I keep a file on my computer with pictures of quilts that I'm actively working on - ones that are cut up, in progress, a b.o.m.,or kitted from my stash. I counted these yesterday - I have twelve picturesof these, three should be finished tops probably by the end of February.
So I then started to count what I got done this year - besides a scary amount of experimental blocks, half finished and hidden quilts, and miscellaneous false starts - I've got nine finished quilts (two or three are wallhangings or smaller); and three finished tops ready to be quilted. So I guess that *if* I don't add anymore to my current list (ha ha) then really my pile of want-to-do's this year isn't too bad.
I did go backing crazy yesterday, and pieced a backing for the egg money quilts (kind of ugly as it turned out); and two more backings from stash for the buckeye beauty and the border creek mystery. As soon as New Year's is over, I'll get to quilting the buckeye beauty (third from the left); then wait for a batting sale for the other two. I'm in no hurry to quilt these - and a couple of quilt tops I'm soon finishing are meant for gifts to be given in late spring so they'll get priority.
This past year my health has definitely affected my quilting activities. Things I could do fairly well in times past were a real struggle this year. Hand applique goes very slowly - and I have a constant argument with myself about why do I feel the need to pursue this when machine applique can be just as pretty? I've got back into hand stitching redwork - something I used to do, as well as cross stitch, in my 20s. And I've signed on to a Dear Jane b.o.m. so I can pursue hand piecing. All of this because I need more time on the couch, but at the same time these activities go slowly. My ability to quilt has been affected due to loss of strength to manipulate the quilt and sew a straight line (!) but I'm in the midst of solving this by upgrading my Designer 1 sewing/embroidery machine to accept a 6" spring hoop, and hope to get much of my quilting done by embroidery machine designs.
I'm going into my 10th year of quilting as my full time outlet for busy-ness, productivty, and creativity. That's a lot of time playing with a craft/hobby/art! That's why I'm looking at new challenges - such as hand piecing the Dear Jane and perhaps attempting the very-scary-difficult-to-me Moonglow quilt by Jinny Beyer (youngest son saw this quilt and couldn't stop talking about it - so he'll get it as a graduation gift in a couple of years) or a paper pieced quilt top.
So on to 2010 - Happy New Year and my wish to all is for a happy, healthy and creative year ahead.
