Last post for 2017

2017 is coming to an end

in just a few hours.

It's been a year of Good,

Bad and downright Ugly.

2018...what does it hold for me?

I hope more time with the family,

more time to create and 

more time to learn.

This is my final quilt for 2017.

It's my first (and only) jellyroll

quilt. It was made for my

son-in-law's birthday.

The front is cotton...the back

and binding is flannel. It will be

warm, but using flannel binding

 was a bugger. I will

not do that again.

In 2018, I plan to do a 

different Service-Charity-Comfort

project each month. For

January, I am starting off

with knitting hats for local

hospitals for the February

Little Hats-Big Hearts project

I have also joined in the 

Dresden House block SAL

at Persimon dreams  

I am ready for a challenge to

get me out of my comfort zone.

For today's 

Slow Sunday Stitching.

I am going to put some more

stitches in my Christmas 

Nativity (that I did not finish)

What plans do you have for 2018?

Christmas Eve 2017

Merry Christmas, Blog World.

I hope you are having a happy and safe

Holiday, wherever you are celebrating.

I finished the binding on the two

quilts I am giving for Christmas.

First one...to my daughter

Years ago, she asked for a Fall themed

quilt. "No problem" I said....

Then I made one for my daughter-in-law,

who has a Fall time birthday.

Then I made one for another daughter.

Then I started this one for my daughter,

but it sat and sat....unfinished.

I think she will be surprised.....

Next up, my Husband....

The pattern is Town Square from

the The Midnight Quilt Show

The original pattern had the background

done in white, but I did not have

enough white, so black was used instead.

I love a crazy pieced backing,

that also uses up scraps, so this

is the solid backing of his quilt.

I cleaned out my box of

solid cottons. I can even put the

lid back on the box!

For todays 

Slow Sunday Stitching

I will be finishing one last

quilt binding for a birthday

gift quilt. Pictures to follow

next time.....

As the New Year is quickly

approaching, I am ready to begin

some new chapter-adventure in Life.

I want to learn something new...

get out of my comfort zone....

maybe make a fool of myself...

What are you going to do in 2018?

In the home stretch for Christmas sewing....

I am down to the last few days of

Christmas sewing time.

The pressure is on....

The result of last weeks goals:

I finished

binding on V's quilt

knitting W's hat

This week's goals:

18-24 December

Finish binding on W's quilt-DONE

Tie B's fleece blanket

Knit M a hat

We will be delivering the kids-Grandkids

Christmas gifts over the weekend.

My daughter already gave me my

Christmas...she knew I would 

purchase it by New Years, so she

wanted to get it to me early.

It's a new (to me) style of planner

called Commit 30.

You plan a goal for each 

30 day-month time.

I am looking forward to a year

of challenging myself in my

Art and Landscape quilts.

Do you have any creating goals?

Sabbath dinner with the Family

Once a month, we get all our

children and their children

together for a family dinner.

I LOVE IT!

I grew up far away from my

Grandparents, so I only saw them

once a year. I love having the

kids just a car ride away.

Tonight, they are all going to

exchange Christmas gifts

and eat dinner and talk.

It is going to loud and crazy and

I LOVE IT!

I finished the binding on some

quilts this week. I can not post

a full photo of either quilt,

because the quilt has not been

gifted yet.

This is a little bit of my Husbands

Christmas gift. 

It is called the Town Square Quilt 

The link is

Angela Walters Midnight Quilt Show

Angela made it with a white background,

but I did not have enough white fabric,

so I used black. 

I do not do much traditional block

piecing anymore, so this was

a fun quick project to use up scraps.

Today, I hope to get in some more

binding stitching on one last

gift quilt, but I still need to finish 

up decorating the house for the party.

I also need to make my 

UFO Challenge list for 2018.

So many projects to choose from...

SO MANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you working on?

Back to what worked in the Past

For a few years, I use to post a

weekly to-do/goal list here at

my blog of what I wanted to sew

Somewhere, somehow, I stopped

making that list and created by

deadlines...usually at the last minute.

Back to a Monday posted list for me!

This week: 11-17 December

Finish the binding on V's quilt-DONE

Finish the binding on J's quilt

Finish the binding on W's quilt

Finish tying B's camper quilt

Finish knitting W's hat-DONE

Yup....I better get busy!

Change...it's a comin'.....

Normally, I set goals in the Fall

when my Husband goes back to

School and the weather turns cool.

