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Sunday, January 18, 2026

The Next Shiny Thing, My Baker's Dozen, and RSC

The photo below is my Next Shiny Thing. I am borrowing this phrase from Terry at On Going Projects, who commented about her attraction to "the next shiny thing". I was immediately drawn to that phrase - it sounds so much better than "Squirrel"! So thank you Terry for that nice substitute.

Not mine! Photo from Stitched In Color
I've been an off-and-on reader of Rachel Hauser's Stitched In Color for years. Last year was quite interesting as she purchased and started the process of furnishing a 1905 home in The Netherlands with her now ex-boyfriend. I guess she will not be continuing that adventure, but this quilt she made, first for their living room before moving it to her guest room, really captured my fancy. I love everything about this quilt, so I purchased the pattern - Honeycomb Stars. The options are for a throw size, using 2-inch hexagons and a queen/king size, using 4-inch hexagons. I plan to make the queen/king size.

Me when I realized I bought the wrong size hexagon template
I am new to hexagons, so when the 4-inch hexagon template I ordered arrived, I quickly realized it was the wrong size and returned it. I emailed Rachel to ask what size of template I needed for the queen/king size, and her response was that hexagon sizes are determined by the actual finished size of one of the sides. I had ordered the 4-inch thinking it was the finished size across, if that makes sense. So I ordered an 8" finished size hexagon template, and it will be delivered on Thursday.

Our current bedspread, right after it was purchased in 2021 at Kohl's
My husband has grown weary of my love of grays and neutrals and wants more color in our bedroom. I would love to surprise him with a colorful hexagon quilt this year.

The initial pull, with many more to follow to accommodate light/dark values.

My 2026 Baker's Dozen Lost Quilts
This list is inspired by Mary Etherington of Country Threads who hosts "Dirty Dozen UFOs" each year. I have renamed my list Baker's Dozen Lost Quilts to include a 13th quilt (actually two small quilts from the same pattern). They have been "lost" in my closet, so they get a softer term than UFO.

Rosie's Garden was #1 on my list and is my first finished lost quilt of the new year. When I put the freshly laundered and cozily puckered quilt on the guest bed, Jack immediately claimed Rosie's quilt as his.

RSC
My Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks are coming along, but my blue scrap bin is not getting smaller! I think the scraps get fluffed up as I dig through them - lol! These blocks will eventually make a nine-patch and snowballs quilt. Here you see the blue nine-patches mixed in with the snowballs.

I am adding this post to the following:
Melva's Sew and Tell
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Posted by Linda on
Tuesday, January 13, 2026

2026 SAHRR Starting Block

 

This is my big (34 inch by 44 inch panel) "starting block" for the 2026 Stay At Home Round Robin, aka SAHRR. Each week one of the hosts (see list below) will provide a prompt to add a quilting element to our starting block. Typically these would be done in borders, but I have a little bit different plan.

Did I mention there will be prizes? It isn't too late to get in on the fun - just click the logo in my sidebar for more details!

This panel was part of the backing for a quilt I had on my design board last year. Hubs strolled in and saw it and said "wow that's nice, who's that for?" Well I rescued that panel and chose an alternate plan for the quilt on the design board, and now this panel will be on the front of a quilt for him!

My initial fabric pull includes some red corduroy from Hubs' old shirt,
and the blue flannel will possibly become the backing

I think these colors will work with the panel, and
I'll be looking for a touch of green and adding a few neutrals

Today Gail is hosting the first linkup for everyone's starting block - click on this link to see all of them. Here is a list of the hosts - click on the links to see their starting blocks!
Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing
Anja at Anja Quilts
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Posted by Linda on
Monday, January 12, 2026

Rosie's Garden Quilt - First 2026 UFO Finish

 
The flimsy for this quilt was an entry for Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year (Living Coral) Challenge, The name for my entry was "The Coral of the Story", and I posted about it here. I thought I would win the challenge, but I was never notified - I'm sure it was an oversight. 

I had intended to add a border, but since it has been a UFO for 6-1/2 years, I decided to just get it done as is. It will be used it as a guest bedroom quilt. Our granddaughter Laney likes corals and pinks, so it will be her personal quilt when she visits.

Orphan blocks .from the 2023 Riley Blake Challenge were perfect with the pieced backing

The batting was a masterpiece of Frankenbatting

A fussy cut kitty in one of the Riley Blake blocks

I used a free pantograph for the quilting

Rosie's Garden seemed an appropriate name, since my assistant kitty Rosie laid on it no matter where I moved it while trying to sew or cut pieces for it. She especially enjoyed the gingham backing pieces I had scattered on the cutting table. When I tried to sew on the binding, she kept trying to paw herself a little quilt nest, and I finally had to shoo her away. So maybe it will become her quilt instead of Laney's.

Rosie's Garden details:
Finished size: 58" x 72"

Pattern: Home Awaits by Busy Hands Quilts

Fabrics:
Wonderlust in Bold by Pat Bravo
Lovely by Sandy Gervais for Moda
Grunge in Teaberry by Basic Grey for Moda
Autumn Vibes Cozy Ditzy Plum by AGF
Garden Dreamer Twinkle Star Berry, Moment in Time Light, Bumblebeez by AGF
Gold solid from stash
Green solid from stash
Creamy white solid from stash
Bloom Floral Scroll and Bloom Floral Scatter Teal by Makower UK
Meow or Never Watercolor in Robin's Egg by Moda

Pieced Backing:
Orphan blocks from the 2023 Riley Blake Block Challenge
Gingham Cottage by Riley Blake Designs 
Desert Bloom by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda

Binding:
Bloom Floral Scatter Teal by Makower UK

Pantograph:
Fern, a free pantograph from Urban Elementz

I am linking with the following:
Melva's Sew and Tell

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Posted by Linda on
Saturday, January 3, 2026

January Blues

Rosie has been busy sorting scraps
As January kicks off to a flying start, I'm trying hard not to commit to too many things. Startitis what brings burnout for me, so I want to be careful. I made several Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks in this February 2024 post, but there were no follow-up posts. In spite of all that, I've decided to play along with the RSC for 2026. The color for January is blue.

Beautiful quilt by Nancy of Grace and Peace Quilting
My tentative plan is to start blocks for this Nine-Patch and Snowball quilt by Nancy of Grace and Peace Quilting. I love the rainbow nine-patch blocks with the light print snowball blocks, and it is all scrappy!


Here is the start - 2 four-patch blocks and 2 snowball blocks

Linking to the following:
Brenda's Monday Musings 
Melva's Sew and Tell
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Posted by Linda on
Thursday, January 1, 2026

2026 SAHRR - A New Plan

Round robin hostess is Gail at Quilting Gail and logo design by Brenda at Songbird Designs 
It was 2023 that I last participated in SAHRR (Stay At Home Round Robin). It was a half-hearted effort - I changed my starting block twice, and I never finished it. I had decided not to do one again. Yes it is fun to interact with other quilters/bloggers and see their choices, but I've never been good without a pattern, and the struggle to creatively add borders of stars or flying geese makes my head hurt. But one look at Kate's pull has me wanting to do it for 2026. So I decided to rethink my plan of attack.

This is the last SAHRR that I actually finished - in 2022
Here is the last SAHRR I completed, details in this post. The sad news is I have NO idea what happened to it. Is it on the back of a quilt or a wall hanging? No record of it on any of my blog posts, but I'll keep looking.

The round robin begins on January 21, with center, or starting blocks being shown on January 14. This time instead of borders, I will do something a bit different, probably not borders. Yes I know this defeats the purpose of the "round" in the robin, but it is my quilt, and the quilt police will not be allowed into my sewing room in 2026. I have Pinterest pages saved and ideas swirling for my center block, so bring on the challenges!

Click on the logo up top or in my sidebar for more details on the SAHRR. No signup necessary!

I am linking this post with Alycia's Finished! ( or not) Friday
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Posted by Linda on
Monday, December 29, 2025

Christmas House Tour and Upcoming 2026!

Nativity on cross stitched Village in the Snowfall table topper I made in 2023
Like most of you, I've been decorating for Christmas since I was a child, and I still love it. We have whittled down our Christmas decorations over the years, and a couple years ago we thought we were done with the tree and sold it. But my husband missed it so much that he bought a very nice gently-used one on Marketplace last year! So even though our space is a bit crowded, we are enjoying a tree again. And as you will see, I love lighted table decor, especially changing multi-colored ones. We probably spend more on batteries for them than the decorations cost!

Video of our outdoor Christmas Lights
The outside of our home is decorated for the first time since we moved here in 2020. We purchased what we are calling "Faux-Vee" lights (real Govee lights cost $400 more!) and a nice young off-duty fireman installed them for us - no ladders for us! They are permanent lights that can be programmed for any holiday or even as security lighting.

Our entry with the Christmas Eve wall quilt I made in 2021

Little village pieces my husband gifted me on bottom
My Mom's nutcracker carousel and Noel train on shelf

I wish I had gotten a full-length shot of our tree! We put it in front of my husband's desk this year. 

Our mantel

Console table and tree

Kitchen coffee buffet. See photo below for what the pretty
Pfaltzgraff Winterberry dish on the left was filled with on Christmas Day.

