Christmas 2025: End-of-the-year Wrap Up

This news is the biggest!  What do you notice about the  picture? Yes - that is my right hand, and I am totally left handed.  But my left thumb has been very ouchy, arthritic and overused. This inflammation means no quilting.  But it’s what I do every night. So 8 weeks ago I started my journey to ambidexterity. The first few nights were awful - I couldn’t even hold the needle.  I kept referring to my left hand so that my right hand could see what it was supposed to be doing.  And , my right-hand quilting is now pretty good! The best bonus is that I can switch hands for a change of direction.  My thumb is still ouchy but can handle a wee bit of quilting, 

Both hands have matching protection!

And this has been my practice piece for right-handed quilting! 

This recent finish pleased me a lot.  It is my Summer 2025  project.  I cut 8.5” x WOF strips from various grunge fabrics and spent summer evenings holding just long thin batted and backed strips and quilting.  I thought I would  go for  a corner log cabin layout.  But it looked so plain.  So I cut the yellow quilted strip into 8.5” squares and began to fool around with this layout. I used what Sharon Peterson calls reversible quilting and what others call quit as you go QAYG.   You can see the grey connecting bits in the front.  The back I almost like even more - see picture below.  For backing I used any low-volume fabric, and I love the effect. 

This is nothing but a fabric I love.  Marcia Derse is the designer, and I have loved her work for over 10 years.  I don’t know what I am going to do with it.  But I love it and will figure something out.  

And look below.  Purses.  Always Sew Powerful purses. This was the December dozen, which means I sent off 144 purses this year.  And I already have the beginnings of January’s dozen on the design wall.

The good quilting fairy has been whipping up various pouches and zip clutches. And some have already been gifted.  It’s a luxury to just play in the studio with fabrics and zippers and create fun little things! 

Last year I did a big bed quilt for stepdaughter Jen.  These pillows are from her leftover fabrics 

This is my 100 Day project. Quilt Buddy Lauren suggested this project to our guild.  10 of us have responded, and each of us gets to determine what they want their project to be.  Some, in the true spirit of 100 Day Projects, are working on something daily.  But I have tailored these 100 days around a black and white scrap project with the outcome being a useable quilt.  Here it is in its pin-basted form.  And currently I am quilting it and figuring how to incorporate some hand quilting   See the picture below?  My eye needs help.  So I am experimenting with stitching around the nine big blocks in the center of the blocks. 

And here’s the end.  This picture above has three of my favorite things in it.  First, my grandson under the quilt.  Second, my grandson taking the picture - look in the mirror.  Third, this quilt.  I love it, I loved making it, and I love that Ryan wants it and how good it looks in his apartment.  I also love that Brandon is sleeping on the sofa bed we passed on to Ryan. The same sofa bed where the boys and I used to have sleepovers. 

This holiday season was good.  I prayed last year for one more winter.  And that will be my prayer again. The holidays are constantly changing and evolving.  While we may yearn for traditions  and faces of yore, we must constantly  adapt and look forward. Here’s to 2026. 

A Glorious Six Days: The Best of Winter

 Even though it’s early December,we've had winter weather complete with snow.  It started the day after Thanksgiving.  Our dinner was small, and of course there was football.  Which meant I had the day to sew! Same with Friday, Saturday, Sunday, yesterday, and today.  All I’ve been doing is sewing.  Sew happily.

The class I took in October with David Owen Hastings on shibori quilting was fun,and I’ve finished my quilt top.  After the class at Quilters Quest, I left my Husqvarna for a badly-needed DNC.  And it is working superbly.  I’m working on matchstick quilting it.  It’s an interesting technique, and I doubt I’ll repeat it.  But it’s satisfying to do.  

Meanwhile I’m getting familiar with my new Bernette.  I made this Swoon Denver backpack to see how the machine does with straps and layers.  And of course the machine is superb. 

To further test this new machine I’m working on this Quilt-As-You-Go ode to grunge.  I spent the summer hand quilting these 8.5 x WOF strips.  And now I’m connecting them.  Lots of layers.  This is a great technique, and I’ve written a tutorial on it.  But it is sewing through a lot of layers.  A lot! 

But here’s been the really big news: I am learning to quilt with my right hand!  My left thumb has been very sore - repetitive use.   So to let my left hand heal I’ve been practicing with my right hand.  And here’s what I’m working on…

This quilt is huge  I’ve been running straight stitches along the white sashing,  while quilting right handed does’t feel natural yet, I no longer feel like the needle is going to jump out of my hands.  Sitting under this quilt, practicing quilting, during the winter when it’s been snowing, having a husband who will leave the house - glorious days!