Hi and welcome 😊! Winter is officially here. I've had to go out most days and my sandals and jacket have been put away until Spring! We don't have much snow but it's definitely mittens weather - I bought myself a perfect pair of mittens before Christmas and then got a very warm hat and scarf...so I can brave the cold, if I have to! I hope that you're keeping warm if winter has arrived in your area. It's the perfect excuse to stay inside and play!

A Different Kind of Agenda

Since I barely used my agenda last year, I wasn't certain if I should bother getting a new one and making a cover for it. I've been making a new agenda cover since 2020, so it's become a lovely tradition, but is it worth it if I don't use it?

I did have the perfect fabric that I bought last year from my artist friend Connie. So, if not an agenda, then what? After thinking about it, I came up with the perfect solution (I hope - we'll see at the end of the year!) I made an Upcycled Traveler's Journal that I can store booklets to take notes or sketch and a small agenda.

2025's Traveler's Journal and Agenda

Inside the 2025 Traveler's Journal and Agenda

I think that this was the most fun that I've had making the agenda cover because I also go to make the Upcycled Traveler's journal. We've been cleaning up our books, so for the cover, I used a book that I wasn't going to re-read. The Traveler's journal consists of a cover with elastics to hold booklets inside. This allows the traveler to remove a booklet and not have to lug the whole journal around.

This was a very upcycled project since I also used the fabric from a favourite pair of PJ bottoms to make the lining.

The lining of my journal cover is from upcycled PJ bottoms😍

I used the first booklet to make notes on how to make the journal cover. The course I use is from Craftsy and I make it at least once a year, but the fabric needs to be cut based on the size of the journal. Since it's very easy to get it wrong, I write all of the measurements down. My first project of 2025 was a huge success!

The first booklet contains my notes on making the journal cover

I bought a package of 6 lovely, handmade booklets from Italy to use in my journal. I often find them at Home Sense. They are small and perfect for this project.

Journal cover and the handmade booklets used inside

This is what the Traveller's Journal looks like without the fabric cover. I removed all of the pages and then glued on a piece of upholstery canvas to keep the spine strong. I then pierced four holes at the top and bottom of the spine to place the elastics. I also added an old envelope to use for odds and ends.

Original book pages removed and spine reinforced with canvas

You can see the elastics at the top and bottom of the spine

Here is an image of the entire covering fabric that I FMQ. I was feeling very Zen so I followed the lines of the stamps, filling each set with a different pattern. I then quilted some gentle loops in the borders.

FMQ the beautiful stamped fabric

One Monthly Goal

I managed to miss the January One Monthly Goal link up by a day, but I'm still going to include it in my post. I'm trying to be more organised about my quilting and art making, and I figured that this would be one way to help me along. Of course, I'll have to write it down in my agenda and then read the agenda to link up on time 😁!

I've just finished embroidering the Snow Happens panel. I now have to turn it into a wall hanging for my DIL. Here is the embroidery before it was ironed.

Snow Happens embroidery, ready to be made into a wall hanging

What I learned

As I mentioned, I've been making a quilting agenda cover since 2020 but last year I used my agenda until July and then it lay hidden under a pile of papers on my desk. I am working on sorting my studio, including that pile of papers but since I use my phone agenda all the time, the paper agenda is a bit redundant. So having a tiny agenda to mark down deadlines (like the OMG!) and other quilting challenges, etc. might be enough.
I have been working diligently to finish the first Project Quilting challenge. I'll be ready to post on Sunday at the latest, but if all goes well, probably on Friday or Saturday. I'm really excited about it, so I hope that you'll check out the post when it comes out!
I still have my 2025 planning post to write...before the January 15th deadline. I've been really thinking about it. I need 2025 to be more mindful and less about frantically chasing squirrels!
To sum up, I've been thinking about how to work more mindfully in 2025. Hopefully the steps I'm taking now will lead to success. 😊

Free Motion Mavericks

Welcome to week 514 of Free Motion Mavericks! Thanks so much for linking up. Here are the projects from last week that included FMQ, ruler work or walking foot quilting.

Preeti of Sew Preeti Designs is having a rough time. She did so well in 2024 on the quilting front - let's wish her success in the other parts of her life! Here was one of my favourite quilts.

Preeti's Pesto Mushrooms

I've seen most of Gail's quilts since she links up at Free Motion Mavericks on a regular basis. I don't remember seeing these (I think?) Those are such cute giraffes. These quilts were a part of the Twilight Blog Hop in October.