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January went mostly as planned.

My OMG was to finish the challenge quilt, Winter Tree.  I posted details about it here and here.

That project was also on my PhD list.

I’ve now moved on to another project on that list, although I don’t expect to finish it in February.

I’m linking to Stories from the Sewing Room, where you can see what everyone else is creating.

No fabric in this week.

I finished Winter Tree, my art quilt group’s January challenge.

I talked about the idea and the construction in the last two posts.  From there, I added beads to suggest snowflakes and used a dark binding as a frame.  I also added a fence made from railroad yarn that I painted white and then gray.  The original yarn was too bright and didn’t fit the color scheme.  The yarn is so delicate I hand stitched it down.  The quilt is about 11″ x 13”.

This quilt was my January OMG and the first ...

In my last post, I shared the AI generated Art Prompt that was the basis for my challenge quilt.  I used some suggestions and ignored others, and put my own spin on what I used.

I kept the suggested color palette, but didn’t use solid fabric.  No surprise there- I never use solids.  Instead of a pine tree, I took a picture of a tree in the backyard and used the photo as a reference.

The suggestion of texture surprised me.  I wouldn’t have thought to go there.  I limited the texture to the ground.  I tried using ...

No change in the numbers.

Work continues on the Challenge Quilt, which I ended up naming Winter Tree.

This is a challenge for my Art Quilt Group.  Throughout last year, members took turns presenting short programs on different techniques.  We covered a variety of topics, including trading cards, junk journals, using AI for idea generation, dimensional fabric sculpture, creating portrait quilts from photos, free motion applique, and others.  The challenge for January is to make a small quilt using one of the program techniques.

I chose AI for idea generation.  I started with a prompt that generated a picture, but ...

After reading my January OMG post, a reader suggested I join the PhD Challenge at Mrs. P’s Designs.  My focus for 2026 basically mirrors the challenge.  After reading the details here, I have to agree.

I’m not one to pick a list of projects for the entire year and stick to it.  I have eclectic interests.  Some creative methods appeal more than others, depending on my mood and how much life is happening.  That said, everything after #7 is questionable.  If I get six things on the list done this year, it’s a good year.

1. Fairy Tales ...

Welcome to the first Stash Report of 2026!

Everyone gets to start over with nice shiny zero balances.  Did you hit your usage goal last year?  Do you have stash goals for this year?

My goal for 2026 is to use more than I buy.  I expect to add fabric this year as I am out of light yardage in multiple colors.  Scraps will get me by on smaller projects but less so on larger ones.  We’ll see how the year plays out.

I’m still working on the challenge project.  There was a lot of trial and error ...

Happy New Year!  Wishing you health and happiness in the new year.

I’m not one to recap the prior year, but I did finish more projects than I expected.  Now I’m ready to look forward. 

For my own benefit, I’m taking stock of what is in process and what has been neglected.  If you don’t know where you’ve been, how do you know where you’re going?  That, and a year from now I won’t remember where I started.

In have two stitch pieces in progress, Fairy Tales Live on Roofs (RTO kit)

and ...

No fabric in this week.

I finished the test piece, named Fields, for a litttle fabric out. It measures 9” x 12”.

There is hand stitching in the sky, and the motifs at the bottom are embroidered. The fusible did not cause problems with hand stitching, but the cotton batting made it harder to embroider.

I plan to try different battings until I find one I like better. I’m not fan of polyester but will try 80/20 and wool. I have a some bamboo batting I can also try. The AQS show this week should have all the ...

We are half way through the year already. Are you happy with your fabric usage to date?

I’m pleased with how much went out this year. I haven’t added fabric since August 2024. I’ve made an effort to buy less this year, and I feel a lot better about creating in general because of it. It may not work for everyone, but it works for me.

I finished the Laundry Day Tee last Sunday.

I’m happy with how it turned out. It fits well through the shoulders and bust, which is usually a problem area for ...

No change in the numbers.

It was one of those weeks. For my own sanity I retreated to the sewing room. A lot. That led me to start a small test project before the larger quilt project I had planned.

I’ve seen comments by artists that it’s a good idea to make small studies when trying new ideas or techniques, or using new materials. It makes sense. I figure they ought to know.

