With ‘secret’ sewing projects wrapped up for now, this Pineapple block quilt is back ON the sewing table. Progress is slow. . . I am able to finish the swirly ditch-quilting on 2 or 3 blocks in a weekday morning sewing session. Nine blocks to go, or at least three more days. Then I’ll […]

Each month, projects move on and off the sewing table to make room for secret projects that I can’t share. This week, I’m working on some upcoming block designs for The FLOCK in the sewing room, and I’m not allowed to share them. That means, the quilting on the pineapple quilt has been put aside […]

I spent the last couple weeks working on my blue and brown pineapple quilt. Two weeks ago, I was just finishing up some straight-line quilting in the sashing strips. This week I finalized and began executing my quilt plan for the blocks. More on that below. I did receive a question or two about the […]

Once I wrapped up the Swirl placemat I worked on for a few weeks, using the Creative Grids Mini Pineapple Trimmer and my Swirl pattern notes, I kinda got on a yank to finish up the pineapple quilt I started a few years back. I’m a really big fan of blues and browns together, so […]

Last week, I showed you my progress on a swirly little project that filled some of my sewing time in between time-sensitive projects. I used the Creative Grids Mini Pineapple Trimmer and my Swirl pattern notes to make little square mug mats from 5″ scrap squares. This week, this project was in the home stretch! […]

Since last Fall, Dave and I have been making an effort to get outside for a 3-4 mile walk at least once each week, usually on a Saturday or Sunday. For the past couple weeks, Dave has sidelined himself with a sore foot (nothing serious). Not wanting to break the trend, I went solo on […]

I am between sewing projects this week. I’m expecting a delivery in the mail by the weekend that should change this in-between situation I have at the moment. Since I try to sew a little bit every morning to stir the creative juices before moving to the computer for the day, I like to have […]

Eagle Inspiration Most people don’t equate Bald Eagles with Syracuse, New York. For a VERY short, VERY general geography/history lesson of this area. . . Onondaga Lake is at the (sorta) center of the city. In colonial times Syracuse became a city because of the salt deposits around the lake. Salt, being a valuable preservative […]

I was warned. Before Dave and I got married 21 years ago, he took me aside and told me he had a secret passion . . . He is a historical board gamer. Not the online type of gaming, although he has certainly spent many hours online with the likes of World of Warcraft and […]

In last week’s article, I highlighted a mug mat and mentioned a technique to add a continuous/loop binding to small projects. Since I had a question or two about this technique, I thought you might like to see how I add a binding to a small project, such as a 5″ square mug mat. Of […]

Some people refer to it as ‘frogging’. . . I have to say, I’ve never embraced that term. Maybe because I like frogs. I love the sound of peeper frogs in the spring, a sure sign of warmer weather. It’s great fun when a frog, or several, show up in the garden pond, no invitation […]

  They are HERE! They spent months in designing, altering, testing, sampling, revising, negotiating, re-testing, production, shipping . . and they have finally arrived! Who is or what are ‘they?’ Your Nest® Thread Nest Floss Bobbins, of course! They are brand new and in stock! Exciting! If you collect 6-stranded floss, perle cotton, or other […]

After a couple of crazy-hectic weeks in my sewing room and at my desk (and in the universe), I had a bit of a reality check yesterday morning as I was working on finishing my Peppermint Purple 2020 Sew-along project, soon to be a quilted table runner. For nearly all my quilty life, I have […]

. . . But not before wrapping up a few projects here and there. I tried to step away from the computer for a bit over the Christmas holiday, and will continue to make that effort over the next few days. I’ve been hearing lots of stories throughout 2020 about how neighbors and friends have […]

For I-don’t-know-how-many-years, now, I have been making a small ornament to insert in my holiday Christmas cards for family and friends. Years ago, when this ‘thing’ first started, I usually had an idea right around Halloween, and started making. I do about 30 cards per year. At that time, I also made cards with glitter, […]

From time to time, I like to get a little insane. . . Or Nearly Insane. This is actual the title of a book by Liz Lois. Inside the book is a collection of about 100 or so block diagrams–nothing else, not instructions or measurements, just the diagram. I purchased the book years ago on […]

With the Stitchery Crossover course now up and running, my mind is already planning the next project for the online class series. In fact, I already have a couple sample blocks under way. And I’m REALLY excited about them! Can’t wait to share more about them, in fact. However . . . As enjoyable as […]

