don't let the door hit ya on the behind, 2019

Now, that is just so unfair to a year. But I will be so very glad to see the backside of 2019. Sure, I'm still going to be dealing with the same life and same challenges. But let us hope the worst is behind us. Fingers crossed.

Be kind, please 2020. I really need it.

Relief Map

This log-cabin block was a practice piece for machine quilting with a walking foot. Embellished with beads, embroidery floss and perle cotton thread.

Cat tested and approved.

Inspired By

For a quilt contest (which I didn't enter), this log-cabin block was inspired by the leaf shapes and colors in an intricately pieced quilt from the 1800s. Quilt includes cotton, denim and polyester fabrics decorated with vintage, glass and antler beads, thread and embroidery floss.

This is the inspiration piece, from quiltalliance.org.

Oo-La-La

Born from a crazy quilt class assignment several years ago, this quilt marks my return to beadwork as well as an introduction to working with ribbon. Mr. Crabby Pants says I never know when to stop, and the embellishments here are no exception. I’m surprised, though, to find that people looking at it live and touching seem to enjoy discovering the various stitches.

It will serve as a reference piece as I work on 3 more pieces this size (after I chopped the original in quarters), one of which Mom wants me to create for her as a living room pillow.

Oo-La-La

...to keep us free

Collaboration

I cut out the flannel, and my niece arranged the squares. This was for her favorite teacher's newborn last spring. My niece hand wrote the "signature" patch. It is in super close-up because I wanted a shot of how the quilting looked on the back.

Farewell, Mr. Van

We knew the van's days were numbered, but we didn't know how few! DH was the middle car in a three-car crash in a construction area yesterday. He is uninjured, it seems -- other than some leg pain. He was braking hard, we think. He was the only one who didn't opt for an ambulance ride. He was stopped in traffic when the woman behind him rear-ended him, going ~30 -- and pushed him into the car ahead. He says our car is 1 foot shorter now.