Betty's (dudes22) 2023 Quilt Fest

I always start my year by looking back to see what I said at the beginning of the last year. I did manage to finish the two wedding quilts I was working on and I made two memory quilts for my sister-in-law and her mother. And lots of pillowcases for our church charity.

I have a lot of plans for 2023. I have 15 great-nieces and -nephews and I decided that I would reduce my Christmas fabric stash by making them all quilts. I finished a couple of tops in 2022 and I’ll try to get some more done in 2023. I do have a few other projects I’d like to do. I have the blocks all done for a “Jane’s Ladder” quilt that I’d like to finish. And I’ve collected a bunch of Kaffe Fassett fabrics that I’d like to use. And I suppose there are all those tops in a box that should be finished. Not to mention my hand-quilting project. Oh – and the red and white quilt that is not quite done. Maybe some blocks for a charity quilt or two. And, of course, more pillowcases. Guess I’ll be busy.

One thing I really should do is practice some more with the new Bernina I bought. It scares me so I tend to use my older machine. It can also do “embroidery” which can be adjusted to quilting patterns and this is where I need to get a few lessons.

I usually like to keep my progress up in this first post so I can see how badly I’m doing.

Pillowcases – 80 (home) - 10 (church)
Pillowcase Dresses –
UFOs finished – Scrap quilt
New Projects –
Stripe quilt for Jonta auction
Halloween mat for Annie
Beachie mat for Cherie; Beachie mat for Carla
Table Mat for Diane

Christmas Tops -
Green Chickadee (2022) - 46x64
Diamond Strip (2022) - 49x64
Snowflake (2023) - 70 x 84
Scrap Charm (2023) - 56x66
Jelly Weave (2023) - 57x73
Plaid (2023) - 51x64



Christmas Finish -

I’ve started to cut out some Christmas fabrics that I could use for a leaders-and-enders project. I’m not sure I can work on 2 projects at once. And I’m working a little bit on cleaning up the pile of fabric on my cutting table and cutting more fabric for pillowcases. Oh – And that binding I mentioned.

I'm impressed with your ambitious goal to make quilts for your 15 great-nieces and -nephews.

What's a "leaders-and-enders project"?

>3 lauralkeet: - When I sew, I always use a small scrap piece of fabric to "lead in" what I'm actually sewing. That way I know that the beginning of a seam is the right width and I don't have to worry about my bobbin threads getting twisted (or forget to hold them out of the way). Same thing at the end of a seam. I figure if I'm careful, I could actually use two pieces from another quilt pattern instead of a scrap. I'll try to remember to take a couple of pictures when I start and post them.

>1That quilt is dramatically wonderful!....that is quite a list of potential projects. I, on the other hand, have no idea what I'll be doing.

>5 avaland: - I saw it in an ad for some fabric line. I decided to use my polka dots and bought the dark polka dot. No polka dot was repeated. (yes - I had over 100 polka dots in my stash)

>4 dudes22: interesting, thanks for the explanation!

I purchased an older used Bernina at the end of the year so I could use it for finishing. I'm intimidated by sewing machines period! I've never been good with them. I did get some of that 1/4 inch tape someone told me about though so I'm going to try to practice on some of those 99 cent fat quarters you get at Walmart and then try my hand at a pillow finish.

>8 thornton37814: -I find that with my Bernina, if you have a #37 foot or even a #1, you can line the edge of the fabric up with the outside edge of the foot (on the right) and get a 1/4" seam. Once you try that, you can adjust to get the right measure. That's the easiest way, but if that doesn't work for you, let me know and I'll give you a couple of other tricks to get the right size seam. If it's the 1/4" tape that I'm thinking of, that's more for using if you're doing hand quilting.

While I've been taking down Christmas decorations, I take breaks to cut 3.5" squares for my leaders-and-enders project. I need 480 of them (some HSTs), so that's a lot of ironing of fabric and cutting. I know what will happen though. I'll get excited and decide to just go ahead and finish it.

>9 dudes22: if you have a #37 foot or even a #1, you can line the edge of the fabric up with the outside edge of the foot (on the right) and get a 1/4" seam.

That's how my mom taught me to do it back in the 70s. I have no idea what model of sewing machine I was using at the time, but it wasn't anything special.

>11 lauralkeet: That's a nice trick to know.

>6 dudes22: Birds of a feather....

I totally forgot that yesterday was my Thingaversary. Here's a part of what I wrote on my thread in the 2023 Category Challenge:

Today is my Thingaversary! I joined LT back in 2008 so I have been here for 15 years now. I originally joined just to keep track of my books, but I soon found a community of like-minded people who love to read and talk about the books they’re reading. (and other things) I’ve had some great times and loads of book bullets over the years which have led to new authors and many interesting books.

**You folks are the "and other things".

Happy Thingaversary, Betty!
Who'd have thought we'd find a community of needle workers/fiber enthusiasts on a bookish website?! But here we are, and it's wonderful.

>14 dudes22: Fifteen years - Good work. I'm always amazed by what >15 lauralkeet: says too, that there is a great group like this on what's basically a reading site.

Happy Thingaversary from me also! I was 2006 on LT genereally but I don't think I joined this group until later.

Wow, fifteen year! Then you’re among the early adopters of LT:ers.

>1 dudes22: I looooooove that quilt pattern. I think I might have something similar saved in my Instagram bookmarks.

>2 dudes22: I really love how easy the leaders & enders trick works; but I can never remember to use it until I'm 3/4 of the way through a project. I should save some scraps in a bowl or something. Maybe a thread catcher and keep it right there at the machine.

>14 dudes22: Congrats on the Thingaversary!

>9 dudes22: I love my #37 Bernina foot; but I also like the seam guide I bought to use with it when I have "troublesome" fabrics or thicker layering.

>8 thornton37814: Is the 1/4" tape the diagonal seam tape from Cluck Cluck Sew? I've found that tape to be more annoying than anything. It doesn't stick for long. Maybe I'm a high-traffic sewist?

>19 lesmel: - Thanks for the comments.

re#9: - I use a Bernina #57 foot for my piecing which has a little piece of metal sticking out the front that you can rest the fabric against.

re #2: MY problem is that I usually think it's taking too long and decide to just go ahead and sew the quilt. I have a box where I've put cut pieces of 2.5" sq, 2.5"x4.5", 2.5"x6.5", 4.5"sq and 6.5"sq pieces that I've cut, and I use them to make orphan blocks in a setting that Lois mentioned once that she uses for her charity quilts. I thought that was a good block to use so now I do them too. Once I have enough, I put them together into quilts. (ok - so I've only put one together so far) This is the first time I'll try this for a planned quilt.

re #1 - It's just 100 HSTs. I used 2.5" HSTs, so it's just a small wall quilt.

