I can’t believe a week has already passed in the New Year! I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I am! I managed to get a lot of things started and one thing finished (I’ll show the finished item when I manage to get it hung up). This pup made it to the ironed down stage and awaits stitching with the other two pups that have managed to come together. This speedy little dachshund just had to have a race car sweater! Lots more pups to create!

I began a blanket from a pattern book I got for my Birthday. I am using the same colors I have prepared for the Canal Boat CAL that starts in a few days at Attic 24. So, the two blankets will match in colors. The photo does not do this one justice. It really is pretty.

I was going to wait until I had this one together before I showed it but, alas, I have lost interest and put it away with 3 rows left unsewn. I adapted the pattern called “Stars Above” and used mostly scraps and stash but did have to add a few colors. It will come back out someday but I have so many ideas running through my head right now that I had to move on.

My local quilt guild is doing a blocks in a box thing. You fill your box with the instructions for a block that you want and then you get an unidentified box each month. So, you make a block for a new person each month. In December, we will all have 11 blocks. I have already made an extra one so I’ll have 12. This is what I came up with. I wanted it to be easy and bright and have the signature of the creator. I am asking for them to give me the cut offs as well so that I can use them in the border of the quilt. I am really looking forward to this!!!!

Here is the other wild hair I have grabbed onto. Making granny squares that match the covers of the books you read for the year. I saw the idea and then a friend sent me the idea and then I found a Facebook page called “Book Blankets”…by then I was a goner. I am only about 60 % finished with each of these books so it shows which hobby I prefer I guess…

Here is a sneak peek at the project I am currently most excited about. This quilt has been in the making for years. On Friday I wanted some mindless sewing so pulled this out of the closet, expecting to just keep sewing on strips. I was shocked and surprised to find that all the foundations were full. There was a stack to trim, a stack to sew, a stack to press the seams open, etc. I worked for two days and got all the blocks finished. Pressing those seams open to save bulk broke my iron. A second iron refused to even try. Thankfully, I had a third iron at hand- kids moving back home and leaving stuff when they moved out again… I am really excited to get sewing on this but tomorrow is community service day with the quilt guild.