What? You didn't think I'd actually go OUT on New Year's Eve, did you?
Don't you know me better than that by now?
I think the last time I stayed up until midnight to wish the new year in was when I was.....wait, was it?
I do believe it was the first New Year's as a married couple. When 1981 was turning over to 1982.
And even then I found it hard and wanted nothing more to be in my PJ's curled up on the couch watching something on TV (Not that ball drop thing.....that's way boring!) and heading to bed by 10:30.
So last night I did just what I did every other New Year's Eve since then.
I curled up in my PJs with something entertaining on the TV (I'm trying to finish the New Amsterdam series before it leaves Netflix and I'm on the last season.) with a hoop in my lap and a thimble on my finger.
Don't worry - there WAS elebratory root beer floats!
And a fire in the gas stove.
And huge smiles as memories come flooding back.
See that almost-burgundy floral print in the center? I know exactly where I got that.
1984. Jason was born in November of 1983, and I so remember pushing him around Karcher Mall in Nampa, Idaho - back when malls were still a fun place to go to, and malls were a great place to push a stroller and get some exercise during the cold months.
There was a House of Fabrics in Karcher Mall at the time. And I would push the umbrella stroller through the rounds and stands of fabrics...dreaming and wishing I had the money to buy the pretty ones.
(Fabric was only about $3.99 at that time, but we were starving students with Dave still in school.)
Those were the days, right?
Well...that square of fabric is ALL that is left of that favorite print from 1984. I loved it in all the colorways. I had it with a pink background, and a navy background, and I also think it came in a dark green background. Good old VIP days.
So yes, hand quilting through these precious pieces of my quilting history was bringing back all the memories of life and living that happened since that fabric has been in my stash.
I still love that print. The little scattered flowers like potpourri. And oh, the things I would tell that young me-mom about how her future would turn out if I could go back and tell her.
I hand quilted until my fingers were a bit too sore and my callouses needed a bit of time off so I switched projects:
I had gotten this far the other night.
Side triangles and main units stitched into another diagonal row and ready to attach to the "Mother Ship" of this next everlasting-no-deadline hexie project.
I got it about halfway stitched in place before I was too tired and needed to head to bed.
Done for the night, I looked at my watch which read......only 10:30pm. Happy New Year! LOL!
Today's plan: Super simple.
We are headed over to our friend's place for burgers on the grill and all the fixin's and another raucous round of cutthroat Mexican Train dominoes.
It should be just enough of an "away" day to give my fingers the time they need to recover from yesterday's copious amounts of hand stitching so I'll be ready to don the thimble once again tomorrow evening.
Lola, wishing everyone a happy & prosperous 2025!
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
It's a brand New Year with much adventure ahead!
"And suddenly you know it's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." Meister Eckhart
Happy New Year, everyone!
"And suddenly you know it's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." Meister Eckhart
Happy New Year, everyone!
I remember Karcher Mall in it's glory days! Thanks for the walk down memory lane. One of my favorite fabrics is a green/blue dress cotton from my college days! That's what I like most about scrappy quilts -the memories they bring to mind as we create. Thank you for providing us with great patterns and suggesting how to use those memories! and the encouragement that we can save the patterns and take it slowly--Anyone else still on one and two? Have a Blessed New Year!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, have you ever tried bag balm for your sore stitching finger? My sister swears by it. Happy 2025 and happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the last time I stayed up to see the New Year come in. Last night wasn't going to be it. I figure it will come in whether I stay up or not. I'd rather have the sleep,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Bonnie! Wishing you and the family health and happiness in 2025. May it be a year filled with quilting fun.
ReplyDeleteOh, Bonnie... we really are kindred spirits! :) I barely stayed awake till midnight here in South Central Texas. We were facetiming my daughter & she was babysitting her niece... and the bed time story she read almost put me to sleep! HAHA! We watched the ball drop in New York City, then the Nashville Note (where she is) & then switched it over to the San Antonio firework show. Today is also super simple... cinnamon rolls, sewing, & football.
ReplyDeleteI love your story about the fabric, & that you remember it so well! I can see why it was a favorite... I love that style too! Hopefully 2025 will be better than '24 for us... Happy 2025 & happy quilting! <3
Happy New Year, Bonnie! Thank you for all you do! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteYou and I enjoy the same kind of New Year Eve. I love the hexie quilt and know all to well how long they take but so satisfying when it is done. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Bonnie! I am always so amazed at how much you get done and so quickly! Your hexie project is gorgeous and it inspired me to start one as well using your "blocks" as a starting point. I have all my hexies cut out, and all 27 of my flowers completed - just the flowers with the 4 "leaves". I'm now working on black hexies to surround the flowers. This is a long haul project and I'm wondering if you have any tips/tricks on stitching hexies together more easily. The black fabric is particularly hard to see but I'm now all-in committed to the black background. Even with the fabulous lamp that you recommended last year after your trip to see your father (it really does give the best light), it's so hard to see whether I've grabbed a couple of threads from both hexies as I stitch. Then thread gets caught at the corners and I wind up pulling out stitches to get that loop of thread pulled through. Any ideas to make this easier would truly be appreciated! I am in absolute awe of your ability to get so much gorgeous work done so quickly. I feel like a turtle in the sand in comparison. You are a superstar!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Dave!!! I think I still have that fabric in my stash!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! I also closed out 2024 happily sewing my red flying geese units before getting into bed well before midnight :0). thanks for another holiday season filled with your annual mystery Bonnie, it makes everything easier during this time of year. Wishing a happy and safe 2025.
