Milk Glass Bowl

 Milk Glass Bowl

I've been wanting one of these little bowls for years now. It's not just any bowl, it is a Depression Era Milk Glass bowl ... but I love it for the functionality. I sent my sister a picture of the type of bowl that I wanted and the next day this little jewel was in the mail on it's way to be.

My sister is very good to me!

Since deciding that I want to do a bit more hand-quilting I've been looking at ways to keep my hand sewing items all in one place and ready to use.

This little Milk Glass Bowl totally fits the bill.

Booker likes it too!

Progress Report

 Progress Report

As the January 2022 comes to a close, I thought it would be nice to give a little sewing room progress report ...

I’m all over the place right now in my sewing room and beyond! It seems like at the first of the year I was all gung-ho to be in my sewing room. I got a quilting book for Christmas and a gift card to Joann’s for my birthday. I still have my gift card. I did order a few things for my sewing room this month. I purchased a quilt pattern, the Happy Camper charm packs for my Valerie quilt, a fat quarter bundle of Tula Pink fabrics, flannel backing fabric and batting for both of my Crescent Moon quilt tops, and the batting for my Red/White Historical Redwork quilt top. Yesterday I finished cutting the fabric for the remaining 24 blocks that I need to complete my Happy Camper Valerie quilt top. I also began cutting the fabric needed to complete my Red/White Little Houses quilt project. I have 5 quilt tops out for machine quilting. I made the binding for my Saguaro Cactus quilt. I may try to sew that on today for my first quilt finish of 2022. I started crocheting Shelby’s Easter Basket … this years’ theme is llamas and cactus. I ended up with Covid and the flu so that was 10 days that I didn’t get anything accomplished in my sewing room. Even with being sick I was still able to make progress in my sewing room. I have decided to slow down and really enjoy my sewing room and projects this year instead of just rushing through to finish. I’ve also decided to do more hand-quilting. I’m looking forward to getting my quilting frame out of storage and purchasing my deluxe recliner for my living room. One step at a time.

Red/White Little Red Houses

Happy Camper Valerie quilt

Shelby's Easter Basket

Easter Basket 2022

 Easter Basket 2022

As you know I crochet an Easter Basket for my daughter each year. This started when she was in college and it continues ...

Over the weekend I started crocheting the 2022 Easter Basket

Begin at the bottom ...

The bottom of the basket is now complete ...

The sides and a little scalloped edging ...

The handle construction has begun ... and now I have a blank canvas to add to.

I'm still in the process of deciding on the theme for this years basket but I'm narrowing down my options.

Stay Tuned

Life of a Quilter

 Life of a Quilter

Sometimes I have to laugh at myself. I am a quilter through and through. When I'm not in my sewing room working on a quilt project ... I'm thinking about being in my sewing room working on a quilt project. I adore the creative process of quilting and sewing. I enjoy every moment that I get to spend in my sewing room, shopping my favorite quilt pattern designers and fabric designers online, getting one of my projects back from the long-arm quilter ... all of it ... I adore all of it.

Time in my sewing room = threads on my clothes 

It makes me smile!

I've completed 57 of the 81 blocks that I need for the Happy Camper Valerie quilt project that I started last weekend. I love these bright blocks. Beginning last year, I decided to start making quilt projects that interest me. Quilts that I want to keep in my personal quilt collections.

My Red/White Quilt Collection and My Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt Collection

I have really enjoyed making quilts that tickle my fancy.

I've also gotten my sketchbook back out. This year, instead of making a yearly resolution I'm making a new year resolution each month. I want to begin drawing/sketching on a daily basis. So ramping up to February's resolution of drawing daily I've unearthed my sketchbook and pencils. I think I'm going to draw a different coffee cup every day. 

Winter 2022

 Winter 2022

I have been disappointed with the lack of snow we have gotten this winter.

Just a dusting here and there ... bummer!

It has snowed several times and each time it was predicted to be several inches of snow. Each time we have barely gotten a dusting of snow.

I always get so excited when it snows. I love snow! 

Snow is the reward for all of the cold temperatures!

