2026 Stretching Art Challenge Quilt

 I'm so thankful that my vision troubles from the last year are all cleared up, because that meant I could once again take part in the annual Stretching Art Quilt Challenge.   This is year 26 for the challenge and I've participated in about 20 of the challenges if I remember right.  I'd have to actually dig out all of the wall-hangings to count all of them for sure.

The theme for this years challenge was "My Belief", based on the series of stories NPR had done years ago of people telling why they believed something.   I saw a picture that my parents and pictures on the internet that inspired me to design this layout.   The story of my belief is written on the label shown in the third picture below.

Leaves were done with a combination of machine stitching and hand beading using bugle beads.

Label with quilt info.

Gratitudes:

1. Glad that there is only 2 weeks left till the hernia surgery.

2. For the beautiful weather here in Phoenix....altho I'm wishing the temps would cool off some.

ScrapHappy - January 2026

    Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

This month saw me starting a new project.   This is part of a group sew-a-long that I'm doing with long-time quilt friends.   The pattern most people are doing has 12 different center blocks in it, but I'm using some old UFO heart blocks.

Years ago (probably back about the time I was in grad school in Indiana, 2009-2012 time frame), I had made dozens of scrappy heart blocks.  Assorted WOW's were cut to make 6.5" blocks, assorted color scraps were made into hearts and fused onto the WOW's.  Buttonhole stitching was used to finish the edges of the heats.   Years later I bought a "honeybun" roll of 1.5" strips of Kona Cotton.   I have no idea why  I did because I rarely ever use that size strips.     As such, I'm counting these as scraps and using them to get them out of my stash.  =)

Background fabrics are cream scraps that I'm also working to get used up and out of my scrap stash.  5 blocks are sewn and just need final squaring up.  11 more heart blocks are waiting to be sewn up.

And because I have a short attention span and am easily distracted (squirrel!!!), I've also started a second scrappy quilt.   I'd put together a stack of scraps several yrs ago, but then like normal never done anything with them.  There will be 9 blocks total, 5 of the 'Irish chain blocks' and 4 of the alternate blocks.  Background squares are assorted WOW fabrics that I'd cut from scraps years ago.  The squares in this are cut at 2.5", and the blocks finish at 18".   Am still debating on whether to add sashing or just assemble as is.

Gratitudes:
1.  After almost a month of being on a liquid diet because of a hernia, I'm finally able to eat some solid food w/o major pain from the hernia.....now if only I can get the referral I need for the 2nd surgeon so I can actually get it repaired......

2. The nice mild winter weather that has allowed me to continue walking outside as I work to improve my health

ScrapHappy - December 2025

    Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

One of the things that I'm working on doing this year is actually finishing up projects as I come across them as I reorganize and go through things in my stash and my mom's stash.  This month that has meant I've worked on the following projects:

First up was working with some remnants of outdoor upholstery fabric bought several years ago.  These had never made it into the box with the rest of the upholstery remnants and fabric that I bought years ago for tote bags.   Size of the bags vary and were determined by the size of the remnant.   Plans are to donate the bags to a charity that works with low income women that I frequently donate to.

1 bag made from this fun butterfly print

One bag from this lovely teal floral print.

Had two pieces of this grey floral, so two bags were made.

Next up were these two zippered bags.   The fabric was a pre-quilted fabric with a fun rainbow stripe on the reverse side.  Zippers from the stash were used and the bottoms were boxed so they'd stand up.   Haven't decided if I'll keep these or give them as gifts at some point.

Part of the fabric had a misprint so I covered that up with some white ribbon, and then used that on the inside of the second bag.

Gratitudes:
1. 2nd 5K race is in the books.

2. Weather is cooling off which is good as I up my walking so that I can continue to lose weight.

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop 2025 - My Day

  Today's my day on the hop.  

First up is this gnome baking some gingerbread cookies.

While I don't remember ever cooking cookies growing up, and very rarely doing so once I moved out (any cookie dough usually got eaten before being cooked...lol). I do like gingerbread cookies.   Here are links to a couple of recipes that sound good.  Nope I won't be making them this year, I'm in the midst of making lifestyle changes so that I can drop over 100 pounds in order to have hernia repair surgery w/o a 50-50% chance of failure.  =(

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-gingerbread-cookies/

https://www.lovefromtheoven.com/gingerbread-cookies/

And for this blog hop, I couldn't resist making a little wallhanging with another gnome to hang in my office.

This dapper fellow just decided that he needed to bake some gingerbread cookies for his Christmas party.    All fabrics used were either from my prefused fabric scraps or the scrap fabric bins.  

Batting was also a scrap that was exactly the size of the wallhanging....gotta love it when that happens.

The cookies started life as jewelry findings found at Hobby Lobby.  The band on the hat is scrunched up Christmas trim that I bought at some point in the past....I've no idea how many years ago.

This fellow will stay around through January or February because I don't have another one made to put up.

Gratitudes:

1. Vacation is coming up shortly - 11 days off in December, work 10 days........I can live with that!

2. Officially 20% of the way to losing the amount of weight the surgeon has told me I need to lose before getting the hernia repaired.

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop 2025

 The 2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop begins on December 1st.   Be sure to come back and check out what everyone posts.

DECEMBER 1^st

^ Just Let Me Quilt

Hill Valley Quilter

Karrin’s Crazy World

Lynn's Blog

Quilted Delights

Quilt Schmilt

Selina Quilts

 

DECEMBER 2^nd

^ A Quiltery

Ms P Designs USA

Bumbleberry Stitches

Texas Quilt Gal

Beaquilter

Quilted Snail

^ 

DECEMBER 3^rd

Just Because Quilts

Just Sew Quilter

Kathleen McMusing

Songbird Designs

Quilting Between The Rails

Words & Stitches

 

DECEMBER 4^TH

 MooseStashQuilting

Scrapdash

Sew Many Yarns

Happy Cottage Quilter

Days Filled With Joy

That Fabric Feeling

Gratitudes:

1. Rainy Days

2. 

ScrapHappy - November 2025

    Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.   

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Tierney, and Hannah

For years I've stored all my needles stuck in various scraps of fabric.   And since they were just tossed in a drawer would frequently jab my fingers on the points.  Time to do something about it - a needlebook was soon underway.

8 orphan HST's bought from the scrap barrel at one of my fav quilt stores in town made for a fun cover.

And what I have to admit is a not-so-pretty string-pieced block was used for the inside of the needlebook.  I was foolish enough to buy this in a bag of scraps from the quilt store.

Inner pages were made from a piece of aida cloth that had been in my moms stash and a scrap piece of batting.  Embroidery needles will go on the aida cloth, sewing needles into the batting.

A button and piece of ribbon to keep it closed when not needing a needle and it was finished off.

Gratitudes:

1. I didn't break any bones when I argued with a sidewalk, just deep bruising.

2. Weather is getting wonderful to be out in for my walking these days, and that makes the need to exercise so much easier as I work to get ready for needed surgery (hopefully next year).