Pin It Weekly #135

What are you pinning this week?  I'm pinning fruit.  Sure, why not?

Just kidding.  I've been looking at and pinning a few photos of artwork with fruit.  It's part of my preparation for the current quilt.

Wooden Bowl with Citrus

Finally, I thought I'd introduce you to 

Nerdist Podcast, which I found through Letters of Note when I read the letter from Nerdist producers asking Tom Hanks to appear on the show.  Letters of Note provided the link to the podcast--I clicked. 

The letter on the right is a picture of Tom Hanks' letter, which he typed on the 1934 typewriter that the editors gave him when they popped the question.  Brilliant, huh? He agreed. 

Fruit in a bowl?

A new quilt.  A new concept.  A new theory.

Wooden Bowl with Citrus

I'll see how it goes.

And keep you posted, of course. Another way to keep up with my work is to like Fleur de Lis Quilts on Facebook.

And if you're like me and have returned to work, here's hoping that all is going citrus-y!

A finish,and a finish, and a finish!

Yes, three finishes! Remember that I joined a bee for a year?  I was to send a block a month every month for 2015. I was pretty good in keeping up with my monthly blocks until October.  Happily, I managed to get blocks to the monthly queens within a few days of the deadline. Some months I sent the blocks off early!  

A couple of bee members visited one month in the summer when we worked on a difficult block, played on the long-arm, and generally had fun.

French Roses block

Then October happened.  First there were issues with the pattern, and I waited out the math problems: I could only make matters worse.  My plan was to complete two blocks during the Thanksgiving break.  

However, in November I was deep into my own world of confusion trying to figure out how to get Building Blocks to cooperate with my plan. (That's the quilt that became two, and both were seeking independence.) 

Dealing with two additional blocks?  No way!  I sort of ignored everything in my life except EOC testing at work and Building Blocks at home.  And ah, the stress-filled exhaustion of teaching.

Christmas holidays finally arrived bringing with it three bee blocks, which were all giving me the evil eye.  I tried to look away from the guilt and shame of being so late, but eventually I had to face the horrible truth: I am a bad worker bee.  

Snowflake block

Fully rested (thanks to a wonderful Christmas break) and completely finished with Building Blocks woes, I began with the easiest block, French Roses, (see above) and finished quickly.

That meant I could face the snowflake block was applique, it made sense to go there. I created my pattern--which I thoroughly enjoyed--and when the block was finished, I was thinking what pretty pillows it would make.

Scary block (just teasing, I really don't know the name)

On to the final block--the one that required math--and when Rich came in an hour later begging to go out for supper, I was finished! A few photos dropped into Facebook and we were on our way. Breathing a happy smile.

Until we return home fat and sassy!  A FB note.  A gentle reminder: don't forget the last step.  Last step?!!!  I'd left off a step? Oh darn! I sure did. And it looks so good, too.
I can only say I must have been very hungry for Mexican salsa! Today I opened the envelope, and added the triangle pieces to increase the size to 17" so now all three envelopes can go out with the mail.  

And this worker bee can hold her head up (almost level) again.

Linking up to 

Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: S E L V A G E S

Selvages are all the rage.  So here are a few items made with selvage scrap fabric.

A few selvage quilts...

You can find these and other pins on my "selvage, projects" Pinterest board.

Thinking ahead to 2016

All photos from Google images unless otherwise noted.

Some bloggers wrote one post on which they reviewed 2015 and planned for 2016.  I'm not one.  That would require that I think back and plan ahead.  My brain is not wired to do both and make sense.  So I'm doing things in my own time and in my own way.  

This post is about my goals and hopeful plans.  First, though, there are the things of Life. Some good Life things, some not so good Life things. For example, I am seriously considering retiring from teaching. Richard and I hope to travel a bit. He has aging parents. The children are independent but the grandchildren are all holding on tightly. 

Life's list seems endless. Not that I'm complaining.  I want Life to get in the way!  Not negatively, of course, but even the difficult times have their purpose.  And I need the occasional reminder or Life lesson just as much as anyone.  No no, bring it on, Life!  Just don't make it too difficult. And please give me some quilty breaks on occasion. 

So what do I hope to accomplish?  I want to be and do better. I want to learn and grow and push myself out of this comfy recliner. I can always improve as a wife, mother, friend, person.  So I want those things, too, but for now I'll stick to quilting and blogging. 

2016 Goals

• Increase content. I wrote 240 posts in 2015, which averages about four posts weekly. I’m shooting for five posts which would bring the total up to 260. 20 additional posts.  Doable.
• More finishes. I tend to stick to big quilts rather than small projects.  I'd like to challenge myself with small projects for which I can write tutorials. I can write at least. I'd love suggestions. I need suggestions. Ask for quilting stuff you want to learn. Or general sewing. I could help you! Win. Win.

My scraps. My photo. See?

• Use more scraps.  AmandaJean at Crazy Mom Quilts is my heroine. Hero. Sewer. Sewist. Seamstress. Whatever. I want her scrap stash. And her pincushions.

• Keep track of fabric usage. I originally thought that meant figuring out how much I have to begin with. No, nothing so daunting. Well then, perhaps I can do this. Figure out how much I use and buy. Keep track. Done. Maybe. It’s math dependent. That’s scary, but I should try.
• Better photos. The almost impossible one. Really. I have no idea what I’m doing with a camera. I’m trying the Craftsy class for using the camera on my phone—Mobile Photography with Jack Davis. Jack Davis is good. Amazing actually. I’m not. I’m not even good. I try. I’ll try harder. No promises. 
• Keep pinning.  I still enjoy Pinterest. I'll keep going. Pin It Weekly and Sunday Quilt Inspiration seem to be my thing. I'll hang on through 2016.

That's the plan. The big beginning on day one. 2016 here we go!  

Fleur de Lis Quilts Best of 2015

I decided to join the crew at Meadow Mist Designs and link up to

These are my picks for best of 2015 in no particular order (because who can say one child is the favorite?) and the reasons that I think they are the best.  It was difficult choosing only five, but I didn't allow myself to overthink, which means that I mostly picked recent posts.  I did realize that I've learned so very much from my year of quilting and making.  Goodness, I've grown in so many ways. 

5.  My first bee quilt / my first online anything, ie. learn trust / my first sense of how crazy and fun and talented some modern quilters are / my first real sense that I have to step up my game
Louisiana Traveling Quilt

4.  First totally modern, totally improv, totally what now? quilt 
Math Is an Expletive

3.  Play off of someone else's idea and make it my own / jump in the deep end / use color (and contrast-gasp!) in quilting / Oh WOW

Modern Cross

2.  Most viewed quilt / most challenging tee-shirt quilt
Gavin's Memories

1.  Most viewed tutorial / best tutorial / most good for the world 

Preemie Gown Tutorial

The pattern is free.  FREE.  You can find it here.  Please make these little gowns for the babies in your local NICU.  You'll never know what it means to the parents and grandparents who see their babies dressed in clothing for the very first time.  It's good karma.