Goodbye 2017

It's hard to believe that we are saying farewell to 2017 already.  It sounds like many in the states are sending it off in a deep freeze.  The snowy pictures have looked beautiful, but I am not envious of the temperatures.  They would, however, add a new dimension to my Temperature Quilt project.

I love this quiet time after all of the holiday entertaining.  The house is all decorated and there is no preparation that I should be doing.  I can look around and enjoy this Christmas season completely guiltless.

This week has been a lot of clean up from Christmas and houseguests, but I have been determined to try to stay on track with my Bonnie Hunter QAL.  It has taken me the full week to get the clue done this week, but here they are - with 11 to spare!

I think we should soon be assembling all of these parts and I am looking forward to seeing them all come together.


We had another wild and wonderful Christmas with everyone here.  There was not a lot of time for pictures as it is rather chaotic, but I will share one picture that I took mid-room as we were gathering to open gifts.  I know crowds like this are not for everyone, but it is a joyful part of our life.

I wish for an exciting, fun and blessed 2018 for everyone.  I'm looking forward to following along with all of you in the upcoming year.  You are each so inspiring and never cease to amaze me with your creativity.  Thank you so much.

Slow and Easy Sunday

The beds need changing, the bathrooms need scrubbing and the laundry needs to be done, but today is going to be a day to rest.  After all….it is Sunday. 

Christmas was wonderful and exciting around here and now is the time to sit back, enjoy the Christmas music and be thrilled by the peace in this Christmas season. 


Our gang all gathered on Christmas Eve.  Things are always unpredictable with a large family and we ended up with one little grandson in the E.R. with an asthma attack.   He was released Christmas morning and able to celebrate at home with his family.  This was taken before he got so ill.

The best gift of all was this great gathering the children did for us of the grandchildren.  Updated photos of the kids are the only thing that I ever want and this is perfect.



So…..today I have been relaxing with a little hand stitching.  I really enjoy the counted cross stitch and hope to do more of it in 2015.  Having the right tools for the job always makes such a difference.  In the past I have used a circular hoop for my stitching and have recently been introduced to a different framing device – a Q Snap frame.  It holds the fabric so much tighter than my old system and doesn’t leave a “ring” marking. 




I am stitching on DMC Laguna 28 and love the way the design is stitching out.   I am finding that the eyes are not what they used to be and I think I need to invest in a magnifying glass that will attach to my nifty little light.   Another new to me little device is this great magnet to mark my spot.  Madam Samm makes them and they are great also for holding your needle and scissors when not in use as the magnet is incredibly strong. 



The finished project is going to be part of the Tammy Bag blog hop in January so you will have to stick around to see what becomes of my slow stitching.
 
I’ll close here and get back to stitching after I share two pictures from our Christmas celebration.  The first is of the youngest grandbaby and my mom together.



The older kids exchange gifts with each other and I had to chuckle with this outfit that was gifted.  Since it is also his school colors we were all daring him to try wearing it to school.



  Goodbye 2014.

End of the Year

Another year is rapidly coming to a close.  It seems inpossible that we are saying goodbye to 2013 already. 

The last month has been so busy and we are now left with great memories.  It was hard to find time for stitching of any sort and my cutting table was in sorry shape.  Everything got dumped on top of it when I was rushing around.  Yesterday was a day for cleaning it up and getting ready for new and old projects. 

Christmas was fabulous!  This was a shot of a very full room as gift opening started. 

Nedra had showed the cutest napkin folding technique on her blog so I used it for our Christmas dinner setting.  It was quite the hit.

I did manage to finish up the newest Christmas stocking for the grandbaby born this year.

The weather for Christmas was amazing and provided us with fun outdoor entertaining.  One flower that grows really well in our area is the poinsettia.  They are all in full bloom right now and this one is at my neice's home.