A quick message to wish the very best holiday greeting to you and your family. Our celebrations may be small this year, but I hope there is a turkey in the oven (or will be soon) and pie at the ready in your home today. As for this household, Dave has been practicing for this […]

If you’ve been following this newsletter for a while, then you know that I’ve been working on a new technique to combine counted stitchery (like cross stitch or blackwork) with quilting. Not just sewing quilt borders onto stitched blocks – that’s not necessarily a new concept. Instead, the new Stitchery Crossover technique adds stitched borders […]

As you may know, I try to sew for at least an hour every morning. Once that hour is up, I’m usually on the computer, working on various projects until dinner time. If I don’t get those morning stitches in, my whole day is thrown off. A couple weeks each month, my stitchy time is […]

If you’ve been following along for the last couple weeks, then you know that I’ve been selling the scrappy pin cushions I started making from a collection of pin cushion parts. These semi-constructed pin cushions have been in my stash for a very long time. At the beginning of the pandemic back in March, I […]

With lots going on behind the scenes at the Hummingbird Highway, I took a little break this week to experience FALL. For the last few weeks, Dave and I have made a weekly walking commitment. We seek out a local walking trail and walk 3-4 miles on either Saturday or Sunday. It has been good […]

As usual, I have a bunch of things going on in my stitchy universe these days. As I started to fill this week’s pin cushion with wool batting scraps, I wondered just how much batting actually disappears into one pin cushion. I can’t say I’ve been keeping track. I just stuff until the pin cushion […]

Over the years, I have made it a habit to sew for an hour or two each weekday morning. If I don’t, I can get sucked into the computer and never sew a single stitch! When big projects finish up, it’s so rewarding because they’ve come together little by little over a long period time. […]

  I wouldn’t say we had ‘stellar’ Fall weather this past weekend, but it was certainly nice enough to take a walk in the woods on Sunday. Plus, having recently purchase some hiking shoes, it was time to break them in. Dave and I jumped in the car and headed to Baltimore Woods – a […]

About a month or two ago, a blue and yellow budgie parakeet flew into our yard. Sadly, someone lost a pet. Budgies originate from Australia. It should not have been flying into our yard. Somehow, the hungry and thirsty guy managed to make is way into a travel bird cage we had on hand. The […]

This post has been updated to delete auction links since the auction for this item has ended. Sign up to receive the Good Migrations Newsletter to hear about future auctions. I normally END my weekly message with the reveal of this week’s Puffy Four-Patch Pin Cushion. This week I’m putting it right up front because […]

Last week I talked about my deep dive into the recesses of my stashed-away projects to unearth a short stack of brightly colored, applique Boogie Birds blocks. (Pattern by Linderella Design Studio). This week I finished the blocks, bordered them, sewed them together – three rows of three blocks. Then I added an outer border, […]

A few weeks ago, “Gillie” literally flew into our yard. Dave just happened to be on hand when this little budgie parakeet arrived. We searched for his family with no luck. So he’s part of our feathered family now. It’s all good. He seems to be happy with his new habitat, view of the backyard, […]

For a few months now, Dave (the hubster) has had a regular weekend routine. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, he goes to Dunkin Donuts drive-thru and buys himself coffee and donuts. I’m not a coffee fan, so I stay home and put the tea kettle on with one of my favorite Republic of Tea flavors. […]

Last week, I gave you a quick free-motion quilting tip to find a more efficient path to quilt the sashing and cornerstones on your next quilt. This week, on my current quilt project, the sashing and cornerstones have been quilted, and I’m turning my attention to quilting each block. A little bit of quilting to […]

Except for only one or two exceptions, I have always quilted my own quilts. Most of them on my table-top machine, some by hand. To prep the quilt for quilting, I prefer to pin-baste the quilt sandwich rather than use a spray baste. I’m not a fan of adding anything to the quilt that has […]

I guess you could say I had a bad week. Not earth-shattering bad, just bleh. Plans are changing, projects dragging, interruptions interrupting. One of our favorite summer time activities – summer theater – has dwindled from a season of in-person Broadway shows to two events at a drive-in movie theater. One of the two of […]

I want to say that it has been quiet around here. But it really hasn’t been. It’s been a bee-hive of activity at my desk and on my computer screen, but unfortunately, I can’t show you any of it yet! Frustrating to me, but I know how you like surprises! *Wink!* The Hawaii cruise quilt […]

