Number 800!!!

This post is a milestone one, as it is Number 800. I was rather surprised to notice that the last one was 799, and I don't often check how many there have been. It is very timely then that this is also the last day of the year, and time for a few musings. I have to wonder just where the year 2017 has gone? It seems to have disappeared so fast, and it seems no time since the last new year's day.

So I have been looking back in the photo files, and I think I can see why it went so fast, and I shall briefly outline some of the reasons.

Quilting customer quilts has taken a fair amount of time, and I see that I quilted 153 quilts for others in 2017. This number is a bit lower than normal, but a lot of them were custom quilts. And in between the quilting, there were 11 retreats here at Number 8. These weekends have been an amazing time of sewing, laughing, sharing, eating, some drinking, and making friendships. And as some of these retreats were "Pick a case Mystery" ones, we ( must not forget my helpers,) must have designed, and cut and wrote instructions for about 30 quilts!! That accounts for a fair chunk of time!

I have attended 3 family weddings, one of which was my son. And some time also was spent with other family members. I had 2 trips to Melbourne, one to family and one for educational purposes. And there always seems to be something to travel up the highway to the city for, either Quilt Appraisal days, or quilt shows etc.

Lots of bloggers look back at how many UFO's they finished for the year, and even keep lists on their blog!! As we had our exhibition this year, I did find some finishes (is that a word??) in the photos, and I shall post these here. And thank you to the binding fairy, without who I would not have got them done! And I must confess that there are still a "few" UFO's hiding around here, and more still in the quilting queue. Maybe I should find another quilter??

Around the garden, a quilt made many years ago, that I had intended to custom quilt, but it got an allover instead, and now it's finished!!

 My Antelope Canyon quilt, called Garden Delight, which also managed to be Viewers Choice at the quilt show.

A workshop with Heather Ford, using the HexnMore Ruler, to make Hexagons, and made a table runner, and some place mats.

A workshop with Michele Hill, many years ago, that was to be a cushion, and is a wall hanging instead.

This was an applique workshop back in the late 1990's, and is now a cushion.

A Gloria Loughman, Contoured Landscape workshop, finally finished.

Another Antelope Canyon quilt, with some changes in the colour placement, that I have called Illusions.

My quick curve ruler bed runner, which was going to be a quilt, but did not make the cut!

Noughts and crosses, my quilt made in a Fractured Circles workshop with Lessa Siegele.

A wall hanging using Ricky Tims Convergence method, with applique flowers on it.

Another Antelope Canyon quilt, made with the Texture Graphics fabrics. This quilt has been very popular, and sold well. (I still have limited kits for this quilt, already cut into wof to save cutting time.) This quilt has not been quilted yet, so technically I probably shouldn't say its a finish for 2017??

And another project I have been working on, and not finished either, are the blocks for my Dear William quilt, designed by Michele Hill. I have managed to trace, and cut and fuse all the blocks in 2017, so we will see what happens in 2018??

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who visit my blog and read what I write. And thank you to those who leave a comment, either here or by email, or text. Thank you for checking up on me, if I am tardy in posting. I have several printed books now, of the years of my blogs, and it is interesting to look back and see what happened, or how often I say the same thing?! I think I started in July, 2011, so fairly recent.

And as I mentioned my binding fairy earlier, I would like to wish her a very happy birthday for today. (I can't imagine having a birthday, Christmas and new year, all in the same week!) Just as well it's not Mothers Day this week too! Happy Birthday Raylene, hope your day has been a good one. (found a nice little snap of you taken earlier this year)!

I wonder what the year 2018 will bring? My calendar seems to be filling up fast and there is lots to happen. As it is in life, there will be happy times and sad times, exciting and mundane happenings. Whatever it brings, either on a personal, local, or global level, I must remember to keep trusting, and hope in God, who has led me thus far, and will faithfully continue to.There is a Bible verse that keeps coming back to me, time and again over the years. It is Jeremiah 29, verse 11. 

My day has been spent trying to clear the clutter and sort "stuff" in my bedroom. Still a long way to go yet, but I feel much better having started this job. My New Year's Eve will not be spent out celebrating, or partying. I will be having an early night, and looking forward to the early morning arrival of Miss Bridie.

Blessings, From Jude