Holly Quilt ...... for Holly

A friend from my working past tracked me down to finish a quilt she had made for her daughter, Holly.
What to put on the quilt? Holly of course.
16 Squares about 12 inches in size, should be a straightforward job? But this is custom work and the planning takes time. So I spent today constructing a panto for the border and for the centre.

The quilt is made of large and colourful log cabin blocks  The quilting really won't show on the front. However the back is a different story. So I've really designed it with that in mind.

Using this one simple motif I found on line I constructed the border and the centre medallion.

The medallion is composed of four repeats of three of the units, 12 in all, about 16 inches in diameter. I'll stitch this work tomorrow.

Hmmm - Thinking about Buying a NEW Sewing Machine.

My Janome is getting tired and unfortunately too untrustworthy to take away. Regular maintenance trips are getting costly, so I think it's time to look for that "ice flow". (trade in)

Hubby and I have talked and we went out today "JUST LOOKING" and I'm glad to report I came home with...nothing, BUT..........................

Triangle has this one on hold for me. Last year's model and used, but really intriguing.
I said we'd decide by Friday.

Who else but a sewer would spend two hours on line READING THE MANUAL.

Friday...........SHE'S MINE..ALL MINE........................................(.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)
Guess that's my Christmas present taken care of..................😌
 

Picking up pieces

Transitioning between projects is sometimes difficult. I don't realize how tired I am until it's over. You realize you've been riding on adrenaline...and then you crash for a few days.
I used that brain dead time to finish tidying the garage and we got the car snugged away just before the snow.
And the mess in the basement ( I drop everything on the floor) is swept, AND I did a quick job on a comfort quilt.

Between yesterday and today I made some Meyer Lemon marmalade, 4 pints. Now it can snow.
Christmas cake, marmalade, what says Winter better.

Here's the recipe if anyone wants to try. This took 8 lemons.

http://www.chefheidifink.com/blog/general/meyer-lemon-marmalade/

Birch Trees - Final

This is yet unbound.
I opted to put no additional stitches in the trunks of the trees in order to keep the dimension. When this is illuminated from an angle they stand out very nicely.
I did add some ink to the trunks, I may add a little more but for today? it's finished.
( and I really don't care that I cut the birch fabric the wrong way!....)

Birch Trees - Day 8

Today was leaf day.
I tried one idea and didn't like it so I dismantled it.

I was trying to avoid stitching each leaf. I thought if I sandwiched them between two layers of netting I could apply them en masse. I didn't like it, they were too flat. So I took it all apart to salvage the leaves.

Then I went back to stitching one by one.
This is actually better in that I can monitor what needs more or less.

So now I'm having a cookie and coffee break (Today was make more oatmeal cookies for hubby morning).
I've started the leaves so I can see the end of this one.

Hummmmmmm time to think of the next? HA!
Not yet.

4:00 PM Sometimes you just can't leave things alone! Few more leaves in the afternoon.