Happy New Year, everyone! We are two weeks into 2024, and Houston is currently riding out the first cold snap of the season. The temperature hasn’t risen above 30 degrees all day, and it’s looking like it’s going to be this way for a couple of days. Since January and February have always been the coldest months of the year here, this isn’t so surprising, but people are acting like it’s the end of the world.

Holiday Projects

Holiday sewing this year was a lot of fun. I guess it was less sewing, and more embroidery, but I made several Christmas Stockings. These aren’t great photos, but maybe you can get the idea (note to self: buy a new light for taking photos).

These stockings were all in the hoop designs from designsbyjuju.com and I think they turned out adorable! As you may recall, I made stockings for the grandkids and my husband last year and I posted about it here. Sadly, we couldn’t find Chris’s stocking this year, so I need to make him another one. I haven’t done it yet because I kept hoping it would show up, and it didn’t. I guess I need to make him a new one before next Christmas!

I also did a kitchen hand towel. This was a test run, because I bought these towels from allaboutblanks.com at the quilt show in November, and I wasn’t sure about the quality. Turns out they are very good quality and I need to order some more. This design came from emblibrary.com, and I just love it. It turned out so well!

Next Up

I’m starting a new project this week, which is a throw quilt using Lori Holt’s most recent Sew Your Stash 5″ quilt blocks. My plan is to make at least 5 of each of these blocks, and then see where that gets me. Lori also includes the instructions to make the same blocks in 10″, so I might incorporate some of them into the quilt top as well. That’s why I’m only starting with 5 of each of the 14 blocks in this series – to decide if I want to add in a few 10″ blocks as well.

Future Projects

Some projects I’m considering for 2024 include a designsbyjuju.com Christmas Tree Skirt, which I’d like to have done by Christmas this year. She has several different skirts, and I’d like to get at least one of them made. I’m leaning toward the North Pole skirt, but I also really like the Nativity skirt and the Farmhouse skirt.

I would like to finish up my golf quilt, as well as the Kimberbell village I started in 2023, and my fatquartershop.com 2023 mystery quilt. I looked at the 2024 mystery quilt, and I have to admit that I really suck at keeping up with these monthly blocks. The colors in the 2024 quilt are adorable, but I just don’t know if I want to do another one. Maybe when I retire, I can try again, but I have made exactly one of the 2023 blocks so far. 🤦‍♀️

I have considered going back to the Perfectly Pieced digital subscription at metimedelivered.com, but I’m not sure about that, either. Some of the blocks last year were fairly complex, and not something I would ever really consider using in a project, so maybe not. I do like the log cabin block in the January 2024 subscription, though.

2024 Resolutions?

I don’t really make resolutions anymore, but I have decided to be more judicious in what I’m bringing into my studio this year, from fabrics to books to notions. My current thought process is, if I don’t have a current plan to start a new project, I’m not going to buy books or notions. When it comes to fabric, if I like something, I’ll buy a fat quarter of it. If I love something, I’ll buy a half yard. If it’s something I need to finish a project, or to start a new project RIGHT NOW, I’ll buy the amount that I need. But for now, I think I’m going to try on making some scrappy quilts that will use up some of the fabrics I’ve been collecting for the last 20+ years. My goal is to not add random yardage to my stash this year.

Do you have any goals for 2024? If so, what are they? I’d love to hear what you have planned.