The Bernina Sewing Center

In December, we visited The Bernina Sewing Center in Matawan, NJ. This store has all the Berninas and everything Bernina. Seriously, I've never seen so many Berninas. 

Obviously they specialize in Bernina sewing machines. They sell, repair, instruct and advise on the machines. They have sewing classes, lessons for the various machines, and vast knowledge of quilt making, machine embroidery and appliqué and more. They do not have much fabric, it's more of a service shop, but they have every accessory you can think of for the brand. This is a Bernina only retailer. 

Run by a husband and wife team, who recently took over this 20 year plus establishment, this is a fun and friendly quilting environment, especially if you love Bernina. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. 

Bernina Sewing Center
443 Hwy 34
Matawan, NJ 07747
Motto: "Enter as Strangers... Leave as Friends". 

2017FAL Q1

It's that time again, folks! The 2017 Finish A-Long is here. Find out all you need to know over and Mrs Sew and Sow's blog. 
For last years Finish-A-Long I chose 5 finishes each Quarter. But since I only had 5 finishes all year, that seem like a bit much. This year I plan to have three finishes in each Quarter, which seems a little more reasonable. It will be a goal again for me this year to have one finish per month. So, without further ado, here is my 2017Q1 list:  

1. Finish Quilting, Bind, and Label Maybe Lyz Quilt

This one's been on the FAL for a while, time to finish it up!! Quilting this one is also my OMG goal for January. unfortunately, I have already hit a snag, I can't find my thread!!

2. Finish Piecing Top, Make Backing, Baste, Quilt, Bind, Label, and Use, TOM Mat.

When I gave Elvis his mat, Tom indicated he wanted one as well. Since Tom looks quite sad sitting on the cold floor, I'll try to finish this one right away.  

3. Finish Top and Backing, Baste, Quilt, Bind, Label and Name MadCatQuilt2016BOM Quilt

This has a long way to go, but let's get it done!

Bonus: Gift Mat

This is a special gift and still a secret. 

Okay, so I threw a bonus in there, too. I'm hoping to have more finishes than ever before this year, so why not?

You can check out my 2015FAL (5 finishes) here. And my 2016FAL (4 finishes) here. 

I'm excited for my third year of this huge FAL. I'm excited for new hosts; thanks for running the show, guys! I'm linking up with the FAL, Move It Forward Monday, Making Monday, and more!
Who else is joining up?

New Block: Improve Tree + Honey Pot Bee 2017

For me, this year might be the year of the BOM. There are just so many great ones out there! A BOM that's really interesting is Molli Sparkles' Honey Pot Bee. This project is a cross between a BOM and a block bee. Molli says there will be 2 blocks each month, with maybe some surprises added in. 

This block was actually one of those surprises! Molli announced this block in Dec as sort of a warm up for 2017. 

I made mine hand sewn and scrappy, using vintage wool and some fabric from old jeans. 

Mine is pretty wonky, of course. My husband is a beginner machine sewist and his came out quite neat!

It turns out that the MadCatQuiltsBOM2017 (more on that soon) is all about picture blocks so I thought that this would also be a great as a warm up for that BOM as well!

My husband is joining the MCQBOM for 2017, so he created the improv tree block, too. 

My color palate for the MCQBOM2017 is all grey so I made this block in that color way. But that means I still haven't figured out a fabric pull for The Honey Pot Bee. I Hope I will have by the  time I get to the January block. 

Please continue to share the BOMs and FALs your working on this year! Who else is joining the Honey Pot Bee?

I've linked up this block on instagram at #honeypotbee and am sharing it with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching as well as other linky parties this week!

OMG2017 Jan - Everything old...

... is new again! 

Time for a new year of OMG but I'm starting off with an old goal. This month, I would like to finish quilting (at very least) the Maybe Lyz Quilt. This one might be a tricky goal bc I seem to have miss placed the thread I'm using. 

I finished my DecOMG goal, so let's start the new year off on a roll. Linking up with Elm Street Quilts. 

2017 Goals

As the last year ends, I start to think about things I want to accomplish in the coming year. Things that I want to exert my energy and thoughts to. I find that making this list helps me keep them in my thoughts and have a guide to live by. My overarching goal is always to Live More Mindfully. Here is my list for 2017:

Work on Personal Endeavors as Much as My Job
In 2015 I wrote: "I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me". Ever since then, I have been working towards this goal, that has come to not only encompass Art but also other important aspects of my Life outside of a job. After we moved, in late 2015 and early 2016, I tried very hard to take a break from a job, I tried to work outside of the house less and in the house more. It had mixed results but it gave me a lot of insight into myself and how I work, and what work means to me, both my own and my job. This year, I plan on further committing to working a job less and working for myself more. One idea I have for this, inspired by my new beach town life style, is to make Summer the time that I work my job more and play harder, and Winter the time that I focus on my own endeavors. Seasonal living is totally new to me, but I see many possibilities there. 

Be a Better Quilter, Be a Better Blogger
I want to increase my quilting skill, learn more, push myself. I want to be a better and more consistent blogger. 

House, Cats, Plants, Family, Friends, Health
Another goal to level up in aspects of my life. This goal includes things like; eating better, drinking more water, exercising more, daily walks, daily stretching, cat contemplation and cat care, making our house more truly our home and being better at caring for it, heading towards a more minimal lifestyle and getting rid of things we do not need, organizing, using up and not buying new, reusing, recycling, keeping our plants healthy and happy so that our home is rich and lush, keeping up with my bujo, making sure to catch up with and stay in contact with family and friends, making sure to be mindful of the health and happiness of my immediate family, my larger family and my community, and there's more!  But this goal is overall, to strive for a more caring and mindful way of life. 

