WIP's List!, Basket Case Finish, Magpie Art and Squirrels

 Breakfast in front of the fire. 

And from another angle. Smile says me; I am says he. 

Our Christmas was certainly never busy. I used to feel the need to deep clean everything before the big day but I won't bother this year with just the three of us here. Of course, some deep diving into totes and storage drawers would be a good thing but I have to be in the mood for that. Perhaps I'll feel like it more when the Christmas things have to go away.  

Basket Case has moved along nicely just this week.  As I showed last time, I used the yellow fabric for the central block which you all seemed to like. The baskets themselves went together quickly. It is larger than I thought at 40 x 44 and I had to use the floor to sort it out. I'm happy with it at this stage now, a flimsy; though being me, I will always have doubts about my choice for the center block. The small basket was a free pattern from the talented and generous Michelle at  Michelle Ridgway Designs.

 As promised here is my Stitching Wip's List. Don't gasp!

Medallion Quilt is stalled right now. Still more of the bow ties ready for stitching but just not getting it done.

Fans...almost there...getting closer. At least to the flimsy stage.

Solidarity blocks. I had made a decision way back to work on and finish these mostly red blocks in February. 

The last of three Christmas/Winter table runners is together in its layers ready for quilting. A project for this weekend. 

Quiltmania X-mas( I'm not fond of when Christmas is written that way). The last 7 blocks have been prepared and are ready for stitching and embellishments. 

Halloween Sampler. I've kept it in the t.v. room for those odd moments when I feel like hand quilting. I've got 6 blocks quilted with this very off hand method. 

A Year at Hawk Run Hollow cross stitch. I have it in the t.v. room too but sadly, this time of the year, the light is terrible- no sun for days at a time, so even with my special lights, I found it was giving me eye strain. I'm a little worried about this and hope it is not going to be a thing and prevent counted cross stitch. 

Tiny Triangles is my scrappy project for the RSC which I had totally forgotten about till seeing some of your projects getting finished. Lots of neutrals here but are they the shade of neutrals for this month? It is resting in its box waiting for attention but keeping very quiet for now. 

I'm not counting Book Club or Easy Hexagon Stars that need to be quilted or Other Baskets that just needs binding to be finished. Daughter has promised to help me when this is over.  I just can't handle quilting the bigger projects by myself. (That's why I did QAUG on my Dreamy Hearts quilt.)

Ongoing Quilt Bible blocks. I do sew one on the machine now and then.  I have 11 done.

Actually I'm not daunted by this list.  I seem to thrive on variety and usually enjoy all my projects right to the end no matter how long that takes.  And since I favour big projects, that can take awhile. I will get to them all-eventually.

This painting is From Swedish artisit Lennart Helje's Pinterest Board.  Just love the stark but also gentle rendering of the snow and tree and of course, the magpie, which Lennart favoured.  I have never seen a magpie here but had the fun of watching them in Alberta on one of my visits there. They were larger than I had thought, beautiful with their flashes of white and black and quite plentiful.

Below is a photo of the back window over the stairs to show what the weather looked like early Sunday morning. Lennart would have been able to paint this no doubt though it looks a little like a painting already especially a thread painting. And that reminded me of Mary Anne at, coincidentally, Magpies Mumblings, and her wonderful life like fabric landscapes too. Fabric artist, Mary Anne, also shares great links to a variety of items that are always interesting to me. 

Squirrel antics at the feeders. And by the way, I've sworn off any squirrel antics in the sewing room too. This is a large Eastern Grey squirrel that makes its way here every now and then from the far back property. He won't be able to open this one as it's got a little hasp on the side and the feeder tray also closes when triggered by weight. But the shaking will reward him with a few seeds on the ground. Splendid tail with pretty white trim. 

He went up and down a number of times. I wondered if he expended more energy with that effort than the sunflower seeds were providing. 

I'm kind of taken with squirrels as there were none in Newfoundland when I grew up and lived there. 

Meanwhile, all calm and peaceful here at the wooden house and in our corner of Ontario too though a little shivery with a newly arrived cold snap. Hope it is all calm and peaceful wherever you live too.

Happily linking with Home Sewn By Us, Our World Tuesday, Quilt Fabrication, Needle and Thread Network, Inquiring Quilter, My Corner of the World, My Quilt Infatuation, Kathleen McMusing and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.