March PHD 2025 Update

Hi Quilting Friends,

March has been magnificent, for the most part. I stayed busy with daily dog walkies, lunches out with friends, game nights, a birthday party for Susan’s grandson (He’s 17 now), a beginning watercolor class, and a bus trip to Kemah to visit the “Butler Longhorn Museum” and “Galveston Bay Brewing”. Here are some of the highlights-

This comic that I grabbed from FaceBook sums up the last couple weeks of March, with several record-breaking tree pollen counts in our area –

Even though March has been a busy month, I’ve had PLENTY of time to stay indoors and sew. I’ve needed to take frequent breaks to rest my itchy eyes, but I was able to soldier on and check off several tasks from my PHD list.

How is your PHD progressing?  I’m excited to read all about it.  Here’s my March update!

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Project #4 – Autumn Throw Quilt

I’ve finished appliqueing thirteen blocks with colorful leaves, berries, and acorns. Each block has a different combination of leaf colors made from my set of hand-dyed fabrics and some batiks that we selected from Susan’s stash.

My “One Monthly Goal” for April is to hand embroider the details of the leaves on the applique blocks, which must be finished before I put the quilt top together. Ready? Set. SEW!

Stories from the Sewing Room One Monthly Goal April Link Up

I have finally decided upon the pattern for the pieced blocks, but I’m still working out my fabric placement. I’ll begin stitching them soon.

Project #5 – Christmas Place Mats

I’ve stitched the small blocks, a set of three little tree blocks for each place mat! I used some of my green Christmas fabric scraps to make the trees, and then I decided to do a bit of decorative stitching on the blocks, since they’re supposed to be Christmas trees. Here’s a sneaky peek at one set of tiny FPP trees –

I’ve also finished piecing the larger trees with green and red Christmas fabric scraps –

My next step is to frame out the large tree blocks and then put the place mats together to prepare them for quilting.

Project #6 – New FPP Designs

I’ve designed and stitched up the four new FPP designs for Ms P’s Pattern Shop, and here they are! (Click the images to purchase your patterns.)

Ski Lift Gondola

Ride the gondola to the top of the mountain, and then ski to the base.  What a rush! Repeat as desired.  No snow?  No problem!  The scenery is gorgeous all year round, with breathtaking views.

Big Top Circus Tent

This block will take center stage in our “Barnyard Big Top” nursery quilt, with the pattern release coming soon.  (Preview the new pattern HERE.)

I made two each of the new star designs because they are SEW much fun to stitch up. 

Star #1

Star #2

I’m tempted to stitch more stars from my scraps, and then create a quilt with them.  I have a spot on my list for another “scrappy” project, so we shall see!

Project #7 – Spring Table Topper

Inspiration has arrived! I was putting away my Valentine’s Day table topper, and realized that I have nothing to use for a Spring table decoration.  So I put on my thinking cap, and spent a little time considering what I want to create.

I now have an idea for this project and some lovely fabrics to use for making it, but I haven’t started stitching yet. I’ll reveal my plans when I’ve gotten underway.

Project #8 – Scrappy Pinwheel Star Quilt

The RSC 2025 color for March was YELLOW, so I stitched up two YELLOW Pinwheel Stars. I’m still thinking about how I’ll put these blocks together to make my quilt. . .

Project #15 – SAHRR 2025

Ta-done!  (Read more about it HERE.). Here’s a picture of the finished quilt –

I used scraps and stash fabrics for this project, but I had to purchase backing fabric. None of the suitable pieces in my stash were large enough, even if I were to piece them together, to create the backing.  Lucky for me, our local JoAnn Fabrics had a beautiful piece of wide backing fabric that works well with my blue binding. 

On a related note, I am SO sad that JoAnn Fabrics is closing!  Their store is about 10 minutes from my house, so I can pop over quickly if I need additional supplies for a project and be sewing again almost right away.  I will miss their friendly faces and the convenience of dashing out for necessities.

The nearest quilt shop is about 30 minutes from home, so I’ll have to plan ahead for my future fabric shopping excursions. (To be honest, most of my recent “fabric shopping” has been from Susan’s stash, which is about 20 minutes from home, LOL.) I am investigating alternative sources for essentials such as thread, fusible fleece, and batting, since Susan’s stash doesn’t normally include these items for me to use up.  (Susan is very generous, but I just can’t. )

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Ongoing Projects

Here is my YELLOW Rolling Stone block for March RSC–

And here’s my cute little YELLOW FPP Coffee Mug block-

If you’ve fallen in love with the coffee mug block, find the pattern HERE.

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PHD Progress Update

Here’s my updated PHD list for March, with the completed tasks shaded in-

Here’s my PHD tracker, updated for March-

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Linky Party

Your turn! Add your link, and then visit the others to comment and encourage.

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

We’d appreciate a link back to this post. Here’s one to copy and paste into your post-

PHD in 2025 March Update

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Thanks for visiting! We hope that you’ll have an amazing April as you work toward your PHD in 2025.

Happy quilting,

Sharon