So, I've been busily working on the blocks for the Timeless Treasures quilt I mentioned in my last post and I've got 24 blocks done.  I'm also determined to use up my Thimbleberries stash that I recently discovered again.  As I was sewing this week I remembered that I had a UFO (two actually) using Thimbleberries fabrics.  If I used the fabrics up in the quilt pictured above then I might not have enough to finish the UFO.

So, I switched projects.  I wanted to make the quilt below out of the usual 1930's fabrics as well as  Thimbleberries fabrics so I would have a reversible quilt.  That's why I actually have 2 UFOs.  

I was making 2 of every block and somewhere along the line this project got derailed.

It takes some mustered enthusiasm to work on a project but to stop midstream from one project to another has me a little off balance.  but, here I go. . . 

Here are the blocks that I had already made.  I was hoping I was farther along than this.  But, I got to work this week and like an impending storm I've been sewing with gusto. 

I found the pattern and fabric up on a shelf in my sewing room.  I think I started this quilt sometime in about 2010 or something.  It might have been as early as 2008.    Lynette Jensen stopped production of Thimbleberries fabric in 2012.

This was the first block I made.  It's not perfect and was harder than I thought it was going to be because those pieces are so small.  But, it's a pretty little  block, I can press out the unevenness,  and it's done.  

This is what my progress looks like now.  I like to think I'm a little over halfway. 

 

Those little 6" blocks are bears to sew.  I think I've got four more and they look a little more simple like a churn dash and such.  There is a slew of bowtie blocks in a row but those are easy enough to make.

I've got a number of large pieces of fabric that I'm going to cobble together as backings for both this quilt and the original one I started.  It's turning out to be quite a  nice little quilt.  I can see why I wanted to make it in the first place but I didn't intend it to be a marathon sewing project.

Robin

Do you remember this quilt?

 

This quilt called "Timeless Treasures" by Mabeth Oxenreider came out in the American Patchwork & Quilting magazine in June of 1996.  I'm sure you've seen dozens of them on the internet, maybe 100's.  

Well, I wasn't doing much quilting in 1996 so I missed out on this one.  But, as soon as I saw it I knew I would want to make one  There have been multiple variations of this design, but the original is my favorite.

My husband and I have been searching for something (that we still haven't found) for weeks and in so doing have been cleaning out closets, drawers, shelves, and boxes.  I found all my Thimbleberries fabrics in a closet downstairs.  This is a 5 gallon tote so there's lots and lots of fabirc.

And, I decided it was time to use it up and what better project than this "Timeless Treasures" quilt.

It's only taken me 25 years to get around to making it.  The original pattern has 6" blocks set 14 X 18 for a total of 252 blocks .  The quilt finishes at 84" X 108".  I made one block and decided it was too small for me.  I wanted bigger blocks of color.

So, I've made six 8" blocks that I like much better.  (That lower left block is just as ugly as it looks.) Some fabrics just don't have a chance 😐.  But, I'm still going to use it.  I will just get rid of the rest of that fabric.

I'm going to make the quilt top 10 X 11 which will finish at 80" X 88" and is a much better size I think.  That's 110 blocks total.

I'm curious how much fabric I will really use and will the tub look just as full when I finish this quilt top?  

I found one of my favorite quotes in our search through everything.

This reason I like this quote is because it tells me that everyone has their unique place in this world that no one else can replace, no one else can make a difference in our realm of influence like we can, no one is else is singularly adept at doing things as well as we can right here, right now. But, like the quote says. . . we still need each other. 

                                                             Kind of a dismal day outside.

But, while nature sleeps I will stay busy.

Have a wonderful day,

Robin

I need to figure out a way to spend more time in my sewing space.

 I realized this morning just now how much I miss creating.  I have been spending most of my time finishing things for the last two years and it just isn't as stimulating.

Making something new gives me the enthusiasm to create more.  It makes me happy.  Whether it's with cloth or some other medium, making and doing are my spark.  

I even like to create in the kitchen.  One of my favorite things is to bake. . . make desserts.  After Christmas I put all the leftover cookies and fudge, and cake etc. in the freezer (there was a lot) and we have been slowly eating them up.  Convenient yes, but I miss cooking.

I think it's normal to have the post-Christmas Blahs.  

Time to snap out of it.

So, I gathered the fabrics for the rest of my bird quilt.  

They just sparkle!

Robin

Also, Dotti in Connecticut, I appreciate your comment but I have no way to send you a reply.

Quick Post

 I finally figured out what I wanted to put in the corners of my bird center blocks.  I think the stars fill the space nicely.  I also added the little red upside down teardrops in the center because (of course) the bird isn't quite centered.  

I've only done 3 stars so far.  (Pardon the wrinkles)  I thought today would be a good day to concentrate on stitching these stars.  Only 45 more star points to go and they only take about 1/2 hr. to stitch.

Who am I kidding . . . this is going tot take a while~

I didn't post anything about my finishes for last year.  I do still have a quilt to show but I haven't taken a picture of it.  I also have my collected empty spools which is proof I did do something.  

Last year was definitely not about quantity.  It was more about trying new quilting ideas (that didn't always turn out) and learning new things.

An example is this quilt top I call "I can't hear you!"  because it is so muted.  I found out that these colors are not my color scheme.  I didn't enjoy this at all.

Please click on the picture to enlarge it and you'll get a better sense of the colors.

I have put it to the back of the queue for quilting.  Not sure what to do with it.  Lovely fabric line just not ringing any bells.

Robin

New quilt in the frames

 

Well, I put a new quilt on the frames.  I think this one is going to take a while.  It is about 86" square.  I was trying to think of ways to make it not seem so monotonous.  I thought maybe choosing 3 or more different colored quilting threads might make it interesting.  But, my husband (who normally has absolutely no opinions on anything I quilt) convinced me it would be distracting and not add anything to the quilt.  He's right of course.  So I'm in for the long haul.

I haven't really come up with a name for this quilt though it reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 1:18. 

My daughter #2 and I put Grandma's curtains up in the living room.  I love how it looks.  And we rearranged the furniture.  It seems so much bigger now.  I had the piano and an antique organ on the far wall.  The organ went to my daughter#2 who has a degree in organ performance and the piano went to my youngest son.  That picture on the far wall was centered over the piano and now should be moved over the center of the couch.  But, I keep thinking I might want to do something else with the open space on the right.  I thought about hanging a quilt but there is already a quilt in the room.  (see below)

I need to do something to make the room more cozy - warm it up a little.  Any suggestions?

As I'm going through things because that's what I do in January.  I noticed this darling picture of my mother and her sister.  My mother is the one on the left with the over-the-top bonnet on. She was 2 yrs. old.

I decided to get it out and enjoy it for January.  It's on my hutch.

I thought I'd share this cute picture that was a gift to me for Christmas.  It is supposed to represent our family including our little one that passed away (flew the coop).  It is a sweet reminder of everyone.

I am having a hard time coming up with a new project.  This has never happened before.  When I sit down I am itching for some handwork and I suppose I could get out an applique block I started but it's on hold because I can't make a decision on what should go in the corners.

I  really liked the scrap quilt Quiltmania tried to do last year.  All the patterns are online.  But when I started with the first block that is just four-patches and HSTs and it didn't come out to size I decided I didn't want to fuss with the French/English - inches/cm and I'd move on to something else.  I need a project that's not going to give me grief.

It is so cold inside today.  I made myself some cocoa to try and warm up.  I'm always trying a different cocoa and right now the thing that tastes the best is regular instant cocoa with 2 generous squeezes of Hershey's chocolate syrup.  (and miniature marshmallows, of course)

We had a funeral last Saturday and I was at the church from 9:30 till 3:45.  We served crockpot soup, rolls, cookies, and had a Hot Chocolate Bar.  Going to the cemetery for the dedication of the grave chilled everyone and they were pleased to return to a warm meal.  

Well, I've rambled on long enough.  Keep inside if you can and stay warm.

