2018 Year in Review

Here we go! Projects finished in 2018.

I completed the quilting on six quilts.

Sky Full of Christmas Stars, the mystery design from Breakfast Club, 2017. The pattern was a Moda Bake Shop quilt designed by Kristina Brinkerhoff from Center Street Quilts. I added a"border" to finished the star shapes around the outside. Finished size, 69 x 83-inches.

Scrappy Christmas Star from 2018. A pattern of my own design using scraps from the Christmas Stars quilt.  About 39-inches square.

Faux Hawaiian Applique, 63 x 75-inches. This quilt design started from a challenge in the Material Girls group to create a quilt using a panel. I had a set of printed Hawaiian applique panels just screaming to be part of the challenge. 

And because I loved the scraps so much I had to make a mini quilt, Scrappy Hawaiian, 30-inches square.

I got two tops quilted that had been patiently waiting their turn. The Breakfast Club mystery from 2016 and Bright Blooms, another Breakfast Club project.

There were a few quilt tops added to the "needs to be quilted" pile of projects. 

I made a great dent in my Sandra Cozzolino cross stitch Santa ornaments. 

Vintage Sets

2016 Caribbean Santas

2017  National Parks Santas

Bucilla Kits

Airplane Santa

Nordic Snowman

Santa Paws and companion ornament kit.

Christmas Kitties and companion ornament kit.

Jungle Bells ornament kit.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters ornament kit.

And a new category for me, Clothing.

Here is my adorable grand niece in a smocked dress I made her.

Two batik rayon tops.

And one final sewing related project, a set of Merry and Chris Moose. 

What I didn't include were my extensive landscaping projects. I am already starting to think about 2019 landscaping projects along with the quilting, cross stitching, Bucilla kits and clothing. 

More Christmas Quilting

I am definitely on a roll with my quilting.

This scrappy star quilt is just under 40-inches square and was made with the triangle scraps cut from the Christmas Star quilt I finished quilting in my last post. Sometimes staying in the quilting mindset really works to keep my creative thoughts flowing.

I was so thrilled earlier this year when I came up with this design to use my scraps. I wanted to have it done to share at the upcoming Breakfast Club Mystery class on Dec. 27th. My goal was to be able to share both star Christmas quilts together. The star quilt from my previous post was last year's mystery pattern.

 Here is the very fun backside!

Two Christmas quilts done...in one season!

I have two more Christmas quilt tops I would love to get quilted before 2019 but I have had a hard time finding backing fabrics I like. I ordered some a couple of months ago but when they arrived I found the quality of the fabric was not worthy to be used.

I ordered two more pieces of backing fabrics paying more attention to the manufacturers, 

We'll see which backing shows up first. 

In the meantime I really need to spend some more time working on my Christmas moose dolls....and Christmas cards...and shopping for a few more presents.

Getting Back to Normal

It has been almost two weeks since the earthquake. Aftershocks has decreased in frequency and intensity which really helps with getting back to our normal routine. One of the scariest rooms to enter after the earthquake was our master bath. 

After moving the furniture I was amazed to find our glass shower wall in one piece. It sat on the floor until yesterday when it was time to get it reinstalled.

So much better! Notice the new bar that braces the glass at the top left. We were missing that piece before the earthquake. Safety before aesthetics...learned the hard way.

The best therapy for getting through the first week of intense aftershocks was to spend some time at my quilting machine. 

A better look at the quilting with some of the lights turned off to create shadows.

And the backside. I love this quilt. I didn't have a single tension issue the entire time and I used several different threads in the quilting. 

The quilting group I attend retreats with throughout the year had a Christmas party and gift exchange last weekend. The weather was not great that day, icy roads, but 13 of us gathered and had a group hug for making it through the quake. I got a set of Merry and Chris Moose crafted for my secret Santa. For my gift I received a wonderful set of bright batik fat quarters. 

Creating is such a great way to deal with stress.

I also finished the redwork embroidery on this set of ornaments. I plan to make blocks out of them and put together a mini quilt. I plan to hand quilt this project. Maybe I can get this little top pieced at our February retreat.

These patterns are by the Australian designer, Lynette Anderson. Not my usual style but I picked up several of the patterns at a quilt shop in Paris. The specialty wooden buttons are what grabbed my attention.

