Year End Thoughts

This weekend marks the second turning of the year -- when in the respective hemispheres -- north and south -- change places for the second time in twelve months, and here up north, our daylight hours begin to increase, while those down south of the Equator begin to decrease.  

In the depths of winter here, we're moving toward light, the spring and the summer.  In the waning days of summer, our Australian friends (for example) are moving toward days of shorter light, into autumn and on to winter.

I'm someone who loves the light -- metaphorically and in reality. These short days are hard for me...even as I treasure the cloke of quiet, candle-light reflection that starts my days, especially now.  

As I write, I'm watching the sun set --  it's 4:07 p.m. Mountain Time -- and I'm preparing to light the candles for this 6th night of Hanukkah, in keeping with my late husband's traditions.  Remembering, too, that Jesus was born into a Jewish family, i smile to think he and his parents -- and siblings, eventually, for there were many -- might have also lit lamps, using precious oil, to mark that miracle wrought in days of old.

But I won't get into that here. Suffice to say that as this year draws to a close, and the new year hovers in the wings...

I want to wish you all blessings, strength, resilience, creativity and courage for 2026.

Makers need to make -- because making keeps us whole, sane, sensible, reflective and strong in the face of the whirlwind around us.

I'm in for another year. Will you join me, Gentle Readers?

First, I am continuing with my Keep It Out Of the Landfill Project, which means I'm continuing to make quilts (throw-sized) to give away.  I've now finished the 2025 BOM (Block of the Month) from Sheri at A Quilting Life.  I've decided that given its size, it's likely that I won't add a border -- even a narrow one -- but rather will sandwich, quilt and bind "as is" -- at 54" (or so) by 72" (or so).  I tried to arrange the blocks so that the distribution of the focus colours -- blue, red, green and gold -- would be fairly evenily distributed. This was a challenge, given the 'directional' nature of some of the blocks.

This project accomplished two things for me: first, creating a new piece with the log cabin block as its inspiration; and second, using up almost all of the last of a line of Thimbleberries fabrics that I've had in my "stash" for well over 20 years!

With that top finished, I've moved into one of my favourite annual projects: Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery.  This year the title is "Lupines and Laughter", inspired by her recent trip to Iceland.  I love lupines and have lots of them in my flower beds and wildflower "meadow", so I was immediately "IN" for this project!

Bonnie's quilts are always big, so once again I'm reducing mine by 25% which this year, means taking it from an expected 80" square to 60" square. Although I can quilt a top this size on my domestic machine, I still might have it long-armed because Bonnie's scrappy style makes for many pieces, and many seams.  Making it smaller than called-for simply means there's a better chance I'll use only fabrics from my stash for the top -- and maybe even for the backing -- and only have to pay for batting and (probably) quilting.

I've finished all the units I need from Clue #1, and the first set of three for Clue #2:

As this weekend's forecast is for bitterly cold temps, I think I'll stay cozy indoors and finish Clue #2!

In my last post, I was in the throes of making Christmas gifts.  The two stitched ones have been delivered to their recipients, and I finished the socks for that young man in my family:

I also remembered -- at last! -- to take a photo of the gloves I knit for my son:

Thick and serviceable -- from a pattern used to make them for soldiers in WWII!

And I've tucked gift cards into the socks and gloves, just for fun. 😁

I took my box of Warm Things -- a couple of hats, a couple pair of socks, a shawlette and the child-sized mittens I showed in my last post -- to the church to be distributed, and while I was at it, gave our pastor a pair of long-cuffed fingerless mittens, because her hands are always cold.  She was thrilled, and put them on immediately.

I have to thank my cyber-friend, Kate, of the "Arts and Socks" blog, as this is her pattern -- and they turned out beautifully! For those interested, it's "Lawn Bowling Mitts", free on Ravelry. I used the last of the yarn that I'd also used for the child-sized mittens: Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Mexiko Color, colour-way #2594.