ReplyDeleteGlass of wine, pickled herring, aged cheddar cheese and crackers, watching the flames in the pellet stove. In bed at 10 pm. Today is quilting 2 lap quilts on the long arm, figuring out and piecing a doll quilt. Maybe some potholders.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed up! He watched his Football, I watched Nashville, cause I'm Country. Switched to watch the NYC ball drop. Played our new Game. HONEYCOMB. It's Mexican Train x 5. Ste too many treats. Lastly I drew lines on the back of Squares for stitching today with friends. The Mystery Catch up from surprise Parts posted.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you, Bonnie, and your family. Today my children are coming over for the traditional sauerkraut, pork and mashed potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI had that fabric in navy, good memories, but I sure don’t remember where I got it
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to all! I bought that print with a purple background, also in 1984. I was working in a quilt shop while working on my degree. I love seeing the occasional scrap of it in my scrap boxes, to this day!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family! Best wishes for a healthy and happy year ahead! Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge with us.
ReplyDeleteMy best New Years was in 1996 ushering the new year in holding my newborn baby in the hospital. It was so very special. Just her and me. I brought her home on New Year’s Day. Bonnie, we are the same age and I so wish I lived close to you. You are so much my kindred spirit. Oh, and I’m going to send you some aqua strips. Love your blog. Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteI remember that calico fabric! I had it in 3 color ways . Made the pink and the blue into dresses for my daughter. I still have the blue one with the smocked collar. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved House of Fabrics in my mall as well. I also used to load my baby in a stroller and browse all of the fabric stores in my mall.....I also loved the hugh sewing department at my T.G. & Y. stores. McCall's patterns and the wonderful fabrics and threads.......Those were the days!! Happy New Year and Happy Sewing to all....xo
ReplyDeleteWe had dinner with friends and played a game of Mexican train dominoes which finished just before midnight. We watched the drone show and fireworks that were at the Space Needle in Seattle - an absolutely fabulous show! (I am sure it is available online to see and I would recommend watching it!) Today will be a laid back at home day watching football and hand quilting some mug rugs for Valentine’s Day.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Bonnie! well Karcher Mall isn't what it used to be, and neither is Nampa, Kuna, Meridian, Caldwell or any of it. Soon it will all be part of Boise! I beat You staying up last night. I was up till 11:30 AK time, which is 0130 ID time and 0330 VA time. My Lil SIS says Fixin 2 Quilt has changed ownership, and she loves the new Owner, Shannon. Quilting Bliss has permanently Closed, so she will be taking her quilts to Shanon. Me, I have to get my long Arm back up and running, now that Christmas sewing is done. Donna E., Kasilof, AK
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. Here in Illinois, House of Fabrics was called So Fro Fabrics and I remember waiting for their sales and for fabric to go on clearance. I have many scraps of VIP fabric from the 80’. I too was a poor college student in the early 80’s. Dianne
ReplyDeleteBonnie, do you have a master plan for the hexie quilt? how do you go about that? I have lots of flowers but no plan after that. Happy New Year to you and yours. we were Definity up for midnight because of all the fireworks going off. sauerkraut and pork in the crock pot for today and watching the Rose parade.
ReplyDeleteI was blessed to spend New Years with a great group of Ladies at a local church. 2 quilters and 5 scrapbooks. I cut, sewed and pressed all of Clue 8. Now I am caught up and ready for 2025. Thanks Bonnie and wishing you a blessed 2025.
ReplyDeleteI miss the VIP and Cranston fabrics. There were two or three patterns that I had in several color ways. Used quite a bit of them in my sewing for craft fair days. Happy New Year to you and the hubster. Hope 2025 will be a great year for everyone.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Bonnie and Dave!
ReplyDeleteI’m using up a peach fabric leftover from the very first quilt I made in 1991 for our wedding. Definitely brings back memories. Trimming some HST as I watch my 4 yo granddaughter “stitch” her zoo animals lacing cards. Her momma my middle daughter just decided to make her first quilt a few months ago. Makes my heart happy.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Nampa, Idaho in the early 1980s also. Your post brought back so many memories of Karcher Mall and its stuffed bear at the JC Penney entrance. It was the place to be! While I was not a quilter at that time, I did sew garments and I remember pouring over pattern books and picking out fabric for maternity clothes and baby outfits in the House of Fabrics. Good times!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Bonnie! I love you!❤️ I am amazed at all you do! Thanks for all your work, patterns, videos and inspiration that you have provided the quilting community. 😘!
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