Happy New Year 2016

Out with the Old and In with the New...

A dear friend of mine shared her newly chosen "personal word" for the year with me this morning.   I decided to go ahead and choose one for myself.

My word for 2016 can be.... CHERISH

To cherish every.... bit of sunshine

                             stitch

                             new thing learned

                             smile and giggle

                             kitty purr

                             hug

And , yes... even to cherish every mistake ( even my seam ripper? !)

I took a few minutes to look back at some of the  things that I made during 2015....

 Quilts:

Water Color Sea Horses     pattern by Elaine at Summercrafter
Farm Girl Vintage Sampler Quilt     (back)  pattern by Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet
Irish Chain Twist Quilt Along      pattern by Melissa at Happy Quilting
Spinning In the Rain BoM  pattern by  Sew Lux Fabric Shop
Farm Girl Vintage Sampler Quilt     (front)   pattern by Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet
Peppermints  pattern by Elaine at Summercrafter
Duck, Duck, Goose!  pattern by Elaine at Summercrafter
Geometric Gradation   (Penn State Whiteout!) pattern by Geta at Romanian Quilt Studio
Dog Gone Cute Quilt Along ( The Naughty Little Puppy)  pattern by Lorna at  Sew Fresh Quilts


Wallhangings:

Forest of Pieced Trees  (Low Volume Forest)  pattern by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
Cardinals  pattern by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
fREADom Bookshelf Quilt   pattern by by Soma  @ Whims and  Fancies
Sweet Treats  pattern by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
Ladybugs  pattern by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
'Lil Catz  pattern by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
Valentine Rose  by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
Kitty Deerest  by Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
Red Letter Day mini   by  Thimbleblossoms

Now for 2016:
I  already have found a new favorite  addictive  pincushion pattern for the New Year ...
The Deluxe Pincushion  from the book, " Sew Organized or the Busy Girl" by Heidi Staples !

The top  left view is  a pincushion for.... Me !   (Happy New Year, Susie!!) 
Isn't this Miss Kate fabric luscious!!  I used both  the green fabric and the navy and green print for the back of my pincushion.  (Those are the main fabrics used in each of the bottom pincushions.)

The other 3  Deluxe Pincushions are gifts!  (Notice the bottom two are  made with that cute Miss Kate fabric again!!)  The top right hand pincushion has cat fabric on the front and back.  My daughter hand picked her little 9 patch square fabrics.

The pincushion is an adorable  little size-  5 1/2 " x 6 1/2 " ... with a little front pocket.  I like to make them plump!  I have made 4 of them already.  ( What day is it ? January 1st.)  And,   I look forward to making more projects from this book!  It is a gem!

I also made a new pillow for 2016:

The Striped Tabby Cat paper pieced design  by  Soma at Whims and Fancies

Soma designed this  14 inch square paper pieced pattern with stripes !! She has captured the perfect cat pose ( "cat"itude  and expression!   (pattern here)

I have named my sweet cat pillow "Tessie," and used  this green leafy fabric  (Michael Miller's  Asian Maple) for the background.  

The back of my Tessie Cat pillow.... with a hidden zipper

Look at the facial details in the pattern....

I added 1 inch sashing  around the block, continuing in the green leafy fabric.  Next, lines were machine quilted in the sashing border , using gold thread, at 1/4 inch apart.  I tried to give a bit of texture to the edges , by  imitating  a picture frame.

Simple quilting like a picture frame, in gold thread

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year, filled with blessings and lots of cherished moments!   
Stop by to see where this year takes me on my sewing journey!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Linking up at:   Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio   and
                        Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!  @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict   and
                       Fabric Tuesday  @ Quilt Story