Any guesses as to what these numbers represent? Nope, they're not my measurements (which are not something I'll ever be sharing here by the way). I'd be rather top heavy if they were. Funny enough, these numbers do actually show that I am 'top' heavy in a manner of speaking.

42 - my number of completed tops waiting to be quilted/partially quilted
18 - my current works in progress
29 - number of kits I have

Last year I put together a binder containing pictures and details of all of these projects and it's really helped me to keep track of them. Since then, I've actually made a good deal of progress on quite a few. Before the binder, I'd simply forget about so many projects and move onto something new. Out of sight, out of mind and all that...

I recently went back through my binder, trying to think about what my quilty goals are this year. During Christmas I saw a lot of people decorating with their Christmas quilts and I realized how few of them I have. I'd really like to have more to display next Christmas. I have 3 Christmas tops that still need to be quilted. This first one is almost 10 years old and is a Shadow Applique quilt. It will actually be a gift, but I still want to get it finished this year. All the applique is covered in silk chiffon and with 3 kitties, I don't see it surviving long in my house, but I have a kittyless friend who would love it!

I finally made Starry Eyed last year. This was a very popular Moda Bakeshop pattern from 2011 using the Countdown to Christmas fabrics from Sweetwater. I loved the quilt so much, I bought the fabric way back then but only just got around to making it. I believe they're coming out with a follow up fabric line to this called Overnight Delivery this year.

And the last Christmas top I have is Winter Wonderland by Crabapple Hill Studios. I already quilted a blue version of this for my mom several years ago, but I still haven't gotten around to quilting mine.

I also have a couple Christmas UFOs. First, is Snowmen A to ZZZZ. It's another Crabapple Hill Studios pattern. I started this one in 2012. Yikes! I finished embroidering all of the blocks (there are 21), but decided to go back and add red accents to some of them. I'm almost halfway through with that now.

And after seeing all the gorgeous Lucy quilts out there, I decided I wanted my very own Christmas version. I started gathering fabrics last year. I now have everything cut out, I just need to start sewing! Lucy is a pattern in Miss Rosie's Farmhouse Favorites.

I've also been seeing a lot of Double 9-Patch quilts popping up all over Instagram, blogs and quiltalongs. It just so happens that I have 300 red and orange 3.5" 9-Patches that have been waiting for a project. I made them at least 10 years ago for a swap that I ended up not joining. Then I didn't know what to do with them! I've considered giving them away multiple times, but now I'm glad I held onto them. I have enough to make a full size Double 9-Patch quilt which is perfect for our spare bedroom. We have gray walls in there so I think the colors will really pop! And since these 9-patches are already made, the quilt should be very easy...

I'm a member of great quilt bee and have been for the better part of 10 years. We're a pretty active group and try to do something new every year. This year I'm teaching them how to free motion quilt. To that end, everyone has made the same quilt sampler and I will show them how to quilt each block differently, so they can try out a bunch of different techniques. I actually made 2 identical samplers. I'm in the middle of quilting the first one (which they'll be able to look at in advance) and I'll quilt the second during class.

Other than those, this is the year I concentrate on machine quilting. I'm determined to have fewer than 42 quilt tops by the end of the year and there are several quilts I have to get quilted. Among those are a prayer quilt for a friend's daughter...

A quilt for a dear friend that our bee made as a group...

And a king-size quilt for my sister and brother-in-law...

As if that isn't enough, I somehow lost my brain and suddenly thought it would be a good idea to decide to make (112) 3" blocks each with 32 pieces in them. Why? Because it sounds like fun??? More on that later.

In any case, it looks like it's going to be a busy year. It will be interesting to look back at the end of the year and see how much of this I actually get done and what other projects end up taking priority. Hopefully my health holds up this year and I can spend many happy hours in front of my sewing machine doing what I love. Here's hoping you can do the same!

Gabriel had surgery several days ago to have some lumps removed on her chest and one on her head. Fortunately they were benign. To prevent her from licking the incision, she has to wear a t-shirt. Luckily, she doesn't mind and she's just so adorable in it!