What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 Since I had a cold on Christmas Day, we couldn't have mom over. If she caught the cold or even ended up with pneumonia, then it would be a game changer for her. So, she went to a dear friends house for Christmas Eve. She didn't want me to know who.  I'm just glad she was able to go somewhere. She did say it was the first time she had been alone for Christmas. That was a surprise to me. I was alone about 3 times in my lifetime. 

I slept most of the day. Patrick and ...

I haven't been able to post the lost 3 days because of illness. I had/have a bad cold. I'm just now getting over it. It's been one of those weeks where I spend 2 1/2 days in bead sleeping, trying to get over this cold. It was a chill, then fever, chill, and fever the whole time. Today was the first day I felt what I can say is "normal" but not quiet. 

I had to call the nurse to let her know I was ill and getting over it. There was a slight possibility ...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Hope yours is filled with peace and joy.

To paraphrase Ebenezer Scrooge, "We will honor Quiltmas in our hearts and try to keep it all the year!" In fact, we'll keep in for several years, because this year marks the Fifth Year of the Quiltmas Spectacular! In case you haven't heard of the Quiltmas Spectacular, let me tell you! Twelve quilt pattern designers were busy in the Quiltmas Elf Workshop designing 12 quilt block patterns to celebrate the wonderful, wintery season! Every day, December 1 through 12, the Quiltmas Elves unwrapped one free quilt block pattern and shared it with everyone.

To celebrate the fifth year ...

 I got started on putting my stuff together in the crockpot for my artichoke dip. It didn't cook the full time here, so when I got to the grange, I plugged it in. First, I had to stop at the Church to drop off 2 quilts, then I went to Safeway for bread. Once that was done, I headed over to Connie's where she gave me 2 more quilts that need bindings on. It was a trade off since I gave her 2 quilts with backing and batting. I brought home one of her tops to see what ...

 Yesterday I wasn't feeling 100% because of the COVID shot on Monday. But I did go to our WWII veterans' home to honor him with a quilt. I will try and post that photo later. Debbie was saying Chip mentioned we have lost all but one of the veterans from WWII that we honored this year. I was shocked to hear that, since we honored close to 10 or 15. I'm glad we were able to honor them when we did then. 

I pretty much called it a night around 8 pm last night, then found I couldn ...

No fabric in this week. I finished Love Inspired for a little fabric out.

We spent yesterday with family entertaining the children with activities like this.

Fun and laughter all around with a chance to enjoy my great-niece.

On the creative side, the sewing room is in that place where I finished one project and haven’t started the next one. There are several waiting in the queue and a couple in process scattered around. I’ll see what speaks to me the loudest when I get in there today.

Fabric In: 35.875 yards

Fabric out: 9.125 yards ...

I was up early this morning to get the rolls in the tins for supper. I had them raise for about 3 hours before putting them in the oven. We worked on trying to keep them warm. I worked till they took them out of the bag and set them on the counter. 

We went and picked mom up. She wasn't too talkative. That was fine. I think her hearing aides weren't working. 

We got down to Ridgefield and found the place where my niece lives. They are in a nice area. We all chatted and then sat ...

We reveal our challenge quilts at the meeting next week. Rather than show what’s going on in the sewing room, I decided to post a stitch project update.

This pattern is appropriately called Gather and Give Thanks by Imaginating.

That owl was tough with all the brown tones and color changes. I’m happy to have moved on to the pumpkins. I’ll add the back stitch as I go to keep from having it all at the end. A lot of it highlights the design rather than outlining the motifs.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the States. I ...

This morning I was getting the quilt and my box ready to take to the Veterans Day presentation at the museum. We didn't do our usual presentation, but we did do a presentation. We were honored to honor 5 veterans today. 

They were Thomas "Skip" Greenwell, Army Ryan Michael Foreman, Army, Steven "Skip" Craig, Coast Guard, Carl Stone, Army, Tabitha Hopp (guest speaker) Army. 

It was an awesome ceremony. We had most of our group there. 

Came home and played. First I got supper going since it was 4:30 pm when I got home. Then I sat to ...

No change in the numbers, although I did finish two things.

The first finish was my great nephew’s afghan.

