Some Blocks and a Finish

Yesterday turned into a desperately needed sewing day. The past couple of weeks have been very busy, and so I was really wanting just to do some simple, mindless sewing. I don't know if it was mindless, but mindless enough for me to concentrate on my current audio book.

My first task was to finish off December's block for A Year of Hearts. I neglected to take a picture with my point and shoot, and so you'll have to be content with this crappy picture from my iPhone.

I did manage to remember to get a picture of the nine hearts I've finished so far.

These are small blocks, and so I've been stitching them three at a time. That means the next time I work on this project, I'll be finishing the last of the blocks. Already I have in mind how to set them in a quilt, so I'm kind of excited to get them all finished. Also, if you like these designs, you should know that I've become acquainted with the designer, Nancy Huggins, on Instagram and Facebook. She now has all of them available in her Etsy shop.

Next up, I needed to sew the binding on my mug rug for the Teal Mini Swap. I can only give you a peek now, but I'll show you the whole thing once it's been received by my partner. Mailing isn't allowed until the 25th, so I'm a little ahead of the game. 

I don't like swap projects hanging over my head, and so I try to get them done plenty early. It was the same way when I was writing papers in grad school. As my classmates gritted their teeth trying to get their papers turned in on time, I just polished my fingernails on my shirt and said, "That old thing?" Yeah, I was really popular in grad school.

So then, I was a week behind on the Tiny Tuesday blocks. (I'd be farther behind, except there was no block released last week. That was a relief.) Here's the last of the pink Tiny Tuesday blocks. This one is called "Violet."

It was set in a straight setting.

Then it was time to get to work on this month's light and bright blue blocks for Charm Stars. I was a little worried when the color of the month was announced. My blocks contain both light and dark fabrics, and we'd already done "dark blue." I wasn't sure I could get enough contrast between the darks and the lights to pull off another month of blues. They're quite a puzzle to put together, keeping everything turned in the right direction and matched up properly.

There are two blocks for each month.

When they were finished, I laid them out with the dark blue blocks...dark blue on top and light blue on the bottom.

I suppose they look different, but it hardly matters. They look fine when laid out with all their friends. Here are all the blocks I have so far. I think this is going to be a great quilt.

So that was enough sewing for one day. Upstairs, a small drama is playing out. There is a mouse residing in the wall heater of our bathroom. The kitties have been tag-teaming, keeping watch on that critter. First Smitty takes a turn...

When he gets hungry and tired, Sadie takes over.

This bathroom is smack in the center of the house, with no exterior walls. Now...ya gotta wonder how that critter got in there. Mike is going to take the cover off the heater this morning and try to evict it from its home. Either it has to start paying rent, or it has to leave. We'll keep the kitties close at hand during the eradication process, just in case it tries to get away.

There should be some time today to work on the blocks for the Paintbox Pizzazz quilt...it's another Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt. This afternoon we're doing something fun. We turned in some accumulated points to pay for a lunch-type event at one of the local wineries. We have been members at Sokol-Blosser for many years, and they recently started up with these Farm & Forage events. We'll be tasting wines while their chef makes up some little snacks to go with them. As members, we would get a discount for this, but we've accumulated enough points to go for free. Can't beat that, and it sounds like fun. Of course, I'll report back on the food and wine.

Okay, so that's all the news that's fit to print for today. I need to go link-up at Sunday Slow Stitching and yesterday's Rainbow Scrap party. What's on your agenda today?