From 2022 to 2023

Not only have I enjoyed reflecting on the past year, but I have also enjoyed looking back on the past decade.  I started blogging in November 2013, so I am coming up on 10 years of blogging.  Looking even farther back, my first quilt was finished nearly 30 years ago in 1993.  In those 30 years I have made over 300 personal quilts.  Over 250 of those have been in the last decade.  

Decade in Review

Here is the breakdown of personal quilt finishes including themes for the year:

2012—4 quilts finished—“Starting Again”

2013—25 quilts finished—“UFO Busting”

2014—44 quilts finished—“Stash Busting”

2015—48 quilts finished—“Enjoy”

2016—25 quilts finished—“Enjoy the Journey”

2017—24 quilts finished—“Choose Joy”

2018—10 quilts finished—“Simplify”

2019—9 quilts finished—“Rocking my Daughters”

2020—14 quilts finished—“Survival Mode”

2021—13 quilts finished—“Family First”

2022—38 quilts finished—“Helping Others”

Some of the themes were chosen when I was setting goals for the year and others were discovered when reflecting on the year.  It was very interesting for me to see how life events change my quilting productivity and how quilting helped though difficult life events.  

*Starting quilting again in 2012 helped me get over postpartum depression.

*Moving in 2016 decreased my productivity by half.

*Adopting Bunny in 2018 decreased productivity by half again and blogging became sporadic.  

*Pregnancy and a new baby in 2019 kept productivity lower.  

*COVID in 2020 is pretty obvious.  ;)

*Balancing the needs of five children in 2021 kept productivity lower, but still averaging one quilt finish per month. Blogging was just nonexistent.

*Only having one child at home for most of the day in 2022 definitely boosted production again.  

One thing is certain.  Quilting is a constant in my life.  I enjoy it when things are going well, and it keeps me sane when times are tough.  

2022 in Review

I started 2022 with 6 unfinished quilts.  That was higher than it has ever been since my year of finishing UFO’s in 2013.  They are now all finished.  I am ending the year with only one WISP (work in slow progress).  It is the hand quilting of my whole cloth Buttercup and Slate flower garden.  I hope to finish it in 2023.  

 

I finished 38 personal quilts.  8 were quilt commissions.  13 were gifts for friends and family.  4 were donations.  2 were for my children.  11 were for my home.  

I helped finish 16 quilts for others.  1 was for my sister.  8 were for my mom.  6 were for Quilts for Kids.  2 were just quilted for my friend on a trade.

I finished six minky blankets for my family, ten baby blankets for friends, two doll blankets for my girls, and one crocheted blanket for me.  

I also finished 6 table toppers/runners, 6 placemats, 2 quilted pillows, and 2 crocheted scarves.

It was definitely a year of quilting for others.  That is why I said my theme for the year was “Helping Others.”

2023 Plans

After all this reflection, I have decided on a theme/word of the year for 2023.  It is “Create.”

I have had a quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf on the sidebar of my blog since I started blogging.  He said, “Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment.  We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.”

I think that quote is perfect to go with my word/theme of the year.  I love to create.  

There are three things I want to create in 2023.

1.  Quilts and Quilty Projects

2.  Blog Posts

3.  A Nurturing Home

Quilts and Quilty Projects—I like to keep my goals fairly broad, because quilting should be enjoyable and guilt-free.  I want to sew what I want to sew when I can sew it.  I want to make projects to keep, to give as gifts, and to donate.  I hope to finish at least one project per month.  

Blog Posts—I love having my blog as a record of my quilting journey and as a way to connect with other quilters.  I know I have been sporadic in my blogging for the last few years.  Now that I am caught up, I would like to stay caught up. I hope to not get farther than one month behind this year.  

A Nurturing Home—My family will always be my first priority.  If quilting or blogging has to be put on hold than I will do so with no guilt.  However, I hope I won’t have to put them on hold.  

Do you have a theme or word of the year for 2023?

XX,

Jasmine

P.S.  I am linking up with Yvonne's 2023 Planning Party.  Check it out to see more quilters’ 2023 goals.  

It Has Been Awhile

My last post was nearly two years ago.  I didn't plan on taking a long blogging break, but life happens.  Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me and checked for new posts on my blog.  My family and I are doing well.  I have just been busy taking care of all five of my children and trying to meet their individual needs.  I am grateful I have had quilting to keep me going even if I haven't been blogging.  

Things have somewhat calmed down and I am hoping to get back to blogging.  I have over 50 different projects that I have finished and not blogged about since Thanksgiving 2020.  I find myself reading my own blog and showing people the pictures from my blog.   I hope to bring it up to date.  We'll see if I can get caught up.  

