This post will be a bit of a ramble as I try to catch up on what has been going on in my life and sharing the progress of one of my project. I intended to share a bit of an end of the year review, but God had other plans...I'll start with the most major life event...

On December 21, my beloved father in law, Wayne, went to be with the Lord Jesus. He was 87 years old and I loved him dearly. 

Here he is working on a puzzle with Russ a week after he was moved into memory care last August. His passing wasn't unexpected as he has been getting more frailer these last few months, but it was surprising. 

It all began with a fall on December 15 at our family Christmas (5 minutes after we arrived, so he missed the whole thing!) which resulted in several fractures in several of his ribs. The dr at the ER called it a "catastrophic life event" due to age and prior lung damage due to smoking years back. By the end of the day, the news kept getting worse. A neck fracture was found as well as an aneurysm. The decision was made to make him comfortable in hospice, as he did not want any extraordinary means to be taken to keep him alive and that's what would have had to take place. He said, in one of his lucid moments that night (he had mild dementia), "I have lived a good life. I am ready to go." The blessings of that week, though sad and stressful at times,  we (all the children, grandchildren, brother, etc) were all able to say what needed to be said and could love up on him until he met the Lord on the other side of the veil. I am thankful I could be there the whole week to sit with him and with my mother in law, Mathena. Wayne's funeral was December 26...

Christmas in my home was simple and low key. No complaints there! Russ got a battery. Exciting, huh?? He is converting his recumbent bike into an electric bike. Why? I don't question is choice of "toys" because I appreciate he doesn't make me justify my sewing toys. =)

My Christmas gifts were all fountain pen related. I fell into the fountain pen hobby last year and haven't stopped loving them! I received a Pilot DecimoVanishing Point pen and lots of ink. You can never have too much ink! Or pens for that matter. ;-) 

With the week-long stay at hospice with Wayne, his funeral and Christmas all bunched on top of each other, my sewing time was non-existent until New Year's Day when I finished up my 2018 Temperature quilt. 

In the last two rows, I added a temperature key. The actual temperatures are not written on them in any way but they do show what the colors were in order from coldest to hottest temperatures. That way you can look at the quilt and get an idea of what the temperature was. 

Here it is all finished!! It measures 72" x 88". I still have the first of the months marked with a piece paper pinned to the quilt. I am not sure if I want to mark those days in some way or not. I am leaning towards not, but I'm not ready to take the papers off until I am sure. 

  

I am organized to start another temperature quilt for 2019 but haven't firmed up my choice on block and layout yet. What I do know is it won't involve applique!! ;-)  I am going to use the same colors/fabric and same temperature key. You can read more about my process and find out what colors I chose on this post from April - Temperature Quilt.

 My quilting goals for 2019:

1 - Make more donation quilts for Bridgehaven. 

2 - Continue to use up my stash. 

3 - Continue with being very selective about what I add to my stash. 

4 - Learn one new technique out of my comfort zone. Last year I did curves! Not sure what I want this year's challenge to be. 

My personal goals for 2019:

1 - Love my husband more.  

2 - Memorize at least one new scripture verse a month. I have this months already mostly memorized, so I expect to exceed my goal. 

3 - Continue to stay on the Low Carb High-Fat eating plan. I haven't been on it very long, but I feel better already! 

4 - Be an encouragement with those I meet. Greg Koukl at Stand To Reason sums it up well in his mentoring letter: Give 'Em Heaven

Whew! If you stuck with me all through this post, thank you!! 

I wish you and yours a year of PEACE! 

This post will be a bit of a ramble as I try to catch up on what has been going on in my life and sharing the progress of one of my project. I intended to share a bit of an end of the year review, but God had other plans...I'll start with the most major life event...

On December 21, my beloved father in law, Wayne, went to be with the Lord Jesus. He was 87 years old and I loved him dearly. 

Here he is working on a puzzle with Russ a week after he was moved into memory care last August. His passing wasn't unexpected as he has been getting more frailer these last few months, but it was surprising. 

