Let Go
The phrase, let go, could be one more to add to my list of famous last words. Admittedly, the list resides firmly in my head and no place else. I do believe that there are times to cling, but also times to let go. This last weekend was a perfect example. We were treated to a once in a decade snow storm.
Snow storms are a perfect time to accept the inevitable. I actually quite enjoy them. Brings me back to my childhood. Also, it is a great time to hunker down and quilt.
Secret Mission
I’m laser focused on working on my secret mission quilt. Because it is a secret, I am opting to only share details.
Curved piecing is not my forte. I did use templates, mark the seams and even pin them. I also know to use shorter stitches than a typical running stitch. Still, the templates aren’t perfect and nor is my stitching. The result is irregular shaped blocks that have insufficient seam allowance to square up. Guess who has opted to let go and say close enough? I may add a thin border around the quilt in the end. This will allow me to square up the quilt without having any of the stunning mini flowers being chopped off, or hidden under a binding.
Once I had a few blocks sewn in entirety, I felt confident enough to cut and mark the rest of the pieces needed. I then turned my attention to chain piecing two parts of each block. This allowed me to lay my work out on the design wall. Yes, I’m loving my fabric choices. The final result will be quite dramatic. Time to turn my attention to…
Rainbow ScrapChallenge – 2025
I have a finish! OK, a near finish. The binding for my 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge is sewn down. I still need to add a sleeve and the label. Perhaps next week.
More Snow
We may get more snow this weekend. The amount of snow predicted is small, with hints it could be more depending on how the storm tracks. Snow storms do come to an end. A big thank you to SEDOSO (Senior Executive Director of Studio Operations) who cleared the driveway and a path to our front door
Question of the Week
What brings you joy when life doesn’t go as planned?
I’m linking up to the following posts:
Your RSC quilt is beautiful. Hope you’ll find a show in which to enter it.
This has been a winter of memorable weather.
Thank you, Nann. Each November, I host an open studio. This includes switching up the quilts, so people returning from past years can see something new. Now that I have a handful of completed RSC quilts, I think I will feature them.
Thank you, Kathleen. I had fun making Broken Hearted. We got approximately 18″ of snow. Quite unusual for the south shore of Massachusetts these days.
I love your Brokenhearted quilt. It is so unique. I think you got a bit more snow than we did. I was delighted to stay home for a week. Total bliss.
That RSC quilt is, indeed, quite something — and I think featuring your collection of them at your next Open Studio is a great idea, and will be well received. As for all that snow — well! Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes empathize! Even out here in our drought-suffering prairie we’ve had more than in recent years, and are thankful.
Nor’easters were a thing of my youth and young adulthood. We would have two or three storms of a foot or more every winter. Typical total winter snowfall was 6 feet with some winters reaching 8 feet. Now we are a lucky to get a foot. So 1.5 feet in a single storm is unusual and delightful. Nothing compared to northern climes, particularly the Buffalo area, here in the US.
Thanks for verifying that showcasing my RSC quilts in the Open Studio is a good idea. They are so different from each other. However, the rainbow palette will unify them.
Double Wedding Ring isn’t for the faint of heart. I started one a few years ago and got one ring done and swivaled to making a deconstructed double wedding ring quilt. Much more interesting. I’m a deliberate and planning kind of person, so it things go off the rails, it does take me some time to pivot to accommodate. Love the wee flowers.
I had hoped that by getting an acrylic template set the block would come out square and possible oversized so I could trim it. I even found a video using this particular set. Lots of tips offered. Followed them all. It could be a lot worse. Fortunately, the overall effect is quite stunning.
Yes, I like to plan and prepare. Flexibility is something I have had to work on. Probably why I write so much about “letting go” and accepting imperfection.
Happy you like the wee flowers. I’m enjoying taking advantage of having an embroidery machine.
Your 2025 RSC quilt is a beauty! Featuring your RSC quilts at your open house is a great plan! That was quite the winter storm. I’m glad SEDOSO was able to keep the walkways and driveway clear so you could stitch! When life doesn’t go as planned, putting a threaded needle through fabric brings me joy.
Thank you, Terry for both the thumbs up on my 2025 RSC quilt and the reassurance that featuring current and past RSC quilts in my open studio is a good idea.
Yes, when life derails your plans, head to the studio. 🙂
Wowee – look at that snow! Colorado can have snowstorms like that, but we didn’t this time around. I think when you’re finished with your secret project, it will be gorgeous, even if a few seams aren’t quite what you hoped for. I think when we’re looking at our work up close, we always notice things to be critical about, but they disappear into the “whole” when we look at the final product. Hooray for a finished 2025 project – it’s a beauty! I’m a creature of habit and routine, so when life isn’t going quite as planned, that helps me the most – getting back into my daily routines.
Isn’t that snow great. What we didn’t capture in pictures is how it drifted. There were sections only a few inches deep and others close to 2.5 feet deep. Driving and walking are dangerous. Not so much because of snow and ice, but how high the snow is piled from clearing driveways and sidewalks. Many blindspots and difficult access to sidewalks.
I’m hoping for precisely the effect you mentioned with the secret mission quilt. In other words, those poorly matched seams disappear when taking in the quilt as a whole.
