Long time no post...

 No real reason other than not having much energy and playing on my phone instead of stitching in the evenings. 

I did finally make it into the sewing room today and it did feel good to sit at the machine and make progress. I had selected the fabrics for the last Arkansas Traveller block, and it has been cut out and waiting for me since before Christmas. The points are not lined up well, but I'm leaving it as is and it won't be that noticeable in the final quilt top. I only had one of the 4 turned wrong when I stitched them. That seam ripper did come in handy.

The dog insisted on a walk at this point after lunch. He heard me say I would earlier and held me to it. Then I rested in the recliner and he so kindly kept me warm! 88 pound lap dog! Silly boy.

I finally pushed him off and headed back into the sewing room for round two.

I pulled and cut pinks for the 6 birds in the air blocks. It did not occur to me to check against a completed block while making them. I had made so many, I assumed I remembered how to do them. Well, I did not! The half square triangles should have been turned the other way! Sigh. I guess I get to remake another 6 pink blocks and we will see what becomes of these mistake ones. They do make a neat design.... so we will see.

Dinner is going to be a greek theme. I've got 2 chicken breasts in the oven with some peppers, onion, mushrooms and zucchini with greek seasoning. The fryer is warming up to fry the falafels up that I made around lunchtime. There is also tzatziki dip in the fridge and some hummus and greek pita. Plenty of options for everyone to select from. Emily is a late pick up with winter guard tonight. I was hoping to chaperone their first meet on Saturday, but I have begged off and will stay home. The energy level 2 weeks after getting covid is still bothering me along with an annoying cough. I really hope resting will help ease it over this weekend. 

Sounds like the fryer is ready, so off to take care of the falafel.

198 BITA blocks.

 I was overwhelmed by a messy sewing room (whole area of the garage is my office/sewing/storage and it is awful!). I need to go through and organize/toss things and finish putting away Christmas. 

Warning - might cause stress! Yes, I REALLY need to go through things and toss and simplify. 

First though, I found the Birds in the Air blocks and counted them. 198! Each is 6.5 inches unfinished so 6 inch finished. If I want a 90x90 quilt top for the bed, then I need 15x15 = 225. 225-198 = 27 blocks needed to finish up this into a top!

Now that, is a very reasonable number! That project is now not so overwhelming. I have multiples of greens and blues so I don't need to add any more of those. What if I added 6 of each of these colors - pink, yellow, red, purple and 3 orange? 27 blocks.

I think that will work!

Sorry, just had to get the thoughts down before they ran out of my head!

Now to wrap and tuck away all the ornaments off the tree and then all the other Christmas things back into their boxes.

I hear the family thinks I need to make dinners again starting tonight. I got a bit of a break while sick as I was not hungry! I did make myself some beef and vegetable soup with barley on Friday night. (I make the barley separate and add a little into the bottom of the bowl each time). I cleared out the crisper of onion, celery, carrot and whatever else was in there got thrown into the soup!

I went to get groceries on Sunday.... and then had to clean the fridge before I could refill it. Things got tossed, wiped down and then filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and cheeses. The freezer is full of things so just need to supplement with the fresh things. I think today will be roasted veggies and pasta for dinner. Maybe I'll make some quick bread or popovers. I've been craving popovers and have not made them to go with my soup yet. I'll bet they would be yummy with pasta! 

We have a cold front going through right now. The mid 70's are long gone and it will be highs in the 50's tomorrow. Right now, it is very windy and rainy. I'd better tuck away some of the Christmas things before it is time to start dinner.

I did make the lego sewing machine that came in my MSQC box yesterday. The wheel on the right moves and everything! I will admit, I have been playing with it and talking to Chuck the duck!

I'm going to try making the bowl covers. This came as a project in the box, with fabric, elastic and instructions. I'll do one for the Kitchenaid Mixer, and then see how much I have left. Maybe a pie cover? Aidan was making sweet potato pie and this cover would be easier than the plastic wrap. 

RSC 2025 Plans

 I have a white board in my office, and I've had my RSC 2025 'list' on it for about a month now. 

I was going through my UFO projects for the quarter and one of those is needing some more blocks added to make it a nice bed size. The Birds in the Air Blocks will be added to this year with the RSC to make it a little bigger. I'm not sure how many I'll add each month (guess I should count how many 6 inch blocks I have already!), but I'll be adding some in each color. 

The Chickens will continue this year and hopefully I'll get a few of them made each month! I started with the purple month last year and have a few blue, pink and yellow.

Julierose would like to see these butterfly's make progress. So, I'm going to try and work on the color of the month and get it stitched down to it's block. 

The same with the string of beads blocks. I wanted 2 colors each month on these.

I had 'wonky houses' down on my list. I made a house quilt years ago with the RSC and figured it is time to make another one. However, I got a panel with fun doors and a pattern in my Jenny box this

 year, so I might make the houses from that pattern with some fun doors. Lower left of the photo. Too lazy to go get a new photo!

I miss having 16 patch blocks. I might make some of them or 16 patches with a star hidden in it somewhere. These will be with 2.5 inch squares. 

Of course, that is before I head to the linkup and find out all the fun and exciting things everyone else will be making! So I'll add, subject to change based on any squirrel that decides I have to 'try this new block right now!'.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Productive 2025 with their scraps.

Home safe and sound!

 We got home around 1AM and I woke up around 10AM. (Flight landed around 11PM)

Trying to take it easy but itching to pull Christmas down and put up 'Winter' snowflake stuff.

