What a to-do list!

This week flew by!  Time always flies when I have days off.  I want to go back to Friday, to take advantage of every minute of everyday.  Since I can not do that this is what I did get done.

1.  Started a Hanukkah quilt.
     Since I quit smoking I have to stay busy.  I was thinking about the gifts I needed to buy and make and decided that I had time to whip up a quick quilt for a present.  I choose my fabric on Wednesday, cut and prepared pieces on Thursday, sewed on Friday, cut and trimmed on Saturday.  It's ready to start sewing again.  I'm very happy with how quickly this has come together.

2.  Started to sew matching pillows for 6-8 year deer applique quilt.
I had left over squares so I have enough to make 4 18in pillow.  I have started sewing those together and have ironed the seams open.  They are ready to sew again.

3.  Buy Hanukkah and Christmas presents.
I did this.  Or at least started.  Friday morning when all of the crazy people were out fighting over stuff I sat in my pjs and ordered online.  Now I'm waiting for deliveries.

4.  Cookies and Sweets
I got all of the box mixes out of the pantry.  Everything.  I started looking at the dates and threw a few things away.  Looking at what I have left I decided that I will use all of this before I buy more!  So I actually used 2 of them.  I took the funfetti cake mix, found a recipe on the internet and made cookies.  They are really good, not too sweet. 

 

There are still things I need to do today but I'm surprised and pleased with what has been completed this very short 4 day weekend.

 

I have picked one of the quilting magazines from the pile and decided I will make the quilts that I want and get this pile out of my life.  I chose American Patchwork Quilting October 2011.  The Hanukkah quilt I'm making is inspired by one of those.

 

I chose a different layout but I actually did the half square triangles.  I had never tried this before but it was simple so I will use it again.  So I'm counting page 79 as almost completed.

 

 

Next week to do list:

 

1.  Hanukkah Quilt - I need to piece together the quilt top.  If possible I need to sandwich and quilt.

 

2.  4 Applique Pillows - I'm going today to see if the backing I used on the quilt is still available.  Finish sewing and order pillow forms.

 

3.  Finish Quilt for Kids Quilt.  A Charity quilt that needs to be sent in December.  Almost done

 

4.  Sew at least 2 dog coats for Roxie and Archer.

 

5.  Presents should be arriving.  Wrap and buy anything else that is needed.

 

6.  Cross Stitch Shalom for present. 

 

7.  Cross Stitch Birthday Announcement - need to finish 2 of these.

 

8.  Cross Stitch over one Face

 

9.  Clean Thing 1's Room in preparation of his December visit.

 

10.  Turn 50 on Friday!

 

11.  Pick a book and read it.  I have changed books nearly daily lately.  Currently attempting to read Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King.

 

12.  Start refinishing the kitchen cabinets

 

That's enough.

 





Happy Mini Thanksgiving

For the past 20 years, since I divorced, my children and I have celebrated mini Thanksgiving.  It was our time, our leftovers, our family.  We always celebrate the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Over the years we have had many guests, people we consider family not by blood but by love. 

Thing 1 is in a different state and deeply missed.  Thing 2 and I and 4 other people had Mini-Thanksgiving today.  I hope everyone takes the time out of their busy schedules to be thankful for the special people in their lives.   Happy Mini Thanksgiving!

The best finish ever!!

I have the best finish ever to report.  I have finished the applique quilt.  It took 6 years.  Kind of based on Moose Country Quilts #212 Antlers, Hooves and Horns.  The pattern (I bought 3 times) is for a wall hanging.  I wanted a much bigger quilt.  I also did not like the design of the pattern. I liked the animals.  I bought the fabric I wanted to use with the different animals and lost the pattern.  I looked everywhere.  Gone.  Used some of the fabric for something else.  Bought another pattern.  Started cutting out animals.  Put it away.  I got this out again last year determined to finish.  Could not find pattern, bought another one.  Made half of the animal blocks by December last so gave that as a Christmas present.  Put away.  Tired of looking at so I actually finished.

 This is the quilt top.  I finished piecing the quilt last night about 8:00 p.m.  I was so very happy! 

 I tied the quilt this morning.  It has a furry back so I wanted to use that as the binding.

 I just found the backing over the quilt for the binding

Although I have grown to hate this quilt I do love how it turned out.  It does look manly.  My friend's wife helped me with the binding.  I'm sure she was tired of hearing about this quilt too.  She was happy her husband is nice and warm  now. 

 

I used the quilt as you go for the first time and liked it a lot.  I tied this quilt for the effect.  This is a big one off my to-do list.  I am happy.  I still have some fabric and animals left over so I think I will make several pillows before Christmas of 2014.  I'm so happy!!!

It's winter now!

 Fall lasted for about one week and today it has turned to winter.  The high for tomorrow is the upper 20s/low 30s.  As usual, my life is crazy busy.

The cooler weather makes me feel very creative.  The problem I have had for quite some time is the applique quilt.  But pushing through the pain of dealing with that problem has really paid off.  All 80 blocks were finished on Friday.  They were all trimmed on Saturday.  The placement was decided on and the layout was totally changed, including cutting one row and column.  So the extra 18 blocks are going to be made into pillows.  Tomorrow I start on the sewing, into pairs.  I hope to have it all sewn by next weekend.  I'm so excited!

I took a 2-3 hour break on Sunday and made 2 dog coats.  I looked at different free patterns and made my own.  It turned out really cute.   The dogs hate them but they look so cute.  I have only managed to get one picture so far.

 

I took a sweatshirt hoodie and cut it half.  Archer (shown above) got the back side.   He hates the hood and the coat itself.  I put a blanket in as the liner but it made the bottom curl.  Roxie, the dog on the couch got the other half of the sweatshirt .  I made that one double sided.  I hope to get her picture soon.

 

So I did get something done this week.  I'm finally getting something done!

Finally! It's Fall

The temperature has finally fallen below 70.  The leaves are starting to fall.   I'm starting to cook and bake.  I love this time of year.  I missed last week so let's start there.  On October 25 Thing 2 and I went on a ghost tour.  It was fun.  We ate at Café Moderne.  We enjoyed the food and the tour.  We didn't see ghosts but other people did.  We just shrugged our shoulders because it was just the history of buildings but it was interesting. 

I tend to deep clean the house in the spring and fall.  Before the house will be shut up tight it so I think it should be cleaned.   This past weekend it was time to clean the kitchen.  4 bags of trash!  Anything open was trashed.  It looks so good.  I'm so pleased.  I will post pictures of the kitchen when I decide what I'm going to do with the cabinets.

Updates on Quilts and Cross Stitch:

The deer applique quilt has 20 blocks left to quilt.  I want this quilt finished!  It's one of those things that I am not finding enjoyable.  I just want to finish.  My plan is to finish the last 20 this week.  Then I will trim and square and give to my friend for placement.

I also had time to finish two threads last week.  This is such a slow project.

My big news is that I quit smoking.  Or at least I'm trying to quit.  With lots of luck I will be successful.

No pictures this week but many pictures will follow.  Have a great week!