a winter monday

winter has arrived along with about 4" of snow....light and fluffy that blows off surfaces....very good!  a busy week planned with tree deconstructing and some detritus flinging.  lots of sewing got done that i can't show yet but here is what's in the hoop....

the "stars in a time warp" circa 2015 i believe....another repro bed size quilt....it was a barbara brackman sew along and finally getting quilted.  **** this next project is a wrap

it's the last 2 blocks of the 'civil war diary' book that i'll ever sew....i've a fair amount done and plan to finish them potholder style and maybe make a few smaller pieces rather than all in one...not sure yet.  

hoping the new year sorts out my facebook account, brings me continued health and gives covid the heave-ho.  plenty of sewing lined up of course.  got my april maine trip all scheduled and this time hoping for no broken bones on my return...at least that's the plan...LOL

back in the groove....

Covid continues to wax and wane, normal life resumes after holidays and winter finally arrives!  we are under a weather advisory, 2-4" of snow....which makes this new england gal roll her eyes and chuckle.  another day with no specific plans other than the usual...here is my final report from magic week and the weekend....

finished the tree runner fashioned from leftover blocks...this is done and will get packed up with christmas stuff whenever that happens....also done is this...

some time this week a pinkeep will emerge....a zoom visit with like-minded sewists resulted in more of these finished...7 done and 9 to go...

and (drum roll please).....finished 2 blocks of the civil war diary book....

this is work as i am no longer enamored with this project, but i shall persevere and arrive at surrender...tried several methods to streamline these blocks but failed, so will soldier on....fabrics and pattern pulled for january mini, a new project started for a gift, list made of a few things i'd like to do this year....and this is the 2022 motto....

January OMG

in the Peanuts strip, Charlie Brown wishes Lucy a happy new year...she yells at him, "I'm not done with the old one yet!"...2021 did have its challenges for sure, but starting a new year with a fresh outlook and new hopes might be just the ticket for us, the Covid-weary....a quick post to list my January OMG...it is the long-languishing civil war diary quilt....this is THE month i decide-intend-plan to finish the blocks!  it's been patiently waiting for its turn and i am more than anxious to see this one off my quilty plate.  

you can see the foundation pieces sticking out from every block still to make...i think there are about 35....so a hefty task for one month but once begun is soon done!  i'm linking up with patty over at elm street quilts to make it all legal....

welcome 2022!

 

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many blessings came my way in 2021 and have many hopes for this year--good health, good friends, safety and prosperity for me and my loved ones, happiness for all, maybe some dreams fulfilled...planning on more sewing, more exercise, more good reads and always God's loving care and protection. unfortunately the COVID train barrels on and our county is again on mask mandate for all indoor public spaces...isolated life continues, but could be much worse...sending wishes for healthy, happy, joyful new year....we could even tolerate a bit of snow...LOL! 

december mini

here is december's mini....linking up with wendy so be sure and check out the other mini links she has posted...

only about 17" square, it's about as mini as i ever make....love the blue/white....so crisp looking and very wintry, even tho we have no snow and not even cold winter temps.  

it's already thursday so only 2 more days in magic week...this morning listed projects i'd like to do in 2022...have pulled some floss for a couple of cross-stitch tasks, planned out a quilt for next christmas giving, pulled fabrics and book for january mini leaving only laundry and a quick grocery trip.  my new year's wish is for covid to disappear entirely....sigh....

finished - one monthly goal!

 chalk up the last finish of 2021....my december monthly goal....

my apologies for not listing designer....i saw this made by somebody else long ago in blues and lavenders so have no idea i'm afraid...i went for scrappy.  it's throw size, 54" square, but nice to curl up with...that makes 45.31 yards busted for the year with only the previously mentioned 18.5 added so a respectable accounting.  i'm linking up with patty, who keeps track of the OMG stats....

