When will it end?

This is getting ridiculous.  Since my last post, we’ve had a snowstorm:

An ice storm:

and another snowstorm today!  No grilling or sitting on the deck today.

I am very thankful for a warm house with no power outages, and an understanding employer that allows us to work from home rather than risk our lives to drive on the treacherous roads. 

I’m also extremely thankful for this wonderful package that I received in the mail a few days ago from Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.

I had seen pictures of Kaaren’s quilt on her blog, and I thought it was pretty cute.  Now that I have the actual pattern, I have to tell you that the stitcheries are ADORABLE!   The prize package also included the fabric to make the entire quilt.  Thank you again, Kaaren.

I missed out on OPAM for January, because I thought it didn’t start until February.  I’ll have a nice list for February.  I’m working like crazy on two quilts, and doing some hand work on each of them. 

And now I’m off to appreciate my Snow Sew day! 

Sunny

Catching up. Again.

It snowed today.  Again.  There are two more snowstorms predicted for this week.  Will this winter ever be over?  According to Punxsutawney Phil, it won’t be over anytime soon.

But, as any good quilter knows, a snow day = a sew day!  I planned ahead for today, and brought some work home with me, but I didn’t have to commute, so I have extra time.  Hence, this blog post.

On Saturday, Mr. QD and I drove up to Lancaster, PA to visit their market.  We came home with a lovely assortment of breads, veggies, meats and cheese.  I didn’t take any pictures inside because it was so crowded.  It was a fun little getaway. 

Lancaster Central Market, in the center of Lancaster, is the oldest continuously operated farmer’s market in the country.  This was our first visit, but I’m sure we’ll go back.

The part of our day was a visit to Conowingo Dam, to see Bald Eagles.  Unfortunately, there weren’t many to see that day, and they were too far away to get any decent pictures.  Except for this guy – he posed for us for quite awhile,

This was our first outing in awhile.  Last weekend we hosted a soup party, which was a lot of fun.  Our guests each brought soup, and we had an enjoyable evening eating soup, hot bread, and munchies, and had a lot of laughs.

I am happy to report that I’m am still on my fabric diet.  I made it an entire month!  I did have to buy some fabric for binding a small quilt, but I didn’t buy any extra, and I didn’t even look at anything else in the store.  And this was the second store that I went to look for the fabric – I walked out of the first one empty handed.  I hope they don’t go out of business because of me!  That particular quilt isn’t finished yet because I decided to do some more stitcheries on it.  Soon, though.

One of the projects on my to-do list was a sewing machine cover, and TaDa:

I used a Butterscotch and Roses charm pack.  Somewhere between measuring and sewing, I forgot how to count, so when I had all the hst’s sewed together, I realized that it wasn’t big enough, so I added the cream border.  And I think I really like it this way!

Speaking of hst’s, here is another pile.

Eventually, they morphed into these:

The final product is a secret, so you won’t be seeing these again for awhile. 

 

 

In other news, I had to pack up my quilting machine and send it back to the store I purchased it from because it refused to quilt!  Or do anything that matter.  It was getting power, but it wouldn’t do anything.  I had been piling up several quilts in anticipation of sitting down one day and mastering the machine.  Since that’s not in the cards right now, I pulled out a small quilt and did the quilting on my Pfaff.  Simple quilt – simple quilting!  And…..it’s a finish.

I’ve decided to join Sewyouquilt2 for her Relaxed Robin.  It’s similar to the Stay-At-Home Robin a couple of years ago.  For the January block, we were to try to find an orphan block for our center.  I didn’t have any regular sized orphans, so I stitched together four little nine patches that I found in a pile.  Then we were to add a small border of our choice, trying to incorporate an additional color.  Mine is a little bland right now, but I’ve decided on the direction I’m heading, so we’ll see some character develop in the coming months.  I hope.

We’re adding applique in February, and I’ll be able to show that soon.

Now I’m off to watch Castle, and stitch some snowflakes!

Sunny

My how time flies . . .

