2014 Craft Challenge and Project List

Happy New Year! I can't believe it is already 2014. Lots of exciting things are going to happen this year. I can feel it!

For me, I know that I'll be having a baby this year! I very anxious to meet our little girl. I know it'll be tiring and exciting to have a newborn again, but I can't wait to see how crazy things actually get and how our Little Man transitions into being a big brother.

I also have a lot of new things planned for my shop, and I have a mega crafty to do list. If you remember, I am a listoholic! Somehow, I didn't do a very good job sticking to my "crafts to make" list last year. Part of the problem is that I'm good at planning projects, getting the materials, and sometime even starting the project. Then, my crafting ADD kicks in, and I find something new that I want to start working on. In the end, I have a handful of complete projects and a bunch of "hibernating" projects waiting to be finished. I don't have any idea how many projects I completed last year, and that makes me sad. As a listoholic, I should have a list of completed projects to marvel at at when the year comes to a close, right?

This year, I'm going to use my love of lists (and especially of crossing things off of lists) and my Internet friends to keep me on track and motivated the whole year long so I can get my crafting goals accomplished! I have a few craft-related goals set for the year, and I'm challenging myself to complete 50 projects in 2014. I don't have all 50 projects planned yet, and the ideas I have now might change, but my list is a very good start (maybe even a little too long for a starter list).

I'll be posting an update on my goals and project challenge progress as each month ends. I can't wait to see my "finished project" list grow as the year goes on.

My 2014 Craft Goals:

1. Complete 50 projects
2. Try a new craft (stamp-making)
3. Build my fabric stash
4. Organize my crafting supplies and purge what I don't need
5. Design, stitch, and list two new cross stitch designs a month (crafty business goal)

50 Projects in 2014:

2013 Works In Progress

• Hand-embroidered ABC Quilt
• Summer Stitching Club Project
• 2013 Woodland Sampler
• Ship in a Bottle Embroidery
• Crocheted Ripple Blanket
• Eloise Baby Sweater

Planned New Projects

• Baby Girl's Tumbler Quilt
• Little Man's Tumbler Quilt
• Catvent Quilt
• Hexie Mini Quilt
• Quilted Tree Skirt for My Mom
• Quilted Tree Skirt for Me
• Triangle Quilt
• Baby Quilt for My Sister
• Hello Moon Quilt
• Autumn Stitching Club Project
• Winter Stitching Club Project
• Spring Stitching Club Project
• 2014 Once Upon a Time Sampler
• Gathered Fabric Bowls
• Christmas Stocking for Baby Girl
• Paint Name Letters for Baby Girl's Room
• Paint Name Letter for Little Man's Room
• Needlebooks
• Needle Minders
• Hand-carved stamps
• Flannel Board
• Felt Play Pieces for Flannel Board
• Social Tote

Do you have any crafting goals set for 2014? What projects do you have planned?

Christmas on Gingerbread Lane

I've been working on a lot of projects recently, but they all take a lot of time! I post a lot of progress picture on Instagram, but it feels a little silly to devote a blog post to a small amount of progress on a large project. I finally have a new finished project to share with you (and some time to write about it)!

I still need to iron it and frame it, but my most recent project finish is this beauty:

This cute pattern is Christmas on Gingerbread Lane from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I usually use embroidery hoops to finish my projects (which are a lot smaller), so I have never mounted and framed my stitching. I'm excited (and a little nervous) to do it with this project. I bought a red metal frame from Jo-Ann's when I got to use a coupon on top of the crazy frame sale, but I'm not sure if I want to use it. Since Christmas has already come and gone, I have time to get this project framed before I pull all my Christmas decorations out for next year, so I guess I have time to find the "right" frame for it. I also need to order some mounting boards for this project and a few others. I think it'll be fun to do something new!

If you recall, I have also been stitching up the FPS's 2013 Woodland Sampler. I am so close to finishing it! I just have the December frame and the bonus frame left to stitch up. I was really hoping to have it all done by the end of the year, but since that is tomorrow, I don't think it's going to happen. Either way, I can't wait to share that finish with you!

I love making my own patterns, but it has been a lot of fun stitching up FPS designs and sharing them with others I've connected with from all over the world online. So, I already have everything ready to stitch up their 2014 Once Upon a Time Sampler (starts on January 10th)! Do you want to join me?

2014 NewFO Challenge with Cat Patches

For the second half of 2013, I found myself crafting more than I had in multiple previous years combined, and it felt good! I started cross stitching again regularly at the end of 2010, but that was about all I was doing until now. In addition to some lower-key crafting for myself and my son, I signed up for some embroidery clubs, joined in on some cross stitch sampler craft-alongs, and made my first machine-quilted project (which was also a quilt-along, but I joined in at the very last minute).

Now that I am in a full-on crafting kick and I have the bug to get behind my sewing machine more and more, I've been dreaming up all the wonderful things I'd like to make. I'm still thinking semi-small scale on my quilted projects because larger ones are a bit scary. I know I will never get better at quilting unless I make stuff! I also know that getting started can be the hardest part of creating. So, to push myself to create more, I'm joining in the 2014 NewFO Challenge with Cat Patches!

The idea behind a "NewFO Challenge" is to start a new quilting project each month. Most linky parties focus on only sharing finished projects or focus on finishing unfinished objects (UFOs). This one just focuses on the starting part. Easy, right? There will be monthly linky parties and prizes too. Want to join in?

 

I'm also planning to join in on the Craftster "14 Quilt Projects in 2014" that will inevitably start at the beginning of the year, so I'm kind of getting a two-for out of my project plans. I haven't figured out everything I'd like to make, and I might change my mind along the way, but here are my plans so far (in no particular order):

1. Hand-Embroidered ABC Quilt - I already started this one, so it won't count as a NewFO, but I can use it for 14 in 2014.
2. Baby Girl's Tumber Quilt
3. Little Man's Tumbler Quilt
4. Oh, Fransson! Catvent Quilt
5. Summer Stitching Club Mini Quilt - My top is already done for this, but I need to decide how I want to finish it.
6. Autumn Stitching Club Quilted Pillow
7. Winter Stitching Club Quilted Wall Hanging
8. Spring Stitching Club Project
9. Hexie Mini Quilt
10. Triangle Quilt
11. Quilted Tree Skirt for My Mom
12. Quilted Tree Skirt for Me
13. TBD
14. TBD