Happy Friday! I felt inclined to share a little wrap up of February (and January really)! Not sure if this will be a regular thing or not, but thought it might be fun to try out. I miss my monthly report posts and my Friday Favorites. This is kind of a mash-up of those!


What I Sewed:
I just did a big post with all the things I'm working on right now! Check it out here: What I'm Working on Right Now

What I Watched:
We're rewatching All Creatures Great and Small (PBS), which we love. I also watched the Black Doves (Netflix), which was really good. I don't think I've watched any new movies lately, but did recently rewatch Knives Out (Netflix) and Wicked Little Letters (Netflix). Really enjoy both of those!

What I Listened To:
Michael got me hooked on Alive 2007, a live album from Daft Punk. I've been listening to their albums since college, but had never listened to this one. It's so good!


What I Baked/Cooked:
I can't stop making the granola biscotti from Smitten Kitchen Everyday* by Deb Perelman. I make it with cranberries and mini chocolate chips. This last batch I cut out two Tbs of butter and half the granulated sugar. I think with the chocolate chips in there I could get away with cutting the sugar a little further. They're so good with a cup of coffee.

For baby girl I've been making this Protein Banana Bread from Yummy Toddler Food. It's a big hit. I only use a splash of maple syrup and the second batch I added shredded carrot. I make it in mini loaf pans and freeze three of the four loaves. Makes it easy to pull them out as needed!

What I Read:
Currently reading The Way of Kings* by Brandon Sanderson. The only books I read last year were by Brandon. I started the year trying to read a couple other random books in my library, but ended up going back! This is the first book of his Stormlight Archive series. I do love reading series, because I don't have to decide what to read next for a while. These books are long, so I should be set on reading material for the foreseeable future!


What I Knitted:
I've been working on a new Astra hat! This is my third one, I previously knit one for myself and one for Michael. This pattern is really enjoyable to knit and it's beautiful too. I'm using some Spun Right Round yarn that I purchased in the last few years, along with a yarn that has been in my stash since 2017! I'm just about to start the decreases, so I don't have much further to go.

What I Crafted:
I started junk journaling the last few months. I don't always have time to work on it every week, but it's been really fun. I've always collected cute little bits and bobs from traveling, shopping, etc. This has been a fun way to use them in something. I was really inspired by Martina Calvi's new book The Art of Memory Collecting*. It was also a good excuse to join the Hello Kitty and Friends Sticker subscription from Pipsticks!!



What I Thrifted:
2025 has already delivered some great thrifting finds. Last weekend I found a queen sized quilt at the outlet. I've also found some great kid's books lately and vintage sheets.

What I Played:
I've been playing the new Stardew Valley update (v1.6) on my Switch, which has been really fun. It's a game I just keep coming back to!


I'll leave you with a Dusty cat photo!

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

2023 First Quarter Report

Happy Wednesday! Instead of doing monthly reports this year I've decided to mix it up and do quarterly reports! Now that March is almost over, it's time to look back on the first quarter of 2023. See past monthly reports here.


I made some adjustments that allowed me to finish the arcs for my double wedding ring quilt (finally!). Next I need to choose background and cornerstone fabrics, which is no small task! You'd think after all this time I'd know what I wanted, but a do not. I also need to make a small tester, because my curved piecing experience is very limited.


This month I picked up the Hinterland Dress pattern by Sew Liberated and last weekend I got my muslin cut and sewn. I'm not sure how much I'll wear it, as the fabric didn't drape the way I expected it to (I used a vintage sheet!). I still need to choose a fabric for my next one, we'll see if I have something on hand.


It still needs photographing, but I finished my all lawn indigo quilt! I sent it off for longarm quilting in early 2023 and got it bound this month. I'm excited to have another large all lawn quilt around for Summer so that Michael and I both have one we can use when it gets a bit warmer. I still love this voile one I made years ago: Little Folks Voile Summer Quilt. It's so lightweight and has the most amazing drape.


I started the year by finishing up my tea advent calendar, made with tiny lined drawstring bags! I had grand intentions to finish it in time to use last December, but that didn't quite happen. Regardless, I'm happy with how it turned out! And thankfully it's not holiday-themed so I can use it anytime I want. Read more about that project here: Rainbow Drawstring Bag Advent Calendar


I also made a Valentine's themed drawstring bag last month, with a fun heart appliqué detail. This was a fun experiment, and a good excuse to just play around with different techniques. Read more about that project here: What I'm Working on Right Now


My one scrappy project this quarter was making these two pincushions. I used leftover blocks and scraps.


