Happy 2017!

I’ve been to the frozen tundra and returned with no frostbite!  (Just some serious chapping but my hair really looked good.)

Had so much fun in Bismarck, ND.  Loved seeing the 3 grandkids and son Alan and DIL Lauri.

Didn’t take my camera so I don’t have photos to share.

When I was at Lauri’s 40th birthday party (yes, Lauri, accept it, you are FORTY!) my friend Deb asked me two things.

Did I win the election?

And would I ever get that quilt finished?

(I didn’t realize that Deb was following my blog so that was a bit of a pleasant surprise!)

I thought I had posted here that I won the election but I guess not.  I’m now “the Honorable Kathy A. Green” and a member of the Board of Commissioners, Homosassa Special Water District, Citrus County, Seat One.  The Governor of Florida even signed the commission and I take my oath on January 17, 2017.  (I keep reminding my husband to call me the honorable but he just isn’t playing along!)

And the second question, yes, I will finish that quilt!  But it sure is taking a LONG time!  Even after I get all the blocks done, I’ll still have to piece it together, then baste it, then quilt it.

And I will drag you through….

every…

step…

of…

the….

way!

There’s 12 blocks left of the Splendid Sampler along with the bonus blocks. I’ve been challenged by this project and I’m happy I started it. (Be happier when it’s finished)  I’ve learned some new skills. Paper-piecing is the major one.  Love it. I’ve gotten much better at hand-embroidery and I know that I really HATE English Paper Piecing.

And having said all that, all those prints and bits and pieces and colors are starting to make me a little crazy. (Some days a lot crazy.)

I feel like I need a cleanse!  And not a juice one!

My next big quilt will most likely be a modern quilt with solid colors.  I’ve already bought a bunch of Kona Cottons from Robert Kaufman.   All solids.

Love all those happy solid colors!

But I have other projects to finish first.

Lauri asked if I would fix this quilt.

It was hers when she was wee.  Someone made it for small Lauri and it’s come apart from being loved a bit too much.

The backing is frayed and torn.

The batting is entirely gone except in the seams!

Got some squares to replace!

The fabric is all polyester knits!  Yes, you can make a quilt out of anything!  I just think it’s really cool that this was made with love for Lauri.  I’m honored to be trusted to make it all better!

The other project is to get my office finished.  Terry had an office in the guest bedroom when he was semi-retired. We had a Murphy bed installed and added a desk and Expedit shelves from Ikea.  There were also a few Expedit shelves in the grandkids’ bedroom.

So Terry fully retired a few years ago and never went back to that home office. Several months ago I decided I could use all that stuff plus the units from the grandkids’ room in my office/sewing room.  Or as my friend Yvonne calls it, my Creative Cave.

We moved three of the shelves and the desk. And I’ve been pulling baskets and boxes from throughout the house to fill those up.  The goal is to get all my fabric stash into boxes and bins so I can find exactly what I want when I want it!  It’s not quite as organized as I would like.

But it will be.  And I’ll be dragging you along every step of the way!

Hope you are enjoying 2017!

Kathy