Another Pinterest Pin - NAILED!

 Cauliflower Soup

I made a batch of this soup this afternoon - - YUM!!!  I pureed it in the blender to make it easier for me to eat in my post-surgical state,  left out the hot sauce (I'm not a fan), and it is super tasty.

Slow Sunday Stitching - 29/12/2013

I saw this image on Pinterest and pinned to my 'small sewing projects' pin board.  It linked to an etsy shop, and the item is no long available.  But I thought....I can do this!

I found a clip art image of a sewing machine online, embroidered it on natural muslin, glued a card circle to the inner hoop, layered four circles of batting, and finished by trimming the muslin down, and gluing it to the inside of the inner hoop on the back.  I think I nailed it!

Culling the Stash

I caught Bonnie Hunter's Quilt-Cam this afternoon for the first time in a very long time.  I managed to get this week's Celtic Solstice clue done:

I have been sorting through all the UFOs still lurking in my sewing room, and made some decision.  I got rid of about a dozen projects, given some to my sister to complete, some to the London Quilt Guild for their children's quilt program, and the rest to my old quilting group for their chemo quilt projects. 

One that I'm not ready to give up on is this:

Nearly all the blocks are done!  I am starting to think about putting it together, and finish the missing blocks as required.  While looking through the finished blocks the other day I realized that I made some of them the WRONG COLOUR!!!  ack!!!!!  Now the question is...should I remake the blocks, or just swap them out with other blocks?  Hmmm... well, as Bonnie would say, "finished is better than perfect."

Celtic Solstice Screw Up!

Yep - spent the weekend working on piecing these blocks, and the whole afternoon squaring them up.  And then went to put them away with the other blocks for this quilt, and thought "What was Bonnie thinking mixing these 4" blocks in with all the other 3" blocks?"  And the horror overcame me...I made these TOO BIG!!!! ACK!!!!!  Back to the trimming board!

Thinking about UFOs

I caught this video today -- very timely as I begin to think about some of the UFO's that are taking up space in my sewing room.  My next task is to apply a very critical eye to the bags and boxes, and get to work on clearing out and making space.

2013 - A Year of Quilts in Review

Last year around this time I was jumping on the UFO Challenge bandwagon.  I kept up for about the first half of the year - and continued to work away for the rest of the year on some oldies but goodies.

Now it's time to take a look at what's left and decide what I what to do with them.  And also a time to celebrate what I've accomplished.

Black & White 

I don't have a finished photo of this, but it is now happily living in Halifax with my son Sailor Boy. Finished in July.

Bookmarks

I finished all of these, and donated them to a local agency that offers literacy classes and supports.

Shirt Stripe Boxes

I don't have a finished photo of this quilt either!  Finished in October 2013.  I haven't decided what to do with it yet.

Cross Stitch Pillows

 

Done!  But, alas, in a bag.

School of Rock

Completed this in January - and until a couple of weeks ago, it was hanging on my living room wall.

Cranberry Garland

An October finish - this one is earmarked for my mom.

Courthouse Stars

This one is now on our bed!  Hubby really likes it.

Virginia Bound

Done - I have a few thoughts about who I may give this too.

Heart of the Home

Done - aaaaaand in the closet.  Not sure of the future of this one yet.

Oh - this is too cute

Sewing-Themed Mini Christmas Tree from Jonathan Fong Style

I saw this on Pinterest this morning - sew cute!

Surgery went well - I was discharged yesterday afternoon. I'm so happy to be home and sleeping in my own bed, and enjoying the QUIET!  

I even had Itty Bitty take me to WalMart this morning to get a couple of groceries.  I hung on to the cart and did just fine.  A few hours later, he took me for a walk downtown - about six blocks or so - and I feel great. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Itty Bitty would be a super nurse. He makes a damn good cup of tea too.  

It was fun to look in the holiday windows. This was one of my favourites - - an advent calendar of boxes - AND PINK!

I've only had tylenol twice today - and that's been for a headache that I've been enjoying for three days.  I finally figured out that the headache has been caffeine withdrawal. I am a big fan of the coffee - I have two ginormous cups every day.

Big Day Tomorrow

I'm having surgery tomorrow morning!

Not a big deal - it's elective, and I've been waiting 2 1/2 years for a date.

My co-workers gave me a little gift this afternoon - - cozy new slippers, that just coincidentally match the red stripe in my new housecoat that I bought on my lunch hour!  

Everyone added a nice message to the card -- I don't know if you can see it - - but it has a little mouse sewing, recommending that I "mend". 

Celtic Solstice - Keeping up!

Just as I thought - those pinwheels were pretty quick.  Next!

Making Some Celtic Solstice Progress

I've been a busy girl!  Too busy to do any sewing this week.

Tuesday night, I gave a lecture to the Royal City Quilters' Guild.  I was proud to have been asked, and I tried my best to be interesting.  I think it went just fine!

I haven't mentioned this earlier - - but I'm having surgery on Tuesday morning.  I'll be taking four weeks off work for recovery, so I've been working my buns off to tie up any loose ends, close as many files as possible, meet any deadlines, and train a temporary replacement.  I'm beat!  I hope my temp replacement will work as hard as I did and leave me a clean desk when I get back.

So, this weekend will be about getting some housework done (I sure won't feel like it come Tuesday!) laundry caught up, and this week's Celtic Solstice Clue.  At least it's not too challenging, and I should be able to finish it in one sitting.  Last week's clue is still on the table!  But I've got about half the blocks done.

Itty Bitty was home for a couple of nights this week - but he's gone back to school.  He has one more exam to write on Wednesday, and then he'll be home for the holiday break.  He can look after his mummy! Keep me hydrated and medicated, and roll me over every once in a while so I don't choke on my own drool. It was nice to have him even for a couple of nights.  He's a big help to us.

Now What?

Ooooooooold project - - stack n' whack four patches--the main fabric is cats on quilts--that were sitting in a bag and I felt compelled to make something usable out of it.  The pale yellow print is an equally ooooooooooold Cranston VIP print of tone on tone roses.  (You know you've got some in your very oldest stash, so no snickering allowed.)

I don't know what to do with it now.  It's really quite unattractive.  And I mean that in the kindest way possible.