Thursday, December 31, 2020

I Like Thursday #78 ~ Celebrating Life's Gifts


It was a week to celebrate
family, 
life,
and all blessings,
great and small.

Our oldest son, Jon, joined us for Christmas this year.
Together we Zoomed to the homes of 


our son Matt and his Jess,


and our daughter, Marissa's family.

We opened the small gifts we sent to each other.

I am so blessed that we were able to share the day.


Here are some of my favorite new things ...


a signed copy of Quiltville Bonnie Hunter's new book and her triangle tool 
and the 3 in One Color Tool,


Fig Tree Quilts  Shirtings Sampler Quilt Kit,



some tasty goodies to nosh while I sew.


I really enjoyed this easy to froth Gevalia Cappucino K Cup with Froth Packet


Very tasty! 


It is time to say goodbye to 2020 and say hello to 2021. 

 When looking for a new year image this one was so striking,

I felt I needed to share ... Original Photo Here

In 2021, I will be celebrating all life's gifts.


Please join me and my friends, the

I Like Thursday Bloggers @ Not Afraid of Color

as we give thanks today for those things big and small that have made us smile this week. 

Have a Happy Thursday! 



Wednesday, December 30, 2020

My 2021 Stitching Resolution ~ To Stitch and Show

 

My stitching resolution for 2021 is to

 Stitch and Show.

Two years ago I updated my blog every day.

 I was surprised to find I could come up with something to share every day.

In 2020, while I was sheltering and sewing in place, I sometimes left my computer turned off.

Therefore, I only posted bits and pieces of my sewing and stitching 

and sometimes never showed the finish.

I resolve in 2021 to try to "stitch and show" everyday.

It may not be much, but I will do my best.

Please visit all my resolute blogging friends today,

Wednesday, December 30th


Thanks to the lovely 

Carla @ Creatin' in the Sticks

for bringing us together. 

My plan is to make "Stitch 'n' Show"

a regular feature on my blog in 2021.

I do not have a formal plan in mind.

I just want to share with others.

 My question is:

If I were to make this a regular

 "Stitch 'n' Show" party on my blog,

how many of you might be interested in participating?

Weekly?

Monthly? 

No obligation to participate on a regular basis.

Just for fun ... 

and to celebrate life one day and one stitch at a time. 

:-)




Monday, December 21, 2020

Christmas Tree 2020


The Tree is up!  

The tree skirt is my

 Starburst Tree Skirt Posted Here with Pattern Links


It was made with the scraps from  This Quilt

and other stash scraps strips.

I also made these lovely cushion covers from scrap fabrics and such

 Posted Here
 


The Katniss says, "Merry Katmiss!!"

I am cooking and baking and getting ready for feasting.

Mr. Scrapatch and I and our kitties wish you a

Happy Solstice Day!

Are you watching for the Christmas Star ?

However you celebrate, may your week be healthy and happy.

~ <3 ~ 


Thursday, December 17, 2020

I Like Thursday # 77 ~ Snow and Sew

 


Snowing ... snowing ... snowing.

We had about a foot when I woke up this morning 

and it will continue to snow until mid afternoon.

It is also very windy and cold.


It was an effort to even open out back door.



Nutmeg had to investigate then small patch of snow that got caught inside the door.

Kitty love to sit in the sun in this door and watch the birds and the critters.

No sun today and the backyard wildlife is sheltering in the evergreen trees and bushes.

 I will be staying inside and sewing, with occasional forays into the snow to shovel and sweep.

Mr. Scrapatch has decided he cannot get to work today which I think is a good thing.  

He will probably on snow removal duty most of the day and into the night. 


Today there is enough snow, he had to snow blow the back porch.
We have a rechargeable battery powered snow blower
that is lightweight and compact enough to do so.
Mr. Scrapatch reports we have 15-18" of the white stuff.
It will be a White Christmas this year!


I made a nice big pot of beef stew to warm and nourish us today.


I saw this and it seems a good theme for the day.

Between snow and sew breaks I will be visiting my friends@

I Like Thursday Bloggers @ Not Afraid of Color

Have a Happy Thursday! 



Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Making Masks ~ Wintertime!



My little bear is modeling my newest face mask.

This one was made for Mr Scrapatch as he asked for some new ones

as his are wearing out with daily use.


For this one I used a new type of flexible nose wire bar
from Gypsy Quilter.


which makes a nice flat fit. 
I also bought these at Fat Quarter Shop but they appear to be out of stock.
I searched and there are some on Amazon and some by other manufacturers, too.
I am hoping they wash and wear well.


The other materials that I have used before in

My Tutorial for Mask with a Nose Wire Pocket

There are shopping links in the above post.

The new snowman mask started with this

 Safety First panel,  available at many quilt shops.

I bought mine Here @ Fat Quarter Shop

I added blue strips to make it larger for our plus size faces.


Here are the materials for another mask:

one cut panel section, one jelly roll strip, backing fabric,

filter batting, four elastic ties, one nose bar. 

I sewed the jelly roll to the sides and then top and bottom of the panel

and saved the last piece of the jelly roll for the neck elastics.

I folded and pressed the top jelly roll strip to make the nose bar pocket.

The nose bar has an adhesive side and I peeled the paper

 and pressed it to the back of the pocket

to hold it in in place while I sewed.


I top-stitched stay stitches on either side of the centered nosebar to keep it in place. 


This is my favorite mask method now.

It is easier and fits very well.

My mask making skills have grown and adapted as the need for them has continued.

The winter ones have the bonus of keeping our faces warm here in the cold 

and soon to be snowing northeast. 


May you are yours be safe and healthy this winter.


Sunday, December 13, 2020

Scrappy Weekend Sewing

 


I have been cutting and sewing this scrappy project.

I am using my own method for making these Hourglass Units,

sometimes also called Quarter Square Triangles.

These are the first of many as you can see by stacks of cut pieces in the top photo.

This method requires little trimming to achieve these sets of hourglass blocks.

These are for the 

Click Here for Grassy Creek Mystery Info

As this is a mystery 

and it is not my pattern,

and we have been asked not to post sizes and numbers of units by Bonnie Hunter,

I will not be sharing more of my how-to information at this time.

I am thinking to post a tutorial for a different project using this method 

in the coming weeks.


May you and yours have a safe and healthy weekend.

Happy Scrappy Sewing!


Saturday, December 12, 2020

My Stitching Resolution Is ... ?

 



"My stitching resolution for 2021 is _____________________________." 

.

.

.

Stop by on December 30th to find out ... ;) 


Click Here to Join in the Fun


Hope to see you sharing your Stitching Resolution.




Friday, December 11, 2020

Sewing Perspective ~Behind or Ahead?



Many gray and yellow half square triangles are sewn.

These are for the Grassy Creek Mystery @ Quiltville


Click Here for Grassy Creek Mystery Info

Technically,  I may be seen as behind because there as the new part out today 

and I am still on the last part.

If this sounds confusing, it may be because I am feeling it.

I may be behind in the mystery sewing 

but there is something where I may be ahead, for a change.


It is with the 

"THE PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2021

PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating

A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting."

Pantone Color of the Year 2021 

I love this color combo!

I am not even sure what the color was for 2020.

Must not have caught my eye or I was distracted by life. 

I just looked it up.  It was a nice peaceful-looking, Classic Blue.

Hmmm ... 'nuff said.

Let's move on to 2021.

I love yellow and gray quilts.

I have lots of these colors in my stash! 

Moving on ... my many batches of yellow and gray HSTs are done! 



 I am now sewing the next part.



1st of many hourglass sets done.

My weekend of sewing is ahead.

I am looking and sewing forward.

It is all a matter of perspective.

per·spec·tive
/pərˈspektiv/
See definitions in:
All
Art
Geometry
Audio
noun
  1. 1.
    the art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point.
    "a perspective drawing"
  2. 2.
    a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
    "most guidebook history is written from the editor's perspective"


From my certain point of view, it is all good. 

May all your perspectives be happy ones today. 

Have a happy, quilty weekend!