Last 6 and 6 in 2018 Report

We've reached the end of 2018.  I had taken on the challenge of working on 6 old and 6 new projects for 2018.  Meredith and Anne set up the challenge last January and I replied.

I only worked on four UFOs and two of them weren't even on my list. In between I made 18 charity quilts, 3 commissioned quilts, a table topper and a placemat for me.

The 2nd and 4th weren't on the list but now they are tops.  I did start three new projects but not ready to share those yet as I haven't gotten very far.

Maybe next year will be better.
Happy New Year!

Getting Ready for the New Year

Shelly Pagliai does a Final Countdown for the year. She says "These last few days of the year are always my last chance to wrap up as many loose ends as possible so I can start the new year off fresh. "  For me, her task really are things I should do to get organized for the coming quilting year, so I'm participating.

 My main work table is part cutting table and part quilting table so that quilts aren't pulling on the needle while I'm quilting.  It does for the most part stay clean, so I can quilt.  You can see the far left end does have some stuff.  I'll work on that.

However, my auxiliary table which I set up to do applique you can see is out of control - lol. I'll put most of my efforts on this to complete first task.  Then maybe I can get back to appliqué in 2019. Fingers crossed.

How about you?  Need some help organizing?  First task is listed here.  You can read about Shelly's challenge at the first link in this post.  And there are prizes!  Join up.

Last 2018 I Like Thursday

A momentous week - Christ is Born! We have 9

days left to celebrate Christmas.  How will you be celebrating them?  I'm keeping up the various creche we have around the house.  Bringing out the panettone to have with tea.  Serving tamales one day this week for dinner.  Admiring last year's poinsettias now growing in the garden -and they bloomed for the Holiday! Answering Christmas letters.  Changing my tree quilt for the nativity scene.

Brought out some Christmas quilts.  Laid out some table toppers.

Enjoyed the family Christmas morns around the country - he's in CO.

Started back to quilting - made a sample block of a kit I want to start in 2019

This used scraps - not the color scheme of the quilt. Think it's going to work out.

How was your week?  Hope you are warm and dry and enjoying the season.  I'm linking to Lee Anna's I Like Thursdays. Visit and see what others had done to fill their days. PS - my brother is in rehab now for PT. We hope he gets to go home soon.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for him.

After Christmas Dinner

We're Watching:

Merry Christmas!

Life is hectic here as in many households. I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while, but a family member's accident has happened and is taking time for prayer and visiting and worrying.  It's hardest on my Mom.  My younger brother was hit by a car in a pedestrian walkway, and it resulted in brain trauma. He didn't sustain any broken bones, has two lesions on his brain and was hit from behind. The driver stopped, called 911, and stayed till the police and ambulance arrived.  He's in rehab now and we are very grateful he didn't have to have surgery. Praise God.  We hope he will be home in the next week or so. So much can change in an instant.

I've been doing some hand stitching as I wait in rooms and for answers. The latest donut for my Bliss project is done.

And I've been quilting a bit here and there as I have time.  My 16 year old grandson came over and between us we got the Christmas decoration out of the tall closet and up in the various rooms.  I like to put some decorations in each room even if it's only a basket of Christmas balls. Tomorrow cookies with my other grandson.

Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and God's blessings in the coming New Year.

LOL - It's a Fake!

Every time I pass that Wisteria I was amazed. What with all the strange blooming in our neighborhood - the iris (way early), the Pomelos - two months ahead of when they should be ripe - the roses, and the Wisteria which usually has flowers from early Spring to June.

My husband accompanied me on my walk the other day. As we were coming home down the lane past the wisteria, I commented on how long the blooms were lasting.

In his understated way, he says, "Dear, those are fake. Don't you see the wires?"  Sure enough, getting up close one can see the green colored wires that are wrapped around the branches.

LOL, fooled again, but they sure look pretty.  Maybe I'll buy some other fake plants. I wonder which of our neighbors did that.  Oh, well.

Some of This; Some of That this Design Wall Monday

Let's start with the destashing:  What with fabric for my last unit on the donut I'm working on for Bliss, a border for the Stars & Stripes sampler, and another baby top, I used 1.3 yards of fabric.  I'm giving 2 yards to St. Anne's, 3 yards to the Guild Friday giving me total of 6.3 yards.  My  new YTD total is  77.04 yds destashed out of the 88 yards needed to meet my goal.  I've passed my 3/4 finish mark!

Here are the last two tops I've made. Second one on my design wall.

Both were made with scrappy blocks using the Bonnie Hunter telephone book paper foundation method. They went together quick and easily. Both are 36" square. Ready to be sandwiched.

I made the first 8 scrap blocks in the first quilt, then taught the ladies of St. Anne's to do them, too.

They made 4 of the second set, and I finished them up.  12 blocks so far for December. Looking at the photos see the second one needs a good 

Lastly, the greetings continue for our 50th.  Look what some friends gave us.  They know I love red.

I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday, Let's make Baby Quilts, Oh, Scrap!, Moving it Forward, and Monday Making.  What are you up to?

I Like Thursdays

We're having another rain spell - we are glad and hope it comes more inland and thus avoid the burned out areas near the coast.  Here are some likes since last Thursday.

Wisteria still blooming, and yes, it still has two colors of blooms.

The Bougainvillea is at it again.

Eager readers after story time.  These are third graders.

Quiltywise, I'm still FMQing my SLOL.  This is going to take some time.  I'm linking to Lee Anna's I Like Thursdays.  Check out the fun posts there. Blessings,

Slow Sunday Stitching

Feels like winter outside, and so I'm hanging out in the living room enjoying the warmth and stitching slowly.  I've finished another unit for my Bliss project.  One more unit and I can attach this donut to the center.  Donut you ask?  That's how I learned to add a round to my hexie centers and use one continuous thread.  Learned it from Karen at Faeries and Fibres.

Making some progress on quilting SLOL - got most of the first row done. It's taking me a bit longer as I keep having to change the top thread.  I couldn't find an all over thread that I liked.

As to destashing, between adding a border to my Stars and Stripes Sampler wall hanging and finding a back for my next baby quilt, I used up 1.3 yards of the stash.  That's because I have been quilting more than piecing. My new YTD total is  71.71 yds destashed out of the 86 yards needed to meet my goal. Very little progress this past week.

And that special luncheon last Thursday?  DH and I went out to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary.  It actually was on the 30th, but we both had so much to do that day, we decided to celebrate on Thursday so we could have a relaxing, no time constraint, lunch.  We tried a new restaurant.  The food was very good and there was no rush. It is called Habanero Mexican Grill .

c. TripAdvisor

Time to prep some more hexies.  I hope you have a fun and productive new week. Blessings,

Oh, yes, I'm linking to Slow Sunday Stitching, Sunday Stash and Design Wall Monday.