I’ve been overthinking, not doing this week! First of all, why did I have to write that first yearly post with all those quilts I want to make. Yikes. That’s a post that will age badly!

I made a little progress on finishing Brio, then dumped it as I realize Carefree Highways needs to be made show ready. I did make this cute label for the back. One thing I’ll guarantee at an international quilt show– NO ONE is going to have a label better than mine!

I decided to add some quilting to the borders and am toying with embroidering eagles all the way around. Here’s the test– I love it!

I’m going to need more of this color of thread– it’s the divine Superior Magnifico 2152 “Stone Washed Denim” and that’s given me time to overthink the borders even more as I had to order more thread and won’t have it until Monday.

The eagles weren’t really working for me around the corners so I decided to up the bar again and quilt other American icons across the bottom and top borders. Then that idea grew into a whole scene for the bottom– you know, “from sea to shining sea.” Complicating things, again!

I’m in Maine, so first up, I digitized a lighthouse!

Moving down the coast, here’s a lobstah and the USS Constitution, a favorite attraction of mine from Boston that’s 229 years old and still commissioned in our Navy.

After the movie “Master and Commander” came out, I went on to work my way through the entire series of twenty Aubrey/Maturin sea yarns, which turned out to be really well written with character development, grand themes, and historical accuracy. Highly recommend. One of the books mentioned the naval battle between Constitution and the British ship, HMS Guerriere in the war of 1812. The Guerriere was sunk in a great victory for our new Navy. Of course, Captain Aubrey of the British Navy was distraught in the book and exacted some fake revenge on another fake American ship. (The author was British.) Anyway, what’s not to love about an old sailing ship!

When I put the two pictures together, I photoshopped how all this might look on the border and doubt set in– this might be a little too much!

I came down last night and Mr. SFO, of course, recognized the disappointment in my voice. The man can read me like a book. I told him I might have just wasted two day of my life on these borders. He assured me it is all part of the creative process. I went to bed thinking eagles all around might be better– it’s a very uniform looking quilt, after all.

Now this morning, my artistic friend assured me my scene is creative and fun- so what the heck– let’s do it! We all reach the point where a piece is coming out great, and then all of a sudden it becomes “precious” and at that point it is impossible to do anything exciting out of fear you will ruin it. So, I’m just going for it– I’m convinced my big quilt is just going to be no more than “a good effort” next to all the show stoppers from around the world, so I may as well go out with a bang. A better transition between the bottom most eagle and the lighthouse might fix everything. Don’t make big decisions at the end of the day when you are tired!

To let it marinate a little, today we are doing our weekly food shopping and it’s time to put Christmas away. I let Christmas go on far too long– it helps me get through the winter which so far has been bitterly cold (while the rest of the country basks in warmth). My hand stitching area is a complete mess, again– Santa was better to me than I deserved and presents need to find their final resting spot in my house. Beds need to be reset for the next visit. And food shopping needs to happen because all the yummy food and treats are eaten.

Upcoming this week I have my sewing day at the local quilt shop– it’s Posh Penelope time! This will be a nice break from worrying over Carefree Highways, which has become my 40-hr/week job right now. I’m hoping to cut twelve more blocks to chain piece while I’m there. This project is like a shark– it really needs to get moving or it will die. It’s going to be a challenge, because I have trouble concentrating while there, and once I decide on the color combinations for each block, I’m going to have to stay organized about keeping them all together! The teacher who runs the class has this paper plate method of keeping all the pieces together and working through them from top to bottom– a brilliant, cost effective plan!

On the handstitching front, after my 2025 finishes, I was able to pull something “new” out– when I say “new” this year, it better refer to continuing on a UFO. I started these cute felt ornaments a couple of years ago thinking I’ll just make one each year for fun.

Since I’m in a finishing frame of mind this year, I’m going to just do them all this month!

This is a total guilty pleasure– making kitschy ornaments with sequins and beads. But embroidered wool felt is such a trend that why should I apologize for it! It’s basically the same skill set, right? And they are beautiful, in a handmade kind of way. Three down, three to go! I did spill most of my gold sequins down the back of the couch, so I’m in the market for more. Try to find them in Hobby Lobby– general crafts? beading? fabric? I asked an employee and they didn’t even know what it was. 😦

That’s all I really have for you this week– the year is off to a slow start and mostly is all about completing the dregs of 2025. I am really looking forward to mailing Carefree Highways off to seek its fortune on the quilt show circuit, finishing up a couple more things, and then starting my 2026 sewing.

Which quilt shall I work on next is always a happy thought.

xox
Carol