The Best of 2017 at Life in Pieces

As the year winds to a close, Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a linky party to highlight your five best posts of 2017.  

How you define "best" is up to you. My top five are below.  You can click on the blog title to see the full blog post.  

1.  Largest number of views (468): Christmas in March, which featured the completion of Poinsettias. 

Poinsettias
By Judy Blok for the December 2013 issue
of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine

This was my long term leaders and enders project.  It's not perfectly done, but it turned out perfectly for me.  This quilt was gifted to a co-worker as a retirement present.  

2.  Most comments (27):  But First Coffee from October

Scrappy Coffee Cups (aka But First Coffee)

Block patterns from Karen F. Srebro and Janet McCarroll

publised in Block Magic and Block Magic Too by

Nancy Johnson-Srebro

But First Coffee is my first every Rainbow Scrap quilt started in 2012.  It was recently gifted to My Guy for Christmas.  He loves it.  I had told him earlier that it was a gift for someone else in the family and he responded that it didn't need to go, it could stay and live with us.  Little did he know that was my intention.  

3.  Most Facebook likes (661):  Progress on Mystery Stuff:  En Provence 

 En Provence, A Bonnie Hunter Mystery (2016)

I reposted the finished En Provence on Facebook.  I don't do much on Facebook, so was really surprised at all the likes and comments on the post.  I really like my version of En Provence.  Hopefully it will be an early finish in 2018. 

4.  Most Pins on Pinterest (8) Finished My Geometry Assignment

Geometry
Self Designed

Geometry was one of four graduation quilts commissioned by the Scientist in Training for friends and teachers.  Both of us were really happy with how it turned out. It was a big hit with the future math major who received it too.   

5.  My Favorite Post:  Finishing Blooms and Butterflies

Blooms and Butterflies
Back Porch Bloom block by Lea Anne Brummett,
setting by Kate

Blooms and Butterflies was a quilt for me.  I love the crisp white with the scrappy blue and reds.  It's been very nice to cuddle under this winter. 

That's my Best of 2017.  Linking up over at Meadow Mist Designs.  Now it's time for more hot tea while I check out the other Best of 2017 posts. 

Weekend Stitching: But First Coffee

The Scientist in Training was home this weekend.  We had a great time shopping and just hanging out.  She left after lunch and it was a good thing I had a sewing room to go to.  En Provence was a welcome distraction.  

Before lunch, we were all hanging out in the living room watching Food Network.  While we were all commenting on the cooking shows, I was also making the last few stitches on the binding for the Scrappy Coffee Cup quilt (aka But First Coffee).  

 Scrappy Coffee Cups (aka But First Coffee)

Started 2/27/2012, Finished 10/22/2017

Block patterns from Karen F. Srebro and Janet McCarroll

publised in Block Magic and Block Magic Too by

Nancy Johnson-Srebro

I really like how this one turned out.  The SIT and I were trying to decide on our favorite cups.   

The dark blue with the tulip and the brown cup with the yellow rose are two of my favorites.  

The SIT really likes the Christmas mug on the lower left and the tiger cup in the upper right.  The blue floral with the gold accents has always struck her as being a very elegant cup, but it would one of those you look at and not use.  

The backing is from some yardage that's been in the stash for a while. 

The floral on the back is more green than yellow, but it didn't photograph that way.  It's not a perfect match, but I wanted something light since there is so much white space on the front. I stuck with the same dark green that's in the outer border as the binding.  I suppose that's a bit boring.  At least the label is fun.  

Scrappy Coffee Cups was my first venture into the Rainbow Scrap Challenge back in 2012.  I've participated every year since.  Of the five rainbow scrap quilts started, this is only the second one finished.  I always finish the blocks but stall when it comes to setting them together.  It's nice to see this one come off the UFO list and off my fourth quarter list for the 2017 Finish Along.  But First Coffee is my seventh finish for the year.  That ties my best year for finishes ever.  It seems that finding time to sew each day coupled with setting priorities via the One Monthly Goal and 2017 Finish Along have really paid off this year.  

Linking up with:
Monday Making
Main Crush Monday
Monday Design Wall
Needle and Thread Thursday
2017 Finish Along 4th Quarter Linky Party 

Weekend Stitching: A Little of This and That

It was a nice quiet weekend.  So there was time for some fun in the sewing room for a change.  But not all of it was photo worthy.  The last block for En Provence is finished (yeah!).  The last two sashing strips are under construction.  By next weekend, En Provence should be back up on the big design wall ready for final assembly.  I'll definitely get photos of that. 

Scrappy Coffee Cups (AKA But First Coffee) has the binding started. 

I got two sides sewn down before dinner last night.  I'll have to finish the next two sides this week.  This project looks to be on schedule to be on the finished list by the end of the month. 

Two more Vintage Dress blocks have the coping strips added.  

  Vintage Dresses
by Charise Randell

Six blocks finished, just 19 blocks left.  Since En Provence has moved up to "finish it up status", adding the coping strips the dress blocks has become my current leaders and enders project.  It's not the fastest way of finishing something, but at least I see steady progress.

Linking up with:
Monday Making
Main Crush Monday
Design Wall Monday