Robin

Just a quick post

 

I took my front room curtains down.  I had blue toile curtains and I've had them for about 10 years I think.  They were cumbersome to open and every thing was so dark when the were closed.  It is time for a change.  (If you look closely you can see the Christmas lights that are still on the tree on the left).

These are my grandmother's curtains that have been in a box since she passed away in 1993.  They are gorgeous French embroidery on voile.  My grandmother worked in the drapery department in Z.C.M.I. for years.  These curtains were hung in her apartment on 50 East 5th South  (a building that has long since been torn down) and so I remember them from the 60's. 

I've decided that this is the year I'm no longer saving things to be passed down.  My kids don't have any memories with these curtains, I do.  So I'm going to live with them and see them everyday.  Which is what I should have done a long time ago.  If the sun shines on them - I'm not going to fret.  I'm going to enjoy the filtered sunlight just like my grandmother did.

My kids can make some of their own memories with these curtains at my house.  I'm anxious for my daughter to come over and help me hang them.

I'm working on the binding for this quilt we tied Christmas eve.  (See the whole quilt in my previous post)  I found a piece of drapery fabric (coincidence?) for the binding that has all the colors of the blocks in the quilt except for the lavender.  I had just the right amount of this backing fabric with bunnies on it.  This little quilt is so happy, I don't know if I can donate it as planned.  I want to keep it.

I finished another quilt but it needs a label and I don't have a picture of it. 

Next time. . .  Robin

Mailing cookies, sled from the 70's, Memory tree, and a belt.

I was trying to find a recipe for gingerbread boys in my grandmother's old Betty Crocker cook book from the late 40's early 50's.  I came across this information for "Packing cookies successfully for mailing."  

Maybe the post office had the time to be more careful with packages back then .  But, I wonder if anyone was able to open a mailed box of cookies without them being in crumbs for the most part.

 

A couple of summers ago my husband was cleaning out the wood lot and came across our old sled.  He was going to take it to the dump but I convinced him to clean it up so it could be use to decorate.  He wanted to paint the runners etc. but I like it just like it is.  I think it could use a mini-quilt hanging.  I've  also thought about putting a wreath on it instead.  But, for right now I'm just enjoying the memories it invokes and it makes me smile.

Our Christmas tree is decorated with memories this year.  There is an ornament I made when I was nine years old.  There is a picture of my deceased sister.  The Christmas tree ornament below and to the right of the mittens is a new memory this year.  It is from our son and his family who have been transferred to Hawaii.  It lists all our children with our little boy who died when he was 3 yrs. as the star.

There are two ornaments that were on our first tree back in 1973.  And there are homemade ornaments from my mother.  

And this is Shane's belt from when he was about 7 yrs.  We went to the mall so the kids could visit Santa one year  There was no line and the minute Shane saw Santa he opened his arms wide and walked down the whole long aisle ready to give Santa a big hug.  When he got on Santa's knee he was asked what he wanted. 

 "A belt" he cheerfully said.  

That's all he asked for and I saved the belt.  It goes on the tree every year.  He is 47 now and looks like Santa with his tummy 😁.

As far as quilting goes, I finished quilting the Flowers quilt by Linda Brannock.  I need to bind it but that will have to wait till after Christmas.

And, my grandson, age 12, is in charge of the family Christmas eve party this year.  He has requested that we tie a quilt as part of the activities.  So that's another quilt top getting done.  I think that takes me down to only 8 unfinished quilt tops.  Wahoo!!!

The quilt we are tying next week.

One of my other sons got a new puppy for Christmas, a golden doodle.  His well beloved dog died in September and now he's starting a new chapter.  I'm happy for him.  Puppies are always an adventure.

I like what Dr. Pol said about getting a new dog.  "You'll never get the same dog back but that doesn't mean that you won't love them just as much and become attached to them."

I think I'm almost prepared for Christmas.  I just need to make Swiss Christmas Bread (Challah), my ancestry is Swiss.  And I need to clean (my least favorite part).  

Love to all,

Robin