I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, January 4, 2016

December Quilty 365 Dots and other ramblings





Hi! A new week, a new year, how exciting?

Here are my Quilty 365 Dots for December, plus a few for January. These are from Dec 1 to January 3. I began November 5th, one Dot per day. So far I have made or prepped 60 Dot blocks.


You can see I can't keep up with the hand sewing. But I try.


I notice that despite choosing a fabric that resonates with each day, a month later I have no idea what that meant [hence the written diary] unless it is an obvious thing, like Santa on December 24th. And of course even the notion of ''perfect circles'' is an oxymoron, as is "Six Minute Circles". I figure each dot takes me 20 minutes, in total. [choose, cut, write a bit, sew]



I'm enjoying the project very much. On the other hand the accumulated dots are maybe not a Wow? Gonna hope for folky not graphic.


.....
On the home front, the Christmas Tree and all the decorations are gone. [sad!]


The house would be blue again but poor Mo's upset tummy has triggered yet another round of slipcover, throw rug, and cushion washing.

I didn't do it!
Tomorrow I will put away the Ark and the red and green transferware. I redid my bedroom with my extra fluffy down comforter, velvety white flannels sheets, blue flannel pillow cases, cozy cream throws and a Midwestern Mennonite quilt. Mo is not allowed on my bed so I hope the quilt is safe under its layer of clear shower curtains. [tacky but better than regrets!]


And so winter has suddenly arrived!
Delightful!
Today was the first day I have smelled sweet wood smoke in the air, it's finally cold enough for a fireplace fire somewhere nearby. The air is so crisp and refreshing, just glorious, all dense and full of extra oxygen. Take a deep breath! Wow, it sparkles in your lungs, banishes migraines and post-holiday fatigue. The night sky is a trite but true black velvet full of diamond stars. Orion stands boldly in the southeast sky, sword and dog Sirius at his side. You can almost see him up there, watching over us.

"Oh to dance beneath the diamond skies..."

Mo seems to quite like his new sweater and new jackets. He stands quietly while I dress him warmly.


A helpful guy came by today and he reattached the baseboard heat in my craft room! I'll have to have the heat on these nights, I suppose, and a cold workroom did not appeal.

For a belated New Years dinner yesterday, I made a pork roast with a garlic-horseradish crust, coconut basil rice, and roasted curly [Savoy?] cabbage. The house smelled delicious and I ll have great leftovers all week--soup and sandwiches tonight; pork pad thai [use a box/ mix and add vegs etc], pork enchiladas...etc etc. Good warm food for cold nights.


What are you up too? Are you excited to start the new year, new projects, new habits, new interests, new---whats?




love

lizzy

gone to the beach................














Linking to Audrey's 365 Project on her blog Quilty Folk. click here to see everyone's circles.


15 comments:

  1. Very cool project. I can see definitely why you would need to write a little history to go with each circle. I certainly wouldn't remember what they all meant. Now, keeping up with it would be my problem. I'm not good at sticking with any long term project. So many crochet a day projects where you wind up with huge blankets. Definitely not my cup of tea. That Mo looks very handsome in his winter wear. Hope his tummy troubles are better very soon. Tammy

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    1. Hahaha, these do-alongs always seem so tempting, don't they!
      Mo is a bit better, he has a lot of energy, but won t eat his food..just garbage he finds on the floor or sidewalk!?

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  2. Love your dots Lizzy! They remind me of my buttons. Each a little piece of art on its own and collectively a wonderful array of color. Temps me to try one myself...but I probably won't. I have a quilt started 5 years ago and not making any progress on it. This seems simpler, a take along to work on while waiting at the Dr. Or the like. Can't wait to see it grow and finished.

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    1. Hi Peggy! You could certainly jump in and make a few dots--challenge yourself to make a week's worth, etc? Even if you quit you d be able to make a candle mat or table runner, or? lol, coasters? I love seeing your projects! You have an amazing knack w furniture rehab.

      happy new year, y friend!

      lizzy

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  3. Your circles look wonderful! Love how bright they look with those backgrounds. I know what you mean about getting more and more of them and not being a 'wow' probably. I've thought that myself, but I think for me it's just the day to day on this one, not necessarily the end result.:)

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    1. Yes, good thoughts and advice. I do enjoy the daily journaling aspects so much.

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  4. Sometimes it's the quiet 'ah' rather than the shouted "Wow" that is more satisfying to the soul. Your circles tell a story that is uniquely you, your completed quilt will be a sweet reflection of your year. All good.

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  5. I like the idea of the dots quilt. Maybe arranging them into months separated by dark sashes would give it more impact? I would never be able to keep up with it though, I already have too many projects!

    It's supposed to snow here and I'm thinking SOUPS! I had too much food over the holidays and I need light and hot. Plus I'm fighting a cold with a hacky cough, not fun. I hope you stay health & that Mo's tummy gets straightened out soon!

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    1. Hi! I think I want to do the dots continuously, no sashing. For time flow? Prob will do extras 19 rows of 20 dots = 380, so I ll go on and do the next year of November to round things out, 14 extra days? leap year...

      Soups sound great! I m making enchiladas tonight, for a nice hot supper. I bought a bag of frozen leeks at Trader Joe s to make potato leek soup soon. I m sorry you re not feeling well. Did you go on your road trip and pick up a bug? I hope you had fun, if you did get to go.

      Mo seems better today....

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  6. AHHH! LOVE the dots!

    Your little tree still looks so fresh. Ours is dry and brittle, but it's still in the house, lol.

    Poor Mo :( Is he feeling better yet?

    Kel

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    1. Hi Kel! My tree was very fresh still but last Sunday was the only day I knew I d have helpers to drag it out for the dune recycling. Usually I d have kept it up til next Sunday.

      Do you use Prolong in your tree's water? And put fresh water every day? Helps....

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  7. Your circles are very pretty and to my eye, very vibrant. I've jumped into the circles myself this week... Mo's guilty expression is so cute;).

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  8. I used wonder under and stitch button hole around them. Just started only 2 made so far.

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  9. What size are your dots? I am almost caught up with January. Fun project

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