Yikes...130 sewing days until Christmas!

First order of business is to apologize for not replying to several of the comments left on my post about my mother's passing. I thought all comments were going to my email; however, that does not seem to be the case. Thank you to all of you who took your time to offer condolences. It means a lot to me and I will be more diligent in responding to comments in the future.  

Yes, isn't it surreal how fast this year has gone! 

However, lock down has me better prepared than ever for gifting this year.

Debbie Busby of Wooden Spools offered this kit during the Christmas Mystery Sew Along. I could not resist purchasing it as it was very reasonable and included that darling fabric, the charm and ric-rac. They are bowl fillers that will be stuffed when I get back to AZ.

I purchased this sampler many years ago from Vicki McCarty. The lettering intimidated me, so it was a WIP. I recently subscribed to Mary Corbet's Needle n' Thread. She showed the split backstitch, which has made my lettering much more acceptable to me. The edges of each block will get a pinked edge, again when we go home, and then placed on a red flannel background. 

I finished the wool applique on Bringing Home the Tree and have started the HST borders. I actually completed all the WIPs I brought with me. They are not all flimsies yet, but I need supplies I have at home to make them so. So to occupy myself for the next 3 weeks, I ordered a new collage kit...no self control! 

We have been very entertained and busy with this little girl. Aspen is so sweet. We tease that she is Ridley's puppy (Ridley is her big brother, actually her blood uncle.) And he loves his puppy! At first, he wasn't all that happy, but now he will not let her out of his sight. 

Hope you are making progress on your holiday sewing projects. As fast as time is flying by these days, it will be just around the corner.

A little progress each day...

leads to a flimsy!

I consider myself a connoisseur of the UFO and WIP!

My mom used to ask me why I had so many unfinished projects.

My answer was always,

"I have to do housework. When it comes to my creative side,

I don't have to finish anything. When I am done,

I am done."

She never understood that.

After all, I am in what I call my midlife of quilting...

I contemplate whether completing a project will truly enrich my life.

Not with this project...

started and finished in less than a week!

Of course, mine is an abbreviated version of 

Laura Heine's Cactus Collage Sampler.

My granddaughter played along with me.

She made the whole quilt...LOL!

The front of my Tidepool Pouch is also finished,

but I will save it for when it is actually a pouch.

Connecting with my quilting community helps me combat isolation,

so thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my blog.

Stitching soothes the soul and mends the heart!

This past week I lost my mother.

She passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 89.

It is a blessing.

This whole CoVid thing had profoundly changed her life.

She was a very social person, who loved people, travel and dancing.

She was literally locked down in her independent living apartment

in California,

 frightened, lonely and depressed.

I was supposed to go visit her right when all the closures occurred.

I will miss my mom...

especially her love of laughter.

I got the news while camping just outside Silverton, CO.,

where we had taken an OHV road 

to this stunning lake at 12,000 ft.

The wildflowers were amazing!!

Whenever I am feeling blue, 

I reach over and give one of those two beautiful children a big hug!

We are back at the cabin now and I have lots of  work to do as executor of her estate,

 but I calm my mind with my stitching.

My progress on my River Rock Pouch,

designed by Ariane Zurcher.

Making it my own!

For me, a pattern is just a suggestion. 

Mothers hold their children's hands for a while,

but their hearts forever.