Turning Over A New Leaf

Back in November I commenced working on my Tree of Life quilt started way back in 2015. How quickly flow the years. I blogged that I needed to make 7 more blocks and then assemble the top. 

I think it now measures about 69 inches square. And now that I look at it I'm wondering if it might need some kind of leafy border(s).  I don't normally add borders to quilts. I will let it ferment a few more weeks and then decide if it should go into the TBQ (to be quilted) pile or back to the UFO bin. 

I didnt have enough of any one blue solid when I started making the blocks so I used many different blues - blue for blue skies behind the trees.  

I tried tot use some fun fabrics in the trees...apples...

...cherries...

...the mighty oak with acorns.

I used the Mirkwood Designs 12 inch traditional Tree of Life instructions. 

And now it's time to turn over a new leaf...a new year begins. 

In 2024 I completed 66 quilts. 

Two of those quilts were hand quilted and the rest quilted on my Brother PQ1500SL sewing machine. The finishes used about 327.5 yards of fabric. 

 

Coincidentally I donated 66 quilts but not the same 66 that I finished this year.  I also gifted 3 quilts. 

Most of my comfort quilts are for kids and have been going to Wrap-A-Smile,   Quilts Beyond Borders, and locally to a couple of different places and people.

My donation quilt goal for 2024 was "44 in '24". 

My donation quilt goal for 2025 is "strive for 45 in 2025".  Goals keep me on my toes!

I've never chosen a word for the year until 2024. I chose "celebrate".  At the beginning of 2024 I was starting to feel a little depressed. I just get that way sometimes. I figured if I could concentrate on something good, something to be thankful for every day it might just change my mood.  It has. And I can see I have so much to be thankful for.  I am going to continue to celebrate every day of 2025 but not officially here on my blog...just in a journal. 

BUT 

I did kind of choose a few words, a few things (goals?) to focus on in 2025. Along with quilting I will probably do some scrapbooking/journaling and blog a bit about some of the following:

REMEMBER

Many many years ago I bought the book To Our Children's Children. Remembering Family Histories for Generations to Come. by Bob Greene  for both my Dad and John's parents hoping they would write about some of the prompts in the book. No one ever did. When John's parents passed away I got back their copy of the book and have always been meaning to do some prompt answering myself. 

I may share some of those writings on my blog but I'm also going to make a journal/scrapbook with the writings.  You may be prompted to write some things down yourself. 

GROW

You all know I love to sow as much as I love to sew.  I will definitely share pics of my gardens. BUT I have another goal...I've been saving my seed catalogs and seed packets for years and years and...

...I've collected a few very old seed catalogs and books. That Vicks one in the corner is from 1895. So,, anyway...I've always wanted to make some collage type scrapbook pages that combine pics of my flowers as well as seed packets and catalog pages and other tips and maybe even some dried flowers. I thought maybe then when I'm too old to get out into the gardens I can browse through my garden in scrapbook form.  2025 is the year I hope to get started on my scrapbook!

TREASURE

I also want to make a scrapbook about some of the many things around here I treasure...

...like this tablecloth my grandmother cross stitched. It has roses. You know I love roses!  And who knows the story behind that big wooden box I use as an end table? 

READ

I read to escape. I read to learn. 

How To Do Things

The Farm Journal

c. 1919

Over the years I have collected a few old books and a gazillion old newspaper articles that describe farm living back when my ancestors emigrated from Ireland and homesteaded. Over the years I've also taken a few creative writing courses and it has always been a dream to write a historical fiction book based on the lives of my ancestors. Or maybe just a book of a few short stories? Maybe in 2026 or 2027 or 2028? For 2025 my goal is just to read whatever suits my fancy, to escape, to learn. 

REMEMBER, GROW, TREASURE, READ

(my four words of the year)

And so as I have done for the past several years my page of quilty UFOs going into 2025 is ready and I will cross things off the list as I complete them.  I have my work cut out for me. 

Thank you for your visits.  Wishing you health, wealth and happiness in the New Year.

And sew on...

 

Old Forest, New Growth

Tree of Life

12 inch block

with a leaf out of place. Ooops!

An old post records that I started making these in February 2015.  

In 2015 I made 12 blocks. 

In 2018 my forest grew 6 more trees. 

This week I made these 7 trees and after I fix two blocks I'll assemble the top because this month in my sewing space the theme to move UFOs forward is "oldies and biggies".   This is definitely an oldie. It will be nice to empty this box that had 18 blocks plus leafy fabrics plus a few tree trunk fabrics and blue solids. 

And sew on...

***

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Nov. 13 - I received another shipment of seeds from two different companies.  I'm getting ready for some winter sowing in January. A lot of this batch of seeds is for my new Goth/Moonlight Garden that I hope will be full of mostly black and white flowers with a few pops of pink.   My oldest son, father of my granddaughter Kayla who passed away unexpectedly several years ago was suffering a severe bought of depression after her death. Then he had a wound on his foot that would not heal and found out he was diabetic and had to have part of his foot amputated. Then he became even more depressed. One day I mentioned to him that I was thinking of clearing an area out back that had become overgrown with mostly honeysuckle, stinging nettle, black raspberries and wild grape. I told him the reason I wanted to clear it was for a Goth/Moonlight garden in memory of Kayla who was "perky goth".  I have been watching a couple of British gardening shows where they frequently visit community gardens aimed at helping folks with both physical and mental illnesses and I know that gardening certainly keeps me grounded (haha) so I thought I'd tell him I needed his help with the project. He was eager to help and ended up clearing the whole area himself. He worked on it a little each day. After that he asked me for more outside chores and his attitude and appearance have changed a bit.

 

Time Flies

 

Audrey's (Quilty Folk) recent Tree of Life finish reminded me that I had one in the works. 

I started my Tree of Life February 2015  and made two 12 inch blocks.

March 2015 I made four blocks. 

October 2015 I made six blocks.

And then the trees quit growing.

This week I made six more blocks.
I'm thinking I will make a total of 41 blocks to set on point without sashing.
Backgrounds will be solid blues.
I now have 18 blocks.
I'm using a free online pattern when I actually make blocks.


I was thinking I'd make a Family Tree for the backing. Still thinking about that.

Where Acorns Grow on Maple Trees and the Skies Are Not Cloudy All Day

Autumn is here. Leaves are starting to turn colors and fall from the trees. I thought it was time to get out some fall themed scraps and make six more 12- inch Tree of Life blocks.  And now there are 12.  I guess I need to decide on a layout so I know how many I actually need to make. 

And remind me not to make six at a time next time. Those HSTs finish at 1.5 inches and a few are a little less pointy than others.  I've never seen a tree where all the leaves looked exactly the same so I'll leave them alone (for now).  I shouldn't take close up photos. 

Trees of Life or Family Trees?

There are four new Trees of Life on my makeshift design wall today. 

Since I'm also the family genealogist I was thinking of making sashing or border or backing  with some family tree names and dates of birth and dates of death...     I think all my family will be centered around that tree with nuts on the bottom. 

Design Walls at Patchwork Times (makeshift or otherwise). 

Turning Over a New Leaf

 I told myself that this year I had to finish 5 quilts before I could even think of starting anything new. (If you've looked at my UFO tab you would know the reason why). 

Well, I've finished my obligatory 5 quilts. 

I've looked over my "wanna start" list.

I've enjoyed reading about Audrey's Tree of Life adventures. 

She even graciously shared a tutorial for HER Tree of Life.

I've been inspired.

I have a lot of fall fabrics.

I have a lot of fall fabrics with leaves. 

I have some blues I can use for the sky background. 

I started a Tree of Life quilt. 

I used this pattern for 12 inch blocks. 

I guess with my "finish 5, start 1" resolution you could say I've turned over a new leaf. 

And, you know...with that resolution I also feel like I have a new leaf on life.