Bits and Pieces

It’s amazing how quickly laziness can take over.  And I’ve been lazy!  At least about blogging.  Elsewhere, I’ve kept going and then forget to take pictures.

Quilting-wise, the year started with only plans, no on-going projects, except for the LQS BOM, and a block exchange.  Well, now there are a couple of things in the works, but not enough fabric (the right fabric) to make any real progress.  I did make a little ‘winter welcome’ banner for the front door:

It’s not quilted because it’s out in the elements and in our rainy climate……          The snowflakes are thanks to Kim of Chatterbox Quilts, won in the Blog Hop Giveaway in December – thanks Kim!

These got cut out, will become a quilt some day:

The Winter White Block Exchange – I chose to do simple snowballs, and had two fabrics that I liked.  Then I pulled out Fernie, my new-to-me Singer Featherweight, to do some test-sewing on it, and decided that I’d sew all of these blocks on her.  It’s going okay, takes some getting used to, and struggle a little more with getting the points to match (but then that’s also partly because all the seams are pressed the same direction):

So yesterday, took some time to stop at a couple of shops and picked up fabrics to hopefully make some progress on some of these:

Oops, guess I have to report this purchase on Quilting Canadians Use ‘Er Up and Get ‘Er Done discussion.  Why, oh, why did I decide to become accountable for using up stash – and how much I purchase?!?  But then, what do you do when the stash doesn’t produce!  Oh, well!

Also have done some machine embroidery for a set of placemats:

Just this morning, I was reading about Craftsy on Chatterbox Quilts.  A FB friend also follows this all-around craft site, with lots of ideas and lessons.  So I took a look – just might have to get in on the action there.

And around the house – decided to get a jump on spring cleaning, and do little bits at a time rather than try to do it all in one month.  My mother has started a pattern of cleaning one room a month all year long.  That way she gets everything done twice a year.  Sounds like a plan to me, and not nearly so exhausting.  Right now I just want to get through the house once because it hasn’t been done in a year or so, then will settle into some kind of pattern.  The hall closets are cleaned and reorganized, and in the kitchen the pantry, fridge and a couple of cupboards beside the fridge.  At the rate I’m going, it’ll take two weeks just to get the kitchen done!

Last week, I wrote a story for Mag, but this week’s prompt just isn’t catching my imagination at all.  So unless I have a dream or vision or something – may just have to wait for next week.

Hope all is well at your house, and your new year has started off with lots of promise.                  Blessings, Peg