I received a stunning gift from a dear friend of mine.  She is an accomplished artist and you will see her artwork in many places - LAX and cruise ships to name a few.  This is a new project that she has taken on in her journey.  These are large fabric beads (about 3" across) and can be strung on ribbons, leather or chains.  This one she put on a hand dyed silk ribbon.  She has started an Etsy shop to sell them if anyone is interested.  I cannot tell you how many compliments I have received when I have worn it. 

The little sewing that I have accomplished here has included my mini quilt for the ALQS8 swap coming up next month.  It's not too late to participate if you are interested.  I LOVE the way this swap is run and have participated in the last 4 or 5 of them.

I also completed a couple of wonky houses for Beth's annual Neighborhood Party - one for the party and one for a charity quilt she will make with them.

A couple of fun squishy packages have recently found their way into my mailbox.  These were wins from the most recent Blog Hop Party.  First off was this package of beautiful charms from Kristin at goobadesigns.

Then I received these wonderful mini metal barn quilt designs from Barbara at Cat Patches.  These have little holes so they can be attached with needle and thread if you desire to do so.  They will be fun. 

I wish all of you a wonderful upcoming year.  I will look forward to another year of amazing creativity and inspiration from all of you.   

Sharing Christmas

Christmas came so quickly and now is stored into our memories.  It is hard to believe that we are closing out on 2012 and getting ready to ring in the new year.

I managed to finish up my projects before they needed to be unwrapped.  Isn't that always a great feeling? 

This was such a fun and fast knitted project that I made three of them.

A closer look at the yarn - so lacy and pretty.

We had such a wonderful Christmas at our house.  The anticipation (and noise level) peaked early in the evening with all of the children here.  Our home is definitely NOT the place to be if you like a quiet Christmas. 

Wall to wall bodies!

Hmm...Your head feels as bald as mine!!!

Why do little girls always want to dress up little boys?

Baby Frosty.

  It's nice to have little believers here on Christmas morning.

One tradition we do each year is to drive through the neighborhood and look at all of the lights with the little ones.  I let them use my "special" glasses this year and they were thrilled to see the snowmen and wreaths when they looked at the lights.

Our house guests left yesterday morning and then it was a nose to the grindstone cleaning, laundry and sorting out day.  Today was errands and, hopefully, a little time reacquainting myself with my sewing machine.  I am looking forward to it.

I've have several lovely packages arrive in the mail in the last few days.   The first to arrive was this fabulous messenger bag from a Blog Hop win from Polly at Polly's Porch.  I love the size of this and the fabrics are wonderful.  Her work on it is so well done.   Thanks so much, Polly.  I will get a lot of use out of it.  Polly also has a wonderful tutorial featured today at Moda Bake Shop.

Another Blog Hop win was from Frieda from Walks in the Woods - Art Quilts.  Her work is AMAZING and I was thrilled to have won a few of her patterns, some hand dyed fabrics and threads.  I am looking forward to trying the heavenly looking Peace quilt.  If you have not visited her blog before I recommend you checking out her eye candy.

Today the mailman stopped and left me some terrific Gutermann threads from Debuko - all the way from Poland - at Quilts My Way.  These are terrific neutral colors and I KNOW they will be put to great use.

I am hoping to keep up with my Easy Street Mystery quilt now that I have a bit more time.  These are the blocks for this week - turquoise with purple.  I can hardly wait to start on the lime greens.  While I am trying to keep up with one Easy Street, Connie at FreeMotion By the River is doing two, one in orange, red and yellows.  It looks gorgeous too.

All in all, it has been a wonderfully busy week around our house to finish off a good 2012.  I wish for a healthy and blessed 2013 to all of you.

 

The Calm

This always seems like such a calm time of the year.  The cooking and parties are behind us and it is such a wonderful time of the year to pause and reflect on Christmas. 

We had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas.  I am still trying to dig out and have not located my camera with the Christmas pictures on it yet, but I am sure after a few more rooms are cleaned it will appear.  I am not worried YET!!!!   Meanwhile I do have a few pictures from another camera that I happened to grab. 



Before....




Getting ready to open gifts.




