I haven’t been sewing because we are getting ready to move in the spring. I still work full time, and DH is living 3 hours away where the house is being built, so when he is here on the weekends we are going through things and working on stuff around the house.

I have a co-worker expecting a baby in May, so I want to make a quilt for her.

My resolution for 2024 is to finally finish my Civil War Anniversary quilt that is/will be all hand sewn. I’m about 75% done with the quilting.

Donna

The plural is what most Americans would want to use (not knowing it's accurate). It's Hiatuses (I looked it up.)

After my unsuccessful shoulder surgery, I pretty much stopped quilting. I was unable to finish a Christmas Tree skirt for my sister last year. So, I finished that. Since then, I have made a couple of small quilts. One was an I Spy quilt for my sister's best-friend's great-grandson. I really enjoyed making it. I think I will make more of those. I have lots of supplies left over from swapping squares for a long time.

You have made me stop and think about what I want to do.....Thanks.

bkay

I think I need to resolve to just get back to sewing. In the past year, I have not sewn much due to taking care of my mother and buying a house. I am settled in the house now so I can get back to the machine I hope. I also have a couple of major trips planned this year. I am going to Banff in June and hopefully Boston in October. I have been taking out my big camera quite a bit getting back into it, so that I can take it on the trips. Needless to say, this has brought on some birding...SQUIRREL! I also have been building 3 raised garden beds. They are 4 ft x 12 ft. Hopefully they are high enough to keep most of the wildlife from eating my plants in the spring.

My quilting this last year has been hit or miss, at best. My MIL was sick off and on all year and we spent a lot of time in Arizona helping with her care until she passed away in October. We had two BIG trips - a month in Argentina and almost a month between Kenya/Tanzania and Germany. Then my brother passed away two weeks ago in Arizona so I have been there and back and my sister and I are trying to sort out his estate and plan his celebration of life on December 27. I am ready for more normal! I did finish a couple small quilts, but I have two that need to be sandwiched and quilted - one is a commissioned quilt for a friend - thank goodness she is understanding - I had it pieced this summer! The other is a baby quilt for a friend's second grandson due in January. I may get that one done shortly after he is born! I need to get another baby quilt done for March. We are only planning a short getaway in February after a week in Arizona over Christmas so I should be able to hit the ground running! I am looking forward to getting back in the sewing groove.

Sue, I am sorry to hear about your brother!

Sue, this must have been the year of highs and lows for you! Hope 2024 balances out. Sorry for your sad news.

Jackie, Banff scenery is wonderful. You will surely use your camera there.

I hope your raised beds do keep out the critters. Our son tried everything to keep out the pests, even to the point of fencing off his raised beds. No luck, those bunnies and groundhogs loved the challenge! One caution though, don’t make them so wide that you cannot reach to the centre easily. Ask me why!

Remember me? Yes, I gave up posting but didn't forget. I continue to sew and have only slowed down because I have no home for the quilts I make. All the family have their own and I finally made one for a baby. But, I really prefer making applique ones and when I finish one, I hang it up for a year or two. It's hard to part with an applique quilt but my daughter, also a quilter, can figure all that out some day when I'm gone.

I had my own little local gaggle of friends but now one has moved back home to Wisconsin and another has dementia. With just us three, I lose purpose. I have taken in leftovers from a friend giving up quilting and am converting them to lap quilts about 5' square for a nursing home where my cousin lives. I can stay busy but the creativity isn't there. It's just a production line job.

My G-G grandmother has an applique quilt in the Int'l Quilt Museum in Nebraska and I'm pondering reproducing that one some day. But, for now I'll finish my Hawaiian quilt. It is made up of 16 appliqued Hawaiian blocks around a plain white center. No, not very traditional but the best I can do. Only one block to go.

Sending best wishes to all for the new year. I'm glad to see so many friends still on here.

Toolgranny/Linda

Oh, TG Linda, it is so good to hear from you!

’I lose purpose’ pretty much describes me too. Every family member has one or more quilts, the bazaar is finished, etc. etc. I never did have sewing buddies to keep me on track and while I do prefer doing my own thing, it is good to be able to share. Thank you for this forum. It frightens me when I look at the shelves of fabric I have, and so I walk away.

And yes, I did resolve to make a quilt a month, so far, I am ’thinking’ about it.

I wonder if we can join a support group somewhere!!

Please keep dropping in!

Theresa

This thread was a blessing for me. 2023 was a difficult year, and I didn't want to repeat it. This thread made me focus on changes I wanted to make, not empty resolutions like we all used to do.

I joined a guild. I've pared down my stash to what I think I will use (will donate the balance to the guild for their charity quilting) and decided to make I Spy quilts for donation. They make me smile.

I have lots of other plans and, already they aren't going as fast as I hoped, but I'm moving forward.

Thanks, Nannykins, for the inspiration.

bkay

Well, my resolution took a big hit!

Days after Christmas, I developed ’something’ which showed itself as a type of migraine/sinus headache but taken to the max. It put me to bed for well over a week. A visit to a clinic brought some relief but that wore off quickly.

Our GP referred me to a specialist and this week has had a test of some sort every day, blood work, ultra sound, xray, and tomorrow an Echo. Waiting for a call for a head Cat scan.

Needless to say, sewing has not been on my agenda this month.

If we can get whatever it is under control, maybe Feb, will be kinder.

I hope everyone else is well and sewing!

Theresa

Oh No! Theresa, I hope they get you mended soon!

Yikes, Theresa! I hope the tests will help guide the doctors for a speedy recovery for you.

Take care of yourself.

Theresa, I hope you are feeling better soon! My mom once had CT scan and the results were negative, so she liked to tell people her head was empty. LOL

All is not lost! I just finished cutting the pieces for a small quilt.

Echo got rescheduled to this afternoon or I would already be sewing.

Yeah me!

Theresa

Really..."Yea me" is perfect!

Hope they find an answer.

Thanks again for your inspiration. You made a difference already.

bkay

This thread is right up my alley At 82 i have almost given up on this fabulous, inspiring, creative activity that has taken up so much of my life while i only have one unfinished object i just cant seem to find the energy to finish it. sometimes i practice quilt patterns in my head while im falling asleep but dont feel like dusting off my sewing machine

On the bright side about a year ago i was having a drink with a man i play bridge with at his house His wife had early signs of dementia but i recalled that during previous meetings she had shown interest in my quilts So the next time i saw him i took him a siimple string quilt that i had finished a few months earlier. Well from then on every time i saw him at the bridge table (twice a week) he would tell me how much she loved it and had to have it with her all the time . it warmed my heart and i’m so grateful that it brought her such happiness in her final months At her funeral every member of the family knew me as the quilt lady 😔💕

jackie if you are coming to Boston i would love to meet up for lunch or dinner or something i live about 35 miles south of the city but can get anywhere ill email you m