End of Year Review

      As 2025 nears the end, it has been interesting to look back at what I worked on during the year. I finished 27 quilts including 2 wall-hangings, others mostly lap or couch size and a couple of twin or full bed size quilts. I made 1 QOV top to be finished by another QOV group. I made numerous other smaller quilted projects like quilted journal covers, mug rugs and placemats which were all gifted. Below is a group picture of my favorite 2025 finishes.

Here is how I did on my goals for the year.

1. Finish UFOs - I started the year with a list of 11 UFOs for me and 12 for SQG (Shandon Quilt Group- my church quilt group). Of those 11 I have 5 remaining and made a little progress on some of them. I started 2 new projects that are not yet finished plus I moved orphan blocks into another lap size charity top so they are at the top of my UFO list for 2026. While working on organizing the UFOs for the new year, I remembered another quilt top that was started in 2025 and is not finished. I had leftover fabric which I used to make another Kenny Koala top.

   Of the 12 UFOs for SQG, 9 were finished, one has quilting in progress, one was shared with a friend to quilt and only one waits. We did receive at least 5 tops from another group for us to quilt and donate so they are added to the list for the new year.

   Sadly I know I have other UFO projects and collections of orphan blocks. Actually last Monday I shared 20 rainbow anvil blocks that I finished. I'm not sure how I will use them. They are waiting for inspiration. My list for 2026 is growing.

2. Reduce fabric stash - You can see in my stash report I have a net decrease of 86 yds. That is not quite as much as last year, however, it is close and I am pleased.

Stash Report for 2025

So far this year - Used: 127.14 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 84.64 yds

3. Control and use scrap fabrics – I would like to make more impact on using my scraps. That means making more scrap blocks and more made-fabric. There may even be more fabrics that I can part with for someone else to use.

Have a Wonderful New Year and enjoy sewing, quilting and creating.

Blog Anniversary

     Tomorrow will be the 15^th anniversary of my blog. I started because I was teaching quilting classes locally and wanted to share what my students and I were creating. I was not and still am not much of a writer. I love to share my creative sewing/quilting projects and am inspired seeing what others create.

     I enjoyed a wonderful visit with family a week ago. It is a tradition to decorate gingerbread houses with my granddaughters. They do some creative construction now and I enjoy watching them create. Here are this year's creations.

     Then I came home with the flu even though vaccinated and did not do much of anything for the rest of the week. When I finally felt like getting up for a while, I worked on a UFO project. I started blocks about 2015 inspired by Bonnie K Hunter's “Wild Child” quilt from her book String Fling. My plan for the blocks have changed over the years. Last year I used 20 of the blocks for the “Wild Rainbow” quilt for a great niece.

Sunday I finished the last 20 blocks for another quilt. That feels like great progress on a UFO and a good way to end the year.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful season of peace, love and joy.

 Merry Christmas!  

Holiday Happenings without Sewing

     I enjoyed a few days with family so not much sewing/quilting was done. My younger GD was in her school show of Frozen Jr for 4 performances and 4 different costumes in each show as she was the queen then part of the Townspeople, Hidden Folk, chorus and dancers in other scenes. It was a cute show by sixth through eighth graders.

     I baked gingerbread house pieces with the plan for GDs to construct and decorate today after school.

This was Lily's creation last year.

    Sunday was a quiet time to visit and enjoy dinner out. Here is a picture of son Will and I.

Hope you enjoy the holiday season.

Have a great week.

Small Finishes

      I expect this is a very busy time of year for you as it is for me. I have had a quilt sandwich sitting for the past month and I have not touched it except to move where it sits. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my siblings, a niece, a nephew and children. It was a much smaller group than a couple of years ago; however, still very nice.

     I found time to make a few smaller things. I finished one of my red bird wall-hangings. The second will probably wait until after Christmas.

     My younger GD requested Christmas pajamas for her bear. Here is the finished outfit that I will deliver at the end of this week.

She loves to decorate her bedroom for each season and also requested that I make a snowflake pillow. I found a template online. I am not totally happy with the result but hope she will be. It was rather fiddly to sew and the stretch of the furry material distorted the shape. 

I used the extra material to make two soft infinity scarves.

     Saturday I decided to make a couple of Christmas placemats for a quick gift.

I hope you are getting sewing/quilting projects finished if you plan to give them for Christmas so you are not stressed out.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 1 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 127.14 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 84.64 yds

Enjoy this joyous holiday season.

Quilt Finish

     I finished the quilting on the Bass Time quilt and the binding is waiting. A few days ago I came across a roll of “Quilt & Tear on a Roll”. I had bought it years ago on a shop hop when I was just learning FMQ; however, I had not opened the roll until this week. I was trying to decide what design to quilt and thought it would be fun to quilt a simple fish. I looked in Laura Lee Fritz's book, 250 Continuous-Line Quilting Designs for Hand, Machine & Long-Arm Quilters. I found a great large mouth bass and seaweed. I was hesitant to quilt it without using a guide and luckily I have the roll of “Quilt & Tear on a Roll”. I traced fish going both directions.  I pinned pieces where I wanted the fish. 

