December 2018

December was smooth and it was nice to observe some "family time" and the traditions of the holiday, "couple time" and some "me time" as well.

Near the first of the month, my youngest grandson turned 10, (my favorite number btw!).
He and a friend who was too quick for me to catch on film were having fun popping the balloons by sitting on them.

Robbi won in this endeavor.  They are great friends.  They play Fort Nite on the X-box, Hockey, are in the same grade though not the same class this year at school and have been friends for years.







Then we were back in Boston for another heart biopsy, clinic check, echo, and blood work.

While there, we were able to see "How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Wang Theatre, it was a fantastic show.  The props, music and story line so closely followed  the Suessical book and DH tolerated it well as he'll go to honor my enjoyment of these shows.

The following two pictures are some of the architectural details within the Wang theatre.

We had a nice dinner before going back to our hotel room at the Park Plaza with an enjoyable stroll along the street.

I actually was humming the "Silver Bells," Christmas Carol while strolling and just a hint of snow was falling.

It was Beautiful yet so.o.o.oo Cold.

Our stay at the Park Plaza was very nice and comfortable besides it was conveniently located.
They happened to have an in-scale  gingerbread House of the Plaza as part of their decor in the lobby.  You could walk around the whole gingerbread table for a full view of the establishment and the accessories finishing the scene were perfect and quite nice.
It was massive and Gorgeous!

Shortly after that, my Mother sent a package for her Great Grand son #3, my  PGS#3.
It wasn't for any special occasion like Christmas or Birthday it was just because she loves him and she wanted to make this quilt.  She made a label hinting at him flying to the planets in the future and when I saw it, thought they were flying pucks, so I'm calling it "triple play" not quite a hat trick yet, lol. 

He showed me his favorite block and then started dodging away from the camera.

While spending the night, we played games as is our usual but we spent time reminiscing by looking through my blog books of years gone by.

He loved hearing stories about what happened and the roles he played within those stories.
I let him know that I couldn't produce those stories and pictures if he kept hiding from my camera.
He graciously  thankfully stayed put and I as able to take the shots.  (Not sure how long this will last!)

This pic he reminds me of Mcauley Culkin when he did the Home Alone series,
another holiday tradition we l;ike to watch and make time for. 

Then Christmas came with all the usual flurry of the season.

Christmas concerts, church services, family gatherings all contributed to make it a wonderful Holiday season.

PGD#! plays trombone for the Christmas concert, she's the second one in.

PGS#3, is in the grey sweater for his class song presentation.








I found and made some time to sit by the fire and stitch while listening to Christmas music.  Heaven!  Started a new Cross stitch project after the holiday just befor eNew Years.













As for finished projects, there were a couple of successes in that domain-


The long time WIP of St. Patrick's Day a Patch-a-bilities design took me
F-O-R-E-V-E-R!

The rainbow I embroidered the old fashioned way, then started to play with shiva paint sticks for those coins and then Mod Podge for the white petals on the daisies so the background fabrics wouldn't' show through as I learned from Lara's book, Crafted Applique.

Then to make the daisy centers stand out better I did colonial knots, not a gazillion but probably around 35 or so until it was enough.  The next step I puttered around to make the gold piping which I used a roll of lace sold by Sue Spargo wrapped around the cording to "finish" it. 
Am so happy with the final results.







Another project that I started and actually finished in December was the needlepoint called "Liberty Stars" designed by Nancy's needles.
I  find the rhythm of the needle even in needlepoint is so enjoyable and with this design found it easy enough to do anywhere.  When company stops by I can pull a length of thread/yarn  as the pattern became quite evident to me.  With this one,  I'll wait to frame for a couple of months, perhaps get it framed later in the Spring.
Notice the Christmas themed reading glasses.



It was a very eventful year and I'm glad to see it behind me.
Things can only be up from now on.

OMG for May

Yep!!  Time to declare that St. Patrick's Day Patchabilities will be my May OMG project for May!
I'm linking up with Heidi over at Red Letter Quilts with this goal setting page.

This is at it's current stage......

Can you tell that last night I was productive...  Finally.  (Now here another song comes to mind  8- /  )
Got the interfacing on, rainbow motif drawn then started stitching the embroidery starting with the red stripe of the rainbow going from the pot towards the hat.
Should get this monkey off my back this month.  At Last!   (another song inserted in my brain now-funny how pertinent they all seem!)  Uh  Ohh, those acronyms spell out FAL  [aka: finish along] synchronicity again.  LOL

If you want some company finishing or challenging yourself to finish up some of your PIGs, UFOs or PHDs, then head over to Heidi's blog  by the 7th to link up with other like minded creators.  The link closes shortly so be quick about it!

Jane
This happens to also be #17 on my Q2-2016 list - hitching my gains up on that accountability scale too - a huge self indulgent plus for me.

Q2 2016 and my OMG for April

Nope!  I was no where close to what I wanted to get done for my  Q-1 list so I'm including those same items to this quarter besides adding a few more that have come onto my horizon.  This finish along FAL has gone global and is a great incentive to get some projects finished besides the focus of OMG (One Monthly Goal) and the monthly numbers being pulled at All people quilt challenge.

The Quick Ripper
this girl loves her gadgets!

Three of those were completed.   Yippee!!!!
I shared only two so far since I never posted about the finished apron, Number 10 on the Q-1 list.

Here are a couple of photos taken while making it.   And you are seeing correctly, I had to use the Quick Ripper not once, but twice while making the pockets would you believe. That really makes quick work of unstitching or reverse sewing as it's sometimes called.  So I ordered one fro my Mom and had one shipped to her too.  In February she went to a quilt retreat with many of her Chatham Quilt Group and The Quick Ripper was the hot trend with every one wanting to know where she got it.   LOL  At the AQS in Daytona, a buddy of hers let me know that if I ever send her another little goodie like that, to multiply what I send by 4 so all of Mom's quilty friends get one too!  Joy is such a Hoot!
After that I settled down and got it finished in a day.  That red fabric shown was used for the lining  the pockets and the entire apron.   It looks great and I wonder why I put such a simple thing off for so long.

More handy gadgets I used for the apron construction was those red polka dot scissors, the purple thang and I finally used that set of curved templates to get a crisp smooth edge after turning the pockets.
I love it when I remember what I have, where it is and actually use them.  

Number 1 of the Hungry Hungry caterpillar pillow completely done.


Number 10 of the Christmas Apron Panel was finished but I never shared a photo of it will be back on Friday to remedy that (DH has an out of state appointment and we're heading over to MQX in Manchester after that for a couple of days.  Editing and adding this photo on 4/30/16.







Number 16 was made into the Valentine's Day wall hanging topper so hopefully this quarter I'll be able to quilt it and get it completely finished.
That is three listed completions realized so far this year with so many more I want need NEED to get truly done this year.




For April's OMG I hereby announce a community quilt to be cut and sewn into a top. The fabrics are black and gold and should work up quickly. (Fingers crossed!)

For my list of  Q-2:



1-Music themed Community Quilt made into a quilt top- April's OMG project.  DONE!

The top is made and will  be getting turned into the community project committee in the Wings Falls Quilt Guild the second Saturday in May.  I worked on this while attending a quilt retreat I go to annually at Dodge Pond in Fine, NY.

2-CCS- Finish the Red Thread - It's all stitched now, just waiting for the heart and star specialty buttons I ordered during The Stitching Post's sale to arrive [Note to self for the GPS directions, they're located in Catonsville, not Baltimore] Only need to attach those buttons and bring it in to be framed which I've already selected and paid for at Michaels. Thank goodness it was at 70% off but ye gads it was costly.  Will share more when it's totally, really and truly done.  (Now, I am hearing a tune for the Wizard of Oz with the Coroner singing about the witch being dead.)  edited this on 4/30/2016 it's DONE!

3-CCS- Daffodil Run designed by Just Nan editing this on 4/30 as it's now stitched and the only things left are to attach the charm fob and then frame it!

Editing on 5/3/16- DONE!

4-CCS- Wee Spring designed by Heart in Hand:
Editing this on 12/1/16 and was able to finish stitching this in November.  Only needs framing and I'm trying to use wwhat I have on hand.

5-CCS- Heart of America designed by Lizzie Kate: 

6-Make Native themed Hockey Seats

7-Make Dog Print Fleece Hockey sets

8-Make Dog Bed with same Dog print fleece for Scout's carrier kennel.

9-Make Boston Red Sox theme -  Hockey Seat fabrics Numbered 6 through 9 are all shown on the right along with the foam in too.

10-Doll quilt made with sea horse themed fabrics pulled.

11-BQ2 quilt assembled into a topper (just the borders left)

12-Braid blocks sewn into into a quilt top shown all together in a jumble with some coordinating fabrics:

 13-Kitchen pot holders made similar or all right then, copied from this one and possibly make an oven scarf too:

14-An Aqua sew together bag cut and sewn with some of these fabrics for myself:

15-Juvenile prints are kitted to make another sew together bag cut out and sewn for PGD#1.

The fabrics are stored downstairs and I will show more after it's made.  

I know there are numerous novelty prints kitted together for this with eye glasses, babushka dolls, and some other very kid friendly themes, all very bright and happy looking.

16-Sofa table runner made into a 9 or 10" by 40" size.  

Made out of this border stripe

or even this patriotic kit with the dimensions changed in order to fit the sofa table.

17-That dang Patchabilities St. Patrick's Day wall hanging 

(I am starting to feel like I'm crowing  and a partridge in a Pear Tree  every time I  include this one!  Go ahead you can hum along.  lol

It's a very old UFO that  needs to get off my back!

editing on 5/3/16 ... finally stitching this now  

18-Wool Table runner as my portable project and since I just loved that Primitive gathering Nesting Time Table Mat when I saw the kit at the AQS show in Daytona.  That one and quite a few others jumped into my shopping bag, but I will share more about that at another time too. 

Not sure I love all the wool with this kit, so I may change a couple of them out for higher soft contrast.

19-Miranda Bag another very old UFO that needs to be finished.

Sorry to say I haven't found this UFO yet so no photo to show.
It's all cut out with creams, pink and peaches with  a soft graphic style fabrics.
I just know it's around here somewhere but where? [typing while scratching my head!]

20-One of the Kim Diehl kits I have in or perhaps a new project that my muse demands to play with....

21- Scalloped table runner that's a topper but I'd love to try some feather quilting and bound it with a scalloped edge.
I started this UFO ions ago using the Moda Charisma fabric line.  Seems to be a recurring theme.....

22-Tater Strip Quilt another very old UFO, needs digging out since this too is packed in the basement and thinking about what stage that one is in.

It's another panel project I've had in since PGS#3 was in his preschool days and he's now in 1st grade. 8 {

23-Tulip Time Table mat from my miniature collection and I'd love to dye/paint the tulip fabric for it.

Or this even this larger project with fabrics painted for the tulips.  

24-Cherry tablecloth finished- Mary Engelbright (sp?) themed quilt top needs to be finished for a tablecloth quilt.  Very kitcheny don't ya think?  I won this topper at a quilt auction for a great price.  Should be perfect for some summer time flair.

Think I'll use some of mom's fabric donation for the backing, (it's that Black patchwork fabric on the right) and use that grunge red I bought in Trenton, FL for the binding.  

25-Rip out and restart the Disappearing Nine Patch which was started in 2015.  Not sure which direction this will go but it's honoring a nudge within me to make something pastel.  Way out of my normal color range I might add! 

26-Rip out? or rethink/redo the Hunter's star now hitting UFO status from 2014

perhaps a dresser scarf for PGD#1 bedroom....... Very bright but way too busy. It really needed to  be toned down with a soft white a bright color in every quilt block to sparkle.  

27-Make a quilt for PGS#3 with the Minion panel:

fabrics with the panel all bagged together.  

28-Make another quilt with the Star wars panel for PGS#3 in honor of us reading the book- Stories of the Jedi and Sith aka: Star Wars book being 187 pages in length and he's only 7.   

Way to go little one!  Makes a Meme proud.

While finally editing this on the 30th of April,  several of these are now done and a couple of them have been happily morphed with the grand children's desires!   Will share and post about them them soon.  Promise!

Yippee Skippee!!!!

I also realize a few more wants that I have tentatively on my want to get done list but didn't share yet because they are in a totally different wheel house.

What that? It's to fix a couple of necklaces I purchased while vacationing in Florida.  They both need at least a 1/2" to 1" added to their lengths so they fall correctly on me.

That's all.  A HUGE list with plenty of wiggle room.
lol

TTFN,
Jane

March's OMG project

With a 2 for 2 record for 2016 with the OMG challenge organized by Heidi from Red Letter Quilts, so far I have another lil' monster on my want to do list and which I have continued to procrastinate with so think it should be produced.  What is it you say?

It's March's Patchabilities that I've wanted to get done for the past couple of years!  I really should be embarrassed about it not but will forth wit publicly declare that it shall be done this month!  I really mean it this time.

I borrowed this photo from the Patch Abilities blog 2014, but this is what mine will look like too.  I believe I have the shamrocks wire holder too that came with the kit, but can't find my pattern now.  Will be on the search for that next.

Still away from blogging and am writing this on the 7th of February, but will return shortly.   Hubby and I are on a little quest.



TTFN, Jane

WIPs and other bits

This past week I was able to finish the stitching Bent Creek's "The Red Threads" months:
September, October!   Whoot, whoot!!

 Am feeling so smug since the September month design wasn't finished until 10/4/15 so that means that  I really flew through October's design since it's only the 9th now, not bad for a 40 x 40 stitch count.

Up next is April's.

With  getting those done I skipped back towards the front and started on April's design.  It's coming along nicely and am hoping to start stitching the wording that surrounds the whole piece maybe I can start that this month too.  Initially had though the surround would be my January and February tasks, but am really hopeful that it will be finished by the end of January with my current plan of attack of one or two month each month with some border surround as well.             lol and fingers crossed!

Here's how it looks setting on the box which houses it when not being worked on.  It's one of those decorative boxes with life affirming phrases plastered all over the surface and sets nicely on the mantel but is within reach when wanted.  Am learning that working on something doesn't mean it has to be out all the time so I do put it away even though I'll be working on it again the next day.  Makes for a nicer home when family and friends stop by.
It contains all my threads, pattern with the copied blown up sheets for each month, my glasses AND my magic eyes and all the other tools necessary like extra needles, scissors, etc....  I devised a sheet of paper to hold my needles with the extra thread on it which is pictured just to the right above.  I try to list all the colors in numerical order and have most of the bits of thread resting under the paper.
Leftover thread on the needles are parked off the project.  With stitching the needle remnants from under neath on the right side of the paper and then surfacing the needle to stitch it going in and out of the paper quickly so it's left ending up pointing to the color name and demarcation used on the pattern.  Was truly surprised that some demarcation marks were used twice in the different monthly patterns but for totally different colors.  Glad I double checked along the way.  This system works nicely and one I'll be using again.

May's

June's

• I also have used the railway stitch quite a bit to get the threads to lay correctly since this is being worked on with a hand hoop.  
• I also use the no knot start by taking just one thread, folding it in half leaving the loop on the long side.  I thread both ends through the needle then my first stitch is essentially a lark knot start.  Going up with the needle where it needs to be and going back down through the top to catch the loop on the underside which makes my first slash. 
• I use the 7 to 1 orientation as if on a clock as my first half stitch of my cross.    
• When just starting the design and actually on any projects worked on I typically will mark the upper left corner with a pin to know which end is top while the designs may be confusing or to early to tell what end is what.  I even use this while quilt making, upper top left marks the spot.

July's

August's

Other projects on my immediate horizon are make more blocks for the braid quilt.  Count is still at 31... hopefully next week that number will change.















 Also on my wish list and Wips be gone is the St. Patrick's Day Patch-a-bility wall hanging.  Many pieces have been selected and actually cut so I need to get this monkey off my back and begin the stitching.

With the leaf season happening
 we took a little trip down memory lane.....

























Visited the old farmstead......

Our daughter and her peeps joined us....











Seeing the animals now in attendance,

purchasing some of the fresh chevre,.....

Visiting the old plume in Jay, ....

would you believe she and I swam through those rapids at younger ages,.....

showing her where we spent our Summer evenings listening to concerts along the waterfront at the beach front in Wilmington, NY.....

then traveling on towards Lake Placid, and ending the day with a quick meal at a favorite haunt.




It was Heavenly,
enjoy the pics.

Dear daughter age way up there and PGD#1, age 10  playing on the playground equipment.

Beckoning me 

It won..... awe,
I  love where we live!

My Mom and I are plodders.  It may take us awhile, but by and by it gets done.  We'll have several projects going all at the same time and will challenge ourselves to get another block done or some more threads stitched and then push the next devoted deadline onto our to do lists.  We actually do this with many household and homeowner chores too.  Can't work the way I used to that would get chores done quickly, but can attempt a bit or two every day or so and then progress happens until completion.
Guess it has to do with our determined genes handed down the matriarchal family line.
Thanks Gigi!

TTFN,  Jane

I'm linking to Amanda Jeans' Finish it up Fridays, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop whoop and A Quilting Reader's Garden WIPS Be Gone.