Blog Happenings and Other Fun

I have a bunch of fun little updates for this blog and other goings on across blogland and so I figured that I would squeeze them all into one fun-filled post :)

1.  Outlined Plus Paper Version Now Available

If you like the Outlined Plus pattern, but prefer printed versions for your patterns, the full color printed version of Outlined Plus is now available in my Etsy shop.

Just as a reminder, the Outlined Plus Quilt Along being lead by Cindy from Hyacinth Quilt Designs just started yesterday (Jan 4th).

2.  Quilter's Planner Giveaway Winner

In my 2016 Goals post, I held a giveaway for a Quilter's Planner generously donated by Stephanie of Late Night Quilter.  Congrats sislyn2!

As an aside, have you seen some of the awesome covers people are making for their planners?  They are using a free pattern that comes with the planner, it is definitely on my to-make list!

3.  Tribal Block Club

Amy from 13 Spools is starting a Tribal Block Club starting January 15th. It will include 6 block tutorials and 3 quilt top patterns with 18+ weeks of content. There are three “units” in the club, each lasting 6 weeks and including 2 block tutorials & 1 quilt top pattern. The full content of each unit is released at its start to allow you to go at your own pace. The club will also have a dedicated community to share with and design support.

The early bird pricing has ended and so the price is now $39... except Amy has offered all Meadow Mist Designs readers the coupon code MISTFANS to get $10 off the purchase price (bring the total price down to $29)! The code will only work until January 12th so sign up now. I will be taking part in this fun series, I love Amy's designs.

4.  Pattern Writing Blog Series Update

The Pattern Writing Blog Series is starting soon!  The series will kick off on Monday January 18th and run for 8 weeks.  The tab above has been updated with all of the scheduled posts and topics.  I hope you are as excited for the start of this series as I am :)

5.  Top Tutorial at the Moda Bake Shop

I was so please to find out that Building Blocks, the baby sized quilt and tutorial I made was the #8 most viewed tutorial at the Moda Bake Shop.

Hope your 2016 is off to a wonderful start!

 

2016 Goals

Now that I have wrapped up 2015 (go check out all of the wonderful Best of 2015 posts from oodles of bloggers on the linky party here) I am happy to start planning and link up my 2016 goals with Yvonne over at Quilting Jetgirl.

I love the way Yvonne breaks her goals into shorter term with clear deliverables and longer term, big picture goals and so I am going to shamelessly copy her classification system.

I must admit that seeing my goals here in black and white is a little frightening but also empowering in a way.  As I am presented with new opportunities or planning out my quilting time in the new year, I will able to refer back to these goals to keep my priorities in order. (And I admit that I totally love check lists!)

2016 Goals with Clear Deliverables

• Develop and publish the Pattern Writing Blog Series
• Design and host the 2016-17 mystery quilt
• Submit a book proposal
• Co-host the 2016 New Quilt Blogger’s Blog Hop 
• Make at least two charity quilts
• Develop at least 3 new quilt patterns for sale
• Post at least 4 tutorials
• Take at least one multiple week long blogging vacation 
• Host the Best of 2016 Linky Party (I have had such fun with the 2015 linky party!)

2016 Big Picture Goals

• Continue my journey on growing as a quilter by learning new techniques and moving outside of my comfort zone.
• Strive for balance – balance between being a mother and a quilter, between computer time and quilting time, between quilting for “work” and quilting simply for fun.
• Work at carefully analyzing each opportunity I am presented with and have the courage to say no to the things that do not align with my vision, goals, and time restraints.
• Become more organized

Giveaway!

I have a new Quilter's Planner from Stephanie @ Late Night Quilter to help me organize and keep track of my goals throughout the year.  Stephanie has generously donated a Quilter's Planner as a giveaway prize to one lucky reader!

To enter, simply go to Quilter's Planner website and sign up for the mailing list and then leave a comment on this post telling me that you have signed up (or already were signed up).  Everyone that signs up will receive a free pdf!

The giveaway is open to mailing addresses within the US and Canada and the planner will be mailed directly from Stephanie.  The giveaway will end on Friday January 1st at 8pm EST.  If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your e-mail address so I have a way of contacting you.

Giveaway now closed - Thanks for entering!

My Best of 2015

Hi and welcome to my stop on the Best of 2015 blog linky party!  I had such fun going through my posts from the year to figure out which 5 posts I would be highlighting today.  It was a great way for me to review the year and revisit some finishes from earlier in the year that I had forgotten about.

I picked my top 5 posts by the posts with the most views (minus all giveaway posts and the instruction posts for my Midnight Mystery quilt-a-long).  Click on any of the titles to be taken to the blog post for more information and pictures.

1.  Sea Star  - This quilt combined two of my favorite things, a plus sign quilt (yes, I have an obsession on them) and the color blue.  I set a bunch different Kona blues on a crisp white background and finished the quilt with some straight line quilting echoing the seam lines.

2.  Quick and Easy Charm Square Baby Quilt - I needed a baby quilt in a hurry and had some leftover charm squares to use.  This tutorial is for a baby sized disappearing nine-patch quilt.

3.  Foothills Mystery Quilt Reveal - The Foothills Mystery quilt was the first mystery quilt-a-long I hosted on my blog which finished up with its reveal in March.  You can find the entire reveal parade here and the current Midnight Mystery quilt here.

4.  Building Blocks - This quilt and tutorial were posted on the Moda Bake Shop back in January.  I had such fun getting to play with the Daysail line by Bonnie and Camille and create this fun baby quilt.

5.  Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Challenge - I love quilt challenges as they force me to think outside the box and make a quilt that I might not normally make.  In this challenge we had to do something we had never done before.  For me that meant making a triangle quilt for the first time.  This quilt was gifted to my new niece that arrived in November.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I hope you will consider linking up your favorite posts from 2015!

Best of 2015 Linky Party!

Welcome to the Best of 2015 Linky Party!  This is a blog party to share your and read others top 5 posts of 2015.

To take part in the link party, simply write a blog post highlighting your "best" 5 posts from 2015 and linkup. There is no set way to pick your best, you can pick your posts anyway you would like, some examples include:

• Posts with the most views
• Posts with the most comments
• Posts that provoked the best discussions
• Posts showing your favorite 2015 finishes
• Posts of your best tutorials
• Posts that are simply your favorites

The link party is open now and will remain open for 1 week, closing on Saturday January 2nd.

I invite you to grab a cup of tea, coffee, apple cider, or your favorite blog reading beverage, relax, and have some fun reading the best blog posts of 2015 :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Merry Christmas

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season from my family to yours.  Thank you so much for your inspiration, support, and friendship over the past year!

...and don't forget that the Best of 2015 Linky Party starting tomorrow (button over on the upper left hand side of the blog).