Lists and Finishes!

 I am super happy to report that I finished tying and binding the second eye spy quilt that my daughter wanted (for friends who are having babies).  I usually do not do that kind of thing but she never asks for anything so I decided to do them.  She in return is buying me a open toed foot for my Bernina--was going to order some fabric on her nickel but I really do not NEED anymore at the moment so I decided to get something more practical.
Now where the lists come into this post.  I am loving those Projects at a Glance sheets I wrote about a post or two ago.  I had absolutely no idea how many projects I let accumulate.  I always say I am a finisher and I am!  I updated my Pinterest (in sidebar) for the WIPS/UFOs and seriously think I have accounted for them all by now.  Lord I hope so!  So here is what I have going on:
Handwork in Progress--3
Works in Progress still being stitched-20
Works in Progress to be quilted or tied by me-13
To be Longarmed-8
That is after I accounted for these two easy finishes.  I quilted and tied them so I could check them off--see the lists are working already!

 Not the best picture, but this is Strip Twist made in 2014.  I have had it pinned and ready to practice quilting on it since then.  Happy to have it done and it will soon be gifted as I know of four babies in utero right now!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas tiny tablerunner also is quilted and bound.  Not great, but done. 

In all my listmaking I was able to put my hands on the RSC BOM blocks for both January and February so I could get a picture of them together.  LOVE Quiltville's Straits of Mackinac!  Looking forward to the next month's color!

 Last Tuesday Kathy went to guild with me (she is a member this year due to Bonnie's workshop) and we played Quilt-O.  Super fun and she won twice and me once.  I am now doing the blog and facebook pages for our guild too.  So hopefully I will be better about doing my own blog again!

Stitching up Little Stuff

 Last Wednesday I took a few mental health hours and did some sewing.  I put together this tiny tablerunner with the We Wish You a Merry Christmas blocks, then I was motivated to quilt and bind Christmas Past and Presents from last year.

 A co-worker, Jen, asked me to make her  mug rug because she saw I always use one.  I made the one above for her and the one below for a fellow sewer down the line.

 After putting those together I decided it was time to quilt and bind this pop bottle.  This is from the paper piecing class I took several years ago.

 I went hiking this week too.  Listened to some music and an audiobook.  I love it out there!

 We also got another cat.  I know--we are nuts.  She is nine years old and needed a home. Her name was Ashley so we named her Stash (so it sounds similar) but I hate people names for animals!  At least first names.  She is SLOWLY acclimating to our zoo--we have put her in the Packer room with a gate so she can come and go as she likes but has a place away from the rest.  We are hoping she and Singer Kitty become buddies, but so far it is not looking like it.

 We had my nephew Ben overnight last night (which used up lots of my sewing time) and we took him to the Ostrich Ranch (Farm) where we got to feed and pet lots of animals. Ben loved it!  They have added Parakeets since we were there and the rainbow lorikeets were a hit as always.  Ben really liked the fallow deer too because they ate from his hand gently.

 I did manage to cut my hst's and rip the paper while watching Finding Nemo with Ben.  Later I sewed up the most recent clue for the Nimble Thimbles mystery.  Whew, caught up til January!

Sad News but Stitching Through it.

 Barb and I drove out to Oasis Quilt store so she  could spend her gift cards.  We saw the cutest quilty Santa Claus there.

 I worked on more blocks for the Temecula Quilt Company "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

 Now all twelve of the blocks are done.  A little eclectic but it is okay.

My sad news is my mom's dad, my Papa DeLos passed away yesterday morning.  I am so glad I took a quick trip to Wisconsin to see him last month.  His mind was good, but his body was not cooperating with him anymore.  He was pretty miserable so I am glad he is free from his pain and reunited with my Grandma Char who passed away almost thirty years ago.  

 Here he is with my mom, my aunt and me.  He was one of the best men I have ever known and I sure will miss him.  Hard working, funny, always encouraged me to jog with him or go to the Y way back when and he was an exercise nut.  Near the end he loved his Culver's shakes but was so proud of me for finally working on getting healthy.

Pretty sure I am not flying back for the funeral though I really want to go I just don't think it is in the cards.  Sometimes it is really hard to be so far away!
*edit*

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OBITUARIES

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DeLos Walker

DeLos Walker was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather. DeLos, age 88, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday morning, December 12, 2015, under the care of St. Joseph’s Home and Hospice program at The Classic at Hillcrest Greens Assisted Living in Altoona, Wisconsin. He was born October 19, 1927, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire to Anton and Myrtle Walker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Colleen Sneen, his first wife and mother of his children, Charlene (Rushman) Walker, and his second wife, Virginia (Loiselle) Walker. DeLos is survived by his brother, James (Anne) Walker of Eau Claire.

