I took my main machine into the shop yesterday. The second time for the same problem. It makes a loud clunk noise when the needle goes down. I had to demonstrate it to the tech guy, he said it was normal, I said no. We then tried to replicate the noise on one of the store models, it was strangely quiet. Okay then, he consented to trying to fix it. I have no idea as to how much it will cost, argh, but it’s not right, and it should sew like a top of the line machine. Of course while I was there I was given a sales pitch for the new 990, it’s a wonderful tool, but way too many features that I wouldn’t use.

I have a few things to keep me occupied while it is away. I got the rest of the border blocks for the Message in Bottle quilt prepped. There are thirty two, 16 with four leaves and 16 with a diamond and a small circle. While I was carefully tracing the shapes on to the backgrounds, (for back basted appliqué) I briefly entertained how easy it would be to iron on all of the parts with fusible. I persevered and now I have them ready to pick up and sew. I did get the first block of Merry Halloween ironed together. It’s cute, I need to do the edge stitching/embellishment, and I haven’t decided if I want to do that by hand or machine. The fusible looks kinda thick, so maybe hand sewn would be easier in the long run. The pieces are laser cut, very precise, and the glue reaches the edges, so hopefully no fraying.

The blue collection of fabrics for the second Awesome Ocean quilt are here. It would be a good time to get those pieces cut and sorted. The baggies I used for the first one made it very easy to keep track of. I need to check and see if I have enough Essex linen for the background. I think so, the pattern calls for 1 3/4 yards and I ordered four for the two of them. I ordered fabric for the mountains on the bottom section of the Starry Signs BOM. I thought I was going to use a bundle of ½ yard pieces of ombre that I already had, but there isn’t enough of the shades I would like to use. I printed out the paper foundations and carefully taped them all together – see top photo. These big pieces are sometimes harder to piece than the little ones, grainline needs to be considered. I still have to do the Sagittarius block and the side border stars. Lots to do to finish that one, I think this quilt is the biggest paper foundation quilt I have attempted – queen size. Well, not counting the Judy Niemeyer quilts, they are FPP, but in a different class.

Looks like a good weekend for long arming. My DH will be involved with the game, although he’s not a fan of either team. I made a backing for the last Thomas the Tank Engine quilt (frolic pattern). I remembered to pre-wash this fabric, as it is a bleeder. It came from an estate sale, a whole bolt, and I have used it before on a personal quilt and noted the bleeding from it. I also had to expand it with a center strip and add basted edges to it to make it work. Sewed together two batting scraps for an inexpensive finish to a scrappy quilt that the quilts before it have paid for. I don’t know whether to think of these types of quilts as loss leaders or easy money makers. They have the added appeal of actually paying for my labor, since all the components are “free”.

I have been steadily working on another sweater, this one I bought the yarn for back in November, thinking I would get it done before Christmas. I modified it a bit to include a purled heart in the front center. Now it’s not so utilitarian, it’ll be for next winter, hopefully the size will be okay then.

The lilies is also being chipped away on, another few motifs are done. Might work on rounding the corner on the border this weekend.

Be Kind.

Lack of a snappy title. Busily getting things done this week, lots of pedal to the metal sewing. I got the fabric for the outer borders on the last Thomas quilt and sewed it on. I made the binding for extra credit too. The other two Thomas quilts are on the frame waiting for quilting. I pieced a backing for both of them, they are about 40 inches wide, so I was able to use width of fabric with the addition of a center strip and borders. The backing fabric was on sale and I bought enough to do these two. I am really hoping these are the last of the train series. I am trying to sell the scraps and left over yardage on SewitsforSale, no bites yet.

I managed to sew Scorpio together with a minimum of swearing. There are 17 stars in this block, the last one to be made is Sagittarius – it has 18. I have started looking at the add on borders for this pattern, there are clouds, big stars and mountains that need to be made. Way less fiddly, but thought must go into colors and sizes of chunks rather than little stars. I may go with the ombre stack of half yards I have in my stash. I am using the yellow from that pack for the stars, so the values will match. I also need to finish the center stars, I have the moon done though.

Made the first Awesome Ocean quilt in record time, six days from start to packed up and mailed to customer. It came out really cute, I used a panto called Flow State from The Quilting Mill. It reminded me of seaweed and bubbles and ocean currents. I had the perfect backing in my stash too, it was a print from Craftsy, Boundless Rhapsody. Just enough for this quilt, had to baste on some scraps to the sides for the longarm clamps, made it work for me. I am hoping the second one goes as quickly, I have until April to make that one. I ordered some really cute backing fabric for it, on sale, from EQuilter. I am noting it here so I don’t forget.

