Get Pumped- Ice Skating Anyone?

JANUARY

This whimsical January boot is 12" square to fit on the originally designed (by me) Ackfeld metal hanger.  Some days I am more excited about that than the shoes:)  When thinking of January, I do think of ice skates even though I haven't skated in years.  How many of you remember clogs in the 80s?  So clunky but so comfortable and this shoe is reminiscent of those.

 

Hopefully you have already signed up for the Starter Kit.  If not, this BOM is open enrollment so still plenty of time.

 

Since it is now January 15th, the templates for the January shoe are available for purchase on my website BOM 2015 page.

 

**NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:)

Originally this project was set up so that you would pay for the templates and they would be an immediate download.  Due to a VAT (Value Added Tax) put into place overseas on digital products, I had very limited options as to how I could keep the digital aspect but not be subjected to a very disorganized new law.

 

When you pay for the templates on my website, a payment notification will be sent to me.  Once I have received this notification, I will then email you the PDFs of the templates.  Please be sure that your email address associated with Paypal is correct so that you can receive these files.  I will email within 24 hours of payment.  Thank you so much for your understanding.

**End of message**

 

In your 3 pages of templates, one will be a placement guide that is NOT full size but shows how the shoe goes together.  The other 2 pages contain full-sized, reversed for fusible applique templates.

As always, I am only an email away.

 

In your original pattern, you also received the templates for making mini shoes that would either go on a 3-1/2" or 4-1/2" block.  How cute is this little January shoe??  I am so excited to make the minis.  I had to pick a standard pump for the mini block since some of the months have a bit too much detail to go that small:)  Working in one shape, it becomes important for pattern and contrast to work together.  Also a great place to use novelty fabrics.

January Mini shoe

I am very excited about watching this BOM progress and seeing how all of you use different fabrics to achieve a new shoe each month.  Please share your progress on my FB page.  This is also where you will find additional tips about how I went about making these sweet shoes.

2015 UFO-along

Hello Quilters!
I know I am not alone when I walk into my sewing room to look for something and find UFOs that have been set aside for the latest 'new' project I am working on. There are so many though that it becomes overwhelming and you need to find a little push to get you excited about working on it again.  These 2 small piles have about 10 UFOs within them........  Maybe I need a spreadsheet too:)


Now to find what motivates you....
My motivation is working in a group.  Not sure why but having a group of like-minded people working with me always made my day so much nicer.  Since I work alone now, you would help motivate me to get some of these done.  OR, maybe some of them just need to go away.  I started a UFO silent auction at my guild last year to raise some funds and we get all kinds of neat projects in from quilters who decided they just weren't getting back to that project-Ever.  Tastes change.
If you have a project or 2 that aren't just 'unfinished' but are stumping you as to HOW to finish, then we will be here to help you with ideas for that too.
Sometimes we all need a little motivation to finish and what better motivation than PRIZES!
My prize is that I will have a fun, creative group to motivate me to finish a few of my own UFOs along the way. 

Here are the rules:
1. Definition of a UFO- It is in the title, UNFINISHED, but there will be some additional guidelines so it isn't too easy for you.
*Unfinished projects may not be smaller than a table runner or a 24"ish wall hang-No potholders:)
*Just needing the label doesn't count but binding and label/sleeve, does.  Let's face it, a lot of people stop at the binding and I just don't understand that...You are SO close to done!!  You will feel great once that last stitch is in, I promise.
*Quilt must be started already.  Let's finish the ones started not the ones that are a stack of fabric and a pattern or idea.

2. Accountability- From time to time you may get a poke from me asking how it is coming along and I would like to know what I am talking about:)
*By Jan 31st, 2015, post photos, name, and size of at least 2 UFOs that you would like to finish by the end of the year onto my FB page.  You may post more but I think 2 is very attainable with everything else we have going on, and it will feel great to get 2 done.
This will not only allow me to keep track but makes you more accountable for your own once you have announced it to the world:)
*I will have a roster of participants and their quilts so that I can cheer and award when proper to do so.

3. Now for the fun part....PRIZES!
You will each receive the satisfaction of finishing one of those projects, snuggling under it, or giving it away!!!!
Not that you don't get that too, but Just kidding:)) 
*For each quilt you finish, you will receive one FREE pattern of your choice from my website.
*For each quilt you finish, I will also put your name into the Grand Prize drawing.  These prizes are TBD but I have a long list of ideas!  Drawing will be held on December 31st, 2015.
I will post the additions as I receive them as additional motivation for you:)

Now, I just bought myself 17 more days to figure out which 2, 3, or 6 UFOs I would like to finish this year:))
Pass the word to your friends and let's get as many people as possible FINISHING some quilts this year!
R

HAPPY 2015!

It is going to be a great and busy year!  My holidays were fabulous starting back in Nov with a trip to NC to visit the kids.  Even though I came down with a nasty head cold, we were still able to hang out, play games, eat turkey, and just be.  It was fun seeing the kids take over more of the cooking role too.  We were all responsible for some aspect but it wasn't my kitchen:)  There were 5 adults and 4 dogs in a 1000 sq ft apt.....Fun.

 

A friend invited me on a bus trip from her complex to see an ice show.  I was NOT prepared!  I was thinking it would be a room of ice sculptures like you see at a wedding--NOPE!  It was held in the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando where they have a full clipper ship in their atrium-What?  The ice sculptures were done by the same people who carve a full ice city in Beijing every year-Amazing!

Christmas in Tarpon Springs, FL is a sweet night downtown called, "There's Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs".  They have soap 'snow' makers, a lighted boat parade on the bayou, and lots of vendors of all sorts.  Grab a hot chocolate or coffee and wander:)  Of course, while this is all happening, Autumn was just arriving here...see tree.

December brought another trip to NC for Christmas but this time my husband rented a cottage in Asheville.  And, because we like to live adventurously, this time we had 5 adults and 4 dogs in 720 sq. ft....COZY!  Good thing we get along and actually like each other:))))  Again we hung out, toured the town, ate great food, and played games. 

Lar and her Charlie Brown tree on Christmas, Puppies snuggling for warmth, backyard nook.

This was our first NYE that no one was here visiting though and so we went to our local hipster bar to see how the youngin's do it.  For me, the best part of going out is always being in a crowd during the countdown.  The energy is indescribable.

Before heading out to ring in 2015.

While you haven't heard from me, I have been working on the Get Pumped BOM, getting a new Seasonal BOM tested, putting together a class schedule for a local shop, and started putting a Market booth together for Minneapolis in May.

New quilts on Etsy, new puppy addition (daughter's Bowen), what I have been working on.

My Etsy shop had 3 new quilts listed this Fall, (Autumn Geo, Pink Trilliums, and Green/Purple strip quilt--the last two are baby quilts).  My Poinsettia pattern will be a beginner hand applique class at a local shop, Crafty Threads.  Then there is the EPP that I am doing just for me.  And, ALWAYS more shoes:))

I hope you have LOTS you are doing and I would love to see them on my FB page!  Next week join us here for the unveiling of the January Shoe of this year's GET PUMPED BOM.  See you then:)