Even a dusting of snow is beautiful. It really does turn our surroundings into a Winter Wonderland.

Winter has just begun and I have my fingers crossed that we will get a big fluffy snow day before spring arrives.

Charm Packs and Pre-cuts

 Charm Packs and Pre-cut Bundles

I have grown to love charm pack friendly quilt projects. This year for Christmas I received a quilt book specifically written for use with charm packs.

I purchased two Happy Camper charm packs from Natalie's shop @sewhungryhippie (on instagram) 

https://sewhungryhippie.com

https://www.rbstudiosco.com/happycamperbyjenniferpaganelli

I love the bright fabrics in this collection and I think they will be perfect for this quilt project.

I spent a little time in my sewing room this morning cutting the fabrics for this project.

When I am cutting fabrics for a quilt I sort them by block. I keep the blocks sorted separately with these construction paper tablets. 

All of the pieces of fabric needed for each block is sorted between the construction paper pages of the tablet. I have several of these tablets and together they can hold a lot of blocks, keeping them sorted and ready for piecing.

Binding

 Binding

At some point along my quilting making journey I started making my own binding for certain quilt projects. 

Yesterday I spent a little time making the binding for my Cactus quilt. I'm very happy with the results.

Binding in general is my least favorite part of the quilting process and there always seems to be at least one quilt in my sewing room that needs binding. ***(presently, I have 4 quilts that need binding)*** I still use store bought binding as well but from time to time only handmade binding will do.

Forgive the horrible lighting of this photo. Presently, my sewing room is darker than usual due to bad weather conditions. We are supposed to get snow this afternoon and it is terribly gloomy out right now.

Addition To My Kitchen Decor

 Addition To My Kitchen Decor

This bright and beautiful pitcher is the most recent addition to my kitchen decor.

My sister really has a knack for finding accessories that pull any room together. Where as I on the other hand have absolutely NO TALENT in this area. 

The backsplash in the photo above is the inspiration for my kitchen. My sister and brother-in-law came and spent a long weekend with me and helped me make my new house a home. And, made my kitchen a dream.

From then on ... my sister has gifted me with all of the accessories below ...

This colorful planter holds my Keurig "K" cups

This colorful duck holds my kitchen burn (aloe) plant.

This beautiful sunny face was once in my sister's kitchen and then it hung proudly in her pool area before it came home to me.

This one has since broken and had to be thrown away. I had dish soap in it and it slipped out of hand and fell in the sink and broke.  😕

I've been looking for a replacement but haven't come across one yet.

Hand-Quilting Update

 Modern Maple Leaf hand-quilting update

I finally finished hand-quilting it!!!!

The hand-quilting has made this quilt really soft. The back of this quilt is a very soft cotton flannel.

I love the feel of this quilt.

I made this quilt specifically for me and the reason that I decided to hand-quilt this quilt was because I knew it would make the quilt really soft.

Now that this quilt is quilted ... it was added to the stack of the 3 machine quilted quilts that I need to put binding on.  Looks like there is a binding weekend in my future.

Seasons

 Seasons

I sit here this morning enjoying a cup of coffee while gazing at my Christmas tree. This will be the last morning that I get to enjoy my coffee while basking in the glow of my Christmas tree until next Christmas. I absolutely love the fall and winter holiday season. From Halloween to New Year's - like no other time of the year my focus centers on family. Family and traditions and all the memories and feelings associated with that. So as I sit here this morning I'm a little sad that it is over until October when it begins again.

Tomorrow morning it is back to business as usual. Work, chores, and the same old grind. But this morning I'm going to hold on to the holiday season for at least one more cup of coffee. 

Note to self ... make a note to purchase new bulbs and a bulb testing kit for my Christmas tree. One section on my lighted tree no longer lights up. I'll need a repair kit for next Christmas. 

Until next time ... I pray for a happy and blessed new year before us.

Happy New Year! 2022

 Happy New Year!!

Red/White Orphan Blocks Sampler

This one isn't even on the list ... I always seem to have an orphan blocks quilt in progress!

You know how I love to make a list ... I love them! They keep me focused on goals and I love checking items off of a list.  So ... here we go ... My 2022 Sewing Room List ... These are the quilt projects that I will continue to be working on in the new year.

                                                            2022

Things I want to MAKE

1. FEATHERS - Anna Maria Horner pattern, I would like to make this quilt again. Actually two more times. I would like to make a Red/White version and the version with the Sarah Watts fat quarter bundle that I have. I want to use Essex Linen for the background fabrics on both of these quilts.
2. HAZEL HEDGEHOG - Elizabeth Hartman pattern, I would like to make this quilt again, as well, using the fat quarter bundle I purchased from Pat Pike. Also, using Essex Lien for the background fabric. Either the Malibu blue or the muted green color. 

Quilts Completed 2022

1. 
   

Works In Progress

1. Modern Maple Leaf - hand-quilting
2. Cactus Quilt - 70 x 80 - 
3. Great Smoky Mtns. Nat’l Park - 60 x 67 - 
4. Fancy Fox II - 60 x 72 - 
5.  Quilt 12 - Triangles - 60 x 70 - quilting, binding
6. Scrap Quilt 13 - On Point - 80 x 90 - quilting, binding
7. Red/White Sampler - 60 x 60 - quilting, binding
8. Scrap Quilt 14 - 64 x 78 - quilting, binding
9. Candy Crush 2.0 - 64 x 64 - quilting, binding
10. Moda Charm Pack x 4 - (may add 1 more border) backing, batting, quilting, binding
11. Red/White Historical Redwork - backing, batting, quilting, binding
12. Crescent I - 60 x 72 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
13. Crescent II - 60 x 72 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
14. Stars and Stripes - 60 x 72 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
15. Scrap Quilt 15 - Easy Patchwork QAL - 72 x 72 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
16. Scrap Quilt 17 - Solid Paint Drips - 68 x 70 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
17. Pumpkins - 66 x 80 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
18. HEARTS - 75 x 75 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
19. Red/White Mugs - 66 x 66 - backing, batting, quilting, binding
20. Red/White Strings - TBD - piecing, backing, batting, quilting, binding
21. Scrap Quilt 18 - Batiks - TBD - piecing, backing, batting, quilting, binding

Quilts in Queue

1. Red/White Airplane quilt
2. Jacob’s Ladder quilt pattern (Red/White quilt)
3. St. Louis 16 (Red/White quilt)
4. Dahlia Horse quilt blocks
5. Aviatrix Medallion - Elizabeth Hartman pattern 80 x 80 inches - 
6. Gypsy Wife quilt - in storage (it is the Halloween version)
7. Legendary Yeti Quilt Kit
8. Mermaid Quilt Kit
9. Alpine Houses Quilt Kit
10. Smoke and Rust Pumpkins Kit
11. Llamas Quilt Kit
12. Chill Cabins Quilt Kit
13. Color Wheel Quilt Kit
14. Anna Maria Horner Wheel House Kit

Red/White Quilt Collection

1. Historical Redwork Embroidery - (backing, batting, quilting, binding) 
2. The Mugs Sew A Long - 72 x 75 inches - (backing, batting, quilting, binding)
3. Red/White SAMPLER 60 x 60 inches (quilting, binding)
4. Red/White Orphan Block Sampler - piecing 
5. Red/White Strings - piecing - I need 13 more blocks

Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilts Collection

1. Scrap Quilt 12 - Triangles - 60 x 70 inches - 
2. Scrap Quilt 13 - On Point - 80 x 90 inches - 
3. Scrap Quilt 14 - Jelly Roll - 64 x 78 inches - 
4. Scrap Quilt 15 - Easy Patchwork QAL - 72 x 72 inches -
5. Scrap Quilt 17 - Solid Paint Drips - 68 x 70 inches -  
6. Scrap Quilt 18 - Batiks - TBD

Black / White Quilt Collection

1. Black/White Tribute Star - 60 x 60 inches
2. Hazel Hedgehog ???
3. Yeti ???