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Monday, December 31, 2018

Making it an even 100

I couldn't resist rounding off my post total for 2018 to an even 100.  
It means I can show you the progress I have made on the basket block quilt. I've made a few more test blocks, these are the best of the bunch. I have ordered some yardage in Cowgirl Country, denim floral by Sara Khammash, it really does "round up" the basket blocks. It is the border fabric in the left top block. 

I have committed to a UFO quilting challenge that will have me working, hopefully, on a different project each month. This schedule might pose a problem as some months I am not very "quilty." 

Linking up with Jennifer at:
On the sewing machine front, the vintage White I recently acquired needs a lug belt before I can test its capabilities. It has been ordered. I have the CAMs too, found on an auction site. 

I am also working today, doing very important legal business, accepting subpoenas on behalf of the department. I am still in pursuit of a permanent legal analyst position having accepted a limited term position two years ago. It did not go permanent, so I need to secure another job, whether it is with this department or another. 

It is my favorite time of year in the thrift stores, when cashmere *sings the wordsweaters begin to appear. This apparently brand new Charter Club argyle is one of three I have found in the past week.  

I haven't highlighted a Pattern of the Day in awhile, so here is one from my collection. 
Tunics from 1969
Would be called Boho now
Our trail cams are up and running again. It was hard to maintain them during our intense summer heat. We'll see what critters are crawling around the property. 

Stay tuned, looks to be a fun and interesting New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Best of 2018 Linky Party

Linking up with Cheryl at meadowmistdesigns for - 
I like to do these year-end posts. It is fun for me to see what was successful and what resonated with my audience.  

I spent some time on Google analytics yesterday trying to run the report on search terms or what people searched for on my blog. In year's past it has been entertaining, like why would someone search "porcupine" or some other obscure word, words that may have never appeared on your blog. But my analytics were "broken" for this year, having to tweek some settings so my reports will run for next year. 
My work-around for grabbing my top five was to change my setting on my popular posts from 30 days to one year, and walah!

Here are the actual links below for those popular posts.  

Quilt-qwazy-queens-and-kitsch-quilt - because of the red and green colorway in this one, it was perfect to have displayed during the holidays.  

Party-on-with-picnic-quilt - this is my current bed quilt. 

The-encounter-abstract-in-fabric - this one I am quite proud of having earned an honorable mention in the California State Fair 2018. 

Statement-quilt-fail - Such a pretty colorway on this lap quilt, I am thinking of removing the black lettering and softening with some applique. Not my best work as I was having machine troubles at the time. 

The-colts-quilt - A gift to the Mr.'s daughter, I normally don't do sports-themed quilts.  

So looking forward to 2019, pop over here to see more of what I have planned in the months to come 2019 Planning Party.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Best laid plans of mice and quilters

Here it is just a week from my 2019 Planning Party post about quilting goals, wishes and dreams and I am already altering my plans - that happens regularly in the Tami world. 

I had my eye on this lot of fabric on an auction site for awhile. It first posted at $30 with $20 to ship it. NOT worth a $50 price tag. As an aside, you really have to watch those shipping costs on auction, it could potentially cost you more than the actual item. When the price dropped to $20 with 1 cent shipping, those blocks were finally mine! That calculates out correctly, it is hard to tell how many completed blocks are in the lot, but I counted at least 6. Even at $3 a block, it is worth it. Call me a lazy piecer, but I love to take another quilter's work, whether it is partially completed blocks or pieces of patchwork, and incorporate them into a quilt. 
My box of goodness arrived on Christmas Eve. There are 36 basket blocks that were prewashed. 

I ironed them and squared up the blocks as best I could. Some measure 8" and some 7.5".  Three of the bordered blocks are in my lead-off image, having bordered 10 on Christmas Day. 

I also found the CAMs for my White 3355 on another auction site. The seller didn't know what they had, and I am sure it is a pretty narrow market - those who purchase vintage sewing machine parts. 

I am debating on whether to donate my vintage sewing machines. I have two others, one a Singer and one a Morse. I get these babies oiled and running and then they still have issues, probably the reason they were sent to thrift in the first place. 

Linking up with a whole new set of quilters/bloggers for the 2019 UFO Challenge hosted by Judy at www.patchworktimes.com. For that linkup, I must list 12 projects that Judy describes as follows:


  1. Each month I will post a number and that’s the project you should work on that month. On the first of the next month, I’ll post a new number and a link box where you can link up and share the progress you made on your UFO for the previous month.
My list of 12:

1.  Basket block quilt
2.  Spice it Up quilt
3.  Bento box quilt
4.  Black/cream/pink quilt
5.  Vintage blue quilt
6.  Magnolia needlepoint
7.  Batik or African-themed half hexi quilt
8.  Mariner's quilt
9.  Americana quilt
10. There will be at least one Art with Fabric blog hop quilt. 
11. Another patchwork crazy creation utilizing satin pieces (link to wall quilt here). 
12. Colorwash quilt. I did a fabric pull on this one but stalled on the design. I don't want to "bite off more than I can chew" on this project so it may be slow going.  

Finally, a new-to-me Instagrammer Sherry crazyquiltpatcher explained the difference in how people approach quilting. 


Years ago, I had a quilt teacher say there are two types of quilters: Process people and Project people. 

The Process people work on something until they have mastered the process and then a "squirrel" gets their attention and they are on to the next process. 

The Project people work on a project until it is completed. . . . they are able to avoid the charm of the "squirrels" until they get their project done.


When I grow up I would love to be a Project person. . . . . . I'm just not sure that it will ever happen!

I know I am happiest when I am hand binding a quilt for completion. May there be many finished projects in 2019!

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas!



Happy Holidays and thank you for joining me in this year's Countdown to Christmas!

Here are some random images that didn't make it onto any of my themed posts.  

Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas Eve and Bergdorf Windows

Christmas Eve, counting down to Christmas. 



Bergdorf Goodman’s 5th Avenue holiday windows, 2018.
Photography: Ricky Zehavi.
Source
What I'm Listening to:

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Ha ha ha Christmas Cards


Day 23 to the Countdown to Christmas is about humorous Christmas Cards. Here are a couple of amusing ones.
What I'm Listening to:

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Krampus is gonna get ya

Pattern from PyroDog Pins on etsy 
Day 22 to the Countdown to Christmas is about Krampus. Since my real surname is German, I kind of like to focus on him. An interesting read on the origin of this guy www.smithsonianmag.comI highlighted him in my 2013 post. 



What I'm Listening to:

Friday, December 21, 2018

Lighted Christmas Houses

Day 21 to the Countdown to Christmas is about lighted Christmas houses, I have fallen under their spell.
A couple of years ago I picked up this thrift shop rescued "town." It started with the Needlework & Quilt house, just had to have it. It was missing its light, but that is an easy fix. 




What I'm Listening to:

Thursday, December 20, 2018

No, no, no, nativities

Day 20 in this Countdown to Christmas features Nativities.  
An unfortunate nativity
Fur cabbage

Better be Butterworths nativity

Cat nativity
Best Evah!

What I'm listening to:

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Confusing Christmas Trees

Countdown to Christmas Day 18.
Trainwreck tree
These trees make you wonder if their creator is confused on the concept of Christmas tree.
Bulbuous
Ragged
Dentured
Kitsch tree
Merry Princemas

Pipe cleaner tree

Wurst One


What I'm Listening to: