A Very Quilty New Year!

I am Quilting into 2020!

I had a conversation with my dad yesterday afternoon that went like this:

“I can’t believe we are entering a new decade!  It’s the Roaring Twenties of the Twenty-First Century!”

“Well technically, dear daughter – we don’t start the next decade until 2021.  You are a year early.”

“But Dad, you know this is my world and I get to set the rules!  I’m going to run this decade thing the way I want to run it!”

And we laughed and laughed.  It ended up with “Have it your way if it makes you happy.”  “Likewise!”

The turning over of the 70, 80, 90, 00, 10 and now 20 have been remarkable milestones for me.  71, 81, 91, 01, 11??  Naaaaahhhh.  I’m not having it!

But I AM having this!

I was able to take some time yesterday afternoon and finish up the quilting on the purple/green lovely.  Name still to become official – but I am leaning towards all of those lovely purple spring flowers that I am longing for now that temps are back down to freezing with the onset of January.

Crocus, Iris, Hyacinth, lavender,  SOMETHING.

Just no food names.  I can’t abide quilts with food names. They make me hungry! LOL!

It took longer than I thought – I had a couple of helpers that have the tendency to side track and amuse me at every turn.

So you want to measure for a sleeve, do you?

You think you can pin a label on while I’m here?

NO!  Scratch my belly -

Come on, you know you WANT to!

I stuck to my guns with piecing a backing out of lesser loved florals.  The sleeve too – I annihilated two long 1/4 yard cuts, and everything is in purply shades of “out the door you go!”

What?

Don’t mind us – we’re just watching traffic!

They do love the cat trees by the big picture window – basking in the sunshine, playing with each other.  This has been a better move than I first thought it would be.

Along with the Franken-Backing -

There is a Franken-Batting too!

This is the year of USE IT UP.  I know I have said that before, but I am doubling down and really determined to use what I have.  That goes for thread, batting, fabric – you name it.  Are you with me?  How many of you are setting SEW MY STASH as you goal for 2020?

Lola, getting into the binding act!

Seriously?!

Don’t mind me -

I’m just sitting here minding my own business!

Getting that binding, sleeve and label on took twice as long!

But it was twice as fun.

Binding the New Year In!

The only thing I don’t like about binding in my comfy chair in front of the fire, watching something engaging on TV is how my light attracts certain things like:

One second nothing -

And the next second?  HE’S THERE!!!!

I hate stink bugs with a passion, and they are quiet, sneaky devils.  The only way to get rid of them is to flush them.  Don’t squash them – they stink.  Don’t vacuum them, they will contaminate your vacuum which will blow stink for months.  Burial at sea – several times a night.  Ugh!  It’s become a game to yell “PAUSE! STINK BUG FUNERAL!” as The Hubster grabs the remote, the Kleenex, and off we go for another Bon Voyage down the plumbing.

Last night’s watch?  Togo on Disney Plus. It was great.  Exciting, endearing, full of doggie love.  But I am banning further dog movie watching because it is always sad when…..well, you know.  We are both missing Sadie Jane so much.  It made me want to run out and adopt another dog. Emotions ran rampant. 

We had to go into deep recovery by watching The Apple Dumpling Gang as antidote.

Making slow progress.

But that’s okay with me.

First sunrise of 2020.

How glorious!

I am planning to spend plenty of time putting pieces through my sewing machine today with relaxation being the main theme. There may be a nap! There may be something in the crock pot for dinner, and hand binding time this evening. That's all I want for today.  Simple, easy, comforting.

January 2020 Half-Price PDF Pattern:

I had a hard time deciding just which pattern to put at 50% off for the month of January.  Irish Courthouse won out for many reasons -

The biggest one of all being NO TRIANGLES!!  LOL!

Sew SO Scrappy, Sew Much Fun!

This Irish Chain variation starts with a simple 9 patch and grows from there! Easy strip piecing and full color photos. Fat Quarter Friendly as well! Quilt size: 93’’ X 93’’.

You’ll love making this quilt block-by-block easily from strips.  It’s fast, it’s satisfying, and destined to chase away those winter blahs that tend to follow when the holidays are behind us but spring is still far off into the future.

You don't need a code for the discount. International orders are welcome as there is no shipping involved.

iPad/iPhone Users:  Before downloading your pattern, read the Where PDF Files Go on an Ipad instructions on the Digital Patterns Page.

And with that – I think I’m ready for a late leisurely breakfast, and then straight to the sewing machine.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Is there anything special that you do to celebrate New Year's Day? Please share in the comments below!

It's a Brand New Year with much adventure ahead!

Happy New Year, everyone!