challenge update

my challenge project for january was these blue circles....

a snowy, drab day seemed perfect to tackle them....

happy to see them ready to applique down....altho i avoid adhesives, i did use a tiny dab of roxanne's fabric glue to hold them in place.  all the while, was pondering ideas for the gold border.  have a couple of choices, now to try them out and choose.  *** about 18 years ago  (that long??) took an applique class with karen kay buckley and got some great tips.  so pulled out my trusty cheat sheet and worked a bit'o'magic to ensure a good result....

a little paintbrush and perfect circles template were all the magic needed.  getting this done gave me enthusiasm to formulate a final design for this piece.  thinking one more border after the gold--not too big for a wall display.  

another very cold day here but warm is on the way...a week from today predicting 61 degrees!!!  i'll take that happily!  

cave dwelling

After 2 years with no snow, its day 3 of the light and fluffy stuff, so far today about 4" with end mid-afternoon.  the snow and nearly every day gray and drab PLUS a few days of high winds makes the apartment--with blinds closed and drapes drawn--more like living in a cave.  mr. edison to the rescue!  plenty of channel surfing and sewing taking place.

now in the hoop (again) is the s'mores quilt.  with january's UFO done, hoping to get this one done by february?  this one is a keeper.

a few hours communing with the featherweight finished all 16 cat blocks.  ideas formulating with how to finish....stay tuned.  colors washed out but really bright as you can imagine.

for christmas bro and sis-in-love sent me a subscription to Smithsonian magazine.  no issues yet but this reusable bag arrived yesterday.  

so another day in the cave working on blue circles.  if i can get them all prepped today, perhaps then get them all appliqued before the february challenge is chosen.  with predicted warming next week, hoping winter is done for good.  yes, it's pretty, but with everything canceled and traveling treacherous, it's a big inconvenience.  

couple of recommendations.....

a bittersweet romp into the 1950s, the before of an ending we know....

the third installment of the kingsbridge series....

i'm a whodunit gal but the first book in the series was such an intriguing story, have continued.  this volume focuses on a cast of characters and an in-depth look at the catholic/protestant situation--mix of fact and fiction.  there is a new 4th book, but still 300+ pages to go in this 900+ page saga.

hoping you are warm and dry and have enjoyable pastimes to weather the winter.  consider myself quite blessed to have the same.

got scraps?

 indeed i do!  about breadbox size, the next size tote up from shoebox size.

january has been a scrap sewing month.  so when a reproduction, tiny, 9-patch sew along was proposed, well i caved in a nanosecond.  out came the 1.5" strips for blocks that will finish at 3"--that's as small as i can neatly do.  it's year long so should have quite a collection of them when 2024 says goodbye.  

a pattern provided calls for 480 of these little blocks...hmm, pretty sure i've the fabric but remains to be seen how many i make.  they are darn cute tho, aren't they?

and happy to report the first UFO finish of 2024...it's the bingo wall quilt...being donated to a local church for a bingo prize...pattern is moda love quilt. 

it's a nasty, snowy, icy and cold day here...tuesday as well....but started off this morning with a childhood fave--hot chocolate with a dollop of marshmallow fluff.  if you lived in massachusetts in the 1970s you know the tune....if you've got fluff, fluff, fluff, to make a fluffernutter, with marshmallow fluff and lots of peanut butter....haven't seen it here in MD but dear mom sends me a jar every so often.  

i use no sugar hot chocolate to lessen the sugar hit.  once the marshmallow is, ahem, gone, then i dunk my toast in it...yummy!

Fun in the sun

after way too many gloomy, dreary, rainy, windy and foggy days, the sun arrived today for the entire day!  temps hovered around 52F so that is quite tolerable.  no PT so took advantage and fired up miss sunny early this morning, like 6 am!  after 2 hours, the belt again snapped, so phoebe featherweight was called into service.  several in-process things needed attention.   first, some blue batik strips got sewn into these strippy blocks for ? border or ? blocks later on....

next, all the pieces for the happy cats sew along were cut and pinned...perhaps this weekend will finish assembling them all and then proceed to flimsy....

last, ex-wedding quilt top got assembled.  pattern is liberty road by anorina over at samelia's mum blog.  i had given the bride a choice of patterns and she chose this but absolutely NO RED!  

definitely not a problem with my abundant scrap choices.  i had things cooked ahead and the apartment is fairly neat, so no guilt in sewing the day away.   vacuuming is still on the list but another day or two won't matter.  things to do fri/sat/sun and back on PT schedule next week, so a free day was a bonus and respite.  

january nearly half over and still things to accomplish--the blue circles for one.  PT on for the remainder of the month.  can't say enough about their expertise.  they recommended an insole for the left shoe, broken hip side, and my right knee pain immediately disappeared.  walking less like a duck as well.  ortho guy was mistaken, he said it wouldn't help but it did help a great deal.  the surgeon 2+ years ago also said an insole wouldn't help and he was mistaken as well.  maybe generally it doesn't, but for me it did and couldn't be more glad.  just might be tap dancing one day after all...lol!

saturday sewing

Christmas packed away 'til december, living room reclaimed but seems bare.  weather is abhorrent....wild, heavy rain and high winds.  dabbled in magnetic poetry...

started blocks for the sewalong....satisfactory progress...'happy cats' pattern by stacey day, free on windham fabrics website.

A jane austen flick in the dvd player...homemade stew on the stove...

my january chookshed challenge is to make progress on the tree of life panel wall quilt.  i think i need about 40+ of these circles so in just a short while have these done, ready to applique.  somewhat fruitful day in the sewing department.  busy week lined up for next week...settling in to regular activities again.  mystery book calling, so off to read before bed.  