You and share many of the same traits. Routine is my happy, reassuring space.
Ah, today’s question is easy — the joy is in the little fabric scraps cut into hexagons, hand stitched together in a soothing rhythm while snuggled on the sofa under a finished quilt — punctuated with squeals of delight when the rosette is complete! I think the curved piecing on your secret project looks really good, BTW. And you will just get better and better at it the more you do.
You paint such a pretty picture. I can imagine you stitching away. I have the curved portion of the stitching down. Most seams lie flat with little perceptual waffling in the fabric. I just with the corner junctures were better.
Well, that’s a lot of snow. I’m glad you didn’t have to suffer from the cold or power outages. SEDOSO did a great job clearing the snow around the house! Your secret project is adorable, as are these sweet little flowers! I’m sure that the curves are beautiful, they can’t be otherwise with such pretty fabrics. Congratulation for almost finishing Broken Hearted! To answer your question, a beautiful sunny day will bring me joy to take on anything. Thank you for sharing your projects and linking up today!
Yes, for where we live it was quite a lot of snow. I did see images of a town in Russia several weeks back that got 7 feet of snow. Unbelievable.
I am enjoying watching my secret project come together. It really spurs me on to carving out studio time.
Aww Heck – you really did get it!!
your RSC is great – congrats on the finish!!!
Thank you, Alycia!
Yes, snowy days do compel us to hunkerdown and quilt. Your RSC is a stunner! If not “Let’s Go!” rather “Way To Go!!”. Ooh, I see your what your secret project is and am already liking where you’re going with it! The embroidered motifs in the corner squares is really a sweet touch. I have one I’ve put on the list (once again) to try to finish this year but also have one I want to start as a gift for someone. Fingers crossed I can get both done.
Thank you so much, Vivian. My secret mission is a tweak on tradition, in color, by adding embroidery embellishment and a surprise in the middle. I need to finish mine in a few months. Perhaps we can finish together.
Your snow pictures are beautiful. It can drift like that here in Wyoming too. Nearly bare prairie and drifts over the fences. This winter there has been minimal snow. But we need the moisture so badly!
Brokenhearted is phenomenal. I just ❤️it!
I’m happy you enjoyed “our” snow pictures. SEDESO is our photographer. Hopefully, you will get some snow this year, too. It is also necessary here to fill the water reservers.
Brokenhearted was a bit of a departure for me. Thank you for the kudos.
right now nothing brings joy but to find peace for a moment is something… I like hand sewing and mindless odd shaped scraps in one basic color at a time
Momentary peace is a good thing. There is something soothing about placing one stitch after another.
We didn’t get that much, but I still stayed in most of the week. LOL! But now all the streets are clear and I could get out, but do I really WANT to? Too much sewing to do.
I hear you, Chris. Snow or no snow, my studio is my favorite place to be.
Congratulations Gwyned on a fabulous finish and on time. Snowed in can be a great time – time to reflect and introspect, as long as we have power 🙂 Wishing you continued sewjo in 2026.
Yes, power is key. I confess we are pampered. We have a generator that basically runs our full home. So, my life continues without an interruption. I do worry about others. Fortunately, our area never lost power, probably because it was so cold the snow was very lightweight.
Thanks for the well wishes. My sewjo is all revved up for a day in the studio.
When does life go as planned? LOL! We have to learn to be flexible and go with the flow, but also know when we need to stand firm and hold strong. When life has me down, I write down simple blessings (often overlooked) on scrap pieces of paper and place them in my blessing jar. Thanks for sharing your sneak peek in Sew & Tell. Those little flowers are adorable! It looks like a double wedding ring quilt. Congrats on your 2025 RSC finish.
Yes, writing down moments of blessings/gratitude help focus on the positive in life. Precisely why I have started each day for over 30 years writing in a gratitude journal.
Always happy to share and speaking of gratitude, I’m grateful to have a place to share. 🙂
I had to decide to let go with my curved piecing also. I love the fabrics and embroidery on you secret creation. The RSC quilt is beautiful. We have a whole lot of snow also, but I think you have more than us. No more snow is expected, but we are in a deep freeze.
Fortunately, we don’t have to compete for more or less snow depending on your preference. We may get more snow next weekend. Got an additional inch that initial 18 inches, yesterday. Love how it all sparkles in the sunshine.
Always good to hear from you, Cathie.
Those mini flowers in the corners are adorable! You got quite a bit of snow. Very nice photos of the fresh fallen snow!
I have SEDOSO to thank for the snow pictures. I am enjoying combining embroidery with piecing in the same quilt.
Your quilt turned out FAB! And that’s an impressive snow drift by your porch! Yikes! And here in Utah where it’s supposed to be snowing for the ski resorts, it’s been in the 50’s this week. People are freaking out as we won’t have enough water in the summer.
Snow is relative. An impressive snowdrift here is tiny compared to more northern lake and ocean locals. Nevertheless, I am enjoying the drifts, especially since the temperatures have remained below freezing, so no melting, which also means no ice. Wouldn’t it be nice if areas with snow/rain could share the wealth with more arid areas?
Thanks for the thumbs up.