Starting Well for 2016

This was a good weekend because I spent time flying Nine Zero Bravo.  My morning flight was with an instructor for my biennial flight review. The FAA require private pilots to have a flight review every two years if they want to carry passengers.  My review was a bit overdue, so my hubby had to be pilot in command.  That hurt the control freak inside me.  So I finally got signed off, then promptly took a couple friends up for some sightseeing. Not that there is much to see, being in such a rural area. It's amazing how just a bit of flying can make my mood soar - literally, I guess.

My inner child is like the girl in this video:

On the quilting front, today I picked up Sweet Dreams from Cindy Carrey of North Star Longarm Quilting. Now I have to remember where I put the binding. After all, it's been waiting for several years.  I dropped off Mother Earth (green pinwheel / 16-patch) and Strawberry Fields.  All three quilts will be in my 2016 Finishes count!

I made steady progress on Allietare, Bonnie Hunter's 2015 mystery quilt pattern. I'm still too chicken to venture out in my own color palette but have enjoyed seeing pictures of alternate colorways posted by other quilters. After sewing one of the setting triangles wrong, I had to take a break for supper. Have you done this?

Anyway, all 20 Echoes of Pisa blocks (ones with the red centers) are done and 9 of the Allietare stars. Here is a quick view of my blocks. There will be a thin gold inner border, then I plan to use up my black polka dot for the outer border. Can you believe some quilters are already done???  Not me. I am savoring the experience (lol).  I am linking to Bonnie's linky page on Monday HERE.

Word for 2016

Happy New Year!  Many people have chosen a "word of the year" to represent their goals for the coming year.  My theme word for 2016 is "Determined", as in determined to finish more UFOs, determined to exercise more, determined to eat healthier, determined to clear the clutter. I almost chose "Driven" which some of my friends would say describes me very well, but I prefer the positive aspects of "Determined."

According to Google dictionary, determined means:
   * having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it
   * processing or displaying resolve

My first goal is to finish more UFOs.  Below is a list of the UFOs I intend to finish this year:

1. Binding on Sweet Dreams and Celtic Solstice.  DONE

2. Mother Earth -delivered to longarmer 1/3/2016  DONE

3. Strawberry Fields - delivered to longarmer 1/3/2016   DONE

4. Sly as a Fox - Quiltmaker pattern sewn in June 2014) - ready for me to quilt

5. Red Cross (sewn in 2013;  inspiration http://www.okcmqg.com/2013/01/win-red-cross-charity-quilt.html)  Just a few more blocks to FMQ; already bound

6. 1860s Revival (goose & goslings block with retro zigzag setting; started in 2013) 

7. Colorado Sunshine (Bonnie Hunter's Floribunda pattern, began in 2012) needs 7 more blocks plus borders  June update: needs 1 block fix and a bit more of the pieced border

8. Orange Blossoms (based on Bonnie Hunter's Orange Crush pattern) - began October 2015. June update: now a flimsy awaiting backing so it can be sent to be longarmed

9. Allietare - Bonnie Hunter's 2015 mystery.  June update: longarmed and ready for binding 

The above quilts are ones I am determined to finish in 2016. Hopefully I will also find time to finish these other UFOs:

10. Blueberry Hill (Bonnie Hunter's Jamestown Landing) began in 2013. Just a few more blocks to go, then work on the strip border

11. Rainbow Scrap Quilt 2015 (from superscrappy.blogspot.com)

12. Grand Illusion in progress - changing the checkerboard sashing to a lighter green.