Next?

after a successful scrap sewing week, why not continue?   This pile of dark and light scrappy log cabin blocks need attention....

the 1.5 inch strip tote jam packed as well, so gotta thin the herd.  glad to say much progress during the week....

more of bonnie hunter's four-patch fun blocks got whipped up...and i do mean whipped!  they sew together so darn fast!

the kitchen sink scrappy top got done as well...this gets donated this week so done and outta here PDQ!

and a gauntlet thrown down by a quilty peep to have 24 UFOs in 2024 resulted in unearthing this quartet of batik baskets....started them to use up scraps but hey, you know how THAT goes....i do like them, no decision on final size or destination.  if the stash of batiks has to be raided then so much the better.  

holidays over again and things getting back to normal....some needed house chores got done, i greeted the new year in both sydney and new york.  those aussies sure know how to do a fireworks show!  and i watched guy lombardo on youtube...what a hoot!  no annoying resolutions, just a prayer for you and me for good health, prosperity and a generous dose of fun!  

Away we go!

off to a running start with a new challenge from my Zoom peeps....

already in with corinne et cecile's sew along but this challenge is a bit different....choose 10 projects to work on, start, move forward etc.  pretty sure i can come up with 10 (jan-oct) that fit the criteria.  

1.  Tame the wild scrap basket.....

2.  make something out of the solids drawer....have various precut sizes and they have reached jam packed stage, so it's time

3.  finish up the selvedge strips.  little container half full (or half empty) and won't take much time to use up the rest sewing up squares for potholders

4.  clear out the 2" strip shoebox by making more of bonnie hunter's scrap 4 blocks.   there should be enough for a flimsy when done

5.  start a new wall quilt 'blue plate special'....was gifted several blue scraps and a plan is formulated

6.  finish prepping circles for my dutch chintz tree of life wall quilt...this project needs to move forward as much as it can

7.  prep/baste appliques for my penn dutch wall quilt; it's a 2024 UFO and doubt it will get done this year, but would like to move this project along

8.  make 2 more project bags (see below); vinyl, zippers, fabric and batting all on hand

9.  dargate baskets applique...don't think i can get them all done this year, but needs to move forward

10.  tidy the stash shelves...a one-day project that will go a long way to assessing what's on hand and corral wanderers

the challenge requires me to post my progress for accountability and will be transparent.  have tried to choose do-able things that won't interfere with my C&C blocks or my UFO progress.  now that my health situation is pretty much maintenance mode, frees up more time for sewing fun.  i feel blessed to have such a hobby that is so enriching and enjoyable and a community of like-minded sewists.  

Last post of 2023

Shazam!  just like that another year has passed like lightning....and the first word that comes immediately to mind is thankfulness. A few notables made my year happier, better, more enjoyable....i'll toss in a few finish photos for diversion...lol!  but at the forefront, i thank my God always for constant care, love and guidance.  He did some awesome things for me this year, not always noteworthy, but always an expression of His deep love.  This was evident not just in my life, but family members too.  

my family--all of them!  a special mention of my dear sister-in-law who came to my aid after leg surgery, discharge one day and moving 4 days later!  it was an adventure, wasn't it?  

all my healthcare providers.  the news wasn't always welcome, but the treatment was...and those home care RNs and PTs who got me back on my feet...unsung heroes indeed! 

the folks at my wonderful new place....staff, neighbors, others who guided a newbie in town, and my new church family who welcomed me and found a place for me to worship and fellowship.  i haven't completely bonded but feeling more at home every day...it is so very difficult to move and establish all new connections.

have to include my online and in person quilty peeps, some i've known thru several moves!  the gals from 'down under', the stashbusters, the senior center gals....all have enriched my creative life by several notches.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!

(photos:  twisted star, kaffe fassett pennants, bonnie hunter pineapple blossom)

up for air

i've been at the machine nearly nonstop the past few days sewing stuff....miss sunny had to be oiled TWICE and needle changed the same.  she was delighted to be of regular use...assembled more of bonnie hunter's scrap block; more are sewn ready for assembling.  astonishingly quick and easy!

deep in the desk under some stuff, found yet another UFO.  haven't decided if this will be a flimsy to donate or something for me to quilt.  i do like repro quilts a lot and this would be easy to hand quilt....food for thought. i think that gives me 23 for 2024...sheesh, i thought my list would be smaller!

finally all wedding quilt blocks are done and ready to lay out and assemble.  thinking will utilize a meeting room at the library where there's plenty of flat and walking around space.  

have cleared the decks somewhat ...few more blocks to have a flimsy but laundry and dishes have been waiting too long already.  friday is gym day and a few errands, then i'll be back sewing.  the week has flown by and new year just around the corner....hardly seems possible.  ***  tree and decorations will remain another week or so before reluctantly relegated to wait another christmas.   maybe it won't be 50 degrees then...LOL!

A Blessed Christmas!

 

'Twas the day of christmas and all thru the house,

no seniors were stirring, no sign of a mouse.

 

The stockings were hung, the tree brightly lit.

Grace was missing her family, much more than a bit.

 

The scraps were all piled in an orderly mess,

And Grace was in jammies, her usual dress

 

at the vintage machine, her usual place,

and blocks being sewn, threads all over the place!

 

A plan was in place for a sewing-filled day,

making some quilt tops to then give away.

 

A pizza for lunch that must be home made,

to keep down the salt and no check to be paid.

 

But the meaning of Christmas was clearly in mind,

as she sewed the bright fabrics from quilters so kind.

 

It isn’t the gifts, or turkey or ham,

but the greatest of gifts that was long ago planned.

 

A babe in a manger, very far from here,

and angels with news of clearly good cheer.

 

So when Christmas is done and tops neatly made,

life will go on in the usual way.

 

But the best gift remains, unselfishly given,

of a Savior who came and the promise of heaven!

by grace thorne (c) 2023