Happy New Year 2022!

 January 2 - a new day with new goals for a new year. The big one is to use more fabric than I buy. I've made a good start on that by chopping up 72 8.5" squares of Christmas fabric and the same number of backgrounds to go with them for the Merry Mayhem New Years Day mystery. I haven't done this one for awhile but it's a great way to start a quilty year. I also want to finish things that are already started so I'm going to take the suggestion that I saw somewhere to write down all ufo/phd's and put them in a jar to pull out when needing the next project. If I finish one for each new one I start it should be a very productive year.

2020 finishes:

These are the last quilt top made by my step-mom's mother who passed away this year. Instead of finishing it to one large quilt we cut it into 4 so each of her children could have one. They are all about 40" square and I only did the quilting and binding.

This one goes to Jacob, my newest grandson born at the end of September.

This one based on the pattern "Social Distanced Hugs" by Missouri Star is for Katie and her hubby. The fabric is a layer cake I got at a quilt show when Katie was still in high school.

This "Refracted Rainbow" is for Bea and their hubby. I could never pick any one color for Bea who has become a great artist hence the rainbow.

"I Spy a Jungle" is the theme of this baby quilt for Pat's first great-grandchild. I have known Pat since I was 7 (more than 50 years! how did that happen) when we moved to CR and she and my mom became friends. Sarah is Pat's oldest daughter and Jacob her oldest grandchild.

Elin and Bjorn are Pat's youngest grandchildren by her son Michael. She wanted them personalized for them so they got initials in the center and the borders are quilted with their names. The hearts in the center are reminiscent of Norwegian tole painting.

 which was the theme requested.

These are the first quilts I made in more than a year since 2020 just wasn't a time I felt much like creating much of anything. I was reluctant but I couldn't say no to my mom's best friend for most of my childhood.

Onward to the New Year!

Old entry (2014) from a different blog that I was using for a while titled:

Wedding Blues...

My daughter just married the love of her life and it was like the whole world was conspiring to keep it from happening. But happen it did and I am so glad!
Iowa girl and Minnesota boy both moved to Florida after college and came to have friends in common. These friends like to go out dancing, as do the northern transplants. Eventually, they paired up as young people do. When it came time for the wedding, they asked for attendants. Boys, no problem, girls... Babies!!! Lots of babies! Friend #5, expecting 30 days before the wedding, #4, 3 months before, #3 already has 3kids who she will be bringing along even though it will take 3 different flights to get from the far side of the country, #2 has her baby on Valentines Day (6 weeks before, but it's her third so no problem) and last but not least #1, baby sister, not to be left out, jumps on the bandwagon, and surprises everyone by not drinking when the girls go out for margaritas after the rehearsal dinner. (She is also eating like a horse, but this is nothing new.) Needless to say 4 of the 5 girls have dresses that are more than a little tight in the boob department.
The meet the parents thing goes well except for the fact that the maid of honors hubby came down with the flu and was very green around the gills, causing them to leave early. The day of the rehearsal dawns cloudy and cool, not the norm for Orlando, but we can deal especially since all the parent left snow on their lawns to come.
The rehearsal gets spit on a little but nothing we can't handle, (Did I mention this is an outdoor wedding?) but the forecast is getting a little iffy. A great picnic/rehearsal dinner is had by all but then the lights go out. Literally. The electrician in the group (doesn't everyone travel with one of these?) checks the circuit breakers, but they aren't the problem. All the buildings are dark so we call it a night and take off planning to return shortly after noon for pictures before the ceremony.
Wedding day starts with the hair lady showing up at the brides house before we have our coffee. Everyone is checking the forecast and we all have something different showing. We all are pretending it will clear up and the sun will come out however. Soon it is the bride's turn and what had been sprinkles can no longer be ignored. Halfway through getting her hair done, with lots of tears, the decision is made to move the ceremony. The girls all pull out their phones and call everyone on the guest list before the bride's hair is done.
The church is beautiful, the pictures are good, the ceremony goes well and the sun comes out.

