New Year's Eve

 

 

Spring in December?

 

Just a quick post.... I was putting the newspaper in the recycle bin this morning and noticed these crocuses (croci ?) coming up next to the house.  Needless to say, it's a wee bit early here in Indiana for the flowers to be surfacing.  The weather has been extreme.... extra cold and extra warm.... so even nature is a bit puzzled.  The crocuses always seem to be OK when Spring actually arrives, even with these premature sightings. 

 

 

So .... for today, anyway .... I'm going to

enjoy this little taste of Spring!

Post Christmas

I love the post-Christmas glow!  This  is the time when we can relax, knowing that the actual holiday is over and we can sit back and enjoy what is left of our Christmas decorations without the stress of gift giving.

 

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and were able to take a few moments to reflect and bask in the  true meaning of Christmas.... not the gift giving.... and enjoy the special memories.

 

I have a few pictures of the sewing/quilting related gifts that I received. 

 

First up... two new books.  Judi Madsen's Wide Open Spaces and Laurie Hird's The Farmer's Wife Pony Club.  Judi's book has several quilt patterns along with suggestions for machine quilting the open spaces of your quilt.  It has an enclosed CD for more instructions.  Laurie's book is a companion book to her first book, The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt.  Both books are based on letters from the Farmer's Wife magazine.  The Pony Club has letters written by children that received Shetland ponies as a reward for magazine subscriptions sold.  There was some controversy as to whether this was a legitimate contest or not... were there actually winners and did they really receive ponies??....so the magazine asked the kids to send in pictures of their ponies and accompanying letters.  It's a charming book with an insight to the life of a child in the early 1900's.  This book also comes with a CD with the patterns and instructions for the quilt blocks that go along with the kid's stories. 

 

I'd certainly recommend both of these books. 

 

At the bottom is a page-a-day quilting calendar by our friend Debby Kratovil and Jean Ann Wright.

 

 

 

 

This is the fabric that I received.  Some coordinating fat quarters, some coordinating fat eighths, and some miscellaneous fabric.  I love them all!

 

 

 

And here are the patterns that I received.  The two on the left are patterns only and the pumpkin on the right is a complete kit with laser cut fabric.... all ready to put in place, fuse and sew.  Can you see the cute little mice faces on the top left pattern?  Delightful!

I think this is all of my sewing loot.... if I come across more as I'm putting things away, I'll slip in a picture. 

And soon.... I'll be posting some of the things that I made for Christmas gifts.  I really didn't make many things this year so it will be fairly quick to blog about the gift making. 

Happy Post-Christmas!

Christmas Blessings

 

 

 "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people."

Luke 2:10

  

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! 

I hope you have a delightful Christmas, full

of memories to cherish for years to come! 

May God Bless you today and every day!

 

Christmas Eve

 

 

Praying for peace during the Christmas season

and every day thereafter!

 

 

Have a Blessed Christmas Eve!

 

 

I had to stop at Jo-Ann's yesterday to pick up some batting and found that all of the Christmas items were on sale.... 70% off, in fact.  Although I didn't pick up any true Christmas items, the goodies below were included in the Christmas sale.  Don't know why they were included, but I got the cute ceramic sign for about $2 and the tin of sherbet colored buttons for $2 too.  Finding these treats made it worth the trouble of heading out into the crazy crowds!

 

 

 

The Stitch sign is now happily hanging in my sewing room!

 

My Christmas wrapping is done! 

Even with Oliver's help, the work is under control. 

 

 

 

 

If you can't find a cardboard box to hide in,

a gift bag is almost as good. 

 

 

 Have a cozy evening!

 

I haven't been posting much lately.... too many Christmas things to finish and to do.  I did stop by my local quilt shop today and they were having a "Stuff a Bag" for $5.  This first picture shows the fabric that I managed to stuff into two small bags..... I'm guessing I have around 5+ yards of fabric for $10.  And..... this was with a gift certificate from a friend....so....it was free!  Score!

 

 

 

 

This is a yard of yummy batik fabric that caught my eye today.  (Yeah, all of the batiks catch my eye.)  This wasn't a part of the Stuff a Bag but with my gift certificate it was .... free!  Score!

 

 

 

And here's a pair of applique scissors that I have been wanting for awhile.  They arrived in the mail today and with another gift certificate from a friend they were....... free!  Score! 

 

 

 

Hope you all "scored" today in one way or another! 

 

I was the lucky winner of these great fat quarters from Melissa at Happy Quilting and Fort Worth Fabrics!  Aren't they super!  Thanks so very much for your generosity!

 

 

Not much to post as I work on Christmas projects.  I'm not even making that many things but it's just taking me forever to get moving on them.  I'll be able to show photos after Christmas and they have reached their homes.

Hope you have a creative day!

Christmas Decorating

 

It's that time of the year..... time to drag bring the Christmas decorations down from the attic and make the house a little more festive.  Oliver was ready to help, wearing his new silver bell neckwear.  (Look at those tree needles on the floor... I'll be picking them up until next Christmas!)

 

 

 

 

 

Again this year, I didn't do much decorating.  My house is very tiny and a little bit goes a long way.  It only took me about 2 hours to decorate and it will only take 2 hours to take it down.....that's plenty, as far as I'm concerned.   My new Christmas quilt (on the rocker) is ready for snuggling! 

 

 

 

 

And Sewphie is also dressed in her Christmas wear.  She knows that I have a whole bunch of Christmas projects to get finished and she's ready to get at it!  Time's a tickin'!