Now that the Warm Things box is empty, I've begun a new item for the next go 'round: the Sylph Cowl.  It's named after a particular yarn, which I don't have, but I've found two stash yarns -- knitting them together -- that seem to be working.  Because it's knit flat, it'll take some time, but it's a broken rib pattern -- interesting enough to keep from being boring, but simple enough to be meditative and relaxing too. Too early for a photo...so stay tuned!

I've also picked up a couple of sweaters I started last winter, in hopes of finishing at least one of them before the winter's over.  

As for stitching, I've put "A Quilter's Dream" away until our next 'date', in February, but here's what it looked like when I took it up at the start of November:

And here's what it looked like at the end of November:

Fabric: 40-count "Porcelain"
Floss: 'Pippy' and 'Greater
Porpoise' -- all from Roxy Floss Co.

I've moved well into the next section of the pattern!

To follow on from that focus, I first stitched another little Modern Folk Embroidery pattern, "Cranky Owl", which seemed to suit my mood from time to time as the daylight hours grew shorter.  And yes! I even Fully Finished it in a wee embroidery hoop.  It now hangs in my sewing studio, and makes me smile whenever I see it:

Fabric: 40-count "Wren" from 
Picture This Plus
Floss: "Gomez" from Roxy Floss Co.

Having finished my last Sunday Stitch, "Hope" from Carolyn Manning Designs (see my last post), I started a new one: "A Thousand Hills" from Plum Street.  This is an older pattern (2017) but I was inspired to acquire it when I saw it worked by Carol Whitchurch ("Saltbox Stitcher" on YouTube).  It's substantial, but it's going to be beautiful!  It's early days yet, so I've no photo to show you, but I can say this: I'm loving the stitching thus far.

I'm working it on a piece of 'mystery' fabric, estimated at 40-count, using a combination of DMC and hand-dyed flosses, one strand over two fabric threads.

For a 'regular' stitch, to mark the official start of Winter, I've taken up a tiny piece entitled "Wintertime", designed by Cathy Jean at The Victoria Sampler.  It's one of her "Bitty Buttons" patterns, and is absolutely delightful!

I'm working it on a scrap of 28-count linen using DMC and the occasional over-dyed floss, using 2 strands over 2 fabric threads.  It'll finish at about 4" square so I'll probably turn it into a pillow.

And speaking of pillows, I have another Fully Finished Object to show you that's...well...sort of a pillow.  It's the biscornu I mentioned in my last post. It's only the second one I've ever made, and I had to put on my Big Girl Pants to stop procrastinating and "Just DO It"!

Here's the view from the top:

And here's the view from the under-side:

The pattern is "Flanders Fields Biscornu" from Heartstring Samplery, and it was given me by a friend for my birthday in 2024.  I worked it on 36-count "Grey" from Weeks Dye Works, using mostly the called-for flosses, 1 strand over 2 fabric threads. 

And is there still one Fully Finished Object that bears mentioning? Why, yes!  

Again, in my last post I talked about having one more Hinzeit kit to finish: "Coffee" -- complete with charms.  I really didn't want to turn it into a pillow and doubted I could find a frame to fit, so what to do? I wanted to give it to neighbours for Christmas.

Inspiration struck!  Coffee, as we all know, Gentle Readers, has become very expensive.  It's now up there in the "suitable as a gift for neighbours" or a "hostess gift" and the like.  So...I bought a package of dark roast coffee and made a 'sleeve' for it!

Measuring around the package, I trimmed the excess even-weave of the stitch, and attached borders and backing in a dark coffee-coloured print.  I top-stitched the lot, and added snaps:

I then wrapped it around the package of coffee and snapped it closed. Here's the back view:

And here's the front:

I put it in a gift bag with a card and left it at their door yesterday while they were out!  Truth be told, I don't care whether or not they can fit this 'sleeve' around any other coffee container.  It's served my purpose and was a fun project to do, so I'm leaving it at that! 😊

With all my Christmas/holiday cards written and mailed, and all the 'away' parcels delivered, I'm left with only a bit of gift-wrapping for my family, who'll be here Christmas Day (weather permitting) -- and with a wee bit of grocery shopping for the casual buffet of nibbles I'm offering this year. No big meal, because my son and his family will have one later that evening, and my daughter will likely dine with friends that night, both back home in Edmonton.  Keeping it simple, guarding against the Antics of Young Cats, I'll have only my nativity scene out on display, and forego the tree for yet another year.

