Sunday, December 30, 2012

This Year, Next Year & Today


1. Retro Kitchen (2), 2. I Spy front, 3. Granny's Salt Water Taffy Quilt, 4. Mixed Signals, 5. Cabin by the Sea, 6. Zakka Itty Bitty Magnets, 7. Watercolor, 8. Zakka Organizer Front, 9. Makeup Bag, 10. Modernista Swap Project, 11. Focus Mini Quilt, 12. Nursery Versery Apron in Use, 13. Sushi Lunch Mat 2, 14. Retro Library Case, 15. Chicopee Bag, 16. Memory Draped, 17. Weekender 1, 18. Go Faster & Bigger Bags, 19. Scrappy Square Pillow, 20. Market Lap Quilt

It was almost exactly one year ago from today that I wrote my first post for Fabric Mutt. I can hardly believe it really. In some ways it feels like I've been doing this forever, and in other ways it feels as if I've just begun. Now...more than 200 posts, nearly 400 followers, and over 75,000 page views later...I'm so happy to say that I still love doing this. There's still so much to learn and try and see, and I'm terribly grateful to all of you who have shared with me your advice, encouragement, friendship, and laughter, making 2012 one of the most incredible years I've ever spent. Thank you so much.

I had a lot of fun going through my flickr account today, reminiscing about the past year. I picked twenty of my favorite projects for the mosaic above, and if you're interested, you can see the rest on my new "finishes" page.

Today is my 35th birthday, and my family has made it special as always. When I was young, I found it a little awkward to have a birthday so close to Christmas, but now I really enjoy wrapping up my year along with the one on the calendar. It's a great time to take stock of where I am and where I want to go, though I like to think of them less as resolutions and more as goals. I'd love to get a little braver when it comes to free motion quilting, and this past week I finally learned how to knit (more on that in a future post). I also have a few things I'm working on now which I'll be able to share with you next month. There are other ideas in the works, but they'll keep for today. For the moment, I'm happy with what's on my plate.

To celebrate my birthday and the new year, I'm having a little giveaway today. My scrappy stash is growing faster than I can keep up with it, and I'd love to stuff an envelope full of goodies to send off to one of you.  Leave me a comment on this post telling me what you're hoping to do in the next year -- and it doesn't have to be quilting related if you have other things on your mind today. If you're a follower -- old or new -- you can leave a second comment. International entries are welcome, just please be sure that your email address is included. I'll pick a winner on New Year's Day.

One of my favorite poems is one that I first read in high school: "takes talent" by Don Marquis. It sort of reminds me of this whole blogging experience.

there are two
kinds of human
beings in the world
so my observation
has told me
namely and to wit
as follows
firstly
those who
even though they
were to reveal
the secret of the universe
to you would fail
to impress you
with any sense
of the importance
of the news
and secondly
those who could
communicate to you
that they had
just purchased
ten cents worth
of paper napkins
and make you
thrill and vibrate
with the intelligence

Hopefully, even on my paper napkin days, you found something here on Fabric Mutt to make you smile. Thank you, my friends...

Linking up to Craft Buds.

Edited to add: linking up to Fresh Sewing Day too! 


81 comments:

  1. I have several quilts planned to accomplish.

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  2. I hope to expand my quilting skills like paper piecing and piecing curves.

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  3. Happy Birthday and congrats on one year of blogging, I am a follower.

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  4. Happy birthday. Enjoy each and every moment, they pass so quickly.

    Great poem, and too often true, but maybe some of the responsibility belongs to the reader as well.

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  5. Happy Birthday - I, too, am a December baby and also had a December baby, so I know all about it!! Would seem so strange not to have a Tree up for our birthdays.
    I am a follower and would love to win!

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  6. Happy Birthday! This year I want to concentrate on the many unfinished projects that I have, many of which I love. I would also like to be more productive. Thankfor the giveaway...I LOVE scraps!

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  7. Glad your Birthday was special. I plan to fight this Diabetes by losing at least 40 pounds in 2013. Of course I have many quilting projects in mind too. lol Jane

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  8. I also stock you opps I meant follow you. Jane

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  9. This year I want to grow my blog as well as my quilting skills by trying new techniques that I have been afraid to try. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  10. I want to finish the three quilts I have in progress and cut into some treasured FQ bundles! Thanks for the chance to win - scraps are one of my very favorite things!!

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  11. I am a happy follower of your blog - happy birthday and happy new year :-)

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  12. Happy birthday Heidi!

    You certainly have accomplished a lot in the blogosphere in one year! Glad you're here!

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  13. Happy birthday! I hope to improve my applique skills this coming year. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy New Year!

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  14. Of course I'm a follower! Thank you!

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  15. I have a long list of projects plus want to learn a few things on blogging and taking pictures for the blog. Happy birthday!

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  16. Happy birthday to you, lovely girl! Have loved following along with your blog and your projects always inspire me with their colour and creativity!

    Goodness - next year - I'm not even sure what I want to achieve yet! More of the same as this year?! ;)

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  17. Happy birthday!! You did a lot this year and it STILL makes me happy to see what you made me every single day (I know I keep saying it but it makes me so happy!)

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  19. In the new year, I hope to learn needle-turn applique and I'm writing my first pattern! I follow!

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  20. I plan on making 2 wedding quilts for gifts.

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  21. My goal for 2013 is to try things I haven't tried before-like paper piecing and English paper piecing, and maybe some curves if I can stand it. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  22. Happy Birthday! I am inspired by your words about your relatively new bloggers; I am newer still (and yet older!); one of my many goals for next year is to say what you just did - that s been nearly a year since my first post. I can't imagine I'll have so many followers but who knows. Much sewing for me in the new year. And all the best to you. Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Although we haven't planned any, I hope to get away on a trip or two this year.
    Love to win your giveaway!!

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  24. I'm hoping for a better year in 2013. I would like to get some organization done in my house and expand my sewing and quilting skills.

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  25. Happy birthday and blogging anniversary! I can't remember how I found your blog a few months ago, but I'm SO glad I did! I finished my very first quilt earlier this year, and my #1 goal for the new year is to finish my second... the Vintage Holiday quilt (ahem) that I started in September. After that I'm going to work on improving my free motion quilting skills. Thanks for the chance... what a fun giveaway!

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  26. This year, I want to embrace peace more, and not feel so rushed. That's not an easy task as a homeschooling mother of five. But that is my hope. Thank you for your lovely blog. : )

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  27. And yes, I am a happy follower.

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  28. This year I'm hoping to get a Swoon quilt started (& hopefully finished by year's end!) & also another Weekender Travel bag (I made one for my daughter for Christmas after following the Long Weekend sew along, LOVED your Weekender, thanks for inspiration & for the many helpful tips). Happy Birthday, hope that you have fun celebrating & in the year ahead.

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  29. And I'm a happy follower of your blog, thanks!

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  30. Happy Birthday! Happy one year blogiversary! Happy new year!

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  31. Happy Birthday! I also would like to learn to knit next year, so would love to read your post.

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  32. Happy blogiversary!!! What a wonderful year it has been for you!!! And a big happy birthday too :)

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  33. Happy Birthday and happy Blogiversary. My goal for the new year is simply to get a few more of my projects finished.

    Leanne

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  34. Happy Birthday! This coming year, I hope to start my on blog and become more active in the on-line community. This is one of my first comments to start off with. I am going to work on commitments this year and hope to complete bunches of quilts!

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  35. I just began following you today! I look forward to coming year :)

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  36. Happy Birthday, to you and your blog! I would like to learn some new quilting methods, oh and finish some UFO's.

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  37. I'm hoping to make some more quilts and improve my free motion quilting.

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  38. I'm a follower - I really enjoy your blog and Happy belated Birthday :-)

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  39. Everything in your mosaic is so beautiful! I just wrote about how learning about and using interfacing (of all things) is on my 2013 list.

