Wrapping up 2020

I think 2020 has got to be the most unique year in my lifetime.  Fortunately, not much in my personal life changed, just a few things.  I worked at the quilt shop more than the previous year, and my husband began working from home.  So, I went out more, and he went out less.  Creatively, though, it was a banner year.

The Stats:

225 quilts quilted

    17 quilts were mine

    5 quilts were family members' quilts

    12 were store samples or class samples.

65 items finished through the year

12 UFO's finished and one nearly finished

Some of the last items finished are a bag, two notebook covers, two wallets and my Dream Big panel quilt.

First, the Dream Big Panel:

I decided that instead of something different in each petal, I was just going to do feathers.  When I started out quilting, I was greatly intimidated by feathers.  But, now I really enjoy them.  I marked the spine only, then quilted away!  Then, I needed to flatten the space around them, so I did a scribble and pebbles.  And now for the big reveal (I still need to trim and face the quilt, but I couldn't wait to share!)...

and here is a close-up of the micro-quilting.

I'm very pleased with how this quilt turned out.

Then, I also played with machine embroidery.  I made two wallets in the hoop:

The orange one was sent to my mother-in-law, the one with all teal is for me.  Then I made a bag for myself.

I chose a design on my Bernina, then made it into a bag.  I'm not happy with the proportions, but it just gives me an excuse to make another one, soon!

Then, a notebook cover.

This one is for my yearly planning notebook.  I use a graph composition notebook to plan, and keep track of my activities throughout the year.  I'm already putting this one to good use.  

I now have 15 or more Personal Works in Progress.  I'm hoping to get some done very soon.  I finished quilting for others on December 16th, and began again on January 2nd.  I've got a lot to get done this month, on my own list.  I started with painting my bedroom.  I didn't get the trim painted yet, but I am loving the wall color.  Here is the before:

and here is the middle (since the trim isn't painted yet).

I love the boldness of this color, and look forward to finishing the job this month.  Then I plan on painting the master bathroom and closet.  This also gives me the chance to clean out my closet and get rid of a few things.  I have lots of things I want to get done this year.  Here's hoping I can do it!

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

I Won a Giveaway

I've been slow in getting this post written.  Life just got away from me.  However, I won a giveaway from Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation back in July.  It was a gift certificate to LouLou's Fabric Shop.

When I first looked at LouLou's shop, I was fascinated by her LouLou Bundles.  These are cute fat quarter bundles of 8 coordinating fabrics (usually 2 colors), that are super adorable.  I had my eye on one with yellow and green fat quarters, but it was gone by the time I was ready to order.

However, the news got even better than that!  Last year I bought a fat quarter bundle of Sugarcreek by Corey Yoder.  However, I didn't buy very much yardage, and by the time I chose to do a Yellow Brick Road quilt with the fat quarter bundle, our store was out of the yardage.  However, LouLou's had it!  (I don't see it there anymore).  So, I was able to order something I really needed for my project.  I also got a little extra for a binding.  Plus, I couldn't resist the 2 mini charms of Strawberry Jam (also by Corey Yoder, I just noticed).

So, now I can make that Yellow Brick Road - Queen size - with the cutest fabric!

So, a shout-out to My Quilt Infatuation and LouLou's Fabric Shop for the great giveaway!

And, as a side note, our store just got the Apricot and Ash fabric line in today and I got to fold up the fat quarter bundles for it.  It was all I could do to keep from buying it.  And guess who the designer is...Corey Yoder!  It seems her fabric lines really appeal to me.

Well, back to canning and quilting.  Have a great day!

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

More Canning done

I wasn't planning on canning today. However, the opportunity to get tomatoes came my way, so canning happened.

I have more to do next week, because they are still ripening.

Interesting thing is that there is a shortage of canning lids. I bought my limit at the store on Wednesday, and that is all I can get. They are gone from store shelves.  I'm really wondering what is going to be next. 

I'll wash them tomorrow and label them, then put them on the shelf.  I like using them in my spaghetti sauce.  I'm not really a fan of spaghetti, but I use the sauce when I make lasagna. It's a great dish to feed the family when we get together.  This year we ran out of the bottles tomatoes. The store tomatoes in the can just don't taste good to me.

I'll try to do a little bit of sewing tomorrow. I still have the blocks to make for the store.

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

Things I Need or Want to Do

Hi all, 

I have so many things that I need or want to do.  

Need to do:

Pick berries every 3 days

Put up or freeze berries

Pick tomatoes next week

Bottle tomatoes next week

Quilt - lots of quilts for others

2 blocks for the store shop hop by Monday

Want to do:

Blossom blocks for Summer quilt

Ice Dying

Refinish toys for grandkids

Pineapple block for kitchen wall hanging

Strawberry for kitchen wall hanging

Pin cushions for quilt guild board members

5 quilts of my own

    Women of Grace and Charm

    Red and White Quilt

    Easy Four-patch quilt

    Dream Big panel quilt

    Wholecloth quilt on Silk Radience fabric

UFO's on my list:

Fall train table runner

3 soft books for the grandkids

Vase Quilt

Embroidery quilt from 2010

Women of Grace and Charm quilt from 2008

A few other things that aren't ready for planning.

I'm not sure how much I'll get done in the coming week, but I will try to stay focused on the most important things - the Need to do list.

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!

August - A Busy Time

Hi All, 

It's getting close to the end of August.  It's also getting pretty busy around here.  We went away for the weekend to visit family.  It was a nice visit.  I'm especially glad my DH got to visit with his family.  We've stayed away so we don't get anyone sick, but took a chance to go this time.  

It's harvest time starting up.  We've been picking blackberries for about 3 weeks.  The raspberries are starting up, now, as well.  I've made 2 batches of blackberry freezer jam, 3 batches of blackberry syrup, and one batch (pints) of crushed tomatoes.  I'm very blessed that my DD comes to help me.  

They are waiting to be washed and labled, then put on the shelf for the coming year.  I forgot that I had made blackberry syrup last year, so I need to start using it up, and giving some to the kids.

My DH has been experimenting with sourdough (like the rest of the world), only he's just been at it about 6 weeks or so.  Today's sourdough became tonight's dinner - scones, or frybread.  It was delicious!

They were light and fluffly, but had a lot of chew time because it's sourdough.  It just isn't the same texture as regular white bread.  Delicious with peanut butter and blackberry jam!

I also washed some raspberries to have with our dinner.

Delicious with cream and sugar!  Just like grandma used to serve!  I love this time of year!

I am working on a very big customer quilt.  And it is custom, so it takes me a while to get it done.  In the meantime, I keep getting quilts in to be done.  I'm at 25, with 2 coming tomorrow and 1 on Monday.  I need to really buckle down and get some done this weekend.  I'm hoping the custom quilt will be done by tomorrow evening.

Here's as much of the quilt as I could get a picture to work.

Here is the first row, what I have been doing.

Here's a small sample of my quilting.

Usually on custom quilts, I do a mixture of computer designs and free motion.  I'm trying to do everything as I go, but I forgot to quilt on the eagles near the top, so I will be returning to that after I finish to the bottom of the quilt.

I have 2 blocks I am working on for the store.  We are part of a shop hop coming up in September.  We are making one of each of the blocks that are being provided by the participating stores.  I'm only doing two, and I need to have them finished by Monday.  So, no quilting after 9 pm, so I can piece instead.

Over the weekend, I finished binding some small quilts for my sister, so she can give them as Christmas presents.  

Next time I'll share some of the things waiting for me on my sewing table.

Keep on Sewing and Quilting!