first bite

so far so good!  and so it begins....doing the scrappy version....stay tuned for more!

it's here!

where DID 2015 go?  counting my blessings as 2016 arrives and hoping for another jam-packed year of sewing and quilty fun!  for auld lang syne!

snow day = sew day

it couldn't last, meaning no snow on the ground, have about 4" here, which isn't much but it's more that it heralds the beginning of real winter that is disheartening.  but a month's reprieve is way better than none, and what could be nicer than a 60-degree christmas!  snowy days mean sewing and this was the result....the 5 blocks of FWS that were waiting...

haven't pulled the papers yet but they are done.  this group is on hiatus until jan 6th so next up will be the start of the 365 challenge.  and my UFO list for 2016 is finalized so guess i'm ready for it to begin.  so blessed to see the start of another year!

UFO not!

did get this little piece finished just this morning, so off the list it goes....going to try and eliminate just one more small flimsy from the list. with not much else scheduled and bad weather finally coming (meaning snow), should be able to manage one more finish.  otherwise working on FWS blocks and some usual tasks. only 5 days to the start of the 365 challenge and trying to avoid that tiny voice in my head that this is simply too big a project for somebody in a state of flux.  trouble is, really want to take it on but would feel more confident if things were a bit more stable and all the stash was organized and at hand.  nevertheless, going to persevere and see what happens....can always abandon for a later date....meanwhile, gotta corral my warm clothes and get ready for real winter....yeeeccchh!

great sale-ing day!

although with temps near 60, it was almost a day for the on-the-water kind of sailing, but NH vic and i opted for the retail kind....the sun and fresh air was heavenly!  first up?  footprints in rochester, NH...

just inside the door 25+ bolts of kim diehl's new fabric line....and so difficult to choose but had to select only 4 quarter yards....lovely colors!   then it was our fave marden's!

christmas fabrics half price and found a few neutrals as well....total for this 2 yards was $4....really, only four dollars!  got a half yard of the red print, quarters on all the others.   then back to vic's for a delish lunch of turkey leftovers, some conversation and then hit the road.  due to holiday scheduling, have a couple of saturdays off for a change....made me feel almost human again! 

a christmas wish....

for dreams to be realized, for prayers answered, for hungry to be full, for cold to have warmth, for homeless to be housed, for jobless to work, for children to be safe and loved, for hope to endure, for health restored, for the aged and infirmed to have comfort and safety, for my own particular needs and yours too....and that the message of the manger will live in my heart always.....merry christmas!

and it's done!

not an official UFO finish by stashbuster guidelines, but it's done and won't be on the 2016 UFO list..

wasn't sure about this but i do like how it turned out, has a sort of primitive feel...glad i tea-dyed to tone down the white background.  now can i rack up another finish before january?  hope so....and since the new year is just over a week away, have updated my UFO list for 2016...can i finish them all?  watch this space!

isn't it always...

about the FABRIC????  it explains why most quilters i know have plenty on hand....to make sure the "right" fabric can be at the ready when needed....somebody gifted me this lovely jo morton blue stripe last summer and it was just what this little wallhanging called for to finish it off...

the bright white was too bright, and the tea-dying was only so-so i thought, but now with this stripe for binding, just right i think.   toyed with the idea of a border but was afraid it might detract from the hearts.   will finish up today.  hoping i can finish up a couple more small projects before the end of the year as well...oh yeah, with this binding am really liking this little piece now.  so reason for large stash now justified....i'm a happy quilter! 

TBT

last week at the laundromat, was browsing thru their collection of vintage magazines and stumbled onto this, a definite cringe moment for someone in the news of late....

i am NOT taking any sides in this issue, rather feel disappointed (and forewarned) recalling some wisdom about sins committed in secret...can you read it?  about halfway down the page, a quote from bill cosby, "a word to the wise ain't necessary; it's the stupid ones who need the advice."  this from the april 2004 issue of woman's day....so sad indeed...cannot imagine the conversations that transpire in that household.  *** and why no sewing projects you ask?  shhhh, finishing up some secret christmas sewing, my only handmade gift this year and it's almost done, which is good....LOL

hexie progress

this now and then project is progressing albeit slowly...

the main colors of the quilt are blue, pink and brown, so had to go back to the stash and pull fabrics in those colors.  at about 190 rosettes, it's a long way from being a flimsy but it's a nice travel project to have ongoing.  and i took vic's advice and am using scrappy rather than plain muslin for the connector sections.  they look like they will work out okay....finishing up my one holiday sewing project today and tomorrow; lists are made and all is in order for a very low key holiday.