What are you doing on New Year's Eve?

It seems like everyone is rather quiet this New Years. No sew-along that I could find, so I am having my own little sew-along. Since Hubby went to bed and my son has crashed on the couch, I am cozily ensconced in my sewing room. It is only a -20 F or lower, and a very good evening to stay at home where it is nice and warm.

What am I doing? Why I am watching an Agatha Christie Miss Marple movie, starring Angela Lansbury, in "The Mirror Cracked."  Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak are also in the movie and they are a hoot. Besides watching the movie, I am sewing Part 3 of Celtic Solstice and drinking a nice hot "Tom & Jerry."

Twenty minutes ago, Bonnie Hunter announced the winner of the book, "Quilt Improv." It was a give-away on her website. Since I did not win the book guess I will go back to sewing. Tomorrow I will just have to order the book on Amazon.

Hope everyone is having a safe and happy New Year's!!

Hugs, Beth

Happy New Year, 2014 Goals & CS

I'll bet a lot of people are doing the same thing I am -- setting goals for 2014. This year I decided to "Keep It Simple." Last year I set rather energetic goals and you know what - I hardly did any of them. Do I feel guilty --- NO!!!  LOL  So I think small goals each month may be much more doable then thinking about a whole year in advance. Besides, I need to spend time seeing what everyone else is doing!!  TeeHee

In December, I didn't work on anything that was set as a goal, but I did sew pillowcases and a table runner as Christmas presents. I didn't even count the fabric bought for the pillowcases because they were sewn up immediately and given away. That sure doesn't happen too often. Most of the time the fabric has to "age" for a while before being utilized! LOL  

I did get parts 1 & 2 of Celtic Solstice completed and part 3 & 4 has been cut out. Also, the blue triangles for part 5 have been cut out.  I am okay with being a "Turtle." Sometimes we forget to enjoy the process!

I want to wish everyone a very wonderful New Year!!!

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times to see what others have gotten done!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/31/get-it-done/

Hugs, Beth

2013 in Review - Finishes and Stash

Used since last report:        0.00 yards
Used year to Date:             62.00 yards

Added since last report:     5.00 yards
Added Year to Date:         104.17 yards

Net Used for 2013:            - 42.17 yards 

2013 wasn't a complete bust. While the stash was in the red, it wasn't too bad a finish. In past years it would have been a whole lot more stash added!! LOL

Some of my flimsies that were finished:

Easy Street - Bonnie K. Hunter Pattern

Dotty Dresden - Original

Diamond Strings- made two of these

Strip Twist - Bonnie K Hunter

Hopscotch, Butterscotch - Bonnie K. Hunter

Blue Ridge Beauty - Bonnie K. Hunter

There were a number of small projects that were full completions but I have piled up a lot of flimsies that need quilting. Guess I had better get my "buns" down stairs and do some quilting. 

Now it is time to think about my goals for 2014. I know that one of my goals is to purchase less fabric. The stash just is not shrinking!! LOL  

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/29/stash-report-week-52-2013/

Hugs, Beth

Christmas Blessings

Many Christmas blessings are being sent your way!!! 

My family and I celebrated Christmas together on Saturday. It was fabulous with everyone at home. 

I wish each and everyone that have been visiting with me through the year a most blessed holiday season. 

See you all after Christmas Day!!

Hugs,

Beth

Stash Report & CS Progress

Used since last report:        0.00 yards
Used year to Date:             62.00 yards

Added since last report:     3.00 yards
Added Year to Date:          99.17 yards

Net Used for 2013:            - 37.17 yards 

Well --- I did need to purchase a couple of pieces of Civil War fabric for the January swap. The bargain room at Gruber's Quilt Shop had several good choices and my wonderful "FRIEND", Maureen, just knew that I needed to purchase a couple of extra pieces while I was at it!! LOL So, while I am usually not a Civil War fabric person, I now have a nice variety and after the swap, I will have an even nicer variety. That is my story of why I purchased a total of three yards instead of a yard and a half --- and I am sticking to that story.  VBG

As I was searching through my stash for Civil War fabrics, I came across a piece of fabric that I have been aging for a considerable length of time (from the 70's or early 80's) that I thought was an interesting piece of my quilting history. It was actually made in the good old U.S.A.!!! Joan Kessler for Concord fabrics designed it. PSST -- There are several other pieces from the same era in my stash!! LOL 

It seems like the time is just flying by. Last Saturday, I met my daughter Natalie in Staples, MN. She brought homemade cookies for the residents of the Lakewood Care Center and had scheduled to play the piano in the afternoon. We met for lunch and then went over to Lakewood. The residents and her Grandmother (my MIL) enjoyed the Christmas music a lot. Her Grandmother is 101 years old and just scoots around in her wheel chair and sings to everyone.

Natalie and her Grandma Pearl

Over the last couple of weeks, I have finished Parts 1 & 2 of the mystery by Bonnie Hunter, Celtic Solstice.

Part 1 of CS

Part 2 of CS

Christmas is coming so fast. We celebrate next weekend and it should be fun with a whole house full of people. In celebration, even my Christmas Cactus has been putting out buds and started blooming!

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Christmas!!!

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/15/stash-report-week-50-2013/

Also check out:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up_4572.html

Hugs, Beth

Celtic Solstice - Part 1

What fun that the Celtic Solstice mystery has finally started. I do have all of my "Peaky and Spike" units cut. Sunday evening I sewed a few units together on my sweet little Nina. They are turning out perfect. I am using Bonnie's color pallet, only in a little bit deeper more autumn colors. Think I am going to like this one a lot. Course I loved both Orca Bay and Easy Street.

Today I am going to put Season 1 of Downton Abbey in the DVD player and sew away. Hope to finish sewing all the units while Hubby is gone playing cards with his buddies! LOL

Have taken the time to view the color choices of others. Wow, there are some great ones. Be sure to check out: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up-1.html

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report

Used since last report:        1.00 yards
Used year to Date:             62.00 yards

Added since last report:     0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:          96.17 yards

Net Used for 2013:            - 34.17 yards 

Last Monday was sewing at my home with two of my friends. Mary worked on the most adorable pinwheel blocks. Maureen and I worked on aprons for our sewing machines. We had some free machine embroidery that we wanted to use on the pockets of the aprons. I actually get to report fabric used since the apron is totally complete!! LOL (Usually projects get left close to completion but not totally complete.)  

Mary's pinwheel blocks

Maureen's sewing machine apron with the cutest sewing machine fabric.

Sewing machine apron for Nina, my Singer 99.

Thanksgiving day started out with a light snow. Since we live in the country, it always looks so serene and peaceful. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day with our family. Of course there was too much food and everyone was stuffed. As a way to keep from vegetating in front of the idiot box (TV), we went bowling. The guys beat the ladies royally (we did not have any handicap set for the ladies - that is my excuse and I am sticking with that!!)  Our daughter Natalie and family from Fargo, ND, left on Friday morning. Our son was out with friends and we spent a quiet day with our youngest daughter. Brenda left Saturday morning for Minneapolis. Amazing how quiet it gets when everyone has left --- but I get to go quilt!!! LOL

View off the back deck Thursday morning. Quiet and serene!!

Thanksgiving is past and now the race is on for Christmas. If others are like me, the week before Christmas is when I get most of my shopping done.

Friday morning the first step to Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery was published. Since then, I have slowly been cutting my peaky part of  "Peaky and Spike" (Doreen Speckman named the units more years ago then I care to remember). The 3 1/2" strips have been cut of the blue fabrics for the spikes. Hope to have them all cut this morning.

Peaky units.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful week!!

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/01/stash-report-week-48-2013/

Hugs, Beth