I had this "brilliant" idea that I would have my husband put a curtain rod up in my walk-in closet on the wall opposite the clothes and put a flannel backed tablecloth on it to use as a design wall. I used rings with clips on them to hold the tablecloth. But they slide so the tablecloth doesn't stay flat. I'm trying to think of a way to get them to stay in place. Any ideas? I don't want to tape it to the wall at the bottom. I'm thinking of trying double stick tape to hold the rings to the rod.

Perhaps sew a strip at the bottom that a rigid thing with some weight (metal yardstick?) would slide snugly into and keep the curtain rigid?

>22 avaland: - That's an idea. (I was thinking fishing weights attached to the bottom - heaven knows hubby has enough.) Hubby suggested using tie-wraps to attach the rings to the rod. I'll probably try that first although I don't think it will be successful.

>23 dudes22: If you put something linear you wouldn't have that sort if draping effect that, I imagine, pieces would be falling off all the time. How about a roll-up curtain (wood slats) as a base and cover the slats with flannel or felt (my parents had large wood slat roll-up curtains for the porch). I think you should take over the whole basement ;-)

Another polka dot (or "spots" as Kaffe Fassett calls them) collector here. Fun idea to use a bunch of them in a quilt. Almost all of my quilts have them--they are a happy thing for me.

>19 lesmel: It is from Cluck Cluck Sew, I think. (It's at home, and I'm not.) I got it in the Bernina sewing machine/quilt fabric place that's just a few doors down from the cross stitch shop.

Here's the quilt that I needed to put the binding on. It's made from scraps I had from previous projects, except for the black strips that I used fabric from my stash. Project 1 finished!



And a corner of the back:

It's like a sky full of kites! Super!

>28 tiffin: That's a great way to describe it.

Very nice, Betty.

>28 tiffin: - I guess it does kind of look like that.

>29 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura.

It still needs a label, but I print them onto fabric, so I wait till I need 4 labels, so I don't waste.

I agree with the kite likeness. Well done! And the backing fabric is amazing!

>27 dudes22: It's wonderful, Betty! I love the kite observation from Tui! And that backing is calling me, LOL.

Beautiful work, Betty!

>31 PawsforThought: - >32 avaland: - >33 MickyFine: - Thanks all.

When my Bernina 440 QE died last year, I bought a Bernina 790 which has a wider throat. And it has an embroidery attachment which I understand I can use to do the actual quilting. I haven't used the machine that much because I'm a little afraid of it. And - also - impatient. I don't like to take the time to practice and learn about my machine. I got a notice that the place I bought it is having a class on Thursday on the machine so I signed up. It's not for the embroidery part but I need to learn the basics anyway.

>35 dudes22: Enjoy the sewing class. I know free classes come with the purchase of a machine at the Johnson City shop. Perhaps they can tell you when the embroidery class will be offered.

>35 dudes22: Having a one-on-one session for a couple hours when I bought my Bernina 440QE made a huge difference in being comfortable with it. Even at Christmas, I was quizzing Mom on all the knobs and settings on her Bernina Record 830.

>37 lesmel: - The store I bought mine from lets you have as many sessions as you need for as long as you want. The first session where they go over the machine and all it can do just makes my head spin. Since I've been using mine already, a lot of the stuff I already knew, but it was a good refresher for some other things. I expect that they will eventually have one on the embroidery attachment, but I can wait. Knowing how much you sew, I'm happy that you still have your 440. The reason I bought the 790 was because the main computer board on my 440 was going (the machine would shut off in the middle of sewing). And - if they could get the board, it would be expensive. Not as expensive as this new machine, but still...

I had to look up the 830 - I thought it was part of the new 800 series. But I see it's an older model. Dare I say - "vintage"?

>38 dudes22: Mom's 830 is probably older than me. Honestly, I love my machine; but Mom's puts mine to shame a lot of the time. It's stronger, faster, and probably going to outlast my machine hands down.

I didn't get the opportunity for multiple sessions because I bought the machine in San Antonio, TX and was living in IL. I got 2ish hours and a lot of praying after the box was shipped to me. I had (still have, actually) an Elna. A portable machine that works well; but it's not a workhorse.

>39 lesmel: - I also have a Bernina 145 which I use just for piecing. Plus, it's more portable for when I go to a class or for our monthly charity sew at church.

So may ideas...so little time. I've started arranging the 480 3.5" squares for mt newest quilt on my temporary design wall, but it's not quite big enough for the whole thing. And I'd like to get an even distribution of colors and prints. (There are only 3 colors) Instead of working in rows, I've divided it into squares of blocks 5x6.

Way back in posts 4&5, I was talking about using leaders and enders when I quilt to do two things at once and I told Laura I'd post a picture. Well, I finally remembered to take one. The small squares in the front are an ender I'm sewing after I finished the strip in the back. This way I don't have to raise my presser foot and needle between sewing strips. Although I usually sew one piece after another (chain piecing), sometimes I need to take it all out to press or reorganize. Clear as mud, right, Laura?

(the two small pieces are for a scrap quilt)

>41 dudes22: - Because I'm making this quilt from a picture I saw on Pinterest, I also have to figure out how to press the seams to avoid bulk. There are some half-square triangles in it too and I usually press my seams open when I do them to avoid bulk where two come together. (One of these days I'm going to figure out how to do that "spin the seams" thingy.) I put the first block together yesterday and it seemed to go ok. I have a lot of errands today but hope to get at least one more done today. And it's supposed to snow tomorrow so I hope to make progress.

That's interesting, Betty. I appreciate you taking the time to post a photo! I know so little about quilting and it's fun to see all the different techniques people use.

Your quilts are beautiful. The great-nieces and great-nephews will treasure the quilts.

>45 mnleona: - It will probably be 2024 before I can finish all of them. It's an effort to get rid of my stash of Christmas fabrics.

I went up-state today for the 1st anniversary for the store that took over where my favorite quilt shop was last year. Some fabric was purchased... and I bought a copy of "Quiltfolk Magazine" issue 25 which is all about the RI quilting scene. I found out about a couple of quilt shops I didn't know about and some local quilters.

>48 dudes22: I found out about a couple of quilt shops I didn't know about and some local quilters. Always good things and people to know.

