Getting lots done over the break!

 Amanda's hair is officially appliqued and she now has a nose and necklace.  She is done.

Still trying to choose a layout while finishing the others. I may add a row of sewing machines or scissors or something. 

Cherry Fizz Bloom is ready for borders.

More buildings were paper pieced on Color My World.

Two quilts got bound:  Flower Power and Windmill.

I made three project bags.  They were super fun.

Some planning happened for my Chicken Churn Dash Quilt.  I don't officially want to start sewing on it until 2023.

Trophies were made for our family's Adventure Challenge. My husband and son made them. My daughters & husbands will make the others. We competed as families in 2022 in the following areas:  rock climbing minutes, horse riding miles, motorcycle miles, nights camping, and the ones listed below with their trophies.

Hiking trophy

4 wheel drive  on dirt roads trophy.  It is made out of car parts.

States traveled trophy...This one includes three wooden cubes that have been in our family for many years.  There are old and warn photos of family adventures when our kids were young.  We added cut out pieces of local map locations as well.

This is the bicycle one.  My husband welded together bicycle parts including shift levers, pedals, and reflectors to make it into a picture frame holder.

He framed photos of he and I doing our bike trip all the way across the state of Utah from Arizona to Wyoming.  We did the Arizona trip a few years ago, and completed it to Wyoming this past fall.

The bottle trophy represents travel out of the United States.  We will put popsicle sticks inside with the country and year one of us traveled in.

The water trophy is the paddle with a boat.  It is kind of hiding behind other trophies.  The water challenge included snow sledding, snowmobiling, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, anything to do with water. 

I have not abandoned Blogland - just been busy!

 Hello Blog Friends!

I had a wonderful visit with Chooky's Zoomers and got some inspiration to get sewing again.  I went through my 2022 goals and set up a plan to meet them.  It will be tight, but it is doable.

What have I been up to?  Well, not much sewing.  I did have a girls sew day with my three daughters.  We sewed up cute little bags and projects.  We also chalked each other's hair.  The two lttle grand daughters loved that!  There was also some home made lotion making.

Remember my quilt retreat that didn't happen in August, well my girls loved sewing up some of the make and takes I had prepared.  I also gave them free pick of the bags and pincushions I had made.  They loved it.  

Two grand sons are missing from this photo.  Also, there is one more grand baby due to arrive in March.  I am so excited.  

I have also been training for a hike and trying to swim laps a few times a week all summer.  Hiking the highest peak in Utah was so wonderful that I wanted to stay in shape.  I have also lost about 16 lbs HOORAY FOR ME!!

I traveled to Southern Utah two weeks ago to do a 12 mile hike.  We also e-biked Bryce Canyon which was stunning and fun!  If someone tells you e-biking is easy - well - tell my very soar legs that.  I loved it so much though!!!

The hike was 6 miles down a steep mountain - not so easy.  The other 6 miles was in a river bottom.  We crossed the river repeatedly which was fun but exhausting.  Oh, and we found waterfalls too.

The e-biking day ended with a short hike where we found about 15 arches.

With only one week left in October, I set these quilty goals to finish off the month.  Wish me luck!

1.  Get a top done with borders and backing made for FLOWER POWER.

2. Make a plan for and get started on a backing for FOR THE BIRDS.  I wanted to put this bicycle on the back.  We shall see if I go that way or just  piece a simple backing.

3. Finish the binding on WINDMILL

4. Machine applique' centers on SAND DOLLAR

This week I am looking forward to a murder mystery evening with my book club.  Oh do we all enjoy each other so much!!  I will have to check in with you on how that goes down and try to remember to take pictures.  I will play the role of Dierdre C. Deucer.  Ya, that is me!

Flower blocks done!

 I finished my big flower blocks.  Now to decide on arrangement and sashing fabric.  I am shopping from my stash for them.

I was so blessed last week when my tire broke off my car going down the interstate.  The ball joint broke.  It took me some focus to even be able to control the steering at 70 mph to get off the road.  Once I was off, I hit the breaks and nothing happened.  The damage also broke my break line.  Fortunately my tire got wedged  up under the frame and slowed me to a stop quickly enough.

Blessings:

1.  It didn't happen in the canyon on those turns and steep declines.

2.  My daughter and her family were in a vehicle on the very next exit and were able to retrieve me quickly off the side of the road.

3. My son-in-law who is a mechanic had it all fixed within a couple of days so I could return home.

4. Big O Tires are automatically insured for road hazard.  My tires were only 1 1/2 weeks old and they replaced the damaged one.  On a side note,  they really should have checked those ball joints while they were changing my tires which could have prevented the entire situation.

5.  The other cars on the interstate did not hit me nor did I hit them.

Been doing secret sewing.  Sorry I can't show you most of what I have done.

I can show you these three blocks though.  They are not my favorite fabrics - got them in a monthly subscription kit, but I think I will like the quilt ok when it is finished.  The blocks are super fun to make!  They are also large blocks - 16" finished.