I have never been a New Years

Resolution kind of girl, but...

This year, I am feeling the

need to major changes and

reorganization in my Life.

I have already decided to

participate in the 2018 UFO challenge

at Patchworktimes.com

You make a list of 12 UFO projects

you would like to work on...can be a

combo of different arts...knitting...

quilting...sewing...whatever...

I am thinking of also doing the
scrappy quilt challenge at
Persimon Dreams

I have my Trip around the World
hand sewn quilt top that
is almost at the quilting stage.
I could have it done by December 2018!

I also want to find some Art Quilt

Challenges to enter during the year.

Do you have any blogs or websites

I could visit for challenges?

Another change is my Health.

Without going into too much detail,

I need to get healthier...especially

my Liver...lose some weight would

be nice too. I have started with

a program at a local Hospital, but

need to keep progressing forward!

Lastly...my 10 year anniversary

is coming up as blogger.

I want to do something to celebrate,

but am at a loss to know what o do...

Any suggestions?

For todays Slow Sunday Stitching

I am still doing binding on 

Christmas gift quilts. I am getting 

another quilt on Tuesday from my

quilter, so it just keeps going on and on

(and on..........)

What are you working on?

Plans for 2018

I am ready to start making plans for 2018

What do I want to create?

Where do I want to go and explore?

How do I envision the next year?

I definitely need to finish some WIP,

both in quilting and knitting. 

I am going to join Judy at

Patchworktimes.com

with her 12 month-12 project list.

You can list any 12 projects...knitting,

quilting, sewing, whatever.

Each month Judy will choose a number

1-12, and you do that number off your list.

I am also planning a big trip in the Summer

to see family and attend a wedding. I am

also going to see two friends...one I have

not seen in years!

My Weigh to Health program is still 

on-going thru July of 2018. I have stalled

out on weight loss, but I am recommitting

to getting healthy again.

What are you looking forward to for 2018?

Art quilt Challenges for 2018-2019

I am challenging myself to enter one

or two art competitions in the next 

year. Of course, it would be nice to

win, but more important, to challenge

and push myself.

I want to share some of the contest

info I have found for 2018-2019. If you

have a quilt challenge that is open

to residents of the USA, being

held during 2018, please let me know

American Icon Art Competition:

USA

http://sausalitoartfestival.org/american-icon-art-competition/

Sacred Threads:

USA

http://sacredthreadsquilts.com/html/callForEntries.html

Sewing and Quilt Fest of New Jersey: 

New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania 

https://www.quiltfest.com/register/the-quilt-sewing-fest-of-new-jersey/tri-state-quilt-competition-2018/tri-state-quilt-competition-2018/

New Quilts from an Old Favorite:

2019 Theme-Oak Leaf & Reel

https://quiltmuseum.org/education/contests/new-quilts-old-favorites/

International Quilt Fest 2019:

Blue and White Quilts

http://quilts.com/enter-a-quilt.html

Tis the Season to create...and sew...

I love Christmas!

I enjoy the Celebration of

Christmas with family and

friends and food with it all

wrapped up in Happiness and Love!

Here is a photo of the completed

Three Wise Men Dolls I posted

about back on 12 November. All

stuffed and sewn up.

I will be displaying them at our local

Creche Festival this weekend. I

love seeing all the Nativities from

all over the World together.

My friend, Nicole, lived in England

for a few years and shares her

experiences with her friends.

This weekend, we went to her

home to make Door Greeters or

Pine Swags

.

She provided the fresh cut Pine

branches and we brought items

to decorate. I added Pinecones

(from Nicole), bows and a 

Christmas Ornament...it

says "A Savior is Born".

Beyond fabric and thread, other

creating endeavors are usually

out of my comfort zone, but this

one was fun (and a little pokey 

on the hands)

Today, for my

Slow Sunday Stitching

I will be finishing miles and

miles of binding on quilts. I

do not have any photos, because

the future quilt owners may read

my blog. 

What are you Stitching?

Getting ready for Christmas

I love Christmas!

I love celebrating Christmas!

I love decorating for Christmas.

I have three decorating themes

that I change up each year for

Christmas....The Nativity,

The Ocean and Trees and Birds.

I usually decorate every other year

with The Nativity, and the other

years with either the Ocean or Nature.

This year, it is the Nativity.