I've been having fun doing some just for fun crafting this year. I have made a few things with a kit from Concrete Geometric (paired with this mold set from Michael's). So far I've made a couple of ring dishes and some lidded boxes.


I am finally using my stash of dried strawflowers to make a few wreaths. I have been growing strawflowers and saving my blooms for 4 years I think? Can't wait to grow more this year!


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in the first quarter of 2023:

First Quarter Fabric
Used up: 20.25 yard
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -20.25 yards
Year to date: -20.25 yards

First Quarter Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: 0 yards

Checking in with my crafty goals, here is how I'm doing in 2023 so far:
- Haven't purchased any fabric or yarn this year, so I'm meeting my stash goals at the moment.
- I finished all the arcs for my double wedding ring quilt!
- Finished one color work mitten.


It hasn't been a very productive start to the year in terms of making to be honest. During these first few months of the year I have spent more time focusing on things in my life outside of sewing/knitting. That is probably how the rest of the year will be as well, and that's okay. Some years I've made tons of things and other years hav been slower. Just trying to give myself grace and not feel too guilty about that.

Happy Making!

October Monthly Report

Happy November! It's time to reflect on what I worked on in the month of October and check in with my crafty goals and stash tracking. See past monthly reports here.


I did a ton of sewing this month! It felt good to finish a bunch of things and I felt motivated to sew more often. I managed to finish my vintage sheet bear paw baby quilt and pillow. Now I just need to photograph them and the large throw version I made too! I love how they all turned out. It was even more satisfying to finish since it was a long-term project.


I also started and finished a baby quilt for a friend. I dug back into some designs I did for Quilty Box a few years ago and adapted one for this quilt. I'll be sharing it at some point as a free tutorial.


Whoops, I made more Halloween bags! This everything size lined drawstring bag was made with scraps from my Halloween Nine-Patch Quilt. I've been holding onto the scraps for five years, so it feels good to make something with them! And who doesn't love a patchwork bag? I think it turned out pretty cute.


One more I made right before Halloween with this adorable ghost fabric from Bring Your Own Boos* by Cotton and Steel! This is another everything size lined drawstring bag.


I finally had to retire the key fob that a friend made me years ago as I had completely worn it out! I managed to salvage the hardware and made myself a new one with this scrap of Liberty quilting cotton. It was tough to choose a fabric for this since it's something I use/see every single day!


I finished my first crochet project!! My scrap yarn basket is done! This thing used up 2100 yards of yarn, which is incredible. I held 5 strands at a time. It was made completely of scraps and partial skeins of dk, worsted, and aran weight yarns. Now I want to make another (albeit smaller) with sock weight yarns, because I have a lot of leftovers there too. Feels so good to clear out the scraps! I used this tutorial from My Poppet to make my basket.


I told you I was busy this month! I also finished a woven scarf! I need to get some better photos of it, but it's nice bright pink.

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in October:

October Fabric
Used up: 13.75 yard
Brought in: 7 yards
Net: -6.75 yards
Year to date: -52.75 yards

October Yarn
Used up: 2494 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -2494 yards
Year to date: -3494 yards

I bought fabric, again! I picked these up from Stash Fabrics and Hawthorne Supply Co. I wanted a few specific things for the sew along later in November, but I also realized that I've maybe restricted my buying a little too much. It's fun to bring in new fabrics to spark inspiration so I'm going to try to find a better balance. We'll see! Still managed to stay in the negative with all my finishes this month. And a lot of yardage used up on the yarn side too, woo hoo!

Let's check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- Finished up the rest of the vintage bear paw quilt projects (long term WIP).
- Finished a weaving project.


On the DIY front, I finally painted our main bathroom this month. It needed it so badly and I had been putting it off since we moved in. It's a small room and our only bathroom with a shower, so a bit tough to paint! I'm very glad it's done and it looks so much better. Just a fresh coat of white.


Dusty kitty all snuggled up on my Keep Turning Quilt. :)

Have a Great Month!

September Monthly Report

Happy October! It's time to reflect on what I worked on in the month of September and check in with my crafty goals and stash tracking. See past monthly reports here.


This month's report is jam packed! I did a lot of sewing in September! I finished two quilts, one I've already posted about (here: Floral Chain Quilt). The other quilt I finished was my Vintage Sheet Bear Paw Quilt, which I'll hopefully be posting soon. I just need some sunshine so I can photograph it. It felt good to finish not one but TWO quilts! I can't remember the last time I finished two quilts in one month. Very fancy!


I also started a new quilt. I dyed some more lawn fabric and cut out a lawn indigo quilt. I haven't started sewing it yet, but everything is cut!





I made four lined drawstring bags this month. I shared details about all four of them in this post. It was fun to play around with some different variations from the expansion pattern.

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern + Expansion Pattern


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in September:

September Fabric
Used up: -28.25 yard
Brought in: 3 yards
Net: -25.25 yards
Year to date: -46 yards

September Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1000 yards

I bought fabric this month! I finally made it to Cate's Sew Modern in Guilford, CT. Picked up a few fat quarters and some holiday fabrics to use in the drawstring bag sew along later this year. Thankfully I used up a lot of fabric this month, so that more than offset what I brought in.


I started a crochet project!! I am crocheting a scrappy yarn basket using this tutorial. I used this skillshare class to help me get started. It's using up so much leftover yarn, which is making me so happy!


Let's check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- Completed a TWO term WIPs this month!!
- Knitted a little on my mitten WIP.


Kitty enjoying the sun and a quilt :)

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

August Monthly Report

It's time for the August monthly report! See past reports here.


I did quite a bit of sewing in August, mostly on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt! I finished the top, hooray! And I've got enough block parts to make a baby quilt too. I still need to put those blocks together into a quilt top, but at least the main top is done. Now I just need to choose a backing sheet for it. Which is tough because I have so many that would be good for it! A good problem to have, for sure. I made a little video of Instagram where I show all thirty blocks one at a time. You can find it here: Bear Paw Blocks Video



I stitched up a drawstring bag for the first time in what feels like a while! I wanted to make something Fall/Halloween inspired and I had these adorable Kitty Corn* fabrics that I picked up last year. I love how soft the colors are, and the little hidden spiders and moons. I just went with the Everything size. I even made fabric ties, which I rarely do anymore. I am so spoiled by the twill tape! I finished the bag off with some 1" wooden beads. You can find the pattern and beads in my online shop:

Pattern: Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Notions: Round Wooden Beads


I finally got my all green quilt top (it needs a new name now!), in the mail for longarm quilting! I finished the top a few months ago, but never ironed the row seams or made a backing for it. So I got those things checked off the list! I'm excited to get this quilt done, it's been a work in progress for way too long. See more of this quilt here.


The other sewing I did this month was make a new seat cushion for Dusty's litter box cabinet. I wrote a whole blog post about it, which you can find here: Update to the Hidden Kitty Litter Box Cabinet

To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in August:

August Fabric
Used up: -1.5 yard
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -1.5 yards
Year to date: -20.75 yards

August Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1000 yards

I'm not exactly crushing my yardage goals lately, but that's okay. I'm still in the negative! At least I used up something this month, that feels good. And I'm not bringing anything in, so that helps too. I need to finish up some quilts so I can really make some progress!


Time to check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- Sent my all green quilt (long term WIP) off to be quilted!
- Pieced all the blocks and top for my vintage sheet bear paw quilt (long term WIP).
- Finished the body of one colorwork mitten.


Kitty supervised my work, getting that quilt top out the door! So thoughtful.

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

July Monthly Report

It's time for the July monthly report! See past reports here.


This month's report is going to be extra short. I finished exactly zero sewing projects in July! This isn't all that surprising, I typically don't sew that much in the middle of the summer, and this July was especially hot for us here in CT.


Even though I didn't finish anything, I did work quite a bit on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt. I posted a progress check in late in July, you can read that here. I'm actually going to end up with more blocks than I need for this quilt, because I accidently over cut two of the colors (pink and green). My plan is to finish them all and make a baby quilt in addition to the throw quilt I had planned to make. I'm very glad to be done with the half-square triangle trimming and am just building blocks at this point.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in June:

July Fabric
Used up: 0 yard
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -19.25 yards

July Yarn
Used up: 1000 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: -1000 yards
Year to date: -1000 yards

No fabric went in or out in July, but I did destash some yarn. I was very happy to sell 5 skeins of worsted weight yarn on Ravelry!! I had bought it to make a sweater, but never got around to it. Felt good to let it go to someone who will use and enjoy it!


Time to check in my with 2022 crafty goals. This month I:
- I worked on my vintage sheet bear paw quilt which has been a long term WIP.
- I let some yarn go, which helps with my yardage goal!
- I knit a few rows on my mittens in progress.


Kitten is always near by to help me when I'm working. :)

Have a Great Month!