"Some fabric was purchased..." so open ended!

>49 SassyLassy: - I did know a couple of the people mentioned. Even took a class from one of them once upon a time. And now - more shops to visit. ;)

>48 dudes22: OH! I need to see if I can find an older issue (No 22) of QuiltFolk. It covers the Texas Hill Country Sadly, it's not a title that Overdrive carries.

You can buy back issues on their web site it looks like.

>48 dudes22: It's always fun to learn about new stores. I enjoy visiting other cross stitch stores if I'm out of town.

>46 dudes22: It wasn't so long ago I used up my holiday fabrics. Now I should work on using up the juvenile prints. And I tried to use up the batiks and I swear they are reproducing behind by back!

>48 dudes22: " Some fabric was purchased... " I would expect nothing less of you!

>54 avaland: - And one of the ways you got rid of some was to send them to me. 😂

>55 dudes22: Thanks for the laugh. Love the comment.

>48 dudes22: - When I went up to the quilt store last weekend, I filled out a raffle ticket and they called and said I won a layer cake. I'll probably go up there tomorrow. I forgot to buy the 15.5" ruler that I wanted, anyway.

Oh awesome! Winning a draw is always a fun surprise.

For a split second, I thought you meant an actual, edible cake. But then I realized, of course it's fabric. How fun to win something!

>57 dudes22: Which fabric collection? I lurv layer cakes!

>58 MickyFine: - I was really surprised - I never win anything.

>59 lauralkeet: - LOL

>60 lesmel: - I'll let you know. I never thought to ask.

*snork!* I was with Laura on the real cake thing!

I woke up to -9 F today which is realllly below our averages here. But the wind has died down which is nice. I was originally planning to hit the quilt store today but have decided to spend the day quilting instead. I'll go sometime this week when the weather warms up. It's supposed to be in the 40s starting tomorrow which is actually above our average. Crazy weather patterns.

One of the fabric stores that I buy from online does a blog with projects and mystery quilt-a-longs, etc. to showcase fabric and patterns. Anyway, I was looking at a video that was posted by the girl who works up the quilt tops, table runners, etc showing all the quilts she had made in 2022. Are you ready for this - 46!!! She does have people who do the quilting and binding for her, so maybe that's doable, but still - that's a lot of quilts.

While I'm waiting to go to the quilt store and pick up a larger square ruler, I pulled out a quilt I had semi-started last year. It's made in quarters on the diagonal, so the sashing has some long lengths. (the pattern says the middle strip is 90") I hate the idea of piecing sashing so I'm thinking of cutting the strips length-wise on the fabric. That probably means I'd have to put my cutting mat on the floor. Maybe I'll try to fold it so I'm cutting 4 layers at a time. I'd already cut some before I realized how soon I would need to start piecing. I'll have to measure what I have for fabric and see if I can do this.

The pattern also has you pressing the sashing into the blocks instead on into the sashing which I find leaves bumps at the intersections no matter how much I press. So, after a few rows, I decided to rip out sections of the seams at the intersections so I could press the rows into the sashing. I'm guessing it's because some people don't like the look of seeing the seam behind the sashing, but I don't think it will matter on this quilt.

Hope the layer cake was fabric you love!

>66 thornton37814: - Haven't got it yet. Sometime this week.

>65 dudes22: I recommend a fresh blade if you are cutting four layers. I would fold and cut, too. Even 45" is too long for me to cut comfortably no matter where I'm cutting.

>68 lesmel: - I only needed to cut 3 strips that way and it worked out ok. Then a refolded it back and will cut the rest of the strips that way.

>57 dudes22: Lucky you!

>63 dudes22: We were -15ºF....

>65 dudes22: Oh, good luck with the sashing!

>68 lesmel: Nuthin' like a new cutting blade ....

Lois said I hadn't posted in a bit, so I thought I'd pop over with an update of stuff. I had to take my utility machine (not my fancy new one) into the shop this week. I was changing the bobbin and this little piece of something fell out. Luckily, the guy could fix it while I waited, and I didn't have to leave it. And because I had recently had it cleaned, they only charged me for the parts ($5.16). Our church sewing group is meeting tomorrow so I've been working on pillowcase dresses that we're making for the mission my brother started in Malawi. I'll post a picture later today if I get one totally done. Because I change the sewing foot and threads, I do things in groups. I'm hoping to finish a few today and have some others that I can finish up tomorrow when we meet.

I will look forward to that!

Oh no! - I went to sewing group this morning and forgot to take a picture of one of the completed ones. Here's one I pulled off the web that is how we make them.

So cute!

I also forgot to say that I picked up the layer cake that I won. It's called "Sew Bloom" by Cherry Guidry by Benartex. Sorry for no picture - I couldn't find one that showed all the fabrics in one picture. I just saw a pattern on lesmel's thread that can use a layer cake. Looks pretty quick so I might use the same one.

>75 dudes22: I Googled it and got a sense of the collection, although probably not your specific "cake". Have fun with that.

>75 dudes22: The fabrics are so pretty and bright!

>76 avaland: - >77 lesmel: - Thanks.

Hubby and I are off to Mexico this weekend for a couple of weeks, so there won't be any completed project pictures from me. I've been cleaning up my sewing area and cutting left over fabric from other projects into smaller pieces or pieces for pillowcases or pillowcase dresses. I find I'm sometimes reluctant to cut a larger piece of fabric into the size needed for a pillowcase "just in case I need it for something else". I really need to get over that feeling or I'll never get rid of all the fabric I have.

Have a wonderful trip Betty!

>78 dudes22: I know that "just in case..." feeling all to well, with fabric, and also with yarn where I have large quantities of the same variety and dye lot - I don't want to use snippets of it either.

Oh, the barriers we set up for ourselves!

Have a great trip

Hope your trip is warm and wonderful!

And, yes, I also know what "just in case"!

>79 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura. We've been going to the same place for almost 25 years and do almost nothing but read on the beach.

>80 SassyLassy: - Thanks. I can see how yearn would be like that too.

>81 avaland: - Thanks. Now that I've talked about it, I can probably relook at some of the fabrics I've been holding with a more critical eye.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

Have a lovely trip, Betty!

Have a good time.

Thinking of you in the warm sun somewhere south. We are still under snow cover....

So sorry about that. Back home had 8" the day after we left, but my neighbor sent me a picture yesterday of some crocus in my yard that have opened. We're going back on Thurs.

