Happy New Year

Can you believe it?  Where did the year go?  I am doing a NYE Mystery with QT Mystery Quilts but first I have to donate platelettes this am.

And I'm going to work on Monday, as in working for Hancock Fabrics.  Yep, just kinda happened, and I will still be doing my longarm business.  The Hancock job is part time so I should be okay after I get into a routine.

I will try and post my mystery quilt when I have a top. 

The flannel quilt...

A picture of the scrappy flannel quilt in wilderness prints.  Nice and big at 78" by 90".  Credit for the pattern goes to Prairie Designs called Stacked. 



Yes I'm still alive

The Holiday just sort of gobbled up the time, good as it was.  I'm back to swimming in the wee hours of the morning and trying to get projects done.  Currently I'm working on a dachshund dog quilt and that has been tedious with applique. 

I did get my flannel quilt finished and I will post a picture shortly.  It's very manly looking, and cuddly warm too.  I'm not sure where it will wind up.  The backing is actually a flannel sheet that I purchased at Goodwill, and of course it was used.  But it just seemed to be the perfect backing for it.  I will give it to one of my family members due to the fact that the backing isn't brand new. 

But for now, it's off to do more dog quilty stuff.

Coming down the home stretch

Christmas gifts have been bought, mailed and received.  Christmas letters were mailed last week, the major components of Christmas dinner have been bought.  Decorations, minimal but acceptable (less to put away later).  One guest for Christmas dinner besides us so no stress there.  Baking, I think not, we are both watching our weight.

So?  Time to sew and not feel all stressed out about taking the time to do so.  I am still working on the flannel quilt UFO that I've been trying to finish for so very long now.  I have two more borders to do and then I can work on the backing.  The backing is a flannel sheet that I got at a thrift shop a couple of years ago.  It isn't the best match with the front, but at this point I don't care...remember this quilt is for the dogs.  No really it IS for the dog's couch.   Maybe I can get it on the longarm today. 

Biting off more than I can chew

Been working on a commission quilt with very slow progress.  After doing myself in yesterday cutting out tiny applique pieces I think I deserve a day to myself to finish my flannel quilt (which is a UFO, the last to finish before my year end challenge with Stashbuster ).   It just has to be a day for me.  My body tells me when I've had enough, and it's screaming at me right now.  Also, I need to finish some Linus quilts before our next meeting/sew-in.  I also have a bunch of Heartstrings quilt tops that have been entrusted to me to quilt, and I have not had much time to get to.  I think there is a theme here, which is: don't bite off more than you can chew. 

The good thing is that it's just hubby and I for a quiet Christmas this year, no fuss with tons of company or big dinners...a prime rib roast in the smoker and a couple of sides and done. 

Stitch-outs are finished

I ended up doing 14 stitch-outs, here are some of them.  A couple are variations off of a simple design.  I finished putting the grommets on them this morning.  I am working on a commission quilt today, I decided to wash some of the fabrics as they were reds, just never know about those and I'd hate to get them in a quilt and have them run.  Next I have to iron all of them, yuck...but they are small pieces.

Beef stew is in the crock pot for tonight.

This & That & dreaming of snow

I can't believe it's only a week until Christmas Eve.  Being a northern girl living in the deep south, it just doesn't feel quite like Christmas unless there is snow on the ground, or the hope of snow.  Putting aside all of the perils of the white stuff,  I have to admit I just love it.  There is nothing better to me than watching the snow fall, or to see fresh snow glittering in the sunlight...a pot of soup or stew on the stove or in the crock pot, and yes, of course, colorful fabric scraps to sew & sew & sew....munching on cookies and sipping hot chocolate, ahhhh yes.

No snow, no hot chocolate or cookies, but a stir-fry for dinner and some sewing on the longarm...how does that sound?  Well that's going to be today's plan.  Remember I mentioned yesterday that I'd like to do some stitch outs of the Circle Lord templates?  I looked over what I need and there will be quite a few, so with that in mind I decided to go with muslin.  I know, not nearly as exciting, but will still serve the purpose.  I have the muslin in the wash now.  I have a customer picking up a quilt mid morning so while I'm waiting I hope to have the muslin on the machine and a few done before she comes.  This should use up some batting scraps as well, so I'll be digging in the tubs shortly.

I've put aside my flannel quilt so that I can get the stitch outs done.  I have some commission work to start on but I will get serious about that between Christmas and New Years.