It all began with a fall on December 15 at our family Christmas (5 minutes after we arrived, so he missed the whole thing!) which resulted in several fractures in several of his ribs. The dr at the ER called it a "catastrophic life event" due to age and prior lung damage due to smoking years back. By the end of the day, the news kept getting worse. A neck fracture was found as well as an aneurysm. The decision was made to make him comfortable in hospice, as he did not want any extraordinary means to be taken to keep him alive and that's what would have had to take place. He said, in one of his lucid moments that night (he had mild dementia), "I have lived a good life. I am ready to go." The blessings of that week, though sad and stressful at times,  we (all the children, grandchildren, brother, etc) were all able to say what needed to be said and could love up on him until he met the Lord on the other side of the veil. I am thankful I could be there the whole week to sit with him and with my mother in law, Mathena. Wayne's funeral was December 26...

Christmas in my home was simple and low key. No complaints there! Russ got a battery. Exciting, huh?? He is converting his recumbent bike into an electric bike. Why? I don't question is choice of "toys" because I appreciate he doesn't make me justify my sewing toys. =)

My Christmas gifts were all fountain pen related. I fell into the fountain pen hobby last year and haven't stopped loving them! I received a Pilot DecimoVanishing Point pen and lots of ink. You can never have too much ink! Or pens for that matter. ;-) 

With the week-long stay at hospice with Wayne, his funeral and Christmas all bunched on top of each other, my sewing time was non-existent until New Year's Day when I finished up my 2018 Temperature quilt. 

In the last two rows, I added a temperature key. The actual temperatures are not written on them in any way but they do show what the colors were in order from coldest to hottest temperatures. That way you can look at the quilt and get an idea of what the temperature was. 

Here it is all finished!! It measures 72" x 88". I still have the first of the months marked with a piece paper pinned to the quilt. I am not sure if I want to mark those days in some way or not. I am leaning towards not, but I'm not ready to take the papers off until I am sure. 

  

I am organized to start another temperature quilt for 2019 but haven't firmed up my choice on block and layout yet. What I do know is it won't involve applique!! ;-)  I am going to use the same colors/fabric and same temperature key. You can read more about my process and find out what colors I chose on this post from April - Temperature Quilt.

 My quilting goals for 2019:

1 - Make more donation quilts for Bridgehaven. 

2 - Continue to use up my stash. 

3 - Continue with being very selective about what I add to my stash. 

4 - Learn one new technique out of my comfort zone. Last year I did curves! Not sure what I want this year's challenge to be. 

My personal goals for 2019:

1 - Love my husband more.  

2 - Memorize at least one new scripture verse a month. I have this months already mostly memorized, so I expect to exceed my goal. 

3 - Continue to stay on the Low Carb High-Fat eating plan. I haven't been on it very long, but I feel better already! 

4 - Be an encouragement with those I meet. Greg Koukl at Stand To Reason sums it up well in his mentoring letter: Give 'Em Heaven

Whew! If you stuck with me all through this post, thank you!! 

I wish you and yours a year of PEACE! 

Last week I brought home a fat quarter bundle of Tula Pink's Zuma. Within days I had that baby opened, and cut! I rarely do that! I usually let the fabric sit for a while, but I had to play with this fabric now!! The colors are so rich and full!! I love the areas where you can see fluorescent colors pop!

photo source

I decided to use the pattern Shimmer by Cluck Cluck Sew. To make the twin sized quilt,  I needed a total of 30 fat quarters. I had removed the six fat quarters in the original bundle that read too light and went through my stash to pull twelve coordinating fabrics to add to the group. Moda Grunge, Peppered Cotton by Studio E and Blueberry Park by Robert Kaufman. 

This is only one of many pictures I took while sorting and deciding how to group the fabrics for each block and how to lay them out. I found that this pattern is one where you need to have a plan before you make the blocks. I wanted the warm and cool colors, the prints and the solids to be as balanced as  I could get them without over thinking it to death! By the way, I made a couple of changes after I had decided this was the final layout. LOL! 

