Design Wall Wednesday: Cozy Christmas

Playing around with a new project.  Don't look too closely - this sample block has some problems.

Doesn't help that I laid out the whole thing and then did this as I started to sew it together:

Middle section sewed backwards.  I got distracted.  Ugh.  Ripping out on the first block may not be a good omen.  Then again, maybe I have made my mistakes and have it all figured out now.  It sure took some fiddling to figure out which direction I want to press everything.

Continuing backwards in time, this is the number of pieces in each block:

This should keep me busy.  I don't think I'll get it done this Christmas, but it will be fun to work on.  I need 6 of these blocks and 6 tree blocks and then a busy border.

I'm already worried about Christmas since this is one of those years where Thanksgiving happens late so we have a shorter season.  So much we always try to fit in!  Lots of concerts and parties and performances coming up soon.

Needlework Tuesday: Crows

I'm almost done with my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.  I had to add the final borders before I can attach the last few applique crows.

Here's the top half, with the crows and stars pinned on.  I really don't like crows in real life - they seem to bully the songbirds out of the yard.  One of my kids told me they can recognize a human face up to two years later.  That's just creepy.  I'd hate to have a crow mad at me. 

I'm also stealing moments at my sewing machine to continue making blue stars for the patriotic quilt I started.  It's amazing to me the fabrics that I can find in my stash that I've forgotten about.  Luckily these stars only require very small pieces so I'm able to use up some of the scraps I have around. 

Stealing time to sit and sew is certainly therapeutic for me.  I learned yesterday that an old family friend passed away in his sleep.  We never expect to hear bad news, but it is so good to have comforting things to turn to to keep the mind and hands busy as we work through life and grief.  When my brother died, one of my sisters-in-law prepared pot after pot of tea.  It wasn't necessary, but it was comforting, and it was something to do in those hours of sadness.  Today I'll make tea too I think.

Design Wall Wednesday: Garden Stroll

This is part of my hexagon quilt from a pattern called "Garden Stroll".  It's been so fun to make - the hexies are paper pieced from a charm pack.  After I assemble these strips and inner border, there is a wide border that will need to be scalloped.  Any advice on tricks to make a scalloped border are welcome!  I'm a little nervous about it.

My design wall is on a big cabinet in the garage, which is why you see the handle on the left.

Just another week until school starts.  Although I love having the kids around, there's been a little too much of this going on lately:

The twins look like bookends while they play Mario Kart on the wii.

Design Wall Wednesday: Weekend Woolies

 

Weekend Woolies is the name of this pattern.  The fabrics are all flannel and since this picture was taken I've already sewn about half of it together.  You can see some of the floral setting triangles at the top.  It's going to be very pink and girly.

I see a lot of bloggers posting for "Design Wall Wednesday" but I'm not sure who (if anybody) hosts it.  If you know, please tell me so I can link up and give credit for the idea.

When I retrieved this photo from my camera I found a picture I didn't take.  Someone else in the family borrowed the camera and shot this:

Little Hestia sitting up where she's not supposed to be, enjoying a patriotic quilt.