I really tried to make the most of my vacation days, as far as quilting goes.  After I finished up the customer quilt with the pretty feather stencil, and had made good progress on the commissioned t-shirt quilt, I took some time for quilting for me.  I was on vacation, after all.  🙂

I did some major piecing.  I even worked out a system that would allow me to be working on three projects at once!  I could have spent some time working on those 9P & stripe quilts I started in January, but decided to start some new projects, instead.

I started on this Gracie’s Star quilt.  I’m not sure if my fabric choices are really working together, but I’m going to keep going, and make my mind up about that later.

I started on this Darlene Zimmerman Boston Commons, in 30’s repros.  I have had all the fabrics for this for quite some time.  It feels good to finally be started on it.

And, while working on these two former PIGS, I made some more progress on the Oklahoma Backroads scrap quilt, also a leaders/enders project.  I g0t these blocks together, and did more piecing of pieces needed for additional blocks.

This is truly a scrap quilt, with a little of everything thrown in.  It is stretching my ability to let go, and quit trying to put “just the right” piece here, and there, and just sew!

And I’m working on getting one final finish for 2008.  I’m just about finished with the binding/labeling of my Dad’s log cabin.  I will make it!  Whew!

Oh, and I should probably report that I ordered 48 more yards of fabric from Thousands of Bolts, since I already blew it for 2008.  Figured I might as well blow it big!

Late yesterday afternoon I made Turtle Pumpkin Pie.

Oh yes, it is good.

Today, I got up about the time I would normally be arriving at work.  Drank some coffee, actually took a shower and dressed.  Then I loaded a customer quilt and got started.  The customer does not like this top.  I hope she likes the quilt when I get finished with it.  I was going to use a template to do all the CC (continuous curve).  But after the first block, my attitude regarding using a template for all that CC was “screw that!”, and went back to freehanding it all.  Sure it’s not perfect…but I think it looks pretty good.  Goes lots faster, too!

I think the back is going to look really cool.

After working on this for 4 hours, I decided it was time to go back to holiday baking.  I am trying to make Red Velvet Whoopie pies for my son.  I have no idea if these will be good or not.  Never made them before, but he loves Red Velvet cake.  I’ll let ya know how they turn out in a later post.

Which brings me to a newsflash I have not yet shared with you! Santa came early at my house.  He brought me this mixer!

And speaking of my son, this is the picture from the Christmas cards his dad & stepmom did this year.  Derek and his little sister…aren’t they cute?

Well, if you are still reading at this point, I hope you are having a great week!

I have had a pretty productive weekend.  I’ll start with my stash totals.  I busted about 5.5 yds this week, between 2 projects.  I started on the t-shirt memorial quilt for the Martinez family.  This is the 2nd of the two they commissioned.   The remaining 3.5 was busted making rice bags.

Nothing in and nothing out this week.  That’s boring, isn’t it?  I had hoped to bust a full 50 yds. before the year is over, but I don’t think I’m going to get there.  That’ ok, though.  My plan for next year is to just keep plugging along, making forward progress.  I don’t think I want a set number I am aiming to reach.  That just puts added pressure on me, and makes me feel like I failed, if I don’t reach it.

I took some pictures of the current state of my stash.  The fleece stack has shrunk from what it was, and I now have room to store some of my thread on that little fabric shelf.  Before, that was full of fabric.  Also, there is some space on the one bolt slot.  Those were packed in tight.  The bottom area definately needs some attention…lol.

Last year, I posted pics of my stash, when I first started this stash-busting venture with Judy.  I really can’t say you can tell a lot of difference yet.  Maybe by this time next year, I will have more space on my shelf for thread.  I hope so.  I also hope someone straightens up those bottom shelves, and the floor.  🙂