Friday, December 27, 2024

Difficult years

 Well, it has been a tough year.  So long 2024 and welcome 2025.  

We lost several family members…my mother-in law…January 2023, Mom in May 2023, another brother in July 2023, and Dad, November 2023.  I have been grieving and remembering the joyful times we shared.  I stopped sewing and quilting this past summer and fall; losing my mojo for the most part.  I have been working on quick small projects, but just didn’t have the motivation to head on up to my small room to sew and create.  I have many quilt tops which need to be completed.  I do not feel guilty at all for stepping away for the time being, it takes time, but I will get back into the swing of things sewing.  

2024 has not been been any easier…I lost close cousins in October and November, and an auntie earlier in June.  My sister lost her stepson in the early spring.

As we age, more and more pass on.  Now I understand what my grandparents and my parents were referring to about life.  I have a great husband who is very supportive and is there for me when I cry as I remember sweet memories.  

Reading about this year’s quilt mystery, I didn’t feel ready to start another top, but as the time approached I prepared and searched my fabric stash to begin.  With work and long travel times, I knew I wasn’t able to get going, but I saved, printed and organized my instructions.  With school finished for another semester and my final college class completed, I sat down and begin cutting and measuring.  My previous post, I have completed the first set of three clues.  This sewing time has allowed me to reflect and reminisce the happy and sad times of these two past years.  I needed the solace that sewing and piecing brings, the simple joys of working in small amounts of time between life happenings.  I am still grieving, but I am finding much needed comfort in taking care of what I enjoy doing, along with memories of making gifts for my loved ones.  

I have been given the fortitude I need to keep going,  caring for and loving my family.  Mom and Dad, thank you for teaching me love and teaching me to be resilient, patient and strong.  Thank you for loving family members and loving friends and above all, a loving and comforting God and son Jesus.  

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Sewing this year’s 2024 quilt mystery, Old Town, with Bonnie Hunter.

 I now have the time to cut and begin piecing Bonnie Hunter’s 2024 mystery quilt, Old Town.  I’ve chosen her color way and am using what I have on hand from my fabric stash.  Last week, I had to purchase more neutrals and some melon fabrics.  The melon color is one color I don’t have.  I have lots of teals and reds and large amounts of white.  I decided to add more patterns with my neutrals instead of using plain white.  Here are my pieces for clues #1 through 3.  I am working on clue 4.  Bonnie added another clue this past Tuesday, so we have 6 clues to piece, with another upcoming clue this Friday.


I am using my vintage Singer 403a.  I love sewing with this machine!  
Here is the link to access Bonnie’s mystery.  She shares with us every year her quilt pattern she creates while she visits and discovers new towns and sites as she travels the world.  This year she went to Poland.  I love reading and learning about what she shares of the various places she tours and visits.  


For Christmas, I got the Little Rebel sewing machine and set her up on my quilting frame.  I love how easy and quickly she sews my quilt top.  She is available through Grace Quilt Company.  Her sewing area is 13 inches.  (Last Christmas, I invested in buying the Q-zone quilt frame also from the Grace Quilt Company.  It suits my space and I have been able to finish a couple of quilts this past year.)  

I have the Sweet Sixteen machine made by Handiquilter; she is a table top model and I get tired pushing and pulling my quilts under the needle.  I have to manipulate the pinned quilt top and it is not easy especially with the larger tops.  I have a full length queen quilt frame, but I do not have the room or space to set it up in our smaller home.  I had hoped to set up the Sweet Sixteen on that frame, but there is no room right now.  We have plans to build a small studio for my quilting, but that will happen sometime down the road.

Well, it is back to piecing clue #4.  Have a great Christmas!  


Thursday, October 31, 2024

New Bonnie Hunter quilt mystery!

 Yeah, another mystery with Bonnie K. Hunter!  She has the colorway up for this year's mystery quilt...Starowka (Old Town).

Old Town Mystery Quilt Sew along

I love the color selection!  Now, I need to head upstairs to find my colors.  I know I have plenty of neutrals, but melon and turquoise?  That's fine, another trip to Gallup Sewing Mart for more fabric.  

Bonnie will start posting the first of many clues on November 22.  If you're interested, join us by using the link and begin downloading your own copy.

What fun and I am so excited to begin!  Happy sewing!

Difficult years

 Well, it has been a tough year.  So long 2024 and welcome 2025.   We lost several family members…my mother-in law…January 2023, Mom in May ...