Celtic Soltice Part #4

Well, the old gal came home all cleaned, repaired, and prime for some sewing!  What better to put her back into her paces that the next step of Celtic Soltice.

Lots of 4-patches quickly went thru her in an afternoon.  I love how this machine hums along and is so spot on with her seam allowance that very little trimming had to be done.  We are ready for the next step.

** linking up with Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville **

The only sewing I have been doing this month has been Solitice.  Gosh, piecing on my old machine got me inspired.  So I pulled the box of units for the 'Count Down to Christmas' by Temecula Co.  I will try to get at least half of the quilt top together - already rippet a few sections as I just lose the flow of the pattern for some reason.  I love these Mid Winter Reds fabrics.

 

Remember the photos of all our snow, here is the same shots a few days later.  We went from single digits to the 60's and rain (yes, Winter Soltice felt like Spring), so most of the snow is gone - yet still that same grey sky.  We are to drop back down into 'cold' and an ice storm is predicted now for Christmas Day.  We shall see.

I will be taking the rest of the week for family, friends, food, and memories.  Merry Christmas and Season's Blessings to all.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Santa Sack Swap

I always enjoy this swap that Cheryll hosts each year.  There were a few rule changes this year to make things easier with the mailing.  My partner this year was the lovely JoAnne at The Patriotic Quilter and I had lots of time to browse her blog to get some great ideas as to what to send her.  And she stalked me too -- and did a terrific job of it, too.

First I grabbed some Hot Chocolate in my Santa Mug (not in photo as I was afraid I would knock it over and spoil things) and  this tin of GREAT cookies.  My dear friend Sheila sends me these from NC every year - she lives around the bend from them - OH SO GOOD!!

This was the 'sack' - I LOVE buttons and look at them and all the pockets on and in this bag is perfect.  And not overly Christmasy, so I plan to use this as my new Guild bag - I'm VP and need to carry lots of stuff, so this is perfect.

 Pockets all around the inside and a draw string top - I love this and plan to show it off at the January meeting.

And all the goodies!!  Which to open first?  I went from the smallest to the largest.  I thought my furries would be happy to help - but they are napping.

The bag of nuts are native grown/packaged Virginia (where JoAnne is from) and I will be taking them with me when visiting my daughter's family on Christmas.  A sweet tree on a vintage play block - and she found the letter 'V' for me - and buttons on it too.  I actually saw something similar at a local show and thought how cute - now I have my own personalized one.  And the pincushion - that is going into the bag so I have it when we do little projects at guild meetings.

Thank you, thank you, thank you - JoAnne notice on my blog that I LOVE Mary Engelbreit - note pad and little journal, cute baking cups (these are just too sweet to bake in), and the great iron carrier that opens to be used as an ironing pad.  Oh, I need this!  A guild member loaned me her pattern for one of these, now I don't have to make it.  AND I have one in ME fabrics!!  Drool!!

A sweet little sewing kit for sewing machine care - perfect for my new machine.  My favorite color is blue - look at those FQs!!  And JoAnne hand dyed these herself - extra special.  These will have to go into a very special project - they need to shine.

Thank you JoAnne for so many lovely and thoughtful gifts and to Cheryll for hosting again.

It looks like a very Merry Christmas,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Celtic Soltice Part #3

I had to finish up the part #2 chevrons, so here is part #1 and #2.  I am using my new machine and trying to get use to where the 1/4" is.  Also, she goes VERY FAST, so I am using a medium speed or my piecing might include one of my fingers.

  
I love to make HSTs and usually would try to use all those bits and pieces up to make these, but with the new machine I thought it would be best to use the 'make 8 at a time' method.  Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks has all the math charted out and nice tutorial is you have never used this method.

25 pinwheels and 100 little HSTs done and waiting for the next step.
** Linking up with Bonnie Hunter's Mystery **

And while working Celtic Soltice we are heading into Winter Soltice.....

No, I didn't grey scale these photos - this is how it has looked since Friday - cold, snow, and grey.  The sun might come out tomorrow and we are to climb into the 50's by the weekend - we shall see.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

A Quilter's Oath

I saw this on Patty's Blog and just had to add this to my NewFO and 2014 Year's list of 'to-do's.  Please feel free to share on your own blog.