I have one block finished! With all the prep work I did to get to this place, it went together quickly and easily and it came out the right size! Yay!! 

With Christmas right around the corner, I will only be able to grab a few minutes here and there to make more blocks. That forces me to enjoy the process, right? 

If I don't post again until next year, I want to take the time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. 

The God of all creation humbled Himself to become a human being—our Savior, Christ the Lord.  Because Jesus was born He could die, bringing the abundance of life we enjoy through Him.  May each of you rest in the security of the Babe whose birth we celebrate this day.

Last week I brought home a fat quarter bundle of Tula Pink's Zuma. Within days I had that baby opened, and cut! I rarely do that! I usually let the fabric sit for a while, but I had to play with this fabric now!! The colors are so rich and full!! I love the areas where you can see fluorescent colors pop!

photo source

I decided to use the pattern Shimmer by Cluck Cluck Sew. To make the twin sized quilt,  I needed a total of 30 fat quarters. I had removed the six fat quarters in the original bundle that read too light and went through my stash to pull twelve coordinating fabrics to add to the group. Moda Grunge, Peppered Cotton by Studio E and Blueberry Park by Robert Kaufman. 

This is only one of many pictures I took while sorting and deciding how to group the fabrics for each block and how to lay them out. I found that this pattern is one where you need to have a plan before you make the blocks. I wanted the warm and cool colors, the prints and the solids to be as balanced as  I could get them without over thinking it to death! By the way, I made a couple of changes after I had decided this was the final layout. LOL! 

I have one block finished! With all the prep work I did to get to this place, it went together quickly and easily and it came out the right size! Yay!! 

With Christmas right around the corner, I will only be able to grab a few minutes here and there to make more blocks. That forces me to enjoy the process, right? 

If I don't post again until next year, I want to take the time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. 

The God of all creation humbled Himself to become a human being—our Savior, Christ the Lord.  Because Jesus was born He could die, bringing the abundance of life we enjoy through Him.  May each of you rest in the security of the Babe whose birth we celebrate this day.

This weekend I made a pillow using this pattern. 😀 It's a paper pieced pattern, but very simple so don't let that intimidate you. 

I chose a charm pack of Grunge Stars for the triangles and a natural linen and cotton for the background. 

I messed up on the first quadrant by not reversing the colors. I forgot paper piecing turns things backward. Oh, well!😉 

Halfway done!

All quilted! 

All finished! The blog where the tutorial was shared on how to make a Quilted Zipper Pillow Cover no longer exists, but I had a copy that I placed on Dropbox. Let me know if the link works for you.

  Quilted Zipper Pillow Cover. 

One of these days I'll share my progress on the Free Wheeling Single Girl quilt. Sewing curves is a first for me! 

What have you been working on? 

This weekend I made a pillow using this pattern. 😀 It's a paper pieced pattern, but very simple so don't let that intimidate you. 

I chose a charm pack of Grunge Stars for the triangles and a natural linen and cotton for the background. 

I messed up on the first quadrant by not reversing the colors. I forgot paper piecing turns things backward. Oh, well!😉 

Halfway done!

All quilted! 

All finished! The blog where the tutorial was shared on how to make a Quilted Zipper Pillow Cover no longer exists, but I had a copy that I placed on Dropbox. Let me know if the link works for you.

  Quilted Zipper Pillow Cover. 

One of these days I'll share my progress on the Free Wheeling Single Girl quilt. Sewing curves is a first for me! 

What have you been working on? 

Sometime in the next couple of months, I will be teaching a class on how to piece this darling little quilt by Corriander Quilts called Barn Star II.  For the sample, I chose the fabrics Vintage Holiday by Bonnie and Camille. 