 After quilting, it came off very easily.

I free-handed the seaweed and loopy meander to fill in.

The backing is pieced from leftover fabric.

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday.

“When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Making Quilt Sandwiches

     Last Thursday I finished my string spiderweb quilt and wanted to work on another UFO. I pulled a top waiting for quilting and pieced the backing from leftover fabrics. I also pieced large batting scraps to be used for the sandwich. The pattern is Eleanor Burns' “Piece of Cake” quilt using layer cake squares and goes together very quickly.

     While my craft table was clear, I decided to sandwich another top and the backing was ready. I used more batting scraps to create a Franken-batting. The pattern is the 3 yd pattern “Fascination” except I had more fabric so used a wider border.

     With the holidays nearing and many events on my schedule, I'm not sure when I will have time to quilt, but I like having quilt sandwiches ready for when I find the time.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 3.6 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 126.14 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 83.64 yds

“When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

UFO Finish

     I have had string spiderweb blocks sitting for at least 10 years. A couple of months ago I decided that I would just finish the quilt at lap sized so that it would be finished.  Finished is better than bed size. I added the HST border to make it a little larger. I saw the FMQ motif on Sew with Jo's Country Junction on this YouTube video.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 1.16 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 122.54 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 80.04 yds

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday.

“When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Making Progress

     I visited with my sister a couple of days and she pinned the hem for my new dress. It was hemmed and ready to wear Sunday. Then I added sashing and borders for the 2 red bird wall-hangings. I hand embroidered the twigs. I laid out buttons to see how it will look; however, I will not sew them on until after they are quilted. All the fabrics and pieces are from my stash.

     I spent part of 2 days quilting my string spider web quilt. I used the continuous FMQ motif that Jo shares on this YouTube video.  I did add a little quilting in the stars.  Hopefully I will get the outer border quilted and binding done by Friday.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 0.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 121.38 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 78.88 yds

“When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Couple of Finishes

     For many reasons I haven't done much quilting or sewing recently. Finally I had some time.  I pieced 7 cardinal blocks which will make 2 wall-hangings. With one extra I made a mug rug.

The cardinal is from the “Dressed in Red” pattern from Debbie Mumm's book Seasonal Samplers Autumn and Winter Book 2 .

    Saturday I finished quilting the “Woven On-Point” with partial seam blocks and made the binding. I quilted a simple meander for the center blocks and feathers in the on-point border. Sunday I sewed the binding on half way. Here is a photo without binding.

     At the August meeting of my quilt guild I demonstrated and showed faux flange bindings on placemat samples. I had a few finished and others in stages. This past Wednesday at my church quilt group I shared the technique. Friday I finally finished stitching the bindings on my unfinished samples so they are ready for gifting to Meals on Wheels clients. The faux flange can really add a pop to a project. If you don't have enough fabric for a traditional binding, a faux flange binding can save the day and it is still a double fold binding.

    Members of my congregation folded over 1000 paper cranes. I spent 3 mornings helping string cranes for the church display. This is only half of them. They look really nice.

     I was out of town for 3 days recently for a PW retreat on St. Simon's Island, GA. This was my first visit. I especially enjoyed the beautiful old oak trees.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 4 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 120.88 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 78.18 yds

“When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Lap Quilt Finish

     I am excited to have finished this quilt with applique inspired by Anna Maria ( Horner) Parry's quilt “Plot Twist 2”. I love her bold style and fun applique shapes.

I FM echoed the appliques and then quilted swirls in the pods and meandered around all the flowers and the background. Here is a close up of a pod.

It is almost too pretty for a lap quilt. I would love to use the applique ideas for a larger quilt.

     Now to pull one partially quilted and finish the quilting.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 0.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 116.88 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 74.18 yds

“When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.”

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Wall-hanging Finish

      I have several projects in the works and one needed to be finished for gifting on Oct. 19^th so I left other projects sitting to finish this small wall-hanging.

My church will be celebrating the 25 year ministry of our associate pastor for outreach. The blocks are foundation paper pieced. I chose 4 from the book, Symbols of Faith: 44 Quilt Blocks by Linda Causee. Originally the blocks finish at 7”; however, I enlarged them to 10”.

     I just need to stitch down the hanging sleeve and then I can get back to other sewing/quilting projects.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 116.38 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 73.88 yds

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished (or Not) Friday. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Little of This and That

     I spent last week out of town; however, I expected to have sewing and quilting time so I was prepared. I brought 2 quilt sandwiches and did in the ditch quilting on both to stabilize. Now they are more ready for FMQ.

