Mid December Stitching

Life seems to be settling down a bit from the crazy pace of the last few months.  The days are drawing closer and I'm finding a few spare moments here and there for some stitching.  There is something relaxing about the time spent sewing.

I still have a few small projects to finish before Christmas, but I hope to get those done in the next few days.  Meanwhile, sewing a few minutes at a time helps to get the clues to the Bonnie Hunter Quiltville Mystery, On Ringo Lake, done.  I have managed to keep up - so far.  Clue #4 came out today and I had to give it a try.  I love these pieces - both the design and the colors.

The last few weeks have used the salmon color so I was happy to move away from that color.

A friend of mine had started a lovely quilt for her newest grandson.  She did such a nice job on the applique and was in the process of hand quilting it, but has been knocked down a bit by some medical problems.  Knowing she was not going to be able to complete it for Christmas, she asked if I would machine quilt the borders for her to finish it off.  I wish that I had the time to hand quilt it to complement her work, but the quilt is now finished and ready to be gifted.

It's hard to believe that the year is almost over and my Temperature Quilt is now in its final days.  November was a colorful one with some record breaking temperatures.  December has been exceptionally warm too.  I don't know why my one blue is showing up so dark in the photos, but I'll try to capture the whole year when the lighting is better.  It surely looks different from my sister's geese since she lives in Alaska.  You can see hers at IG alaskanquilter.

Puppy time is also consuming a lot of my free time.  One of us is definitely getting trained.  This little guy is such a love and wants to be wherever I am at all times.  Writing my Christmas cards, he was right there with a nose on my knee.

Sewing.....he sleeps in his bed right next to the sewing machine.

Computer time??? lol  It's tough to use the keyboard when he is sleeping on my wrist.

I'd say he is adjusting to his new home quite well.

The Thomas fire is still burning in our area with nearly 1000 structures now burned down and two deaths - one of a young firefighter yesterday.  Full containment is not expected until January 7th.  Our quilt guild and many others are joining the Ventura Modern Quilt Guild in making blocks for quilts for the victims.  It is an easy block to make if anyone is interested in participating.  This is from their website.

Company and Goals

The days are just never long enough these days.  The days, weeks and months slip by too quickly.  October is here and it is time for setting my October goals. 

We enjoyed our house guests from England so much.  While the "guys" were away golfing most every day, Irene and I stayed home and quilted ... and quilted ...and quilted.  They will become grandparents for the first time in a few months so her goal was to make a baby quilt and a quilt for their own bed while they were here.  She loved my Granny's Flower Garden Quilt and decided on that pattern for their bed.

This was a quilt pattern from an old Quiltmaker magazine.  We did this one with a Minky backing and it feels so heavenly.

Then we managed to get a few more done as well.  A simple, but fun baby shower gift...

.....as well as a double Irish Chain.   This one still needs the last two rows attached before she can quilt it, but the other three are done up until the binding.  She even had to buy a new rolling suitcase to get these and plenty  a little more fabric home with her.

 

We even took some time out for retail therapy.  Trainers (tennis shoes) and some NYD jeans were on that shopping list. 

During that time we celebrated our newest granddaughter's Christening with our oldest granddaughter and grandson as the godparents.

We headed down to San Diego with our house guests for a business meeting and enjoyed some beautiful and relaxing weather while we were there.

Now....it is back to real life and back to some goals for October.  I have chosen to finish the Christmas stocking that I started last year.  I am not sure I will be able to finish it, but it HAS to be done for Christmas.  I put it aside last December when I knew there was no chance of finishing it by Christmas.  Wish me luck!!!