Sunday, December 31, 2017

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

I have also joined in the 
Dresden House block SAL


I am ready for a challenge to
get me out of my comfort zone.

For today's 
I am going to put some more
stitches in my Christmas 
Nativity (that I did not finish)


What plans do you have for 2018?

Sunday, December 24, 2017

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 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 
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?




Monday, December 18, 2017

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?




Sunday, December 17, 2017

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 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 
So many projects to choose from...
SO MANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What are you working on?


Monday, December 11, 2017

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!

Sunday, December 10, 2017

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
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?

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?


Friday, December 8, 2017

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
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?

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

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

Sacred Threads:
USA

Sewing and Quilt Fest of New Jersey: 
New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania 

New Quilts from an Old Favorite:
2019 Theme-Oak Leaf & Reel

International Quilt Fest 2019:
Blue and White Quilts












Sunday, December 3, 2017

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
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?