In DECEMBER, Two quilts returned from the quilter - Yay!

 I received these two babies back from the quilter in mid-December and am just getting around to posting them now. I guess Christmas craziness made me forget to post about them.

I love these quilts SEW SEW much!!

Here is the back side of Sand Dollar.

Obviously this is the front.

I present to you "For the Birds"!

15 Minutes to Stitch Report beginning 2023

2023 Progress Report

350 Blocks Challenge Update

  I am participating in the 350 blocks challenge by Prairie Moon again this year.  

August blocks made: 0

September blocks made: 0

October blocks made: 4 Flower Power Assembly

November blocks made: 119

Total YTD:  532

10 Sand Dollar applique blocks

82 Sand Dollar setting blocks

5 Sand Dollar top assembly

3 basket blocks

1 For the Birds backing assembly

 16 Color My World houses

1 barn block

1 silo block

2 Sand Dollar backing

Top and back done

 Sand Dollar top is done and ready to be quilted. Love it. It took me a bit to decide on borders with the fabrics I had left over. It lived on my living room floor all week.

Extra blocks went to the back.

The two challenges with finishing this one were:

1. I just didn't love it. It was just too busy and needed more negative space. This layout did the trick, and the polka dot background found in my srash was perfect.

2. My Bernina is old and does not do a pretty blanket stitch anymore.  I ended up staying after school a few days to use a school Bernina thanks to the support of the FACS teacher.

For the Birds has now taken up a temporary home on my living room floor as I intend to piece a back for it today.

Today's Linkies:

Michelle's Beauties Pageant

Quilty Girl's Finished or not Friday

Fredrique's Patchwork and Quilts

What's happening in my sewing room?

 A layout that I like was finally decided for Sand Dollar.  Units are made and ready for assembly.  Yay!  I finally really like this quilt.

Four tree trunks were hand appliqued as well as two tree tops for Color My World.  The other trees are glue basted and ready to stitch.

I started redesigning the skyscrapers into houses.  I had to cut the pattern out, tape it together, and resketch the lines where I want them.  A barn and a church are still in the plans in my head.

I needed a basket for a bicycle that will go on the back of my "For the Birds" quilt.  It has cute bicycle fabric, so the bike began to beg me to create her.  I made the basket from a Buggy Barn Pattern but removed the handle.  It is cuter with the handle, but a bike basket does not need a handle.  When you make one Buggy Barn block, you make three by nature of how stack and slash patterns are formed.  The extra two will end up on the back somewhere with the other extra blocks  made in this quilt.

Linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching.

Sand Dollar and houses

 The brown circles are now blanket stitched with only blue to go. I hope to put borders on these little guys and finish it soon. The browns and polka dots shown are selected for those borders. These blocks are only about 5 inches.

I have also been piecing houses for Color My World. It would be nice to finish this top as well this month. 

There is a pile all picked out and ready to paper piece this week.

It would be nice to get 3 more tops done this month to keep my 2022 goals in check. My hit list has Color My World and Sand Dollar on it as well as a back for For the Birds.

I am linking up today with:

Design Wall Monday 

Oh scrap

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!