PHD in 2022: December and Year End Wrap Up

I'm struggling a bit to think clearly.  Benadryl does wonders for allergies, but it also creates a lot of brain fog.  I think the cats, Grad Girls and my mom's, finally got to me yesterday.  Actually it's probably mostly due to my mom's cat.  He decided to sleep next to my head Tuesday night. Grad Girl and I drove back down to my mother's on Tuesday because it would cut 2.5 hours off GG's trip back to college and I needed to pick up some things that wouldn't fit in the car after our Christmas holiday.  At any rate, hopefully I can stick with this post long enough to finish (and hopefully it's mostly readable).  

I've been playing along with Quilting Gail's PHD (Projects Half Done) for the last 4 years. I've yet to earn my PHD, but it's been a good way to be accountable for both finishing up old projects and finishing up anything new that was started during the year.  Here's my end of the year report for 2022. 

There are no updates to the report for December. There were no more finishes, but there was progress on one UFO and two ongoing projects. 

Rhododendron, the Bonnie Hunter 2021 mystery quilt along, gained two blocks during December. 

So just one block left to finish and I can start quilt assembly.  This project has come a long way this year, some of the pieces for the blocks hadn't even been assembled yet when the calendar turned over to 2022.  

Rhododendron as of 12/31/2021

My word for 2022 was Progress. I met that with this project even though it's not finished. 

Melodic Mystery, the Meadow Mist Designs 2022 mystery quilt along, was started in October.  I'm still a bit behind, but only by one month. I still need to finish the December clue. 

I have 5 more flower blocks to finish to be caught up. January's clue is probably already out, I've just not had a chance to go check it out.  

There has also been steady progress on the Bonnie Hunter 2022 mystery quilt along, Chilhowie. 

Clue 1 is finished, clue 2 is close, the rest of the clues still need a lot of work.  Even so, I'm happy with all the progress on this project. 

Progress was made on two other UFOs earlier in the year, but then they stalled out. The first was Unity, Bonnie Hunter's stay at home mystery quilt along. 

I finished the last pieced border and final two unpieced borders. The backing has been made and is prepped for quilting.  All that's left is to get the Unity top prepped.  There are a lot of loose threads on the back of this one and it's just been more than I've wanted to deal with.

The 2021 Meadow Mist Designs Mystery quilt was a new start in 2021 that carried over into 2022.  The quilt top was finished back in November, but I struggled to find a good backing fabric. I finally ordered some.  This is next on the list for quilting once I get Unity out the door.  

In the finished column for the PHD program are Fluorescence and Reactive Intermediates. 

Fluorescence (self designed) was ready to go out for quilting in November of 2021, by February 2022 it was a finished quilt. This quilt is one of my all time favorites.  

Reactive Intermediates was made from the pattern Potions, by Flying Parrot Quilts. The quilt was a gift to Grad Girls undergraduate research advisor.  I started cutting the fabrics for some of the blocks at the end of December 2021. I had to be really disciplined to get this quilt finished for graduation in 2022.  But it got done (the night before, but that still counts).

There were two other projects that were started and then finished in 2022. After Grad Girl moved to Texas, she asked for one more grocery bag as she went down the one she left for her undergrad roommate.  There was request for grocery bags for the undergrad roommates as they were now short too. My Guy had been wanting his own set of bags so we could cut down on the number of plastic bags we were collecting.  

In total I finished seven grocery bags.  The grocery bags got me back in the sewing room after a rough summer of no stitching.  They were quick and fun finishes. Exactly what I needed to get out of my stitching front. 

The other finish was also a start inspired by Grad Girl. She wanted a couple of her favorite embroidery pieces made into pillows. 

I finished these the evening before we moved her to Texas. Last year seemed to be the year for just in time finishes.  Both of us were very happy with how the pillows turned out.  The star of each is her embroidery.  

In summary, I didn't do so hot on the UFO finishes, ending the year with just two. But I did make really good progress on a three others. I finished all of the new starts for 2022, since both Melodic and Chilhowie continue in 2023, those don't count.  Not a stellar year, but considering just how rough the year was, I'm happy to get at least that much done. 

You can see how everyone else did on earning their PHD's in 2022 over at Quilting Gail.  

Best of Life In Pieces for 2022

Just a few more days left of 2022.  I'm ready for a new year, 2022 wasn't one of my better years on several fronts.  I'm hopeful that 2023 will be happier and more productive than this year has been.  Maybe this year more than past years,  it's important to look back at what did go well. Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is encouraging us to look at the Best of 2022.  

 

Here's my best of list for 2022 for Life in Pieces. 

1. Most Views (368): Still Mostly Here

I took an unannounced break from blogging from early June to late  September this year.  This post was written in response to the many emails in June/July asking how things were going on my end. Thank you to everyone who reached out.  It wasn't a good time for me and I'm not sure I would have have come back to blogging without your encouragement. 

2. Most Comments (22): First Finish of 2022   

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence) was one of only two finishes for 2022.  The quilt started as my 2017 Rainbow Scrap Project and the setting is self designed.  It's one of my favorite finished quilts.  

3. Most Link Ups for 15 Minutes to Stitch (19 - Weeks 2, 6, 18)

All three weeks had 19 link ups, which is better than the max link ups in 2021 by one.  The average number of link ups for 2022 was 13, which is the same as 2021.  I really appreciate all bloggers who came back to link up after 4 months of hiatus. Thank you!  

4. Most Fun Finish: Finishing Potions

Potions (Reactive Intermediates) was made specifically for Grad Girl's undergraduate research advisor.  I will admit piecing those flasks gave me a few fits, but it was such a fun project to work on. The filling solutions were all pulled from my scrap bins. I had such a good time deciding on the colors and fabrics. 

5. My Favorite Family Photo Challenge Post: Week 34 - A Panorama

It's hard to pick a favorite set of photos from the challenge, but the panorama shots are some of my most favorite from this year.  It's been such a fun family activity because Grad Girl can still participate from college.  It's been interesting to see how we each interpret the prompt each week.  We still have 3 to 4 months of cards left in the deck.  My Guy got a new deck of photo cards for Christmas, so the challenge will continue once this deck is gone.  

That's my Best of Life in Pieces for 2022.  It was a year of real highs and lows for me, I'm hoping that 2023 is more of the highs and a lot less of the lows.  

First Finish of 2022: Cabins and Fans (AKA Fluorescence)

With all the craziness going on the last few weeks I didn't get photos of my first finish till last Monday.  Our house is on the dark side, so you need both a sunny day and a free afternoon to get decent inside photos. Cabins and Fans, renamed Fluorescence by the Scientist in Training, was finished on February 24, 2022.  

Fluorescence (AKA Cabins and Fans), self designed
Started Jan 6, 2017: Finished Feb 24, 2022

Fluorescence started out as my 2017 Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  Since I tend to stall out on figuring out a setting for my RSC projects, it seemed wise to work out a setting before I get started on making the blocks.  All the blocks started out as a paper pieced fan block.

It appears that even with a completed design in EQ, an RSC project needs to marinate a few years before it gets added back to the in progress list.  Even though all the fan blocks were made in 2017, quilt assembly didn't start up again until April of 2021.  

Trudy didn't disappoint on the quilting. 

The quilting is easier to see from the back.

This quilt will be going to one of the SITs college mentors, the professor that requested her as a teaching assistant.  Here's the label (minus the message to the professor)

I will miss working with these colorful blocks. I've played around in EQ with making a version with a white or gray background and the colors just don't seem to pop as much. I have some other versions drafted in EQ with a combination of  two blocks (one of which does have a log cabin block).  With the push to work down the UFO list, there haven't been any new RSC challenge blocks the last couple of years. Maybe a few more projects will come off the list this year and I can add a new RSC project to next year's list.  

Linking up with Monday Making, Monday Design Wall, and Patchwork & Quilts.  

PHD in 2022: February Progress

I'm a few days late on posting the progress on my PHD in 2022, so I won't be able to link up with Quilting Gail this month. But I still want to celebrate all the progress in February, especially since the last weekend was so chaotic and stressful.  I really need to celebrate something! 

So here's my report for February. 

No new starts, that's worth celebrating.  My Guy seems to have problems avoiding squirrels, so far I've done well at avoiding the quilty ones.  Even better, the report shows the first finish for 2022!  