I’m trying to decide on what to start next. I have a commission for a wedding gift quilt that is due in June. It’s a large one,101″ square, “Starburst” by Derek Lockwood, and I have the fabrics all ready to go. I need to print out the foundation papers, and get everything set up for it. It’s sort of like a Judy Neimeyer quilt, a little less involved, but there is a need to stay organized. Speaking of organizing, I have fallen off the Declutter Challenge wagon, I got two more drawers sorted and refolded. I think I may be done for this year, gotta leave something for next time.

A few more motifs have been added to the Lilies cross stitch. Wow, I thought I had posted a few more photos since this last one (1/17), but here’s where I am now.

Finally got the custom order of two wall hangings, a throw quilt and the apron finished. Sent the photos of the finished pieces to the client and the hanging sleeve on one of the wall quilts needed to be changed. UGH, really?? no fun, but done. I would like to get these out the door, but I think it’ll be Monday the earliest. They are all packed up and ready to go.

Be Kind.

After 22 days of the 21 day Decluttering Challenge, I can honestly say I have made progress. I also need another week or so. The first 10 prompts were relatively easy for me, simple: get rid of trash, things that don’t belong in sewing space, culling the notions and tools. I rounded up all my kits and now they have a shelf that they occupy for easy access. The pattern collection got an extensive purge and re-org. The fabric stash is the tough part, not difficult, but it is extensive. I decided to sort through one drawer or bin every day or so. Yesterday I did my Christmas and Halloween fabric bin and the large-ish pile of scraps that live(d) on a side table. The scraps got sorted and most cut into 2 ½ ” squares with the Accuquilt cutter. I take it all out of its container and refold the pieces, chuck the unusable, and replace the neatly folded package back in the container. There is no ironing or cutting involved, and it takes about an hour to do.

In between I have been sewing, I finished the Santa Land wall hanging and got the hanging sleeve sewn on. I want to get the invoice together for the four pieces of this custom order together this weekend. Looking back, I started at the end of August 2025, and five months later it is done. My customer wasn’t in a hurry, and wanted everything together, so here we are. The last Thomas The Tank Engine quilt top is 90% done, I want to add red borders. I added the blue triangles because the pattern called for squaring up by cutting the sides off. I have a dislike of that technique, it’s too fiddly, makes for stretchy sides, and it’s wasteful. Why doesn’t the pattern have you make 3/4 blocks, or triangles to finish the rows? The rows are pieced on the diagonal, so there aren’t any inset or Y seams. I think I made it better, and it was a free pattern, so I’m really not complaining.

The Essex Linen came last night, so I will be getting it cut for the Awesome ocean quilt today. It would be nice to get that together and on the long-arm this weekend. Then I can put the Quandary quilt back on and finish those borders. Hoping for a productive weekend,

Be Kind.

Productivity is my thing, this week. I feel like I am making headway in a few different areas. The Decluttering is going along, these past few days have been about Kits and UFOs. I went through my kits and wrote them all down on the white board and corralled them all together on a shelf. I have not done this with the UFOs, partially because I need to devote a bit of time to the decision process – keep/salvage or chuck. I might just group them together and do the culling another time. One of this weeks prompts was to go through pre-cuts. I feel like I need to get a handle on this section of stash as well. I have many charm packs languishing and even a FQ pack or two that need to be made into something. That is one of the pitfalls of decluttering, tangential project planning and not staying on task. The project that gave me the most satisfaction this week was cleaning out my notions drawer. It was stuffed with all kinds of things and in the bottom of the drawer was a plastic drawer organizer thing that wasn’t any help. I took everything out and separated by category and function. Now all the zippers are not a tangled mess, the covered button blanks have a spot and the purse hardware is all together. Best of all I can easily open and close the drawer.

In the finished pile this week are the custom Apron (Sam’s Apron pattern) the two Thomas the tank Engine tops, the binding on the xmas placemats and two small quilts. I am accumulating a pile for photography and posting to the store.

