dotty bow ties almost top

 I only have 2 more rows of dotty bow ties to add to the quilt. I am almost there. hooray

It is time to prepare for next year's phd progress projects. I had to chuckle when quilting Gail said if you have at least 12 UFOs, make a list. It guarantees my participation for many more years. How many? I fear, longer than I will live at this point. Is any one honest about the number of UFOs? I tell my friends one number, and my lists say another, and then, there is the husband number.... oh well, just keep sewing.

I had a fun year last year focusing on the UFO finishes. I hope to do that again in 2023

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

oh scrap sunday

rsc21 super saturday

PHD

top 5 posts - PHD summary

 Meadow mist designs has a link up for your top 5 posts for the year. If I did this right, most of mine are not even spectacular. I have no idea why they have the most views. 

The number one high post is: end of rainbow finish for the win.

blog post here

Number 2.

blog here

 

Number 3.

blog here

number 4.

blog here

number 5.

blog here

with a tie

blog here

I have a page at the top of the blog with pictures of all the finishes I have had this year.

This chart shows my PHD 22 finish for the year. I didn't finish any new starts. I hope to do better with that next year

I  am linking to:

midweek makers 

 

wednesday wait loss

My quilt infatuation

Oh scrap

phd

Meadow mist designs

dotty progress

I did a little Christmas sewing, and, I have three rows together of dotty bow ties. I have a few more sashings made for adding more rows.

It was a cold, quiet holiday. I had most of the food bought early, so that was not a problem. We spent the- too cold to do anything (-10) - time watching Christmas movies. It was fun. We didn't get to see our family. bummer. It was too dangerous for this old couple to be out and about. We are now at a balmy16 degrees with a slight dusting of snow and a few drifts from the wind which was relentless. 

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

to do tuesday

wednesday wait loss

boho heart finish and one monthly goal

My boho heart quilt is finished in time for my one monthly goal for December 2022. I really like it, and I am glad to mark this off the list. Hidden in this quilt are a few vintage blocks, my orphan blocks that remind me of quilts past, and scraps from other quilters I admire.

72 x 74

12 yards of fabric

I used the top fabric in my backing pile. since it was colorful, and, I used the same fabrics as the background to bind it. I free formed swirls on the long arm for quilting. And thanks to the pictures, I will know it was finished during Christmas time.

We are having the nasty weather that most of the US is experiencing. It is - 10 degrees with heavy winds. Some of the ground looks almost empty of snow while we have big snow drifts. I am glad the weather channel says it will leave tomorrow. It does mean postponing our trip to our son's for Christmas eve. I hope everyone has a merry Christmas

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

oh scrap sunday

PHD 22

rsc21 super saturday

one monthly goal

tiny bit of sewing

This is it for the week. I had parts cut for more cross and crown blocks, that I have been working on this year as part of the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I spent a few minutes at the sewing machine, and made these two blocks.

Peppermint Chocolate Delight  - super yummy and easy with no baking, so it doesn't take oven space.

Ingredients

• vanilla wafers (about 2.5 cups)
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 - 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2 TB milk
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 3 cups milk
• 1 - 12 oz tub Cool Whip, thawed and divided (or whipping cream(
• 2 - 3.9 oz packages instant chocolate pudding
• crushed candy canes

Instructions

1. I used a box of graham cracker crumbs ( a marvelous thing) measured 1 2/3 c. Add melted butter  Press onto the bottom of 13x9 dish. we don't like vanilla wafers.
2. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and peppermint extract until well blended. Fold in half of Cool Whip and mix well. Spread over crust.
3. Make pudding by whisking milk and instant pudding in a bowl. Pour over cream cheese layer and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
4. Top with remaining Cool Whip and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Add crushed candy canes right before serving. ENJOY!

the recipe is found here.

It was a huge success - fighting over the last piece - nothing left

I  am linking to:

midweek makers 

 

wednesday wait loss

My quilt infatuation

Oh scrap

bow ties progress

Dotty bow ties has been sewn into foursies. There are 8 in each row, so I am getting closer. I plan on adding sashings between rows.

My quilter friend Linda made this great  scrap quilt during our Friday sew. It uses 2 1/2 inch squares. She says it is a pattern in the scrap school quilt book. If there really was such a quilt as a scrap buster, this would be a good candidate.

Hope everyone is busy with Christmas plans and happy times.

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

to do tuesday

wednesday wait loss

stash report december 18, 2022

I am afraid that too many pieces of fabric have found their way into my stash, lately. With all the holiday shopping, they are hiding, until, I can properly sort through it.

I did get a picture of a jelly roll and some mystery fat quarters. The fat quarters will be great for finishing my crown blocks. The jelly roll are solids called sunroom. They are pretty colors that are different than usual solid colors.

