Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to my dear readers and fellow bloggers. I've so enjoyed reading your year in review post.  For me, I've decided to just revisit the first quilt I was doing a year ago.  At the start of the year I was working on 

a UFO from 1997.  I did get it done. I FMQued my first feather border.  And here it is with just the binding to finish.  You can see the quilting from the back.  This hangs in my computer room.   For my self I made two flimsies I have yet to finish, one prayer flag, 1 bag, 7 applique blocks, one place mat, one Christmas tree quilt with lights, and a pair of pajamas.  For charity I made 24 quilts (mostly tops), a quiltlet to exchange, 4 happy bags, and 1 Neonatal quilt. I gave away a mourning quilt and a pair of quilts for twins.  Lastly I made some Block Lotto blocks.  And that's it - my report for the year. I hope to have a lot more finishes for me in 2014.

In December I was thrilled to win two giveaways!  During Michelle's Giving Thanks Blog Hop I won a wonderful pattern from Benita at Victoriana Quilt Designs.  While the blog hop was at the end of November, I didn't know I won til December.

Then in the middle of the month, I won at Barbara's Cat Patches a gorgeous set of 10 fat quarters for her NewFO Challenge for 2014.

These came Monday - so it's a great start of 2014!

Wishing you God's blessing throughout the New Year!

PS:  It's also the Eighth Day of Christmas!

Last Applique Tuesday of 2013

The last day of the year, wow can't believe it's here.  Happily, I'm going to get to spend it doing applique.  And I am pleased to report I did finish Part 4 of my LE. With all those who have already finished theirs long ago, I had a lot of resources for how to do mine.

Also the quilt itself kept telling me what to colors to use where. I think the next part will go a little faster as I've chosen the vase fabric and gotten in quite a bit of practice doing those little stems.  The embroidery without a hoop was a lot easier than I expected.  Are you doing applique? Would love to visit your blog and see.  Leave me a link in your comment.

I'm linking up with Connie for her Linky Tuesday party and Esther's WOW.  Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve.  I'll be celebrating the 7th day of Christmas making cookies, plus my applique.

New blocks/FMQ on my Design Wall today

Up on my design wall are a very old UFO - from the 90s I believe and a new set of blocks for a rag quilt. The UFO is a 34" carpenter star with shoofly blocks in the corners.  I'm quilting it right now as it's been done for 20 years  or so. This will be my first charity quilt of 2014.  Beside it, are twelve 16" flannel blocks that will be my first St. Anne's quit* of the year, also.  I must work on one of my "quilts for me" for the rest of the week to start my 2014 challenge.

I'm linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday and Lyn's BOMs Away. See you there!

*Some have asked:  I started a quilting group at our church.  It’s called St. Anne’s Sewdality.  We meet once a month to make/pray over quilts for low income, first time mothers.  There’s a Mommy & Me clinic in our parish boundaries and once a month we take them a stack of 7 – 12 quilts to distribute to their clients when they come for their first postpartum visit.  We are a group of 10 women – some don’t have a machine, so we keep our quilts on the simple side so they can design, sandwich and tie and be part of our production line.  You can visit here to see some of the quilts we've donated.  http://stannessewdality.blogspot.com    I make quilt tops so that the ladies will have something to sandwich and tie. We've decide to make them generally about 36” square so they can be used for newborns, then for stroller or car seat blankets.   I try to make at least 2 a month for them.   The one I will make with those 16” blocks is going for a special person.  So that's what a St. Anne's quilt is.