Monday Meanderings 12 - 22 - 2025

Merry Christmas 

It's hard to believe that Christmas, Hanukah, and other December holidays are here.  Doesn't it seem that it was just last week when we were complaining about the heat in July?  And, I know I have complained about how cold it was at the beginning of December.  But now the temperature is cool not freezing-your-nose-off-cold like it was earlier in the month.  It was a chilly but pleasant walk with Sunny tonight.  She has a very nice fur coat and doesn't seem to want anything else when she's outside.  I bundle up though. 

My goals were over ambitious this past week.  

12/15/25

✅Baste Tall Trees and start quilting it — Basted and quilting is started but there’s a lot more to do. 

✅Quilt customer quilt— done and returned. 

Finish December clue for Magnificent Mystery —not even close. 

Make last block for Cali-co mystery — not started. 

At the beginning of the week I pin basted the Tall Tree.  You can see the sections of the tree well here.  I am stitching in the ditch around each section. Which also means tying off the threads and burying them. It's very time consuming.  So far I've finished all the green sections of the tree. I'm about half done with the white sections.  I haven't done anything on the tree skirt section though.  

My other issue with this is how big some of the pieces are, especially the whites. I used a light polyester batting to cut down on weight. But it needs quilting every 4 inches.   I've spent a bit of time trying to figure out what to do in the bigger spaces. I made a couple of sample sandwiches and tried out different thread and different designs.  

Here's the first one I did. I was thinking of sewing snowflakes on to the white section.  And below is sample 2. Hum, these didn't photograph well so I hope you can see what I'm thinking of doing, 

I'm going to use the serpentine stitch shown in sample 2 for the whites. I plan to do it with a light blue probably wider spaced than these two rows are. Then I'll add some snowflakes (or stars depending on what you think they are) scattered in between the serpentine stitches. Oh, and I'm going to do the serpentine stitch parallel to the sides of the quilt. I chose a light poly for the batting as I assume it will hang better from the quilt rack. (As in not fall off due to the weight!) I'm pretty sure this won't be done by Christmas but it may be done by the end of the year. If it is, I plan to hang it in the great room for a few weeks.  

I had a lot of fun quilting this top for my friend Nancy.  It is an Elizabeth Hartman pattern called "Look Out."  She did a wonderful job on it. And, picked a great quilting design for it.  Here's a pic right after the quilting was done. There is another row of trees on the top. 

Nancy chose Quick and Easy Swirls (by My Creative Stitches) to give the appearance of wind blowing through the trees.  I think it looks fabulous.  She was delighted when I finished it in time to return it in less than a week. 

Now let's look at what I hope to do this week. 

12/22/25

Wrap presents and send cards

Make final Cali-Co block and start on setting them

Work on Magnificent Mystery clue

Prep snowman block for hand stitching

I have succeeded again in stitching every day.  

W/ending 12/21/25. 355 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/December 14/14
• 15 minute days/2025 = 353/355 days
• Success rate = 99.4%

I have been very motivated to get my 15 minutes of stitching every day this year. (Or at least most days!)  I probably will sign up for it again in 2026.  It's easy to do and keep track of so it's a win-win deal.

I'll be linking up with these blogs this week. Take some time to check out some of the bloggers who are listed on them.

Life in Pieces

Oh Scrap

Quilting Patchwork and Applique

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

I finally posted the December Mysteries and Sew Alongs this week.  Check it out here. 

Here's hoping all of you have an enjoyable holiday week.  We'll be going up to our daughter's family in Maryland along with our son and his family.  It will be great fun to get together again. Luckily, Sunny is invited too. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

 

December Mysteries and Sew Alongs 2025

 Very late but maybe some of these will be of interest. 

Sew Along Strength in Every Stitch by Riley Blake Designs and their designers started 11/7.  Check out all the info about this sew along at https://www.rbdblog.com/2025/10/29/strength-in-every-stitch-a-new-sew-along-coming-soon/. All blocks and fabric requirements can be found at https://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/strength-in-every-stitch. Even if you don't want to make the blocks as they are released, consider saving the block instructions to your computer so you have a variety of block instructions available when you need something new. 

Stitchin’ Heaven is sponsoring another Mystery Sew Along on 1/1/2026.  For more info check out: https://stitchinheaven.com/collections/2026-mystery-quilt-along

Are you looking for something a little different?  Check out Fish Ring Quilts’ Tea Time Quilt-Along starting January 2026.  Foundation paper piecing, appliqué, reverse appliqué and curved piecing are some of the techniques to be explored.  Finished quilt is 38” x 50” made of interlocking blocks.  Fish Ring Quilts is located in the Netherlands and this quilt along is offered in Dutch and English. The price for patterns delivered to your inbox is $29. https://fishringquilts.com/quilt-along/ $29 US.

Alex Anderson gives info on the Quilt Show Block of the Month Experience 2026. View the video announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU53re4JZuw  You must have a membership to TheQuiltShow.com A year membership is $50.00. 

Info on Sherri McConnell’s 2026 Block of the Month is available on this blog post. This year's blocks will be 12"finished. https://www.aquiltinglife.com/a-quilting-life-2026-block-of-the-month/.

Take a look at Riley Blake Designs RBD Block Challenge 2026.  The Challenge includes 16 - 10” blocks and starts on January 6th and ends May 26th. Check out the schedule at https://www.rbdblog.com/2025/10/14/announcing-the-2026-rbd-block-challenge/. 

