OPAM Finished Projects in 2018

In 2018 I didn't finish as many projects as in previous years. That's not to say I sewed less. As it happened, several projects were much more involved and took a lot more hours to complete.

My BFF, Lynn and I took a 3 day quilt class in January, to learn the "How to's" for Judy Niemeyer's method of Foundation Paper Piecing. Usually I can pick up a new technique fairly quickly. However, when I first looked at one of her patterns, it looked so complicated that I knew I would need a class or my friend to show me every step of the process!

After taking this quilt class, I learned many tips and tricks for sewing Judy's FPP patterns. The best tip is "take each step separately," not worrying about the next step until you have finished the first step. Another tip is: "Follow the directions of each step carefully." 

And do not worry about how long each step may take.

I love paper piecing because it is such a precise method of quilting and all points are truly perfect! 

 Here is my first Judy Niemeyer finish: The Glacier Star Quilt. 

It measures 60" X 60".

Now that I have learned Judy Niemeyer's Foundation Paper Piecing method I am hooked!

Here are some of my other Judy Niemeyer finishes:

 Winter Wonderland Snowflake Pillow, 16" X 16"

Winter Wonderland Snowflakes Table Runner, 17" X 49"

Feathered Star Quilt, 60" X 60"

Scandinavian Snowflake 20" Table Topper

This last one is Sunflower Illusions. I made this quilt into a cover for our pool table.

Merry Christmas 2018

(Christmas picture taken by Alex, while we all camped at Del Mar RV Park 

on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base!)

2018 marked our 40th anniversary! 

Our kids and grandkids surprised us with an impromptu celebration including a delicious chocolate ice cream cake shared amongst family and friends. To celebrate, we treated ourselves to a 15 day South Pacific Cruise, (ports in Papeete & Bora Bora, Tahiti, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Brisbane & Sydney, Australia).

We met a lot of nice people on this cruise!

It was a wonderful trip! 

Also during 2018, Nicole & David celebrated 15 yrs of marriage; and Alex & Angelina celebrated 10! 

During the summer we RVed across America on I-40, visiting 11 states: Arizona, New Mexico, the panhandle of Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina & Virginia, for a total of 5500 miles! 

The south is so very beautiful, green and lush, but it also has terrible humidity (which we expected and never got used to)!

Our grandkids are growing faster than we’d like (Gigi-11½, Brody & Micah-8½, Hallee-7½, and Seth-5½), and they are all oh so busy with soccer, baseball, softball, and school.

  Wishing you and yours all the blessings of Christmas 

and a Happy 2019!