today's task?  bind the december mini, machine quilt and bind the 'trees' runner, start a new quilting project and some cross stitch might round out the day.  not to mention washing dishes and doing laundry, the least fun tasks, oh, and the must-do exercise.  keeps thumper (heart) happy you know!

magic week progress

it's the dawn of day 3 and progress has been made!  first tackled this task before it became unmanageable....

cut up all the scraps in the basket and filed them away in their respective shoeboxes...do have a small stash of batik scraps that i'm keeping separate for a percolating project....next came this finish....

the guild's challenge....mine was blue and a baggie of scraps challenged my quilty muse to the max!  they were hinky scraps and i added the pink in the center, a lovely dutch chintz.  dear friend (now angel) marianne came to the rescue again with the border print she flung my way during one of her purges.... these quilts end up with a charity so no doubt somebody will love it, just not me.  *** last night started sewing the binding on 2021's last finish so that will continue today.  ***  surprise visit from santa on his way to Cancun for winter vacation.... a wayward gift in the bottom of the sleigh......

some lovely repro fabrics!  the total added to the stash for 2021 is now 18.5 yards with used up--as in done/done not waiting UFO--of over 40 yards this year!  by my dodgy math that's progress. *** as every year since i relocated, waiting for winter weather that has not yet arrived...at least by my new england inner gauge.  today's predicted 54 with nary a flake in sight...not winter but spring!

it's magic week!

 

no annoying covid talk here.....just a bit of new england winter to close out the year....the quintessential lobster trap tree!  magic week is that week between christmas and new year where the focus is off holiday prep and onto the anticipation of the clean slate of a new year.  still in the glow of a wonderful holiday with my daughter and son-in-law...and basking in the blessings we shared.  with no other family around, those hugs are so precious to me...received some lovely gifts....

also some joann gift cards for quilty supplies....the soap from a far away quilty friend...another gift card toward replacing my cd player....all are very nice and will be enjoyed..hoping to finish the christmas cross-stitch this week....but it's the hugs and warmth of family that give me the greatest joy....i'll take more of that please!

merry christmas!

well almost, but i'm hopping on the blue sled to be with family so will post my wish today....spent a bit of time on a festive UFO that is progressing at a snail's pace, a very old snail...LOL!

my facebook group 'celebrate hand quilting' showed off their red and green quilts this week so was inspired to spend some time on this.  it'll be 4 blocks altogether with a swag border of some sort...no deadline...maybe next christmas?  

so disheartening to wake every morning to news of shootings and murders overnight.  a young police woman was ambushed and shot a week ago and just yesterday taken off life support....imagine if the only gift you can give is to unplug a loved one....christmas is forever changed for her family.  makes me even more thankful for the cherished blessings in my life..."blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted" matthew 5:4....may all my readers find joy in the season and hope for the new year to come.....

ready to ride!

 rudolph is all set for his big one-night gig....

finished this seasonal wall quilt and a table topper for that all-important plate of cookies....

speaking of cookies.....another batch got made....

simple butter cookies with a dab of raspberry peach champagne jam, courtesy of stonewall kitchen, a maine purveyor of yummy things.  the recipe called for rolling the balls in walnuts, but didn't have enough, and also for candied cherries instead of jam, which i can't eat.  even so, they are delish!  

my secret elf sent along some very nice gifties...first, an adorable mug rug

and a selection of very pretty repro fabrics....

received a surprise gift card that provided another giftie to myself....a new toaster oven.  i use this every single day and the one i had was about 10 years old with a spring-loaded drop-down door that caused innumerable tiny burn accidents.  the new design door stays down and the opening is a bit larger as well.  all that's needed when cooking for one.

have been ready for the holiday for a couple of weeks now, so could spend time on finishing a UFO that'll get its binding today.  the december mini is ready to bind as well.  pulled out civil war diary project and decided will finish the blocks potholder method perfected by my maine pal wendy.  all ready to go when january arrives.  

the holiday will be low key with just daughter, son-in-law and me but just as meaningful.  christmas is all about family no matter the size.