So far in 2011 I’ve finished a quilt that I started in 2004, made progress on a new quilt pattern (scheduled to be released in Spring 2011), and started stitching together my Dear Diary 2010 blocks.

This wasn’t the layout I was envisioning last year … I mistakenly thought I only made a handful of blocks and intended the open spaces to not only add visual interest, but increase the quilt dimensions as well.

After I started sewing the blocks together potholder-quilt style, I discovered this stack of blocks in varying stages of completion. Guess I needn’t have worried about the finished quilt being too small. I’m still glad I’m doing it this way, not only will there be less sewing in the assembly, I think it’s going to look better.

Stay tuned this year for further Dear Diary 2010 updates, breaking news on my new quilt patterns, and more quilting adventures! Although I’m not going to be blogging every day, I will be quilting every day and therefore should have no problem figuring out what to blog about. I promise to periodically set down my needle and thread to post a blog entry or two from time to time.

It’s my Dear Diary 2010 journal and I post every day with my Zig pigment pens.

But unless you happen to meet me in the street (or maybe at Road to California later this month) you might never get to read it. I promise to give you updates here every now and then.

Dear Diary 2010 is coming along quite well. I’m still working out a few kinks in the program, such as: maybe it’s not the most realistic expectation to design, create, and quilt a new block each and every single night when you get started around 10 or 11 pm. I can definitely design it and at least fuse or piece each one daily though. As long as I don’t skip any days I’ll be able to catch up.

None of them are quilted yet because I’m still deciding how I want to quilt them. I’m leaning towards hand quilting around the edges with big-stitch quilting with top-stitching thread. (I really love the look of bold hand stitches, and the 4-inch blocks are great for taking along.) Once they’re quilted I’m going to connect them with E seed beads.

Here are my first week’s blocks:

Stay tuned for more!