Merry Christmas...

I'm taking a break for the holidays, and want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!  See you next year!



And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:8-14 KJV

A Gift From Me To You

T'was 9 days before Christmas, and all through the house, Allie was running around like a chicken with its head cut off....ok, so I'm no poet.  But it's true.  So much for my stress-free, not-going-to-make-anything Christmas.  Yesterday, I realized I needed a small gift for a cousin, who is hosting our Christmas get-together.  And the design wheels started spinning.  I wanted something she could use all year, not just at Christmas, so I started drawing.  Oh did that feel good, to be drawing again!



I'm making them into coasters, I'm a bit tired of "mug rugs" so coasters it is.  I have one stitched up and when I've done a few, and have them together, I'm going to tea dye them.  I probably won't bind them in the usual way, I'll just "birth" them and then do a running stitch around the inside edge.  Here's a video that explains the "birthing" process - Birthing a Quilt if you've never done it before.



I wasn't sure if she preferred coffee or tea, so I've got them both covered.

If you'd like to make your own coasters, or enlarge them for applique, you can find the pattern here.....Break Time!

I also think they'd look great on tea towels.  Wonder if I have any!

I finished Michelle's stitchery design, I'm making it into a small wall-hanging for mum, and will put magnets on the back so she can hang it on the fridge.  Her walls are plaster and hard to hang things from.




Isn't that just an adorable design?  I love it, Michelle!  And I know mum will too.  It was nice hand-quilting something again, I've missed that too.  I'm still working on hubby's quilt, it's not coming easily, but I'll get there.  He knows it won't be finished for the big day.

I hope you're further along with your Christmas - I don't even have a tree up yet!

No Words....

just tears and lots of prayers for the families of the children and teachers lost today at Sandy Hook.  Please, please keep them in your prayers.

Travelin' In Style

Do you remember my telling you my son totaled his car?  Well, he's got a new one.  New to him, that is.  


Not sure what's up with the flamingo pose.

Oh my.  It's gorgeous.



Yes, it's a Mercedes-Benz.



That's what happens when:

• You pack a lunch for work every single day
• You don't buy a lot of new toys for yourself
• You live at home with mum and dad, and pay minimal rent
• Your father is an ebay EXPERT at finding the deal of the century

He let me drive it tonight.  This is now our road trip car, lol.  So smooth....so fast...and on the console, separate heat controls for the driver and passenger [you can set the temp you want], and heated seats, much appreciated by mum.  He got such a great deal on this thing, he could sell it tomorrow for triple what he paid.  But he's keeping it, at least through the winter.  It's a good solid car and I will rest easier, knowing he's safer than in his old tin can.

In other news, I'm still stitching away, and hope to have something to show for it soon.  I haven't been in the Christmas spirit much, although Cheryll is hosting One Week of Christmas, where you can show off your Christmas decorating by linking up to her posts.  So fun - I love seeing all the decorating!  I don't have a single thing out yet, but that might change this weekend.  Have you all decorated yet, or are you too busy stitching??

Fun Thing #6 To Do During The Christmas Season

Take mum to a Christmas party, and decorate her!

Oh Yeah, I Have A Blog....[Kinda Random]

how about that?!  Poor neglected little bloggy.  It's been a busy season - birthdays, baby showers, therapy appointments, my son totaled his car [he's fine, thank the Lord]....have to remember to BREATHE sometimes, right?  How is your Christmas stitching going?  I'm only making one thing, more about that later.

Remember the baby quilt I was making?



Looked great on the design wall.  I really loved it.  Then I started putting it together, and remembered why I don't do piecing.  I'm rubbish at it!  No pics of the rows I put together, they're long gone.  I found a quilt I'd made awhile ago [couldn't find a pic of it!] and gave her that.

Mum and I went to Shirley's last week, and saw Shirley's dog Greta in her new coat - has fur trim around the hood, isn't that too much...



Shirley had put some magnetic tape on the back of three quilts I made years ago, and put two of them on her fridge



and one on her back [steel] door!



Too funny, I'd forgotten I'd made all those quilts, I'm sure glad she's enjoying them!

This arrived in the mail from O'faigh, bless her, cannot WAIT to see what's in there....



It may end up being the only thing I open on Christmas Day, since mum gave me my teapot early, and my son not only got me a Happy Light already in use but also a new wireless mouse, also in use.  Our family is awful about not being able to wait.

Remember these?



Hubby made it to the Hostess outlet before it closed.  Yes, I have a big grin on my face.

So.  Back to the half-square triangles.  I took all the ones that weren't pink, and was going to put them together in a quilt for hubby.



I. Never. Learn.  Not even the cupcakes made it better.  I was looking at my design wall today, thinking these blocks not only look awfully girly, but they also look wonkier than they should.  When he came home, I asked him if he thought it was too girly, and he said no until I mentioned that it was for him.  Then, they were too girly.

Out came the Liberated Quiltmaking book by Gwen Marston, and we're heading in a new direction....



I'm having so much fun I can't stand it.  I hope you are as well.  Life has slowed down a bit, and since this is the only thing I'm making for Christmas, I hope to see you more often!  Be blessed!

Pretty In Pink

Well, I thought my life was going to get back to normal, with mum's last therapy appointment last week.   However, the same day as her last appointment, my aunt had surgery on her knee, so we spent the day at the hospital, then went to therapy.  Tomorrow night, I'll be spending the night with my aunt, so I can ferry HER to therapy bright and early Wednesday morning!  Anybody know where I can buy a used taxi cheap? *G*

My poor aunt - she lost a lot of blood during the surgery, so they gave her something to help.  Unfortunately, they didn't read her chart to see that she was allergic.  SEVERELY allergic.  She's a nurse herself, has taught and specialized for many years, and she really gave them what for.  I hope they listened!