I am usually wary of charm pack patterns because they often tell you to cut the 5" charms in fourths and even though mathematically, I should end up with 4 - 2 1/2" squares, I never do. They end up smaller and I have to adjust seam allowances when piecing. Often times, I end up with things that don't line up and piece together well. Instead, when I use patterns that call for 2 1/2" squares, I cut them from fat quarters or from scraps. Never a charm square. This pattern did not call for any 2 1/2" squares. Yes, there was some waste with the charm square, but the pieces are cut accurately and thus, it pieced together like a dream. I will make this pattern again! 

Do you have a favorite charm pack pattern? 

Until next time! Have a happy, quilty day!

Sometime in the next couple of months, I will be teaching a class on how to piece this darling little quilt by Corriander Quilts called Barn Star II.  For the sample, I chose the fabrics Vintage Holiday by Bonnie and Camille. 

I am usually wary of charm pack patterns because they often tell you to cut the 5" charms in fourths and even though mathematically, I should end up with 4 - 2 1/2" squares, I never do. They end up smaller and I have to adjust seam allowances when piecing. Often times, I end up with things that don't line up and piece together well. Instead, when I use patterns that call for 2 1/2" squares, I cut them from fat quarters or from scraps. Never a charm square. This pattern did not call for any 2 1/2" squares. Yes, there was some waste with the charm square, but the pieces are cut accurately and thus, it pieced together like a dream. I will make this pattern again! 

Do you have a favorite charm pack pattern? 

Until next time! Have a happy, quilty day!

I needed to build my confidence after the quilt fail I had last month. Something fast and easy was in order. I settled on the Spiced Chai pattern found in Vintage Quilt Revival. 

My original fabric choices were all Grunge by Basic Grey: (top to bottom) fig, lime punch, tangerine, sunflower, grey paper, silver, cordite, black dress and white paper. 

As you can see, the grey paper fabric was way too light. Not near enough contrast. Notice the green-blue block in the upper left corner. I ran short of the fig color to make a second block for that spot. I added a green-blue Grunge from my stash, I have no idea what the name of that color is. 

I placed the leftover scraps from the other two greys over the too light gray blocks to see how it would look.  

So much better!! I only had to do a little bit of rearranging! 

Quilting in progress....I used a grey and white variegated Aurifil thread. 

And the finish!! 

It took me three days to get this one done, start to finish and the quilting went so well. It was a relief to not have any issues at all! 

Love these colors!

Making the Spiced Chai quilt gave me the confidence I needed to get the binding on the Ombre Gems quilt and let it shine just the way it is. It really is beautiful...Faults and all...

I am going to take another break from sewing and quilting to get some much-needed painting, and other home maintenance things done. First up, painting my bedroom! It's been at least 10 years since we painted it and it needs a serious freshening up. 

Until then, have a happy weekend and sew on!! 

I needed to build my confidence after the quilt fail I had last month. Something fast and easy was in order. I settled on the Spiced Chai pattern found in Vintage Quilt Revival. 

My original fabric choices were all Grunge by Basic Grey: (top to bottom) fig, lime punch, tangerine, sunflower, grey paper, silver, cordite, black dress and white paper. 

As you can see, the grey paper fabric was way too light. Not near enough contrast. Notice the green-blue block in the upper left corner. I ran short of the fig color to make a second block for that spot. I added a green-blue Grunge from my stash, I have no idea what the name of that color is. 

I placed the leftover scraps from the other two greys over the too light gray blocks to see how it would look.  

So much better!! I only had to do a little bit of rearranging! 

Quilting in progress....I used a grey and white variegated Aurifil thread. 

And the finish!! 

It took me three days to get this one done, start to finish and the quilting went so well. It was a relief to not have any issues at all! 

Love these colors!

Making the Spiced Chai quilt gave me the confidence I needed to get the binding on the Ombre Gems quilt and let it shine just the way it is. It really is beautiful...Faults and all...

I am going to take another break from sewing and quilting to get some much-needed painting, and other home maintenance things done. First up, painting my bedroom! It's been at least 10 years since we painted it and it needs a serious freshening up. 

Until then, have a happy weekend and sew on!! 