Stash report December 18, 2022

fabric added: 4.25 yards

fabric added year to date: 141 yards 

fabric used: 0 yards     

fabric used year to date: 274 yards  

133 yards used more than bought. 

I sewed 5 days last week. 

I soaked and set the yarn I have made recently. It is a fun process. I love seeing the colors soaking in the water, and, then, I squeeze them in a towel to dry as much as possible. I hang them to finish drying on a hanger and add a weight to "set" the twist. They look so happy hanging together. It makes me smile.

I don't have a project for the yarn, yet.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate
patchwork and quilts

wednesday wait loss

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

bow ties

I have been working on an old ufo, leader and ender challenge. It has every color in it. I started making little bow tie blocks for the 2012 quiltville leader/ender challenge. It has been on vacation a long time. All the blocks of 4 have been made, and I sashed each one on the side.

This week, I made twosies.

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
wednesday wait loss

boho top

 I have made great progress on boho heart. Another day at the library, and, I was able to assemble the right section of the heart. I have had the left section together for some time.

I was inspired to bring the left section with me, even if, I wasn't sure how much I could get done at open sew.

Now my heart is complete, warts and all. What a relief to get to this point. There were 5 of us working on this at the same time. I am the last one to get it to this point. I really didn't plan on doing this with the group. I have so many quilts I want to finish, I didn't want to add this one, and stay current with the rest of the quilters. Plus, I have done a couple of jen kingwell patterns and the instructions are a challenge. They are real headscratchers. I chose to do  color sections. Sue made hers with reds and purples for valentines day. Yep, the last one 2022. Linda made hers with wild scraps. Judy made hers with bright blocks and a black background, and Katie is making hers with orphan blocks. They are all very different and very striking.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

oh scrap sunday

crazie mazie

I haven't started a new quilt. I am just cleaning up the odd scraps near my sewing machine. The fact that the little string blocks are the right size for quiltville's newer pattern crazie mazie is purely a coincidence. Sometimes, a girl, just has to make string blocks. The mess, and the need for no thinking sewing combine, and, string blocks are born.

These are quick, cute little 5 inch blocks that use the smallest bits. I have finished a couple of big quilts lately and I am giving myself a reward.

And any pieces that are too much work for the blocks are sewn into a crumb strip

or thrown away ( the horror) 

I feel so contented when I make string blocks and, I am surprised how fast the stack grows. Oh, and I am surprised how big a mess I happily make.

I  am linking to:

midweek makers 

 

wednesday wait loss

My quilt infatuation

Oh scrap

5 quilts December 12, 2022

 last report 5 quilts November 16 , 2022

I try to work on these 5 quilts until they are done. Their turn in the UFO closet is over, and, they need to be finished one way or another.

1. rhododendren mystery - Bonnie hunter - 

finished 12/22

2. Boho heart - it is quilted waiting on binding

3. dotty bow ties-  all the blocks are done and first sashing on them

4. circa 1880-  More about this here.  no progress

5 - frolic mystery - back and binding - re-ironed - frame  finished  11/22

Making a 5 quilts report has been good for staying on track and finishing, but, I am bored with how long it takes to finish, and, I can't find stuff and keep it straight anymore.  I have a few concerns.

maybe one at a time would be better? but would I get any others done?

I decided to keep the list, but, work on one at a time.

Rhododendron was my first experiment. I finished it in 8 days including quilting. That was great and helped with motivation. And as long as I had a list item per day. I wasn't bored. 

take Rhododendron  16 steps -I finished Rhododendron in 8 days which is impressive for me sticking to the plan

day 1: friday

cut inner border done

sew inner border done

day 2: saturday

make odd border pieces done

piece border done

day 3:sunday

attach border done

iron done

back done

prepare binding done

day 4: monday

on frame done

baste done

day 5, 6: wednesday 

quilt done

 day 7:thursday 

trim done

attach binding  done

day 8: friday

sew binding done

photo done

 blog done

Second quilt experiment has been Boho heart. I had it quilted and ready to bind in 14 days - very pleased. 

1. boho heart - needs binding

2. dotty bow ties - time to assemble

3.  circa 1880-  More about this here. 

4. sea swept - needs quilting and binding

5. twisted braid - unknown what it needs yet.

