Happy New Year!

Another finish!

As promised, it snowed all day yesterday and as predicted, about a foot of the white stuff fell from the skies. With my mobility issues, it looks like I'm going to be house-bound for the next little while.

But that's okay because I'm accomplishing a lot...or at least it feels that way. I unpacked, sorted and put away the contents of four more boxes marked "sewing room" this morning...all before 9 o'clock! There are only two boxes remaining and I'm getting a little nervous because I'm running out of room and ideas but I'm sure I'll figure something out.

I finished binding my 'mystery quilt-along' quilt a couple of days ago but only got around to taking a photo of it this morning. This is the second of two that was waiting to be bound since just before we sold our house. I'm thrilled with the way it turned out.

If you're new to my blog and this is the first time that you're hearing of my 'mystery quilt-along' quilt, you can find the links to the downloadable and printable PDF step-by-step instructions on my blog posts on the following dates...

Step 1 - July 12 and 14, 2015

Step 2 - July 22 and 23, 2015

Step 3 - August 16, 2015

Step 4 - September 3, 2015

Step 5 - September 15, 2015

Just scroll back to the blog posts on the dates indicated above and click on the links highlighted in the body of each post.

I made a few changes from my original design and decided to eliminate the prairie points because I wanted them to be 'free floating' and this would have been a real hassle considering it was going to be machine, edge-to-edge quilted.

Happy stitching!

Finally...some sewing!

I haven't sewn a stitch since our house sold at the beginning of November.

Things were just too hectic...trying unsuccessfully to find a new home with a quick closing, packing and all the other things that are associated with selling, buying and moving. My attention span could be measured in milli-seconds so rather than even attempt anything sewing-related and frustrating myself in the process, I decided to pack everything away until we were settled into our new home.

We're about three quarters of the way there...settled, I mean. I still have about a half a dozen boxes labeled "sewing room" to unpack which hopefully will get done in the next week or so. Most of my fabric is still somewhere in those boxes and once I get at it, it shouldn't take too long to go through them.

I've had two quilts just waiting to be bound since just before we got the news that our house sold. On Christmas Eve, I prepped the binding for both quilts and early Christmas morning, I sewed the binding onto both quilts. Last night, I finished hand sewing the binding on the first one, something that I love to do.

 

This afternoon, I'll start and hopefully finish the second one while watching Canada play the US in the annual World Junior Hockey Tournament...an annual tradition in our household for as long as I can remember. Oh, and the quilt I'll be working on is the one from my mystery quilt-along, which seems like forever ago!

Merry Christmas!

Sam (Mr. Painted Quilt), Ollie, Frankie and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Happy stitching!

I needed a break...really!

Confession time!

Yesterday, after unpacking another 5 boxes that were labeled "Sewing Room", I felt like I really needed a break.

All the while, I didn't have 'visions of sugar plums dancing in my head' but a very bright picture of the new "Sunday Best" line of Kim Diehl fabrics calling my name at my now much closer LQS (local fabric shop). I just couldn't get the 'vision' out of my head ever since my friend Alice told me about them the night before.

So I talked Mr. Painted Quilt into taking me up there...what used to be an hour and a half drive is now a mere 20 minute jaunt...and what to my wondering eyes did appear? Nope, no reindeer but a quarter yard cut of each and every of the 28 sku's in Kim's new line.

The others that I had just unpacked needed some company in that rather large tote, don't you think?

An early Christmas present that definitely brightened up my day!

Happy stitching!

Settling In!

We're making headway, slowly but surely. I can't remember ever being this tired in my entire life. Getting old is the pits!

The majority of our personal and 'house' things have been unpacked and sorted and we're slowly finding a place for everything that we've decided to keep.

We downsized considerably before moving here but until you actually live, breath and sleep in a place, you don't really get a feel for it. Well, we've slept here for eight nights now and we definitely know what's staying and what's going. Bring on the spring yard sales because we're going to have MANY!!!

Of course my sewing room is taking the longest to unpack and set up. I'm taking my time going through each box deciding what I'm going to keep, what I'm going to donate/share and what's going out in the trash. There's lots in each category....trust me!

We haven't hung anything on the walls as yet and that won't happen until we decide if the furniture is going to stay where it is or get moved to a different spot. With every passing day it's beginning to feel a lot more like home and I think we're going to be very happy here.

I'll leave you with one picture and that is of my quilt cabinet.  

It was one of the first things that was set up!

Happy stitching!

The BIG Move!

Tomorrow is THE BIG MOVE!!! 

We've been frenetically packing and downsizing since I last posted and we both have never felt so exhausted in our entire lives.

One last sleep in the house that has been our home for the past five years. So much water has passed under the proverbial bridge during that time, some calm and serene and some fast and muddy but it's now time to turn the page and begin the next chapter.

We'll be without the internet till Tuesday of next week and it's our plan to get lots done at the new place...especially setting up my sewing room...during the 'down' time. Hopefully the next time I post I'll have some pictures of the new place to share with you.

Stay tuned!