My bags are unpacked and put away. Devices wiped down with sanitizer. Shuttled Greg home from dropping the honda for a service to see what the check engine light is saying..... dealing with the new owners at the car place on the phone (I do not like pushy hard sell so will be finding a new place!). I've stayed in the car and let him do the inside place work!

Bear is getting a walk from his girl now. He is a happy boy. The cats were happy to have their person back as well.

Think I'll make some eggs for lunch and rest a bit. The girls are now all laying again! Yeah! The 3 older girls don't lay daily, so the rack is full from being gone a week. 

Winter 2025 UFO list

I had a successful Fall quarter and knocked 4 things off the list with 3 quilts. One was two sided! 

 The finishes: 

Trip around the World - 2 inches hand pieced. 60x60. Machine quilted 11/7. Finished 11/10.

 Potato chip blocks - started April 2024

Finished 11/26/24.

 Full Stop Sew along.... 2021 . 

This became the backing with extra blocks for the Potato Chip Block. Finished 11/26.

Cat and mouse is Finished Nov 1 2024. Hand quilted.

The list of UFO's -

 1.) I know I have at least one more cut somewhere to fill that open spot for a 7x6 setting. *** found the parts in a baggie!  These are hand pieced.... and might need a little fixing along the way on some of those middle joins. Just ordered some kona solids for an alternate block for these to become a quilt. From Inklingo lemoyne stars. Might need to order more since I am using that bolt for a few things! The blocks are 4.5 inches.

 

2.)  I think it's a 6.5 inch cut center of greys and 2.5 inch strips. Finishes 10 inches. 

3.) Midget Applique quilt from Sentimental Stitches. I need to add more flowers and leaves and the vines... and the last border.

4.) triangle pyramids. started June 2024.

5.) 2024 RSC - Arkansas Traveller Quilt.

This needs one more block and then setting triangles.  68x68 for a finish I think.

6.) Midget block collection - I started these in Vermont in 2010! I have a light blue for sashing.

7.) Birds in the Air block collection

8.) Erin's Butterfly - I made the wings in 2021.  Need to add one more set of wings... thinking 9 is a nice number?

9.) mostly cut out and some 9 patches are made. Hehe... from the first quilting book I had and made a quilt from. Introduction to Quilting 101 - the basics by Sharon Hultgren. I think this was Sunrise Surprise! The four patch from this book is at my Mom's hanging over a crib still!

10.) I forgot I had this. It is a cute birdhouse wall hanging but is foundation pieced, which I dislike. Maybe I can deal with it enough to get this done? Or rework it?

11,) This is a kit I purchased mid-90s - butterfly's. I think all the parts are there and I did start arranging them.

12.) Quilters Patch. A sew along that I completely did not meet my goals on in 2022. One block is done.

13.) Scrappy Flowering Snowball - I started cutting these with my accuquilt from scraps with the color of the month in 2020. I think it is time to start stitching them together. I see I need some orange added and purple and lots of lights!

 

14.) Bittersweet Briar - pattern in Kim Deihl's book and kit of fabric.

15) Brimfield Awakening EPP. I did start this and have the first fabric thread basted in purple!

16.) Bonnie Hunter Mystery - On Ringo Lake - maybe step #2?

17) Bonnie Hunter Mystery - Grassy Creek (2020) Think I am on step #4.

18.) 30's log cabin tulip quilt.

Quilt Tops: 

 19) Ella Maria Deacon Blocks. Hand pieced, machine stitched together into a top. Patterns from Sentimental Stitches.

 I need to measure and see if it is happy with it's size or now. All my quilts seem to have a mind of their own!

20) Vermont Quilt Festival Booth Hop from either 2008 or 2009.  it is 71x71.

21.) Y2K Joann's BOM - quilt top

22.) 1857 Quilt Along Top - This one is in the hoop for hand quilting as of December 2024.

23.) Spring Hexagons - not sure if this wants to be bigger or not.... 

24.) Triple Irish Chain - green. 80x80 I think. I did find both fabrics extra with it... Might need a green or cream border first or both... Made in the early 2000's. circular feathers in open spaces.

25.) Harmony - hand pieced project started March 2021-

2/5/24 it is a top!

26.) Hexagon flowers on a black background. These are a stack of blocks I hand pieced a few years ago then hand appliqued to the black background a couple years after that!  

New Years Eve

 Well, my parents have been fine this trip. But I got the covid bug! Sigh. Hopefully I feel better by Thursday. My sister is dropping a proper mask for me to wear. I'm shut up in my room away from everyone.

The kids did go ice skating. Aidan drove them and my brother met them there for the open skate yesterday. First time and I hear they both did great.

My brother David and Emily.

Aidan and Emily.

Family time

 We had a good flight to Vermont. A little delay but we got in 30 minutes late. No issues. Someone enjoyed the window seat.

We hit Als french frys for a late dinner. It is a diner in Burlington.

The first thing the kids did outside the airport was make snowballs and throw at each other.  Kept them entertained until I got the car started and scraped off. Temp was 7 degrees.

Friday, very cold but snow angels were made.

We went to see the lights at the Joseph Smith Memorial in south Royalton. I might have missed a turn, so we got a 6 mile scenic route in the dark!

First joint puzzle made Friday. 

Saturday was family gathering.  All grandkids but 1 in Colorado. The photo has 3 of my nephews 4 kids.

Emily taking photos of mountains and snow.

My nephew Ben was outside having a snowball fight with his littles, so mine went out too. They had a great time.

Not a single stitch taken. Maybe tonight.

Heading to my sister's after my parents get back from church. Will bring kids to an open ice skating tomorrow.