Good sewing day

 Good sewing days happen but great ones where you can do no wrong, don't

come along very often. I had a great one yesterday. I have been using pieces to sew up a charity quilt. I was making pinwheels to extend the length of the quilt then I needed a border to go all around. I was going searching when, before leaving the sewing room, I saw a piece of fabric from a backing I just finished. There were two pieces of fabric and they were directional. BUT there was just enough for the borders and the design on the fabric was even going the right way. Two pieces the perfect length for the sides and a chunk that I could get three pieces out of to complete the top and bottom. And now this kind of freaky monkey clown fabric is used up!!! It has been in my stash for over 14 years and it was time for it to leave! The small piece I have left is going to be cut up and go into my scrap buckets of specific sizes.

all that's left

center pieced

freaky monkeys

That will be the last of the charity quilts I wanted to make this month. I promised to make 4 and give them in other people's name to charity as part of Christmas gifts. It was an easy way to shop and a nice gift to give and receive, I hope! You can see the other two

completed top

here and one more was finished last Fall.

Today there will be a backing to create from some larger chunks and then I will sandwich one of them to machine quilt. It will be a busy day. It has warmed up from -30 to -14 so I guess me and the dog need to get outside for a much overdue walk. The cold has kept us indoors for a couple of days. Today I will also be checking in with my friend Kathy and her slow stitching group and see what everyone is working on.

Wishing and hoping everyone is having a good or even better a great sewing day!!

Thread spools

 Two years ago, I kept all the spools I emptied all year. I had a good bag full...you can see them here. This past year I did the same thing. There were not as many spools but given the year I have had it is understandable. I will definitely not measure my success  by how many spools I emptied but by how many people were made happy by receiving a quilt from me. Whether to family, charity or otherwise, I hope they all enjoy them. I have already begun saving up the spools this year...one down and many more to come I am sure! 

#1 charity quilt

#2 charity quilt

Today it was -33 when I awoke. So it will be an inside day for sure. I am working on my third charity quilt top. Putting together scraps, bits and pieces from someone else's stash is lots of fun but hoping you have enough fabric is always a worry. The center of this quilt has gone together now to make it longer and finish the top!

#3 in progress

I have more of the green and white checker board or lots of hst...hmmm not sure where it will go. Come back tomorrow to find out. 

The winner is....

WINNER

 After my post on Sunday in which I showed the projects I want to start.  You can read about the suggestions here! Here is what  10 of you told me with your comments. I guess the pattern quilt can wait, along with the kit. It was close between the other two with the  bright blocks with the black and white sashing winning. So that is what I will be working on today.

will finish this one

Well it is a good day to start something new....it's my birthday!! So now that the shovelling is done(we got 6" of snow overnight) I can get started! But I must just finish sewing this charity quilt top together. I started it while I waited for you all to decide! This was a package that I bought at a sale at our guild. It had finished blocks and lots of extra pieces. There will be enough for 2 quilts but this top will get done and I will work on the other one later. It needs some time so I can come up with some ideas for a layout as the blocks are all different sizes!

these will wait a bit

So I am spending the day watching the snow fall and sewing. What else could you ask for...oh coffee that has been hot chocolate bombed!!

First Sunday of a new year

   I am hoping to increase my blogging this year. My hope is to at least get one done every Sunday so I can join in with my friend Kathy for some slow stitching.  So here I am today already falling behind. In my post here, I said yesterday was going to be a day of finding a new project. Although I did clear off my working table, I didn't quite get to figuring out the newest project. So many to chose from so I thought maybe you my blog readers would like to help out. Here are my choices:  1 paper pieced double wedding ring, 2 small lap quilt kit or 3 scrappy patchwork quilt or 4 bright blocks with black and white sashing. I have had all these for quite some time and it is time they were finished. Where do I start, I am leaving that up to you! My hope is to get them all done this year...I may need a queue spot in my sewing room!!

#1 wedding ring

#2 small kit

Today I will be looking in on Kathy and seeing what she is planning for the new year. She has many followers from all over the world who join in with a day of slow stitching and relaxing. Check her blog and see what is going on and who is joining in today! 

#3 scrappy patchwork

#4 blocks with sashing

Happy stitching, sewing, quilting and knitting!

I will be waiting to see what everyone chose!