Quilting and Freezing

 Although we haven't had anymore snow, the weather has not been good. The temperatures are low and the wind chill just makes them lower. The temp was -1 this morning without the windchill. Ugh.  I've gone out most days and noticed there aren't as many cars out there. I think a lot of people are staying home and trying to keep warm. I've made 7 blocks as you can see in this picture. They're getting faster to make. They measure 6.5" square. The Facets quilt is really coming along!

I went to a quilt shop one day and bought a few more turquoise fabrics for this round of the Facets quilt. It's such a pretty color. I'm surprised I didn't have more in my stash!

Now that Laurel Ridge is completed, I needed a label. I used the alphabet on my sewing machine and got this one done today. I added some interfacing to make it a little more stable. I always add the label and then wash the quilt. Then, the quilt is finally finished!

Well, I heard our temperature may finally reach over 30 degrees on Monday. It will feel like a heat wave! Stay warm!!

Snow and Quilting

 Well, we survived the storm! I've heard differing amounts but it's safe to say we got around 20" of snow. This is a picture of the end of my driveway. It's difficult backing into the street. You can't see much with those mounds of snow on either side. I move very slowly! I've been indoors since Saturday. I did go to the grocery store and my mother's house. It's so cold! I was happy to get home. 

I did get some sewing done. The pink round is all sewn onto Facets. Now I'm working on the last full round. It's turquoise with yellow middles and magenta little triangles. I have to make a total of 52 blocks! This is definitely going to take awhile! I'm very comfortable making this block and it doesn't take me very long. 

The weather is expected to stay cold with a possible snowstorm Sunday evening. I'm trying to block that out for now until the forecasters get a better idea if it's really coming. I'm not sure where we'll put the snow if we get this storm. There's no space left!!!

I Like Thursday #302

It's time for Thursday Likes! Please visit LeeAnna to find more blogs that participate with us! I swapped out my Christmas table runner with this one. It has a winter theme but not Christmas. I love the pop of color from the bright red stars. It's nice to see something fun now that we're in the heart of winter and the holidays are over. We need fun and cheerful for this time of year!

I've sewn one pink side onto the Facets quilt. This is going together quicker than I had expected. I already have the next round of fabrics ready to sew! This next round will be the last full round. Then, I'll have a smaller round that will act as a border. 

I just finished reading this book. So good! Lots of ugly crying at the end. (Which means it was good!) I highly recommend it.

The question this week asks us if we buy calendars. I get a cat calendar every year from my mother. I usually hang it in my sewing room. I'm surrounded by fabric and cats in my sewing room and I love it! I don't care for the desk calendars where you have to rip a page everyday. I like the traditional month at a time calendars. 

That's it for me. We're preparing for a huge snowstorm like most of the US. Stay safe and stay warm!!

Valentine's Day Cross Stitch Pillow

I finished my cute Valentine's Day project from Primrose Cottage. I used 14 count Aida. It measures 5.5" X 4.5". I wasn't sure how I wanted to finish it but decided on a plan after watching a few YouTube videos. 

I ironed a thin fabric stabilizer to both the cross stitch front as well as the backing. I marked 1/2 inch around the design using an air soluble marker. I used that line as a guide to sew the rick rack. I cut the rick rack at each corner so I didn't have to turn a corner. I used that sewing line as a guide to sew the backing and front together. 

The backing is one piece but I sewed a seam down the middle.  I opened up a small piece of that seam to add the stuffing. The stuffing was a combination of polyester pillow stuffing as well as some crushed walnut shells at the bottom to give it some stability. I propped it up next to a floral centerpiece in my family room. It's just so cute!!! 

I Like Thursday #301

 It's time for Thursday Likes! A few of us bloggers post positive and fun content every week. Please visit our fearless leader, LeeAnna, to link up with more blogs. I haven't been out for dinner in ages so I ordered myself a nice drink last weekend. It's a Winter Sangria. I asked our waitress what is in it and never realized they put vodka in sangria drinks. No wonder this drink really hit me! Anyways, it tasted good and was quite enjoyable!

I changed the quilt on one of my couches. It's a little big for the couch but I love the color it adds! I made this one a few years ago. I did all the applique by hand. Since then, I haven't done too much applique. I think this quilt took about a year to make. I still need a break from applique after this one!

I haven't been to a quilt shop since well before the holidays. I got a gift card for Christmas that came in handy today. I bought a few fabrics for my next round of Facets. It's the final full round. The principal color is supposed to be aqua but I'll probably change that to blue fabrics. I have a ton of blues in my stash. The background will be this light fabric and the corners will be magenta. It should be a pretty round to finish up this quilt!

Our question this week asks us if we've ever lived anywhere else? I've been living in Massachusetts my whole life. I've lived in 4 different towns/cities within the state. I lived in Boston for college and grad school. Those were my most fun years! The city was very accessible and I had no worries except for my grades! What a fun time! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Two Projects

I've been diligently working on making my 44 pink blocks for the 6th round of the Facets quilt. I wanted to see how it would look so I laid out all my blocks. I like how it's coming along! The blocks are a little bit tedious to make but I'm used to it so I just keep making them! I have one more full round which will feature blue/aqua. Then I have a half round which will work as the border. I think that round is mostly red. I feel this would be another good candidate for a pantograph. There are so many tiny pieces and so many colors. I feel my quilting would never really be seen. I'll wait until I'm done to make the final decision but that's what I'm leaning towards right now.

Jeanna reminded me that Primrose Cottage sent us a free Valentine's Day cross stitch pattern. I decided to put my binding aside on Laurel Ridge and try to get this done for the holiday. I'm just using whatever floss I have in my stash. I haven't decided if I'll make an ornament or cushion. I'll decide when I finish!  Isn't this the cutest project?!

I Like Thursday #300

It's time for Thursday likes! I've missed the last two Thursdays due to the holidays. It's time to get back to normal! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more participating blogs. Well, I bought this Christmas cactus two years ago at the supermarket. I'm not the best with plants so I'm thrilled to see this plant blossomed twice this holiday season! Not a bad investment for $3.99!

We woke up New Year's Day to find one of our cars had little tracks all over it! I think it was a crow but who knows!? There aren't too many animals out there right now!

For my next scrap project, I need a variety of neutrals so I decided to buy this jelly roll. I feel I never have enough neutrals. I always lean toward bright colors. I should have a better choice of neutrals with this purchase. 

Our question this week asks us if we sing in the shower. I do! I pretty much sing whenever I hear a song that I know some of the lyrics. I'm not sure anyone around me likes to hear me sing so my singing may be on the quiet side! When I was little, my parents used to sing to their Italian records. I think I grew up singing along with them!

Have a great weekend!!