A small finish for the week

The binding is finished on Eye of God - which is lap quilt or wall hanging size.  Maybe even a good size for a baby quilt.  It's about 40" square.  

That center star block was called Eye of God, and was a free block that I downloaded from somewhere online.  It was actually quite tricky to put together without losing the points.  The polka dots around it are bowtie blocks.  And that lime green does NOT glow in the dark, although in this lighting it sure looks like it would.  

As I finished up the binding for this one, I got to thinking that maybe I should make more lap quilts and donate them to nursing homes here.  Hmmm . . .

Today is supposed to be the day I can finally pick up my new car.  We'll see if that actually happens today.  I'm getting very impatient with the wait.  

Tuesday - this and that

My morning routine is just that - a routine. I tend to be up earlier than my husband and I take my first cup of coffee to my home office.  I can sit quietly at my desk, enjoy my coffee, read some blogs, and watch the activity at the bird feeder.  The landscape is white and clean looking after the snow we got this weekend.  

The birds are usually pretty active in the mornings around that feeder outside my window.  The past week or so we've had blue jays, juncos, chickadees, woodpeckers, and some tiny birds that I don't know the name of.  Wish I could get a good photo, but they are awfully fast to fly off.  And since those blue jays showed up we haven't been seeing any cardinals.  CORRECTION: one male cardinal showed up this morning. 

So, since it was December 1 there was the first package to open from the Missouri Star Countdown to Christmas box.  Gift #1 was a very cute panel and a pattern to use with the panel.  The pattern has either a wall hanging or a table runner option with snow globes.  So cute!!  I'm thinking table runners will be my choice.  

A little more than half of the blocks needed for the snowman quilt (Splendor) are sewn, but still need to be pressed and trimmed to size.  I've been using the pieces cut for the Bonnie Hunter mystery as my Leaders/Enders while working on the snowmen. 

I was all excited about picking up my new car yesterday.  But now they are saying it won't be ready until Wednesday.  And since my old vehicle now belongs to the dealership, I feel a bit at odds without a car to drive for a whole week.  

Design Wall Monday - December 1

Another new month already!  And I didn't come close to checking off my goals from the last one yet.  But that doesn't really bother me because the important things WERE checked off - like my son-in-law's Lone Star wall hanging. 

My December goals are a bit more deadline oriented, but the list is pretty short.  

• Finish the Christmas gifts I've begun
• 2 table runners
• pillowcases for grandkids
• secret gifts
• Finish flimsy for snowman 3-yard quilt (Splendor pattern)
• bind Eye of God lap quilt  (only 1 side remaining)
• bind the 2025 Saturday Sampler
• bind Orange blossom wall hanging
• a few RSC or QOV blocks as Leaders/Enders
• Make my 2026 UFO and PHD lists 

The project box for the Dresden Fans quilt was emptied now that it's a flimsy hanging in the closet, making way for something new.  So what new project is in the box?

I've been on the fence about sewing along with Bonnie Hunter's current mystery quilt, Lupines and Laughter.  Every year I download the mystery clues, whether I play along or not.  I really like the colors this year, so I'll do it but on a smaller scale.  Last week I made 3 sets of the clue #1 blocks.  And I've cut out parts from scraps for a few of the clue #2 blocks.  Right now I'm thinking I'll do half of the units she calls for, and then after the reveal I can decide if I want more or not.

BTW - I managed to hold off on opening anything in the box (Jenny's Countdown to Christmas 2025).  I did remove it from the shipping box yesterday afternoon.  

 Lots of anticipation for opening the first item this morning while enjoying my first cup of coffee, and reading my favorite blogs.  I'll try to remember to share some of the box contents each week on here.  Item #1 is in that red envelope on the right.  

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog

RSC25 - Week #48

The Quarter Dresden project is now a flimsy.  It isn't huge - just 50 x 60.  But I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  It's pressed and hanging in the closet, along with the leftover grey background - just in case.  The project box has been emptied and will have a new project take up residence in the box soon.  

It's time to take stock of what RSC block sets are remaining in the closet, so plans can be made for how to proceed with each set.  These are not all of the partial sets from this year and even from past years, but it gives me an idea of what is there.  Continuing block sets into the next year never bothers me. 

Some of my day yesterday was spent taking down some fall decor and putting up Christmas.  My cardinal tree stays up all year in the dining room as I just enjoy the cardinals that remind me of all the friends and family no longer with us.  I changed out the quilt, and hung the cardinal quilt for the Christmas season.  And one of the new table runners is on the table.  The big Christmas tree in the living room is partially decorated. 
 

But the stockings are all hung.  That new stocking I made for myself is likely to stimulate a bit of teasing from my girls.  It's twice as big as everyone else's and the toe is pointing the opposite direction.  Oops!!  LOL

Let's go see what else is happening with scraps . . .
https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/ 

It's Friday

Because we were home by ourselves, and I wasn't cooking a big meal - yesterday felt like Friday all day to me instead of Thanksgiving Day.  We had a really good early holiday with our kids and grandkids on Wednesday.  Yesterday we enjoyed the leftovers sent home with us. And now it really IS Friday.

No Black Friday shopping is on my radar for today.  I plan to decorate the Christmas tree now that it's up in the living room.  I finished the December spools mini quilt yesterday, so it is on the family room hearth.  The one with 4 little trees will go on the living room hearth.  I really do enjoy these little 12-14" mini quilts.

I have a start on the 3-yard quilt called Splendor.  One complete row is done, and half of the next row is done.  Lots more to go but there is no deadline for this one.  

We're expecting winter weather to move in sometime in the afternoon.  What a shame that I might have to stay home the next couple days and sew.  And possibly bake the cookies I'll need to take to our DAR meeting next week. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Because we had our family Thanksgiving yesterday, my plans for today involve sleeping in, sewing and getting out the Christmas decorations. 

Just a little progress

 

It's not finished, but I can see the finish line from here.  This is the December mini quilt with the spool design.  The main part is now in 4 rows, so once I get a chance to sew those together and then add the narrow borders it will all go quickly. 
 

I really thought I might get it finished on Tuesday, but it just didn't happen.  After my haircut and manicure appointment, I planned to just go get groceries and come home and sew, and make the deviled eggs for Thanksgiving.  Plus we were on the edge of crazy winter weather with 50+ mph wind gusts, a little snow and sleet.  It would have been a good day to just stay home and sew, right?

So instead of going right to the grocery store or doing any sewing at all - I went and test drove a new vehicle.  Isn't that what normal people do in bad weather?  When they have lots of other things to get done at home?  My 9 year old Ford Edge has been having electrical issues for months, in particular with the key fobs.  I guess yesterday was just the day I decided I was tired of fighting with it.  My new RED Ford Escape should be ready to pick up on Monday!!  I'm very excited.  And the sewing will still be here waiting.