And a Prosperous New Year

Definition of prosperous

1 : auspicious, favorable

2a : marked by success or economic well-being

  b : enjoying vigorous and healthy growth : flourishing

 

With the beginning of a new month, year and decade prosperous seems to be a better word to associate with the new year than happy. You can define auspicious, favorable, success, economic well-being, healthy growth and flourishing however it fits you but I hope you have it in abundance. 

I don't typically make New Year's resolutions, however I do make lists. I noticed I made a list of my UFO / WIP in my very first blog post over 10 years ago.  The sad part is one of those projects is still unfinished (one of the ornament wall hangings), and the blue butterfly quilt was finally quilted in 2017.  Back then my list included four UFO / WIP...I'm sad to report this years list - which I am NOT going to publish - has 25 UFO / WIP! How did that happen!!!

My list includes the three quilts I'm working on below. First up is my mom's quilt which is pieced, has a back, and the binding is made. It is schedule to be quilted in January.

 

I checked out the pillow tuck on my bed. All good! The top border pillow tuck is all one piece of fabric that measures 32 x 95 inches. The whole quilt measures 95 x 115!

I've also been working on the Civil War Legacies Land of Lincoln Sampler Quilt that I started in August of 2018...hmmm, I didn't do much blogging in 2018 and don't have pictures of the blocks I finished at Lynn Wilder's quilt retreat. Bad bad blogger. Here are the two blocks I finished this past week:

I have three more sampler blocks to make.

 

I've also joined the local quilt guild and took home a donation quilt to quilt and bind:

 

 

I have stitched in the ditch every other row and around the border. I think it needs more...what more is I'm not sure. Was thinking of some odd 45 degree lines in each set of rows and maybe some double loops in the border as it is a polka dot. The guild had already pinned the quilt (not very well) and has provided binding fabric which is the same as the back - a small floral that matches color wise, but not design wise - I don't think the floral goes with the quilt top and will check my stash for something that coordinates better. IMHO even if it is a donation quilt it should be pretty and the floral doesn't work.

Soon I should be able to cross three items off my list. It hasn't even started and I can tell it is going to be a very prosperous new year.

 

Happy Holidays

I've never done a lot of holiday decorating because I was never home for Christmas. This year since I'd just finished unpacking sooooo many boxes, I really didn't feel like unpacking a bunch of Christmas decorations also (I know, bah humbug to me). I mostly hung holiday quilts.

Table runner and primitive stitchery.

Radiant star and a winter star.

Rummage sale stitchery that I re-purposed.

 Another primitive stitchery.

I should put this ornament wall hanging next to the star as I used the same fabrics for both.

Since Christmas Eve dinner is at my house I did unpack a few things so I'm not a total Grinch.

I hope you all have a very happy, safe, and joyful holiday.
  

Oops Almost Forgot

I'm having a very hard time remembering what day it is. I almost forgot to write this post.

I'm still unpacking bits and pieces and re-arranging AND trying to remember where I put most of it. I'm still a little unsettled but I think now it is due to the holidays not from moving.

Everyone is so focused on Christmas, do you realize that in 15 days we will start a new decade!  2020 still seems like a year for science fiction novels, not real life. This past year and the past 10 years have gone by so fast and so much has happen. I should probably be saving these comments for my December 30th post. ;o)

I showed my view last week but I didn't really show the whole view...

 (Excuse the pillows, Bella likes to scratch the furniture and the pillows are a good deterrent.)

The back wall of the living room is all windows, no curtains or blinds. A little strange but I love it. Nobody can see in as I'm almost the last house on the hill, everyone else is about twenty or more feet down. There is a big drop at the back of my property line to the house behind me. The house above me is waaaaay above and down the road. Very private. The bad side is I haven't been able to meet any of my neighbors yet.

On the quilting front, I finished up the binding on this quilt:

Not too bad...only took 18 months from start to finish.  ><

 I finished piecing the Temecula Quilt Company's Tiny Trees miniature. I like the little quilt but the finishing instructions were not the best. Once the binding is added I'm going to loose at least one point and it is technically not squared up...maybe a 4 degree parallelogram. How do you think red binding would look?
 

In the New House

Finally.

Moving day was almost uneventful. Instead of three movers only two showed up. Those two guys worked their patookies off and then had to drive home to Eugene - about a 2.5 hour drive.

I didn't stay at the house Tuesday as all my personal stuff and Bella were still at my mom's house and I had also worked my patookie off. I really didn't feel like bringing another load over and unpacking it.

So Wednesday was the official first night for Bella and I. Other than a very vocal trip over Bella has done great.

Except there is no bathtub in my bathroom for her to play in...

But there are lots of high places to explore.

And these guys come by everyday.

All the furniture is in place and has even been re-arranged already. I have unpacked or at least looked in all of the boxes. The back bedroom is a bit of a mess as all the nick-knacks and pictures are there. The garage still needs to be "arranged" so I can put stuff out there and fit the truck in. A friend of my mom's is moving next month so she has been coming by for boxes everyday - good incentive to unpack and really helpful to have them out of the way so quickly!

My sewing room (formally the office) has been set up...

And is a mess already as I started pulling and cutting fabrics for Temecula Quilt Company's Tiny Trees sew along.

The new washer and dryer have been delivered but they were not able to install the dryer. Hopefully that will be resolved tomorrow as I have a mountain of laundry and risk having to go commando soon. ;o)

I'll leave you with the view from the living room windows...

Tomorrow is Moving Day!

 
I got the keys to the new house on Thanksgiving. I've been moving boxes and stuff that was stored in my mom's RV garage over the last few days but tomorrow is the official moving day cause this truck will get unloaded...

Isn't that scary looking? The picture was taken from the front door. My new house is on a narrow road, on a steep hill with an equally steep driveway. Yes, the truck is taking up the whole lane. There was no place else the driver could park it. Luckily the road is a dead end with only about a dozen homes above me.

I did put out a couple of road cones with reflectors on them - it has been very foggy in the mornings and I don't want anyone driving into the truck.

The movers will be here early tomorrow morning, I hope they have lots of coffee and Wheaties before they arrive. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep in my new house tomorrow night. 
 

B is for Bella

And bag...

Box...

Bathtub...

 (I've never added a video before...hope this works)




Bookshelf...

Blanket (took 15 minutes to find her)...

Blanket in a basket...

B is also for binding. The binding is done on my 2018 Project Linus Mystery quilt.

Barb did a beautiful job quilting it.

Material Girls of Shady Cove Quilt Show

 
I went to a local quilt show a few weekends ago. There were some beautiful quilts and the featured quilter had some some fantastic quilts displayed.

This quilt won Viewer's Choice last year...LOVE it.

Here are a few others I liked:

Love anything Kim Diehl...

I saw a tutorial for this quilt recently, I really liked this version.

I know I've mentioned this before, one of the things I really like about quilting is how two people can make the same quilt...

 
...and they will look totally different...

This is my type of wedding ring quilt - no curves!

The next few pictures are quilts made by the featured quilter...

And dorky me didn't get her name.

Her work is fantastic.

All of them had lots and lots of piecing.

The show also had a boutique with lots of hand made items.  I picked up this little quilt made with wonderful fall colored homespuns for $10!

 My mom and I went to a locally produced play called Quilters. They used quilt block names to tell the story of the life and hardships of pioneer women in the midwest.

Before I moved here I picked up three quilts from my longarm quilter, I finally got the binding added to one. It is officially finished!

 My mom kinda sorta lives in the booneys. This buck has been following and chasing the little doe for days.

I've also been making a few more of my trinket boxes for a craft fair coming up this weekend. I've already sold one.

I'm hoping this coming week will be a little quieter than the last few so I can get some serious sewing done.
 
  

PIQF

 
Warning: lot of pictures.

The Pacific International Quilt Show in Santa Clara, CA this year was great for quilts, not so much for vendors. I don't know if it is because this show is just before Fall quilt market or what, but vendor wise there was nothing new or exciting...or maybe I'm just jaded or have way too much stash (probably both).  I didn't but any fabric, but did buy two new patterns.

BUT the quilts were great. Here are a few of my favorites:

The flowers in this quilt were embroidered and crocheted or tatted. Beautiful.

Loved the quilting in this modern quilt.

The weasel was adorable and had lots of texture.

This quilt is for Rose; a new layout for crumb blocks. Loved the colors.

I texted a picture of the pirate quilt to a friend who's youngest son loves everything pirates. He was a pirate last year for Halloween and a zombie pirate this year. :o)

If I remember correctly the bow ties were two inch blocks.

Loved the details of this medallion quilt.
 

This quilt was my favorite.

The fabric was a waxed linen.

It looked like carved Alabaster.

Loved the details of this old house.

I want to make this quilt.

Even the borders were pieced blocks.

Two fabrics and threadplay. Another favorite.

Fun modern quilt. I really liked the colors and the quilting.

As always it was a fun day spent with quilts and friends.

Next week I'll show some pictures of the quilts from the Material Girls of Shady Cove quilt show.