Carriem prayers coming your way that the procedure works and you get the relief you want.

Anael, wow a lot of certainly happened in the last 12 months, I remember us all holding our breath as we waited for your updates on Bram and Isa and celebrating with you each milestone reached. Please give them a big hug from all of us. Maybe we could all meet in the RV for a party that day.

I am really liking everyones goals, but do remember they are not set in concrete:D I was always told aim low and achieve high so if you list small goals and achieve more you will feel more motivated. I just really want to stay on track with the BOM's I have started so that is my main goal this year and to keep my ufo's under 10:D:D we will wait and see if that happens.

Will post a pic of my finished block today, only have one section to go:thumbup: I was going to finish it last night but watched a movie instead..

NinaSue I love your block and as always a wonderful story to go with it.

QuiltE you have certainly taken up the challenge for January, good luck

My plans for January are 13 ladyblocks. I joined a swap so that I can give my DGD the ladybugs. I think she will love 'em so much that she will face her fear o' the needle goin' through her finger & let me help her ta sew 'em tagether.
One o' my retreat friends suffered breast cancer last year. She laughed at the the dots that they tattooed on her for the radiation placement. We teased her about doin' a dot ta dot block. It quickly escalated ta each o' us makin' a block for someone else that is goin' through the same thing. We all send our blocks back ta her, she will sash 'em & quilt it. She has already picked a young girl ta give it ta. I received my dot pattern yesterday. This will be my first landscape & I will do fusible applique' another first. I ordered Inktense ta give it some depth. It has ta be mailed out by Jan 1st.

Bev what a wonderful thing to do, I am sure it will bring comfort to the recipient

I have finished the last block for Out of the Darkness, now to start cutting the centre panel.

I don't know how it happened but I have 4 pieces left over:D:D:D:D:D:D maybe that is just to mess with my brain:eek: I know I shouldn't have but I did !!!! I counted the pieces in this block and there were 256:shock:

I am actually finding a new found enthusiasm for this quilt, I (on purpose) forgot about it when I packed it away. Maybe I just needed no distractions to work on it again..

It's fun to read the plans for the month. I started keeping a white board with my list about a year ago and it has kept me a little more sane and focused. I have moved blocks to flimsies for 4 quilts and while still UFO's, they are the motivation to move into actual quilting this year. I have QAYG blocks all ready for practicing on so that has to be first on my list every week and maybe by the middle of the year, I can start working through my flimsies. Along with our Mystery blocks and SYE, I have 4 other projects planned for this year. UFO's that need assembling to be worked on...there are 7 not counting my header and ender project. The one that floats to the top first is my Ocean Waves. I have only a few more blocks to piece before I can finish joining all of the rows and the extra strips will find a home in my header and ender project. So 3 quilted blocks, and Ocean Waves all pieced and set together although maybe not bordered and staying current with everything else is my January goal.

Mirabelle, you do really beautiful work; it almost makes me want to dig mine out like that. Except mine would not look that pretty. I am anxious to see more beautiful work on that quilt.

Carrie, hope all goes well for you this week. GrannyQ and her dh as well; may you get good news on Monday. And off to the Netherlands to celebrate the Sew Grands birthdays.

A warm beautiful Sunday here. A day of rest. May it be a good day for all. Celebrate.

Can you tell that took a lot of thought? Now for the comments...
Anael...what a special year this past one has been for all of us as we shared the early days of Bram and Isa. What an achievement!
QNS...all red, white, and blue 50 stars will be beautiful!
Mirabelle....I'm so happy you got back to Out of Darkness. It is so striking.
Dubib...what a fun dot to dot project.
DD...thanks. I love to piece and accuracy gets better for me as I became more aware that it was possible with a little more effort although now more of it is becoming habit and the results more consistent. I'm always up for a challenge and learning something new. That's why appliqué appeals to me just now.
Carrie...had problems with my left rotor cuff and my Dr did a process that removed scar tissue so new flesh could grow and it worked. Not without pain but good results. Hope your results are what you need!
Honchey...while the cats away the mice will play.....a few extra days of mischief before you fly south...
Jan and QuiltE...better weather coming. Bare ground in the yard and only snow banks where it was plowed. I know it's only the real beginning of winter but there is a lull for now.
Have a great day!!!

I ran into a problem this morning and hope one of you can help me. I've been working with batiks for a long time. I test them, and if they seem like bleeders I launder them; also launder the dark colors. I'm using a dark brown/black swirls/beige thingys fabric that I did wash. It's not bleeding but black wax is coming off on my iron. I've never had this happen. I know re-washing it won't get the wax out so I just won't use this piece of fabric again unless someone knows what to do to fix it. Also, how do I get it off my iron?

Ggal, glad to hear from you and yes the weather is improving but it's so dark & dreary. Guess that's better than freezing & snowing. Your list is impressive but we'll help cheer you on.

Mirab, I usually end up with a few pieces left over when I do PB patterns--panic time! I go over what I've done to make sure something isn't missing in the block. Another thing I have to remind myself to do with her patterns is to read ahead. I made a door hanging that was supposed to have an oval shaped center; missed a few cuts so mine is a wonky oval. I really love the colors you're using.

QNS, the red, white, blue combo makes for a striking star.

Anael, thank you and your family for sharing this year with us--it has been scarey, motivational, hopeful, successful, and so much fun to watch the 3 kiddos grow.

Off to the Bat Cave. MrJanRn is helping our son install storage in his garage. Started at 10am; hope he's home by midnight LOL. Enjoy the day--do something you love.

Jan, I used to use toilet paper, paper towels or just paper (the kind you read) to iron out the wax. Many moons ago I made my own batiks and used wax (of course :)). It takes quite some time before it's all gone. There is also a chemical product but I can't remember the name.

Mirabelle, when the quilts falls apart after the first laundry you know you should have used those pieces :D :D :D
The block is stunning! ! Is this the first block? If not, group picture please ???

Carrie, I hope the procedure will go well and you will be ok again very soon!

JanRN, the old trick DGM used on her irons was to take an old grocery sack, put a lot of table salt on it, and then 'iron' the iron on the salt, causing the grains of salt to clean the iron (sand might work, also instead of salt). If the iron is Teflon, I would not use that, but check with stores for an iron cleaner.

I do not know about wax...might ask the shop where you purchased it from, if you can remember. Or maybe someone else will have an idea. Might be you can just replace it with something else where you were using that and just bury it in your quilt room closet! LOL!

One MB done and two stars. Thank you all for your kind comments. Yes, I am liking the red, white and blue; but wonder how far I can get without a repeat of the same fabric in the stars. Whatever will be, will be. I guess.