Keep on stitchn

What a beautiful morning!  The sun was shining through the crystallized branches on the trees. I love seeing the winter weather. But I have not been out for several days, partially due to my aversion to cold and partially due to the self quarantine for my mild Omicron case of Covid.  I will come out of hibernation tomorrow.

My hubby worked yesterday for his transportation job for the hospital system giving my hours to play in my sewing area.  I have been slowly making progress on cleaning up the messiness. It doesn't look like headway, but it makes me feel a little better finding things and organizing others. 

Anyway, I made 2 of my pieced blocks for my French applique and piece sampler challenge. 

I played designer as I made 2 tree blocks to fit my 9 inch unfinished blocks. The math in me likes the finagling of spaces and numbers.  And it did not turn out quite as planned, but it IS done.

I will be making all the trees out of solids to go with the Gnomes. 

This one I drew on graph paper for the paper piecing. 

This one I found a pattern online, but had to change the measurements to suit the size of the block. 

And I forgot the different between finished and unfinished sizes.  Hence, the side seams. 

If I have additional fabric at the end I will remake it to avoid the seams on the side. I only have so much left of the background fabric and need to make 6 more blocks. 

And I finished all the embroidery for the first 2 gnomes, working  nightly on it while watching tv with my spouse. The outlining will be done when quilting at the end. ( I am not sure about the noses and will have to decide once I see more of them.)

 

The patterns are on etsy for a very modest price and are downloaded. There are 10 embroidery gnomes in the set available here: Embroidery gnomes

Lastly I have now pieced 4 of these sampler blocks of the  kitted BOM purchased at our quilt rummage this summer

 

Working on the to do list

 First project for the time being: Jensen's 4K Quilt 

Originally this quilt was made for 4K for my dear grandson Jensen: 4K quilt post   in August 2020.

And he loved it.  I can still hear him saying, " You made this for ME??????"  

I could tell the teacher loved it. So much so that uniform nap towels were the required thing for this year. 

So current story, the dog chewed a hole in it.   Nonny brought it home to fix last October.

And now I have repaired it using fabric left over in my "stash".

               

Not too noticeable.  And the fabric is a duplicate of the machines covering the hole. 

Mission accomplished. 

  And the second project finished.  Our quilt guild makes doll quilts, pads and pillows to accompany a little wooden cradle that a woodworkers guild makes.   We were given odds and ends pieces to make the rest of the ensemble for next year. I took 3 pads made of Christmas fabrics. And I constructed 3 different patterns and fabrics for quilts and matching pillows. 

Here are the 3 quilts and matching pillows for each one. Quilts are about 8 by 13 inches. 

This one has 1 inch squares; but the other 2 have 3/4 inch units. 

This one I have shown before Christmas.  ( above)

Covid

 The downside of visiting my family in Louisiana is that somewhere along the line, I got Covid.  First, my daughter, then my husband and now me.  Good news is that with the vaccines and booster and the new variant, it is only a head cold in symptoms. So lots of tea, some sleep, and staying at home are on the menu for a few more days. Monday will be 14 days. 

Now that doesn't mean I have been sitting and doing nothing. 

In fact, I completed the binding on this table runner. Much better the 2nd time around. 

And I have been hand sewing a lot on my French challenge:

    Lots of tiny embroidery stitches.  Relaxing to do in front of the tv. 

And lastly, I started this block a year ago for the Stay at Home Round Robin.

And it took a long time to get the wool appliqued. 

I only just finished the green leaves, and need to reapply 2 of them. 

Here is a closeup so you can see the tiny beads as well. 

So this is the first week's center of the challenge and here is the link if you want to join in the 6 week challenge.

Stay at home round robin

Keep stitchn.  I love to read  and be inspired by so many of your blogs. 

Back to sewing.

 I always like January.  The Christmas sewing pressure is done and it's time to start and finish projects.    I am really motivated this year.  

So things I have started:  

This is my 5th year of doing the quilt along from Corrine et Cecile of France.  The challenge this year is a sampler quilt with half appliqued blocks and half pieced blocks.  My take on that will be 8 appliqued and embroidered gnomes with 8 different pieced trees latticed by a great Christmas print from Hustle and Bustle. 

           

I also decided to attack some projects just hanging around.  This summer I purchased at the guild's rummage sale some prepackaged blocks. These BOMS are from Quilts Plus, the first shop I ever went to in Indianapolis; it is still open. The fabrics are reproductions. 

 I love the colors of the first block and I love piecing smaller blocks. I feel it forces me to be precise in the piecing of the blocks. The hardest part was getting the right print for the right cutting directions ( there were 7 different ones). And I did make a mistake in cutting and had to substitute one of my own. 

I also want to complete a couple things for my daughter's birthday in a week.  I pieced and quilted a bright colorful table runner for her new table.  So cheerful and so easy: it is a border print. . After beginning to attach the binding, I realized I needed to miter the corners better for the 120 degree angles.  So I took them off and have a plan. 

