Keeping Busy

Even though I do NOT need any more fabric, I bought a fat quarter pack of flannel "Woolies' from Maywood Fabrics. They are the softest and so much fun to sew. I made them into quarter square triangle cut with my new Studio die.

All crinkly from the washer and dryer. I do love the softness!

Some process shots, and you might see I've started a pink plus nine patch on that design wall.

I also cut some more of the clamshells  using a Go! die. I made a little quilt from some of these earlier, but Mary decided she needs to take that one home with her. I cut enough for my friend Sandy to make one, too. It's fun to share.

I haven't done a lot of watercolor lately, but I did paint this little girl. It started off with just painting a sheet with the yellow shades and letting them do what they wanted. Then I used the shapes that appeared as the basis of this. It was interesting to see what it became.

Plants here and there. I LOVE the flowers always, and I am so blessed to have them for so much of the year.

I do not know if they are actually keeping me sane, but imagine how crazy I might be without them! Ha!

I hope you are finding plenty to keep you busy. There is so much we can do nothing about, but it does seem to help to keep one's hands busy with something useful. I am thankful for many things to amuse and occupy me!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

A Quilt for My Sister Sue

Have you ever had a quilt where everything in the world tried to go wrong? That was this one.  I have had such struggles with it, but I WON!

My sister Sue sent me fabric remaining from curtains she had made for her bedroom. She did not want a lot of fabrics or colors added as their room is small. I decided to cut out all the repeating designs of flower bunches and appliqued them on to off white squares. I combined them with squares of the same size in pin dot dark blue and a pale gray, along with nine patches in different blues and off whites with a bright coral thrown in once in a while just for the fun of it.

I was going to make more squares, but decided to call it a day with what I had.  I added a narrow border of the pin dot dark blue and a larger border of the off white, which is actually a white on beige. 

I finished it off with binding in the same dark blue pin dot. 

The backing is a very pretty mottled blue.  I am pleased with it. And I do not even want to think about how long it took to get it made. It is a king size, which is the size they need, and I think it will be quite attractive in their bedroom. I hope they will enjoy it for years to come!

My Christmas cacti are having a glorious time in the front window, and I am having a good time enjoying them each and every day. I am so thankful for the many things our good God has given us to enjoy!

I have been doing a bit more watercolors, but nothing I'm willing to show yet. I'm practicing and trying to get better. Improvement is good, right?

Our darling Mary remains with us for a little while longer. We are so thankful to have her with us, and I think she is glad not to hurry back to the snow and ice!

I hope your new year is starting off well. I believe it will be our best one yet! God is still in His heaven, and He still watches over the affairs of man. I know that the times are challenging to all of us, but I also know that we can trust Him!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

HAPPY NEW YEAR

What a strange year 2020 was. I for one am glad to see the last of it. I truly hope 2021 will be much kinder to all of us!

However, even with all its challenges, 2020 brought lots of joy and family fun. We have so enjoyed having our little (?) New York dweller here with us over the holidays. She and her dad have had so many projects to get done, and they've had a good time getting to a finish on them. We've had time with our son and his family and some really beautiful days interspersed with some really not so nice ones.  We also had a so pretty reminder from our adopted daughter in London, Dawn who sent us some lovely Christmas flowers.

Here is a little recap of my quilts in 2020. I completed two king size Scrappy Trips, a queen size that is living on our couch and some lap size as well as wall hangings. I am STILL working on a custom king size for my sister. I am so over big quilts for now.

Meanwhile, it is a beautiful sunny day here, cool and pleasant. 

I truly wish for each of you a blessed, prosperous, healthy and happy 2021!

God is still in His heaven and He is still well able to provide everything of which we have need!  I'm thankful for that.

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine