Sweet Treats

 I have been a fanatic in my sewing room the last few weeks.

With coldish temperatures,

a COVID-19 scare in my family,

and being a real homebody,

I have been quite productive.

This fun project I made without a pattern 

for my daughter to put above her fireplace mantel.

However, I give credit to Wendy Williams for the inspiration.

A You-tube video by Material Obsession showed her method.

So I drew a template heart and just went for it.

It is much smaller and simpler than her design.

Calling this one Conversation Hearts, 

adapted from a pattern called Love Actually.

I made it larger so it would fill the space on my DIL's wall.

But my favorite finish...

The final blue gray border was done with the computer,

but the rest of the quilting was hand guided free motion and ruler work.

I was obsessed with this one and worked on it non-stop for 3 days straight.

I will be taking a break though while I get my back out of spasm and 

regain the strength in my right hand. 

PT and steroids should do the trick.

Lesson learned...slow down, take breaks and stretch!

My granddaughter's diamond quilt is a flimsy,

 but it will have to wait to be quilted since it needs custom work.

On the donation quilt front,

my friend, Betty, and I have supplied the homeless shelter with 4 more baby quilts.

Working now on piecing cuddle quilts and pillowcases for the grands for Valentine's Day.

 Thank goodness I can still use my sewing machine

and Wanda Joy can quilt all by herself.

It is finally raining in the desert!

Looking forward to more staying home 

and sewing in my PJs.

First Flimsy of 2021

 During the break between Christmas and New Year's, 

I finished a quilt I started almost 7 years ago.

This is Gather Around by Debbie Roberts.

It was fun to revisit some of the fabrics I used from my extensive reproduction fabric stash.

My motivation was to be able to quilt it!

Like everyone,

my goal for this year is to work on finishing some things and de-stash,

just like every year!

But, I am off to a good start.

My reward...I get to start a new quilt for my granddaughter.

    A very modern quilt that will have lots of open space for quilting. 

Diamonds on Display

by Quiltachusetts.

I am happy to report that I found a home for my charity quilts.

Our local Presbyterian Church sponsors a homeless shelter 

and, no surprise, they have had a huge increase in homeless families.

So my second goal is to piece at least 1 quilt to donate each month

 and to quilt all the flimsies my friends bring me for donation.

Haven't figured out which UFO will be next.

I have so many to choose from.

But my promise to myself is to use up my stash in whatever way I can.

I don't want to say I am a hoarder,

but it has gotten to be ridiculous! 

And last, but certainly not least,

my little loves.