2019 Year End Review

Most years previously I haven't done a year-end review to look at what I accomplished over the year, but this year because I did so many things that were commissioned or for sale it has seemed like I didn't manage to get anything accomplished for myself.

So here goes -

Commissions and for sale:

Christmas Stockings - 50
Pillows (14", 16", 18" and custom sized) - 27
Totes - 7
T-Shirt Quilts - 1 King, 1 Twin/queen
Purse - 1
Quilted Postcards - 11 commissioned, lots for sale
Teddy Bears - 22
Assorted Stuffed Animals - 3
Ornaments - 18
Garment Alterations - 18
Bowl Cozies - 15
Potholders - 4

total Commissioned - 164 individual items

Gifts -
2 Kitchen Towels
1 mini wallhanging
3 cross-body purses
2 sets of pillow cases
2 pincushions
6 bowl cozies

For myself:
3 UFO's quilted (supposed to go to someone who lost their home in a wildfire, but after a yr may not sigh) - still need binding
Finished the Hankies Wallhanging made from my grandmother's hankies - woohoo
Finished the top for my snail quilt
three wool Ornaments in preparation for writing up patterns for them

Not a lot for myself.....but the extra income sure helped a lot this year.

Next year is shaping up to be just about as busy with a bunch of commissioned stuff already ordered and on hand.  I do hope to do a bit more for myself next year....but time will tell if that happens since one of the things I need to do is find a job that provides a stable, consistent income.

Gratitudes:
1. For the safe, and speedy travels today.
2. For the beautiful weather on today's drive.

Phoenix Trip, final part

There was one final stop by one of the the second hand stores here to see what was on the 75% off Christmas rack.

Final scores were a mini Santa candle holder, a snowmen tea light holder missing the shade (will remove the metal form) and this divided dish.

 This mini wall-hanging was quilted.  A matching green thread was used on the green, and a sulky invisible thread on the rest of it (which I happened to find in the bag of thread I had with me, and don't remember putting in there!).

Two fabrics on the left I found in a final quilt shop stop.   Part of the snails have been used as the backing on the wall-hanging above, and the fabric on the right will be used as the binding for it.

 My friends know me well.....these were three ornaments that I received as gifts from a  couple of friends here.

Love them all, and the gnome riding the snail is so cute.  =)  and that bottom left one so appropriate...lol

This panel had been bought when I was row hopping this past summer with a gift in mind.   It was quilted while out here and is ready for binding.

 Backing used for the coffee wall-hanging.   Cross-hatch quilting done from the back following the lines on the fabric.

 One more elephant stuffed animal was completed using the material from the grey plaid shirt.   My dapper little gentleman now has a girl friend.....now if I could only think of names for them.

 Gratitudes:
1. Being able to relax and visit with as many friends as I was able to (rain and cooler/cold weather not withstanding).

2. For the drive back and what will hopefully be a good drive.

Phoenix Trip, part 3

So I did a wee (a very wee bit) of quilt shop hopping out here.....I've got expensive tastes so couldn't afford to do more....lol.

I found these two wonderful row-by-row kits at Mulqueen's in Phoenix (well actually it could be Glendale).   Both are from this year's row-by-row and will go into the AZ themed quilt I'm going to make for myself.

The one on the left I just got the pattern/fabric kit because those pieces won't be too hard to cut.

the one on the right is laser cut because there's lots of itsy-bitsy cuts that I didn't feel like doing.

And at 35th Ave Sew n'Vac I picked up this selection of wools for the ornaments I've been designing and making.

And at both stores I found a several fabrics for my shoebox for next year.  =)


Gratitudes:
1. For what I'm hoping will be good weather as I head back home

2. For the visits yet to come this trip with friends and family.

Phoenix Trip, part 2

this trip I stayed at the same AirBnB that I did last year.   And love it here, and love being able to bring my sewing machine with me and get stuff done during my down time here. 

As it happens I needed to get a number of things done -

I've been able to get a couple of stuffed critters made to test the new pattern I picked up.  First up was this giraffe.  He's 10" tall.
 This guy was putzy to stuff  so he'll be custom orders only in all likelihood.

 Some of the fringe I bought this trip has already been used for his mane.

 Close up of the fabric I used for him....it has giraffes on it.  =)






















I finished off the basketball quilt that my cousin had commissioned.  Her grandson attending college in OK on a basketball scholarship.

 Label on the basketball quilt.

 I put together this little mini wallhanging top.   It is from a quilt kit that I received in the shoebox swap this Christmas.





















And I made this little elephant from the new pattern as well.

Gratitudes:

1. the beautiful weather, even yesterdays rain, out here in Phx

2. For the leads on job possibilities out here

Phoenix Trip, part 1

I'm on vacation in Phoenix and visiting lots of friends and family.  And I've also had a wee bit of fun visiting some of the second shops and fabric stores that I used to visit while living out here. 

Some of the "loot" I've found while here includes laces and fringes for the stuffed animals and bears that i'm making to sell.   Also stocked up on the ribbon I use for bows on the animals after finding for 75% off at Joann's while out here as well.   No pic of that tho. 















The multi-colored fringe has already been used on one stuffed giraffe.

 Lots of glassware and other items for pincushions at good prices found their way into my hands at the second hand stores.   And yes, one of them is actually for me.

Loved these two....the one on the right is by Current and I've always loved their little animals.









Found this dresser scarf in perfect shape.   Bought it for resale.

Also found some winter tops for myself and a couple of shirts for bears/animals.

Gratitudes:

1.  For being able to be here to visit one last time with a very, very dear friend before he passed away yesterday.  The cost of the trip is well worth that blessing.

2. For the visits I've had with friends and family so far and the ones that are remaining.

Stretching Art Challenge for 2020......frustrations

The theme of the 2020 challenge is "Community" and what it means to us.   I've been thinking about the theme and when I found this batik panel in my stash back in November I thought I might use it as the basis for my quilt.

The thought being I would embellish the quilt,  and extend it with piecing to reach the challenge size.

 My thoughts were to embellish the tail feathers of the two birds with embroidery and then bead the center of the flowers in the panel.   However, I've tried two different methods of embroidering the feathers and don't like the results on either one.

In addition, because the fabric is heavier than i normally work with it is very slow going and it took about 20 minutes to do just the little bit that is done.  Definitely don't have enough time to do this with everything else.

So I think this one is going to have to wait.

The hotel that I stayed in over night Friday had this motif in it and it struck a cord with me.   So I might use this as a starting point for something or go in a totally different direction.

Gratitudes:

1. Seeing lots of friends at church today

2. Beautiful weather here in phx