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  40. My goals aren't specific at this point, other than starting to embroider again...

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  41. Happy birthday / New Year! What pretty projects you've had this year... thanks for linking up at Craft Buds!

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  42. Beautiful poem, to go with your beautiful makes this year! Happy New Year, and Happy birthday! I've got no specific things to achieve, apart from one very personal, out of my control thing!

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  43. Happy birthday!! I would like some fabric to make quilts for the neonatal unit and lap quilts for the physical rehab ward. I was there for two months after an accident and spending 7 weeks in a trauma unit. I speak from personal experience about the problems of trying to get around in a wheelchair with a sheet or blanket covering your legs and either sliding out on the floor or getting tangled in the wheels. Ugh thank you so much for a great blog babscorbitt@gmail.com

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  44. I am a follower and look forward to your blog babscorbitt@gmail.com

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  45. Happy Birthday! I really want to finish all of my lingering projects - especially my double wedding ring quilt!

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  46. What a lovely post you wrote! The poem brought tears to my eyes...

    Happy Birthday!!!!!! Love your blog and can't believe you only started writing it a year ago! Congratulations on your success!

    I have tons of goals for next year. Here are some of the sewing-related ones: learn how to make more types of Japanese-style pouches, improve my hand quilting and hand sewing in general, get faster at sewing.

    Hope your 2013 is fantastic!

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  47. Happy Birthday! Thanks for the chance to win. You are inspiring me to go through my scraps and do a similar giveaway. Scraps can so easily take over! ;)

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  48. Happy birthday! I enjoy all your posts, paper napkin and otherwise :)

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  49. I am a follower - thanks for the sweet giveaway!

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  50. Happy birthday! :)
    Next year I am hoping to finish my first quilt (currently piecing the top) and to try my first EPP. My brother bought me the Hexa-go-go book for Christmas that I'd really been hoping for, yay :)

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  51. I really plan to spend more time for me- quilting. I have committed to cut my hours at work. Now I just need to do it. Happy Birthday and Happy Blogiversary!

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  52. I plan on quilting some of the projects I have bookmarked in 2012. I have hopes on starting a blog to keep track of projects completed. Happy Birthday. I really enjoy your blog. I had so much fun making the Vintage Holiday Quilt-a-Long. It pulled me out of my comfort zone!!! Thanks for a chance to win.

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  53. I am now officially following your blog. : )

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  54. Am I too late, couldn't post from my phone away from home! This year i am planning on moving house (soon) and I've just started up a monthly book challenge and giveaway, to encourage everyone to start using the books they have. Ange : ). And Happy New Year!!

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  55. Lovely mosaic and splendid year! Congrats on it all. I look forward to improving my sewing skills, both fashion and quilting. :)

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  56. Happy birthday Heidi - my b-day is the 21st! I'm working on finishing some projects I have lined up on my pile beside my work space!
    Barb@Witsend

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  57. i love that poem. i don't need to be entered in the giveaway. i just wanted to say hi :)

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  58. Happy belated b-day congratulations on all of your accomplishments this year. Good luck with every thing in the new year!

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  59. Happy birthday for yesterday! I do follow and hope to keep makng quilts!

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  60. I follow you on Google reader. Happy birthday and thanks for sharing the celebration with us!

    Elizabeth
    Lwghosts at yahoo dot com

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  61. I wrote out my sewing goals the other night. I'm still fairly new to quilting so FMQ is on the list, as is paper piecing. And several WIP!

    Thanks for celebratin with us! Best birthday wishes!
    Elizabeth
    Lwghosts at yahoo dot com

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  62. Happy new year Heidi, I am slowly getting time to read all the recap posts. I so love your quilting and I am looking forward to seeing it over the coming year. Happy Birthday late too, I hope you had a wonderful day!

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Aren't you the sweetest for leaving a comment! Due to all the ads that bombard this section, I have to moderate everything first, but look for your comment to post in a day or two. Thanks so much for writing!

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