Close to Nowhere

In preparation for Christmas gift giving, I’ve been cleaning my sewing room.

Since my health has been so iffy, I’ve not been sewing or quilting a lot for the past year or so. My room has gone to pieces – literally.

I’ve been finding odd squares from various projects in the oddest places. I’ve found UFO’s (unfinished orphan quilts) and several entire kits – patterns, fabric, trim, etc. for quilts I don’t even remember.

One of the UFOs is near and dear to my heart. Called the Dear Hannah quilt, it’s an offshoot of the Dear Jane quilt, both by Brenda Papadakis.

My friend Jane and I went to my first quilt show probably 12-15 years ago. I only went because it was put on by Martha Pullen, who has lace and infant patterns and christening gown patterns galore. I love to make all that stuff.

One of the vendors at the quilt show was Brenda Papadakis. She had a Dear Hannah quilt hanging in her booth and for the first time in my life, I was absolutely spellbound by a quilt.

Thus began my new lifelong obsession with quilting. All this time later, I’m about three quarters of the way finished with my Dear Hannah. Finding “her” again has relit my obsession for that quilt.

Unfortunately for me, the reason I was cleaning my sewing room is because I’m making some long overdue quilts for grandsons-in-law; also one for my daughter Dana and a wall hanging for adopted granddaughter Morgan for her new house.

Why I decided in late September that I was going to finally make the boys their quilts is a mystery to me! But, I decided and got busy. I have to clean around my quilting as my room is way beyond cluttered. I couldn’t find anything I needed. I still can’t, but I’ve found a ton of “good stuff.”

It’s roughly two weeks before Christmas and I have the quilt tops finished, found backing for them and am dragging out my huge roll of batting (that Pop bought me for Christmas probably seven or eight years ago).

Now, I have three full-size quilts, and including two I’d already started, three wall hangings to finish before Christmas.

Anyone want to take a bet on whether I can actually accomplish this?