Inventory of the Year - 2010

For Paula's Challenge we had to chose our favorite wallhanging and/or quilt for the year. That wasn't really hard as my most challenging piece is my favorite. This bird wallhanging from SilverLinings began with my very limited paperpiecing skills and my skills grew with each block. I handquilted with smoky monofilament thread around the birds and machine quilted the outer block. I set it "windowpane" style to resemble a photo gallery. It is 44" wide x 42" high

And I managed to inventory all my flimsies for 3 different UFO Challenge Lists. This is the list is for Judy's - Patchwork Times.

1. Scrappy Noah's Ark. These blocks were assembled using the partial seam around the center blocks, which was a challenge as the center was small and the piecing around was so large. Instead of a panel center, I used scraps from a pre-printed vest and fused them. It needs the fusing to be stitched down and then quilted and bound.

2. Scribbles - this quilt was made by just dumping the old scrap bin and letting my grandson pick a scrap and they were added bit by bit until the floor was clean. It needs to be quilted and bound. I think a cuddly flannel needs to be used for the back. This will go into the tote for future charity quilts.

3. Scrap Crackers - This quilt was originally made for the blocks to be used as a signature quilt. Then the person changed their mind. A border will be added, quilted and bound. This quilt will be added to the charity quilts tote.

4. Scrappy Green Roman Stripe - Since this has a lot of geranium print fabric and leaf print fabrics, I will use this as a Christmas gift for my one sister who has a "green thumb". And her livingroom is whites, off-whites and greens, so I think she will give it a good home. It needs 2 borders (already cut and stored with it-potted geraniums) and then quilted and bound.

5. Patriotic Tabletopper - This was a free pattern on Connecting Threads. I don't have a lot of patriotic fabric and this was probably donated to me. So I will quilt and bind to save for the Hospital Auxillary Benefit sale.

6. Sulky International 2004 BOM - This is the second wallhanging I've done from this pattern. The first I did as a Christmas Village to keep as a new tradition to complete embellishments with my grandson. This is done as a "country" village. It needs some embellishing, a final border, quilted, and bound. It will be saved for the community Library fund raiser.

7. FQ Sampler - I believe this was a BOM on the Florida Quilter Quild website 3 yrs ago? This was my first fat quarter bundle given me and I used it on this quilt. It needs quilting (longarmer) and bound. It will be put in my Christmas box as a future gift for someone.

8. Pinwheel Tabletopper - this has to be a couple of years old - when my daughter and her friends came for a sew-a-thon and we played with my leftover HSTs. It needs to be quilted and bound. It will go in the charity tote for any future fund raiser.

9. Daisy Do - Designed by Jenny Elafantz as a mini BOM. It needs handquilting and I haven't found the right buttons and beads yet to complete the embellishing. This will go in the Christmas gift box.

10. Star Sampler - I wish I could remember which quilt guild site I got this from as a BOM. The blocks were designed so you had a semi-framing of each - how different for me - a learning technique for sashing. It needs a border, quilting, and binding. This will go in the Christmas gift box.

11. Cob Web Quilt - My first Bonnie Hunter quilt. Oh, it really needs a good pressing as it was on the very BOTTOM of the pile. I think it needs a skinny border as the edges are a little ruffled. Then quilted and bound. This will be added to the charity quilt tote.

12. Country Row Quilt - This is a Debbie Mumm pattern and I think maybe 3 yrs ago - yikes. But it introduced me to row quilts, which I love to do. It needs a thin black border to frame it, quilted (long arm), and bound. This will go into the Christmas gift box.

Completing this list will help in filling the charity tote (I love to support our community) and I will have a few Christmas gifts finished.
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Ave Maria

I end the year with my most favorite seasonal hymn, Ave Marie - Hail Marie. I only have to hear the prelude and I start to cry.

I kept to my minimal, relaxing non-sewing and sewing for the month. I put all my machines up and that led to pulling out my Hexies. Not sure what I will do with the little rascels yet, but they are fun. And I have stayed on track with Bonnie Hunter's new mystery - Roll Roll Cotton Boll. I layed all the parts out on serving trays - don't they look like little cakes and candies? And I am participating in the Layer Cake quilt-a-long, but I am using leftover fabrics from 2 different FQ packs.

I need to inventory all my UFO's and get them ready for my different challenge lists. I am so ready to do finishes and 2011 looks to be an exciting year.

Sewingly Yours
Sharon

Joy To The World

Joy to the World - words: Isaac Watts based on Psalm 98, music: arranged by Lowell Mason based on themes in Handel's Messiah


May the days until Christmas be full of sweet pleasure,
And your holidays create joyful memories to treasure.

Silent Night

 

 Silent Night was written in 1818, by an Austrian priest Joseph Mohr. He was told the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken and would not be prepared in time for Christmas Eve. He was saddened by this and could not think of Christmas without music, so he wanted to write a carol that could be sung by choir to guitar music. He sat down and wrote three stanzas. Later that night the people in the little Austrian Church sang "Stille Nacht" for the first time.

The carol

We have had a number of days with very little sun and minor snow has drifted down upon us.  I haven't done a lot of sewing these few days.  Monday and Tuesday were our sewing class day's x-mas parties.

 Tuesday night was the Guild party - 158 pillowcases were turned in for the "Million Pillowcase Project".  I thought that was outstanding for a 46 member guild. They will be going to a local Christian's Charity for distribution.

Wednesday I spent most of the day helping my Mom wrap gifts and just be with her as she was feeling a bit down as this is the first holiday without Dad.  A dear friend of mine stopped by to pick up some items I had done for her for X-mas presents and we had a nice visit - tea, slices from a zucchini bread she brought, and holiday music while we caught up on some things.

I have to just put the binding on my new shop sign. The sun has poked it's head out and making the new fallen snow glisten.

 I thought I would post some of my blue and white quilts - gosh I have a lot of blue.