Not moving along very quickly . . .

I seriously thought that by today the Grand Illusion top would be completed. But, no! As I sat down to put all of the units together, I realized something was not right. I had not pieced these units together.

So, in between watching Hallmark Movies, playing Candy Crush, looking over facebook entries, and running errands, I finally got these pieced together and pressed neatly.

And wee into the evening I was able to get units sewn together to hopefully whip out the blocks in a couple of hours this morning.

Then assemblying the quilt top will take awhile. The sashing is pieced and they are all completed but I still need to cut the corner squares that connect them. Then the border is also pieced. They are made but take a little longer than strips. So, I now change my goal to finish by tomorrow evening, if I spend a lot of time on it today and tomorrow.

It has been so dreary here since the New Year began. Rainy and cold again today. But, at least we did not get the ice that was predicted all throughout our area. I really need the sunshine and to be able to get out and walk. I have a treadmill but don't use it because it is downstairs and I don't go down there. I may have to rearrange the den to see if I can fit it in and both of us need to use it.

Until later, Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Happy New Year to all!

 

I quickly checked back to my post a year ago to see if I made any New Year resolutions. I didn't post anything and I guess that is a good thing because I couldn't remember so that was probably the best sign that I wasn't able to keep them.

We spent the evening last night at my Dad's house with some of the family. Craig and Becca were with us and that is always a blessing. Kelsey was working, Aiden was visiting his biological mother, and I'm guessing Zak was home playing video games. We sure did miss them.

Today is going to be a lazy day, watching for sleet and ice. Sewing, cooking for one of us (hint, hint Larry) and a lot of relaxing.

I worked on Grand Illusion yesterday in between cooking pinto beans and ham and making this Artichoke and Spinach dip. It was delicious.



I thought I only had one more step to do on the Grand Illusion quilt to get caught up --Part 3. I skipped ahead and did 4. Then I realized I hadn't completed Part 5 yet. Then when I looked this morning I see she added the Grand Finale.

So, if I hustle I may get to start putting it together today. I am so excited. I may lay out the pieces and see if I can guess what it will look like before I actually peek at the completed quilt.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Lost Week????

I feel like I lost the week last week -- or at least a couple of days. I turned around and it has already been over a week since I posted.

So, I little  catch up.

I finished the Elf Wall hanging I was working on. I was able to have it hanging for the family Christmas Eve gathering.

And . . . I was able to finish 12 of these for family Christmas gifts. I love the smell of freshly cut wood. I'm not sure why I quit working with it, but I think I need to start again. It has an easel on the back of it so it sits on a counter top.

I started on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery quilt. Grand Illusion.  I am using the color pallet that Bonnie used. I don't have anything in this color range so I thought it would be something new for me.

The first Bonnie Hunter Mystery I made was the Orange Crush. If you look back at hers, you will see that I used a very different color scheme and I love how it came out. I get compliments on it a lot.

The next Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt I made was Orca Bay. I used the red, white, blue color scheme that she suggested. This quilt pattern is available in her String Fling book.

So, I have been busy and it's no wonder the week flew by.

I enjoyed a wonderful relaxing Christmas with family. I count my blessings each day.

So, until next time . . .

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Sunday almost gone!

Goodness, I thought yesterday went by fast. Today flew by even faster.

I got an early start to do a little cleaning and then start sewing. My goal was to get this wall hanging quilted. It is 9:30 p.m. and I am only a little over half way through it. But I do like how it is turning out.

I haven't been working on it all day. I had to make a quick run to town and I did some laundry. We left at about 2:15 to go to Fort Smith (an hour away) to get a few things. We attended Mass and dropped by Craig and Becca's and spent too much money for nothing. Isn't it amazing how stuff adds up these days.

So, I plan to stay up this evening tonight until I get this wall hanging finished. Tomorrow I hope to get the two pillow cases completed, make 2 stockings (Zak and Aiden), and make gifts for my brother and sisters. Every year I wait until the last week to make something . . .  and every year I say I won't do that again next year.  This is my project for this year  . . .

I am adjusting it a little to make it a little more simple because I don't have much time.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.