Quilting Before the Storm!

There was a flurry of activity at the QPO yesterday.

The big news has been looming for days - that Wednesday/Thursday could provide us with 3 to 5 inches of ice and snow and other "wintery mix" weather.

For the first time in years - with no travel ahead that weather could impede - I'm actually giddy about the first real dumping of the year.

Earlier in the month we had just a skiff - just enough to make things pretty around here. But it didn't stay long, no more than 24 hours, unless you were standing "where the sun don't shine."

I am hoping for more than this with this snow go-round!

All of the mail that I could get out went out by USPS closing time.  From there it was a "take the van back for its scheduled maintenance" now that the attack deer repair was done - I needed an oil change and a tire rotation ahead of this incoming storm.

After that was accomplished, it was back to the QPO to finish the quilting on the "little ditty" that doesn't have a name - I shared more on this little thing in Monday's Post.

I had a piece of batting just big enough - and used a taupe thread to quilt in an edge to edge design called Gossamer by Hermione Agee of Lorien Quilting.

I love the texture!

Kind of "webby" yet not.

Kind of echoing fans, but not really.

It is always a surprise when I look at my uploaded photos -

WHEN did I take a photo of the ceiling? LOL!

Likely when the phone was on its way into my back pocket!

Some of my earlier favorites -

Remember my vow to start using up lesser loved fabrics (especially big florals) as backings in future quilts?  I wasn't kidding.

I wouldn't call these lesser loved -

They take me right back to what I was doing in the early 1990s - making dolls and bunnies and dressing them in fancy dresses with ruffles, lace and ribbons.  

I loved these big Victorian inspired prints - and these pieces are left from that era.  Working with them was just taking me back - all the way back.

The yardage pieces had curved cut out areas, where I could tell - Yep, this is where I cut out a sleeve, or yoke -  or perhaps the pants part of a pair of bloomers or a little bunny jumpsuit. (yes - I dressed the dolls in the same ridiculous fashions we were wearing at the time! LOL!)

And this pink stripe!

Perfect for here -

This is the last of this piece - and I had YARDS of it at one time.  If the dress was floral, often the sleeves or bloomers were striped. And this pink version was all of the rage in 1990-something.

It was nearly 5:30 pm, getting dark and windy by the time I had the binding, sleeve and label in place.

I set in to the hand stitching last night - so many memories in my lap.

And so many thoughts swirling through my head.

Hunkering down for this winter storm doesn't feel much different than the hunkering down we've been doing all year.  Yes, the store was a madhouse - as totally typical of the South - all white items (Bread, milk, eggs, and toilet paper AGAIN!) were in short supply.

I have been feeling a bit emotional about a vaccine finally beginning to be distributed.  I listened on NPR about the first nurse in New York getting her shot.

I know it's a long road - but I am finally feeling hopeful that this will make a difference.

This morning, I read on Facebook that my friend John, who is working as a hospital chaplain received HIS first shot yesterday.  It's real.  It will take a long time to roll out, but I feel like I can stay safe and be patient!  It's happening.

I headed off to bed around 10pm, with visions of a snowy white wonderland floating in my head -

I awoke to this:

Frozen fog and icy rain - no snow.

Freezing rain had fallen during the night, but no beautiful fluffy white (though it still might come.)

I didn't realize just how icy everything was until I about fell on the deck while taking Zoey out for her morning business.  It is slicker than slick out there - dangerously so.

We just checked the gravel on the drive - and even the gravel is slippery and iced over.

I'm not going anywhere today!

Anyone want to join me in a Sew Day Ice Day?

Today is the LAST DAY to purchase my new Sugar Top PDF pattern at 25% off!

This quilt is made using a 60 degree triangle ruler that is at least 8'' tall - check the pattern description for more info.⁣ I used the Clearview Super 60 Triangle available in the Quiltville Store. 

Sugar Top is currently on sale in the Digital Patterns Section of the Quiltville Store for 25٪ off through Wednesday, December 16th - so HURRY! Price marked IS the sale price. No coupon code needed.⁣ 

The pattern for Sugar Top includes many full color photos to guide you to success each step of the way! 

Plaids, ginghams and checks rolls are available at Cotton to Quilts! Have these beauties delivered straight to your door - you don't have to leave the house!

Whether you’re enhancing your stash or creating Sugar Top for yourself or someone you love - Irene's got you covered!

Rolls are limited to stock on hand, and as with the rolls for our Grassy Creek Mystery  and Pine Tree Point - you KNOW these are going to sell out fast.  Don't wait!

I am GIFTING-AWAY the PDF pattern for Sugar Top along with a Sugar Top Roll in our current Quiltmaker Bundle Gift-Away!  Did you see all that is included? 

There is still time to enter ON THAT POST. Our winner will be drawn tomorrow morning!

December is full of so much Gift-Away fun - don't forget this one either - I will be giving away a free PDF pattern for my Pine Tree Point quilt along with a Pine Tree Point Roll also from Irene at Cotton to Quilts.  A pattern and the fabric to make it?  YES!

Enter to win the Pine Tree Point pattern and fabric roll on Tuesday's Post. This drawing will happen Saturday morning, December 19th.

And there is more to come!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

When the days ahead seem impossibly insurmountable, I approach life like I approach a quilt.

One piece, one unit, one block at a time!

And that's exactly how I'll be spending my Sew day Ice Day!

How will you be spending your Wednesday?