Monday Meanderings 12 - 15 - 2025

Phew! What a week! And, now the weather has turned super cold. When we walked Sunny around 6:30 pm tonight the 'feels like' temperature was 0º. It was actually 19º but the wind was really blowing. Luckily she did her business really fast. We aren't used to this much cold weather and certainly not in December.  I'm looking forward to the forecasted 58º coming (hopefully) Wednesday. 

Now it's time to see how I did on my goals this busy concert week. 

12/8/25

✅✅✅Sing three concerts, ✅✅2 rehearsals and ✅enjoy one party — a great week of music and friends. 

✅✅Finish binding framed 9 patch quilts — both done! 

✅Make November’s Cali-Co block — done just one more to do.

✅Make another R,W,B block for Equilter — done.

No pictures from our concerts. We had great audiences for all the concerts. It was a real challenge for the Spotsylvanians concerts as our director was sick and couldn't come. Luckily our assistant conductor took over and did a really great job. No rehearsals for about a month.  Hum, what will I do instead of those rehearsals?  Probably work on cleaning up the studio and sewing. 

Here's the November Cali-Co block. Only one more block before I can start to put the blocks together. 

 Last week I shared a paper pieced block that I couldn't sew together because one piece was too small.  I thought it was a problem with the pattern but a friend suggested I check to see if all the papers were printed at the same percentage.  I looked at one of the middle sections and realized the printing on the back was substantially smaller than the other three. I reprinted it at 100% and 97% (the computer came up with that number.) I believe all of the other papers were printed at 97%. There wasn't much visible difference. Here's the final result. The only draw back is the block measures 12" rather than 12.5".  I told my friend and she was willing to work with it. I am going to send her 1.5" strips of the same white in case she wants to frame it up to the right size. 

Here are all the blocks I've made so far.  She asked us not to send them to her until January as she was going to see her kids over Christmas.  So, who knows whether I'll keep making blocks for her.  I've enjoyed the ones I've made so far. 

Here's what I'm planning to do this week.  I still have some Christmas shopping to do so I haven't listed a whole lot of goals. 

12/15/25

Baste Tall Trees and start quilting it

Quilt customer quilt

Finish December clue for Magnificent Mystery 

Make last block for Cali-co mystery. 

I may not actually finish the Magnificent Mystery clue this week but I'm going to give it a try.  The first part is to make 120 half square triangles.  Um, that may take a while. I've got the first 60 HSTs cut by my Accuquilt. Once I get them made I'll cut and sew the rest. After they are made, they will be used to make another unit. Here's what the cut pieces look like ready to sew. It's going to require a lot of time to get all of these done. Sixty HSTs in stacks of ten ready to put under the needle. 

I was successful with my 15 minutes of stitching every day. It helped to think ahead during the concert days. 

W/ending 12/14/25. 348 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/December 7/7
• 15 minute days/2025 = 346/348 days
• Success rate = 99.4%

Not a bad number -- I should be able to continue this through the end of the year. Yikes -- I just realized there are only 16 days until the beginning of the New Year. Wow! Time has been flying by.  It's time to start listing UFOs to finish next year and quilts I want to make.  Do you set year long goals? 

Please take a look at these Linky Parties to see what quilters are working on across the Internet. 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap!

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

Happy Quilting! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 12 - 8 - 2025

This past week had a snowstorm -- 3 or so inches.  No need to shovel as the next day was in the 40s and it all melted.  It was the perfect snow -- pretty to look at and no extra work!!  And sewing was accomplished! Here is last week's goal list. 

12/1/25

✅Border Tall Tree, prep backing, baste — no backing or basting yet. Need to find or buy backing fabric. 

✅Sing at local mall — fun time singing to shoppers.

✅Quilt on at home round robin top (domestic) — started but it’s going to take a lot of time. 

✅Make bindings for framed 9 patch quilts — bindings made and sewn on the first side of both framed 9 patch quilts.

No picture from any of the sewing goals, but one from the performance at the mall. We were asked to wear festive clothing.  I think these sopranos nailed it.  The first lady made her entire outfit from things around her house.  And she had elf ears and shoes that didn't show in the picture. (And I was the photographer so I wasn't in the picture.) 

Here's what's happening this coming week. Yikes! Not a whole lot of sewing time! 

11/8/25

Sing three concerts, 2 rehearsals and enjoy one party

Finish binding both framed 9 patch quilts 

Make November’s Cali-Co block 

Make another R,W,B block or two for Equilter

I was diligent about my 15 minutes of sewing.  Most days were much longer! 

W/ending 12/7/25. 341 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/December 7/7
• 15 minute days/2025 = 339/341 days
• Success rate = 99.4%

One of the things I did that was off list was attempt to make another R,W,B block for the Equilter up this time. (I'm late and we are taking December off.) I found this block on my computer -- I tend to keep blocks, quilts, tops etc in a file.  One file had year's worth of star blocks.  So I gave this paper pieced one a try. 

Oops. This was made from the paper piecing pattern that was given but it sure isn't going to work.  I figured out that the top center piece is the wrong size. Actually the whole center piece may be a problem.  I'll look at it again later this week. I really like the star but these sure won't work. The two sides measure 12" with the seam allowance not 12.5". That might have been caused by the printing.  But the big difference on the 2 center sections is from a bad pattern. Sigh. 

Because I was so bad at getting pictures today I thought I'd share the Christmas quilt that we display in the front hall every year.  I couldn't find a picture of it when it was finished so Pat took a picture as it was hanging. It was a fun quilt to make but I'm sure it took more than a year to do! I used an Art to Heart pattern. 

That's it for today.  I hope to post the Mysteries and Sew Alongs this week.  I keep forgetting to do it.  Maybe I'll succeed if I say I'll do it here! 

Linky Parties this week: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap!

Patchwork and Quilts

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie