2023 A YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 another year another quilt...well ok a lot of quilts and other fiber inspired projects

I finished the Churning 14 top but didn’t ' really like it.

I donated it to charity, knowing it will find a new home.

I made this Infinite Hearts quilt for me

but my Son loved it and it now lives with him!

Charley Harper Winter Birds flew into my nest!

Immediately followed by a GROVE of Charley Harper scrappy birch trees.

As spring rolled into view...

sew did these kitchen table toppers.

This is Picnic by Cluck Cluck Sew

I love this Sassy Garden quilt

Avalon Pattern and Jane Sassaman Fabrics.

I resized The Perry County Flamingo! 

Laura Heine Collage

Wyndjammer Red 

My last quilt top is PEAKS a pattern test

for Frannie B Quilt Company 

And these two tops w/backs and bindings were just finished 

And ready for the (longarmer(s)

X & + By Zen Chic

Ruby Star Society Picnic Quilt

I made a bunch of  bags this years.

Cute Kwilty Girls baskets for retreat.

You know I love these girls if they get

something I made using my Ghastlies Craft fabric.

A quilted pillow cover for the sofa.

I only finished one speckled Hitchhiker shawl.

 Productive year but..

I also provided lots of love and care to my sweet husband who had pneumonia with complications;

Followed by an operation to insert a shunt into his head to eliminate ‘water on the brain’ and rwo years of him falls at.  And then,right afterThanksgiving he caught COVID for the first time.

I had a health issue that is resolved but it scared the bejeebies outa me,

I am OK

A couple fun things did happen…I attended a couple Kwilty Girls retreats

Visited my son 2 times at the beach !

And had a solo quilt show that featured 14 pieces of my art

 at Inniswood Gardens, Westerville OH

I am ready to say enough of this stressful year on this day known as 

123123

A TOAST TO CHRISTMAS EVE!

December has been a difficult month for me

My hubby came down with COVID (first time since it reared its evil head in 2020)

 With COVID comes quarentine...at least at my house.

I had to cancel my 'Cork and Fork" girls party and two dinners. 

One of the dinners was our 24th Wedding Anniversary. 

My wine theme tree is FIRST tree I decorated this year, in early November.

It's a new LED pre-tree that stands 7' tall.

The warm glow in the corner just fills my heart with calm.

I always begin my tree decorating with the topper

cause that is the STAR, even if there is no STAR!

This year the topper is made of many textures and colors.

Vineyard greenery/leaves, glittery balls (does that sound right?)

Grapevines, lace and glitter ribbon.

You will find more bunches of grape clusters on this tree,

than possibly in a vineyard!

Let's not forget the texture and color runs throughout the tree!

Sew pretty in the daylight.

My tree collar is made with actual wooden wine crates.

And here, a soft glow each evening.

Atop the fridge an array of thrifted winey themed items.

The shiny trees were actually new this year and

they may find another spot for the winter season.

I just love this thrifted look.

Isn't this just grape!  I mean great!

So lets toast to a Merry Christmas and a 

VERY HAPPY and HEALTHY New Year!

2024 PEAKS

I was asked late 2023 to pattern test, again,

for Corinne Wells of Frannie B Quilt Company.

There were 3 patterns we could choose from...

I was limited on time sew I choose  "PEAKS" pattern.

It's actually a re-write making it Layer Cake friendly.

I had a lot of baby prints and so I decided this could

be a perfect pattern to use for a charity quilt.

Sashing is white and the corner stones are black.

The main prints have lots of fun sheep.

and I kept the PEAKS minimal in contrast using GRUNGE.

All the blocks went together very quickly!

I had a ruler and vinyl strip that

made marking the PEAKS sewing line very easy.

Work smarter, not harder!

Sewing this was very fast.

I did keep notes of anything I felt was 

a possible correction for the pattern test.

This is the finished top...just adorable!

I found fabric for the backing and binding in my stash!

Corrine Wells has a new "SKI HILL" fabric line

with Riley Blake!  It releases in the spring.

Not your typical colors but thats

the modern part of her designs I truly enjoy!

There's a panel for this pattern.

Corrine is from UTAH and has skiied since she was 3 yo.

Cute Skiis Pattern

I skiied back in the day and loved

snow skiing in Colorado!

Snowmass Mountain was my favorite...

and where one of my best friends 'ashes".

We had many great runs down those slopes.

Its where he said he had the MOST FUN EVER

and wanted to rest there forever.

And here the Ski Hill fabric in her pattern

'Stargazers. I did this one as a pattern test last year,

in autumnal colors.

I love pattern testing.  It challenges me as needed.

It gives me a chance to use my stash for

a charity project.

I will quilt this PEAKS quilt and

donate it to Project Linus.

Here's a link to Frannie Be Quilt Company webiste.

Lots of great patterns and fabric over there.

Check it out!

What are you working on now?