Happy New Year!!

 2013 here I come!  I have been looking forward to the New Year for months now- It has always been a favorite holiday of mine.  I love a new beginning, a fresh outlook, a chance to start over, make changes, take stock and reflect on my progress.  This of course really applies to my sewing and quilting.  I have made lots of resoulutions- but being a girl who believes in luck I am inclined to think it might be unlucky to tell anyone what they are- that somehow I might not achieve these lofty goals if I tell you all what my plans are.  So I will keep my lips zipped and hope some of these resolutions might become obvious throughout the year instead of me having to confess them on the very first beautiful new day of 2013.  I have decided instead to share with you all the quilty gifts I have been so fortunate to receive for Christmas- so you can see what new toys I will be playing with in the coming months.  I am not one to buy for myself- I wait until holidays or birthdays to ask for what I want- which seems to be so much more fun then feeling guilty about spending money on myself.  So here are some of the great gifts that came my way- and boy I can't wait to figure out what I am going to do with all this beauty. 

a charm pack of Joel Dewberry's new line Notting Hill

a double charm pack (2 of each print) of Amy Butler's new line Alchemy

a magnetic super bright LED light for my new Juki 2000QI which I am using on my new quilting frame

the Quick Curve Ruler which is from Sew Kind of Wonderful- I am super excited to jump feet first into piecing curves!

Anyone who knows me Knows I am a huge fan of Angela Walters and I was beyond excited to finally receive  a signed copy of her book- and it is as wonderful as I had hoped it would be!

even more joy- a gift certificate to take her class Machine Quilting Negative Space on Craftsy.com

Oh I know you are jealous now- yup that is a Fat Quarter bundle of Tula Pink's new line Saltwater!  I was beyond excited to receive this- and can't stop dreaming of different things to do with it- oh the endless possibilities!

My new Juki really doesn't like my typical Serger thread- it just isn't strong enough to do the job without breaking in my new set up, so I have been exploring new options with thread and have found Isacord to be a really great and cost effective option- so I was very pleased to have received some!

and finally an Isacord thread chart so I can always be sure to order the right shade for the job

Lastly I wanted to share a few progress shots on the annual Christmas quilt I make us every year- my darling BF started this tradition 3 years ago- he buys me his favorite holiday collection in precuts and I design and make us a quilt with it in December and January- only to put it away until the next holiday season when all the previous quilts come out to decorate our little home for the holidays.  I love this tradition and look forward to making my quilt and seeing the past quilts every Holiday season.  This year I got a layer cake and a charm pack of Dear Mr Claus- which I ADORE and decided to try to utilize as much of it as possible- here are some shots of what I have done with it so far- you will have to stay tuned to see how it all comes together.

part of a block- yes there will be more- but it gives you an idea of what I am doing with it.

40 + more block components all pieced, ironed and ready to go

88 sets of tiny 2" half square triangles- oh so tedious and not yet pressed- but I am so glad to be this far!

Much more Christmas quilt to go- stay tuned to see what it turns into!  Happy New Year everyone- can't wait to see what 2013 brings for us all- hopefully lots of love, laughter and fun sewing!
I am linking up to WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced