Wrapping up 2024 and looking forward into 2025

The past 12 months have just zoomed by - not sure where they have gone.    Sewing has taken up a big part of my time and I am pleased with the completed list that appears on the sidebar of my blog.    I did join in with the Chookshed Stitchers Challenge organised by Deana from Dreamworthy Quilts which was to name 10 projects that we wanted to work on  during the year.   A number from 1 to 10 was chosen each month to work on and we worked on the corresponding number on our list.    A great way to start, finish off or make progress on projects that  have been waiting patiently in ideas files,  piles behind cupboard doors, sitting on sewing tables, benches or any other hidey holes that items are stashed.   I have decided not to take part again in 2025 but look forward to seeing what others who do achieve.

Reading has always been a great pleasure of mine and continues to be.    While sewing there is always an audio book playing alongside me

But when it comes to actually reading  I always prefer to hold a book in my hand and turn the pages. There is always a pile of books waiting to be read

 Looking back on the year the war still rages on between Russia and Ukraine as well as the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine.    Another year has ended with no resolution in sight for either of these areas.  

Covid still circulates within the community and has mutated itself many times over with new strains popping up wordwide.   Something we have had to learn to live with.

Bushfires rage around the country as I type this post and our very own suburb was subject to a backburn which got out of control in September and came very close to us....just across the road. The photo below was taken from our balcony at 2.30 pm on Saturday afternoon and water bombing continued until early Monday evening.    

Regular Zoom sessions are organised from time to time by Donna from Chookyblue which are always fun catching up with other bloggers from round the world and seeing what they are creating in their sewing spaces.    

                                          

The last 2 finishes for 2024 were 2 small quilts that were waiting to be bound which happened while taking part in the last zoom session for 2024 yesterday.   I was given the Sunbonnet Sue panels and matched the borders to the colours in S/Sue's outfit in order to bring the finished quilts up to 32"  square which is the required size for the hospitals.  

Hubs and I hosted our annual VIP New Year's Eve party - him and me - along with a bottle of bubbles, some cheeses, dips,  crackers, cold meats, nuts, fruit and other nibbles. 

We have front row seats in the loungeroom to see the midnight fireworks on tv with no traffic hassles  getting home at the end of the night. 

What will 2025 bring.    

Some years ago I did join in with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and decided that it was time some of those colourful scraps were brought out from the various colour coded baskets and used up.   A good block to use those scraps in would be potato chip blocks.   Pink is the colour for January.

I do have an order to fill for a few more bowl cosies so they will be the first item on my to do list for 2025.  I will continue to make the small quilts for charity - I might even try and organise the colours for these around the Rainbow Scrap colour each month.  Once the weather cools down it will be time to pick up the knitting needles again and do more beanies.  

I also look forward to being a "daily tourist" in my own city and local area and enjoy the sights that others sometimes travel halfway around the world to see however while this very warm spell of weather that we are having is on it will be time spent in the pool cooling off.  

Over the past few years I have been the publicity officer for the local hospital auxiliary as well as serving on our monthly stalls and doing some sewing all of which I will continue to do in the new year.  I am also a member of two quilting groups - one is only small and we meet each week - and the other meets in the local community hall once a month.   Belonging to different groups is a great way to be motivated and try out new ideas as well as meet challenges set by members.   

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2025.  

Back soon and in the meantime

Happy sewing all