I thought it would be fun to show my most recent finish first (because I am the most excited about it). It is from Camille Roskelley's book Simply Retro.  It is the Vintage pattern.  I just added four more blocks, sashing, and borders.  My quilt is actually king size finishing at 104 by 104 inches.  It is made from Craftsy's Boundless Sea Spray fabric I bought years ago to make a different quilt.  

This puts me one quilt closer to reaching a goal I set before I got married 22 years ago.  I wanted to have one quilt for my bed for each month.  I now only need to make two more and I already have the fabric to do it.  I love looking at quilts on beds and want to share my progress towards this goal.  

I have fabric for a blue and cream winter quilt for my bed to replace my Farmer's Wife quilt for January.  

I use my Double Irish Chain on my bed for February.  It was my ninth quilt finished and has over 200 hours of hand quilting.  

This is a Colorado Log Cabin that my mom pieced for me.  She had me quilt it.  

This is my Cheerful Patch quilt for the month of April. I finished it this year in March.  The yellow nine patch is also a recent finish.  The pillows and the quilt on the wall were sewn by my great grandmother.  

My Modern Farmer's Wife quilt is the May quilt for my bed.  The doll quilt on the wall was started by my grandmother.  She cut out the fabrics for eleven out of the twelve dolls.  

I plan on making a yellow and white quilt for June.  It will be bright and cheerful reminding me of summer sunshine and lemonade.  

My Around the Twist quilt is for the month of July.  The quilt on the wall is a recent finish and is actually a gift for one of my nephews.  I just enjoyed it there before gifting it to him.  

This quilt will be for the month of August.  But I will enjoy it for September this year because I just barely finished it.  

This Stack-n-Whack quilt is what I usually use for the month of September.  I had it on the bed for just a few days this year.  

This black and white improv log cabin is my October bed quilt.  I finished it in 2021.  

My Colorsplash Trip which I finished in 2007 is for November.  I couldn't find a recent picture, so here it is at my old house.  

Cookie Crumbs is my scrappy Christmas quilt for the month of December.  I finished it in 2020 right after my last blog post.  I hope to blog about it soon.  

Seeing all of these quilts in one place is very motivating for me to finish the last two quilts for my goal.  I have made more than twelve queen/king size quilts, but I have decided they need to be seasonal to fit my goal.  You can't really have too many quilts, can you?

XX,

Jasmine

P.S. If you want to read more about these quilts, links to their individual posts can be found on the pages under my header.  (Quilts 1-100, Quilts 101-200, and Quilts 200+)

Remembering 2016 While Planning 2017

{My quilt display for a talent night at church.}

2016 has been a great year, even if it was crazy busy.  My theme for the year was to "Enjoy the Journey."  I listed six specific journeys I planned on taking this year in my 2015 year end post.

1.  Creating and Quilting

My creating and quilting journey is really what kept me going this year.  Quilting is very therapeutic for me.  I feel like I accomplish more and am a better wife and mother when I am taking time to create.  I finished 25 of my own quilts this year.  12 were donated to good causes, 3 were given away, 3 were for my boys, and 7 were for my home.   I made three mini quilts, a table runner, four quilted buckets, thirteen baby blankets, 14 seasonal bunting/banners, and 26 drawstring bags.  I also quilted 9 quilts for other people and repaired four quilts.

Here are five of my favorite projects from the year (in no particular order) for the Best of 2016 Linky Party.  Click on the captions to learn more about each project.

{Controlled Chaos}

{Beach Party}

{Dancing Daisies}

{Mr. Bones}

{Lego Rainbow}

Plus one more (or five in one) just for fun.

{Chunky Race Quilts}

It was such a busy year that I didn't do as good of a job with stash reports.  So the following is an estimate based on my memory. Thank goodness for a blogging record of projects made throughout the year.  All of the fabric I purchased was for specific projects with the exception of Kona black, white, and snow.  

In 2016 I used approximately 170 yards of quilting fabric and purchased about 65 yards.  That means that my stash of quilting fabric is more than 100 yards less than than it was a year ago.  I used 39 yards of baby flannel and purchased 54 yards on Black Friday.  So my stash of baby flannel has grown which is good because I need to make more blankets.  This is about 100 yards less fabric used than the previous two years, but with everything else going on I still think it is pretty good!

Now back to my journeys which I enjoyed in 2016...

2.  Teaching Quilt Classes.

I am still teaching beginning free-motion quilting at my local quilt shop.  I taught the class three times this past year and my next class is already scheduled for 2017.

{The classroom all set up}

3.  Building a New House.

Building a new house was a bit stressful.  I was grateful for the reminder to enjoy the process as well.

{Our house December 2016}

{Our house February 2016}

4.  Moving to New House.  

We were so grateful for our family and friends who helped us in the moving process.  We had most everything packed and settled within a month.

