Happy New Year and we interupt this thread review for an important announcement...

It's 2015 already and I can't believe it!  I am a person who loves new year, a new beginning and the chance to make resolutions and work towards new goals.  I never want to stop learning and improving and have always thought the yearly process of making goals and resolutions were also a great time to stop and view the progresses and failures of last year.  It's a great time to reflect on your journey as a quilter, what you learned, what inspired you, what you failed at and what you could do differently if you tried it again...These reflections can really help make next years goals and remind you of how far you have already come.  I had a lot of fun in 2014 but am really looking forward to this new year and all it will bring.  I hope for happiness and health to you all in the coming year, and thank you so much for your support and following me on my quilting journey throughout last year. 

I had planned on sharing a thread review with you today, and I will come back in the next few days to do that, I promise, but a few days ago I was approached by Darlene, formerly of SewCalGal, and now moving to the new blog name QuiltShopGal.  She had done a lovely review of my book which I shared with you all a few months ago.  If you haven't checked out her blog for the absolute plethora of machine quilting information she shares for free I strongly suggest you do.  You will find amazing tips and suggestions as well as many opportunities to meet other machine quilters and share your work.  She is hosting a Free Motion Quilting challenge for the entire year of 2015.  I am so excited for the great opportunity it will provide new quilters to get connected with each other and good teachers and inspiring people in the free motion quilting community.  I am also honored and excited to be the featured expert for the month of January.  If you have my book already you can make the pillow in my book and enter it in the monthly challenge to enter to win some pretty great prizes!  Click over to read all the details and please think about entering the challenge.  The beginning of the year is a great time to make new goals and if getting better at free motion quilting is one of your goals for the new year then this challenge will be the perfect motivation you need to practice and learn and get better.  You will also benefit from lots of great tips, access to free patterns, and the chance to win amazing prizes all year long.  I hope you all check it out, and enter the challenge.  If you use my book to make the pillow for January, or use some of the quilting designs I teach then send me a picture of your work via email or my facebook page and I will share it here this month on my blog! 

The winner of the last book giveaway is QuiltingTangent... I tried sending you and email but the link didn't work so please contact me so I can get you your book!

because every post needs a picture... here is an applique mini quilt I made for Grandma for Christmas... before I quilted it.. I forgot to take a picture of the after.. I will have to get one from her.