The best part of Christmas for me is the candlelight service on the Eve, and the gathering with my children on the Day.

Meanwhile, I'll link you to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, where this week she's trying to stay on top of her 'To Do' list.  

I hope that however you celebrate this year, which has been a tough year for so many of us in this ol' world, that your "list" is short, and that you and yours are safe, well, and able to...

Patterns from Hands On Design,
stitched by me.

Blessings to you all, Gentle Readers, as we close out 2025 and open a new door to 2026.  Until then...a bientot!

Homebodies Unite!

 

A few weeks ago, when I last wrote, we'd had a snow storm and more seemed to be on the way.  Yes, Gentle Readers, and it came.  There was no going anywhere on the Sunday after that post.  

Since then, we've had some more snow -- though nothing like the 60" that Nina-Marie describes, living near the Lakehead out East.  Whoa!  I'm 60.5" tall...so I can figure out the impact of that!

Instead, we've been treated to a smorgasbord of precipitation: snow, "mixed", rain and freezing rain.  I managed to get to the local Home Hardware (about 18 km south) for a load of eco-friendly ice melter...just in time!

All that said, it's been great for those of us who are Certified Homebodies -- who like to stay in our own homes, yards and gardens, doing...whatever we do!  Are any of you with me? 

The added benefit is that it's coming on to Christmas and the Holiday Season, and I've had gifts to make.  Now...yes... those of you who are in Canada are rolling your eyes a bit, because you know that, like you, I have some gifts that might not make it in time for December 25 due to our over-4-weeks-now postal strike.  That said, I live in hope, because a) the government is getting back into the fray; and b) "Little Christmas" -- Epiphany -- the Twelfth Day of Christmas -- Orthodox Church Christmas -- is January 6.  So...there's an alternative!  And who do you know doesn't like a gift when they least expect it?! 😉😊😃😄

So I forge ahead!  

Since my last post, I finished the tiny wrap-around spool project from Jeannette Douglas Designs (a collaboration with Evertote and Roxy Floss), and because the recipient lived nearby, I was able to find One Perfect Driving Day this week -- and deliver it to her:

Those are my scissors in the photo, taken in my living room.  She had her own pair, and promptly inserted them where they belonged, to the delight of both of us!

I've also finished the "Downton Gloves" (Downton Abbey-themed fingerless gloves) from stash yarn, and given them to my neighbour and friend, Claire, when we had lunch last week:

The yarn is a Malabrigo merino and silk blend, soft-soft-soft-soft.  She's a non-knitter and not fond of wool, but I was right; she couldn't resist these!

For my very-good-to-me neighbours, I've finished the 2024 Block of the Month from Sheri at A Quilting Life.  The last block came out December 2nd and I surprised myself by finishing mine that very day.  I've been making two per month in the smaller (8" finished) size, and here they are for December:

Because I knew time of the essence, I immediately began to plot out the rows and sashing:

In doing so, I exhausted the supply of the gold fabric corner-stone squares, and have only scraps left of the brown sashing print -- a win-win on the 'stash reduction' front!

Here's what it looked like once I got all the rows together, plus the inner border -- which I made twice as wide as called for -- and the outer border, a solid red-brown poly-cotton:

I found a couple of pieces of deep wine-coloured poly-cotton for a pieced backing, and had to add only a strip of additional batting to one side of a package of new Quilters' Dream 'Select' to make the batting.

I then decided that, given the flavour of the quilt and the colours used, I'd hand quilt it with a 'big stitch' format, using #12 perle cotton (DMC colour #640) -- also from stash.  I've made my way around the inner border and am now working on the blocks, with shadow quilting that I don't need to mark.  I simply echo the lines of the block pieces, or go from point to point:

If I can manage 3 (or 4) blocks a day, I should have it bound and ready to give by Xmas Eve (or the 23rd at the earliest).

Meanwhile, if the weather behaves, I'll be driving up to Edmonton to spend Christmas with my children and household.  Hooray!  So...

As you probably noticed in my last post, the knitted gifts for my son and his family are finished -- and gift cards are purchased.  That said, a 'squirrel' caught my eye last week in the guise of a 'reading pillow' -- and I just knew such a thing would be a great addition to the gift for my son's partner's teen son, who has a 15th birthday in January.  So I picked up a 16" pillow form (on sale!) at one of my LQS (Wild Flower Creations in Lacombe), dug in my stash for fabric, and made this:

Front -- showing the wide pocket
Free Pattern: Shabby Fabrics

And back, with a flap for removing the pillow form

The fabric was left over from the Canada 150 line of fabrics (2017).  Back in the day, I bought a quantity to make a table runner, which I still use.  

I liked the project so much that when at Michael's on Thursday this week, I bought another 16" square pillow form -- also on sale!

As for my daughter's Xmas/B'day Jan 2025 gift -- the [Not So] Presto Vesto -- there is light at the end of the tunnel!  Since my last post, I've done the twisted-rib trim on each pocket, made the inside of each pocket, and attached said pocket linings to the vest.

One of the pockets - outside view

One of the pockets - inside view.

What the front looks like with 2 finished inset pockets

All that's left is the zipper (28", already purchased -- from Wild Flower Creations in Lacombe), adding a strip of woven ribbon on the inside over the zipper (purchased at Michael's in Red Deer) and sewing down the collar.  Yes -- it's already been washed and blocked.

This thing has been a Labour of Love from start to finish...so I've been knitting intermittently on smaller projects as 'palate cleansers'!

I got the "advent" (non-liturgical) bug -- but I didn't invest in a series of yarny or stitchy gifts.   No.  I found a couple of patterns on Ravelry that were set up as "Advent" Knit-Alongs (KALs), and joined in.

One is for a pair of socks in a series of different stitch patterns.  Some are knitting each daily pattern offering in a different colour, but I opted for using up a couple of balls of Patons Kroy FX that I had in my stash (in the colour "Clay"):

Above is a photo through Day 2, but I'm now well past that, having done a heel flap, turned the heel and finished the gusset -- making my way through Day 9.  I've decided one repeat of Day 10 and I'll be ready for the toe of the first sock.  (This is a free pattern KAL.)

The other is for a colour-work cowl, which I've been using to practice my colour-work skills. (My plan is to try more colour-work in 2025).  I chose two fingering-weight yarns: Julie Asselin 'Fino' -- my daughter gave me a skein a few years ago, in the colour-way "Trench" and some very old wool 4-ply given me from a yarn cull, from The Bay (The Hudson's Bay Company) -- in a lovely pearl grey.  I'm about to start Clue 6 with is the last one in this particular KAL, and am very pleased that the motifs I've knit actually look like they're suppose to! 😆 (NOTE: This pattern was free for a limited time but is no longer so.)

I just might be able to do this stranded colour-work thing after all!

As for stitchery...aside from the spool, which I finished and gave to its recipient, I've finished two little pieces that may or may not arrive at their respective destinations on time:

Designer: The Sweetheart Tree
Kit: 28-count "Ray of Light" Cashel Linen
DMC floss, Mill Hill beads & a charm (not shown)
1 or 2 floss threads over 1 or 2 fabric threads
Some back-stitching and a Rhodes stitch butterfly

Designer: Lizzie Kate
Pattern included the little button
Done on 35-count "Royal Icing" from
Access Commodities
1 thread of floss over 2 fabric threads
DMC floss from stash

"Don't Bug Me" will be made into a small hanging sign for the studio of some friends, while "You Can Touch the Dust" will be made into a flat-fold for a friend of mine -- we have a mutual understanding of the insufferability of dust!  😉😄

I have a stitching plan for January 2025 too.  Recently I bought a pair of "Gatherings" samplers from Hands on Design, through Traditional Stitches, my LNS: "Gather Blessings" and "Gather Memories".  I got them -- and the called-for fabric -- early enough that they arrived before Canada Post went on strike a month ago.  I've kitted them up so they are ready to go, and I hope to finish one, if not both, as 'blessings' samplers for 2025.  I figure with the state of the world right now, we could use all the blessings we can get in the next year!

