I know it’s cliche to say but I really can’t believe another year has passed. It seems only last week I was making my resolutions and plans for 2018.

In this post I thought I’d take stock over the past year and share with you some of my favourite things, and my plans for the year ahead. (I’ll pretend that we’re not already a week into January!)

My resolution was to buy less fabric and use more of my stash. A resolution that I ultimately failed. I started off with all good intentions but as the year went on my fabric buying became a little out of control.

Unfortunately I only completed four quilts last year, with a few started but not finished. Technically though the unicorn quilt was pieced in 2017 and finished in 2018. There may only be four but I love every  one of them, it was such a special treat being able to make and gift my friend the Bjorn Bear quilt, I will treasure the photo of him on it always! Then there was the birthday quilt for Mabel using the super cute Bunnies and Blossoms fabrics that I had been saving for something special. It has been put to good use both in hospital and when I’ve had to camp out on her bedroom floor if she’s having a bad night.

There was also the rather selfish make of the Cross Stitch quilt. I love snuggling under this of a cold evening it is so soft and snuggly!

I started two English Paper Piecing Blocks of the month the Mandolin Quilt and the Blooming Blossom Quilt. I started off so well but as was inevitable I soon fell behind. This year I have decided not to sign up to any monthly clubs or subscriptions and I hope to get these finished off instead. I’m not going to lie though I am going to miss receiving those lovely red boxes full of Liberty in the post every month!!

Quilts aside my most proudest make I think has to be this backpack. I have wanted to make Mabel a bag for school for such a long time and had this fabric set aside especially, it was just a matter of time and confidence, and although it does have some faults she uses it every day and I love it! She even proudly tells people “Mummy made it” (Oh my heart!)

2018 was the year I seemed to get over my fear of foundation paper piecing and even started a quilt entirely made using the FPP technique. I had hoped to finish this by the end of the year with a mad dash in the last few days of December to get it finished but sadly I ran out of white fabric so it wasnt to be. All the blocks are finished I just need the fabric for the sashing, I even have the backing fabric ready!

At least this way I know I will have a finished quilt early in the new year I guess! Pattern is from the book Patchwork Please by Ayumi Takahashi.

Another FPP make I was rather pleased with was this penguin pillow that I made for the Birthday Stitchers Swap. I’ve signed up again this year and I am excited to be taking part. I was so lucky with what I received last year and had so much fun making for my partner.

I also opened the new shop! I was so excited to be doing this and cannot wait for the year ahead to add lots more goodies! Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, it really means so much, I am one of those people who does a little happy dance every time there is a sale, it means the world!

So 2019 what’s in store? Well I really want to finish off my unfinished projects and quilts. I also want to concentrate on making up the patterns that I bought in 2018 but didn’t get around to. I was tempted to sign up to some of the monthly clubs but I really do hate having unfinished things lying around. I really want to make a quilt to donate to a charity like Project Linus this year and am excited about getting involved with that. I have carried over my resolution to buy less fabric and use more of my stash.

I also want to have a good sort out and get my sewing storage organised better, in the hope that it’ll be easier to keep to the resolution. I am not going to fool myself that I will completely stick to it so I have the condition that if I want to buy I must have a project in mind for it.

What are your quilty/sewing plans for 2019?