A comment on the footstool

A commenter, who has identified herself at "Mums" noted some dispair that the needlepoint footstool is towards the end of my list of projects, as listed on the project diet. It's an important distinction to note that its not dead last on the list, but second to last, with the Horsey Needlepoint Belt as the final project. Why is it so low on the list? Well, really because all that is left is really boring. I did the whole pattern (like 4 years ago) and now I just need to fill in the the background in black. I try to work on it every once in a while, but there is little that motivates me on this one, other than having a nice gift for my mother when its done! So to appease mums, perhaps I will edit the rules of the diet, and add the stipulation that this needs to be finished as well, before I start other projects. Now, if only I'd made a bit more progress on other projects over the past week....

Project Diet

Earlier this week I updated my "on the needles" and "in the sewing pile" list, and it looks like I have some ADD going on. Clearly there is limited discipline when it comes to starting new projects, and starting a new project is in no way related to finishing another. Don't get me wrong - I've completed a ton of crafty projects. But lately, its taking longer because so many things are vying for my attention.
So my new plan is NO NEW PROJECTS until I finish the ones in progress. I'm wondering how long this will take - can I get it all done before The Bean's arrival? or how about before the end of maternity leave? Another good question - is this really feasible, or will I be tempted by something that I just HAVE to make, or start making?
Here are the rules of my diet:

1. I will only knit projects that are currently OTK
2. I will only sew projects that are currently in the sewing pile, with the exception of that cute Oliver + S dress that I got fabric for yesterday and the nappy bag, which is a just a practical thing I'll actually need (although I have already bought a diaper bag, so need is a relative term).
   
3. Taking a class in something does not count as a new project, even if the class has homework (for example, the tab curtain class that I'm thinking about)
   
4. There are a few needlepoint projects on my "in progress" list that frankly may never be completed. Maybe the footstool These are last on the list.
   
5. Project Diet does not mean stash diet. I'm only human.

Wish me luck!!!!

Sew...

Around the holidays, I got a sewing maching, mostly inspired by Cloth and Bobbin, because I loved looking at all the fabrics. I'm not so fond of my machine - it might be a lemon - and in the next few weeks its either going to be fixed or replaced.
So, before the machine went on the fritz, I made a few things. First there was this quick little bag from which came from the PurlBee
Its a little wonky, but for my first project, I'm ok with it. Still haven't figured out how to get all the chalk lines off - maybe they'll fade with time. Right now its a project bag...

Then I took a little class called "getting to know your sewing machine" and made a cute pillow for my niece Ally. But forgot to take a picture before I sent it... Hillary, send a picture!

Then I took another class where we made a little quilt that was supposed to be a wall hanging. Once I finished the quilt top, I learned how to machine quilt, and taught myself how to bind the quilt from a book (maybe not the best idea, but it seemed to work). Since the pillow was so cute, I made the wall hanging to match. Scott took a picture, but I can't seem to find it right now.

Recently, I've been working on a baby quilt for the Bean, which I started in yet another class. The only thing that remains to be done on this is the "piano key" border. Easier said than done, but its on its way...

There are a few other projects in the works, including a really simple baby quilt that is almost done. Not quite as simple as promised, because it would haven't taken so many attempts to get it done if it was. And then there is this other quilt which I've spent what seems like tons and tons of hours cutting and piecing squares, which is becoming a bit of a pain to figure out how to put together.

But why finish these when I start yet ANOTHER project? Today I picked up an adorable pattern from Oliver + S, as well as some fabric for a cute little sundress and bloomers, maybe for Ally, maybe for my goddaughter Lucy. We'll see how this one goes.

Radio Silence

What ever happened to Crafty Caroline, you might be wondering... or might not because my blog has pretty limited readership...
Anyway, the blog went on vacation for six months during my first trimester (when I felt too crappy to do anything other than sit on the couch and moan, when I wasn't busy getting sick) and my second trimester (when I was so full of pep and energy that I didn't have time to blog). Now we're settling into trimester 3, getting ready for the arrival of "the bean" and i'm going to give this a blog thing a shot again. In the past six months, I've taken up quilting, done a bit of knitting and tried a little handspinning. Photos to follow soon!