DeLos and Charlene had four children. He is survived by all four of them who have always been a very important part of his life. Steven Walker, Eau Claire; Toni Lynn (Gary) Hirn, Arizona; Nancy (Greg) Pederson, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; and Dan (Babette) Walker, Eau Claire. He has 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

DeLos graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He proudly served in the United States Navy. He was stationed in Great Lakes, Chicago, Illinois, and then, San Francisco, California. DeLos owned and operated Walker’s Decorating Center in Eau Claire for many years. He loved to play golf, racquetball and jog. He was an avid sports fan all of his life, supporting the Packers through it all. He loved being up on the news and read several newspapers daily. It was always a must for his day, no day was complete without his papers! He served on the board of the YMCA, he was also a member of Kiwanis and one of the founding members of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was very involved in activities in the Eau Claire area.

DeLos spent over 50 years enjoying summers at his cottage in New Auburn, Wisconsin. It was a very special place for him. He made many happy memories there with his family and friends. He will be missed terribly by his children and family and will long be remembered for his dry sense of humor, something most will always remember about our “special dad.”

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1314 E. Lexington Blvd, Eau Claire, WI 54701. Pastor Brahm Semmler-Smith will officiate. Visitation will take place at the church Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Private family inurnment with military honors rendered by American Legion Post #53 will take place in Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire at a later date.

Friends and family may offer condolences online athttp://www.fullerspeckienhulke.com.

Memorials may be given in DeLos’ name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.

*edit* Sunday afternoon I added borders, quilted and bound this Celtic Solstice leftovers tablerunner for my cousin Tara for Christmas.  I was happy with the quilting on it--hope she likes it!

Rainbows of Fun!

 Amy suggested Grey for the last Rainbow Scrap Challenge color since Angela left it up to her readers this month.  I cannot quite figure out why I have extra blue blocks (at this point) and which color must be missing.  I may go back through Angela's blog to try to see if I missed one without realizing it!  I think this works fine but it bugs me that I may have missed one!  Amy and I will be swapping the alternate blocks--no rush Amy I have plenty to keep me busy until they arrive!  (I still need to sew up last year's RSC challenge blocks into a flimsy!) Edit* I am linking up with SoScrappy for the RSC!

 My friend Barb asked if she could have some of my Packer fabric temporarily and surprised me with a Featherweight cushion/cover and the iron holder I have been wanting to make for two or three years!  I AM SEW HAPPY to have matching Packer stuff for my travel machine and iron.  Last year she made me the scissor lanyard in Packer colors too.  Thanks Barb!

 I made up a few more blocks for the "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" mini from Temecula Quilt Company.  I am not really coordinating my fabric..just using scraps and such.  When I see the end result I may redo a few blocks.

Making Tracks to Guild and Talkin' Turkey and More!

 I am keeping up with the Temecula Quilt Company's "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"  I love sneaking in sewing during the week!  My job this morning ended two hours early and I had that time free to come home and sew before heading to my regular gig.

At work I finished hand binding my President's Challenge quilt for Nimble Thimbles.  Our current president is Suzy and she gave us the solid red fabric (Kona cotton Lipstick) and two little thimbles (one for front and one for the label) and said it was to be a mini about "what Nimble Thimbles means to me" and to bind it in black.  We will share our quilts tomorrow night at the Holiday Party and then we can enter them in the show together.  I have not ever tried to do any of this before and with the hectic past few months I have had, I am impressed that I have it done!  My friend Fran offered to quit it for me because I was afraid I would ruin it.  She did a great job and I owe her one!

 Tonight after doing my elliptical (still eating right and exercising--just not really going anywhere lately but not giving up!) I snuck in more sewing time while watching "The Wiz" and here are all my sashings and bindings for Talkin' Turkey.  Bit by bit this one is getting closer to a top.

Kathy is SEW happy she is finally done with Grand illusion so we can get this quilted for Coleman and Chelsea's wedding quilt.  She is now happily sewing away on clue one of Allietare!

Last night I prepped up a new hand project--Bonnie's "A Little Bit Hexie" looked like so much fun and I just decided to do it!

I am looking forward to stitching this up when I have time away from home!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

You may remember last year I made two of the Temecula Quilt Company's "Twelve Days of Christmas" so this year I wanted to do the tiny quilt called "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"  I am loosely matching the colors they have chosen but am using leftover hst's and such and cutting them to size to use what I have and make it faster!  

 Coleman and Chelsea took their puppy and kitty (above) and headed back to Wisconsin yesterday.  They are going to live with her parents since Chelsea really doesn't want to be away from home.  We are happy to have our entire house back and to have calmness and cleanliness return.  Love them dearly, but they need to find their own way.  Here they are tetris-ing everything into the van so they can take it all with them.

 

Fran (a guild member who is a friend of a friend) quilted my Nimble Thimbles President's Challenge quilt for me.  So today I attached the binding and will finish sewing it on my hand in the next few days.

 Barb asked me for some Packer fabric so she could surprise me and make me this little cushion for my featherweight.  She saw that I always store my mug rug in that spot so the machine doesn't touch metal to metal.  So happy for this. She also offered to make me the iron caddy that has been on my list forever as long as I gave her the supplies I had for it!  I decided I wanted it in the matching Packer fabric so she is working on that.  I need some good ideas for what to make for her.  Do you have a fab idea for something to make for a quilty friend?

 Block 5 from Temecula was made last night.