Less TV / More Books
I watched a lot of TV in 2016. Not actual TV bc we don't have that, but a seemingly endless stream of mindless consumption of media. Already, after major life changes in December 2016, I've started to watch way less. I've watched some, but moved over to more movies, and more mindful watching. But I could and should always read or listen to books more. 

Hand Poked Tattoos
In 2016, I started learning the art of Stick and Poke tattooing. I plan to continue this in a more purposeful manner in 2017. 

Travel When Possible, Explore When Not
We were unable to travel far in 2016, this coming year we are slightly less tethered so I would like to travel more. When we cannot travel, exploring near our home should be a priority.

Quilt More. 
No further explanation needed. 

That are your goals for 2017? Leave them in the comments, or leave a link to your posts!

For reference, here are my goals from the previous two years. 

2016:
Work on Creative Endeavors as Much as Work 
For 2015, I wrote "I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me". And this past year has taught me that this is a very difficult task. Nearly Impossible. I am excited to carry this goal over and continue to work towards it.  
Quilting
As a way to work towards goal number 1, I need to work more on my craft. Some things I want to work on in this area are to improve my skills, be involved in at least one market, and one show, have a finish every month, and generally make more! 
Blog/Shop/Sales
In 2015, I made great strives in my blogging. I want to keep that up with regular blog posts. Like, really regular! I learned last year that I need take 1 month off from blogging. My slowest time for posts is over the summer. I failed to update shop regularly in 2015. This is something I hope to do. Hopefully that will result in more sales, as I would like to gain practice at selling, packaging, and gathering customers and followers to widen my community. 
Draw More (some).  
To inspire this goal, I've started a secret project. Something that might help this would be to do a drawing a day for a year. 365 drawings might be a weighty goal, but I'm going to try!
Deadlines
I want to learn to set and complete more deadlines for myself.  
House and Home
I want to continue to get better at taking care of my family and our home.  
Exercise/Diet/Cooking
I want to get better at taking care of myself and my health. I'd like to exercise at least 4 times a week. I want to stretch every day. I want to continue to make and eat wonderful and healthy foods. 
Wardrobe/Use Up, Don't Buy
I plan to continue my wardrobe project which I worked on last year. And I want to strive to reduce, reuse, and recycle more in my everyday life. I'd love to be able to not buy anything (besides food, necessities, etc...) for at least 6 months out of the year 2016.  
Community
Now that I've moved, I need to get involved! Step one - get a job I love! I also want to make sure that I stay in touch with my old community, so friends will be a priority this year. 
Read More
'Nuff said. 

2015:
Work on Creative Endeavors as Much as Work - I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me.
Sewing/Blogging - More sewing and more blogging about it! I want to work on my online shop. I must do one market, or fair. 
Take Better Care of My Health and the Health of My Family/Take Better Care of the House - In all the hustle and bustle of work and life this is something I often forget to pay close attention to. I want to always be striving to make a better house for my family and plants and keep us in good health.
Stay in Touch with My Friends - I'm fairly antisocial by nature, but I love my friends and care to make them feel appreciated. 
Use Up, Don't Buy -  I need to reduce all things in my life and and make better use of the things I keep. 
Wardrobe Makeover - One thing I have far too many of are clothes. I must make my wardrobe more manageable and stop buying clothes!  
Travel when Possible - Always more exploring to be done.
Read More - I can only remember reading three books last year. Pitiful. 
Move Out of the City - It's time. 

Regular Scheduled Programming

OK, scheduled might be pitching it a bit thick, but there are some regular columns posted here at Mad Cat Quilts. This is what they looked like for 2016 (and before if you scroll back enough):

Months in Review - My review of the month with my favorite instagram posts. 

WIP - Works In Progress, few words. 

Something New - New things I'm trying, or old things that are new again. 

New Block - I'm always trying to sew new blocks. 

Book Reviews - One of my yearly goals is always to read more. 

Zoo at Home, Zoo Abroad - I love to visit zoos. This column shares them. 

Monthly Plant Update - A visual account of the plants around me. 
(Added this year)

On My Mind On Friday Morning - Links, thoughts, research, and little updates on life. 

Art and Nature... - Art and nature go together, here I write about where I find that combo. 
(Only one post this year)

And here are some community groups that I joined in on this year:

OMG2016 - One Monthly Goal started by Red Letter Quilts in 2016. Currently showing at Elm Street Quilts. Pick a goal each month and complete it!

YOTS2016 - Year Of The Stash was started by Quarter Inch From The Edge in 2016. Use your stash, record it here!

2016FAL - This is the big Finish Along which you can find at A Quilter's Table among others blogs. Make quilt finish goals for each quarter, and get 'em done!!

And for the very first time this year, I'm working on making my own Block of the Month club:

MCQBOM2016 - Mad Cat Quilts 2016 was all about trying to set a monthly block goal and complete it. New (to me) blocks only!

Some columns I tried this year didn't work out as well as these and won't be continued. But you win some... etc... I hope to add to this list every year, if possible. This list is mostly for myself but I thought you might like to see them, too. 

For those of you who write blogs, what is your own favorite regular column? 
For all blog makers and readers, who has your favorite column in a blog?