Busy, Productive January

January has gone by all too quickly, at least for me. I had intended to be better about my blogs this year, but that's starting off a little rough too. I have managed to stay home quite a bit since all the work at Mom's house is done and it sold in November. December was very quiet and no one here is complaining about that.

So this post is going to be my end of the month report. All the challenges are linked back to the hosting sites.

Here's what kept me busy, productive and creative:

 Stitch 52 Minis

There are 52 miniatures stitcheries in this series. They come four or five per month. I stitched many of them before I finally decided to make them into monthly wall hangings. Each month had a different theme.

Easter

Sewing

Christmas

Calendar Girls

I collected these blocks of the month several years ago. I debated making them into a quilt and decided I liked them better individually. Are you seeing a theme of smaller projects? I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome. I am taking them a step further by embellishing them with buttons, beads and charms.

 

The March block is in progress. Should have no trouble getting it done on time.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC)

I signed up to do this annual event for the first time. I have tons of fabric and scraps that have been hanging around for years. I chose a block of the month pattern that I did last year with a sewing group from facebook. Every block is half square triangles. I love all the variations of the pattern and the colors. This months challenge color:  Pink. I chose to do all 12 blocks so I can make a donation quilt. These blocks love scrappy :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSC has an additional challenge happening simultaneously with the original challenge and that is the Table Runner Challenge. You are linked and can read all the particulars. Those of us participating in the scrap challenge are encourage to use the color of the month. 

I decided to use all my bits an pieces and make a really scrappy runner.

It still needs sandwiched and bound, but it's a finish.

One Monthly Goal

I couldn't leave well enough alone, I signed up for this challenge too. This month's goal is to make these blocks. I found this collection in a clearance bin at my local shop. I was expecting 12 inch blocks. Imagine my surprise at only six inch blocks !! Not only that, but there are only ten blocks, not the customary 12. New patterns, size, monochromatic colors. All new to me.

 

 

  

 

 

 

This is my favorite layout, but it only takes an odd number of blocks. I love the monochromatic, neutral tones. I debated about adding another border and making it a baby quilt, but I haven't made a final decision. 

The leftover block, it's going to be a small pillow :)

Leftover HSTs became a tiny pin cushion :)

Other  Projects

I started this pillow in early December but ran out of time to finish before Christmas. I wasn't going to let it become another ufo, so it's finished now for next year. The pattern is from Crabapple Hill.

My sister and I worked on a quilt for her. She loves horses and has been collecting fabrics for some time. e have it to the pin basting stage. Almost ready to be quilted.

Clean Up the Table Challenge

I'm creating my own challenge. I'm calling it the Clean Up the Table Challenge. I work on my dining room table. It's a small room and my table takes up 3/4 of it. I've organized it as best as I can for the moment. Consequently, my table becomes a catch-all as often as not. for this challenge, my goal is to have whatever projects have landed on it done by the end of the month.

Here is the before

And the list of TO DO's:

1. relocate box of thread - done

2. make tote bags - ran out of time, put them away

3. mend t-shirt - done

4. make OMG blocks - done

5. make RSC blocks - done

6. flannel - mend blanket, make two pairs of pj pants - I decided the blanket was too thread bare and it left; pjs, ran out of time, put away

7. gifts - box and mail - done

8. cookbooks/craft books - put away or return to the library - done

9. John Wayne panel - pull fabrics for new quilt - done

10. box of notions - put away - done

11. wool - prep new project - put away

12. scraps - make a scrap quilt block - on going

13. plastic bags - put away - done

A - N - D . . . .

I haven't blogged consistently in a long time, but as you can see I'm still productive and I can't complain about that.

What Am I Reading

 Since high school I have loved to read. My tastes have changed considerably from my introduction to Harlequin Romances. They got me through all the awkward years. I graduated to the more adult romances of Danielle Steel and the like. As a young adult, I was introduced to Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. I'm not exactly sure how I made acquaintances with James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Fern Michaels. Over the years I have tried to find new authors and even new genres. In the past year, I have discovered some local authors that I have enjoyed (D.M.Pulley). I've even read some of their recommendations (Gregg Hurwitz).

Last year I joined The Good Reads Reading Challenge. I challenged myself to read 52 books, basically one per week. I ended with 54 books. I'm horrible keeping track on line and their logging program isn't very user friendly. I decided to keep a notebook instead to log my progress. For 2021 my goal is 75 book.

Here's what I read in January:

1. The Awakening: The Dragon Heart Legacy Book 1 

 Nora Roberts

2. The Book of Lost Friends 

 Lisa Wingate

3. Where the Crawdads Sing 

 Delia Owens

4. A Time for Mercy

John Grisham

5. One by One

Ruth Ware

I'm always looking for new authors. I signed up with my local library and had them pick some books for me. There were several new to me authors that I'm looking forward to reading in the coming weeks.

So what are you reading?  Let me know.

RSC - Days 1 and 2

 The Rainbow Scrap Challenge is under way. 

The color for January is PINK

I spent Tuesday evening sorting through my pink fabrics and scraps. I already knew what pattern my blocks were going to be. It's made of half square triangles and I got myself familiar with the pattern last year making a block of the month and participating in F2F swaps.

 

I spent Wednesday cutting and sewing my first block, and Thursday on the second one. I have plenty of fabric to make more blocks and the pattern has 12 different configurations. I am not in the mood to work on anything else, so I'm going to continue to play with my pinks.

As a leader/ender, I chose to work on my 

One Monthly Goal.

 

First couple done.