I had a long, lazy stitching time this morning. I don't know if it's the extreme cold making me want to hibernate, sit under a lap quilt and do some applique, but I'll go with it!
Not much in the way of interesting photos to share of my stitching....I'm working on a lot of vine at the moment on my Down the Rabbit Hole. I do like working on vines....just mindless stitching along while watching tv or having some thinking time.
In January I'll be piecing the final border on this quilt. The problem is that I have no idea what fabrics or colours to use. Scrappy?....or consistent to give the eye a break? I've seen many ideas on the DTRH Facebook page and they are all wonderful!
Why not visit Kathy today at Kathy's Quilts for the last Slow Sunday Stitching of 2017?
Happy New Year!....and for any Scot's in the crowd, "Lang may yer lum reek"!
I'm so happy that I finished my goal for December, with time to spare!
My goal was to finish the two rabbit borders for my Down the Rabbit Hole....
I'm quite happy with them. I hope to have some time this week to do some major prep work for the final two borders.
Here is a reminder of the quilt so far...
Within the last two weeks I heard about a Boxing Day race down in Hamilton, so that's where I'm off to today. It's freezing out there but at least it's not snowing and blowing. I much prefer running in the cold than in the heat and humidity!
Have a wonderful day!
I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal December Finish Link-up Party.
Well, here we are.....Christmas Eve morning.
Today is the day I celebrate with my family. I'm so looking forward to it. I just love setting a nice Christmas feast. This year I'm trying a couple of new recipes, so wish me luck!
When the kids were young I would wake up so early on Christmas morning and wonder what was wrong with everyone in the house...how could they sleep in so long!!?? Things don't change much, yesterday and today I've awoken at 4a.m. with my head just full. Hopefully, on Christmas morning I can have a long, lazy sleep!
The bonus of an early start is starting my day with some stitching, of course.
I settled in to watch a sappy Hallmark Christmas movie (my guilty pleasure!) and started the two final borders for Down the Rabbit Hole...
I'm still having problems with getting pictures to transfer to my blog so that's all you can see for now.
Lots to do this morning....but it all comes together on time, doesn't it. I was able to do some meal preparation yesterday. The Instant Pot sure came in handy...I actually used it three times yesterday! Once was a cheesecake, the other some baked beans (I know, not traditional, but there's a reason!) and in between that we threw together a quick lunch in the Instant Pot...
....very yummy!
This feels like it will be a special Christmas. I hope yours will be special, too.
Although, I am a little nervous about my family travelling to get here...as I type away at this a Special Weather report has come through on my phone warning of snow later today :(
Have a great day and I hope you can take a few moments to visit with Kathy to see what others are working on for Slow Sunday Stitching.
Merry Christmas, xo
With all the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas-time, I almost forgot about completing Clue #4 of the PEIMQG Mystery Quilt-along that needed to get done by the end of the month.
I took a bit of time Thursday afternoon to work at it. There were three methods to choose from on how to construct the blocks...I chose "improv with improv". Everything worked up so easy, I really like the method.
Here are my blocks...
Usually by now in a mystery we can take some pretty good guesses as to how the quilt will evolve....so far, though, I'm stumped!
If you want to join in, I'm sure you can catch up...you can look into it HERE.
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As of this morning I have completed my OMG-One Monthly Goal, which was to finish the bunny borders on Down the Rabbit Hole. I'm very happy about that....not so happy about some of my fabric choices, but I'm sure it will work out in the end.....right???
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Lately I've taken note of all the quilts I have in this house and realise it's time to gift some of them out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not stingy with my quilts. Many people have received them as gifts and my children have many, as well.
When the family comes home for Christmas Eve they're going to take some quilts home with them...
I think there's still a couple more to add to the pile! This is feeling good!
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Here's a reminder to think about joining in on the 6 & 6 in 2018 challenge issued at Pomegranite and Chintz.
It is a challenge to help move some of our ufo's along....and then fun of starting some new ufo's projects!
I have been mulling it over and am sure to have a few ufo's to put on the list. I'll get my list together before the end of the year.
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Does anyone have suggestions of good shows on Netflix?
We recently finished Mad Men, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Finished The Crown, although I think I slept through most of it. I came across a mystery series called The Five and we enjoyed that, too.
I haven't watched the second season of Stranger Things yet, maybe I'll do that soon.
I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?
Well, time certainly does seem to speed up the closer we get to Christmas, doesn't it?
I started on a bit of baking yesterday and will do a bit more today.
I've rarely made these cookies that my sisters and I enjoyed when we were young....
...because they have coconut in them and my kids did not like coconut. I figure I'll give them a try now to see if the grandchildren will eat them.
I also made some cookies to share with my grandson, as he was coming in the afternoon to help put up the Christmas village. He was a good helper and was enthralled with all the music and moving parts...
Of course, there was one unhappy camper who hated to give up her cozy nest so the village could be built...
While out and about this week we stopped in for the first time at a new cafe in Simcoe, Joy's Bakery and Cafe, where we had lovely lattes and one of the best scones I've ever had! Two thumbs up from me....we'll be back!
Not much sewing done this week, I hope to rectify that shortly after Christmas, but I'm making good progress on my applique.
I'm very much liking my bees...even more so now that I've outlined the wings in a stem stitch. They were kind of disappearing into the background before. I'll have to find a bit of time to do a bit more applique prep-work in the next couple of days.
I kind of like that I'm showing my bees and am linking up with Let's Bee Social with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.
I am also linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers.
Have a wonderful day :)
It's so nice to be on Christmas break!
People are always wanting snow for Christmas....a lot of times in recent years it just doesn't happen.
Well, this week has certainly made up for it. My Christmas break started with a Saturday morning run...
I was wishing for cross-country skis at this point of the run. It wasn't a terribly long run as I had a full day in store, but my legs are telling a different story today!....running in the snow really does use the muscles in a whole new way. I don't mind running in the cold, I actually prefer it, but I may think twice in the future about running in slippery conditions. We'll see.
After the morning run I had to rush home, have breakfast, shower and get going to my LQS for the monthly Border Creek Mystery class followed by a truly lovely lunch with an old friend. I think that is one of my favourite "over-50" activities..."doing lunch", lol.
Today I am ready to slow down a bit and start getting the house in order for Christmas, but I did begin the day with a bit of stitching, of course.
I took the time today to finally put a label on my A Year in My Life quilt. It had to get on the quilt as the six hearts included in the label make up part of the "year".
I hope you have time to visit with Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. You'll be able to see what others are stitching on today!
I've recently come across a new challenge to begin in the new year.
The name of the challenge is 6 x 6 in 2018. The idea is to make a list of 6 UFO's you'd like to finish up in 2018, and 6 new projects you will start...although you don't have to list the new ones as you may not even know what they are yet!
You can read about it HERE at Pomegranate and Chintz or HERE at Frayed at the Edge.
There are a few(!) UFO's I'd like to get to so this sounds like fun to me. I also hate to admit it, but I already have a few new projects starting up in 2018, too.
I hope some of you will join me in the challenge, as it's always good to get some motivation to attack some UFO's!
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Again, another post thinking ahead to 2018 can be found HERE at Quilting Jetgirl. There is also a "button" to the right entitled #2018PlanningParty that will take you there.
Yvonne is asking us to reflect on our quilting year and list some goals for the year ahead.
You don't have to write a blog to take part, there are a couple of ways to join in....and to make it even more fun, there are many prizes to be had!
I will be mulling over my projects and deciding soon what will be on the agenda for my 2018.
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Today should be my last day at the longarm for 2017, unless I work on something of my own on my Christmas break. I know I would love to have some time do some piecing, that's for sure. Except for the actual busyness of the couple of day around Christmas Day, I hope for some peaceful stitching time.
I came across this teeny quilt that I won earlier this year, made by Sandra Walker at Musings of a Menopausal Melon...
It's been in my living room all year but now it actually goes with the decor! When I took this picture today, it was the first time I noticed that Sandra had actually fussy-cut a star to top the tree, lol! So cool!
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I like that the last client quilt of the year is one made by my sister-in-law. For years she has said that she'd like to learn to make quilts....and now she has!
I also like that she took a beginner's class at her LQS, it certainly pays off.
I especially like that this quilt is Canada-themed....a nice one to close out our sesquicentennial year! There are even patches commemorating the Tragically Hip.
We had a couple of errands to do on Thursday, so we stopped for lunch at Urban Parisian in Port Dover. I also had the free Peppermint Hot Chocolate that I'd won....so yummy and so worth the sugar intake!...
I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop?, and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.
Well, I'd best get at it. Looks like we are in for another snowy day so I'm glad I can stay inside and spend my time in the studio!