It was crocheted with Lion Brand yarn Mandala Ombre, maybe color 208AL. The label says no color number, but lists that number. I don’t believe there was a pattern for this. I just copied what my sister had done before she passed.

Next I framed Words of Joy Tree with a frame I picked up at Goodwill several years ago. It wasn’t my local store, might have been the one in Columbus. I’m super proud that I ...

I finished the challenge quilt, now named Still Life, for some fabric out. It’s always a relief to get those quilts finished on time.

I won’t get the next challenge until the 26^th, which leaves time to do something else. With lots going on between now and then, a handful of small projects makes the most sense.

I pulled fabric to make pillowcases. A lot of bedding made its way into the rag bin this year, and we need replacements.

My sister’s quilt needs a label.

I would also like to frame Words of Joy Tree ...

I finished the stitching on Words of Joy Tree and started adding the beads. I happened to have the called for beads left over from a Mill Hill kit I stitched a few years ago. I’m about a third of the way through the beading.

I believe this project came entirely from stash. I always keep extra white floss on hand, and I bought the fabric years ago. The pattern came from the book “A Cross Stitch Christmas” by Craftways circa 2012. The book was gifted to me several years ago.

This is the third pattern I’ve stitched ...

No change in the numbers.

I realized Friday I never posted a picture of the Tiny Modernist SAL after I framed it.

I picked up the frame at my local Goodwill. I used pins instead of lacing the back, which saved a ton of time. I’m happy with the final piece.

I do wish it had anti-glare glass. I could not get a picture anywhere in the house without a weird reflection. Sorry about the random vertical glare lines!

Fabric In: 28.625 yards

Fabric out: 5.75 yards

Net Fabric In: 22.875 yards

How did you do ...

Happy 4th of July! I love all the patriotic stuff! 

But our day was pretty much to ourselves. We headed over to moms around 3 pm and played games with Nancy and mom. Patrick worked outside today before we headed over there. 

My day was spent working on QOV stuff. Both Val and Debbie came over to drop off and pick up QOV stuff. Debbie brought me 2 quilts that need the binding stitched on. I will stitch those down. I know mom and Nancy will be awhile before they stitch the 5 quilts they have that needs binding. Connie ...

June was a productive month. I finished two stitches, Floral Butterfly and the star ornament. The ornament wasn’t on my June list.

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): Words of Joy Tree, pattern by Ursula Michael. I’m stitching this on red 14 count aida with DMC white, all from stash.

Project 2 (UFO): The membership quilt. The two sections are complete and ready to quilt.

Project 3 (original): The challenge due in ...

No change in the numbers.

I finished another small stitch project this week. It was a fun, quick stitch. The pattern came from the book Scrap Savers Christmas Stitchery by Sandra Lounsburry Foose.

I never counted the felt in and won’t count it out.

This project was one of my stitch UFOs. There are very few of those, unlike my quilting UFOs. This year I’m focusing on projects far too long on my creative wish list.

Fabric In: 19.375 yards

Fabric out: 5 yards

Net Fabric In: 14.375 yards

How did you do this week?

No change in the numbers.

This week was a blur. I’m not sure how much time I spent in the sewing room. Definitely not enough.

After finishing the embroidery kit, I went back to a holiday ornament I started a year or so ago. I made one that looked like a tree and had some difficulty with it, which caused me to put the star version aside.

I started working on the star again. I don’t know why I found the tree difficult. I guess I was in a different place because the star has stitched up quickly ...

After eight long months, I finished the Tiny Modernist three month holiday Stitch Along (SAL). The finished piece fills a 12 x 16 frame.

I love it, but man that was a lot of stitching. I have to admire all those people who do full coverage pieces from afar. I am not cut out for the commitment required for those projects.

The pattern is available complete now, should you be interested.

I bought a frame at Goodwill this weekend, and hope to have it on the wall soon.

I don’t care if it’s summer. Once framed it will ...

This morning I received a call from both my daughter and son. Then I got a text from one of my nephews. It's know to get one from the nephews. 

I had to recut my fabric for the back of the quilt I finished yesterday. I cut the backing too short. I did the actual size. Got it in the wash before we headed to the Evergreen Playhouse to watch the play "Tuck Everlasting." It was really, really good. I had no idea what to expect. Katt said it's like a Romeo and Juliette. She was right. But ...