The best alternative

It's winter in Wisconsin. We don't have snow now, but it's coldish. The best alternative I know to being out in the cold is spending time in the sewing room. Our temperatures have been a bit above normal the last month, so I get outside on good days for a hike. Now that hunting season is over Mark and I have started to work in the woods again, thinning the understory and stacking brush and wood from fallen trees. It's great to work in the woods when there is no snow and the leaves are off the trees. You can easily see all the trees that came down that you want to clean up. We don't aim to pick it all up cause really leaving it is good for the woods, but with much more forecasted to fall down, it'll be a real jungle in there if we don't clean it up some while we are able. And if feels good to work of those Christmas goodies.

In December I was able to finish my 1930's quilt I call my
porch quilt cause I think that's where it would look best, On someone's enclosed porch in summertime. Maybe with white wicker furniture. Sorry the photo is so pale.

On New Years Eve I finally put the borders on the Delectable Mountain Quilt that I made several years ago. I never took a good picture of it cause the border was never on it. I'm just showing you a quarter of the quilt here - my evidence that it's done.  It's big so I'll get it on the bed for a shot and I will get it on the flannel wall too, but that will wait till Mark moves some of His Christmas stuff in the way.

I told myself that I wasn't going to start anything new till I get the borders on 3 quilts. Then I found a 4th, then I made a 5th. Then I bordered 2. I still have to get a border for the 16 patch I did last month and I found the fabric for one other. I'm still using the excuse Mark's stuff is in my way. That should tell you that I started something new. 4 quilts actually. I just dove into my scraps and started cutting. Not without making some plans first. So I cut and kitted up a few more new quilts.That is always so much fun. Some plans aren't final. I didn't do any counting. I didn't even draw up any plans. For 2 of them I had a picture I put with the pieces.

The other 2 are mysteries. That means I don't even know what I am doing with them. There are 2 different sets of triangles. One set is 3" finished Civil War triangles, both light and dark. Do I sew them together for HST units. No, I don't think so. I went to EQ and tossed around a few ideas and quickly made a decision. But I need to cut more background and squares before I proceed. The box of scraps for that is at Studio 3. I'll pick those up tomorrow.

The other set I didn't cut just now, they have been accumulating for probably a few years. When I cleaned out the closet a few months ago, I noticed the box of 2" finished pieces was quite full and then I saw Nann  at WithStringsAttached had the same issue so made a quilt with her surplus triangles so I figured I ought to do the same since I was taking a break from quilting downstairs. What else is a quilter to do? I had a few ideas of what to do with them. First this block came to mind. Nope.

Then I decided I would make a block with the triangles arranged around a light center square like the first block in this picture. But where do I want to go from there? I tell you, it's a mystery. I'm still not sure. Look at the options. And there are more I am not showing. Nope, not going to EQ with this one. Well, I have been having a good time. I hope you have been busy quilting too.