PhD in 2022 - Finishing School

 

Disclaimer:  I only loosely hold to these particular 12+ UFOs to finish. Even though they are the closest to done.  But ya'll know how that goes.  I hereby reserve the right to toss any from my large list of UFOs into the finished salad at any time.

Thanks to Quilting Gail for hosting the PhD in 2022 challenge, in which we bare our 'sewl' just a bit.

And thank you for reading and maybe commenting on my blog!

Kimberly

To-Do Tuesday Report

 

The elephant in the room is pictured above.  I'm stuck at using FMQ to fill circles into this sorta-celtic-cross-shaped-secondary pattern (in loose red outline.)  I think small circles are called for to counter balance the small squares across the rest of the quilt. The 'easy' straight lines seduced me into a circular corner, very loosely speaking.

Some very old birdies fabric flew out from my stash; those birds have circles the right size for practice. So I made a half-yard sandwich.  This means I actually have to sit at the machine.  And practice.  FMQ.  Deep breath.  Harmless bird sandwich pictured next.

That was the largest commitment from my To-Do Tuesday for last week.  While this 'predominantly green" quilt isn't finished, there were decisions made and actions toward the goal.

But check out the two cluttered areas I committed to clearing out so they could be returned to use ironing and hopefully improving my photography (boxes left contain lighting gear).  (You can see 'before' photos of these disaster areas in a previous post if interested.) With no further delay -- Ta da!

I DID keep up with the quilt-alongs I've started. And here are a couple of pics.

To-Do Tuesday commitments for this coming week:  

1- At least SOME free motion circles the 'mostly green' quilt, and give it a name.

2- Again keep up with the 3 quilt-alongs.

3- Post about getting my PhD in 2022 (desperately needed, lol).

Linking up with:

To-Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal by Linda

THANK YOU for reading my blog!

Kimberly

15 Minutes Report and Design Wall Monday

Here are blocks for three quilt alongs on this Design Wall for Monday.

A 2022 Temperature Quilt; I love the squares and rectangles only, yet it will have a ton of movement when completed.  I will link to the pattern and designer in a future post.  (Remind me if necessary.)

Blocks 8, 9, and 10 of Jessica Dayon's Scrappy Samper block of the week, which I linked to in a recent post.

And the first two blocks for Secret Lives of Color weekly sew along, which is themed on a sort of "history of color" book Pat Sloan is telling us about in her DAILY Youtube videos.  I think it's educational, and I need all the art education I can get.

A decent start on 15-Minutes to Stitch 2022:

January 2-8

• 15 minute days/week = 6/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 7/8 days
• 15 minute days/2022 = 7/8 days
• Success rate = 88%  

It's icy here today.  A great reason to stay inside and keep stitching, which I have been doing and plan to continue doing.  How about you?

Linkup partying with:

Life in Pieces

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 

Thank you for checking out my blocks and these parties!

Kimberly

A 2019 Finish - Fun All Over

 

Even a quilt this bright has trouble under a winter gray sky.  It's simple four-patches and half-square triangles in random order.  I don't remember a pattern; it's more likely that such a setting was inspired by another blogger, whom I cannot remember after so long.  Tell me if you know! 

The four-patch scraps echo the colorful dots in the black yardage.  Also this was great free motion practice.

The backing below is a thrifted vintage sheet. The background is white, not blue, but my camera is defiant.

I'll be connecting with and visiting the posters at the following linkups this week:

Finished or Not Friday by Alycia Quilts

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday

Thank you for reading my blog; you are appreciated!

Kimberly

Monthly Goal and Weekly To Do List

January's One Monthly Goal is this predominantly green quilt from a recent magazine pattern which I will elaborate on in a finishing post, which I'm committing to completely finish by the end of this month.  Don't point out to me that it is already almost done, lol.  I'm just easing into 2022 and trying to get a feel for it.

My 1/4/22 To-Do Tuesday list includes finishing the above green quilt as #1, because ideally it will happen in this week, and I can begin FMQ or straight line on another UFO in the stack. 

#2 is keeping up with the QALs I've started.  I'll soon list them on a PhD in 2022 post (I hope) by January 15.

#3 continue tidying up my sewing area... it's blessedly large but that makes it easy to destroy from end to end before feeling boxed in.  It's reaching the point of mental mess interference and holy moly I don't need that.  I have some business-y things to do this month which I'm finding lightly stressful with the potential for increase, but all turning out well in the end.

Enough with that brutal honesty.  And that's also enough for a list.  I want to feel accomplished next week and able to report back 3 for 3, an unusually high amount of focus for sure.

I'm enjoying others' posts linking to these parties:

Monday Making

To-Do Tuesday

Mid-Week Makers

THANKS for reading this blog, and Happy New Year to each and every one of you!

Kimberly

Our 25th Anniversary Brief Vacation

 

You're looking at two felled trees stretching across an unused, gravel road in the dense (to me) forests of northern West Virginia. The leaves everywhere are deep (again, to me), big oak leaves mixed with pine tags.  Crunch, crunch.  On this hill top stands this beautiful rental "cabin."

This dark-ish photo makes the house look giant, but it actually isn't.  It's so-well designed inside that it feels 'spaciously cozy.' (How do  the pros pull that off?)  All the amenities were there, including an outdoor sauna not visible here.  Yes, it was a memorable two nights.

On most trips anywhere we would go out for a drive once, but here we stayed put.  I didn't want to miss a minute in this relaxing atmosphere.  Below is an inside sequence from morning, afternoon, and night, from the same vantage point.

Yup, we were up tiptoeing around in the moon light.  I didn't intend to take the same photo ice, but so it happened. As you can tell, I'm not a photographer nor a travel reviewer, but maybe it is time to catalog something.  

Getting married between Christmas and New Year's has a lot of perks we've found. For instance, it's a needed interlude at the time of year, whether or not we left home.

Thanks for reading,

Kimberly

Scrappy Sampler Blocks 1 and 2

Block 1 and Block 2 of the FREE quilt along hosted by Jessica Dayon Patterns.  Jump on over there and join in the fun!

Linking up with Cynthia's Oh, Scrap! party at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework , which it most certainly is.

Thanks,

Kimberly