Snow day in the South!

We don't get snow often here in this part of Georgia so when the meteorologists forecast the white stuff things go just a bit crazy!

My After Christmas Sales Santa....

Me...I'm from New England so my emergency cabinet is always stocked!  I have water, extra batteries, a coffee maker that I can use in my fireplace, lots of pet-food, and canned soup/stuff.  So if need be I can hunker down for a good long while.  Of course...here in the south snow only sticks around a day or so...maybe I've overdone it?

But just two years ago we had an ice storm that left us without power for 5 days!  So maybe I'll go check on my vintage hand-crank machine that allowed me to still sew on those cold, dark days!

A photo of my Mom on skis sometime in the late 1940's in Dorchester, MA

As of yet...no snow.  Lots of rain, lots of cold winds, but no snow.  I'm ok with that.

Today I'm taking it easy...tracing some applique shapes off onto freezer-paper so we can kit up our next donation quilt and maybe fold some fabric.

or maybe just dream of future quilts...I got this new book "My Quilting Legacy" for Christmas.  Wonderful book.  Great quilts, beautiful photos and what looks to be good instructions.  I'll let you know on the latter when I finally make up my mind which quilt to make first!

sewing machine vs toe....

Have you set any goals or resolutions for 2017?  I'm still working on mine...

One that I was considering was getting all my vintage sewing machines in order or out the door.  I only want to hold on to the ones that are either "beautiful or useful." - W. Morris.

So far the progress isn't good.  I took out my green Necchi to give it a good going over.  Then I realized I hadn't put the plastic cloth on the table.  So I moved the Necchi (not a small task as it weighs a ton...ok, not a ton but more than I want to lift!)  I put the cloth on the table then the Watson barks at the back door so I go to let him in and what do I do?  Trip over the Nicchi breaking my toe (btw...the Nicchi is so heavy it didn't tip over when I kicked it!)

Urgh!  So I am starting 2017 with blue, gray and green toes.  Not a great quilt inspiration.  This Nicchi may be looking for a new home!

On the up side I am making a list of quilts I am going to finish this year.

This pattern is in Bonnie Hunter's new book.  Believe it is a Carolina Chain...but since my foot is elevated I can't confirm that right now!  I have backing for this already so it is making progress!

Anyone else happy for Autumn?!

I'm back...it was a long hot and difficult summer for me.  Not sure I've ever been so happy for Labor Day to come around!

Not going too far into the details (feel too much like I'm whining) but lets just say I went to the doctor for one thing and ended up having so much more for them to work on.  In some ways it was very lucky...but it made for a long hot summer.

So my DH celebrated September with some chocolate, fabric and pumpkin spice coffee.  He knows me well!  I go in this week for a follow-up and hope for a clean bill of health (ok...at least nothing unexpected!)

So even though I wasn't as active in the sewing room as I'd like I did a few quilt-y things since I last posted.

This Singer came to live with me!  It was a fun project to take her apart and get her working again.  This is the model I learned to sew on!  Amazing how quickly muscle memory came to play...I threaded it without even thinking...

Her name is Bonnie...she sews really, really fast so I named her after Bonnie Hunter who used to come to the guild retreat and finish a quilt top before I had finished my morning coffee!

My wool group got together last week to start stitching again.

They are so creative

and productive.  Figured it should get me back into gear again!