I can't believe it's been sooooo long since I have been on here. But I'm sewing again and need to keep track of what I'm doing.
I was going to start the year by quilting my "50 shades of purple" top that I wanted to get done so it could go on my bed, but I got a request from my mother. G has done a lot and saved me much work so making her a quilt is something I'm very willing to do. I spent last week doodling to come up with a way to use 8 pillow panels to make a throw and added one heart panel to the 8 kitties for an oversized 9-patch.

The blocks are done and the first row of sashing is on 6 of the nine. Hopefully, the center sashing will happen tomorrow.
Goals for the year include FINISHING a quilt every month. I have plenty finished tops that just need quilting so this is doable.
On my way to a good start for the year.

2011: The Year in Review

Actual – 8 quilts and 6 baby afghans done

Participating in the PhD challenge was a good way to start the year. I always have too many projects going, so this was a good way to make myself get some of them done and out of the house.

#1 Double 4-patch that went to Binky Patrol

#2 Triangles for Libee

#3 Wonky 9-patch that went to Binky Patrol

#4 Random Triangles that I didn’t have a home for until the day I was binding it and my dil came in and asked if I could make her a quilt that she could take to work so her clients would have something to sit on if they forgot to bring a chair to outdoor events.

#5 D & T’s Wedding Quilt

#6 Oh My Stars mystery quilt – wedding gift for J and S

I also managed to finish 2 others

#7 – Stained Glass – wedding gift for Waldo and his bride

#8 – Argyle – wedding gift for J & M

After finishing #8 which took 2 months to make, and J & M’s wedding at the end of September I was wiped out and didn’t touch my sewing machine again for 4 months. Finally started A’s baby quilt last nite. He’s only 4 days old so it should get there soon enough, right? I want to get this top together this weekend so it will actually be my first quilt of 2012

What else is on the list for 2012?

Wedding quilt for M & J and I would like to make each of my kids a quilt for their birthday. I have some of these started. L’s (school time) is all cut out, J’s (pretty in pink) partially. They are all getting the same quilt, just different fabric which completely changes the look of the quilt. I have used this fat-quarter friendly pattern before and it goes together so fast. The only problem is picking fabrics.

Frustration!

We had the wedding all planned. We had the place, the caterer, the dress, the minister, the DJ. Then came the email saying “Sorry, you have to find a new place, I’m selling.” Not even a phone call but an email!

I was on the train on my way back from Colorado and the wedding of nephew #1 when J called to tell me of the email she had just gotten on a Monday morning while she was getting ready for work. Not a nice way to start the week. 

She was planning on coming anyway to look for flowers and cake. Instead we hunted for a new venue. Found one but we had to change the date and the caterer. Glad we didn’t have the invites printed yet.

Now to get working on the quilt!

Family Time

I spent last week at my sister’s house in Colorado. It was a great time.

One nephew graduated from HS in the rain.

His older brother got married on the only (mostly) sunny day last week. 

 

A fabulous week was had by all even if it was rainy. Dad, his wife and three daughters went wine tasting and it was so much fun. Because of the rain most of the places had no one else in them. I have never had wine that tasted of chocolate before but it was wonderful! The next day was for shopping, so of course I picked FABRIC! My sisters preferred clothes so we left them behind and went on a shop hop. I got almost enough fabric to fill the hole in my suitcase left from the quilt I brought them. My sister (mother of the groom) was so excited for them to see the quilt that she made them open it at the reception so everyone could see it. The week ended too soon. I love spending time with my family! 

I suppose returning to work is inevitable. And now the rain has followed me home. Boo

Family Time

This has been an amazing week with family. Last Thursday my son spent the night before he left for his last (he will be out of the army in July!) long drill weekend. Friday an old friend who now lives in NY came with her husband and daughter and we had a marvelous time catching up on what the other has been up to lately. Saturday they left for her 2 youngest children's college graduations. Sunday they stopped back by for lunch on their way through town. Monday I landed in Colorado to visit my sister. Tuesday my nephew graduated from HS. Wednesday we (Dad, Diane, Patti, Ruth & me) went wine tasting. Thursday was shopping day. There are lots of really great quilt shops in Grand Junction CO. Today is the rehearsal/dinner for the wedding tomorrow. What a terrific week it has been. But... I can't wait to get back home to my sewing machine!