My how time flies when you’re having fun sewing!  Every time I think about blogging, I decide to sew instead.  And yet it doesn’t seem like I have much to show for my efforts.  I’m also working on cleaning and organizing my sewing room,  so I’ve been working on smaller projects, that are scattered around the room. 

This little candle mat was made from a kit that I bought a couple of years ago, and this snowman is from a  pattern and wool that I bought from Cathi at Shakerwood Woolens when she had a booth at a nearby Quilt Show last year.  I placed another order with her right before Christmas, so there’s one more wool project to come.  Well, maybe two.

I made several Christmas gifts this year, but one was extremely late in arriving at its destination, so I couldn’t share them before now. 

 

 

 

 

 

I made these for bloggy friends, and I liked them so well, I made a third for my sil and bil.  Another sil received this.

It was a lot of fun to make, and I did most of the stitching in my car on lunch hours!  I really enjoy that hour every day, sitting in silence and decompressing.

I also received some lovely handmade gifts for Christmas.  Maria sent this beautiful bag.

It’s the perfect size to tuck one of those little lunchtime projects in.  From my friend Di, I received a fun assortment of snowman themed items.

My name was drawn for a prize from the Christmas Quilt Along for participating in the challenge of making a quilt without using red or green.  Sue sent this beautiful wall hanging for my prize.

So, what am I working on now?  I’ve finished the seventh snowman of nine for a BOM.

I now have number eight, and plan to prep it tonight.

I’m also working on this challenging piece.

I have the center blocks made, but the medium green round is shared between blocks, and it’s taken me awhile, but I think I’ve finally figured out how to join it all together.  I don’t have a pattern, I’m just working from an advertisement in a magazine.

I’ve decided that I’m going to try my hand at hand quilting, so I made this little quilt, to give it a try.  I’m sure it won’t be great, but it’s made of leftover fabrics, so I really don’t have anything to lose.

One last thing – I’m working on sewing hexies together for for my GFG while I watch TV in the evenings.  So I have been sewing like crazy!  Maybe not focusing on any one thing, but I am focusing on finishes.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!  I’ll try to be a little more regular so a post isn’t always this long.

Sunny

Ringing in the New

I’m so far behind in blogging, that I don’t even know where to start.  I feel guilty, so I just keep putting it off.  Blogging is supposed to be fun, isn’t it?  So I’m moving forward and not going to try to cover November and December.

I had a very nice Christmas, although it was quiet with just Mr. QD and me.  I received some lovely gifts –hikey things, stitchy things, and travelly things.  Spellcheck does not like any of my adjectives, but I do!

We stayed home for Christmas, and then headed for the shore for a few days afterwards.    We had a fun time, photographing Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, and several Bald Eagles. 

We walked on the beach, and we hiked.  We toured around a couple of small towns on the Eastern Shore, and found a fabulous new restaurant.  We also witnessed two fabulous sunsets over the water.

And now somehow, it’s a new year.  I’ve noticed that many bloggers are setting goals this year instead of making resolutions, and I really like that idea.  My most important sewing goal is to stop buying fabric, and use what I have!  Things have gotten out of control in the QD sewing room, and it’s time to take control. I didn’t even get any fabric for Christmas!

I’ve found a new group to help with my problem.  My name is Sunny, and I’m a Fabriholic.  There are many of us out there, and I’m finally ready to admit that I have a problem.  I’ve been composing a list of all my UFO’s, WIP’s, and projects that have never been started although I bought the fabric.  I’ll be posting the list soon,

Pop over to the Elven Garden if you’d like to learn more about Fabriholics anonymous, or perhaps join us?  I plan to do another post in the next day or two listing the rules, and publicly stating any changes I might be making for myself. 

I’ve also found my new WORD for the new year.  Actually, I think it found me.  FOCUS.  I plan to focus on getting healthier, and while I won’t list specifics here, I do have a specific list.  I plan to focus on my home, and making it a nicer place.  I plan to focus on sewing more and buying less. 

I think that’s enough for tonight.  I need sleep as I actually have to get up and go to work tomorrow! 

Sunny

Merry Christmas

I want to wish the Merriest of Christmases to all my friends and followers. 

…Sunny…

The big Reveal!

