Well, hello again!

I was such a bad blogger last year -- and not much better at quilting, either.  While a few projects were started, not many got finished, which means the stack of UFO's in the corner of the kitchen got even higher in 2013.

 The only project I sewed for Christmas this year -- a table runner for my sister (and yes, that is a Mr. Potato Head on my tree)

Penguins Afloat Redux -- a 2013 baby quilt you'd think was made for Archie

Last year was full of distractions -- both personal and work-related -- which didn't leave much energy (or will) for writing or sewing.  While I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, I am at least hoping that I can give both a little more attention in 2014.

In that vein, when the Polar Vortex paid a visit to Chicago last week and temps dipped well below zero (minus 52 degrees with the wind chill! Yikes!), there wasn't much else to do but make soup, stay indoors and sew. Archie and I hunkered down to avoid freezing, and I decided a new project was in order because, as we all know, a new project is SO much more fun than finishing up an old one. Stack in the corner, be damned!

Three batik jelly rolls (navy, brown and amber/sand-ish) were waiting to be united with 1½ yards of cappuccino Minkee dot -- the thought of which sounded really snuggly in the face of the ice forming on the inside of my windows. So I began.

Here's the idea:

I'm starting to think all my quilts should match my floor

The pieces measure 4½" x 2½", and if my calculations are right, I need about three times this many geese to make a decent-sized throw for the sofa. I have some work ahead of me, but the snow outside is providing incentive.

And with a few more bone-chilling winter days (and much perseverance), I'll be able to use it once or twice before the daffodils spring up!

Hope everybody is staying warm! Happy 2014!