2023

 Well, I was gone for the last part of December and just returned home.

What a vacation that was!

We left Texas, and it was 17 degrees, which is very cold for us.

We were delayed in Denver, but made it to Hawaii

We spent Christmas on Ohau on the beach.

This is Christmas Day.

We had a peacock for a visitor in the cabin.

We had beautiful weather.

We went to Hawaii to Oahu, The Big Island of Hawaii, and Kauai.

All islands are unique and wonderful.

I think we need a trip to Kauai by itself because I don't feel we saw much of the island in the week we were there.

I still need to download photos to my computer from later in the trip, so that will be another post.

I did some hand sewing while on vacation, but I don't have those photos either.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!

I'm excited about 2023.

I know I picked a word before the trip, but I'm changing it.

My word for the year will be ENJOY.

Enjoy life, enjoy quilting, enjoy the beauty around us, enjoy family, enjoy friends, enjoy exploring and enjoy the time we have left.

My focus for 2023 is going to be on my UFOs.

I had so many new starts in 2022 that I didn't get to my UFO challenges and the projects I love.

I missed all the excitement of finishing up UFOs.

So, I will still be testing for others, but I will be working on my own things, plus a few memory quilts.

Memory quilts have all been started, but I need to focus on those finishes also.

My Memory Quilt list is as follows:

1. Pillows for Leach to use up the remaining T-shirts; I'll be making body pillows.

2. Memory quilt from Rob's shirts. I have the center done and need to add a border or two to make it a bit larger.

3. Second Memory quilt from Rob's T-shirts. They are cut and stabilized, so they should go fairly quickly.

4. Tammy's baby clothing memory quilt is almost finished. I need to cut more baby clothing and even out the boy and girl fabric. I made her two quilts with her twin's clothing. I am in the process of making her one with both boy and girl clothing in it. I use this one as a leader/ender, and it is growing. I've run out of the boy fabrics and need to cut more.

5. Donna's memory quilt or two, depending on how it goes together. I think I'll be doing her quilt in a heart shape.

6. I'd like to make some memory teddy bears from Rob, Karen, Tammy, and Donna's leftovers.

7. Karen's hexagon memory quilt. I finished the hexagons and stitched it onto the background while on vacation, so it just needs to be quilted.

8. Larger hexagon pillow from Karen's leftover fabrics.

9. Driesbach T-shirt quilt. They are cut apart and stabilized, and there are only a few shirts.

So, yes, there are lots of memory quilts in the works. If I focus on those UFOs and have a leader/ender for something else, I should have many finishes in 2023.

I am still working on the quilt studio organization.

That seems to be an ever-growing project.

As I finish projects, it should open up spaces.

IF I don't buy much new fabric this year, it should be a good thing.

I only bought a couple of FQs on the islands.

My daughter wants a pair of wrap-around pants, so I'll be sewing clothing. Yikes.!

The pattern looks to be easy, so I'm hoping it works out.

This post is long enough, but I hope to be back soon.

Stash Report 10/9/2022

  quilt paint create links to all our stash reports.

From My Carolina Home is doing a challenge on how much we use each month.

I increased how much I wanted to have as a net number for 2022.

	Used this Week:	0.51 yards
	Total Used year to Date: Donated fabric	293.59 yards 145.15 yards
	Net Stash used in December	0.51 yards
	Added this Week:	0.00 yards
	Added Year to Date:	65.75 yards
	New Goal:	300.00 yards
	Yards to the goal:	6.41 yards

I doubt I get much else done this year, so I'm calling this my year-end report.

A couple of other fun facts are:

Prairie Moon is doing a 350-block challenge:

The challenge hasn't officially started, but I like to keep track

	Total Number of equivalent blocks:	927
	Perimeter in inches:	126669
	Numer of UFOs completed UFO Yardage Used	14 68.35
	Percentage of yardage used in UFOs:	35%
	Number of Bobbins Used this week:	3
	Number of Bobbins Used this year:	113
	Number of Spools Used this week: Number of Spools Used this year:	0 24

Kate at Life in Pieces is doing the challenge of 15 minutes of sewing.

Days of Stitching                                      73%

Number of Days this week                           0/7

Number of Days this year                    267/365

Days Organizing                                        74%

Number of Days this week                            0/7

Number of Days this year                      271/365

These are not accurate, but I've not been keeping good track, so I'll just say I've not done much sewing.

I do think I sew most days, but I don't have anything to show for it, so I'll just leave it at that.

Quilting is more fun than Housework has us working on scraps.

I made coasters that were from my scraps, but I don't have the photo.

Praying 2023 is a better year for everything for me.

this is the last report for me for this year.

Have a Blessed Holiday Season.