Here’s the beginning of the next collage project, which I intend to stich like I did the boro bag.

I’m not sure I ...

Last Christmas my oldest son asked me to make some fiber art quilts for his good friends. These are adults I have known since they were kids and I was excited to create some art for them. I thought this would be a good opportunity to review my process for those who would like to attempt it.

First, you need to pick a high-quality image—my son picked this one on the far left. Then, you run the image through an art filter in Adobe Photoshop and get it printed out at the store in the size you wish to ...

I spent Friday at the AQS Grand Rapids Show. When you have a quilt hanging there, you have to go and enjoy it.

The quality of the quilts this year was exceptional. Several quilts looked like paintings, they were so heavily stitched. They didn’t look like fabric. Not something the average quilter will produce, but fun to see what’s possible.

I didn’t buy any fabric at the show or at any of the stops we made on the way home Saturday. I did count the fabric I bought last week.

Clockwise from upper left: rayon batik, red ...

This past fall I lectured to a quilter’s group in Northern Virginia. My quilt talks consist of a PowerPoint supported lecture where I go through my history of quilting. I then discuss the quilted homes process I developed. And finally I talk about my fiber-art pieces; reviewing my techniques, showing samples, and doing a demonstration. It is always so much fun! As someone who would never voluntarily speak before a group of people, I am remarkably calm during these lectures. Probably because I’m talking to “my people.” THEY get me, these ladies who quilt.

At the end of ...

I had a productive week in the sewing room.

I finished Trinidad for almost three yards out.

I learned a lot making this quilt. I’ve never done a landscape quilt from a photo before. If I do it again I will do things differently and save myself some time and grief. Thanks to Laura for giving me permission to use her picture.

In the sewing room declutter, I sorted through all my UFO and orphan projects. I found a lot of fabric in the UFO bins that didn’t go with the projects. I re-stashed some and other pieces ...

Sandra and I have known one another for many years. We were both public library administrators in the suburbs.  Her late husband was a pastor-turned-librarian and my husband is a librarian-turned-pastor.  We had mutual friends in Fargo, too.  We realized that it had been about ten years since we'd gotten together.  When she wrote in her holiday card that she moved back to Chicago last summer  I responded with the suggestion that we meet at the Museum of Contemporary Art. There's a special exhibit of works by Faith Ringgold that closes at the end of February.  That was ...

No change in the numbers.

I met my January OMG but never posted it. I didn’t post the February Short list either. I’m keeping the February list small because it’s a short month and I’m going for finishes.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. I have a few stitches and a little outlining left in the lower right corner.

Project 2 (Original): Trinidad. It’s basted for quilting. I was watching a Craftsy class while I basted and put in way too many pins. Guess I won’t do that ...

I try to participate in Project Quilting every year. It’s a great excuse to try a new technique and play.

This week’s challenge is “Sky Color (not blue). We’re supposed to create a quilted item within one week start to finish.

I decided to try a resist technique I saw demonstrated by Quilter Julie B. Booth on Quilting Arts TV (Episode 1703 “You can’t resist this”). She demonstrated how to use ordinary liquid dishwashing soap as a resist on fabric.

Here’s a youtube Quilting Arts TV preview… see it on the end:

No change in the numbers.

The nameless tree quilt has a name now. I decided to name it Trinidad for the place where Laura took the picture. Every time I look at it I hear the old Eddy Money song play in my head, but I can live with that.

I finished adding motifs to the top and started sewing down the bits.

I hope to start quilting it in the next few weeks.

Fabric In: 0 yards

Fabric out: 1 yard

Net Fabric Used: 1 yard

How did you do this week?

I have no fabric movement to report.

Time got away from me and I’m adding the Short List/OMG to this post. January is always a busy month at work. I scaled back the list because of that.

I started The Short List many years ago to create goals to work toward and a way to focus. I change things up as my goals and interests change.

Project 1 (stitching): Gather & Give Thanks, pattern by Diane Arthurs of Imaginating. I’ll either finish it this month or early next month.

Project 2 (Original): The nameless tree quilt. It would ...