Autumn Update & Ornies

We're still having a fairly proper fall season here in Lancaster, PA, for which I'm exceedingly thankful for. We had a hot spell for a couple days which produced a new population of fleas (we're constantly combatting this one here along the Susquehanna River) & a scrambling for those comfy shorts again.

I love October the most. There are no big holidays to prep & stress over; colorful combinations fly past windows on autumn air; soft sweatshirts; SWEATPANTS; pumpkin anything; cold toes close to warm fires; and snuggling up with my manly BFF under the covers after a long day (and yes I'm talking about Marshall & not one of the "manly" dogs!!)

OMGosh I'll have to post pics of our HUGE pumpkins! I'm not kidding when I tell you at least one had to be rolled out from the backyard! Next post...

Onto the quilts...

A Yellow & Green Batik Top; QUILTED with a Freehand Leafy Swirl

And this Bear Claw Top; QUILTED with an Oak Leaf Panto

I'm thrilled to have this Halloween ornament set finished. It's difficult to get the full effect, but I sprayed them with Instant Antique by Primitive Gatherings. I love working with felt! Not having to turn edges or use a fusible interface takes out extra steps, so you can just start stitching already!

Does it feel unreal that it's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving plans? Or that I'm READY TO START CHRISTMAS SHOPPING?? Or that some have already started shopping??? 

Bring. It. On.

I'm feeling "ready" this year.

Holidays are rough from a stress perspective to begin with ~ trying to get everything "just so", finding those perfect gifts, and trying to fit in all the fun stuff. 

Our family has struggled much with holidays these four years since losing Montie. Every year I feel we've made small steps toward a more joyful season as we become more accustomed to being without him.  Last year I could listen to some Christmas music. And last year I enjoyed wrapping presents again.  But there's still some of "Montie's" wrapping paper in the bin I'll see but won't use & I haven't been able to unpack his ornaments yet much less hang them. In fact, the first Christmas after Montie passed, we bought an artificial tree (which we'd never had) & Maegan braved the stores with a friend and bought for us several sets of coordinated balls, so that we've not unpacked what we used to use. Do you all attach such meaning & remembrances with ornaments? We have so many that we and/or the kids have had since little. I don't know what little baby step(s) we'll take this year, but I feel READY & not just "bracing for it". 

Until then, I'm going to enjoy some more calm of Autumn in October :)

Catching Up March

Sorry for my lameness of late. I've been saying, "I need to get back on the ball" since about Christmas, when everything pertaining to being organized, scheduled & otherwise planned went right out the window like all the other hot air in this drafty old house.

Sooo I've gotten a bit of quilting done:

Floral Golds Top; QUILTED Jilly Panto

 Yellow & Green Sunrise Runner Top; QUILTED Semi-Custom

(The color is off on one of these because the pic above & below are of the same runner!)

Yellow, Green & White Sunrise Runner Top; QUILTED Semi-Custom

Pieced Purples Bed Runner Top; QUILTED Branchy Spirals Freehand

 Four-Leaf Bed Runner Top; QUILTED Leafy Swirl Freehand

Green & Floral Top; QUILTED Meander Freehand

Red & Floral Top; QUILTED Meander Freehand

There have been more quilts completed, but that's a lotta eye candy for one post & I still need to download them anyway :)

Check back as I get back into the swing of blogging REGULARLY & catch you up on some of the smaller projects I've done and share a pic or two from our anniversary.

Has spring sprung where you are?

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!

Finally... Some Eye Candy!

Goodness, where has January gone?? Here today, gone tomorrow... literally!

I won't blather on & on today, as I attempt to start catching up on what's been going on 'round here since the new year began:

First up: Crazy Kite Flannel Top; QUILTED Leafy Swirl Freehand

Next we have have this Purple/Orange/Leaf Square Top; QUILTED Wide Freehand

Thirties Stars Top; QUILTED Party Hearts Panto

Baby Animals Top; QUILTED ABC Meander Freehand

I've finished some others but have come to realize they still need to be downloaded onto the computer. Soon, very soon....