Years ago, I purchased some

preprinted panels of three

Wise Men  dolls. I added 

embroidery, then sewed and stuff

a set for two out of three of my

children's families. 

I have another set ready to stuff

and hand sew for my daughters

family. Hopefully I will also

finish a last set for me too.

I am going to continue working on

the cross-stitch Nativity banner

(I have posted about the last month)

but it may not be finished this year.

What are you Slow Sunday Stitching?

I am in the creating zone!

I am attempting to plan and finish

my projects on a deadline for the

Holidays this year. In the past, I

was a last minute kind of creator,

but I am trying to change that habit.

Here is my Slow Sunday Stitch 

project from three weeks ago.

And here it is today...

I still have some wording, leaves 

and a few flowers to cross-stitch.

I think I started this kit about

15 years ago. Amazing, the

things you find when you clean

out-downsize your sewing room!

What are you creating today?

Fall has arrived!

Fall weather is in full swing here in Utah.

Cold nights with warmish days.

Switched out my flip flops for boots and

t-shirts for sweaters and scarves.

I always begin my Christmas plans

in October. I make a list of 

sewing-knitting-quilting projects 

I want to accomplish for the Season.

I cleaned out my Christmas project

box this weekend. I have a huge pile

of Christmas themed fabric to donate.

I also found a bunch of ornaments I

started sometime....

I don't know why or for whom

I began to sew them for...

They are finished now and will be

donated to the Evergreen fundraiser.

Evergreen raises funds for the local

Women and Family Shelter.

For my Sunday Slow Stitching, I am

going to work on this cross-stitch

sampler, also found in the Christmas

project box.

Another project I do not remember

starting. It needs a good ironing,

doesn't it! I have a lamb to

complete, plus the wording and

all the outlining. I think I will

keep this one for me.

What are you working on?

Creating in a crazy World

I do not watch TV, but lately, our

media viewing has tripled with all

the crazy weather going on.

Our daughter's family went through

an evacuation when their town

caught on fire this last week.

Thank goodness there was no loss

of life. The fire was stopped

about 6 houses away from her home.

After watching your family go 

through such an experience, it

makes you appreciate that time

with family is always more 

important than "things".

I am continuing my knitting of hats

for the November fund raiser for

our local family shelter.

I am using leftover yarn from my

stash, as well as, yarn gifted to me.

For my 

Slow Sunday Stitchingl

I will be un-stitching a quilt top.

I made this quilt for my Husband 

many moons ago. A friend suggested

I tie it, instead of quilting it. 

I tied it, and have disliked it ever

since I gifted it to him. The ties

did not hold and the batting has

shifted, causing thin spots.

I am going to un-sew it, repair

some ripped seams (from the

ties) and remake the backing.

What are you stitching today?

(BTW....the cat in the photo is Poppy.

She is a rescue kitty someone

dumped at my daughters home

2 years ago. She has adopted the

quilt as her own)

School has started, but it is still so hot!

The new school year is in full swing,

but the weather thinks it is still

Summer...so hot...high 90's! 

We have a Women's-family Shelter

in our county called Safe Harbor.

Each year, in November, they have

a craft sale, a Christmas Tree auction

and a yummy Dinner to raise a 

large portion of their operation costs

for the upcoming year.

This year, my donations are children's hats.

I learned how to knit I-cord for this

 pattern. They knit up quickly

and I am using all those little yarn

balls left over from other projects.

I received first place ribbons on the

two quilts I entered into my county fair.

This first quilt is from a pattern called

"Be My Neighbor". I made it from

some very bright fabrics that were 

a gift. I like how it turned out, but

the colors are not really my style, so

it is going to be gifted.

The second quilt is a Red and White sampler

I made, with my Husband's help, for our

35th wedding anniversary. He helped pick

out blocks that represented our life 

together. There is a block for our 4 kids,

our 8 grandkids and places we have 

lived. I love Red! 

Today, for Slow Stitch Sunday, I am

going to cut and continue hand sewing

a set of Nativity pieces for gifting

this upcoming Holiday Season.

What are you creating?

Hanging on to the last threads of Summer....

For my Husband, a teacher, his

Summer breaks ends very soon.

As usual, this Summer has passed

much too quickly.

I am beginning to get the itch to

be back on some kind of schedule.

Do a few of the same things each

day and week.

I am attempting to sew a little

each and every day. It doesn't

always work out, but I am going

to keep trying to get in the Studio.

