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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Happy 18th Birthday, Melissa

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you were all able to spend a wonderful day with family and friends.  Our Christmas was very quiet.  Rich had 2 seizures a couple of weeks ago, so we've been taking things easy.  Well, as easy as we've ever taken anything.

5 days after the seizures, was our youngest daughter's 18th birthday!  We are in absolute shock that we have all adult children now.  Just another reason for much introspection!  Melissa challenged me to make the most adorable, dairy free cookie that I could come up with instead of a Birthday cake.  So, I present to you the Birthday Llama, complete with party saddle and flower wreath.  I had a terrible time with the food safe pen.  They blob or they melt your frosting.  Takes some patience.
Melissa and I went to see the Moscow Ballet perform the Nutcracker earlier this month.  It was amazing!  She was so dazzled by the experience that she asked for a quilt to memorialize the snow fairy sequence.  This is the first time she's ever shown any interest in my quilting what so ever.  I can NOT screw this up!  So, I asked a few questions.  What it boils down to is that she wants a low volume, pieced quilt that is simple and "elegant".  Okay, okay, I can do that.  I'm calling it Sparkle and Shine.  This is as far as I got before I ran out of background fabric.
So far, she likes it.  But, thinks the key print fabric is a weird choice.  Trust me, that's as close to a compliment as I'm ever going to get.  I'll take it.  The way I'm making the blocks gives me 2 half square triangles per block.  Trimmed, they're 3.5".  I think they'll make a great baby blanket when I'm done.
I also made a display table runner for Jackman's Fabrics.  I remember taking the picture but can't find it now.  So, another time.  Actually, you know what?  I did work a little on the t-shirt quilt.  I made the backer.  Maybe over the new year I'll get it sandwiched and quilted.  Maybe.

Friday, December 7, 2018

A Year In Review

Every year around this time I like to re-assess my life.  My artistic life, that is...

Artistically, I took a few sideroads this year.  I worked a little on watercolor painting.  I'm not a natural, in case you were wondering... I worked on Hunter & Carmen's wedding.  That was a pure joy.  I do love butter and sugar.  And, just lately I've been crazy for sugar cookies.  The title of Business Owner is currently boring/stressing me out.  We'll have to see where that leads.  I've been signed up to teach classes at Jackman's Fabrics and do some of their displays.  No idea where I'll find time to do that but I'll give it a shot.

Looking through my UFOs from last year, I see I've made more than I finished.  Maybe this year will be different, maybe it won't.  I'm not feeling very comital, am I?

No Progress
Beloved Baltimore 
En Provence

Ready For Quilting
Pink Flamingos
Splendid Sampler
'Heather' Wedding Ring
John Deere T-shirt quilt

Still In Progress
Harry Potter Bookcase
Quilt Show BOM
Strawberry Shortcake
Baltimore of Roses

Abandoned
Valentine Quilt
Simple Folk
Baltimore Garden
Mosaics

I did just get a new bolt of batting.  So, if I concentrate, I could get the 'Ready For Quilting' list knocked out.  It would be nice to get the t-shirt quilt done by Christmas.  One a month doesn't seem unrealistic. Today, anyway.  'Still In Progress' are all going strong, except for Strawberry Shortcake.  In the mean time, here are pictures of some of my cookies and a baby quilt for Henry.  Incidentally, I've been commissioned to make 2 dozen Christmas bears for a children's choir next week.  Looking forward to that!

Clearly, I let the machine drag the fabric while I was quilting.  Hopefully the fabric will tighten up after quilting.  It still looks cozy.  And, honestly, he's gonna puke on it at some point, right?
Oh yeah, and a Santa pillow I made!

I'll check in next week, hopefully show that I have finished the top for Harry Potter!  But, I should be telling you that the T-shirt quilt is quilted...  I'll figure it out.  Something will get done.