Birthday Swap

We missed our annual trip to celebrate Addy’s birthday last November, only the second time in 18 years we haven’t been in Colorado for it, 

so we decided to swap in a February trip for her mom’s birthday instead. 

LA gave us a wet send off (driving the freeways at 04-dark-30, in the rain is always… exciting? challenging? hair-raising??) 

and Denver welcomed us with temps in the 20’s and snow on the ground.

Planning to spend lots of time hanging out, viewing new-to-us TV (anybody watching Hulu’s Paradise? So good!), 

eating tasty food - like tonight’s very excellent chicken and waffles/whiskey distillery restaurant, Oak and Maple (oak barrels, maple syrup…),

doing a bit of hand-stitching, 

Looks like underwater diving helmets for Minions…

and relaxing. See y’all in a week.

Snow Globes and a UFO

Another step up Mt. Bindmore - Snow Globes is bound and done. (And yes, I did hang it at Christmas without the binding…)

Started 2019-ish (here) then cut down to a more manageable size last December (here).

Showing of the backing fabric

Very happy with it, super wonky quilting and all. (I learned a lot…) That makes 4 quilts completed so far for the Finish It QAL. Whoo!

Remember my National Parks quilt (here)? It’s once again my tv watching/going places hand-work project.

I’m adding a round of simple embroidery to every park we’ve visited. Eventually, maybe, each block will be done? Probably not since I think at least one is underwater and I don’t see me taking up scuba diving in my old-ish age. 

 

Finished Hearts

Got this back from my longarmer pal on Friday, determined to have it finished and usable by Super Bowl Sunday.

Made it!* My version of Patchwork Hearts (pattern link) was created entirely with whatever was in my stash, from the combo of reds/pinks/purples on the front,

to the bees and honeycomb for the hearts,

and the pretty purple leaves in the backing. 

The thing I most worried about? The “omg, am I sure this goes with the other colors??” binding choice - I *love* it, hubby concurs, and there was about a half-inch width of fabric left afterward, so it was obviously the perfect choice. (I need to stop obsessing over whether my color picks are “perfect”… 😜) Happy, cheerful, colorful… I love this first quilt finish of 2025. 

*Still need to wash it to achieve max softness but I’m not positive some of the reds won’t bleed, so….. putting it off until after our Colorado trip. Crossing my fingers I’m worrying for nothing… 

Wheels of Fortune

Finished this Friday but didn’t get pretty pictures until today. I’m still counting it as a Week 1 finish for the FinishItQAL (which ran through Friday.)

42 x 42”

Love these colors. Love the illusion of curves. Love that it’s done and I can hang it up and enjoy it. 

The backing is pretty too

I bought the fabric, Carolina Lilies, in 2022 and tried using it in several patterns with no luck.

More angel wings quilting

Most of the fat quarters eventually ended up in the stash, but in August 2024, I uncovered a bag of snowballs and other pieces left over from 2022’s unsuccessful Around The Lake QAL. I used them to make Wheels, Carolina Stars (still waiting for binding) and Big Blocks (gifted.)

The only block I made for Around the Lake. Maybe it wants to be a pillow??

And there’s still more pieces and uncut fabric waiting for another project(s). Definitely got my $$ worth out of this purchase!

Bunnies and Bling

First step in conquering Mt. Bindmore for the Finish It QAL- the flowerpot bunny quilt is done!

Started in March 2022, it’s been sitting in the pile - and hanging on the wall each Easter - since that April. 

Each of the grands picked their flowerpot and bunny eye color (here, here, and here), then Jac and Donovan giggled their way through some hanging pix (here). Glad to have this finally, really done. 

Due to the type of lens that was implanted with my cataract surgery (light adjustable), I get to wear these pretty, sexy (not!) glasses, both indoors and out, for the next 2 months. 

So what does a crafty girl do with ugly? Bling it! Decided to try sparkly stickers before breaking out the bedazzler (afraid the heat would damage the plastic) and to my surprise, they are staying on! 

I’m already tired of the weird looks people keep giving me but now I can pretend they’re just admiring my artistry…

February Plan

Saw this finish-along on instagram and signed up 

hoping it will motivate me to tackle Mt. Binding (Mt. Bindmore?) -

2 quilts, 5 wall hangings, and 1 tablerunner, all of them finished except for their binding. 

That cute little bunny quilt at the top of the pile has hung on the wall at Easter for TWO years, sans binding. Hang on, little buddy, this is your year!

We’re planning to be in CO for a week, and February is already short, but IF I get these all done… or I get bored… I have 56 half-square triangles (HST’s) left over from the Patchwork Heart quilt that are ready to be made into… something. Excited to work on this, so motivated to finish the bindings. Wonder how far I’ll get…