     I brought Christmas fabric for holiday coaster sets. I cut out 4 sets of 6 and finished 2 sets. I cut out a new dress for myself; however, since I forgot interfacing I did not start sewing it. I also brought plants and set them out in my son's yard. The weather has been cool and beautiful. GD Lily's orchestra gave a short concert which was nice.

     Saturday afternoon I wanted something different to sew on. I found directions here for several methods of making Half Rectangle Triangles (HRTs ). I decided to try method one with some scraps. Unlike HSTs you need to know which way you want the triangle to face before you cut. Other than that I did not have a problem. Method one does require trimming to get the correct size.

     Now that I am back home, I hope to finish quilting at least one that I started quilting and sew my new dress.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 116.88 yds Added: 42.5 yds

Net decrease 74.38 yds

When life gives you scraps, make a quilt.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Not Much to Show

     I don't know where my time went the past week. I spent a little time on lots of different projects. My craft table is the clearest it has been in a long time. As I was clearing I made 5 scrap mug rugs.

     Some time was spent moving furniture and boxes to rearrange bedrooms. Saturday I took time to sandwich 3 lap size quilt tops.

I hope to start quilting on one this week. I also have plans to make a new fall dress, work in the yard and spend time with family.

     October is already looking busy and of course it won't be long before the busiest time of the year. The next couple of days we will be watching the tropical storms and hoping they miss us. What have you been busy with?

Stash Report for 2025

    this past week - Used: 7.075 yds Added: 4 yds

So far this year - Used: 114.38 yds Added: 42.5 yds

    Net decrease 71.88 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Another Quilt Top

     While work continued on my bath remodeling I pieced. I sewed my six large string spiderweb blocks together and added a breaker border. Next I used the 8 at a time technique to piece 4” finish HSTs. I needed 48. Since I wanted them more scrappy, I used 9 fabrics with yellows as the background fabric for 72 units so I now have a surplus of 4” scrappy HSTs for some other project. I added a dark blue other border. Here is the completed top.

     I need to get busy sandwiching some tops to quilt. 

    The bath remodel is finished and I love the result. I still need to do some decorating like install the blind and buy a shower curtain. 

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 2.6 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 107.305 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 68.805 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Embellished with Applique

      I have been inspired by the designs of Anna Maria (Horner) Parry for several years. Earlier this year I borrowed her book Anna Maria's Blueprint Quilting through my local library with the Hoopla app. Then a church member pieced a quilt top that I thought would make a great background for some applique. I wanted to try some of Anna Maria's applique ideas. Here is the quilt top before my embellishment.

      I made 1/2” wide bias tape for stems and vines. I used fusible applique with machine blanket stitch around the leaves and flowers. Here is the top with my applique.

I love it and look forward to using more applique on future projects.

There is not a sandwiched quilt waiting for me so it is time to get busy sandwiching a top.  I do have many HSTs in progress for a border so I can move that project along.  

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 3.75 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 108.455 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 69.955 yds

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday. It is great for inspiration. Check out what others are making.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Pieced and Quilted

     Work on the bathroom remodel is making progress; however, it seems slow. Hopefully it will be totally finished about midweek. While they worked, I pieced and quilted.

     At church quilt group Wednesday I found the perfect fabric and added a simple border to the economy blocks so the top is ready for a backing and quilting.

     After church quilt group Wednesday I brought home a sandwiched top for quilting.  It was pieced by Joan and she will sew the binding.  I used a light green blending thread so the quilting is not easily seen. The top portion has FMQ feathers. Next I used the technique of divide and conquer with crazy eight motif between parallel lines. On the bottom section I quilted swirls.

Close up view.

     I pulled another of my UFOs. I had 4 – 16” finish string spiderweb blocks from several years ago inspired by Bonnie Hunter's spiderweb quilt. I considered making enough for a 3 by 4 setting. Instead I decided to only make 2 more and plan to add a pieced border for a 48” by 64” lap size charity quilt. I finished two more blocks so here is the current layout.

I used my Fons and Porter Easy Diagonal Sets Ruler to trim the string units.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 0.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year – Used: 104.705 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 66.205 yds

 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Finish and Progress

     Workers have been in my home a few days remodeling a bathroom.

I stayed out of their way and enjoyed the time sewing and quilting. I pulled some orphan blocks and finished one placemat for a Meals on Wheels client.

   My sister Irene pieced a quilt top and asked me to quilt it so I did. I used a simple continuous line motif in the center and large swirls in the outer border.

Now it is ready for her to bind and gift.

   Next I decided a comfort quilt top needed some applique for enhancement. I have been inspired by quilts of Anna Maria (Horner) Parry. You can see her work here. I used some of Anna Maria's shapes to form flowers. Here is my planning progress.

Stash Report for 2025

this past week - Used: 1.75 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year –Used: 104.205 yds Added: 38.5 yds

Net decrease 65.705 yds

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday. Check it out. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.