>87 dudes22: You have crocuses up!! I'm envious (even if you can't see them). We still have about a foot of hard snow, but it's melting with each day. The weather people are talking about something on the weekend.... I'm hoping I can get all the bird feeder poles out of the ground before the tree people come....

Home again - While waiting for laundry, I've managed to finish the top to another of my Christmas series. It measures @70x84. I'm thinking that when I get around to quilting it, I might try to do some echo quilting.

>89 dudes22: Oooooooh, I like!!

>90 lesmel: - Thanks!

That's really nice, Betty. Very Christmassy!

>92 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura. Still lots of fabric to use.

I really like that snowflake!

>94 al.vick: - Thanks

Love the colors.
My son plowed my drive area this morning and said I would not have been able to drive since I have a car and not a 4 wheel drive.
Crocus- How nice to see spring coming.

We're supposed to get some kind of storm tonight through Wed. Combination of rain and snow so who knows how much we'll get.

>89 dudes22: I love it!

I woke up to 2" of wet snow (at 4:45 am) and its coming down in a good clip. With yesterday's warm temps we had a lot of melting and made great progress as to unveiling the bare earth again... Oh well, I'm hoping this is the last of winter....

>98 avaland: - I'm planning to work on another Christmas quilt I had started and stay inside today. Hope you don't get too much snow. I think we're close enough to the coast that we won't see much.

>99 dudes22: Sounds like a good plan.

>89 dudes22: Beautiful work, Betty!

>100 thornton37814: - I was right - it was heavy rain for us. And lots of wind. Making good progress on my next Christmas quilt.

>101 MickyFine: - Thanks.

Here's a picture of one of the quilts our church sewing group is making for a local woman's shelter. Simple pattern with just three fabrics. Not a great picture.

I admire your church's charity work, which I know you are part of. You also remind me that I could be making the little quilts I make for the Wish Project and not wait for the fall.

>104 avaland: - To be honest, I prefer to work on the pillowcases - it easier to feel like you're accomplishing something when it goes so quickly and they add up faster.

Here is another Christmas quilt top that I've finished. I know it looks a little strange right now. I decided not to square it up until I'm actually going to quilt it because the edges are all going to be bias edges and I don't want them to stretch out of shape. I could stitch along the edges once I cut it to hold them in place, but I don't have a table big enough to cut it right now anyway.

Sorry for the poor picture quality. There really are some cute Christmas prints in it.

>106 dudes22: I love that. It's very bold but not eye-watering.

>106 dudes22: Oh gosh, that's lovely!

>107 lesmel: - Yes - red and green can be so bold. The pattern showed it in shades of tourqoise, blue, green, and purple. I used what I had but it calls for 4 charm packs.

>108 scaifea: - Thanks, Amber.

>106 dudes22: Beautiful work once again, Betty!

>106 dudes22: That's fab, Betty!

>110 MickyFine: - >111 avaland: - Thank you both.

Here's another Christmas quilt top that is not trimmed. Same reason - bias edges. I really don't have a big enough space to take a good picture.

One of my goals this year was to make some pillowcases each month so I'd already have some done when we need them in Nov for the Christmas shoe boxes. Here it is April already and I haven't done any. So I think I'll put aside the Christmas quilts and I'll work on some pillowcases this month and try to catch up. I also need to sew some smaller leftover batting pieces I have into larger pieces that I can use.

I'd also like a decent day to plant some pansies that I bought last week, but it might be the weekend or after before I get one.

>113 dudes22: Another very eye-catching quilt top!

>114 dudes22: Yeah, I thought I might do the lap quilts early for the "Wish Project" in Lowell, MA that I bring to them before Christmas. As you say, here it is April (and I'm up to my next with outdoor work...)

>115 avaland: - Thanks, Lois. Making cases also gives me a little bit of time to consider what to do next.

So I thought I'd post a picture of some of the pillowcases I've made over the past couple of weeks. I've finished 34 and now need to make up some "kits" for some more. (kits - body and cuff)

Wow Betty, you've really made up for lost time there. They look great, too. I love the complementary fabric choices. For some reason I thought they would be made all in the same fabric but what would be the fun in that, right?

>117 dudes22: Those look great, Betty!

>118 lauralkeet: - Thanks, Laura. They work up pretty quick - even with doing a french seam. I do one part on a bunch (like attach all the cuffs), then go on to the next part, rather than just doing one at a time. I think it's faster, but - who knows...?

>119 MickyFine: - Thanks, Micky.

>117 dudes22: That's wonderful, Betty. I'm hoping to again get another 5-10 lap quilts done for charity this year.

Both the Christmas quilt tops look great but I think the one in >113 dudes22: is my favourite.
And wow! You’re really productive with those pillowcases!

Really like your Christmas quilt tops, especially the big snowflake one. I need to make some pillowcases too, so you've inspired me. That simple 3 fabric quilt is a brilliant idea: I'm planning to make some quilts for the battered women's shelter this year, to do some stash busting.

>122 PawsforThought: - Thanks Paws - It's nice to see you here.

>123 tiffin: - In case you want to do some, here are the amounts you need:
5 - 6.5" x WOF
4 - 3" x WOF
8 - 1.5" x WOF
5 - 2.5" x WOF (binding ) - I use the same fabric as the 1.5" strips.

Here's another Christmas quilt I finished: @51x64

>124 dudes22: It’s nice to be here!

>125 dudes22: Ooh, it’s looks kings of like tartan! I like it.

Very festive! And a nice size!

>1 dudes22: how badly I’m doing
Hah! I can see you have layers of materials and skills.

>128 qebo: - Indeed I do!

I know some of you have seen a table mat almost like this from me before. Last year when I had it on my table at Halloween, a neighbor saw it and said - "Oh! Annie would love that."(her daughter) Since I'm looking to get rid of fabric, I decided to make her one almost like mine. I decided to post it anyway since it's a project I did this year.

>130 dudes22: That is really cute! I love how bright the orange is.

>131 lesmel: - Thanks! I'm making one in blues as a housewarming gift. Hope to show that soon.

>130 dudes22: That is really fun, and the binding really sets it off.

>130 dudes22: It's adorable! Love the whimsical squares.

>130 dudes22: How nice of you! It's really a cute quilt....

>133 SassyLassy: - >134 beehappy: - >135 avaland: - Thanks, all. The best part is that it works up really quickly.

Nice work! And how kind of you to make one for your neighbour’s daughter.

Very nice, and good of you to make it for your neighbour. I look forward to seeing the blue one.

Quilting may be sporadic this week while I get these planted in pots and the gardens. (this is the side of the garage.) I went to one garden center this weekend to get 3 plants that I like in my pots and can't find anywhere else and came home with 25 more plants.

That sounds a lot like our recent trips to the garden center, Betty! Have fun.

>139 dudes22:: I do that all the time, Betty. My love of colour gets seduced!

Guess it was a good thing I bought all those plants because I need them. As I started making up my pots yesterday, I realized that I still need a few more plants. I got 4 or 5 pots done yesterday and the garden under my dining room window planted yesterday. Lots of what I had bought is for various gardens so still a lot of planting to do. And I caught a bunny munching on my pansies yesterday. I'll be stopping by the garden center again today to see if I find some more plants I like.

I understand completely about needing more :-) Something is eating my hollyhocks, maybe insects... I still have a fair amount to do...but I'm taking my time....

I'm in the throes of pot planting too. It's been fairly cool here though, with a couple of frosts, so I haven't been in a hurry.

I've managed to get most of the plants from >139 dudes22: planted plus a few more flats that I bought over the last week. BTW - The pansies have been in for a while and the bunnies are really enjoying the blossoms. 🐇

Front Left: (The boxwood is coming out and moving to be replaced by something smaller) The iris came from my grandmother's house originally and I've moved/divided them numerous times. They smell like grapes. I love them.


Front Right: The beach roses are just starting and smell wonderful.


Pots:


I also have a couple of large planters near the deck in back that need to be planted still. And one of my pots broke so I may buy one more. Once I'm done, I need to make a good list and take some pictures, so I know what I need next year. I swear I had done it last year but I can't find it.

Very nice Betty!

Thanks, Laura. Not as ambitious as some of your projects, but nice to finish each year.

Those flowers are gorgeous!

It looks very orderly, Betty! I still have more to do, but the biggest jobs are down. Will post some photos soon.

Here's my latest table mat that I made as a housewarming gift.

Very nice! Your stitching is always so precise.

I love the blues in that one. My favorite color.

That’s really pretty, Betty. I really like when the blocks are framed like that, makes you see them more clearly.

>145 dudes22: These are beautiful, Betty, and the plants all look very happy!

Very nice, Betty. The colors are very soothing.

Love those blues, Betty. I have a blue quilt in the planning stage for one of my lads, so this gives me inspiration. The size of things in your fabrics is so balanced--love the little fish.

Thank you all. I love this pattern for a quick table mat. I have some left over fabric of the fruits and vegetables I used for those two wedding quilts and I'm thinking I might make one for my table for this summer.

BTW - I didn't show the back because it's the same fabric as the sashing and borders.

We went for a hike yesterday on one of the trails that the local land trust supports. It's mountain laurel time here and the blossoms are fabulous this year. These two pics don't do justice to how special this is. They grow in the woods and up the hills that you can see as you drive along. I'm sorry my picture taking skills are so poor. I'm thinking I might try an OLLI course next fall on taking pictures with your phone.

>158 dudes22: Oh, how pretty! I love laurels but it’s too cold for them to live here.

>159 PawsforThought: Kalmia latifolia grows across a wide range of Canada, so it might be worth checking out your climate zone if you have a sheltered spot.

It's a favourite of mine too, but the deer appear to like it too, so no blooms this year.

>158 dudes22: What a beautiful spot! It looks like you picked the perfect time to visit, although I bet there's something of interest every season of the year.

>160 SassyLassy: I did a quick search and according to the gardening shops that sell them, they can manage up to zone 1-2, whereas I live in zone 5. Alas.

>150 dudes22: Such a special gift, love the colors.

>161 lauralkeet: - Actually - I don't think there is, Laura. Except for now, I think it's just mostly woods.

>162 PawsforThought: - You have me confused, Paws. I live in zone 7 unless your zones are different than the US.

>163 mnleona: - Thanks, Leona. It works up quickly so it's nice for a quick gift.

>164 dudes22: Yeah, I was referring to the Swedish zone system. Sweden has zones 1-8 plus the "mountain zone" (which is basically zone 9, but it's pretty much impossible to grow anything there as it's about 80% rock and snow). This system starts with the warmest climate (Scania) as zone 1 and the higher the number, the further north you are.
I'm guessing you're referring to the USDA hardiness map? According to the map I can find, I live in zone 5a and the laurels can live as far north as zone 8a.

>165 PawsforThought: - I realized after I posted that there would be a different zone for different countries.

I live in Canadian Hardiness Zone 6b, equating to US 6a, and the mountain laurel mentioned in >160 SassyLassy: grows wild here. Having said that, I usually plant only for hardiness zones 5 and below, due to the lack of snow cover and ocean winds, unless like the Kalmia it can survive in the wild.

I would really like to see one consistent Hardiness Map across multiple countries.

>145 dudes22: What kind of roses are the ones you call "beach roses"? They look like they'd fit in all kinds of places.

>167 SassyLassy: - It's a rosa rugosa. They grow wild on the beaches around here. We bought these a few years ago but they're not looking too good this year. I need to go talk to the garden center about doing some pruning. I have white but they can also be pink.

>168 dudes22: Rosa rugosa makes great rosehip soup! My absolute favourite for that is Rosa canina, but they have much smaller rose hips so it’s more work involved.
Sadly, Rosa rugosa (the original version, not hybrids) is an invasive species here and you’re not allowed to plant them, and you must get rid of them if they grow on your land.

>168 dudes22: Rosa rugosa was my first guess, but I was wondering if your roses were a dwarf variety. Mine are all in the four to six foot range and bushy, making wonderful informal hedges and screens. They grow wild here too. I have both white and pink, in different areas. A wonderful pink one sits beside my morning deck. I always associate their scent with summer.

If you think about it, the only pruning they get in the wild is from deer and other such creatures, so pruning is not really required except for dead wood. They do seem to need more water than one would suspect though.

I do deadhead them throughout the summer, until about Labour Day, and then leave them for the hips to develop.

>169 PawsforThought: That's terrible! They are such a resource for wild life. It's like rhododendrons being considered invasive in Scotland.

Do you make rosehip jelly or jam? I haven't had them in soup, but will look for that.

Rosa canina is lovely too.

>158 dudes22: I love mountain laurels also. We have several huge bushes in the back yard at wood's edge and down the hill a bit. I spent some time a few days ago wrestling bittersweet out of it. They are wild and white ones, would love to have the pink ones, which is what we had in our backyard in Maine (uphill about a quarter or more mile from the ocean) I was growing up.

>170 SassyLassy: Well, they push out native plants which can lead to starvation among some animals. I’m not sad they’re regulating the presence of invasive plants (and animals).

No, no jam or jelly. We use berries for that. Rosehip soup can be made either by cutting open the hips and scooping out the seeds, then drying the meat of the fruit and pulverising them before mixing with water to make a slightly thick liquid or by boiling the hips and putting them through a meat grinder-type machine (which separates the seeds from the fruit) and mixing with a bit of water. You can either drink it hot or cold or eat it as a soup, preferably with a scoop of ice cream and/or biscotti.

Better pic:

>173 avaland: - Much better picture.

great pic! Such a lovely flower.

Such a delicate flower for a tough plant. Great photo.

The ones here are the pink ones you mention.

Lois is such a bad influence on me. (or good depending on what day it is 😂) When I see something she's working on, I frequently feel the need to immediately follow her. The recent 5" squares being one example. I had a couple of charm packs (5"sqs) that someone had given me that I wasn't keen on, so I pulled them out (abandoning current projects) only to find out that they only had 20 blocks per pack instead of the usual 40. Not being deterred, I found a layer cake (10"sqs) and cut some of those up into 5" squares. It's supposed to rain here all day so maybe I'll put them together this afternoon.

Then a blogger that I follow showed a "disappearing four patch" quilt that she's started and now I want to do one of those too. I might think about doing one for one of the Christmas quilts I'm working on.

I also took a trip to one of the local quilt stores that just moved. Spent my allowance for a few weeks.

I really need to sleep less. I know experts think you need 7 hours, but.....

>177 dudes22: Got more than one chuckle out of this post!

>177 dudes22: LOL!!! Be glad you didn't make it to Northampton on Saturday! We did four of the umpteen book stores/shops I had on the listsand we all bought books. Hubby and I together came away with 7 books.(6 new, 1 used)

btw, now I have a PILE of carefully organized squares waiting for me to sit at the machine and put together. I mowed the front lawn yesterday instead....

How are things going, Betty?

>180 avaland: - Things are good. I've been making some more pillowcases and I'm working on one of those 5" squares quick quilts because of your influence. 😊 Hope to have a picture soon.

Are you getting a lot of rain down there? It seems relentless here, although Weds and Thurs are predicted to be nice (although by the time we get there the forecast will have changed).

Yes - not steady rain but off and on most days. It's been dreary for sure. And a lot of fog. My flowerpots are looking sad and I think it's because there hasn't been a lot of sun. I'm hoping they'll perk up if we get some at the end of the week. Not a great beginning for the summer.

Lovely needlework and flower pictures. I didn't take time to read everything today. I'll try to go back when I have time.

>183 dudes22: Our vacation is the week after Labor Day in mid-coast Maine so I hope the weather has leveled out by then, but I'll take a few extra books just in case.

I've over-extended again - both books and quilting projects and flit between the two-accomplishing little. I've got the inside done of one of those 5" squares quilt like Lois is doing but need to take it downstairs and look for a fabric for a border. I've pulled out some of my Kaffe Fasset fabrics and am working on a quilt of those. I thought at the beginning of the year that I'd try to make 10 pillowcases a month for our church charity project and am behind there. Of course, I started to cut out some pieces for another Christmas quilt. And I have a bunch of kids' striped quilts that need to be quilted and finished. I should concentrate on the quilts that need quilting as my machine for those is in the basement where it's cool in the summer but cold in the winter. Maybe I'll go down this afternoon and try to figure out some backs so I can quilt them. It's drizzly and grey here today so a good day for that.

Ok - venting over!

>186 dudes22: You do sound a bit tapped out. Take a break.

I have 9 tops done and have about half ironed. But, I’ve taken a break, will resume probably tomorrow. I have all the battings and 6” muslin for backing. I did read this morning….

Hey, Betty, there's been a bit of activity on the New England group. "What New England-related Books Are You Reading" https://www.librarything.com/topic/271402#n6788924 Thought you might have something to contribute?

>188 avaland: - I'll check it out.

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since I've checked into my own thread. I've mostly been working on pillowcases when I get around to sewing these last couple of weeks. I have plenty of fabrics for the cuffs but hesitate cutting into my larger pieces in case I need them for a quilt back. Also doing some cleaning of my quilting area so I can get to do some quilting.

>190 dudes22: Hope you are enjoying the summer, Betty.

I've just resumed work on the charity quilts for this year. I want to have a few to finish whileon our lakeside vacation come Labor Day week.

>191 avaland: - It's certainly been a busy summer for some reason. And the next few weeks are busy too. I'm taking my small machine in tomorrow for a tune-up - which usually takes about 3 weeks. I finished all the pillowcases I was working on, so I think that I'll start working to get some of my charity quilts quilted on my newer machine.

If I can get at least three of the charity quilts quilted, that should take up the time I'm not swimming, reading, eating, sleeping on vacation :-)

Well I hope you have a very relaxing vacation.

I thought those of you who do crochet would like to see this picture that I took at the fair last night. I had to take it through chicken wire so that's what those faint lines are in the picture. I was with my friend who crochets, and she was very impressed too. I've made it very large so you can see the details.

I don't crochet, but that is wonderful! It pushes all my color buttons!

wow!

Oh, I want that pattern!

Oh wow, that is stunning!

>196 avaland: - My picture taking with my phone is not the greatest, but it was stunning.

>197 al.vick: - I know!

>198 KeithChaffee: - My friend is going back to the fair tomorrow. I'll see if she can take a picture of the name and let you know.

>199 lauralkeet: - It certainly is.

>195 dudes22: Wow!

>198 KeithChaffee: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/espiritu-del-sol

>195 dudes22: Wow, that is incredible.

>202 qebo: - Thanks for finding that.

>203 PawsforThought: - I'm sure it took a lot of time.

>202 qebo: Thanks so much! I think that's going to be my next project once the two blankets I'm working on are finished.

>195 dudes22: That is absolutely gorgeous work.

>206 MickyFine: - I don't crochet so I was really impressed.

Not much of interest to post. Just popping in to say that I've been making backs for some of my quilts to help use up some of the larger pieces in my stash before I cut them up. Hope to have some pictures soon.

>195 dudes22: That is beautiful and such detail.

>209 mnleona: - This won first place but there were a few smaller ones that were similar.

That's a nice crochet piece!

This is the first finished quilt for the charity group at church. I finally bit the bullet and used one of the "quilting" stitches on my larger sewing machine. You can see the quilting of wavy lines on the yellow squares of the back. The strips that are used are the width of the fabric so for the backing, I inserted a strip of 6" squares to make it just a little bigger. I figured that was the most economical way to make use of my fabric. I have a few more to work on now.