This week, I began a new

comfort quilt to donate (through

my Quilt Group) to the Women's

and Family Shelter in our County

I have made two blocks using 2.5

inch scrappy squares. The pattern

is called Star Value and is the 

January block for Nancy Ziemans

2017 quiltalong. 

My local quilt store is hosting a free

star block of the month. They 

provide the pattern and yellow fabric

and you sew it with your choice of

background.

I am doing it scrappy with a

brown background.

I decided to keep on sewing 

and made the same Ohio Star

block in Red and white to

donate to my quilt group.

The group is putting together

a auction basket for the Utah

Quilt Guild State Fest in

September. 

Today, for my

Slow Sunday Stitching, I

think I will prep (and hopefully

start) a new felt Nativity set.

This next week is our local

elections and while I work at

my election post, there

is likely to be some sitting time

where I can sew (or knit).

What are you creating?

Another week...more sewing

I am on a roll with using up scraps

for the comfort (donation) quilts

I finished up this quilt top this week.

I created the center from 1.5 inch scraps. All the

scrappy blocks around it, I found in my stash, but

I don't think they are of my sewing....

The quilt top measures 56 inch square.

I started a new comfort top in 2.5 scraps.

The block is called  

Star Value Quilt Block. If you click

the link, it will take you to the 

designers Blog.

I am making the block in white-
off white and print scraps,
with solid scraps in the corners.

As I posted last week, I started a
weight loss program at my
local Hospital. The Orientation
meeting was good...a little overwhelming...
I have started writing down everything
I eat and my exercise time.

For my Slow Stitch Sunday, I 

will working my felt Nativity set...

hand embroidery.

What are you working on?

Today I took my first baby steps

towards being healthier.

I signed up and attended the 

Weigh to Health weight loss

program at my local Hospital.

It runs for one year and includes

classes twice a month on various

subjects like diet, exercise, 

sleep and mental health.

The first six month goal is to lose

at least 7% of your body weight.

The second six months is to maintain

that loss and possibly lose more weight.

We will keep a food  and exercise diary,

which gets turned in at each class.

We also have the goal to build up to

at least 150 minutes of aerobic

exercise each week (by the fourth month)

I am equally excited and a little terrified

about this new adventure I am attempting.

I know I need to lose weight...I will be

healthier...have more energy...possibly 

extend my life time (more family and

sewing time is always a bonus)

I meet with an dietician next week to

start setting some goals. 

I can do this...yes I can...hopefully!

We are cruisin' now.....

Yesterday I posted a photo of various scrappy

quilt blocks. I took a closer look at them and

realized I did not sew many of them. Not sure

why they were in my scraps bag.

I decided to spend a while sewing today and...

...finished another comfort quilt donation.

I made the center log cabin blocks from

1.5 inch scraps. The two borders

around it are all the scrappy blocks.

It was great to use them all up!

Onto the next project....

I am ready for some changes...

I am married to a school teacher

and I use to substitute teach for years.

Many folks set New Years goals in

January, but in our household, new plans 

and goals start with the new school year.

(which is mid August)

I am ready for some changes.

I am excited to create and sew and knit

I need to make some health changes too.

So.....

I am enrolled in a weight loss-get healthy

program starting in August through a

local hospital. It is not surgery, but classes

to learn how to eat healthy and exercise.

I am setting some sewing-creating goals too.

To start off, using up bags and bags (and bags)

of scraps. I was saving them for a friend, but

she changed her mind and I already had them

cut in usable sizes, so

I started sewing blocks to be used in

charity-comfort quilts for our local

Family shelter and Police department.

It is almost an addiction, once you get started.

I began with the 1.5 inch strips and have

worked my way through the bags.

I have many, many more to sew.....

My local quilt group has a yearly bingo

party. Everyone donates quilt-sewing items

for the prizes. This year, I won a 

quilt frame.

I will be setting it up for some Fall and

Winter hand quilting...when the weather

cools down.

This weeks goals:

Sew on binding on Be My Neighbor quilt

Finish binding by hand sewing it

Sew more comfort blocks.

Today, for my Sunday Slow Stitching,

I am going to work on one of my

unfinished needlepoint projects.

What are you creating?

Welcome Summer!

The season of Summer is in full swing

here in Utah. Hot days...cooler nights...

gardening...Husband home fulltime

(he's a teacher)

I finished a quilt top for my local guild

comfort quilt donation. I had planned to

donate 4 quilts this year, so I am a bit

behind.

