Happy New Year!

Ok. so I am a few days late. I have no excuses. I'm just late. I hope that everyone had a safe and healthy holiday season. We stayed home and shared Christmas dinner with a few good friends then traveled to MI and upstate (further upstate then we live) last week. This being our last year with no children, I really wanted to stay home and enjoy the holiday. Everything will be changing soon....3 more months (give or take a day or two).

I managed to get a few projects done since my last post. This quilt was made by the participants in this virtual quilting bee. We all made a block from the fabrics I provided. The top was fun to put together although the bias edges gave me a bit of a fit. It's not perfectly square but I love it just the same. I free motion quilted in on my Pfaff CV. The bobbin tension is a bit wonky and I'll have to continue to diagnose that problem. Other than that, I love how crinkly it is. Obviously, Odin likes it to (he was only under the quilt for the photo then it promptly got removed and placed in waiting for TBA to arrive).

December I was lucky enough to be Sunflowerquilt's swap partner in Dec's STUD. I really love the mini I put together. I used fabric from my stash and was able to complete the petals without repeating any of the fabric. I used a combination of fusible and raw edge applique. I had visions (delusions) of making a full size quilt using the Joseph's Coat pattern But, let's be honest, I don't think I have the patience for all that hand applique. However, these ladies do and are doing a great job.

I am signed up for Jan's STUD theme (rainbows). My partner already has her mini done and ready to mail! I know what I am going to make, just have to do it.

Other than that, we are busy getting the nursery put together.

I'm here. I'm here.

Well, in body only. My mind? That has been and continues to be very far away. I have managed, however, to get a bit of sewing done for virtual bees, swaps, etc.

Finished this fun teal and red mini in November for Boutiquenutmegdesigns. I had started out trying to make a cathedral window mini that failed miserably. The teal squares cut for the windows became the background for the red circles and couched embroidery thread. I think I'd like to make myself one in a bit larger size....

This wintery mini was made for Scootin' Annie for November's STUD. The past few seasons I've been drawn to the pink and green combo and who doesn't need a bit of wonkiness in their life? It's hard to tell from the photo, but there are beads hanging from the bottom of the mini.

And, last but not least, a few blocks for virtual bees.

Purple and orange tree for Dallas.

Paper pieced using Moda's Neptune fabric for JGMehlin (Nov. Buzz Cuts).

Giveaway day!

Need some Heather Ross fabric? Your LQS does not carry her line. Check out the giveaway here to try your chance at winning some.

The bathroom, with the exception of 1 3"x3" tile is completely done. Um, I have to get a towel ring yet and that's it. However, the 1/2 bath is experiencing some issues (namely having to replace the lead sewage pipe where it meets the cast iron flange). Oh, the joy of home ownership.

Bathroom Reno day 4

At the end of day 4 the tub is in place, walls in tub are ready to tile, floor is ready to go in, medicine cabinet is mostly in, plumbing is done (except for hooking up tub fixtures), newly found outlet is wired and ready to go. And there is dust. Everywhere. I mean everywhere in what seems like every room in the house. Add that to the dog hair and pine needles and I cannot keep up with the cleaning. And, let's be honest, there are so many other things to do that are much more fun than cleaning!

The chair rail is primed and will be painted white. The wall below the chair rail is going to be a slate/grey/blue color. I wanted to go darker and a bit more dramatic. However, to maintain marital bliss, we compromised. I like the color and think (*hope*) it will look good on the walls and blend nicely with the new floor and bath tile.

All in all, we are on track to have a completed bathroom by end of next week at the latest. Do you see that recessed area in the shower? There is a role of tape sitting in there now. Anyway, it's not exactly where I wanted it (wanted it lower on the wall) but I think this will be just fine and it has a bit of character as it mimics the roof line.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Our backyard is a carpet of maple and burning bush leaves (not too mention a bunch of other leaves I don't recognize) and oodles of pine needles. It's a bit overwhelming to think about going out and raking them all up. So, in an attempt to minimize my stress level, I decided to embrace the beauty and colors and use them as inspiration for November's mini quilt (6.5" - 12.5") swap. Lucky for me the theme for November is nature! This mini is ~ 8.5" x 11.25" inches. It was my 1st go at using my mini piping foot and I have to say I really like the touch the piping adds. I hope my swap partner likes the mini as much as I do.

STUD Oct (theme: Woodland) sent

STUD Oct (theme: Woodland) sent
Originally uploaded by sames5

October's theme for STUD was 'Woodland'. This time of year the woods around central New York are alive with bright colors. I tried to capture the fall colors and the topography of the area. One cannot really tell from the photo, but I did add some beads for a bit of detail. I will definitely be making one for myself. This one, however, was sent over to Nannette.

Bathroom Redo Day Two

After ~3 hours of work yesterday the Corning milkglass tile, toilet, sink and flooring were all removed. Day 1 was a success and gives me hope that all will be done by Nov 20th. Uncovered an electrical box w/ wires in the wall by the window. Hoping its live (glad it's never been a problem before) so we can have a 2nd outlet in the bathroom. See that black, rectangular box to the left of the window? That's our heating duct. Now, I'm not an advanced scientist or anything, but I do know that heat rises. So, why would anyone put a heat duct 1/2 way up a way, near a window, in a 2nd floor bathroom? I should not complain as our 1/2 bath on the 1st floor does not have any heating duct.

End of day 2 and ~6 hours of work. The plumbing for the sink has been done (had to move so we can center the sink on the wall) and the toilet plumbing has been updated to copper. Luan is on the floor in the sink and toilet area. Big, brown adhesive dots have been sanded off the wall. Monday the tub comes out! Of course, our tub is not standard size and the new tub is 2 inches longer so a bit of framing needs to be done. Here's hoping they don't run in to a lot of damaged wood when they pull the tub and tile out.