First blog post of the year! Time flies by.
"The days are so long, but the years---they go so fast." If only we could hold on to the ''little kid' years, the holiday excitement, the wonder the joy. Mo and I are feeling lonely today.
I didn't get this post written yesterday as planned. I spent the day putting in storm windows and extra insulation of bubble wrap, in case the storm brewing is high winds and snow.
2023 was not a very productive quilting year, no new large, a few small. This was mostly deliberate, as I had taken a step back with my quilting, asking why , for what---since they are Dumpster bound. Of course the joy is in the planning and making, the final product is less important. I know that but still...
Cartwheels.
Blocks bought on eBay during Covid, finally quilted [Quilters Imagination/ Lori C] and bound this spring.
Giraffe in Egypt, a carryover from Lori/ HQ's antique block challenge. Handquilted by me.
Ladybugs and Lemonade, a utility nap quilt for a child:
Temecula Quilt Company, super micromini phone rest quilt. A challenge in hand piecing, as I recall.
Welcome ~ The Hospitality Pineapple finished. [quilted by Lori C.]
Top completed. Liberty Pumpkin by Jan Patek. [a wink and a shrug for IG and elsewhere online ''influencers and sheepy-followers'' that start Fall decor day after Fourth of July.
Parsonsfield, Lori/ Humble Quilts Fall sewalong. A challenge in ''low volume". Partially done/ In work. I stopped bec of holiday prep.
Flamingo Strings Stocking, for a little artist friend:
String pieced Flamingos drinks/ phone mat for me, next summer. I may add binding. I am thinking of doing this idea in a large summer quilt, I really love the funny tropicals and flamingoes.
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Winter 2024 Projects Plans, hopes, dreams:
I really really want this finished asap! As soon as I recuperate from Monday's IV treatment I hope to spend January and February on this.
And another winter quilt. Silent Night.
This is the pattern pic, by Jan Patek.
I was working on this to be my after Christmas wintery quilt when my vision went bad in 2020-2022. I struggled so to do the appliqués, not realizing I was unable [suddenly] to see the pieces. Upset, I set it aside, but I do love the design and am now ready to try again. [do I leave all the awful sewing, a memory nod to my panic and struggles? Esp bad are the Stars and Moons' points on the Sky area, As I recall I need 18 more blue and white Stars , borders and some piecing. Doable if I focus once Marsh is done. The Stars are too-dark indigo blue, not black, btw. Not clanging them now.
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I also want to make a Christmas quilt. I have the TQC reds and greens for a Log Cabin. This is from a blog I follow, so sorry I am not remembering whose. Tell me if it's your.
But then I treated myself to these glorious holiday inspired fabrics from Two Thimbles. The shop is on IG and very seductive. @twothimbles
The bad news is I have NO idea why I chose these [other than I do love them], because what I want to make is the improv Little Trees, inspired by Barb Vedder's Little Trees. This is my 2021 Candy Cane Lane version. I kept it out now to keep my focus. I hope to make a quilt a child might love and rescue from the black trash bag of doom someday. Tutorial
HERE
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One reason I quilted less is that I painted, sketched, and journaled much more. The final journal entry each year is all my bits and pieces saved from the gift wraps and other bits. I cut out the Trader Joe's bags' Gingerbread village, thinking to make a little accordion booklet for this year. But--messy, right?
Apropos of nothing, this charmer caught my eye. How I'd love to have the energy and focus to create this crazy Beauty. It is a pattern from Sentimental Stitches.
The weather is worsening, so dark! But I can't picture snow at 38*? Mo and I will head out, more soon. Have a great week 2 of 2024.
Mo is underwhelmed by the walkies plan!
love
lizzy
gone to the beach.....
Beautiful beach pics this week from Nicky in AU, via Penny in South Africa.
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Oh my - so much here! I do love the blue and white, stars and crows. Crows are showing up a lot in my reading and wondering life (and of course in the yard and the trees). Hoping you get to finish this beauty.
ReplyDeleteThat pattern from Sentimental Stitches looks like a fun way to use up a Lot of scraps, like you said, if one had the energy and perseverance! I think my favorite 2023 finish is your Giraffe in Egypt mini quilt, it's so unique and fun. Hope you aren't having too bad a storm, we've had snow on and off today, maybe 3-4 inches now. Hope you recoup quickly from your treatment on Monday.
ReplyDeleteI love all your little quilts!! That Giraffe is so cute
ReplyDeleteand the kitty with the house.
We ended up with maybe 1.3" of snow which, as it has begun raining now, is turning to slush and patches of grass are emerging; but, last night it was beautiful watching the flakes swirl in the wind...Now it feels like Winter;)))
I don't have definite plans for 2024--it all depends on my physical ability to sew and stitch...right now i am taking a break.
Good luck tomorrow...hugs for you and Mo , Julierose
You said; "Of course the joy is in the planning and making, the final product is less important." Isn't that the truth? I love making things and then they just get put away so I can make something else. Although, I still love your blue and black quilt top with the stars and crows. It's a combination of wonderful color choices and the whimsey of the figures.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would ever get tired of it or want to put it in storage. I love Mo's relaxing sleeping pictures. Ahhh! To be able to rest that completely. . .
Mo always makes me smile! What an Academy Award actor - putting on the 'I've just fainted, skip the smelling salts; I'm too weak to walk' routine.
ReplyDeleteNo cause to feel anything but good about your finishes, this past year. That magical giraffe linking each end of Africa is a gem.
Your ebay block quilt is stunning.
I even spy a teeny pansy block in the micromini! what fun to think of how that travelled from England to S Africa to you. I love it. For me, that's such a special dimension of quilting, like the unexpected, but so clever candy quilt tree colours.
You'd never think it was Summer here today. - dark, misty and very wet. Penny
I know what you mean about wanting to hold onto the excitement, wonder, and joy of childhood holidays. What happens to us as we grow older? So sorry you were feeling lonely. I hope today is better.
ReplyDeleteYour giraffe quilt is so delightful. I love how the quarter-square triangles change orientation part-way down the quilt. It makes it much more interesting, I think.
It's a sorrow to imagine our quilts thrown out. One of my daughters asked for a quilt that was on a bed when she visited. I gave it to her. A year or so later when we visited her, I found it in a wet heap. Of all the quilts that exist from decades ago, even a century ago, I wonder how many of them ended up uncared for and discarded. Sad.
I love your little house and the cat. And the cartwheels continues to entrace.
I keep thinking I will try a quilt with pink and yellow. Maybe one of these days, or years.
It seems to me like you did accomplish a lot in 2023. Even if not big, there are many, and all beautiful.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of your crows with stars and moons. It looks like it will be a comfortable quilt.
The little stars on the snowman.... How did you manage to get the edges of the stars turned under so perfectly?
Your fabrics from Two Thimbles is beautiful.
Dear Mo makes me laugh at his response to the idea of a walk. I'm a little like him sometimes.
Your 2023 projects are so cute, especially the giraffe. Looks like you have some nice things for the new year, too. I think you should keep the piecing you've already done.... after all, with the folky quilts, stars can be forgiven for less than pointy points! I hope your storm wasn't too too bad, and that your lonely feeling dissipates quickly... We got some rain and wind here in NC, but nothing to speak of, really. Happy New Year!
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