For the last few days, I have been hard at work getting my Ombre Gems quilt all quilted. Here you can see I am almost done. I loved the texture and how it was quilting! 

Here it is all quilted up. I was thrilled with it! Loved the texture, loved how it looks. It quilted up beautifully....Or did it? 

This morning, I tackled squaring it up...That's where I realized I had a problem...A big, BIG problem!

The more I quilted it on the diagonal, the more off square the quilt was being pulled. You can see just how significant it is in the following pictures. 

If I do force the corners to be square and meet, you can see the twist that the quilt is forced into. 

Instead of crying over something that can't be fixed...okay, I admit it, I cried

... and I really don't think it can be fixed short of removing most of the quilting, even then there is only a hope it will relax back into shape, I am choosing to use this as a learning opportunity and remember to not quilt only in one diagonal direction so densely again. 

I am pretty nervous about washing it and having it shrink even more off square! 

Has this ever happened to you? Were you able to fix it? Please share!

For the last few days, I have been hard at work getting my Ombre Gems quilt all quilted. Here you can see I am almost done. I loved the texture and how it was quilting! 

Here it is all quilted up. I was thrilled with it! Loved the texture, loved how it looks. It quilted up beautifully....Or did it? 

This morning, I tackled squaring it up...That's where I realized I had a problem...A big, BIG problem!

The more I quilted it on the diagonal, the more off square the quilt was being pulled. You can see just how significant it is in the following pictures. 

If I do force the corners to be square and meet, you can see the twist that the quilt is forced into. 

Instead of crying over something that can't be fixed...okay, I admit it, I cried

... and I really don't think it can be fixed short of removing most of the quilting, even then there is only a hope it will relax back into shape, I am choosing to use this as a learning opportunity and remember to not quilt only in one diagonal direction so densely again. 

I am pretty nervous about washing it and having it shrink even more off square! 

Has this ever happened to you? Were you able to fix it? Please share!

And one more added!! 

First, the two that are finished...

This one was made with my far too large stash of Simplicity by 3 Sisters that I collected years ago. I am determined to get it all sewn up and used!! If anyone loves this fabric and would like some, please let me know!! 

I also have busted most of my Pam Kitty Morning stash and got this Perfect Ten quilt all quilted up and off my to-do list. 

I chose to do a variation of my free-form wavy lines by adding a second free-form wavy line on top of another to create a look like a streamer or a ribbon. 

I like how it looks! 

Now for the one that got added to the to-do list!! 

I spent most of Saturday trimming up the Ombre Gems blocks and got them pieced into a quilt top! I am very happy with how it turned out!! It's far from perfect, but much better than I feared. 

 This quilt was a good growing experience for me. I used fabric I was not comfortable with, stuck to a quilt-along schedule (ie: didn't rush to finish) and made a top with blocks placed on point. It's good for me to make a quilt top that is a challenge every once in a while. It's a confidence builder, when it turns out good in the end, that is. *wink*

Until next time!! 

And one more added!! 

First, the two that are finished...

This one was made with my far too large stash of Simplicity by 3 Sisters that I collected years ago. I am determined to get it all sewn up and used!! If anyone loves this fabric and would like some, please let me know!! 

I also have busted most of my Pam Kitty Morning stash and got this Perfect Ten quilt all quilted up and off my to-do list. 

I chose to do a variation of my free-form wavy lines by adding a second free-form wavy line on top of another to create a look like a streamer or a ribbon. 

I like how it looks! 

Now for the one that got added to the to-do list!! 

I spent most of Saturday trimming up the Ombre Gems blocks and got them pieced into a quilt top! I am very happy with how it turned out!! It's far from perfect, but much better than I feared. 

 This quilt was a good growing experience for me. I used fabric I was not comfortable with, stuck to a quilt-along schedule (ie: didn't rush to finish) and made a top with blocks placed on point. It's good for me to make a quilt top that is a challenge every once in a while. It's a confidence builder, when it turns out good in the end, that is. *wink*

Until next time!!