I have been sewing, off and on.  We're in winter-type weather now, which makes me ache, so when I saw a neat tutorial for a shoulder rice bag, I had to try it.  Mine is not nearly as pretty as hers, I used white muslin in case it didn't turn out right - but I LOVE it.



Seriously, if you know anyone who has shoulder or neck pain, or just tense muscles, make them one.  This is an awesome tutorial!  From Alissa at Crafty Endeavor.

Then too, I've been stitching.  I finished block two from Kaaren's Raggedy and Friends quilt....



I'm still plugging away on block one from Homespun....



Plus two other stitcheries.  But before I finish those, my cousin is going to have a baby, and it's a girl!  The shower is December 1.  Remember those half-square triangles I was making?  I picked out all the pink, and am making a baby quilt.  I fortified myself first.


Love it when my son goes to Walmart.  He always gets me something.



I have all the triangles pressed open now, just have to cut off the dog ears and figure out the layout.



I really like those stars on my design wall.  But I also LOVE to see them all marching in the same direction.  I don't know...maybe I'll have to make two....plus, I've decided with the rest of the hst's, the non-pink ones, I'm going to make hubby a quilt for Christmas.   He's the only one I haven't made a quilt for, and he's the one who bought me my sewing machines.  About time, don't you think?  And besides, it's the only thing he doesn't already own.

So, I'll see you on Thursday, I'll be gone the next couple of days...happy sewing!!!

Soon.

One more week - one more week of therapy for mum, and then I can get back to blogging.  I've missed you.

My heart is very heavy for those who were affected [and continue to suffer] by Hurricane Sandy.  The response has been dreadful, although you won't see it in the news.  Please keep them all in prayer, and if you can, please give to the Salvation Army, whose response has, as usual, been wonderful.

My sweet friend Kelly, at I Have A Notion, got so excited at Quilt Market that she fell down and broke her hand.  She had pins put in today, if you'd like to go give her a shout-out, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.  But do tell her not to reply, because knowing her, she'll try.  You just can't keep a good woman down.

I've not been doing a lot of stitching.  I am still working on four stitcheries, but you know I'm slow with them.  I did get an early Christmas gift, from my son John....



A Happy Light!  Oh did I need that.  And it works.  I used it today for the first time, once in the morning, and once in the afternoon - and I never lost my energy today.  I felt so alert all day.  Really unusual!  With the grey days we're having now, I've been wanting to do nothing more than sleep.  Hopefully this light will continue to work all through the long, cold winter.

I also got an early Christmas gift from my mum!  I told her I really wanted to get out and browse the thrift shops for a teapot, and she told me not to...I asked why, and in a small voice she said "because I got you one....do you want it now?"  Did she have to ask?????



So nice having my Earl Grey in the evening, and I don't have to go downstairs to keep filling my cup.  No emails from tea purists, please, telling me how bad bags are....because I love them. *G*

A few weeks ago, my girlfriend Patty came up from Florida.  We think it might be as long as 36 years since we've seen each other.  It was lovely!  She came up to enter a quilt into a quilt show.  Her mum made quilts, all original, and always supported the festival at a church near here.  Her quilts are AMAZING.  Here are some pics of Patty's mum's quilts....




The one above was incredible.  She pounded real flowers into the silk, then embellished by hand with beads, and inks.  All hand quilted.



This one, above, told the story of - oh dear, now I've forgotten - her uncle's life?  It was amazing, and had stories and family signatures all over it.

And now, the one Patty made, to honor her mum - Patty is not a quilter, but I think she should be.  This was gorgeous.  Silks, some from her mum, laces from her mum, the pictures do not do it justice.





Her mum made the flower panels.




I think it's brilliant, and it made me cry.  Her mum was the sweetest woman you could ever meet.

I'll leave you with more quilts from the show - and then I'm going to bed - I get to sleep all weekend!  See you soon!

Maintaining Radio Silence

I'm taking a break from blogging for a week or two - life is crazy busy and I have to concentrate on family for a bit.  I hope to be back to regularly scheduled broadcasts soon.

Turning off comments, back soon!

Bad, Bag Blogger....

Yes I am.  I've barely turned on my computer this week.  It's been a busy one!  I thought October would settle down, silly me.  But guess what I did today!  For the second time in my life, I went to a quilt show.  And boy was it a good one.  Put on by the Great Lakes African American Quilters Network, do you want to see some pictures?  I promise you there are lots more over on my flickr, in a set.

Here are some that had no names attached that we could see.









There was also a room of vintage quilts.





Marcia Derse was there!  Her fabrics caught my eye, I stopped at the table, and saw her name and said "hey, I KNOW YOU!"  Meaning, of course, that I had seen her fabrics all over blogland, not that I knew her.  She understood.  What a great gal she is!  And her fabric is just gorgeous!



Ok, now a few of the quilts, with the artist statement - can't believe I remembered to get those!








One of my favorites, the detail on this was incredible.
















The quilting on this was INCREDIBLE.













There are many more over on flickr, I didn't want to make this blog post 3 pages long.  WHAT an inspiring quilt show.  These ladies are marvelous!  I'm already looking forward to next year.

I get to stay home in my jammies tomorrow, hopefully I'll get around to all your blogs AND work on my new quilt design - although after the quilt show today, it's looking kind of washed out - vintage sheets, kind of cottagey, but after this show I'm craving color!  I hope you enjoyed the show too!

PS - I'm going to disable anonymous comments - I'm getting a lot of spam, although it's not making it to the blog, it's still annoying.  We'll see if that takes care of it!