I tried taking these pictures outside and I draped them over the furniture. Still not great pictures.

Very nice, Betty!

I love it!

Looks great! I'm always a fan of combining turquoise with dark blues.

>213 avaland: - >214 lauralkeet: - Thanks - They're strips of fabric cut across the width and then sewn back together, so it makes a quick easy quilt. We've been making these for our charity quilts at church. I'm hoping to get another one quilted today since it's a drizzly, rainy, poopy day.

>215 PawsforThought: - Thanks Paws, but it's actually a dark grey not blue. I told you my photography skills are highly lacking.

Weather is poopy here, too😝

16 - Well - I didn't get that quilt quilted yet. It's still sitting by the machine waiting. I did make a couple of pillowcases with some sunflower fabric for a friend's birthday. I cut out some pieces for another tablemat like the one in >150 dudes22: - including some of the same fabrics for my friend's daughter who is moving to Idaho to remind her of the ocean. I'll send it at Christmas. I took out a block from my hand-piecing project that I haven't worked on in maybe a year (?) and decided to get going on that again. I need to make some lists of projects and work on them until they're done. I'm so scattered. I need more hours!

You are doing better than I am! After all these years I seem to be having persistent trouble with binding corners (very frustrating).

>219 avaland: - That quilt up in #212, I took one corner out 3 times so don't feel too bad. It happens.

>220 dudes22: Thanks for the sympathy:-)

>219 avaland: It's weird when suddenly a process you've been doing skillfully for years completely deserts you, sending you back to the "how-to" diagrams yet again, to see what it is that left you.
However, I've found the skill returns as suddenly as it departed if you turn to doing something else for a while first.
Good luck!

-----
edited to insert missing word so that it makes sense

How are things going, Betty? I find myself pulled in several directions and accomplishing nothing (bought some new left-handed scissors to try out, though I've not really tested them).

>223 avaland: - Hi Lois - I too am finding myself trying to do too many things all at once. And I've seen a few more things on YouTube videos that I really want to try. I'm afraid my reading has been suffering, too. As the weather turns more toward fall and coolness, I'm not stepping out onto the porch to get in a little reading during the day.

>224 dudes22: I'm distracted by many things: the colorful fall, grandkids, the news, books... Must get back to finishing those charity quilts.... too cool here to be sitting outdoors to read :-)

So I was in my sewing room the other day looking things over and trying to decide about a couple of Christmas projects that I might do, and I noticed that I have 3 quilt tops that I made from a scrap block pattern that Lois mentioned a few years ago. I thought it was a good way to use up some of my scraps and I cut (and continue to cut) some of my left-over pieces of fabric into the right sizes to do these. (It's an 8x10" block that has 2 - 2.5" sqs, 1 - 2.5"x4.5", 1 - 4.5" sq, 1 - 2.5"x6.5" and 1 - 6.5"sq.) I have a container of the various sizes and I usually use them as leaders and enders. I decided to pull out the container and sort it and see what I still have in there because I've really thought that the new scrap quilts made of 5" squares that she mentioned will be much faster. I found I actually had a bunch of blocks made and I sorted them into "boy" and "girl" blocks. I made a quilt with a "boy" theme of 50 of the blocks and I think I have enough to do a "pinkish" theme. Then I pulled out all the Christmas fabrics and put them in a bag and I think I have enough to do one of Christmas fabrics. And that still leaves me with a bunch of pieces.

Sounds like you are busy...!

I still have some charity quilts to finish but have been doing some outdoor work, grandchildren to watch, and I have done a purge of our library (2/3rd nonfiction, 1/3 fiction) and know will have to speak to the town library and see if they want them for a book sale. Funny thing, the house doesn't look like I did a purge.

So - this is exactly like the mat I made in post #150. My friend's daughter is moving to Idaho, and I thought she should have an "oceany" table mat to remind her of Rhode Island. I'll probably send it at Christmas along with some cookies.

>228 dudes22: Oooh, I love the colors! Well done!

Verrry nice! Betty. Would you like to also post that pic on the new communal thread that has just been re-created

>238 avaland: How lovely of you to make that for her. It looks great and the colours are very soothing. I really like the fabric you used for the borders.

>231 PawsforThought: - Thanks, Paws. There's another small tablemat I'm working on about the same size for my SIL's birthday and I'm thinking of making some for the holidays, etc. They work up really fast and the quilting isn't going to be too complicated. They don't get rid of a lot of fabric, but they're kind of fun.

This is another small tablemat that I made for my sister-in-law for her birthday next week. I like this pattern a lot and think I might make a few for the different holidays. The quilting is a wavy line on the diagonal.

>233 dudes22: Ooooohhhh, I like that!! Is the back pieced?

>234 lesmel: - No - It's one piece of fabric. I love that design and was "saving" it. I'm making another for myself. Next time I'll show the whole back.

>233 dudes22: Again, I love those colors! Very fall-happy.

love the colors on both of those. Very neat work.

How goes it, Betty? I'm way behind on the charity quilts.

Doing well, Lois. I'm making a 3 sets of dinner napkins for Christmas gifts. Done except for some topstitching. I got the thread I need for that yesterday, so they should be done soon. I made myself a top like the one in >233 dudes22:, but I don't think it will be done before Thanksgiving. Still needs to be quilted and bound. Too much going on.

I saw a YouTube video on making dinner napkins and thought it might make a nice Christmas gift. I made 3 sets of 4 each. I think this is all I'm planning to make for Christmas this year so at least that stress is gone.

(I guess I could have ironed them better)

Ooh those are really nice, Betty. And inspiring! Does this require quilting or just sewing?

Just sewing.

Thank Betty! Although I haven't done much sewing in recent years, the skills are lurking in my subconscious I think. My daughter Kate sews more than I do these days so I might mention this to her as a project idea.

Here's the YouTube video that I used for instructions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsj4P9nty6I&list=LL&index=8&t=605s

Thank you Betty!

I like those, Betty…

>233 dudes22:: That would look lovely with a turkey on a platter on it! Or maybe that would hide it too much...maybe a nice pumpkin.