It is tough to see in this picture, but I did free motion quilt the words and around all the cakes and candles. 

Lastly I can say I have officially finished the binding on my 30s hearts for Mom quilt.  In my conclusion for 2021, I had it listed. But that was all the piecing, borders, and quilting. All I had to do was attach the binding by machine and hand sew it. It took several evenings in front of the tv.     

                

New Year!

 I can say I am officially in the New Year.

My whole family: 2 kids, DIL, and 2 grandboys as well as spouse all got together for almost a week in Louisiana. What a wonderful time together.  We truly enjoyed Natchitoches and the winter displays it had. Lights zig zagged up and down streets, on the bridge, and along the Cane River downtown. 

We toured Melrose Plantation, which is rich in local history.  And the textiles: loomed coverlets, quilts both pieced and appliqued were amazing.  Then the crocheted bed cover was also beautiful.  The workmanship was excellent, precise and very small.  No photos were allowed. 

We also celebrated Jensen, the youngest grandson's 6th birthday. 

Now we are back home, with cold weather and some blowing snow. That makes it a good time to stay indoors and do some cleaning and quilting.  Great start to a new year. 

So I have 2 things in progress: 

These are 2 of the 10 Edyta Sitar's half square triangle papers I have done. Each provides you with 28 units. I am exchanging them with Pieceful Gatherings' Quilt shop in Fox Lake, IL

The other is a beginning of the Quilt Along by Corinne et Cecile of France: 

This year's challenge is half applique and half pieced blocks none  of which can be the same. 

My take on this is 

             

The left is one of the gnomes by Stitch X Needlework Designs; the right is a different one traced.

So my appliques will be these characters in reds/greens with lots of embroidery.

The pieced blocks will be various Christmas trees.

Onward into the new year.  Lots of plans. Lots of goals. Lots of hopes. 

May you and yours welcome the New Year and all that it brings.

2021 Wrap up

 Productive year!   Really!  Covid helped, but so did retiring to make this year the most big quilts I have done in 12 months.

Large quilts completed:

January  (DD birthday)   Queen sized.

February  Christmas quilt top done, quilted bound and finished by May

(Currently on  my bed)

March: completed top at the retreat: all the rest in the summer

        Plans are for this to go in the guild's quilt show in March under scrap category.queen sized

August: Petals and leaves   This was a graduation quilt. Loved, loved loved the wonderful fabric line with its springy colors.  Extra long twin quilt

October: aMAZEing  for my dear daughter in law

This one was only a lap size.

Mom's 30s quilt

Donation quilts for Healing Hearts, a grief support organzation which meats in terms of 13 weeks for one night . My husband and I are facilitators.  A lap quilt.

And lots of little quilts: baby quilts,   baby doll quilts,  wall hangings,  and more. 

And of course, many more to finish: some in the top stage, others in block stage, and a couple only organized and started. So next year, I will have many more to enjoy working on. 

Hope your year has been productive.  I love the quilting community and all the inspiration and support out there. there are many people like me doing what makes their heart smile while contributing to others. It makes me feel more normal. 

Best of New Years to you all!

Merry Christmas!

 This has been a most unusual holiday month for me.  

Normally, I am sewing up a storm and a whirlwind of fun activities.  Several factors for the lack of blogging:

A) The Christmas parade before Thanksgiving really took a toll on our community. So much pain and grief felt in so many ripples.  Being part of a grief support team, I helped in a few gatherings and it was hard.

B) I had my booster shot for Covid and it really sapped the energy out of me for a few days. But I would rather have it, than catch it and be knocked for a loop.

C) My sister and I drove 700 or so miles to visit my mother for her 90th birthday. I had not seen Mom in 3 years, partially due to Covid and partially due to the other issues within my home while she was put in the nursing home for Alzheimer's. We had the best visit EVER. She loved the gifts from our brother, appreciated the new bras I bought for her and we selected ones that fit. ( such a simple task and yet so hard at the same time not being in a store.) Mom has lost some 40ish pounds since I had last seen her but is in good health. (She did survive Covid 2 years ago.) We reminisced about the times past and long lost family members on many sides. We recalled Christmas memories and family traditions. Seriously, I am so thankful to have the treasured time with her.  

D) We did have small Christmas with my daughter and my husband. I love how having adult children can create a special time to share and make meals together. We always love watching the Muppets Christmas Carol. But we are preparing to leave for Louisiana in a few days to see my son, his wife and my two grandsons. So fingers crossed that our flight is not canceled as in the United and Delta airlines. 

Coq au vin made by dear daughter for Christmas Eve.

Needless to say, it has been a busy month.  Thanks to those who check in.

Happy Holidays from the cat!

And some evening needle work on navy aida cloth.

December

 Good news:  I have now been blogging for 5 wonderful years.  

