Yes, it is the middle of the night as I write this little post. I have never been a very good sleeper. After struggling to get back to sleep after more than half an hour, I knew better than to stay in bed any longer. I will try again in about an hour, but for now, I am awake with the dark.

Here is a glimpse, in my very dirty bathroom mirror, of a recent finish. My first quilted sweatshirt. It is wild! I don’t know if I will ever be able to make myself wear it out in public, but it was fun and a great learning experience. So many things I will do differently if I ever decide to tackle it again.

Another new project started. I couldn’t resist the draw of the Anniversary Cakes. I just grabbed one and found a lovely pattern online that was meant for just one. It will be a lap sized throw when finished. I have heard that the Anniversary Cakes do not wash very well so I will have to approach that very gently when the time comes. I will let you know how it comes out. More on this project later and I will include the pattern info at a later date as well.

I also started a little stole with velvet sparkle yarn. I tried two different patterns and then gave up and created my own. I just did not like how the yarn was looking and decided it needed something very simple. I’ll post more on that later as well.

Here is what I have actually been spending most of my time on in the last few days. A long-term health issue has required me to do a lot of resting and recovering recently and will be continuing to do so throughout the rest of the year. I miss my sewing machine, which I get to visit with on really good days. I really miss my quilting machine that hasn’t been turned on in far too many weeks.

I have great hopes for the new year! I should be feeling much better by then and be able to get back to all things quilting! I do hope to get my next Visions of Christmas block out before Christmas comes. The prototype has been made. A few changes need to be made to the pattern, then a second block will be made and instructions published. Hope to work on it some next week.

I will leave you with some puppy love. This is my sweet boy seeking cuddles from my daughter, his favorite girl. Just hold me while you play piano, he says. He is the biggest baby and thinks he should be in your lap at all times, hard to do when he weighs 90 pounds.

Same baby, notice he is in my lap, and I was playing with Snapchat filters. Don’t we look cool in our sunglasses? I know, this is not what you came for. Sorry- when you are doing a lot of resting, you have to find something to occupy your time.

Wishing you all a lot of lovely stitching time and not much insomnia as we move into the long winter nights.