Feathered Star from Who Knows When

Feathered Star from Who Knows When

During December while bloggers were showing their Best of the Year posts, and New Year's Goals posts, and huge stacks of UFO, WIP, and all the other names for personal quilting baggage, I put my head down, and I worked like a mad quilter. The pictures I've accrued--the stuff I've uncovered and gotten done is honestly a little amazing even to me. I am Quilter on Fire! Yeah, maybe not quite that, but you folks should know I've taken myself to task. It's been harsh.

The End of Summer Log Cabin Quilt Top

End of Summer Log Cabin Quilt Top

Last summer while I walked, I took careful notice of the colors around me. In Mideast Ohio, fall depends much on what has happened rain-wise over that summer. The summer of 2025 did not have a long, dry spell like many before. I remember several recent summers I quit mowing after the Fourth of July, and didn't resume until early September. But this one was green, and the foliage delayed turning until far into October. The leaves stayed on the trees until well after Halloween, and then fell slowly. Honestly, it was a lovely fall before we slipped into winter.

The Strawberry Queen Quilt Finish

The Strawberry Queen Quilt Finish

Shortly before Christmas I finished the binding to this sweet quilt. As a matter of fact, I finished the last stitches as family arrived, and then the quilt was gifted. Nothing like last minute gifts. It has become a beloved quilt, drug from room to room, and slept with nightly. If it was a Velveteen rabbit, it would have fulfilled it's life's purpose. 

Quilting the Strawberry Queen's Quilt

Quilting the Strawberry Queen's Quilt: Christmas Present

Thanksgiving dinner was still in planning stages when I popped the Strawberry Queen's quilt on the longarm, and went to work. 

Whimsical Quilt Top Using a Panel and Scraps

Whimsical Child's Quilt Top from a Panel and Scraps

It's December with Christmas right around the corner, and the world seems to be spinning very fast. Yet we all find time to escape by sitting at our sewing machines letting our brains unwind the stress of the season. That's an ideal world, and might not be the whole truth, but I'm shooting for it.

I am working through my lists with the intent every day to find a little time to stitch something. It may not be a grand project--most are not. It's more along the line of finishing up every last thing I can see in my way. All that stuff stopping me from moving on with new things. WIP, UFO, yada yada, but it's easier to move through things than put it away never to be seen again. I have time invested, and I value my time as should we all. I'm getting things done in those few minutes of downtime when I can catch it.

Queen of the Strawberry Patch Quilt

Queen of the Strawberry Patch Quilt

I am lucky to be able to care for my granddaughter several days a week. She's (mostly) a joy! But many things in my life have shifted to accommodate my new schedule.

My garden has been somewhat neglected this year, but I kept reminding myself about priorities. We are still eating canned tomatoes from the past year when I put up 100+ quarts, and 80 quarts of beans. Because my shelves were still full, I allowed some beds to rest, some occasional weeds, and gave it minimal life support for months. But every day we would walk the gardens, check the greenhouse, water plants, touch, smell, and be barefoot in the grass. Even if it rained, we were out there. One day we just let ourselves be rained on until thoroughly wet. We watch birds, worms, the bugs and bees, and dogs running through the orchard. Today we were out quite early talking about the moonlight. I'm smiling as I remember and write this. 

Wool Birthday Crown Finish

Wool Birthday Crown Finish

How in the world did October get away, and we're a week out from Thanksgiving? Even so, I need to make this brief. The birthday crown was finished on time, and the girl wore it! Mission accomplished. It was on and off as I assumed it would be, but has turned into a wonderful dress-up accessory. She has some experience with touching wool, seeing the flowers and embroidery up close, and just maybe remembering a bit of that sweet day she turned 1.

The backing is a simple Tilda print I had in my stash, and the band is actually a piece of foldable elastic like one uses to create hair ties. The elastic allows the crown to self-adjust, and no messy, loose ribbons to tie.

One thing I did not plan for was a removable number to replace each year. Next year's crown will have the ability to grow with her. Very fun project!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Wool Birthday Crown WIP

I thought when my own kids were babies I had made them everything possible. Gosh, one time I obsessively built them a canvas playhouse on a frame of pvc pipe that had an operational door, painted English garden on the outside, and would fit adults standing up. It was brilliant that I could put it up and take it down for storage when needed. The pipe got pilfered over the years, and I think the only thing remaining on the toy shelf is the door. Oh, life before an iPhone lives only in our minds. 

Orphan Quilt Block to Pillow: Spindrift

Orphan Quilt Block to Nursery Pillow

Some days, try as we might, technology fights us. So the pictures are what they are today with my apologies. Oh, well it's a Wednesday as I write this. Maybe that's it. This is a leftover block unused in a wonderful quilt Spindrift by Michelle McKillop published under Jen Kingwell. Take a closer look at the quilts progress from 2020 when Covid was just beginning.

Spindrift: It Begins

Spindrift: 2

Spindrift: 3

Spindrift: 4

Spindrift: 5

Spindrift: 6

Spindrift:7

Spindrift:8

Spindrift: 9

Spindrift: 10 The Quilting Begins

Spindrift: 11 Custom Quilting

Spindrift: 12 One More Day

Spindrift: 13 From Quilts to Socks

One Long Comeback shows the binding at last

Here is another version of Spindrift I made called It Floats.

This was a darling block, but didn't have the same vibe as the other Dresdens in either quilt. It became an orphan block until I heard I was having a grandchild. A bit of hand quilting after adding Grunge borders, and it turned into a colorful floor pillow for the nursery. For a while it was a back cushion to prop her up in her laundry basket--how DID our generation miss the usefulness of laundry baskets to child rearing? Then it morph into the mountain to climb and have some tummy time on top of. It's been a very useful piece of baby equipment happily.

The backing a stripey remnant I pieced, and off she went. Another project in the books.

Have you found any creative projects for using your own orphan blocks? Share them in the comments please. I'm not the only one looking for fresh ideas. Thanks!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Another Trip Around the World

Another Trip Around the World

Here is a pattern that is fun and rewarding every time I make it. I love it so! This quilt kit was offered years ago by Craftsy, and the fabrics were coordinated by Myra Barnes at Busy Hands Quilts. The kit went on deep sale, and I snapped it up! It took me several years to pull out to piece, but it was an easy make because it was a one patch. More on one patch quilts HERE. Also, I have said it before, but my Accuquilt cutter made it a dream to go from fabric to pieces cut in a few hours with minimal waste.