{Our House April 2016}

5.  Making it a Home.  

It took a few months to get to know the neighbors and decorate the house how we wanted.  It then started to feel more like a home.  You can take virtual tour of my home here.

{Our home November 2016}

6.  Being a Mother and Wife.

While quilting keeps me going and keeps me sane, I find my responsibilities in my family the most rewarding.  I took a two month blogging break during the summer to spend more time with them.  I am so grateful for all four of my boys.

{My wonderful boys}

I am now looking forward to a new year in 2017.  My focus will be on "choosing joy" while working on these seven goals:

1. Use my stash ~ I would love to use up the rest of my old stash fabrics.  I am sure I will still have some new stash fabric at the end of the year.  
2. Use my scraps ~ I have lots of possible projects I can make out of my scraps and leftovers.  I would love to cross some of them off of my list.  
3. Use new fabrics ~ I am sure that I will be buying new fabric.  I just want to use a lot of the fabric I purchase.  
4. Finish quilts and other projects ~ I love the process of making quilts, and I love finishing them even more.  I want to finish at least one or two quilts every month.  
5. Make quilts to donate and give away ~ I want to donate at least six quilts this year.  That will average out to one every other month.  
6. Help others to finish their own quilts ~ I want to keep teaching classes and hosting my small quilting group at my house.  
7. Keep my family as my number one priority ~ I find joy in quilting, but true joy comes from time with my family.  

Once again, Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl is hosting a Planning Linky Party for the new year.  I will be joining her party as well.

I wish you all a Happy New Year!

XX,
Jasmine

Remembering 2015 while Planning 2016

2015 has been a great year, and I feel that I have definitely met my main goal for the year which was to "Enjoy."  I have enjoyed creating many things this year, as my stash report shows.  

Quarter 1: 105.5 yards used, 101.5 yards added, 0 yards donated, 4 yards less
Quarter 2: 45.75 yards used, 43.25 yards added, 100 yards donated, 102.5 yards less
Quarter 3: 107.5 yards used, 21.25 yards added, 4 yards donated, 90.25 yards less
Quarter 4:  40.5 yards used, 22.5 yards added, 10 yards donated, 28 yards less

Year to date: 299.25 yards used, 188.5 yards added, 114 yards donated, 224.75 yards less

Everything I created helped me meet all fifteen of my little goals for the year.  

1. Using my stash ~ About 160 yards of old stash were used.
2. Using my scraps ~ 4 projects made using my scraps.
3. Using new fabrics ~ About 140 yards of new (to me) fabric were used.
4. Building my stash ~ About 45 yards of fabric purchased are now part of my stash.
5. Finishing quilts ~ I finished 28 quilts and pieced 20 tops for Cheetah's project.
6. Finishing quilty projects ~ I made 44 drawstring bags, and 9 other bags/baskets.
7. Making quilts as gifts ~ I gave 6 quilts as gifts.
8. Making quilts to donate ~ I donated 12 quilts this year.
9. Making quilts for my home ~ 6 quilts were made for my home.
10. Sewing my WISP by hand ~ I made lots of progress, but there is still more to do.
11. Improving my FMQ ~ Wow!  I loved trying new things, taking classes, and teaching classes.
12. Blogging (when I have something to blog about) ~ This is post #111 for me this year.
13. Participating in online events ~ It has been so much fun!  
14. Preserving memories ~ I started making a quilt photo album which I love.  
15. Last, but definitely not least... Being a wife and mother ~ The most rewarding goal of all.  I love my family!

It really has been an enjoyable year!  Here are my top 5 favorite projects for the year (in no particular order) for the Best of 2015.

Not only is "Floating" one of my most favorite quilts, it is also the most viewed with nearly 9,000 pageviews and 3,500 pins on Pinterest.  

"Quilty Kisses" is still one of my favorites, because it is so me. I love the ombre effect, the simple piecing, and the fun quilting.  

"Modern Farmer's Wife" was a huge accomplishment for me, and I love it.  Here is the introductory post with links to all of my ideas and cutting instructions for modernizing the original Farmer's Wife Quilt.  

And I seriously love my "Into the Vortex" quilt.  It is so cuddly and filled with quilty memories.  

But the project with the most memories is Cheetah's Eagle Scout Project.  I donated 20 pieced quilt tops and matching backs for his project.  

He showed great leadership in getting them all finished.  

Over the Christmas Break he finished up the paperwork and got them turned in to our local chapter of Project Linus.  Now he just has one merit badge to finish up and some more time to serve in the scout troop.  

2016 will also be an exciting year.  My big goal for the year is practically the same as for 2015.  I want to "Enjoy the Journey."  I can see many journeys I will be taking, but here are just six specifics for 2016.

