Valerean

For what is probably going to be my last quilting project of the year I cut, picked apart and sewed back together the strips from the second panel of the not-so-little project #2 to make another bargello section: I then joined the two bargello sections, and I think they worked together. One diagonal row of solid light peach blocks even matched up on both: Since this a just for fun project I'm going to bat it with scrap batting, back it with some muslin and then maybe machine quilt it. Stay tuned to see how it comes together.

For my next little project in December I picked out these scraps from the pile I bought at the county quilt show. After I pressed them, I cut them all up into 3-1/2" strips, and sewed half together. At this point I realized the project was not going to be little. I sewed the remaining strips into a second panel. The panels don't match as I had a few odd-numbered piles of strips, but perfection is overrated. Then I took the first panel, sewed the ends together, and cut out loops of various sizes, which I unpicked at staggered places to turn into a new set of strips. I sewed those together to make this bargello panel: I'll do the same with the second panel, and then see if both bargellos work together. Stay tuned to see how it turns out.

Of all the projects I finished in 2019, the recycled linen quilt is the one that taught me the most. I managed so many things I've never tried with the construction and embroidery. Slow-stitching each section for the better part of a year helped me take more pleasure in the process. I made plenty of mistakes, and got frustrated with the spontaneity aspect, but while I set it aside for several months I didn't give up. The limited color palette was probably the best decision I made. Using recycled fabrics also made it a very green project, too. With the enormous amount of textile waste going on these days that's the kind of thing I want to do whenever I can, which got me thinking about how I want to challenge myself next year. I'm not getting any younger, and lately I've been thinking about the big projects I've always wanted to tackle but never have, such as designing and making my own traditional crazy quilt. There are plenty of challenges, of course:...

Here and there over the last week I worked on the little quilted piece I made from scraps purchased at the county quilt show. To keep it a true scrap piece I also used some silver and black binding leftover from another project to finish it. It's always hard to photograph how the holographic Sulky looks, but it added a nice icy sparkle to the patchwork. Fits perfectly in Skye's crate, too, so she's all ready for the holiday season. Another idea has distracted me (more on that tomorrow), so I think this is the last piece I'll make for my Winter series.

Thanks to National Novel Writing Month I wrote 50K+ more on Twenty-One in November. That was my prime goal, and while I had to juggle it with work I think I did fairly well with the new material. I stopped editing for anything but typos in the second week, so the new content does need a thorough read-through. I plan to finish writing the book this month, because if I put it away again I probably never will. I reached out to a few writers on the new NaNo web site, both as a buddy and in the forums. Alas, except for Theo the buddy reach-outs never responded with anything other than accepting my invite. I thought that was a little weird, but there you go. I had better luck on the forums; interacted with a few interesting writers there. Only one pinhead posted a rude and unsolicited comment to something I posted, which is also pretty good. When a pro weighs in during a public writing discussion there's usually more than one disgruntled snowflake angsting to pick a fight...

This is a first, right? Ha. Now you can see that I have never exaggerated about my white hair. I hope your Thanksgiving was fun. Ours was a huge hit, thanks to your suggestions. Both turkeys came out damn near perfect. Oliver fell asleep in my arms and slept through dinner, proving once again that he is the perfect grandchild. P.S. everyone went home with plenty of leftovers so no one has to cook this weekend. Anyway, I'm taking off today and the weekend because I earned it. :) See you on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving -- and may your day be filled with family, food and fun. Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay