A Few More Finishes

Blue & Purple Center Star Top; QUILTED Leafy Swirl Freehand

Flowers & Animals Flannel Top; QUILTED Leafy Swirl Freehand

(Somehow I forgot -!!- to photograph this one before I folded it up, and since it was a huge bugger, I was too lazy to unfold to have to refold.)

 Modern Folk Rectangles Top; QUILTED Daisy Meander Freehand

The week went quickly, we had some swirling snow but nothing that stuck, and we celebrated Valentine's Day! 

What do you all do for Valentine's Day? Anything? For the last 20+ years it's been mostly about the kiddos. When they were younger, there were heart-shaped breakfasts, Valentine's for friends to write out, and candy/small gifts given. 

For the most part, Hubby & I feel like it's a nonsensical commercial holiday. After all, shouldn't you show the ones you love that you love them EVERYDAY? 

But this year both our girls had dates (when did we all get old enough for THIS????), so hubby & I decided to venture out ourselves. We didn't dare brave the restaurant scene, anti-socials that we are, but we saw a movie, Mama, hit Maggie Moos for dessert, and the icing on the cake was spending some time & money in Barnes & Nobles. I cannot describe properly how thrilling it is for me to peruse the many books, checking out the the backs of the most random titles just because I can, and looking for obscure magazine titles. The smell of books is like my own personal brand of heroine (... if you're a Twihard, you'll get the reference!)

Anyway, instead of getting the girls a bunch of random crap for the holiday, we opted to take them out for a sushi dinner tonight (along with which they got the requisite heart-shaped candy box). It was delicious & I'm stuffed to the gills! 

Can't wait for my Slow Sunday tomorrow!!

Some February Finishes

Is it just me, or does February seem to be flying by with the greatest of speed?? It doesn't seem that long ago we were celebrating the start of the new year!

It's the time of year when our days become a bit more of a struggle. After the long Christmas break with the mile-long to-do lists (for the holidays & also catch-up tasks, it's hard to get "back on that horse". 

The melancholy moods & uninspired days can become downright depressing if one isn't watching out for it all! I'm *trying* to get enough sleep (even though my bod won't cooperate too often). I *try* to watch what I eat, but the coldness & dampness have me hedging toward comfort foods. And we're *trying* to get back into the gym regularly. I NEVER feel like going right now, but I always feel good afterwards for having gone. 

Our homeschool schedule remains the same as far as timing goes, but a couple subjects have changed content with the start of the new semester. The changes seem to have breathed enough fresh air into our learning to have removed the stagnation felt at returning to our school schedule after the holidays.

So along with passing my days in a blur of schooling, working out, cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, I've also gotten some quilting done:

Orange/Brown Top: QUILTED Branchy Spiral Freehand in center & Oak leaf Panto on borders

T-shirt/Flannel Top; QUILTED with Wide Meander Freehand

Spring Rail Top; QUILTED Bubble Meander Freehand

 Pink Crazy Patch Baby Top; QUILTED Bubble Meander Freehand

Blue Sailboat Baby Top; QUILTED Water Stipple Freehand

Autumn Crazy Patch Flannel Top; QUILTED Leafy Swirl Freehand

I don't do a lot of piecing right now, but I think I'd like to make the quilt right above this paragraph for hubby. It can be difficult to find a "manly" pattern & this seems to do it for me. It looks simple enough that I may actually get to piece it during weird spans of free time, it's warm & soft in flannel, AND it doesn't look especially gender-specific, which makes me think it'd be nice for the man room or our family room! So what I'm wondering is if this is a pattern or if this is just making crazy patches & lopping them all off at the same dimensions & applying some sashing/borders? Anybody out there can shed some light for me?? 

Happy Monday!

Personal Projects

Amazingly, I've had a bit 'o time to eek out a few personal projects in between homeschooling & quilting. 

The first is a stitchery piece I made for my BFF. Technically, it was a Christmas present, but it wasn't truly being finished & pushed into it's frame until after the new year began!

I love stitchery *almost* as much as I love quilting!! 

This heart mat was born out of a "Crazy Patch Pillow" class I took at Stitch & Craft. I decided I'd use a mat more than I'd use a pillow (since we ALL know my Lab, Smokey, would probably just get hold of, put his slobber all over & probably knock the stuffing out of it!!)

And finally, my pride & joy: Folded Fabric Christmas Ornaments. A fabulous client from last year gave one of these to me for Christmas, I fell in love & HAD to learn how to make one. One has turned into a few which I'm certain will turn into several dozen. I find them mesmerizingly mellow to work on, but they look fabulous = win win!! 

One of my daughters suggested doing other holiday colors, and so I'm contemplating Easter colors next! 

Unbelievable to think we've already got January behind us!!

What is everyone working on during these cold months??