This Christmas Eve...

I can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas, and that we are just a week away from a New Year. Happy Holidays, everyone, and thank you for sticking around while I figure out sewing around my schedule.

So, anyway, today is Christmas Eve. Guess what I was doing?

That's right ;) I finished a quilt top!

Actually, I finished this last week Saturday, along with the binding. I even got a portion of the backing done. It was an AWESOME sewing day.

Everything in this quilt is from my stash - I'm starting to see a desperate need to start stockpiling again. My Double Wedding Ring top denuded my stash of oranges and lime green. This Bento Box quilt top has eliminated most of my aquas and purples.

I used some of my absolutely favorite fabric in the backing - Alexander Henry's "flora de los muertos" from 2004. (Yeah, I've stashed fabric for seven years. Haven't you??) I don't know if you can tell from this photo, but there are skulls interspersed through the fabric.

I bought almost a full bolt of this stuff. I wanted to quilt with it, and my husband wanted a Hawaiian shirt made of it... I can tell you which one actually happened ;)

So, anyway, the stats on this quilt.. the top measures 64" X 64", with sixteen 16" finished blocks. I couldn't tell you how many different fabrics are actually in this thing. I just cut until I thought I had enough strips. I spent two and a half hours this morning pinning the hell out the quilt sandwich. My goal is to be done quilting this by Monday evening, and, yes, I do have a plan for quilting it.

I'm determined to have a finish this year!

Cheating on the Farmer's Wife...

...and using up stash at the same time.

After making Bright Flowers for the Farmer's Wife Sampler:

I realized that the block is, in essence, one quarter of a Bento Box Block.  I then decided that this would make a nice, quick, and easy project.

I was right about easy, it's been a couple of weeks, and I've only made eight full blocks as shown in the top photo. I'm refusing to purchase anything for piecing this top, so when I'm out of aqua and purple strips, I'm out. The top will be done at that point. I've think I've decided to quilt this with circles, to contrast the very strong straight lines of this top.

I've also decided that I'm ignoring where seams don't match up exactly. This is my 'easy' project for the year, which means it's the one the project where I just let things happen as they will.

So, this is where I've been for the last couple of weeks. I'm going to finish this top as soon as possible. I want to start actually quilting something soon.