Needles and Pens

Another New Year challenge! And since I already committed to finishing what's left of my UFO pile in the Patchwork Times challenge, I went in a different direction with this one. Guess how many fabric panel projects I have? ... ... I don't know either, but it's a big box full. A few I've purchased, but most have been gifted to me in one way or another, and without some incentive such as this challenge, they would all be destined to stay in that box forever. So for the record, I have chosen the following 12 panels to make into something useful this year: 1. Starlight Angels 2. Psalm 23 3. Papa Bear & Baby Bear 4. Christmas Bear 5. Snowman Draft Stopper 6. Quilter's Wallhanging 7. Northwoods Noel 8. Homespun Holidays 9. Pledge of Allegiance 10. Christmas ABCs 11. Oh, Santa! 12. Santa's Teddy Bear Let's get 'er done! ;o)

One more little bit of Christmas inspiration came over me this week, and I actually finished my last 2009 Seasons of the Heart Block-of-the-Month block, the December Gift: I'm pretty sure this is a first for me, to finish a block-of-the-month program, relatively on time. Many thanks to Sandi, from A Legacy of Stitches , for so generously sharing her designs for 2009. Can't wait to see them in a finished quilt! Sandi has already begun two new Block-of-the-Month programs for 2010, which you can access by becoming a member of her Yahoo group . I doubt I'll keep up as well this year, but I'm definitely saving the patterns, even if just for "someday." Now, to decide on a layout for my "Seasons" quilt... When I wrote this post earlier today, I completely forgot that it's Friday, and I should have linked up to Amylouwho's Sew & Tell Friday . (Where did the week go?) While I'm at it, I might as well share another little project I finished to...

One more project I've been working on... These started out as 9-1/2" sampler blocks, made last year in a block-of-the-month project with Country Quilters USA . I just pulled them out of the UFO pile last week, determined to make them into a quilt. I'm starting to have some problems though, working only from my stash (remember the don't-buy-anything-unless-absolutely-necessary budget?) I really don't think I can do justice to these without doing a little fabric shopping. What I have done so far, was to add 2" white-on-white sashing strips to the blocks, followed by 1-1/2" sashing strips in burgundy. I think the next step should be to set them all together with more white, but I'm seriously low on any kind of white fabric now. You just can't do much of anything without those neutrals! And I'd really like to do a pieced border on this one, using more of the burgundy sashing fabric -- only I've used it all up. Hopefully I can still find more...

Stayed up way too late last night, but I did make progress on my two latest projects. Finished Step Three of the Great Summer Mystery , adding yellow corners to my strip sets. We're getting closer... Next I worked on my other new project, making lots and lots of super-scrappy six-inch blocks to go into a top for Quilts with Love . I plan to have 84 blocks ready to set together on February first, our next sew-in day at Country Quilters USA . I'm making them all from scraps, and my scrap box seems to be bottomless no matter how many I cut up! Here's a little sneak peek: So that's the update from the sewing room. I may get some more scraps cut up today, but probably not much else. And I just realized this is my 199th post! Maybe I can come up with something special to celebrate my 200th. Hmm... Stay tuned...

If you saw yesterday's post, you already know all about the Healing Hearts quilt that my online group made for a fellow member in my hometown. What I haven't yet shared is that as I was collecting blocks for the quilt, I was also receiving little packages in the mail, just for me. Packages with cards, letters and darling little nine-patch blocks, made from all sorts of children's novelty prints. It was a surprise grandma shower! Check this out: How cool is that?? Last week, I hustled around while my daughter was on her last two days at work and got a quilt made from all the blocks. What a great surprise it'll be for her when the baby is born. It turned out to be a nice sized quilt, too. Just perfect for when he starts rolling around, and he can look at all the different little pictures on his quilt. I think he's going to LOVE it. I know I do! Thanks, ladies, for caring, for thinking of us, and for helping us to welcome our new little one into the world in such a...

I've met a lot of quilters online over the past few years, quilters of all ages, lifestyles and personalities, but the one thing they all seem to have in common is a heart of gold. When someone is hurting or in need, quilters come through. This story is just one more example. One of my online quilting groups welcomed a new member early this year, and in the months that followed, she had a string of misfortunes, from a cancer diagnosis, to surgery, to the tragic death of a family member. Thoughts, prayers and good wishes flew through cyberspace, but you just can't send a real hug through email. Coincidentally though, this new member happens to live very near my hometown. Maybe a real hug wasn't out of the question, but could we make it a group hug? Plans were made in secret, and within days I started receiving quilt blocks in the mail, as well as donations to help with supplies. Meanwhile, our new member and I made plans to meet at our local quilt guild meeting. Mind you, in...