Design Wall Monday

  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday and Monday Making

This will be my last one, even though I've not been doing well in making posts.

ONe of my design wall is off the wall, so no project on it.

  

I wanted this one done before I went on vacation, but I doubt it is going to happen.

So, it will be the first UFO in 2023.

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

2022 Monthly Challenges

Challenges for this year were not very successful.
It probably had to do with the stressful year 2022 has been.
I'm not going to be updating this anymore for 2022.
Maybe Next year will be better.

Wishing you a Sew Special Holiday Season.

 2022 Challenges

All People Quilt 2021 Challenge

January 12. Betsy's Garden

February 7. Iron Caddy Tote

March 3. Christmas Stocking 

April 9. Masks (this might go away because of less use of masks)

May 11. Oasis Cover

July 4. Foxy Faces

August 6. Hologram

September 8. King Placemats

October 5. Foxy Pincushion

November 10. Noel Wall Hanging

1. Car Organizer

2. Lillian's Baby Clothing Quilt

Stashbuster

January #8 Bench Pillows

February #5 Ashley's T-shirt quilt

February #34 Continental

March #12 Blue & White HST

April #10 Birthday FQ swap

April #28 Christmas Panel

May #3 Arrowheads

May #49 Fall Embroidery

June #6 Baby Clothing

June #33 Coasters

Some of these were done, but there are still some cut and batting cut.

July #4 Artic Wolf

July #18 Car Organizer

August #2 Adorn it (Red & Black)

August #30 Chrismas Pieces

September #1 A Heritage Quilt

September #42 Deck the Halls Embroidery

October #9 Betsy's Quilt

October #21 Christmas Nature Gift

November #11 Bloom

November #56 First Snowfall

One Monthly Goal

 January/February - Log Cabin from Biloxi Retreat

The quilt still needs to be put together, but all the pieces are done.

June/October -  Breast Cancer Quilt #2

November - T-shirt Quilt

Merry Christmas

 I've not been having a great year, so I've not been online much.

But, I have been sewing with a group of ladies and enjoy them so much.

They make my day bright, and I so enjoy sharing my quilting with them.

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy New Year.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

We have so much to be thankful for.

Little WRS is gaining weight.

All our family is healthy.

We have a feast planned for today with my son's in-laws and our immediate family.

We are finally getting much-needed rain.

I have such a wonderful group of quilting friends.

Have a blessed day and enjoy those around you.

Catching up

 This year seems to be the year where I say I need to do more quilting.

It is also the year when things are getting in the way of what I want to do.

I haven't posted much because life has been hectic.

I showed you the van that was rear-ended.

They ended up totaling the vehicle and my DD is still feeling the pain from the accident.

That meant running around and trying to find a car that would work for her and be safe for her to drive two hours a day for her internship.

There are very few used cars and we found out that some of them, the good ones, are just as expensive as a new car and don't come with warranties.

So, now she has a car payment, but she has a pretty new vehicle.

Then DS and DDIL had their baby at 37 weeks.

WRS (they don't want his name on the internet) was born 3 lbs 13 oz and 16.5 inches and is now at 4 lbs 10 oz.

He is adorable and has also been in the NICU for three weeks.

  

So, needless to say, life was turned upside down.

He is holding his own and beginning to gain a little weight.

So, if you are praying people, we would love for you to pray for W and his family.

I have begun to get back to normal, whatever that is.

I had a Lion's Club donation quilt that was due at the end of October.

I finished it just in time.

I'm teaching classes at the Cibolo Senior Center and we made a pumpkin table topper.

November we did a Turkey table topper that was Quilt as You go.

DD needed a shower gift.

I found this panel at Gromes Quilt Shop.

As it turns out the new Mother-to-be loves giraffes.

We didn't know that, but it all worked out.

I have a couple of memory quilts to get moving on.

This one is from a co-worker that passed away and his wife asked me to make her a quilt.

He was a youth pastor, so I thought this was appropriate.

There will be white around the edges and then I'll make it larger with borders from his shirts.

This is the quilt I've had on the design wall for a long time.

It is quilted and I'm binding it now.

It is a large quilt 98 x 108.

I made crayon rolls for the DS and DDIL baby shower and one of the people wanted me to make 20 crayon rolls for their son's kindergarten class.

I decided to get them done early so we can connect to get them to her.

So, I made more than 20 so she can pick the ones she wants.

There are girls, boys, and neutral crayon rolls for her to choose from.

I have made travel kleenex covers for DD's last days of her internship.

I'm putting the kleenex in them now, so I'll have photos later.

So, I've been getting busier and hoping to keep it that way.

I pray while I'm working, so it helps me focus on something other than my problems.