Where have I been and what have I done? I have been to Arizona, played tennis in sunshine, took lessons early in the morning (7am is early for retirees) and had some long walks with a good friend. Then, we returned home because, as always, my husband continues to be anemic and the medical system is slow, but there are still tests to be run. I did get my house semi-decorated for Christmas and seem to have been spinning my wheels since that happened.
But, I did attend two different quilting guild Christmas parties and I have been playing indoor tennis and pickleball and tidying, organizing and writing lists!
I have been stitching a 'hug block' with one per month to show my traditional guild and encouraging them to make one. In the past, I had many kits cut for a variety of hug blocks (Quilts of Valour, Northcott fabrics, Oh Canada) but it was a lot of work and if two or three got picked up at meetings, then it wasn't enough to be worth my time. So, I decided to focus on one block per month and do some step by step instructions. This will be the block for January because, yes, we will still be in the rainy Pacific Northwest at the time of the guild meeting.
I signed up for the Missouri Star Christmas Advent box which gives you a gift per day. One day was a package of charm packs and another day was a pattern plus handles and magnetic snap for this cute little purse.
One side and then the other side.
Of course, crazy weather. Two days after we arrived home from sunny Arizona, we had this happen.
There was a fun sewing activity at the modern guild meeting and we had 5 sewing stations set up and a package of fabric given to us along with instructions and we could do as we wished with the blocks. This was what our group came up with and I brought the blocks home to finish and will get it layered, quilted and bound though it isn't due until March.
Before I left for sunnier weather, I was working on two different 'blue' quilts. This is a Villa Rosa pattern called Something Positive and I used a variety of blues and browns. This is now a finished top waiting for the next step. I had started some blocks here and then made more from my AZ stash and brought them home to be added in to the quilt top.
This one is all blues and is a GE Design called Koby and is also a top living on a hanger until the next step happens.
While in Arizona, I worked on another set of blocks that I had a hand written pattern for, called Corn off the Cob. It took me awhile to realize it is the same idea as Town Square, a 3 yard quilt. I brought the blocks home thinking that they might be good for surrounding a panel (which I have a large number of for Quilts of Valour). I used browns, reds and creams though the colour in this picture isn't great.
The weather was quite lovely while we were there though a bit nippy first thing in the morning as I headed out to early morning tennis lessons.
I worked on some blocks for a block lotto for the guild Christmas party, that I knew I would be home for and made two and posted the pictures. It was then pointed out to me that they are supposed to have a green background, not white so, I made two more.
I also got my last set of blocks made for the Patterns by Jen challenge for 2023 and now I can pull out the blocks from this past 12 months and decide on a setting.
I made an entire set of blocks with this pattern but apparently, I didn't take a picture of them? They are tucked away in a bag and again, hoping I can use them with a panel.
When we arrived home, my Christmas cactus was in full bloom. It obviously enjoyed being ignored in a cool house.
My decorations are minimal but I did put out a few things on the mantel in our sitting room.
My tree got put up and decorated because it isn't Christmas without one and love the lights shining and reflecting in the windows.
I like to do a small arrangement in the window well as you go down the stairs into my sewing area and added some lights to this area as well.
This Christmas pennant was in a doorprize that I won at the modern guild meeting and how perfect is that for the space?
A gift in a Canadian Advent box were the instructions and supplies to make this gift bag for a bottle... could be wine or could be bubble bath?
And another project in the Advent box were Styrofoam cones plus the stars and instructions on using twisted ribbons for them... but, I cheated and used chenille yarn.
There are many more projects, some small and some larger to be done but one day at a time. With appointments, rec center, tennis and basic housekeeping, I don't seem to have had much time or motivation to be doing any serious sewing but am liking some of these smaller, projects that can be completed in an hour.
I am sure I won't be blogging until 2024 but you never know! Happy New Year and stay healthy.