1. Creating and quilting.  
2. Teaching quilt classes.
3. Building a new house.
4. Moving to a new house.
5. Making it a home.
6. Being a mother and wife.  

I wish all of you a Happy New Year with my best wishes for your journeys in 2016.  

XX,

Jasmine.

P.S.  I will be linking up to some fun parties including Best of 2015, Planning 2016, and Our 2016 Goals.  

Mid-Year Goal Check and Stash Report

It is hard to believe that 2015 is already more than half over.  When I realized this, I decided it would be the perfect time to see how I am accomplishing my goals for the year.  My great big main goal for the year was to Enjoy.  I have definitely been enjoying many things this year.  :)

A display of my quilts I enjoyed putting together.

I also thought it would be good to update my Stash Report for the first half of the year. 

January: 31 yards used, 76 yards added
February: 46.5 yards used, 12.5 yards added
March: 28 yards used, 13 yards added

Quarter 1: 105.5 yards used, 101.5 yards added, 4 yards less

April:  6 yards used, 8 yards added

May: 24.25 yards used, 28.25 yards added

June:  15.5 yards used, 7 yards added,

Quarter 2:  45.75 yards used, 43.25 yards added, 2.5 yards less

First Six Months:  151.25 yards used, 144.75 yards added, 6.5 yards less

Also of note is that I donated some fabric I had separated last September.  I had intended to give it to a friend, but she wasn't interested.  So it had been sitting in one cube of my Expedit since then.  I heard that a local quilt guild was having their July fair complete with a quilty yard sale, so I donated it all to them.  I filled up a huge laundry basket and donated it for their fundraiser.  That felt so good!  I estimate that I got rid of more than 100 yards of fabric (all of which I had inherited 10 years ago).  So my stash is more like 106.5+ yards less.  But since I didn't use it, I plan on keeping that amount separate.  :)  

Everything in that lower left cube is now gone.

Now on to my list of 15 things to Enjoy  in 2015.  (With photos added to keep it pretty.)  

1.  Using my stash ~ I have made four quilts from my stash, and I have plans for lots more soon.

My favorite "from stash project" was for my sister K.

2.  Using my scraps ~ Not only have I enjoyed using my scraps, but I made eight baby/toddler quilts out of a friend's scraps and leftovers.    

My favorite scrap project called "Little Red."

3.  Using new fabrics ~ I have made 10 quilts from fabric purchased in the last year plus lots of bags. 

I bought the fabric for "Quilty Kisses" in February and made it within 2 weeks.

4.  Building my stash ~ Of the 144.75 yards added this year, I purchased more than 100 of them.  So it is safe to say I have enjoyed building my stash.  

Fabric purchased with my birthday money for future projects.

5.  Finishing quilts ~ I have finished 22 quilts so far this year.  

"Modern Farmer's Wife" was my most labor intensive project this year.  

6.  Finishing quilty projects ~ I have made lots of bags and other little projects.  

Three of my favorite quilty finishes this year.

7.  Making quilts as gifts ~ I have given five quilts away as gifts.  

I've been told by more than one person that my nephew and soon-to-be niece LOVE their quilt.

8.  Making quilts to donate ~ I have already donated one quilt this year.  (I have made others which I will donate after I am done using them as class examples.)  

"Evening Addition" donated to Happy Chemo.

9.  Making quilts for my home ~ I have made four specifically for use in my home.  

"A Day in the Country" is hanging up in my kitchen now.

10.  Sewing my WISP by hand ~ I have five blocks made, and enough quarter curves for five more blocks.  

These are ready to be sewn into blocks.  

11.  Improving my FMQ ~ Wow!  I feel like I have improved so much by trying new things, spending lots of time quilting, and by teaching FMQ.  

I sometimes look at "Floating" and wonder, "Wow, did I really quilt that?"

12.  Blogging (when I have something to blog about) ~ This will be my 80th post this year.  

13.  Participating in online events ~ I have participated in the Hands2Help Quilt Challenge, Blogger's Quilt Festival, and the Creative Space Tag.

14.  Preserving memories ~ While I haven't done a lot of scrapbooking of family events, I have been taking lots of pictures and have even started a Quilt Album.  

From my new Quilt Album.

15.  Last, but definitely not least... Being a wife and mother ~ I absolutely love being a wife mother.  Spending time with all four of my boys is my favorite thing.  And it is because of this that I have decided to take a 2-4 week blogging break.  Last year I ended up taking a two week break in the beginning of August, and I found it very refreshing.  We don't have plans to go anywhere, but I am looking forward to some more family focused time.  So things will be pretty quiet over here at Quilt Kisses (although I may still do some blog reading after the young boys are in bed).  

See you in a few weeks!

XX,

Jasmine