Opening gifts.




Enjoying the excitement.




Ohhhh.....a new seat in the house!!!



Christmas Day brunch on the patio.  Please pardon the lattice stripes!

I have been thinking that I should grab my keys and head to Las Vegas.  Like many of you, I signed up for different giveaways on the recent Blog Hop Party and I actually won.  In fact, I won several of them.  I guess it makes up for years past when I did not. 

A wonderful package arrived from Cherry.   I am actually quite excited about starting another Christmas themed quilt and she has me off to a good start with the Flurry jelly roll.   I don't know if you remember seeing the incredible Accuquilt Christmas tree tutorial that she did - the red one, but you must check it out.  She has put kits together to sell due to the huge response from her readers.  That is another project on my list for next year. 

From Scott at Blue Nickel Quilts I won some wonderful spring fabrics.  These too will be so much fun to incorporate into my sewing next year.   I guess it is never too early to start thinking about spring!!  That's my way of thinking as well.

Marlene at Kissed Quilts chose me as her winner of her ombre fabrics.  I LOVE these fabrics.  They feel fabulous and the shading is spectacular.  These will really make up nicely and be beautiful when finished.

From Because I'm Me I won some lovely coasters.  Don't the colors remind you of a tropical vacation with crystal blue waters?   They do me.  I also LOVED the little card that was enclosed with them.  It is so sweet with the button flowers, but it also has the instructions for care of the item on the back.  It is such a fabulous idea and I think I will start doing that on gifts that I make and give.

 

I did have a chance to do a little sewing with my granddaughter who wanted to make a small quilt for her parents.  She did an incredible job on it and did the FMQ by herself.  I sewed the binding on for her, but she chose the fabrics and sewed them all together on her own.  I see a budding quilter here!!!

2011 has been a great year around our home and I am looking forward to ringing in the new year with all that it has to offer.  My wish is for a very happy and blessed 2012 to each of you. 



Merry Christmas to All

I really haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  I have actually been trying to catch up on things that need to be done around here

One thing that I am thrilled to have been able to accomplish is some sewing.  I had purchased some of the wonderful laminate fabrics before I broke my arm.  It has been in my sewing room and I was expecting that I would not get to the gifts until after Christmas.  My arm was freed up last Friday and the machine has been smoking since. 

Accomplished.....four raincoats.  Actually they are fully lined in flannel so there are really EIGHT coats!!!!  

Sewing on the laminate was a breeze.  I was really worried about it, but it went well.  The first one I used clips to hold my seams (per the directions) which were awkward, but I quickly learned that pins do not leave holes and the rest were made using pins to hold the seams.  These are Amy Butler patterns and made up easily, but I did make a few changes to the instructions when I felt I like another technique better.

We have been enjoying the Christmas season and all the fun preparations with the grandchildren.   Cookie making is always exciting especially when it appears a flour bomb has exploded in the kitchen.

We had our semi annual quilt giveaway at our December guild meeting.  Look at the stack of quilts on the table that were given to our different charities - 344 total.  As well we had stacks and stacks of pillow cases, burp cloths and bibs that went out.

We enjoyed a Christmas brunch with our son and his family last weekend. 

 As well, we have been celebrating birthdays.   We have three grandchildren with birthdays in December - one on Christmas Day. 


The buddy is asleep on it's back!!!!

I received some wonderful mail lately.  Maria sent me this darling fabric from her little corner of the world.  She does the hexie flowers each week and I think I may have to join so I can use this cute fabric in one.  Thank you so much, Maria. 

I also received a lovely star ornament kit from Paper Pieces through the Christmas Quilt Show from Sew Cal Gal.  I think these will be beautiful hanging on the tree next year. 

Connie had a giveaway of a handmade ruler holder that I won.  This was made by her husband, Builder Bob, and he did such a wonderful job on it.  It is made out of red oak and is such a nice addition to my cutting table.  I really needed one to keep my many rulers controlled.  Thank you, Connie.

I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with blessings.