Speaking of stores, I went to an actual quilt store yesterday The Granary. I am trying to get the solids for the Awesome Ocean quilt collected. There are ten FQs needed, and even though I have two FQ packs for blues and greens, they aren’t the “right” ones. Let’s also mention that the background Essex linen I ordered 1/3/26 isn’t here yet. I ended up ordering more from another online shop in hopes it will be here soon. I was able to check on line to see if they had the colors I was missing, they had 6 of the eight I needed. I took a ride and got them. It was so nice to go into this shop, brightly lit, lots of shoppers and helpful peoples. I missed this feeling of camaraderie, where everyone knows what you’re talking about, how to do it and why. I never get/got this feeling at Michaels or at Joanns, just the blank looks and “I can show you where it is” helpfulness. There are three Fabric/quilt stores equidistant from me, about 30 minutes drive. The Granary, one that is for sale, and one I haven’t been to yet. I’d like to think that since Joanns closed, maybe people will open a shop nearer to me. Probably not though, rents a terribly high, and the costs of fabric are so expensive. I did get all the solids cut and sorted for the Awesome Ocean top once I got home.

The Quandary quilt is quilted in the center, I just have three more borders to sew. I am on the fence about whether to stitch the bottom horizontal and turn the quilt, or finagle the side borders into sections. I need to get this giant off the frame and quilt the custom (Santa Land) and the Awesome Ocean needs to be done by mid February.

The Lilies cross stitch is getting more X’s, I am almost finished with the words. I have chosen my next project, it’s the Mirabella Mermaid. I went through the flosses and ordered all the ones I am missing. I had to substitute some of the Mill Hill beads, they don’t make the delicata ones any more. I choose some small ones in colors that may or may not work. It will be nice not to have a giant project, and different subject matter to stitch. I am also about half way done with knitting the Nessie hat, the serpent is emerging row by row.

Be Kind.

I am off to a good start this first week of 2026. Inclement weather has helped keep me indoors, and I am making the most of my time by ignoring household duties. Although I am caught up on laundry – only because I can watch the longarm and fold clothes.

I finished and bound the last Christmas quilt and took a few pictures of it with the tree in the background. I got the placemats (the ones I added on to the extra backing) cut, still have to bind them though. The second Peter rabbit quilt is quilted and I was able to fit the mini rings quilt on the end of that backing. Those two need trimming and binding. I got the Quandary quilt loaded and started yesterday, its huge 102 x 102. My favorite finish is the Blooming beauties BOM top. I persevered and over two days sewed it all together, actually completing it in 10 months – it was a 9 month block(s) of the month. I didn’t get a picture of it after I ironed it, but it looks the same as the cover photo. I also got the Winter Visitor quilt top done, I would like to get it quilted soon, I found a really cute cardinal panto to use.

One Thomas the Tank quilt top is done, I got the train block done for the second. I want to make two of these quilts. The kit had enough of the prints, I just had to get a few yards of the white and red print, and the grays for the track blocks. The tracks are a bit of a pita to piece, mine came out ½” too short, you really have to use a scant quarter inch seam for all those skinny strips.

I am picking away at the Decluttering 2026 project. Got the first 6 days done, although I skipped the magazine culling. I did get all my Quiltmaker issues together, I might sell them, or donate them. The Knitting magazines are more numerous, and then there are the cross stitch Mary Hickman series. I made good progress in the patterns, now they are organized and I can open and close the drawer. If I can’t, or don’t want to do one of the days prompts, I try to do a hot-spot instead. I took “before” photos, which I may post here with the “after” photos.

New this year is the PHD badge on my page sidebar. It only took a few hours to figure out how to put it there, but I am learning. I also downloaded two charts from Maker Valley, called the 2026 Quilting Organizer PDF pack . They will help me keep my projects organized a bit more. I’ll be keeping a hard copy on my design wall, in plain sight. Once I finish the Declutterring I’ll get that list going. Right now, the UFOs are scattered and mixed in with WIPs and it’s turning into alphabet chaos.

Consider the Lilies got stitched on a bit too. I finished all the bricks, just need the grout lines, and I “wrote” a few more words in the verse. I am feeling the down slope of this project, YAY!

Finally, I finished the hat baby sweater. It started out as a hat, but I was using worsted weight, I thought it was going to be okay for an adult sized hat, ha, more like a tea pot cozy. 120 stitches is too many in that yarn size for a hat. However, I was able to find a bottom up knitted raglan sleeve kids sweater pattern. I think it turned out pretty well, the yarn isn’t the best, but for an everyday washable sweater it’ll do.

Be Kind.