On the art front, the Under $100 Art Market in Lacombe at the end of November was a modest success for me.  I sold only one piece (of seven on show), but on the Saturday afternoon when I volunteered as a 'floater' on the floor of the exhibit, I had some interesting and lovely conversations with folks for whom this work was new as an art form -- but who remembered ancestors who'd done it to make utilitarian pieces for the floor.  I am hopeful that if I enter the largert Art Show and Sale in the spring, I might sell more of these pieces.

To that end, I've been pondering a larger piece.  I picked up some burlap from Michael's in Red Deer to try it out (shipping from Deanne Fitzgerald Studios in Nova Scotia or even from Legacy Studios in Cochrane, west of Calgary, is pricy and awkward at the momen).  So we shall see.  I got a 2 yard piece, 44" wide, and have cut it to fill the larger of my stretcher bars, so once I get that quilt quilted I'll be ready to make a start.  I'm leaning toward a sky-inspired intuitive piece...Stay tuned!

Once ironed and zig-zagged, it'll go on the frame...

And so, Gentle Readers, that's all the news that's fit to print for now.  As I close, I see out my windows in the early winter dark, that my 3 closest neighbours have joined me in turning on their Christmas lights, bringing delight to all who pass by, and reminding us all that there is still a light that shines in this world, whether or not we can see it.

I'll be linking you to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, where this week she gives you ideas for gifts for your favourite quilting family and/or friends.  I have all I need, really, and that includes those of you who've stuck with me on this little blog all these years.  I'll mark 22 years as a Blogger in February.  Whodd'a thunk it?!

Till next time -- holiday blessings, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah...and may the next year bring us ever closer to a world that's more hopeful, more peaceful, more civil, more just, more understanding, and more loving.  A bientot!

Everything Old is New Again

 That's what it's felt like over the past couple of weeks, because I've been doing such a variety of things.  Every day I try to stick to a routine, and for the most part it's working, but some days I'm more distracted than others and have to take myself in hand to get anything done!  I don't know if that's a sign of the times, or my age...or what.  Anyone else out there feel the same? 

There have been at least two (count 'em!) consistencies in my life during this time: the "Keep It Out of the Landfill" project, and the last of my Christmas knitting.

I'll start with a finish: the 'Basket-weave Strings' top is done!  It's now folded away in my cat-free guest room, awaiting the time when I send it out for quilting (too big to do myself without injury!)  This photo was taken last week, before the snow arrived and the temps plummeted!

Pattern: Basket-Weave Strings
Designer: Bonnie Hunter

At the risk of making it look like a Christmas quilt, I went with a dark red border.  I was going to use the same green as the set-in triangles, but it just fell flat.  Bright red would have been too much, but I think the dark red works fine.

You can probably sense from my comment about the red/green fabric for "Basket-weave" that I'm not a seasonal decorator, though I do put a few festive things out for Christmas -- and I always put out my creche.  Well, Kate, who's one of you Gentle Readers, invited me to drop by her group's "Virtual Show & Tell" to see all the Christmassy things being made, and I was inspired!

I routed out a kit I'd bought long ago and far away, and set to work.  Within a few hours I had it all together; all it needs now is for me to finish attaching the hanging sleeve.

Pattern: "The Reason for the Season"
Designer: Sew Be It (can't find a link)

Underneath the fabrics I'd stored away for that nativity scene (far more fabric than the small version actually required!) there was this wild piece -- almost two metres worth!

It's called "Bubble Blast" and was "Designed for Red Rooster Patterns 10475 - (c) 2003 (see the selvedge below).  I've no recollection of buying it -- or what I thought I would do with it.  All I know is that it's not part of my "inheritance", as it's been buried under other fabric in the bottom of a dresser in my studio for the last 13 years (where I stored it before that, I've no clue!) 