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence, self designed) is labeled and bound. I didn't get my glamour shots of the quilt till yesterday afternoon, I'll do a full post on the finish soon. 

Unity (Bonnie Hunter 2020 Quilt Along) is moving along slowly. 

Just three more stars left to finish off the last pieced border.  I'm hopeful of seeing this project reach completion this year. 

Macaron Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs 2021 Mystery Quilt along) has a few blocks finished.  

I'm really happy with all my fabric selections worked out.  These blocks go together fast since all the subunits are finished.  

Rhododendron Mystery (Bonnie Hunter 2021 Mystery Quilt Along) is moving along a lot slower. 

One block A and one block B were finished last month.  Those little hour glass blocks in block B take a bit to construct.  I think this one is going to be another slow moving project. That's OK, as long as it's progressing, I'll be happy. 

Potions (Flying Parrot Quilts) is zooming along. 

All that's missing for Potions to be a finished quilt top is the last border across the top.  That has since been added.  All the flask blocks were finished, the rows assembled and the sashing added last month.  This quilt has a May deadline, so I'm happy that this project has stayed on track. It should be ready to go out for quilting in a week or so.  

So one finish, no new starts and progress on four other projects on my PHD list for 2022.  Not a bad start to the year.   

To Do Tuesday for the Week of 2/15/2022

Valentine's Day was pretty low key.  We treated ourselves to a fancy take out dinner. It was really good.  Unfortunately the glass of wine I had with dinner made it hard to do much in the sewing room, I'm such a light weight on that front. Consequently I was in bed pretty early last night.  It's a good thing that the last item on last week's to do list was checked off over the weekend.

To Do List for the Week of 2/8/2022

• Potions: Finish all the flask blocks ✔
• Cabins and Fans: Attach binding and start hand sewing ✔
• Macaron Mystery: Work on the January clue ✔
• Rhododendron Mystery: Make hour glass blocks for block B ✔
• Unity: Make flying geese as leaders and enders. ✔

  

The list is all checked off for last week.  Fingers crossed I can do it again this week.  

To Do List for the Week of 2/15/2022

Potions: Assemble Rows

Potions: Pattern from Flying Parrots Quilts

All the blocks are done and the dark blue for the shelves is ready to stitch to the rows when they are assembled.  This week the plan is to get the blocks all stitched into rows. If I get the "shelf" part sewn on as well, that's a bonus.  That will just leave the row of background fabric that goes above each row to stitch together, cut to size and stitch on to finish the quilt top assembly. There is a possibility I'll add borders, we'll wait and see how it all looks once it's assembled.  

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence): Finish stitching on the binding

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence): self designed

I've stitched past two corners, so just 2 left.  That should be doable this week. 

Macaron Mystery: Work on January and February Clues

Macaron Mystery: Meadow Mist Designs 2021 Mystery quilt along

I did put one block together to see how my fabrics were going to work in the final layout.  I like it. Hopefully once Potions is out for quilting, I can concentrate on finishing up these blocks. 

Rhododendron Mystery: Work on blocks A and B

Rhododendron Mystery: The 2021 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt Along

I finished off a B block this week.  Those hourglass blocks aren't my favorite think to make.  I've got a ways to go on this project. I'd like to have it finished before the next Bonnie Hunter kicks off in November. 

Unity: Make flying geese as leaders and enders

Unity: The Bonnie Hunter 2020 Stay at Home Quilt Along

Half the blocks needed for the final pieced border are up on the design wall.  At some point, Unity will probably become my focus project, but for now it will stay the leaders and enders project. 

That's my list for this week. If I can stay on track with Potions and finish the binding for Fluorescence it will be a good week.  

Linking up with Linda, The Texas Quilt Gal for To Do Tuesday.  

To Do Tuesday for the Week of 2/8/2022

We are already a week into February. With it being such a short month, we'll be at the end of it before we know it. January always seems to drag, but February just flies.  It's Tuesday, so it's time to draw up a new To Do List and link up with Linda of Texas Quilt Gal for this week's To Do Tuesday.  Before getting to this week's list, I should look at the progress on last week's list.  

