100 Day Hustle - The End

I can't believe it's December 31 and the New Year is going to rock in in just a few hours.

100 days seemed like such a long time.... 100 days ago. In reality, it's gone very quickly. I did accomplish some stuff, though not as much as I'd have liked. But it's a very busy time of year, and the juggling of work, kids, home and creative time is hard enough without beating yourself up over not being the quilter extraordinaire you'd be if you had unlimited time... so I'm okay with what I achieved.

A final recap of my goals: 

1. Keep sewing space tidy: Right now it's a nightmare, but overall I've done okay on this. I have most of January off and I am inspired to do lots of tidying and organising in that time. No photos of this right now!

2. No new fabric bought: Epic fail. I don't know why I even bother declaring this goal, ever.

3. No new projects: I began planning a quilt for my mum and I am nearly finished with a wallhanging that is a Secret Santa swap gift. Other than that I haven't started anything else. This is probably the biggest achievement at all - I am plugging away on a still-too-long work in progress list, but at least I haven't started on new stuff.

4. Finish fabric storage boxes: Done! I am so glad I got this project completed.

5. Finish Phoebe's bed quilt: This is still in piecing stage but is a high priority now as she's asking for it.

6. Finish piecing five current tops: I finished the Craftsy BOM, my polaroid block swap and my Tetris top, so some progress made here.

7. Finish quilting and binding five quilts: I finished the Tetris quilt and I have the polaroid rainbows and another older quilt waiting to be bound. These are highest priority as I am ashamed to say I got projects all the way to binding stage and then stalled.

8. Empty mending/refashioning basked: This is definitely a holiday project. I want these baskets gone and the clothes back in the wardrobe!

9. Keep on top of swap blocks and BOMs: I finished the year with all my block commitments for 2012 complete and my two BOMs complete (one all blocks done, the other is a completed top). Yay me!

10. Finish smaller craft projects: No progress. 

I am really grateful to Kelsey for setting this challenge - I knew going in that finishing my WIP/UFO collection by the end of this year wasn't realistic, but this has set me in good stead for 2013, I am focused and motivated to finish my UFOs this coming year!

Linking up to Kelsey for the last time! 

I need to get my head together a little more on my goals for 2013, but I'll let you know when I do. Here's to a great year of creativity ahead!

PS: I am shamelessly behind on commenting. I am going to sort out my inbox and start fresh for the new year. If you commented here and I didn't reply, I do apologise - I love reading each and every comment and appreciate that people take the time to read my little blog.

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100 Day Hustle - 20 Days to Go

It is crazy to think there are only 20 days left of 2012! I have conceded that I will not get too much further on my 100 Day Hustle list, and won't meet my very lofty goals, but that's okay. This project has at least made me slow down on starting new things and made me consider what I want to achieve creatively in 2013, so it's all good.

To recap my goals:
Keep sewing space tidy - I'm doing okay on this.
No new fabric bought - hmmm, no comment. That was a stupid goal.
No new projects - I started planning a quilt for my mum, but I haven't got far on it. I also got sidetracked with a non stitchy project the last few days.
Finish fabric storage boxes - see below.
Finish Phoebe's bed quit - this is all cut out and progress made on piecing, but I still have a ways to go.
Finish piecing 5 current tops - I have finished three.
Finish quilting and binding 5 quilts - One done, quilting done on another.
Empty mending/refashioning basket - this is a holiday project, I swear!
Keep on top of swap blocks and BOMs - I have now completed my two BOMs, one is a finished top, the other still in blocks. I am behind on block swaps but will get there. My goal for this week if I don't get sidetracked.
Finish smaller craft projects - no progress, but it's a case of sitting down and just getting on with these.

Speaking of the fabric boxes I've been planning on making since I got my new, fabulous craft table - here they are! This was an epic, epic task. There are 14 of them all up, on two shelves - I kept two shelves for my colour sorted scraps, since that system works well for me.

There are boxes for storing WIPs, scraps, selvedges and each family member has their own box.

They are made from recycled jeans and vintage sheets, so even the 'making' of the fabric was a bit of a task. The whole process has taken me the last two weeks but I am so glad they are done, I have fitted so much in them and my craft room is starting to look how I want.

Also, this was a major experiment in self-control. I told myself I couldn't do anything else until I completed these and I managed to do that. Considering my ADHD tendencies, this is major. It bodes well for my planning to kick the UFO/WIP habit in 2013.

This is my favourite box, my selvedge collection. So much possibility here!!

My goals for this week are to get those block swap blocks out of the way until January, but I've been a little bit sidetracked. I saw some darling dreamcatchers on Pinterest, pinned a bunch more here  and then just went to town with making dreamcatchers for my girls for Christmas. Only thing is, I'm a bit impatient, so I might give them to them tomorrow instead!

I am a huge believer in the therapeutic benefits of making, and this project was one of those creative projects I want to do more of in the future. You could barely wipe the smile off my face as I gathered fabric, buttons, doilies, ribbons and yarn to put these together. It was so improv and flowing, I had so much fun doing it. And I pushed myself out of my comfort zone in the process.

That is totally what making should be about - it isn't always, but it's important to get outside your comfort zone for a while and just play!

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100 Day Hustle - Day 20 Update

Eeek, another 10 days have gone by on the 100 Day Hustle, only 80 to go now!

It's been a pretty productive few days (especially considering I've been back at work for 5 of them) so I'm pleased. I'm pretty well maintaining my focus.

1. Keep sewing space tidy: relatively successful - I have a few fabrics to put away

2. No new fabric bought: Nothing new has entered this house. I have however destashed a ton of vintage sheet FQs!

3. No new projects: Success! (Though I did pin a ton of Christmas ideas on my Pinterest board.)

4. Finish fabric storage boxes: Not yet, but I did finish cutting the vintage sheets that I intend to use the scraps on for this, so no more excuses to procrastinate on this).

5. Finish Phoebe's bed quilt: No progress.

6. Finish piecing at least 5 current tops: I am working on my red/black/white chevron quilt. It's tedious and I'm not feeling the love, but I am persisting.

Don't mind the filthy ironing board, it's from a love affair with spray starch. 

And yes, it says 'ironing bored' all over it :).

 I also did my polaroid blocks for a swap which will turn into a fundraiser quilt.

7. Finish quilting and binding at least 5 quilts: I basted and began quilting my 1930s Improved Nine Patch. I'm probably 1/4 way through the quilting.

8. Empty mending/refashioning basket: No progress. Are you sure this won't just go away on its own?

9: Keep on top of swap blocks and BOMs: One swap block to do for October, still heaps of time.

10. Finish smaller craft projects: No progress.

http://kelseysews.blogspot.com.au/

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