Gathered Fabric Bowls

I finished my first project of 2014! Of course, I had to start a new project instead of finishing one of the projects I have waiting around for me, but oh well. :p Why did I choose this particular new project you say? Well, let's make a short story a little longer.

I signed up for a Craftster account last June, but I hadn't really done much with it until the end of the year. I don't have friends who craft, so I had been trying to find ways to connect with other crafters to share projects and ideas. I managed to make my way back to Craftster and dove right in to sharing my projects and participating in the forums. Like I mentioned in my 2014 Craft Challenge post, I'm participating in 50 Projects in 2014 on Craftster. I'm also participating in 14 Quilts in 2014. This one might be a stretch for me, but most of my planned quilty projects are small-scale or mini-quilts, not full-sized quilts. I've included them in my 50 Projects list to remind myself to make progress on quilty projects too!

One thing I am most excited about on Craftster is that the site has organized craft swaps. I participated in my first ever craft swap in November (not on Craftster), one for handmade Christmas ornaments, and it was a lot of fun! In December, I signed up for my first craft swap on Craftster, and that's how I came to make my first project of 2014.

The person I was crafting for had some cute fabric bowls on her wish list, and I jumped at the chance to make them for her. I followed this tutorial on A Spoonful of Sugar to make my bowls. I made three sizes with 6", 8", and 10" circles. They ended up a little smaller and shallower than I thought they would be, but I really like them. I used the same black and white print on the outside of each bowl, and the inside colors are varied. They nest easily and would be great for holding craft supplies. I definitely need to make some for myself!

 Have you made your first project of 2014 yet? What was it? I'd love to see it. :)

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?