To Do List for Week of 2/1/2022

• Potions: Make 7 flask blocks ✔
• Cabins and Fans: Trim quilt, make binding, print label ✔
• Macaron Mystery: Work on January clue ✔
• Rhododendron Mystery: Work on Block A and Block B ✔
• Unity: Make flying geese as leaders and enders ✔

A check mark on each item feels good.  Though the last three items aren't progressing really quickly as my focus is the first two items on the list. The emphasis will be the same in this week's list.  

To Do List for Week of 2/8/2022

Potions: Finish making all the flask blocks

Potions: pattern from Flying Parrots Quilts

I've finished just over half the flask blocks. Now that I've got the assembly mostly down, the last few blocks should go pretty quickly.  

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence): Attach binding to front, start hand stitching to the back.

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence): self designed

The quilt is trimmed, label and binding made, so all that's left is to get the binding on the quilt and stitched down.  With the focus on Potions, I won't get the hand stitching done this week, but this should be finished before the end of the month.  

Macaron Mystery: Work on the January clue.

Macaron Mystery: Meadow Mist Designs 2021 Mystery quilt

Not a lot of progress this week, but the pile of dual flying geese blocks has grown a bit. I've been stitching one pair of geese with all the flask blocks, so it's slow going.  At least there is some progress. Work will pick up once Potions is out for quilting.  

Macaron Mystery: Make hourglass blocks for block B.

Rhododendron Mystery: Bonnie Hunter 2021 Mystery Quilt

 

Not a lot of progress on this project either, but I've been adding a set of HSTs with each set of flask blocks I make. Slow progress, but at least progress hasn't completely stopped.  

Unity: Stitch flying geese as leaders and enders.

Unity: Bonnie Hunter 2020 Stay at Home Quilt Along

Progress on Unity is slow and steady.  I've been sticking in the occasional square in a square block to the leaders and enders pile. Hopefully by the time Potions is a quilt top, I'll have all the pieces needed to finish off the last pieced border.  

I'm on track with Potions and none of the other projects have stalled. I'm happy with progress to date. I'm off on Friday, but My Guy isn't. I'm hopeful of getting in a nothing but stitching day then. Good luck with your To Do List this week.  

PHD in 2022: January Progress

The second round of snow didn't amount to much, but 6" of snow is a lot more than we normally get.  We've been told to work from home for another day. So my commute will be from my recliner to my home office today, no walk across the parking lot in the cold.  

I'm participating in Quilting Gail's PHD (Projects Half Done) again this year as additional motivation to get a few more projects off the UFO list.  

I had a solid month of stitching time with lots of progress, but no finishes yet.

But no new starts and there's been some progress on 5 projects.  Really not a bad month.  

Cabins and Fans (Fluorescence) is quilted. 

This will be my first finish for 2022.  The label is designed, it just needs to be printed and rinsed.  The plan is to get the quilt trimmed and binding made this weekend.  

Unity (Bonnie Hunter 2020 Sew in Place Quilt Along) has been progressing slowly, it's been my leader and ender project for a while.  

The last border is under construction, a quarter of the way complete.  Unity will probably be my second finish for 2022.  It's been slow going, but at least the project never completely stalled out.  

Unfortunately January wasn't the best month for the Macaron Mystery (Meadow Mist Design 2021 Mystery).

There was progress, just not a lot of it.  I made a start on the January clue, but didn't come close to finishing it.  The reveal came out yesterday. I'll be playing catch up for a couple of months. 

There was more progress on the Rhododendron Mystery (Bonnie Hunter 2021 Mystery), 

Several block A's are made, but block B is going to be chore to finish up.  Rhododendron is likely to become my next leaders and enders project.  

Potions (Flying Parrot Quilts) has been my main focus for January. 

There was just one block completed at the end of December.  All the test tube and beaker blocks were finished in January.  All that's left is the flask blocks, but those are going to be really fiddly.  Fingers crossed I can stay on schedule with those.  The plan is to have  a finished quilt top by the end of the month.  

No finishes, but no starts and lots of progress on the project with a May deadline. I'm calling January a success. I've got to get to eat breakfast now and then get to work, but you can check out more January 2022 PHD Reports over at Quilting Gail.