For the past several months, I’ve been Quilting Along with Hazel, Joanna, Sue, and others around the world so that we might each have new quilts for our Christmas decorating.  Hazel and Joanna have taken turns hosting our get-togethers each month, and they’ve been quite entertaining.  And then there’s Sue.  Sue posted a challenge for us at the beginning, and it was our choice whether or not we wanted to accept.  The challenge:  make a Christmas quilt, no larger than 96” perimeter, and not using any red or green!  I think Sue may have been nipping at the Red when she came up with this idea, but the results have been spectacular!  Go HERE  if you’re interested in seeing what everyone has made.

Naturally, I accepted the challenge, and here is my quilt.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

There are angel wings quilted into the corners, and an angel wing label.  And I actually finished it early!!  Thank you Sue for the inspiration – I’m quite happy with my new little quilt.  Thank you to Hazel and Joanna for keeping me motivated and on track each month.

I’ve been sewing like crazy the past few days to finish up two more gifts.  I expect to finish one tonight, and perhaps one tomorrow.  Then I’ll have to make Christmas cards and attempt to get them in the mail before Christmas.  And then a few days off to rest up for the new year. 

Kindness always matters…….Sunny

Oh the Weather outside is Frightful!

Our forecast for today was for 1-2” of snow, and we got at least 5”.  Later tonight, we’re expecting an ice storm on top of the snow.  Yippee..  On the bright side, it’s perfect sewing weather!!  I sewed down binding all night Friday night for FNWF, and I finished one quilt yesterday.  This is a service project for our guild – the quilts are being given to the Sheriff’s Department, to have in their cars for children who may be traumatized and need some comfort. 

A few minutes ago, I finished another quilt.  This one will be going to Project Hope.  A young mother who is suffering from post-partum depression will eventually receive this.  The patchwork blocks were made by Pat of 501 Blocks, and then I made them into a quilt.

Last week I finished two gifts that I won’t be able to share until after Christmas.  And sometime this week, I’ll have to finish another gift.

So….what can I show you?  How about some postcards?  This is the one I received from Annette in Sheila’s postcard swap.

The tiny little snowflakes are beads, and I love the way she stitched the ‘border’.

Here is the postcard that I sent to Annette.

We had a houseguest for a few days before Thanksgiving, so I spent a couple of weekends cleaning.  I am really trying to reduce the amount of ‘stuff’ in this house.  I had a box for the SPCA, the Habitat Restore, the Used Book Store, and a few crafty things for co-workers.  I still have a long way to go.  Sometimes the stuff just gets too overwhelming,   I also prepped plenty of hand sewing before our guest arrived, so I could be sociable while he was here, and not be stuck down in the cave.  My plan worked quite well.

I’m sure I’m forgetting things, but I’ll try not to wait so long for the next post.

Kindness matters…and Santa’s watching…..Sunny

FNWF and Retreat Results

Another weekend bites the dust!  Another beautiful Fall weekend.

I left work at about noon on Friday, and took a lovely drive in the country to the Retreat site.  Fall has finally reached the low lands, and the colors were awesome.

Look what I found in this tree:

Oh wait, that’s the results of my Friday day/night sewing!  My first ever Little Red Schoolhouses.  And what better time of year to build them. 

I finished this top late Friday night, and started thinking about my next project.   I won 7 pieced blocks from Pat at 501 Quilt Blocks several months ago, and they’ve finally become a quilt.

This required not one but two visits to the nearby quilt store, which is actually one half of a General Store in Amish country.

It’s not a fancy shop, but they have some great prices on fabric.

Meanwhile, back at the retreat, there was much sewing, much eating, much talking, and more than a little laughing.  We have to take a short walk to the dining hall, so we had time to absorb some beautiful scenery.

I did get started on a third quilt this morning, but I didn’t get very far.  I’m working my way through the pile!  I tried to start on another very small project, but I decided I didn’t even like it any more, so I donated it to the chairperson of the raffle committee.  One more off the list! 

Off to catch up on some blog reading now.  Did I miss anything excited over the weekend?

Always be Kind……..Sunny