Happy New Year!

So, since I started this blog to be about my journal quilts, I guess I should sum up what I did accomplish over the last year. I only completed five journal quilts, when I intended to make one every month. In this process, I think I have identified something about myself. I have a hard time sticking with one project if it stretches over a whole year! I had the same experience with my Women of the Bible quilt. I have stalled out on that one at block #32 (I think) out of 52. I will probably eventually finish it, but it will be like starting a new project. Even though I am a very even-keeled person, I find that I get bored with my life easily. Growing up, I never lived in one place for more than 5 years. Now, after I've lived in one place for a few years, I am eager to move and try something new. Jobs get really boring after a couple of years. I am actually surprised that I am still so interested in quilting after 5 years! I think it probably has something to do with the variety of styles and techniques that are possible. I doubt if I will ever make the same quilt twice!

I have had a pretty full life over the last year, so I can always blame it on moving from South America to North Carolina, but I also know that I always find time for whatever I really want to do.

Now that 2007 is here, I know better than to promise to do something that lasts the whole year, especially since we will be moving to Belgium this year. But, I'm sure there will be some new projects to report on during the year!

At the moment, my WIPs include:

• a hand-pieced dahlia wallhanging; I'm hand quilting it, and I'm in the borders now. It's amazing how long I can let this thing sit without working on it when I am so close to finishing it!
• a string block wallhanging made with all southwestern fabrics. I'm supposed to be working on string blocks for a swap, but I've been thinking about these leftover southwestern fabrics for a string quilt for a long time. I was preparing muslin squares for the swap blocks when the southwestern idea took over.

I guess the rest are UFOs, since I haven't worked on them in a while:

• A bright and black kitty wallhanging. Top is done, needs to be quilted.
• A lone star wallhanging. The star is done, but needs background, borders and quilting.
• Women of the Bible quilt.
• A hand pieced wallhinging in greens and burgundies. Four out of nine blocks finished. Will also have appliqued border.
• A blue and white sampler wallhanging. Partly quilted.
• "Waterflowers" wallhanging - top is finished, except that I want to have dragonflies embroidered on it. I have a friend with an embroidery machine, and I keep meaning to talk to her about it.

I have a couple of piles of swapped blocks that could be put together. There might also be something else in the bin that I'm not remembering right now. And more ideas in my head and EQ6 than I could possibly make in a lifetime! And, of course, all of those ideas will be set aside for whatever inspires me at the moment.