Sorry the photo is not of great quality. It is made

of scraps, scraps and more scraps. I have

another 30 blocks made, so a similar quilt

will be my next donation. Our quilts go to

Safe Harbor (women-children shelter) and

the local Police department.

Last week, my Husband and I

attended the Panguitch (Utah) Quilt Walk.

It is a weekend festival about quilts

and how they saved a town.

Google it...it's an amazing story.

All throughout the town of Panguitch,

they have quilts displayed....

probably about 30 quilts.

They also have a statue in a

little park to commemorate the

sacrifice of the 7 men who saved

the town with their quilts.

\

Today, for my Sunday Slow stitch, I am

hoping to finish the binding on a quilt

that will be a Christmas gift.

What are you stitching?

Back to real life!

I just returned home after attending

Women's Conference, put on by my

Church at Brigham Young University

(in Provo, Utah)

It was 2 days of wonderful classes,

visiting with family and friends and

doing Service for others.

The Conference always has

Take-Make-Return service projects

available during the two days of classes.

You take a kit, make it while there,

then return it by the 2nd day.

This year they had 3 hand sewing

and one crochet project. I choose

the crochet project, just because it

was the first table I came too.

I crocheted around the edges of a baby

bib. The kit was in a plastic bag with

instructions, the bib all prepped with

holes, the yarn and a crochet hook. It

took me about half and hour to finish..

My niece did two of the hand sewing

projects. The first was sewing the

side of a wheel chair bag (blanket stitch)

and adding a yoyo flower to a pocket of

the bag. The second was sewing on an

appliqued star (with a running stitch)

onto a child's courage cape,

The last  sewing project was called

Monster tags. The ladies sewed on crazy

eyes and mouths to the circular faces

of little monster heads.

Today, my slow stitch Sunday

project will be work on an

embroidery quilt block for a

year long quilt I am finishing from 2009.

What are you working on?

Another label

In my quest to make sure all my

quilts have labels, I have been

asking my family to let me

borrow quilts I have made to document

then with a photo and label.

This is a quilt I made when my

daughter had her first child.

The photo is not too clear....

There is some bright yellow

fabric in the design, but it

did not photograph well.

For my slow stitch Sunday,

I am adding a quilt label, as well

as, beginning the embroidery

on a monthly quilt block

project. It's an UFO. from 2009.

What are you working on?

Completeing all the steps to make a quilt

I have been creating quilts for more than

half my lifetime. I started out sewing

useful traditional block quilts for my

family to sleep beneath. Years later,

I create landscape and art quilts to make

the World a little bit more beautiful.

I have not always been very good at

adding labels to any of my quilts.

Today, I am going back and hand

sewing labels onto past quilts I have

given to family members.

First quilt up....

My daughters frog quilt. I made

this many moons ago when she was a

young girl...she is married with

children of her own now.

This daughter always brought home

stray animals to love. I didn't mind

the kittens she rescued and hide in

her bedroom ("Dear, do you hear a

meow sound coming from inside your

room? "No, Mom.........")

I did put my foot down to things like

snakes and frogs and other creepy

crawlies.....

So, she got a quilt full of fabric frogs!

What are you working on this

Slow Stitching Sunday?

Week one of 2017 project

I mentioned in last Sundays post

that I was beginning a new year

long quilt project...and I did....

I am making a 5 inch block each

day for a village...houses, trees, cars, etc.

Here is my first week photo.

The quilt is themed around the

four seasons of the year. Top to

bottom in the photo is Spring,

Summer, Fall and Winter.

I began with very simple paper

pieced blocks for the first week. I

will be adding some hand

embroidery to some of the blocks

during the year.

Today, for my Slow Sunday Stitching

I will be adding some leaves to

the tree blocks.

What are you working on today?

A new project-a new adventure!

I celebrated a birthday this past week,

As a gift to myself,

I decided to start a one year project....

a block a day for a year.

The blocks will be 5 inch (finished)

The theme will be a village of

houses and trees and constructed

around the four seasons.

I went to the library and printed

off a few paper piecing patterns for

a house and trees. I will also be

appliqueing houses (and cars and trees)

Old photo, but I completed

row 42 of my hand-stitching

Trip Around the World quilt.

It is almost queen  sized. I

need to decide if I am going to

go larger, or start hand quilting

it now.

What are you working on?