New Year's Resolution - blog every month!!!

 Well, I certainly didn't blog lately - I missed an entire year and a half!??  Okay, you've read this before, but I'm going to try to post every month?  

The problem is I not only abandoned blogging and social networks but also dropped any journaling.  When it was time to look back at quilt projects in 2025 - I had NO NOTES!!  And I have to admit - at 73 - my memory is sketchy at best.  If I didn't miss journaling day to day; I certainly missed it when trying to look back to do the review!  I'll try my best in 2026.  

Presenting the famous Quilts of 2025 Review!  What I can remember!!  Hold on to your hats!  

We are still living in Brookings, Oregon.  On the edge of the earth.  Amazon delivery is now at least 5 days out!  Fred Meyers is purposely removing all of my favorites there.  For some reason they have dropped Imagine Broth!  That is a staple in my kitchen.  It's in all of my soups and whenever I have to add moisture to any leftovers - I add the broth.  I was able to get some online - Walmart had it online but not in the Crescent City Store??  Whatever!!  What broth do you recommend?

Onward to the Quilt Count!!  10 projects finished this year.  Sounds impressive, right??  Well, four are small wall quilts!  And I mean small!

Daisy Dazzle - 16 x 20  This was the Guild's April Challenge.  Daisies and Diamonds.  I always participate in the April Challenge, but I vary my 'start'!  This was a last minute finish.  AND when Rick was in the hospital 6 (?) years ago; the Gift Shop had these adorable 'bee' barrettes.  It was a miracle that I could find one in my sewing room.  Works perfectly.  Clipped to a safety pin! It won a red ribbon at the Quilt Show Viewers Choice and a Blue ribbon at the County Fair!

Leftovers Waiting for their Turn - 23 x 23  This lovely applique block was created by P - she was actually going to get rid of it!!  I grabbed it, stored it and thought about it for awhile.  I had been working on miniature Log Cabins for a few years. At Retreat last February I had a few left over from a top.  They were perfect for the border, the colors blended, the border looked old fashioned - just right!

Be Mine -  18 x 19  a Kathy Schmidt pattern.  Part of a monthly block set.  I love it, but had trouble getting the heart straight!  Ripped the borders off 1 1/2 times!  But it will be hanging on my wall in February.

Tinsel Town - 27 x 24  A Sue Spargo pattern.  It started as a Guild Sisters' Shenanigans challenge.  Group together and make the same pattern? Sounded  doable.  WELL, I don't say this often (ever) but of the 4 of us, I'm the only finisher!    I loved adding in words via scrabble tiles.  It got a Blue ribbon at the County fair!

Sweet Dreams - 59 x 71  I love this quilt.  Snap Scrap was an online challenge - I was late to the party, but started during the last of COVID.  I incorporated many 'I Spy' fabrics.  A good friend needed something to raffle to raise money for going back to school.  I finished it and donated it.  I think it did well. But apparently I didn't win it back!  DARN

Graduation Quilts for Grandkids.  Miss P graduated last June!  She's a freshman at OU and doing great!  I can't really wrap my mind around that she's 19!!  Did you know that college beds are now 90" long!!!  YIKES!  And that's not going back to regular twin size anytime soon! I made her a batik charm squares quilt with black borders - very dramatic!!  When I gave it to her - their tv is always on, and on sports.  WELL, the pictures I took included the pitcher 'looking at the quilt!!'  Hilarious!  That's the back.

  

PS I started a new 'label' for these quilts.  I took a picture of P running on the beach to the local t-shirt store.  I had it printed 5 x 7 on a kid t-shirt on sale.  It turned out great.  I turned the t-shirt inside out; sewed all the way around the picture. Making a envelope with 2 sides. Cut it out, then carefully cut thru the back and turned it right side out.  Simply appliqued it to the back.  P  loved it!  Good memories.

I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep quilting - it's been a race between my hands falling apart and my eyes failing!  So, I really panicked about the other 4 Grandkids!  But I have a plan.  I'm finishing 2 graduation quilts every year, while I can.  

I actually finished the first 2 in 2025.  Done-done!  And I have the third top pieced and ready to pin baste!  2 boys in HS; 1 in Middle School and the youngest, E is in 3rd grade; but with the new quilt size - I'll have to work on them while I can still "wrestle the alligator thru the machine".  I'm choosing tops I have made that I think the kids will like and finishing them.  There will be no 'special orders'!!  Bad Nana!

Every year P and I make a Quilt of Valor top, then L, another good friend, usually machine quilts it wonderfully for us.   One of my favorite patterns is double 4 patch.  So easy yet so graphic!  We got it done early summer.  Then my birth brother in Nebraska, who is fighting cancer, mentioned his older brother got a QOV.  So we sent our QOV to Nebraska and arranged a presentation thru a friend.  He loved it!  But now we're making a second QOV for our group.  Using a panel for this one, first time for me!  I'll let you know how it goes.

Every year I make a couple of quilts for our local Hospice.  It means so much to me, I've accidently met with families that have gotten one of my hospice quilts and we all tear up talking about what it meant.  

 

And here is the first picture of the 2nd Graduation quilt made this year.  There will be a better one later!!

Time to close and get busy!  We've had a wonderful low tide this week - in between rain storms.  But we had to head down to the beach and be amazed.  These pictures are from Lone Ranch Beach just north of Brookings.  One of our favorites.  AND the star fish are back!  It's been slim pickings lately - a blight a few years back from spiny urchins.

Happy New Year!!