Sunday, January 1, 2023

Sew & Tell ~ Happy New Year!

It's a new year... a year full of new opportunities, new experiences and 365 chances to start new each day!

I wrapped up 2022 with calm and quiet... rest and renewal of health.  I didn't step foot into my studio for a full 7 days once the Dresden Quilt was completed and delivered.  I slowly found my way back there as I picked up and organized all that had been left in the wake of that finish.  I cleaned and polished the wood floor that had been long neglected and ignored.  I collected all of the dust bunnies that had collected and accumulated and promptly evicted them. LOL.  


As I considered goals and plans for 2023 I made mention of the I Found A Quilted Heart project... 

And my intention to start making some quilted hearts to help pass the time as we travel for business this week.


I have numerous hearts ready for embellishment and quilting...using scraps of batting and scraps from my scrap bin I pieced them QAYG (quilt as you go) style.


I used a cardboard template to trace the hearts on the batting and pinking shears to cut them out.  

I have an assortment of lace, buttons and trimmings to fancy them up and make them pretty!  I can't wait to get started on these!  It is sooooo tempting to just grab one and go sit and have fun with it and see one finished!  


Instead, I pulled out my retreat quilt and finished doing the partial feathered wreaths and then quilted the border with free-motion feathers.  I was able to sneak in one final finish for the year... sans the binding.  Which will be hand-sewn during the road trip.

I am pleased with the finish... 


When I showed it to Dave he asked what the significance of this quilt was... When I told him that it was what I made at the quilt retreat he responded with "Oh, the quilt that started all of the sickness for us."  Haha!  Well... yes, probably.  Since there was an attendee that was sick with a horrible cough... and weeks later I heard that some many most of the other ladies had also gotten sick.  Hmmmm... I only have to say... If you don't feel good or think you may be coming down with a cold/flu/virus/strep... STAY HOME!

Dave then asked if I had ever counted how many quilts we have around the house.  Ummm... no.  In a quick calculation I came up with 12... that are out for use or on display... with many more in a closet or two.

How many quilts do you have?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you.

Let's get to last week's Sew & Tell features...

Andree at Quilting & Learning shared some mug rugs that she used free-motion quilting on...



Nancy at Grace & Peace Quilting shared a year end review and her Top 5 quilts from 2022...

And Gretchen shared her progress of some 3/4" hexie flower garden piecing... 

And now... it is time for you to Sew & Tell me what you have been doing!  Linky party will be open all week.  Tell your friends about the linky party too!  The more the merrier.  😊


One last thing...  The quilt parade for the Pieces in the Garden Sew Along is open through January 15th.  Even if you didn't get all of the rows done, if you used the blocks to make a smaller project, you could link it up.  There are prizes!  Did you see them?  Follow the link above.


Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Musings at Songbird Designs
This & That at Days Filled with Joy
To Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt
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7 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Melva. Thank you so much for hosting the link party. Wishing you a blessed and productive new year. Your retreat quilt looks fabulous and how cute is the heart.

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  2. Way to go, on the hearts and the retreat quilt!!! Beautiful quilting!!! How many quilts around our home??? Stacks and stacks!!! Plus on all the walls! Not gonna count--it's what makes me happy! Thank you for featuring my top 5!

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  3. Sure is a pretty quilt. Hmmm maybe you should call it the Stay Home quilt. ;) I'll have to get back to you on the number of quilts we have but part of them are my Granny's. Happy new year Melva!

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  4. Your retreat quilt is lovely! Too bad the sick quilter didn’t stay home though. Ugh! I’m going to be eager to see your embellished hearts.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

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  5. As I said, I'm just getting back to making progress, so I'm not posting today. Soon! Your hearts are going to be wonderful., and I do like your "sick" quilt. =)

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  6. So happy you are feeling better and able to get back in your studio, Melva. That quilt is really pretty, even if it does conjure up memories of illness. I have no idea how many quilts I have...or even where they all are! LOL I do need to get them all in one place. I did a little dust bunny eviction in my studio but need to do more! Thanks for linking up with Monday Musings!

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  7. Hi Melva, it sounds like you're going to have a lot of stitching done during the trip. I love stitching on train and car rides. Well done on your retreat quilt! Thanks for the feature :-) All the best.

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