Trying to get back on track.

Wow....here we are at the end of January already and I feel like I haven't done anything since early October before I put my mom in hospice.

But on looking back I did get a binding on my thimbles quilt and put a binding on one of my mom's quilts and appliqued all the Halloween cats for an upcoming project.....all while sitting with mom. 

We've been through two funerals, closed up an apartment, gone through a lifetime of belongings and tons of paperwork,  Finally this week, I am seeing a light at the end of this dark tunnel.

So I finally had some free time to get  together with my quilting friends for lunch, show-n-tell, and lots of chatting. Let me share just a few of their projects.

Nancy's courthouse steps (paper pieced and I believe the blocks were like 5" finished)

We're trying to figure out how to quilt this one.  I absolutely love it!

Then there is this one of hers.  I don't know the name, but isn't it gorgeous?

Love this one of hers, too......peaches and taupe.  

This star one I took home to quilt for her.  Another one of Nancy's great  color combos.  

I took another one of Nancy's to quilt, but didn't get a picture.  I think we were just in awe at how much she has completed lately.  

As for Sharon, she had lots of things started, experimenting here and there, but this one top was completed in grays (the "plus" quilt).  Just love this one, too.  

My friends have sure motivated me to get back at it.  

I did get some great books for gifts (belated Christmas exchange).  

There was thread and these three great quilting books.  Can't wait to give some of these ideas a try.  

Now on a more personal note. ....after going through my folks things and deciding on what to keep, I found myself more drawn to the "sewing" things. 

Here are a few things that have been handed down to me.

 I have had my eye on these scissors for a long time.  She had a lamp filled with wooden spools (I got half) and there was this pair of scissors in the lamp, too.  They don't close up well, but I just thought they were so neat.  

For years I have seen this little iron on display at mom's.  There were two.  I got one and my sister got the other one.  

Then there were doilies galore. These were either made by my mom or my grandmother.   I took this pineapple one  and a shade pull that we had on all our shades while growing up.   

I couldn't pass on this pineapple one either.  It is large enough to put on an end table.  

But...the absolute best thing and so long forgotten is this apron.  Boy....did the memories come rushing back.  I remember this back to when I was around 5 years old.  I couldn't remember if my mom wore it or if she made it for me.  I tried it on and it certainly doesn't fit an adult, so I am thinking it was definitely mine.  It was made by my mom and I will cherish it forever.  She is the one that taught me to embroider, to sew, to knit, to crochet and so much more.  

Well, I am certainly ready to get back to it.  I now have the time and the energy and the motivation to start up my sewing/quilting again. 

So, from here on out, I hope to only show you progress on all my projects.  

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to all who offered condolences last month.