To Do Tuesday #126

Wow! This will be my last post of 2024. It has been an eventful year with lots of projects and even some finishes. Check out my 2024 Finish page here. While I have not achieved everything I set my eyes on, I am pleased with how much really got done. This weekly post helps keep me on track and accountable to myself by putting it out there. So let’s take a look at what I worked on this week.

I will be linking up with Carol at Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday linky party. Come check it out.

Under the Needle Last Week

I spent a lot of time cutting the background pieces for the car blocks for the Bring Home the Tree Quilt by Lori Holt from her Vintage Christmas book. Since my background is directional, it really took a lot of focus for this ADHD girl to stay on task. 🐿️.

I finished cutting ALL the background and I think I even got them cut going all the same directions. I still need to cut the pieces for the color pieces for the cars but the tree unit was ready to go. During yesterday’s Quilt Zoom Day with my quilty friends, I worked on making the first two trees. This unit measures 4 1/2 by 26 1/2 inches. BIG. I am not a big green fan so my scraps to use for the tree were cut 2 years ago from my then stash and I decided to leave it as is. They have a little bit of everything. These trees will be interesting for sure. 😆

I finished putting together the Row #5 (last one to be assembled) for my Venti quilt. I am over the moon how this quilt is going together. I just need to assemble the final two rows and then I can assemble the center of the quilt top. The fabrics are Alison Glass’s 2024 Sunprint Collection. Just gorgeous and vibrant. A rainbow of color just like I like it.

I made my last batch of HST for the 2024 FQS Temperature Cottage Quilt using Alison Glass’s Chrystantheum collection. I just love the fabrics I used for the roof and tree trunks from this collection. These last HST are the same pattern but in Navy.

During the week I worked on ironing and trimming my 4 inch units from the Dragonfruit BOM. I began the process of assembling the 36 blocks from Month 1 and 2 to make the cutest corner units. I finished the first two corners.

I also worked with my leaders and enders project. I don’t have a recent photo (I forgot) but I finished the rectangle units and started on the HST units.

December Goals

While the items checked off are few this month, the goals were lofty.

1. ✔️SAL: 2024 SJ Temperature Cottage Quilt: Finish November Cottage. Start the December Cottage.
2. ✔️SAL: 2024 December Monthly Color Challenge Block
3. SAL: 2024 Venti AG Sunprint FPP quilt – Assemble Rows ☑️3,☑️4,&☑️5. Assemble Sections 1/2, 3/4/5, 6/ 7. Cut border.
4. SAL: 2024 TP Dragonfruit FPP QAL: ☑️Finish Mo 2. Start Mo 3.
5. EPP: Farmers Wife 1920: Finish Block 48
6. EPP: Ruby’s Garden: start Block 25
7. Applique: Finish Blooming Snowflakes
8. Applique: Work on Teeny Tiny Elephant
9. Applique: Start Year in Words Valentine
10. Small Project: Finish Patriotic tablerunner
11. UFO: 2022 Bring Home the Tree – make 4 car blocks; Background for car blocks cut; tree made for two of the blocks
12. Long Arm: 2021 Sunshine quilt- quilt it
13. Cross Stitch FFO: Finish Let’s Talk Autumn Pillow

Yet, I am feeling accomplished on this last day of 2024 with all that I did accomplish. I hope all of you are in the same head space.

This Week’s To Do List

While I am not ready to put my 2025 goals and dreams down on paper today, I can look forward to the next 7 days.

• Finish the Blooming Snowflakes so I can proudly display it in the coming week.
• Assemble the 2024 Venti AG Sunprint FPP quilt top center
• Finish assembling the last two corner units of Dragonfruit BOM QAL
• Sew another strip set for the rail fence quilt
• Cut all strip sets into rail fence blocks
• Finish cutting at least 2 car blocks.
• Work on Farmers Wife Block #48
• Continue working on L&E: Churn Dash blocks
• Make Quilting WIPGO board instead of UFO list for 2025 as a task/goal versus project
• Stay focused 🐿️

Afterthoughts

A quilty friend of mine (Mary Elizabeth) shared this adorable cartoon with all of us and I just had to share it with you to ring in 2025. As quilters, I am sure we can all relate!

I still haven’t put much thought into what I want to accomplish in 2025. While I can be a bit of an optomist, I do try not to set myself up for negative self talk. I like to push my existing boundaries.

Here are some of the boundaries I pushed in 2024:

• Learned how to use EQ8. My friend Mary Elizabeth and I took a class in Reno this year. While both of us wish it was an intermediate class, we still walked away with new tricks and tips on using the software. I loaded the free Fat Quarter Shop quilt pattern called Petit 4. Only one of the blocks I needed was already in EQ8 so I learned how to make blocks. I learned how to import my fabric collections (and how to download from Manufacturer) I wanted to use in my quilt. I then proceeded to color out the existing quilt 2024 Venti AG Sunprint FPP Quilt. While at the class we also learned how to use EQ8 to make different borders.
• I have never been very comfortable with foundation paper piecing. One of my 2024 goals was to overcome that … uncomfortableness. To build my confidence in that skill. So the quilt I designed below was planned as a 12 inch foundation paper pieced block. I did use the preprinted papers from Fat Quarter Shop who provided the cutting instructions for each block. I can’t even begin to tell you how much confidence this gave me when it came to sewing the block. It also allowed me to focus on HOW to sew the FPP block without worrying if my piece was the right size.
• I had never been to a quilt retreat so when Mary Elizabeth became determined to find a retreat for our little group, I was all in. She found one and we found ourselves at the most beautiful site on Lake Tahoe with a great group of people who were beyond encouraging. That retreat is one of my fondest memories of 2024. The only goal I had for the retreat was to conquer Foundation Paper Piecing. My group of friends brought me little aids and was there as I moved forward on this skill. I spent the whole week doing nothing but foundation paper piecing. (Yes Sarah 🐿️ had me packing another 20 projects … just in case)

My Venti quilt turned out to be a quilt that helped me grow as a quilter and I am excited to be so close to finishing it. Thanks to all who encouraged me along to the way in 2024! I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.

Happy New Year!

Peggy Stockwell in San Jose, California