New month

January went by in a blur.  Heck, November, December and January did too.  Travelling back and forth to visit with my sick aunt occupied most of my time.

Sadly, my aunt passed away a week ago.  She got her wish to be moved to a hospice and that is where she ended her life.  She was the last member on my Mom's side and a generation has now ended.  Rest in peace, Aunt Bette, rest in peace.

Due to my staying on for a few extra days to sort and pack up her belongings, I did bring some handwork with me to work on.

A new project got started ...... this one I couldn't resist.  Cassandra's Circle from Civil War Quilts.  It is a free BOM project.  Some of the leaves for the borders were cut out and prepped for sewing.  Many more are needed, but this is a good start.

Then, some more work got done on my EPP project.  A lot of basting on these tiny diamonds took up most of my time and a few diamonds got sewn onto a section of my project.

  

I was so glad  to have this work with me.  The only thing is my stuff smells of cigarette smoke.  My cousin is a smoker and although he smoked by the stove with the exhaust fan working, the smoke smell still got into my bags and my fabric.  My projects are now being aired to rid them of the smell. 

Oh well .....

Once I got home, this project on my design wall kept calling to me.  The right side border is now sewn together.  The left side border is slowing being worked on.  I will plug away on this project until it is done. 

Cherish your day!

Good progress!

Isn't it amazing what can get done when you stick to working on just one project!  A few days later after my last post and this is where my project is at.  Amazing!  One more crazy block was made and the rest of the 2-1/2 squares were cut out and laid onto the design wall.

Then, the sewing of the 2-1/2" squares started and I thought a good job was getting done.  Then, once I stood back and looked at what was just done ...... darn, drats ..... too dark on the bottom right hand side.  See the circle?  Way too dark.  

A lot of unsewing took place and then all was ok with the world again.  So much better now!  What is left to do?  One more crazy block and a star block and borders.

This is where this project will languish for a few weeks.  I'm off to visit/help out with my aunt who is getting moved from the hospital to a hospice.  Only days now before she goes onto her next journey.  Sad, sad times!

Cherish your day!

BTW .... if any of my readers/followers get an email from me asking to buy Google Gift Cards for a sick friend .... ignore it .... it is a scam.

Making progress

Progress has been made on this project.  So glad to see this coming along.  Originally, the pattern was to use all those star blocks.  They finish at 16".  I got bored after making just two blocks and that is why it got shelved .... oh, so many years ago.  Then along came the idea of making some more crazy blocks and using them as alternative blocks.  To make the top longer, some 2-1/2" blocks are being cut out and used for each side of the top.  An outer border will be added to make this top the perfect size.

I'm loving this layout and my stash and scraps are getting a good workout.  My bags and bins of scraps are getting sorted through and are being cut down to usable squares and strips.  Progress there too!  Happy times!

Cherish your day!

Another section ready

Over the past few days, I've been busy prepping my hexagons and basting them.  The result is another section is ready for sewing together.  All those rows will be bagged and they will come along with me on my next trip to visit my sick aunt and frail cousin.  I need something to get me through some very sad times and this project will fit the bill perfectly.

While the above project sits in a bag, this old UFO got my attention once again.   Time to work on those blocks and how nice it will be to see this finally become a top!

One block is ready for sewing together and another is waiting in the wings.

Scrap sorting is taking place.  A lot of 2-1/2" squares are going to be needed for this project plus a few other scrap quilts that will happen.  There are bins and bins and bags and bags of scraps to be sorted through.  I wonder how many quilts can be made out of those scraps?  It will be interesting to keep count!

Again, the desire to reduce my stash is gnawing at me.  Seeing my aunt and cousin and the situation they are in, keeps bringing this subject up front and centre.  Got to reduce, reduce, reduce!

This is the time also to get some finished tops out and get backings made and send them off to my favourite LAer.

Cherish your day!

Three sections done

I've been away for two weeks helping out with an elderly sick aunt and a frail cousin.  After visiting at the hospital and cooking/cleaning for my cousin (who sleeps a lot), I did have a lot of time on my hands.  So, between reading a mystery book and doing a bit of EPP (English Paper Piecing), a third section (bottom left) was finally done on this ongoing project.  This project is not getting shelved!

Pieces for the last section were pulled out and placed onto the design wall (bottom right) to see how many pieces are needed.  Border fabrics have been auditioned to see what will fit in with the plan.

For the center sections ...... vines were made and are on hand when I start playing with that area.   Lots of applique will be happening!

I will be heading back again to help out with my aunt and cousin.  My aunt will be moving to hospice care and Lord only knows what will happen with my cousin.  Neither are expected to live much longer.  Sad times ahead .....

In the meantime, this project will be coming with me to help me get through a difficult time ahead.

Cherish each day!

A very old UFO

This quilt was my last finished quilt for 2019, but didn't have time to post about it before as it was a Xmas gift.

This quilt was started so long ago ..... as in March of 2004.  I didn't like where the project was going and it was shelved.  Then in February 2007, a new look was designed and then the work was started.  Because something new and exciting always caught my eye and my attention, the project was shelved again and again.

Finally, this summer I was determined to finally get this project going again.  So, up onto my design wall it went and then it sat and sat.

My sister was visiting me to do some clothing adjustments before she, her youngest daughter and I went on a vacation to Costa Rica and she saw the blocks on the design wall.  Oh lovely, she said.  She didn't remember that this was for her!  It was that long ago!  OMG and LOL.

Once I really dedicated my time and attention to finishing the blocks and assembling everything, it only took a few weeks to do.  Oh dear .... so much time wasted!  I know that I'm not the only one that falls victim to this waste of time/energy .... so I'm in good company.

Fussy cut circles.

Embroidery close-up.

This quilt was finally gifted to my sister and her husband Xmas 2019 as their 40th wedding anniversary.  It was originally intended for their 25, 30, 35 wedding anniversary but it never got finished until just before Xmas 2019.  Finally, done and gifted.  Whew!

Pillow shams were made and quilted but they still need to be finished and then they too can be passed over to my sister.

Quilt details:
Started:  March 2004 and restarted February 2007
Top finished:  Nov. 2019
Quilt finished:  December 2019
Quilt size:  101-1/2" x 100-1/2" (top size:  103-3/4" x 103-3/8")
Pattern source:  no pattern .... designed by me using EQ software
Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 cotton polyester
Machine quilted by:  Kat's Quilts using "Knit 1/Purl 2" quilting design

Another empty bin ..... yee haw! 

Have a great day!

New year and a new decade

2020 ..... how time flies by when we are having so much fun!  Here we are in a new year and a new decade.

Today, I'm looking back at 2019 and what was accomplished.  You know that I don't do well with lists but a photo says it all for me.  It keeps me motivated (well that and a friend who also keeps me on my toes) to just get things done.

As we get older, we see friends and family get ill and you know that time is more precious than ever.  Right now, an elderly aunt is quite ill and that brings the meaning of time closer to home.  Time to get more things accomplished this year.  Time to clear out stuff that no longer has any meaning or need.

Time to look back now.  These are my quilts that got completed.  Quite a few of the quilts are English Paper Piecing (EPP), a lot of them scrappy (makes my heart sing!).  A good year.  Only one was hand quilted, the rest were machine quilted.

Some of these quilts never made it to the UFO stage.  They just got started and completed.  That is what I'm trying to do with new projects.  Just work on them until they are done.  No more shelving.  Here are 20 items that got finished in 2019.  Such a good year .... the most that I've ever done.  If you want a better look at these quilts, just go to the top of my blog (just below my header photo) and click onto the "Quilts 2019" tab and enjoy.

This is my visual photo to keep me focused.  Tops completed.  Love it when I can cross a top off that photo.  2019 started with 22 tops to be quilted.  Twelve got done and crossed off this photo.  Yeah!

Now, my UFO's didn't get a good rating.  Only four got to the flimsy or quilted stage.  Still, that is better than zero.  For 2020, I will just have to work harder!

For 2020, this is my record.  Down to 10 tops.  Holy cow!  That is a record for me!  I'm looking forward to getting backings ready and sending most of these to my lovely LAer.  I might just keep a couple for hand quilting, but will get them basted by the LAer.

My UFO's are at 33.   Oh humbug!  There could even be more lurking about if no photo was taken of them.

Now that I've looked backwards and forward, let's see what 2020 will bring forth!

Have a great year!