Quilting The New Year In -

What? You didn’t think I’d actually go OUT on New Year’s Eve, did you?

Don’t you know me better than that by now?

I think the last time I stayed up until midnight to wish the new year in was when I was…..wait, was it?

I do believe it was the first New Year’s as a married couple. When 1981 was turning over to 1982.

And even then I found it hard and wanted nothing more to be in my PJ’s curled up on the couch watching something on TV (Not that ball drop thing…..that’s way boring!) and heading to bed by 10:30.

So last night I did just what I did every other New Year’s Eve since then.

I curled up in my PJs with something entertaining on the TV (I’m trying to finish the New Amsterdam series before it leaves Netflix and I’m on the last season.) with a hoop in my lap and a thimble on my finger.

Don’t worry – there WAS elebratory root beer floats!

And a fire in the gas stove.

And huge smiles as memories come flooding back.

See that almost-burgundy floral print in the center? I know exactly where I got that.

1984. Jason was born in November of 1983, and I so remember pushing him around Karcher Mall in Nampa, Idaho – back when malls were still a fun place to go to, and malls were a great place to push a stroller and get some exercise during the cold months.

There was a House of Fabrics in Karcher Mall at the time. And I would push the umbrella stroller through the rounds and stands of fabrics…dreaming and wishing I had the money to buy the pretty ones.

(Fabric was only about $3.99 at that time, but we were starving students with Dave still in school.)

Those were the days, right?

Well…that square of fabric is ALL that is left of that favorite print from 1984. I loved it in all the colorways. I had it with a pink background, and a navy background, and I also think it came in a dark green background. Good old VIP days.

So yes, hand quilting through these precious pieces of my quilting history was bringing back all the memories of life and living that happened since that fabric has been in my stash.

I still love that print. The little scattered flowers like potpourri. And oh, the things I would tell that young me-mom about how her future would turn out if I could go back and tell her.

I hand quilted until my fingers were a bit too sore and my callouses needed a bit of time off so I switched projects:

I had gotten this far the other night.

Side triangles and main units stitched into another diagonal row and ready to attach to the “Mother Ship” of this next everlasting-no-deadline hexie project.

I got it about halfway stitched in place before I was too tired and needed to head to bed.

Done for the night, I looked at my watch which read……only 10:30pm. Happy New Year! LOL!

Today’s plan: Super simple.

We are headed over to our friend’s place for burgers on the grill and all the fixin’s and another raucous round of cutthroat Mexican Train dominoes.

It should be just enough of an “away” day to give my fingers the time they need to recover from yesterday’s copious amounts of hand stitching so I’ll be ready to don the thimble once again tomorrow evening.

Lola, wishing everyone a happy & prosperous 2025!

Quiltville Quote of the Day –

It’s a brand New Year with much adventure ahead! ⁣⁣
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“And suddenly you know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” Meister Eckhart ⁣⁣
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Happy New Year, everyone!