MY  next on the longarm of my own quilts in the 'to be quilted' closet. 

customer quilt time pause finished

customer quilt time pause finished

1. sea swept

customer quilt time pause

2. wonky courthouse steps 2

customer quilt time pause

3. wonderland table topper

4.wonky courthouse steps

5. tokoyo subway

new 5. scrapbox chevron from 2013

I opened another old 16 quart box of scraps, that I am working on eliminating - such fun. But, I can't let that distract me from what I want to get done with Boho, etc... too much

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

to do tuesday

wednesday wait loss

stash report December 11, 2022

My quilt guild's Christmas party was last week. We played a pass a yard of fabric game and the aqua floral was what I took home. The fat quarter was the prize I won. We had a pitch in for food and it was so yummy. There are just some favorites that I only get at a potluck. 

Stash report December 11, 2022

fabric added: 1.25 yards

fabric added year to date: 136.75 yards 

fabric used: 25 yards     I finished  rhododendron mystery quilt

fabric used year to date: 274 yards  

137.25 yards used more than bought. 

I sewed 7 days last week. 

I did a little more spinning. This was a purchased 4 ounce braid of merino wool roving. I hope to work on it some more today for slow Sunday stitching. It is very slow and peaceful spinning. And gets my mind off of goals and deadlines. I need to dye more wool to start with a new -old project for rug hooking.

pretty colors

fun yarn

I don't have a project for the yarn, yet.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate
patchwork and quilts

wednesday wait loss

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

zipper blocks done

I was able to finish all the zipper blocks I need for a good size quilt. I had enough brown to make the last of them for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I thought I would put the blocks in a plastic container and send it to the UFO closet, but, I decided to use them as leader/enders by sewing twosies. We will see how this goes. I used a lot of scraps, but, of course, I still have more scraps than I can ever use. It's a good thing, we have another rainbow scrap challenge year ahead.

And, here I am at my age playing with popsicle sticks again. Everything comes full circle, I guess. It started as an idea for my primary kids at church to make, and I wanted some ornaments too. I laughed when I realized I was having fun gluing popsicle ornaments together.

It might be time to make potholders on a little square loom, now.

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap
wednesday wait loss

Mystery quilt finish

This quiltville mystery quilt has had it's share of mystery. I lost the blocks for Rhododendron mystery quilt after they were all made. Luckily, with a little sleuthing, they were found, and I decided to add this quilt to my 5 quilts goals. In November, the top was ready for borders, but, the corner pieces were missing. It was ready for quilting by Thanksgiving. I made this my December one monthly goal. If I wanted to make the new mystery - Chilhowie, I needed to finish this one.

90 x106

25 yards

I pieced a pink and floral backing and used the sashing fabric for the binding. I quilted free motion swirls on my longarm. I still have grassy creek to finish to be current with the mystery quilts. All my quiltville mystery quilts are here.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

oh scrap sunday

one monthly goal

Boho heart progress

 I began assembling group 4 of boho heart blocks and was able to make the section. I had the room to lay it out at the library during an open sew.

I am getting close. I need to start sewing groups together.  I don't think I have room here, and, may have to wait for a trip to the library again. I blogged about the start here.

I saw this ghostie online and liked him. I haven't "crafted" in a while, but, bought the pattern. It was fun. The hardest part was finding all the tools and paints from long ago, tucked here and there. I had everything I needed. Even the paint was old, but useable. He wasn't done in time  for Halloween this year, but, he doesn't look too bad, next to a Christmas tree haha.

I  am linking to:

midweek makers 

 

wednesday wait loss

My quilt infatuation

Oh scrap

boho blocks again

I did more work on boho heart, making blocks for group 4. Another open sew, and, I was able to make sure all the blocks are ready for assembly.

I am linking:

design wall monday 

oh scrap

to do tuesday

wednesday wait loss

Stash report December 4, 2022

Someone, at guild open sew, gifted these squares to me. They filled a plastic shoe box. I had found another scrap bag of squares earlier- here- and had decided what I was going to do with them. I need to do that again. They are not all the same size and will need trimming. The squares are about 3 inches. Any ideas?

fun florals

Stash report December 4, 2022

fabric added: 0 yards

fabric added year to date: 135.5 yards 

fabric used: 25 yards     I finished  frolic mystery quilt

fabric used year to date: 249 yards  

113.50 yards used more than bought. 

I sewed 6 days last week. 

spellbound is officially a finished rug, binding and all. What next? hmmm...

spellbound

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate
patchwork and quilts

wednesday wait loss

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

crown blocks

I have a few more cross and crown blocks to make to finish my goal for a quilt. I will still make them in 2023 for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. I did make a few black blocks for November. And, hopefully will do brown in December.

At the end of the month, I want to look at my progress for PHD 22. I am thankful I have finished so many ufos this year. My problem, each year, is finishing any new projects I start for the year. There is a slight chance I may finish 2 more ufos by years' end.

I am linking to:

rsc21 super saturday
oh scrap

PHD 22