The eve of New Year’s Day 2018:

• The Christmas tree is packed in a Rubbermaid bin next to the furnace.
• My Willow Tree Nativity set is carefully wrapped, boxed, and tucked under my husband’s workbench.
• Darling Daughter is flying back to her home in Texas.

And I’m back upstairs in my sewing loft, enjoying the view of fresh snow and a rising Wolf Moon. Our neighborhood is peacefully quiet, too. Of course not much stirs outside when the temperature is -3°F.

I click on my iron and sewing machine, press two pieces of fabric and piece them together for the back of a lap quilt. That’s enough stitching for today since tomorrow’s sunshine will bathe the room with light and possibilities.

My Quilt Project Status

I have five works-in-progress (WIPs) spread all over my quilting loft.

• Jelly Roll Twist lap-size quilt: Top is pieced, back is pieced, binding is cut. The next steps are basting, quilting, and binding.
• Lucky Stars twin-size quilt: Top is pieced, back is pieced, binding is cut. The next steps are to deliver the top and backing to a longarm quilter and then bind it.
• Project Linus Mystery Challenge: Blocks are pieced. The next steps are to cut background strips, piece the top, baste, quilt, and bind.
• Barn Style lap-size quilt: Three blocks are pieced. The next steps are to cut the remaining fabrics, piece __ blocks, piece the top, baste, quilt, and bind.
• Simple Diamond flannel lap-size quilt: Cutting is done. Next steps are to piece, baste, quilt, and bind.

2018 Quilting Goals

This year my overarching goal is to have fun while finishing projects and emptying a few shelves filled with fabric. To measure my progress, I plan to do the following activities each month.

• Track how much fabric I use (finished quilts and sewing projects).
• Track how much fabric I buy.
• Calculate net yardage.

One Monthly Goal – January

During January I plan to complete the Jelly Roll Twist lap quilt for my nephew’s birthday.

During September 2017 — when Moda Fabrics sponsored Project Jelly Roll — I pieced the quilt top. While working on the layout, my five-year-old nephew asked me who it was for. When I told him that I didn’t know, he said he would like it. So I’ll be happy to give it to him soon!

What fun projects and activities do you have planned for 2018?

Today I’m linking up with Elm Street Quilts’ One Monthly Goal and Beth at Cooking Up Quilts. I’m also participating in the American Patchwork and Quilting UFO Challenge.