My Granny Mitchell's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies!

My favorite candle ever is the LED one on the left.
I purchased two of them and they have a remote control!

The house is back to normal, and my sewing room beckons. I'm not doing a year-end review or a preview of upcoming projects, but among many started projects and squirrels, I do have two UFOs, a few cross stitch patterns, a couple Christmas stockings, and a set of embroidered Christmas ornaments I hope to finish in 2026.

Boomer
Baker
Our good boys with the bandannas I made for them!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Linking with Melva's Sew & Tell
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Posted by Linda on
Saturday, December 27, 2025

A Midnight Clear - A Christmas Quilt Finish

 

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! We had six kids (4 step-grands ages 14, 11, and 9yo twins) and our two Littles (age 9 and 6) and three adults (our daughter, son-in-law, and his Mom, Florence) visiting on one of the warmest Christmas day we've ever had. The kids were sweet, and we had good food and good times - a truly lovely, memorable day.

The quilt and the embroidered pillow were gifted to my daughter and son-in-law for Christmas The quilt was inspired by a simple pattern on Susies-Scraps.com found via this post on Jocelyn's blog. You can read more details about the quilt in my previous post and the pillow (from an embroidery pattern by Joy) in this post.

Blowing in the wind

The rich dark green of the sashing and binding was the inspiration for the name "A Midnight Clear".

I made this little mug rug for Florence, who has become an unexpected friend!
The pattern also has a pumpkin version - you can find it on Etsy right here.

Edyta Star's Silent Night is my Christmas project for next year, inspiration by Karen - go see her beautiful flannel version here. My daughter has already claimed it based on this one un-pieced block!

This post is linked to the following:
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Posted by Linda on
Thursday, December 4, 2025

2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange - Final Day

 

It is the final day of the 2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange, hosted by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt. I have included links for each day just in case you missed one. Thanks to all those who participated with their beautiful creations and delicious recipes, and to Carol for so generously hosting this fun event!

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Posted by Linda on
Wednesday, December 3, 2025

2025 Virtual Cookie Exchange - Day 3

 

It is Day 3 of the 2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange, hosted by lovely Carol at Just Let Me Quilt. Go check out the gorgeous Christmas projects and delicious recipes! I included the links for the first two days in case you missed them.
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Posted by Linda on
Tuesday, December 2, 2025

2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange - My Day

 

Welcome to Day 2 of the 2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange! A big thank you to Carol at Just Let Me Quilt for graciously hosting this fun event. I am so honored to be part of it - it really gets me in the holiday spirit! You can find a list of participants at the bottom of this post.

First Sixteen Across blocks started in 2023

This is the my first Sixteen Across block first started in 2023 and inspired by Susies-Scraps.com when I innocently clicked on a link found in this post on Jocelyn's blog. I used Christmas scraps and made enough blocks for a quilt before I hid them from myself. Recently I found them while looking for something else and sewed them all together. I used A Country Side Winter by| Lewis & Irene as backing and a rich dark green print from Joann's for sashing and binding.

I had so much fun quilting with Plumeria by Urban Elementz, a pantograph gifted to me by Chris! 

Plumeria pantograph has poinsettia-ish vibes that worked for this Christmas quilt.

A Country Side Winter by| Lewis & Irene made the perfect backing

I will bind it later this week and update with a better photo shoot. 

Toby likes the pillow I made to go with the quilt.

My cookie exchange recipe is my version of Pillsbury's Mini Cinnamon Crescents recipe. They are bite-sized, easy treats that are great for the morning after Thanksgiving or for Christmas morning. I always double the recipe - our grands love them! There are rarely any left, but they are best eaten immediately!

Mini Maple Cinnamon Rolls

1 8oz can crescent rolls
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Icing
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
A few grains salt

Prepare 9-inch square pan or cake pan with parchment paper. Heat oven to 350°F.
.
Separate dough and place 4 rectangles on lightly floured surface. Press perforations firmly to seal into one large rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly over dough.

In small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon; mix well. Sprinkle evenly over dough.

Carefully roll dough jelly-roll style and pinch edges to seal. With sharp knife, cut roll into 16-20 slices. Place slices, cut side down, into prepared pan. Bake 17 to 23 minutes or until golden brown.

While rolls are baking, combine icing ingredients and mix until smooth, adding more powdered sugar or milk as needed for desired consistency.

Cool rolls a couple minutes, then drizzle with icing and serve.

Be sure to visit these blogs for more pretty Christmas projects and yummy goodies!
I have included the blogs for yesterday in case you missed them.

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Posted by Linda on
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