Inside, projects continue to advance a little bit each day. Progress is slow. I apologize for delays in upcoming patterns on the bird blocks and the Stitchery Crossover re-boot, specifically. Despite my silence, both those projects are moving forward behind the scenes  . . .  Thanks for your patience. Back to today’s topic . . […]

Almost two years ago, I signed a contract to teach on a quilting cruise to Hawaii. Almost immediately, I had an idea for our quilt project for the trip. For the first time, ever, I wrote the pattern for a mystery quilt. It didn’t start out as a mystery, but as the pattern evolved, the […]

  Like much of the country, over the last couple weeks, we’ve had some hot, humid weather in central New York. (I’m good with it!) I think this little leopard frog has the right idea. He seems to be enjoying his own private corner of the garden pond. As a kid, as soon as school […]

A few weeks ago, I pulled out my on-again-off-again Nearly Insane blocks (book by Liz Lois) and work on a couple blocks, in order. Block #18 has given me fits and starts, but early last week I may actually have won the battle. Here is my final answer for Block #18. The center fabric still […]

For the last several weeks, I’ve been chattering on about the 6″ blocks I’m making using Liberty prints from the book Nearly Insane by Liz Lois. This is a project I started years ago when I first saw the book. I make a couple blocks, then I put the project away. I pull out the […]

After re-introducing you to my on-again, off-again Liberty ‘Nearly Insane’ block project last week. I kept working on it this past week. . . .   I finished up block number 17. I’m pretty happy with it! The whole block finishes to 6″ square, so those pieces are really little! Then I turned the page. […]

Just when I was starting to make some headway on quilting on the alphabet quilt, a ‘squirrel’ ran by! That ‘squirrel’ also goes by the name of Liberty fabric. Liberty of London. You’ve heard of it? Known for colorful, petit prints. The fabric itself is very fine, and pricy. Certainly an indulgence. I’ve been collecting […]

  This week, I started quilting the stitchery alphabet quilt that I bordered then pin-basted a couple weeks ago. As you may know, I try to sew for about 60-90 minutes each morning. I really notice it for the rest of the day if that creation time is taken away or shortened for some reason. […]

Whether I’m stitching or quilting, it’s never a good thing to lose track of your needle. Some folks like to stick their needle in the fabric, which is a perfectly acceptable option. I like to use a needle minder – a bauble with a magnet on its back and a second magnet that is loose. […]

Looking around my sewing room, I’ve got a few things progressing along. Here comes a quick tour and recap. . .   Week 8 of the Puffy-Fours Pin Cushion self-imposed challenge brings a cream-and-purple (purple is my favorite color!) finish, shown in the front of the stack. The stitches used include tete de boeuf (a […]

Sticking to my self-imposed goal of finishing one Puffy Fours Pin Cushion each week since the start of shut-down orders here in New York State, I completed another pin cushion, in pink, orange, and gray, shown in front of the pack. To follow from the beginning or to make your own, go to the Winging […]

Before I get on with my kitchen story, just wanted to post a quick photo of this week’s Four-patch Pin cushion. . . On April 9th, I committed to a goal to try to complete a pin cushion each week to finish a pin cushion project that started years ago to use up stray and […]

In my basement work room, I have a few of my favorite small quilt projects hanging on the walls. . . . My favorites! One of my absolute favorites is this small wall hanging (formerly a Snap Sack pattern released in 2012 as a kit pack for retail shops) It’s a favorite because it’s colorful […]

When this whole thing started – the spread of COVID-19, stay-at-home orders, grocery shortages, heroic deeds in hospitals, actions of public servants, and creative problem-solving within essential businesses – I kept sensing a deep connection to my mother, gone some 15 years now. I know she would have said, we’ve stopped praying the Rosary, so […]

Oh, my poor daffodils! They look like a lot of us feel about now (including myself!). Enough already! The weight of the snow, just like the weight of the world’s troubles seems just too much sometimes. However, the snow WILL melt, and things WILL get better. Did you have a nice Easter? Mine started with […]

For many quilters and sewing hobbyists, these past few weeks have, perhaps, brought some unexpected projects to many of our sewing tables. Items that are ‘weighty’ to make because of their importance. Things that present a challenge because of conflicting information surfacing and shifting each day. Bumpy puckers and unfamiliar materials and shapes for those […]