2015

A few more hours and we'll be ringing in the New Year - although the fireworks have started around my house already.  I'm listening to the wind howl outside, cozy and warm in my fleecy jammies, and grateful to be able to stay indoors.  Not sure what the temp is but baby it's COLD outside.

There's a Cary Grant marathon on one of my movie channels tonight, can't think of anything better - An Affair To Remember just started.  *sob*  Bliss.

Have you thought about any goals or resolutions for your new year?  I have, just a bit, I'm keeping it simple -

This BOM from Jenny is a must.  Block 1 is ready, go visit to download - just click here - The Vintage Kitchen.  And of course Jenny's Stitchery Club, and anything else that girl churns out!  I have the perfect fabric for this and can't wait to use it.

Other than those fun things, I also want 2015 to include lots of drawing, pattern-making, and hopefully a new job - health and happiness for my loved ones, and all my bloggy friends - a year of rejoicing.  Blessings to all of you, my friends, and best wishes for this coming year!

Thank Goodness

Christmas is over for another year.  I need to plan better.  Did you all have a great Christmas?  I finally made it around blog-land, my blog reader was so backed up!  But now I'm done with stitching, sewing room is cleaned and ready, and I have no idea what to do.

I only finished one table runner, for my aunt.



I love Jenny's Holly Birds!



Unfortunately, one of the red fabrics bled, even with a color catcher - my aunt loved it anyway.

I also found this in a drawer from last year, I just added a border and pillow-case stitched it closed.



Mum loved it.  And speaking of mum, THIS is what a Detroit pistol-packin' grandma looks like -



Isn't that a hoot?  My cousin makes those out of wood, he's sanded the barrel so smooth it looks like metal!  He's amazingly talented.

From mum and me, a very Happy New Year to you all - I'm going to take a bit of a break to focus on what 2015 will bring, I'm making plans for a great year!  I hope you are too!


Mrs. Christmas herself!!

Merry Christmas

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

9 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. 

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

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Luke 2:1-14

Wishing you all the Merriest of Christmases, and every blessing of the season.

I've closed comments so you don't feel obliged to comment - we all have enough hustle and bustle right now!  See you soon!

How Many Makes A Flock?

Cuz there is a flock here - of Jenny's gorgeous Holly Birds!



I love this design.  LOVE LOVE LOVE these birdies.



Can you tell?



I'm making 5 table runners, and each runner will have 2 birds - I have yet to stitch down the applique, then embroider the details, which are beyond sweet!  Think I'll be able to finish in time?  I still have no clue what I'm going to use for the ornament, either a fussy cut fabric or a special Christmas button....both of which I have yet to purchase.  And oh yeah, binding - what to use for binding!!  I'm sure I'll figure it out.  If you'd like your own flock, Jenny's pattern is available in her shop, just click HERE!

Do you watch much tv while you sew?  The only show I watch on a regular basis is The Voice - don't ask me how I got hooked on it, but I watched the blind auditions and just fell in love with all the talent.  Tonight, instead of stitching [final performances, I was nervous, didn't want to stab myself] I did this...



My gorgeous friend Cathy doesn't have time to crochet herself some dish cloths, so I offered.  I love to crochet, and I don't have to look at it - so I can watch The Voice!  Can't wait to find out tomorrow who wins!

My lovely friend O'Faigh sent me the darlingest Christmas gift....



and after I begged pleaded asked, I opened it, and isn't this too cute!!!



A little reindeer stocking with gorgeous floss colors!  And get this, I did NOT have these colors, and they go perfectly with Jenny's birds that I'm doing!  How did she know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Two of the skeins are missing in that pic because they're already in use - and now two more have been put into service!  Thank you darling O'Faigh, you saved me a trip and the trials of matching colors under fluorescent lights!  Not to mention MADE MY DAY!

Ok back to the coal mines, folks, I'll be head down needle up until these are done....so see ya later, alligator - in awhile, crocodile - gotta go, buffalo - take care polar bear - toodleloo, kangaroo [for my Aussie friends] - out the door, dinosaur - well, you get the picture.  Wait, nothing rhymes with picture.....STITCHER!!!!  That's me, a picture stitcher!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A Christmas Gift For You...

Because it is the season for giving.  So I give you Christmas Light.

Terry from Terry's Treasures blog mentioned, when I showed you my Sailing Into Christmas designs [click HERE for those], that the sail boats really needed a lighthouse.  I was immediately inspired to make one, and have been feverishly working to get it stitched.  I decided it would be free, in honor of Terry, and you can get it in my craftsy shop - just click HERE to get it! I really do love it....and would love to live in it!  Thank you Terry!!



Simple back-stitch and single-wrap French knots, that's it.



And now that it's done, I need to get my behind in gear - I'm making some of Jenny's Holly Birds [available HERE] for Christmas gifts!!!  Aren't they gorgeous?

So that's why I've been so quiet, and not visiting - but honestly, now the pressure is off, I know I can get these Holly Birds done so I'll have time to visit you.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what you've all been up to!!!

Sailing Into Christmas

Whew, it's done - now to hide it from mum til Christmas!



I think she'll love it.  She is Mrs. Christmas, you know, and she doesn't have anything like this!  I wanted something a little different, and this fit the bill.  It was great fun designing it!  I may have to do more Christmas designs....

Candy-cane sails and a wee Charlie Brown Christmas tree.....



Following the Star and ringing the bells....



And a boat that just might be bringing Santa to the harbor!



Streaming a Christmas banner above the sails....



Oh what fun it is to sail in a Christmas boat tonight!!!!  [Shameless change to Jingle Bells, with apologies to the composer!]

I was going to create a pattern for a table runner to put these on, but cut my sailboat blocks too small - when I started getting into 1/16" measurements I gave up.  So the pattern is for the stitcheries only, with a floss color list [although you really need to match your floss to your fabrics first!] and suggestions on what to put them on.  I'm going to use each sailboat to make a series of ornaments, and if I can find my toweling in my fabric stash [help!] I'm going to put them on dishtowels!  What would you put them on?

If you'd like to stitch up some nautical Christmas cheer too, the pattern is available in my shop, just click HERE!

Now I have to go grocery shopping, and that's never fun - plus I'm hungry, which doesn't help.  I think I deserve some Swiss Cake Rolls, don't you?  They really are my downfall!  I hope the box makes it home......'tis the season!  Happy Stitching!

I Hereby Declare....

the Christmas Quilting Games of 2014 are officially open.


Sailing Into Christmas - available soon, stitcheries only.

And oh am I having a time.  My back has been out for over a week - shooting pain in my leg, sliding disks keeping me awake all night, not being able to sit, stand, or lay down.  I haven't been able to sit in my comfy chair, which is making my cat quite happy, but not me, lol!  I've not been around your blogs I'm afraid, just can't sit long enough.  But I am trying to get a bit of quilting done - Christmas IS coming, whether I want it to or not.

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving, we went out to my aunt's and ate ourselves into a coma.  So much to be thankful for.  From my family to yours, blessings!!

Profoundly Grateful....

that I do not live in Buffalo, NY.  Have you seen the pictures?  They're saying 8 feet of snow by the time it ends.  EIGHT. FEET.

We got snow today too, but only a little.



That pic was from my aunt's garage.  I spent the night out there last night [no, not in the garage], she had some guys coming to fix her garage floor - and for the second time, they couldn't do it.  Well, it was nice visiting anyway, lol.  Driving home, not so much.

Sunday was my aunt's birthday, and mum, the family diabetic, got right into the swing of things.



I tried to do some sewing, but was mighty distracted - my aunt's kitty, Snickers, has a new trick.  She loves to eat magazines.



That was a catalog - mum's new Woman's Day had already been taken away from her.  Bad Kitty.

My aunt gave me a new robe, and guess who claimed it when I got home?    Hermione.



It's really cuddly and soft, just like her.  I think she thinks it's her mother.



I just didn't have the heart to tell her no.

Hoping to get around to some blogs tonight, I'll be up til 2am, have to make sure my boy gets home safe from work.  It's so cold the salt isn't working on the roads very well, and they are slick!  I think I'll stay home until March.

Be safe out there, everyone....

Too Close For Comfort

Are any of you sewing for Christmas?  It's right around the corner, isn't it?  I don't intend to do MUCH sewing for it, but I did find something on pinterest that I thought was absolutely brilliant, and wanted to share with you.

This was a Fat Quarter Friday guest post on 2LittleHooligans for a bowl potholder.  No more burnt fingers as you pull your bowl out!  She has you measure your bowl to get the size right, which is difficult when you're making for others - but I think most bowls are roughly the same size and it could be somewhat generic.  I'll probably make a set for each person in different sizes, referencing the bowls in my cupboard.  Neat, eh?

Do you love pinterest as much as I do?  Then come follow me and I'll follow you back!  My page is HERE.

I haven't only been pinteresting, lol - I have been sewing!



Lots and lots of hand stitching, waiting on delivery of my new walking foot for my featherweight.....at which point my Viking will probably be sent to the closet, never to see the light of day again.  Well, maybe not, I do love that machine - but it's so big!!  When you have a tiny space to sew, a tiny machine just makes sense, doesn't it?

Off to the races I go....have a great weekend, everyone!

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Back when I was working, as I drove I would listen to sirius radio.  My very favorite station was Radio Classics - all the old shows - Fibber McGee, My Favorite Husband, Gunsmoke, The Great Gildersleeve.  But the best show of all?  Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.



I really hated it when an episode was playing during lunch, and I had to get out of the car.  So when they had a sale on cd's, I bit - and got these.  If you've never heard of Johnny Dollar, that's probably because it aired in the 1950's - but it's sure worth re-visiting!  Not affiliated, just a really happy listener.  I spend time with Johnny while I stitch.  You can find all kinds of these shows at RadioSpirits.

