Quilty Helper

Little boy is spending the night and has been glued to my side since he arrived 5-ish. 

Definitely not complaining- I love having him here - but I’d hoped to get a little more sewing done before bedtime. 

 Good night, Batman

So I gave him permission to use “anything you want!!” from my scrap bin, 

which kept him occupied for awhile, making blankets and beds for his action figures and dinosaurs. 

But he wanted to be closer - like between me and the machine close - and have more of my attention. He ended up sitting in my lap, helping me stitch; playing with Clover clips while leaning against my elbow; and rolling seams while asking questions and talking nonstop. 

Which is the long way of saying I’ll be remaking this last block . . . 😂😂

Aliens #2

Aliens#2, aka UFO#2, is finished and in the mail. 

Hubby asked me to make this one, to match the one I made for him (here and here). I’m not sure the recipient is as big a UFO nut fan as my guy, but hopefully he’ll enjoy it. The backing reminds me of underwater coral but according to the selvedge that’s a leopard print?? I like my interpretation better. This one finished at 64x73”. 

I started this in August and it’s been sitting, minus the binding, since September, so I’m counting this and Hawaiian Rainbow as 2021 finishes. That makes lucky 13 for the year. Whoohoo!

Hawaiian Rainbow

This one is finished, boxed and going in the mail tomorrow. 

It was originally going to be a star (here and here), but I think this brick design shows off the color changes so much better. 

The backing is one of the prettiest I’ve ever found. The accent colors match the front almost exactly - and it was on sale! How often does that happen?!? (Sales are really helpful when you need 4+ yards just for the back.)

The colors and pattern on the front fabric reminded me of Hawaii, so we went with Hawaiian flowers for the quilting on this 68x79” beauty. (That’s 5.5’ x 6.5’ - great size for wrapping up by the fire.)

Despite problems along the way (here), this turned into one of my all time favorite quilts. Normally, I don’t struggle with sending quilts off to their new homes, but I’m really going to miss this one. Hope the recipient loves it too.   

Meet Victor

With the rain and illness and time constraints, we put off getting my Christmas present until after the holidays. 

Meet Victor, my new air-threading Baby Lock serger. 

I’ve had sergers before but rarely used them since they were such a pain to thread. With this one, you put a thread in each of the holes (red arrow), push a button and a puff of air pushes the thread through the loopers to the right spot. Magic! (Video here) 

I’m still researching how best to use my new toy, but I think Victor and I are going to be very good friends. 

Mug Rugs

Way back in October, my quilting buddy and I decided to make and exchange mug rugs, little mini quilts just big enough for a cuppa and a snack. 

 
The idea originated with our quilt guild, which was doing a secret mug rug exchange between members for the December meeting, but we decided to go our own way ‘cause we’re rebels like that. 😜 

 I *love* the spiderweb quilting!

Reyna finished hers ⬆️ early in November, and mine ⬇️ were done before Thanksgiving, 

but between travel and holidays and illness and weather (we had rain!), it was New Years Eve before we could do our exchange. 

Definitely worth the wait. 

Inventive

Me: lunch is ready.

Jac: Bring it to our living room, please!

Jac and Donovan built this today, 

complete with walls, chairs and tv. 

And it’s right by the front door because, “that’s where living rooms go!”  Duh, Grandma.

SunPrints

Thought we’d try something new, 

so I dug out the sun print paper kit I bought a few weeks ago. 

Pop took the girls on a hunt for specimens, which they thought was as much fun as the project.

We tried with and without the plastic topper (with was better),

and drying the rinsed papers in the sun and shade (couldn’t tell a difference). 

Overall, it wasn’t a huge success

but the girls enjoyed it and are talking about what they’ll do differently next time. 

Hooray for science!

Also, Jac lost her first tooth last night. All she could talk about today was, “I’m getting a grown-up tooth!” Such excitement!

The Plan, 2022 Edition

Almost every year I write a list of things I want to make and projects I need want to finish, sometimes to keep me on track and sometimes to have something to look back on and laugh. Crossing my fingers this is a finish-it year. 

 January’s workshop - “Crazy Tula”

My goal for new projects is to take more classes and make smaller things - wallhangings, mini quilts - rather than big quilts. We cleared some wall space so I could hang a few quilts . . . and I had almost nothing to use. Need to fix that. (I think everyone in the family is tired of getting quilts. I asked one of the grand-girls if she wanted another quilt - “Uh, no?” 😂)

First up to finish up: Hawaiian Rainbow and UFO#2 just need bindings, which I started yesterday. Both should be done this week and in the mail shortly thereafter. Yay! (Done 1/8/22)

I started these umbrellas in 2016 (here and here). I love this project and only need a few more to complete that last row. Definitely going to work on this. (Wouldn’t this look great using Tula Pink fabric?? May need to make another . . . .) (Done 2/24/22)

I stopped working on the 2021 temperature quilt (here) at the half-way point in July. Love this one too, plus it will fit our bed when it’s done. Am I going to make another for 2022? Nope - been there, (halfway) done that.

Poor polar bear just needs the appliqués stitched down (here). He’ll look great as a wallhanging - two goals in one project! (Done December 2022)

New to do in ‘22: 

I joined the Botanical Beauties sew-along, using the fabric Wenona gave me last year. (Done, February 2023)

I like foundation paper-piecing but my skills are weak. A year’s worth of practice ought to fix that, right??

Rachel gave me the Dreamy Dan pattern for my birthday and I love him so.much. Even if he will have to live in my craft room so hubby won’t have to see him. 😂

This one’s a huge commitment and I think I’m afraid to start it. Probably explains why it’s been sitting on a shelf for a year. 

I fell in love with this koi fabric in Colorado. Maybe use it in this quilt wallhanging? (Done February 2023)

There’s more on my list but this should give me enough to do till February . . .

Oh My Stars Quilt

My final finish for 2021 - “Oh My Stars”, named for my SIL’s favorite expression, which I love.

This one is 62x76”, made from flannel and cotton, with a super soft flannel back, and it’s all mine! (I may have splurged a bit on the backing, but it’s so pretty and soft!)

I started this kit quilt in February (here), and made a bunch of “mistake blocks” (here) after I goofed up one block and decided I liked it better than the original. 

 “Mistake” block

Sent it for long-arm quilting in March (here) . . . and it’s been sitting ever since, waiting for me to make the binding. How embarrassing.

 My new single-feed-dog walking foot made especially for sewing bindings is awesome!

I was determined Stars was going on this year’s “completed” list, so I sat down this afternoon  with my new (non-exploded) walking foot,

a box of iron-on sewing tape and got it done. Taping it felt like cheating but I’m much happier with the results.

A quick trip through the laundry and I’ll be sleeping warm in the new year. Happy 2022, y’all!

Winding Down

Had dinner tonight with the Airman (Airperson?) before she heads back to VA to complete her training.

Such a lovely way to wind down the holidays. 

And I received my Christmas gift from Leia. 

She knows Pop dislikes flamingos - and I love them - so almost every year she gets me one, then laughs and laughs at Pop’s reaction. Poor Pop. 🦩 

Roar!

Donovan’s new dinosaur quilt was a big hit at Christmas- 

and that was before he saw the Power Rangers on the back (that story is here). 

Its hard to see the quilting on this 

but my pal Debbie found a pantograph of dinosaurs 

and stitched it in orange thread so it would be more visible. 

So perfect!