 I have had 359 posts and 66000 views. It seems like an awful lot.    I have shared lots of ideas, and it has made me accountable to accomplish things. The very best part is that I have met lots of wonderful people and learned so many things.  I have done challenges, exchanges, and some donation quilts. It makes my heart sing.

Christmas plans are coming:    I had a big cookie bake with my daughter and a friend on Saturday. 2 kinds of chocolate treats and 4 batches of cookies.   Yum yum!

For the guild meeting tonight, I have a Christmas doll quilt : It started with the pad lining made by someone else needing a quilt and pillow to match. I did my easy 4 patch and solid alternating.

Then I added some borders to get it to a 9 by 13 inch piece. 

Lastly, I have finished the applique for the grandboys on navy t-shirts. 

I used golden threads on the back to assist with the movement.   Bad move, the little pieces paper left in the zigzag are a huge pain to get out. 

But I really hope they like them.  Either it will be a hit or not. I hope it is not too hokey.

And I hope they fit... 

Off in the MAIL tomorrow with some Christmas pajamas and assorted little Christmas goodies. 

Sew or not

 It has been a long while since I have sewn.  I really don't know why. In the past month, I visited my sister in Indianapolis, and moved my daughter,  helped her clean, unpack and begin to decorate her new apartment. We have painted furniture, selected and assembled some furniture, and purchased and put various wall decorations around the rooms. We are so so happy she is in a nice neighborhood not too far from my husband's upbringing and in an apartment that has 7 closets which together would have fit in her the bedroom of her tiny studio.

Plus I did a thorough house clean as we had 2 contractors/interior designers in to look at the kitchen for our remodel.  And as they are overbooked, it will be in spring before it can happen.   We also did a major organizing of the basement and filled up a couple cars with items for  donating including some unused furniture. Hooray!  It feels good. 

Then of course, we have had Thanksgiving. I made the whole traditional feast except with a turkey breast.  The two pies were scrumptious: apple and amaretto pumpkin.  We love Thanksgiving:  the 3 Fs: family, food, and football. That is according to my dear daughter.  Unfortunately, both my son and his wife worked  and the kids spent time with their other grandparents and extended family in faraway Louisiana. 

I have a couple of things just sitting and halfway done by the machine. 

But I am starting on Christmas:  lots of online shopping  

and hopefully lots of fun projects. 

I have Green Bay flannel plaid for some pajama pants for my daughter and husband.

I also have 2 navy shirts for my little boys to put reindeer on. I don't know how many years I can make matching outfits for them. ( ages 5 and 7) 

I might make a couple different table runners for gifts. 

Oh, I am starting on a exchange project for Pieceful Gatherings in Fox Lake, Illinois.  ( Chicago suburb) https://www.piecefulgathering.com/  ( I could not find the starting kit on their website, as I ordered from their online sale.  There is another one on scraps this Thursday morning, usually about 10:30.

I think I will make a different arrangement of the enormous amounts of half square triangles. 

It will be fun to exchange and get a variety of half square triangles. 

Here are the fabrics I have to start with.  I will add more after these are finished. 

And this week is the starting of other quilt a longs. I am not doing Bonnie Hunter's. 😢😪 I have done several and love all the parts.  Her colors are so bright and fun this time and every time.  It tempts me so.  But I just struggle with the assembling and all the seams that come together in the points. 

But Corrine and Cecile ( They are from France and on facebook!) will reveal their theme this week.  I can't wait.  I have completed 2 of them, assembled the top and started the quilting on one, and only started the piecing of last years. 

Sad day in Waukesha

 Now is the time for getting ready for the holidays.  Buying turkey and stuffing baking pies, making lists for presents, creating with family, and shopping through stores and internet sites. 

However yesterday, our city had its Christmas parade downtown, loved by one and all. And if you follow the news, you would know of the most horrific turn of events.

 One red SUV : maybe Santa or a spoof. No, it instead was a plow mowing down people in its way through the parade. It went right through the back of one of the local high school bands, nearly missing a girl's dance team and continued on through a group of grannies who were dancing. 

40 injuries and 5 deaths and numerous people traumatized

It is incomprehensible.

 Lord, wrap us in your arms and comfort us as we mourn our losses and look to find meaning in these events. 

Weekend

 My dear sister is going to have her 2nd grandchild in spring.  And for her 2 year old granddaughter, she is getting her a baby doll for Christmas. So when I heard that, I asked if she wanted the cradle I had for my dear daughter when she was that age. This cradle came from my grandmother as I had the only girl grandchild. 

My sister and brother in law were happy to get it.  He reassembled it and added a fresh coat of paint.  I made a mattress and a quilt to match my daughter's bed. 

So onto the new quilt :

It is 12 1/2 by 18 1/2.  All made from scraps of a charm pack and matching fabric sitting in my stash. 

It was fun to whip up and practice some cross hatch quilting and a machine binding.