Toni from The Red Boot Quilt Company posted a pic of her embroidery floss on her facebook page - OH MY GOSH - I thought I was a mess, lol!!!  So I had to post a pic of mine too.  I'm so very OCD about my floss....



How about you?  Are you neat and tidy or do you have to hunt and untangle when you need some?

And I will need some tonight.  I stayed up all night creating some new designs, and I'm still not tired.  I may take a nap in awhile but I'll be stitching with Johnny tonight!


That glass under my drawing is plexiglass - it's my light box.  I put a small lamp under it.  It works.

The bonus was I got to see a really pretty sunrise!  It would probably look better with palm trees, but you take what you can get.



I hope you're all having a wonderful day - get out and enjoy it if you can!

The "Jenny Rose" Gypsy Wagon

My latest pattern - and I'll give you three guesses who it's named for.



Not a princess castle, or a gingerbread house, sorry....but it was SO FUN to create!!!



Don't you just want to put on some frilly clothes, bangles on your arm, kick off your shoes and find some daisies for your hair?  I do.



This is my new favorite design.  I got the idea about a year ago, and it only took me this long to get it in stitches.



Simple backstitch, and single-wrap French knots.  That's it.



In my craftsy shop now!

So - now what!  Just finishing this sweet little wagon makes me want to get the pencils out again!



Are you longing for the open road as much as I am?  Not to mention SUMMER?!  I think the only way I'll get through the dark dreary days of winter is to surround myself with gypsy wagons and flowers.....and woolies, can't forget the woolies!!!

Cold, Damp, Dreary.....

Perfect day to go to the polls.

I saw our forecast for the next seven days, most of them have snowflake pictures on them.  It's. Not. Winter. Yet.  All my Aussie friends, please turn your fans on high, and point them in my direction - maybe we can blow some tropical air up here.

I'm busy stitching, stitching, stitching.....what could it be?

Any guesses?  I hope it's done by week end....

Random Monday

Because, really, what else is Monday good for?

We've all had colds all last week, I think we're finally on the mend.  Sam and I went to see mum and my aunt yesterday, I got to drive his new car and it's more comfortable than mine.  That's not fair.  But we had fun.



I came home with my aunt's crutches.  I have a subluxated tarsus or something unpronounceable.  Colonials are fun with crutches.

The leaves are falling fast.  It's getting a bit brown around here - but there are some bright spots, the mums are gorgeous.



On the way to my aunt's, we saw this lady I've been seeing on the road for over a year now - she has a bright green car, and she decorates it for every holiday!



You should see her Christmas decorations, they're wonderful!



She saw us taking pics, and smiled and waved and honked - I would LOVE to meet her.  I bet she's a lot of fun.

It hasn't been all fun and games around here, I actually have been stitching my little fingers off - wanna see?



Hm, must have cropped that a little close.  Well, you'll see it sometime.  *G*

Have you been to Jenny's lately?  Did you join her new stitchery club?  *swoon*  And today she has free Christmas designs for us!!  Anything Jenny creates makes me so happy....that girl is too talented for words!  I'm so blessed to call her friend and sister-in-Christ.

So do tell - how is your Random Monday going???

Blogger's Quilt Festival

So glad to be joining in this time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival from Amy's Creative Side - I've missed it the last few times!  Today I'm entering my latest quilt, and the only finish I have for this year.  Live A Little!



I had a lot of fun working on this quilt.  I was caregiving for my aunt from the beginning of May, she had fallen and broken her hip, so I moved in to take care of her.  I was also working full-time, so had no time for sewing!  In late August, my mom [a diabetic] ended up hospitalized with a bad wound on her foot, and she moved in to my aunt's house as well so I could take care of both of them - it was good to have them in one place.  By that time I had lost my job, and brought some hand-sewing to my aunt's.  Live A Little was born out of a need to make something happy.



I spent many days sitting in the car at doctor's offices, stitching away, enjoying the slow process and the happy fabrics.  This quilt was mainly done by hand - blanket stitch around the fusible applique, and hand quilted.  I didn't have a machine with me, or I would have been done a lot faster!  But it got me through a lot this summer, and I'm thankful.  Mum and my aunt are both on the mend now, I'm back home, and Live A Little hangs on my wall and reminds me to not miss a moment, and how glad I am that I was able to be there for my mom and my aunt.


hanging on my aunt's fridge

I decided to make this pattern a free download in my craftsy shop.



If you'd like to make it too, you can!  If you've never used craftsy before, it's a wonderful resource - and it's free.  Your patterns that you download stay in your history forever, so you can download them again if you lose them.

I want to thank Amy for all her hard work in putting these Festivals together, and for giving us such a treat when most can't make it to the Festival in Houston!  Enjoy all the quilts - I know what I'll be doing this weekend!!!

My quilt is entered in the Original Design Quilts category.