I don't want to dwell on the earthquake. We had so little damage even though we were just under 25 miles away from the epicenter. The aftershocks have really lessened in the past two days...big relief! The toughest part for me was my husband had just left on November 26th for a long trip with Fed Ex and did not get home until Monday, December 10th. He rarely does long trips but he wanted to have Christmas off so he is now done working until January...unless Santa needs more help delivering packages.

I Am Good

It has been six hours since the earthquake hit. My home only has minor damage. Lots to clean up but not too much glass damage. Just wanted to give a quick update to anyone wondering how I got through the big event.  

Family Addition

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My son, Zack, got married! The wedding happened at the bride's parents' home in Phoenix. Very nice to get out of Alaska for almost two weeks.

We started the wedding get away with a weekend in Las Vegas. My two favorite attractions were a fantastic Swatch shop at the New York Casino...

and the show, "Absinthe," at Ceasars Palace. 

Hubby and I rented a car and drove to Phoenix. Along the way we stopped in Flagstaff where I visited the quilt shop, Odegaard's Sewing Center on Route 66. Nice store and very friendly.

We also stopped in Sedona where there is a fantastic quilt shop, Quilters Store Sedona. 

I love this Wild Thing quilt. They were out of the panel.  I did find it on the internet.

What I bought was this Laurie Shifrin Designs pattern, "Antelope Canyon." It features 2 1/2 strips and 1 1/2 strips. Simple straight stitching that creates this wonderful circular illusion.

Before we left Alaska, I got started quilting on the Breakfast Club's mystery from last year. I got all the cream background quilting done.

Now I am working quilting on the colored fabrics. Loving this project!

Someone needs attention. He wants to play in the snow we got last night.

And I need to work on Holiday decorations. 

But all I want to do is quilt!

Winter Has Arrived

Hubby and I made a quick trip to Houston for a family wedding. When we left last Wednesday our yard was void of much color as all the leaves had fallen off the trees. We drove home from the airport on Monday in a snow storm. I'm giving myself a major pat on the back for getting my snow tires on before our trip. We had great traction for our horrible road conditions. 

Since the snow storm on Monday we have had chilly but sunny weather.

The dogs just can't stand to be inside with new snow on the ground.

I got the smocked dress for my grand niece done in time to give her at the family events last weekend.

Even smocked some socks for her. 

I also bought a denim dress and did a little ribbon embroidery. My attempt at a Texas Bluebonnet. And some little socks to go with the dress.

I am a quilter...really. But this quilt picture below isn't my project. This is the pattern the Breakfast Club group is tackling in November. I will miss the meeting again but I ordered the pattern today because it is too cute! It is "Peppermint Lane Block of the Month," by Sew Emma. 

I'm rather panicked that Christmas is so very close.

I am really hoping to finally quilt some of the Christmas quilt tops aging on my studio shelves. 

If only the house was self-cleaning!

Last 2018 Landscape Post....I Think

We had one of the warmest Septembers on record in our part of the world. I have been in heaven. Fall is my favorite season. I have no idea why I love fall since it means winter is coming...cold and darkness. But usually it only seems to last two weeks and I am always frustrated when it ends. This year I'm feeling tired (a good tired) and ready to move onto "indoor" projects.

I did not expect to tackle this little area along our driveway until next summer but with the gorgeous weather the first week of September, I went for it. The ground around theses trees doesn't get much sunlight and I just didn't have a good solution for plant matter to fill it. I like the rocks. This is one side of our septic drain field so I couldn't change the topography except to add to it. It will work well with winter snow plowing.

And my handsome dog Logan...who follows me everywhere.

And then I still had a huge pile of gravel in front of my house to contend with before freezing temperatures. So I bought some landscape edging and started tackling another project I didn't expect to start until next summer...

I plan to add this black plastic edging back-filled with gravel around all the rock work in our yard. I got a little start this year. 

I also used the gravel to create an extra-deep parking area at our front door. It will be a good place for some big pots with flowers in the summer.

Another view of my garden on the side of the house.

In the evenings I've been pecking away at a simple Bucilla stocking kit, Nordic Snowman. It came with an ornament. So cute. Nothing too complicated which is exactly what I needed to wind down at the end of the day. 

It will be nice to get back into my studio...but not so fast...my yard isn't winterized yet. All of my flower pots are still looking great and I have veggies still growing in my garden. Such a wonderfully odd bit of weather we are having. One morning I will wake up to frost and have to get into a frenzy of cleaning up the yard.