Last week I pulled the Lucy quilt out.

Last time you saw her, she looked like this.

I thought I’d be able to get some quilting done before I left for DC. So I started table basting her,

and the heater in my sewing studio gave a gasp, coughed out some dirt, and died.

(A couple of the blocks got some of that coughed up crud on them. Hoping that it launders out.)

Called the heating company. Fix or replace. Ka-ching either way. I said I’m leaving in a week and that much moola does not fit into my 2024 budget. Something I can put off until next year!

The thermometer was hovering around 5 degrees so I moved all my sewing machines and Cricut back into the house. I don’t know how freezing temps affect my sewing tools but I wasn’t taking a chance!

Meanwhile….

I had a great Thanksgiving in Garrison, ND with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids. The granddaughters were performing in “The Christmas Carol” at the Dickens Festival. I forgot to bring my DSLR camera with the zoom lens so my iPhone pics were very grainy. But both girls were amazing.

I did get this snap of Adley and me.

I visited the two fabric stores in Garrison. And spent lots of money. Gotta support the local quilt shops! (Just wish they carried my favorites, Ruby Star Society and Rifle Paper Company.)

This is not my typical blue and gray fabric choices. The apartment walls in DC are all shades of green and I do not plan to do any painting so I’m embracing the new shades. These three fabrics will be used for potholders, aprons, and tea towels.

I bought these coordinating Christmas pieces and I’m not sure what I’ll be using them for but I just couldn’t resist!

Since I don’t have a sewing machine in DC, buying new fabric is a little impractical! But. There it is! And I’m taking it with me.

Meanwhile, Lucy is the perfect candidate for hand quilting. The slow steady process is almost meditative. I hand quilted Norah back in 2020 and enjoyed the process. No deadlines for this quilt. The only plans I had for this one was to tuck it away until I had a wedding or some other event that needed a special gift. If the smudges do not come out, I’ll be keeping it.

I am also bring all my knitting, crocheting, and embroidery supplies with me which should keep me busy until I buy a sewing machine for the apartment. (Which will be very soon–just need to make a decision on what to buy!)

Hoping to get one with a 12” throat. Back when I bought my Brother I was torn between it and a Juki model and I went with the Brother because it was a little cheaper and it was identical to the BabyLock Accomplish. (I already have a BabyLock quilting/embroidery machine and a BabyLock Serger plus my local shop at the time sold BabyLock. I can’t bring them with me because I am flying. With a cat. My hands are full–and scratched!) Bro has turned into a diva. While it does a great job on my totes with all the thick layers, I am constantly rethreading it and resetting the bobbin. I have tried all the suggestions in the Brother FB groups and have finally accepted that it likes drama. Now I’m back looking at the Juki.

If you have any suggestions for a sturdy dependable machine, please let me know!

I have one Christmas project that I hope to have finished before we leave and will post it after it is gifted!

Hope your holidays are going well!