2022 in Review

 

Here are my finishes and some of the projects I worked on in 2022.  So many things not pictured though, that are in process.  Had to include my two babies as well.  So proud of what they have accomplished in 2022 and continue working on for 2023!

Ringing in the New Year with a nice, quiet, day at home with the love of my life!  We will hit 28 years married later this year.  And of course, I will squeeze in some sewing as well!

Best Wishes to all  in 2023!

Simple Star

 

I am always thrilled with how simple and beautiful a basic 12 inch star block is.  It always makes me want to do an entire quilt.  

These will be used for a Christmas themed quilt I am working on but they are so beautiful, I thought I would share it with you.  Such an easy pattern for any quilting ability level.  

The center square measures 6.5 inches. 

I was tempted to use this as a foundation for a bunch of gold and yellow strings but opted for a simple solid yellow for the entire star.  

You will need to cut 4 corner squares of the blue 3.5 inches.  

The star points are a flying geese unit.  Blue 3.5 X 6.5 with Yellow squares cut at 3.5 inches, then mark the diagonal and sew.  

 

You end up with 4 lovely flying geese units.

Sew two of these to the opposite sides of the center square, making sure you sew through the cross point.  Then sew the blue corners to the opposite ends of the two left over flying geese units.  Then assemble.  

One width of fabric of my blue gave me all I needed for one block.  

Hope you enjoy sewing this lovely star if you choose to do so.  I would love to see what you make!  

Here is a peek at another new project I started.  It is from my husband's old jeans, my stash of ribbon, and machine embroidery- Design from Sweet Pea.  It will end up being a tote bag someday.  I only make a block or two a day and I need 16 before I can start assembling it.  And it has to take its turn with about 100 other projects....

Happy October!

October

 I can't believe it is October already!  And almost half gone at that...

Helping us to move into the Fall mood, we brought home quite the haul from the church pumpkin patch.  My daughter has already baked that "pink" pumpkin in the foreground and it is delicious!  She made a pie that is half gone- I may have had a piece for breakfast this morning- and there is plenty of pumpkin left for more delicious treats.

We had a blue pumpkin last year and it was delicious so we grabbed another of those.  The swan necked gourd will be just for us to enjoy looking at, and the fate of the "warty" beauty in the back is yet to be determined.  It was my daughter's favorite though, so it had to come home with us.  

I have been rereading the Harry Potter series, about to start The Order of the Phoenix- again.  So, I have been inspired to pull out my "Project of Doom" that has been decades in the making.  

14 blocks made.  Currently Working on the Singing Egg block.  Then I want to add Hedwig and a few other book blocks.  Then I will put it together.  Can't just keep making all the cool blocks or it will never end!

My daughter has been helping us to get in the mood for Halloween.  Watching scary movies and creating this lovely piece- a challenge given to her from her work.  They provided the skull and employees were encouraged to decorate as they saw fit.  

She added this lovely snake that she created out of air dry clay.  then moss and stones and paint.  

It is currently at work for judging but I hope we have it back by Halloween!  

I have also been trying to get into the Halloween spirit by taking part in the Sweet Pea Halloween Sew Along.  Here are two of the many blocks I have made.  3 more to go and I will start sewing it together.  I will be doing well if I get it hung up by the 31st!

I am also working on a shower curtain and window curtain for my bathroom, done with machine embroidery and some sewing.  Would love to get that done, including towels to match.  

Lots to do, never enough time!

I am determined to have some nice finishes by the end of the year and hopefully to have my house a great deal more organized!  

Happy Fall Stitching!

A recent finish for a graduate

 I completed a quilt for a graduate recently.  It was a challenge as I have been so busy and my house is a mess!

The graduate requested purple, red, and pink.  Oh, and by the way, it needs to be masculine...

I was afraid but I actually love how it turned out.  I didn't get to see him open it so I just have to hope that he loved it!  

My husband is behind there, standing on our outdoor coffee table so it is a long quilt.

Here is the back- I had no idea it would look like flowers...

Up close...

You can see it is tie dye circles.  A lovely and fun backing.  I was in a hurry so it got a simple label and a machine binding- most of my quilts do now-days.  

I took off work today because my wrist is killing me- a hold over from a tumble I took when my dog tripped me on our walk almost 2 weeks ago- combined with inventory of the library, it is not feeling good.  My lip, which I was sure was ruined forever, has healed nicely and is still only slightly numb.  I am lucky to have my two front teeth solidly in their regular place.  

Love this monster to death- and he might just be the death of me...

Happy Sewing!

Some sewing

 

This is my test block that I made after being completely inspired by quilt diva Julie!  Here is her quilt...https://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/2021/06/gerful-quilt.html

The light fabrics were all in my stash but I had to go out and add to my blacks.  

I currently have all the half square triangles sewn together and pressed.  This project may go with me when I visit my daughter next week.  She has my mother's sewing machine and is learning to sew. 

I used 5 inch squares to start with because I had some already cut.  

 

This is another scrap project I started and didn't get very far on because I need more Ocean life fabrics.  They have been ordered and are on their way.  I haven't decided if I will place them randomly or put squares of the same fabric in the same area of the quilt.  I will have to play with it when I have the blocks made.  Maybe diagonal rows of all the same animals????

This is a quilt I started with the plans of having it grace my dining table.  If you look closely, you will see the focus fabric has teacups and teapots along with birds and flowers.  

This is ready to sew into rows and may also go with me on my trip next week.  

Then, I need to get our new bikes moved into the garage so I can quilt some of these flimsies.  I have about 10 waiting to be quilted!  And another 100 waiting to be completed tops.  But, I think I will venture to some quilt shops today that I haven't been to in a long time.  I have really been working on using my stash and am doing pretty good but variety is slowly dwindling.  I may need to take some focus fabrics with me to match them.  

I am happily spending more time in my sewing room this summer.  It gets pretty neglected during the school year.  I am trying to decide what makes me want to work on one project over another.  I have so many things started that need finishing...Any pointers?