Selvedge...

Here's a close-up:

"Wild" is an understatement, don't you think?  Still, Bonnie Hunter's theory is that "there's no fabric so ugly that it won't look good if you cut it small enough" -- and she's right!  

In my last post  I mentioned I'd printed off the first part of Bonnie's "Rhododendron Trail" 2021 Mystery quilt; pink is one of the fabric suggestions -- including 'raspberry'.  With this yardage -- and the change in the weather from 'confused' to 'actual winter' -- I decided The Time Had Come.  

Between yesterday and today, I've made the units for Clue #1 and started them for Clue #2.  See how nice that pink looks when it's cut up?

Clue #1, "in progress" photo (finished now)

Clue #2 - some units cut out

As for my strings, which continue to multiply, I've been using them -- with crumbs to start -- to make wonky log cabin blocks -- 5 1/2" square -- as 'leaders and enders' for whatever else I'm working on, trying to use up crumbs and strings.  I've assembled almost 30 of them now, and am aiming for several dozen more, so they can become something more substantial than a lap quilt, but in the Lap Quilt Department...

And there's yet another find: a baggie of small blocks I made a good 20+ years ago, when I was a very new quilter.  They were from a set of printed patterns (long gone) for a beginner's quilt.  I gave it up when I was invited by a friend to accompany her to a local quilt shop for a block-of-the-month, which was much more fun than trying to figure this stuff out on my own.  The baggie was stuffed with a batch of nine-patch and Rail Fence blocks, each about 3 1/2" square.  I say "about" because...well...I wasn't the world's best piecer back then!  (I'm still not, but I've come a loooong way!)

I decided to make them up into lap quilts, and started with the nine-patches, thus:

Yes, it's funky, but I don't care!
It's also too small.

I dug out some 2 1/2" squares and made borders.
Still too small.

I added more borders (there's that same dark red
fabric!) and finished up the nine-patches.
Now it's just right -- about 35" x 42".
It'll make a lap quilt or tummy time blanket.

Next up: the nine-patches, some of which had already been assembled into larger blocks:

Rail Fence blocks laid out.  What to do?

My initial plan - on the design wall.
Not very big.  Thought about sashing but...

Then I woke in the wee hours with an idea...and got to it first thing after my morning coffee:

Rail Fence (c) 2021 - 16" square, once it's faced.

Detail of the quilting, the fence
and the thread painting.

I love it!  I hope it'll make a quilter smile.  All it needs is its facing, a label and a sleeve, and it'll be ready for the (God willing) Lacombe Art Show/Sale in the spring!

On the knitting front, my Advent socks are languishing a bit.  I did get the first one finished:

It's still hard to photograph that purple!

The second one is cast on, and I'm 2/3 through the ribbing, but that's all.  The reason?  

THIS!  The knit that kept on knitting...

Pattern (on label): 1 Ball Throw
Yarn: "Kasha" from Sirdar
78% acrylic, 12% mohair, 10% polyester

Finally finished!

It's a one-ball (300 grams, 600 metres!) throw -- plain stockinette with garter stitch borders -- on 7 mm needles, and I finished it this morning after knitting what seemed like forever!  It finished at 36" x 45" after washing and hanging to dry.

I really liked the colour, so bought 2 balls of the stuff, but after making this one, I'm going to give the second away (probably to the local thrift shop).  I don't want to make another!

I've just had my COVID booster (Pfizer) and with the Deep Freeze in full force, it's going to be a pretty quiet weekend.  I'm going back to my "Countdown" socks, maybe even finishing them before Christmas Day.

And I've two new books (bought with an Xmas gift card) waiting...as well as the Winter Issue of "Quilting Arts" magazine.  What's not to like? 

I'm linking this post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday"; as she says in this week's edition, sometimes we need to slow down our days and take it easy -- savouring the time with friends and family (whether in person or on the phone or online).  Given the pace and the lapses into distraction that have filled my days in the last while, I think that's good advice indeed.

Wishing all my Gentle Readers a safe, happy, peaceful Christmas, however you mark the season.  Till later...