>247 tiffin: - Thank you! Now I have a whole year to finish it :)

Those of you who don't quilt might not follow or appreciate this quite as much as the quilters. I've been working on some mitten blocks for one of the Christmas quilts that I'm making. Each block is made in two rectangular sections - one for the body of the mitten and cuff, and one for the thumb section. Yesterday I thought I'd start putting them together and when I laid them side by side with the seams at the cuff section meeting the base of the thumb, it looked like the thumb sections were all about 1/4" short. This pattern hasn't been the easiest to work with - it gives no indications of which direction to press the seams among other things. So, after some swearing, I put them aside to decide what I needed to do to make this work. (oh - and the blocks are set on point) I thought I'd need to put some kind of border around them, maybe. Then this morning it dawned on me that they won't match when I look at them side by side, I need to match the bottom of the thumb to the cuff at the 1/4" seam measure. And it all works out! I'm not sure if this counts as an AHA moment or a DUH moment.

I'm sure the swearing was a help...LOL. We will want photos, you know:-) Your conundrum still sounds more sane than my work has been (your work is so precise).

>249 avaland: - Ok - I'll take a picture of one of the blocks later so you can see what I'm talking about.

>248 dudes22: Not entirely clear to me without a visual, but I recognize the process of a construction problem that resolves after a session of active fiddling (and swearing) then setting aside to mull for a bit.

This is one block. The problem was where the thumb meets the cuff.

Weeeeee! I SALUTE YOU! Out of curiosity, did you create the pattern? It's fabulous!

>253 avaland: - No - I purchased the pattern. There are some templates involved which are not my favorite. It's not a very well-written pattern, I have to say.

>254 dudes22: I've struggled with a hand-written cross-stitch pattern from the 1980s that had some markings from a previous owner. Sometimes it makes it hard to decipher something that was already harder to read than the patterns we purchase created with software. I will probably complete it this month. I started it either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day last year. I will either frame it or have it framed when I'm done. I may invest in having it professionally framed--even though I know it won't be cheap.

>255 thornton37814: - I remember having problems with a cross-stitch pattern back when I was still doing cross-stitch. If I remember correctly, there were a couple of symbols that were very so close it was easy to get them confused. Looking forward to seeing your project when it's finished.

>255 thornton37814: I've been so bad about posting to my thread this year. I think it's because I need to download the photos off my phone and then upload them to the gallery here. What are other people using for their storage? I do upload my completed projects to Instagram so my stitching friends see them, but I doubt you can deep link to an image there.

I use my laptop, Dropbox, and Flickr. I believe in the basic LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) method; but I'm also pretty lazy (which is a bad habit).

I just tried the IG embed code on one of my talk threads and it fails to embed the photo; but does provide a pretty link. I was expecting it to completely fail.

I usually take the picture with my SurfacePro and I can just grab the picture from my photos and put it in my junk drawer. But my pictures aren't usually that good, so maybe that's not the best way.

>257 thornton37814: (1) I take most photos on my phone, (2) transfer all to my computer, (3) select a subset (4) for upload to Flickr, which provides share links at various resolutions so I prefer it to the LT gallery. Step 3 is the weakest link.

>260 qebo: You can use the Flickr app to upload all your photos from your phone. The photos are private by default. Then you can use the Organizr in Flickr. I mean, that's a method available.

>261 lesmel: But I don't want to upload all my photos! I take LOTS of photos casually. I use the organizing tools once I have photos in Flickr, but if I have to do step 3 on Flickr it'll never happen and my Flickr account will become a cluttered mess.

A couple of the cookie trays I put together today. I took the picture before I realized that I forgot to put the spritz cookies on. This year I did 17 different cookies (including 4 vegan) and 4 types of quick breads (fruitcake, cranberry, mincemeat, and snickerdoodle). And 1 batch of spiced pecans. All packaged up now and ready for delivery tomorrow.

That's impressive, Betty! I just make cookies for the family and I don't dare start making them too early, otherwise Chris and I will eat them all up. Our daughters arrived yesterday and we made our first cookies (gingerbread blondies) and chilled batter for the chocolate crinkle cookies we'll bake today. There will be more mixing and baking today as well.

Who are the lucky recipients of your amazing cookie baking efforts?

Funny - I didn't make chocolate crinkles this year...hmmm. And I realized on my way to the farmer's market that I forgot to take the peppermint brownies out of the freezer. This year I only did 4 big trays like the picture and then a bunch of smaller tins. I used to do a lot as gifts at work, but now it's neighbors and family, hairdresser, nail tech, etc.

To all my friends here:



May your threads never tangle, and your stitches be straight.

>263 dudes22: Wow, Betty - that's impressive indeed!

Betty, that is wonderful (and a little crazy) I only managed six or seven kinds. Our family get together was Saturday....

btw. you might be interested in this art / quilt exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum (MA)
https://www.worcesterart.org/exhibitions/faith-ringgold/

Some old friends who live in the area alerted. We are going early January before the exhibit shuts down.

You'll have to report back how you like it. We got together with P's family last night and had a good time. We include 7 fish dishes which is something traditional for Italians. My extended family will get together sometime in Jan. (We like to spread things out)

>266 dudes22: May your threads never tangle, and your stitches be straight What a lovely thought. Best in the New Year to you.

I'm posting this early in the morning because I have a busy day and might not get to it later. I'm going to try and get my 2024 post up sometime today too.

Year-End Recap 2023:

I thought I’d do a recap of what I accomplished in 2023 because I feel like I was quilting a lot but only treading water and not making much progress.

Finished: I did get a lot of pillowcases made for our charity group at church. I think probably around 100. I sort of lost count around 80.

I did put a binding on a quilt that had been hanging around for a while and that’s on my bed now. I did do 3 small table mats (18” square) for gifts.

Unfinished: I started and completed the tops for 6 of the Christmas quilts I’m planning as gifts for next year. I completed a top that I’m planning to use in my bedroom as a wall hanging. I have a few more of the Christmas tops in various stages of construction (blocks started or fabrics chosen). And I have a quilt of 5” squares that needs a border too. I made some Kaffe Fasset fabric blocks that need to go on the design wall so I can organize them and sew the rows.

I guess that’s a little bit better than I expected. Now to finish some of these so I can start some more projects I’d like to do. I actually bought a quilt kit that includes pattern and fabric this year and I’d like to get that done in 2024 too.

ETA: I was cutting up a jelly roll for another Christmas quilt and made a bad cut on multiple strips. Since there's really no extra fabric in a jelly roll, I went out to Etsy and luckily found the fabrics that I had cut wrong. Hopefully they'll come soon.

Ugh. I hate when I cut fabric wrong. Measure once, cuss twice. lol

80 pillow cases...you are a superwoman! I look forward to following your projects.