Hidden Wells In The Rose Garden

 

It's a top! 

Hidden Wells in The Rose Garden

48 x 60

There are a lot of different tutorials out there for Hidden Wells. I looked at several but mostly used the info at the one at the Diamon Naturals blog. 

 I was recently inspired by a Hidden Wells quilt I saw on Stashbusters. I have been working with my rose prints this month and decided to use some of them in Hidden Wells. Normally I don't like to make strip pieced quilts because I find strip piecing rather boring. But with all those rose prints passing under the needle I wasn't that bored. 

I'm glad I gave Hidden Wells a try! 

And sew on...

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Oh joy! A few days ago Tammy sent me a box of rose prints. I used one of them already in Hidden Wells! 

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I finished a book! The Nanny Outside The Gates by Shari J. Ryan. It is WWII historical fiction. I like books about survivors- stories about folks who survive horrors of war, domestic abuse, physical and mental disabilities, cancer or other catastrophic illnesses, addictions, etc. 

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Goals for 2026

Positivity

Gratitude

Celebrate each day

It's A Top! Tussie-Mussies

 

It's a top! 

Tussie-Mussies

60 x 80

The pattern is called Sunburst and is found in the book Making Quilts with Kathy Doughty.

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December". --J.M. Barrie

Finished or Not Finished Friday at Alicia Quilts

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Merry Christmas!

Our day is quiet with just the two of us. We are celebrating this day like we celebrate all others. Well, I guess I am also celebrating with the ghosts of Christmas past today. 

New String Projects

 

My boxes of strings are overflowing so time to do something with them. When I fig into strings I make blocks for a couple of different quilts - at least one that uses long strings and at least one that uses shorter strings. 

With long strings I am making 12 inch Wonky Log Cabin blocks with red centers and half of the block light. I think I might make a bigger quilt with 30 or 35 nlocks. 

I am making String X blocks with shorter strings. Someone gave me those 5 inch squares I will use for the block corners. There were just the right amount of squares so it was meant to be.

Someone gave me twelve 10.5 inch half triangles of a gray floral. I used them as half of a string block and the gray will be a String Star background. I went to assemble the little String Star top and am missing two blocks, darn it. I have been processing a lot of scraps, organizing orphan blocks, parts and partially finished projects from others as well as piecing backings so who knows where my missing blocks are. 

And sew on...

The Cross Stitch Ornies

A few weeks ago I showed a little box of cross stitch ornament kits I picked up from the thrift store many years ago that I was going to work on this month. I haven't finished all of the little kits yet but I am tired of working on the ornaments and have now moved on to work on the embroidery on a pillow - another kit picked up from the thrift store many years ago. More on that later.

I have been displaying the finished ornies in my great grandmother's goofus glass red and green bowl. And that is the extent of my Christmas decorating. 

And sew on...

 

Another Round

I started making Pie Bird blocks back in November. My goal is 35 ten inch blocks. I finished 5 blocks in November and then decided to work on the remaining 30 blocks all at one time. That is so I can process my scraps and cut all pieces for each round of every block. 

Two more rounds to go!

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! At Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

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Finished a book! The Bookseller of Kathmandu by Ann Bennett. I was expecting  historical fiction but I think it was more of a mystery and love story. I still liked the book. 

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I was a lucky girl this week. I received a box of scrappy goodness (and yummy sesame seed cookies) from Donna and a box with some yardage, quilt "seeds" with lots of potential and a beautiful handmade card from Linda.

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My husband John is the oldest of eight siblings. Two of his brothers passed away a few years ago. His sister, the youngest, is now in hospice. She has been battling lung cancer metastatic to brain. Although John has a lot of health issues I am thankful he fought his battle with oropharyngeal cancer many years ago and I still enjoy his company. 

 

Roses In December

 

I have completed my goal of twelve Sunburst blocks that finish at 20 inches.

And I remade the one that I was not happy with because there was not enough contrast. Now they are ready for assembly. 

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December"--J.M. Barrie

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alicia Quilts

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Oh gosh. We had a power outage yesterday for about two and a half hours. And then when the power came back on our router had no power so we had no internet. The tech from the broadband company replaced the router power supply today and now we are back in business. 

Sixteen Patch Finish

It's a finish!

Sixteen Patch

63 x 84

Started December 2024. 

10.5 inch blocks made with 4 inch width strips. I used plaids and florals. That combination reminds me of my grandmother's quilts made of old dresses, aprons, and shirts. 

I quilted on the diagonals through the plaids.

The binding was floral and so was the backing.

And sew on...