Late Gifts...

Though I try hard to get gifts to people on time, it doesn't always work out that way.  My sister, Joyce, has been patiently waiting for her Christmas gift, which she received today...only 2 weeks late! Course, her birthday gift was also in the package, and that is about 3 weeks late!  ~sigh~  We FaceTimed while she opened the package. (I love technology, don't you?)  My sister, Julie, had made a counted cross stitch piece for Joyce that needed to be finished.  Shown in the second photo...it reads, "Sisters love to go shopping together".  For a long while, I had no idea how to finish the piece...but then - ha! - it came to me.  How about a messenger bag for Joyce?  So, here it is...

Not sure how well you can see the front flap, but it is rounded on the corners and goes almost to the bottom of the bag.

Here it is with the front flap folded to the back so you can see the counted cross stitch piece I inserted.  I made a dark purple flange around it with a purple solid.  

Julie also made a counted cross stitch piece for sister Jill, which I finished and gifted last week.   For her, I made a log cabin block with the puppy as center for a 12 inch pillow cover...

I also received a counted cross stitch piece from Julie...unsure what I'll do with mine.  Guess time will tell, hey?

More to do...always more.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Monopoly Pincushion...

Did you sign up for the giveaway?

Find the post here. 

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After taking a break from sewing for many years, sister Jill is going to take it up again.  I'll be shipping my old sewing machine to her...along with a few things she might need.  Like, for instance, a pincushion. 

Here's the one I made for her...

top

bottom

dog token

I think she'll like it.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Random Photos...

 I went to Eau Claire last

Thursday and came home Friday...

a quick vacation.

I spent time with me Mum, 

all 3 of my sisters

(Joyce was there from Maryland

and Jill was there from Colorado),

my Aunt Bev and Uncle Babe,

and my BFF Janer.

Here are some random

photos from the visit.

Strawberry Margarita

 

 

Julie

Joyce

Jill is picking up

her new dog tomorrow.

Jaxen is a tricolor smooth Collie.

I had this fabric from

several years ago.

Perfect!

Jill with Jaxen's crate pad.

Zippered utility pouch.

The time went by too quickly,

as always.

It was good to go, though.

ONE of my current projects.

I will have a few fun things

to show you later this week.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Getting Things Done...

I've been busy working on some projects.

I'm very happy about that.

What I'm not happy about is that I 

neglected to take photos of everything

before I got them packaged up to mail.

It's not important enough to

open the packages and then

repackage the items.

It's just that I won't be

able to count (read show)

them in my year's work.

{sigh}

{grin}

Anyway.

Here are a few of the things I 

did remember to take photos of.

Baby sister Jill asked for 2 dozen kleenex cozies.

Here they are...

She must have a lot of friends

with runny noses.  Just sayin'.

Okay.  So now that it's after Christmas,

a new project is in the works.

(oh.  really?  you ask)  

Erin of why not sew? 
and I are having our
own little quiltalong.

We are each going to make an

aqua and orange quilt.

What a yummy color combination!

Speaking of orange...

did you hear that Pantone's 

color pick for 2012 is 

Tangerine Tango?

Yes, indeedy!

But, I digress.

Erin and I are using the 'Swoon' pattern, 

by Camille Roskelley.

We LOVE this pattern.

Gotta tell ya, though...

it is definitely not

for the faint of heart.

It is both labor and time-intensive.

But, oh so beautiful.

Each block measures 24.5 inches. 

Here's my first block...

Did I say that I love this block?

I do.  

Did I say I am happy that I 

need to make only 8 more blocks?

I am.

I have a few more things

that need to be worked on.

Things with deadlines.

Things that I cannot show, yet.

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It's been very nice to have 2 

three-day weekends in a row.

Back to work tomorrow.

But only for 4 days.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11

The Plan...

Is that the 4 J's (that's me and my 3 sisters) retire and end up together in Colorado.  

I was originally planning to retire early and move out there with Jill and her guy, Tim.  But, thinking about leaving the grandchildren and me Mum was making me too sad, so I opted to stay here.  For now.  

I have a good and close relationship with each of my sisters.  Jill and I are a lot alike, though...we share similar personality traits.  We talk on the phone several times a week...and though we don't visit each other often, being only a few hours apart has always made it possible to travel to see each other if we wanted or needed to.  When she moves in 47 days, that will no longer be possible.  Oh, we'll continue to talk on the phone (almost) daily...and they'll come to visit once a year, but it just won't be the same.  Knowing that she's not a few hours away up the road.  Ya know?  

We had a great time together this weekend.  We ate a LOT.  Too much.  Did a bit of shopping.  I opened a few early birthday gifts.  We watched a movie.  I didn't take any photos.  Not sure why.  She left a bit ago.  I know we'll talk many times before she actually moves, but this is the last time I'll see her.

Julie is already out there in Colorado, though she is about 4 hours from where Jill & Tim will live.  

I am very happy for Jill...but very sad for myself.

Baby Sister Comes to Visit...

My baby sister is coming today for an overnight visit.

She lives 154 miles from me.

She's moving in 47 days...

1100 miles away.

Cannot even fathom how much I will miss her.

We'll make the most of this weekend together.

More Handmade Gifts...

This could go on for a bit, yet...

A few gifts I made have yet to be given.

I'll post photos of them as they are received.

 I showed the coco express quilt at our 

Thanksgiving celebration and Jill fell in love with it!

I didn't give it to her, though.

I did, however, make these two pillow covers.
Quilted.  Decorative.  18".

One for her birthday and one for her Christmas gift.

For my sister, Joyce, I used scraps

of her black & white quilt to make these.

Also quilted.
The first two are 14" and the third is 18".

 

My sister, Julie, received these today.

Four 15" cloth napkins.

The colors are much prettier than shown.

Perhaps she'll take a photo I can snag from her.

(she didn't want pillows)

I guess that's it.

Thus far.

About 5 things left to show.

Yeah, I know, I am a slowpoke.

But, hey!
I am all excited...

and so looking forward to the new year!

I have many projects in mind that 

I am really looking forward to working on. 

One goal I am setting for myself this next year...

increase the level of difficulty in what I do with my quilts.  

AND, I have a lot of organizing and

rearranging to do in the very near future.    

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Upcoming Projects...

I had to go fabric shopping.

Hobby Lobby...my fave store, where

Kona cotton solids are always on sale. 

When I was at Jill's house this past Saturday,

I fell in love with - & was inspired by - her shower curtain.  
To make a quilt...not a shower curtain.

Ya just never know what's going to inspire ya, hey?  {grin}

I wasn't going for the same exact colors, more the effect.

I think these will work nicely...

Kona cotton solids in

stone/brown/cinnamon/expresso/earth.

Fabric for a baby boy quilt...

needs to be done around Christmas.
(the prints were bought online...
just the 2 Kona pieces were bought at HL)

More on this project when I post finished photos.

 Meanwhile, I have many Christmas gifts to work on.

No more fabric shopping for me.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

25 Hours With My Sisters...

Wow, I finally have some time to do this while my satellite speed internet is being cooperative. Finally.

I last wrote on Thursday night, when I made a quilt block for Julie.

The next day, Friday, Julie & I went to the vet school (where I work & where she used to work) so that she could visit with some friends.

We did a few errands and then came home to get
ready for the other two sisters.
Julie wanted some photos

taken with the pups.

Here's Tag, sitting nice & straight for her

(her hand - holding a stick - is just outside the shot).

I think she's whispering sweet nothings to Allegra.

Joyce & Jill finally arrived! YAY!!!

We had pizza for supper and then sat & gabbed.

(l to r: Julie, Jill, Joyce)

Each time we have our 'sisters weekend' we exchange gifts. Jill gave sister plaques, Julie gave each of us 3 jars of jam (oh, it's sooo yummy), Joyce gave each of us a votive candle, dishrag that she made + money. I made aprons for everyone. Julie's has a wine motif, Jill's has motorcycles, and Joyce's is black/cream with a pocket that matches the fabric of theplastic bag holder I made for her last Christmas. I think they all were very happy.

(I made one for myself...pizza slices!)

Mom and Aunt Bev sent gifts, too,
but I don't have good photos of them.

Thank you very much...the gifts are great!

I wanted to give Jill her Christmas/birthday gift so

that Julie and Joyce would have a chance to see it.

(yup, she's crying.)

We got our jammies on and were all set to watch a movie (he's just not that into you). Julie grabbed my 'practice' quilt, Jill grabbed a tan quilt that I usually have on the ottoman, and I had my star quilt that Brenis made for me last year. Joyce sat there in the middle...here's how it went. (Close, anyway.)

Joyce: don't I get a blanket?
me: oh. do you want one?
Joyce: well, yeah.
me: {sigh} I suppose I can get something. (walking toward the hallway) I think I have an old...

Joyce to sisters: I suppose I'll get an old army blanket or something...that'll itch.

I came down the hall with the black and white quilt (I know, you haven't seen it, yet...be patient!) and tossed it into her lap. She looked at it and asked if I had made it. Told her I did...she noticed the patch of purple on the back (her fave color) and we told her to look at the label. She did.

It read: "To Joyce, From Jacque. Heart, 2009."

She sobbed. Not kidding! See?

And, sobbed.

For 10 minutes!

She finally calmed down and looked it over.

I think she likes it. 

And, here it is...the black and white quilt I made for her.

I bought the fabric last spring and made it
in 4 days a few weeks ago.

It's Joyce's birthday/Christmas gift.

See the text pieces? They are verses from Psalms.

Here's the back. See the purple?

She LOVES purple, so I had to put a piece in there for her.

I didn't want to have any quilting in the text blocks,

so I just quilted it in straight lines on both sides of each horizontal seam.

After all the excitement died down, we settled down to watch the movie.

The pups got comfy, too.

We stayed up late, chatting and laughing and having a good time.

The next day, Saturday, I made breakfast for everyone.

We showered, etc., and went shopping at Gordman's

(a discount department store that is Julie's all time fave store!).

Joyce and I talked about the doll quilts she wants me to make...

so we ended up at Stitcher's Crossing to look for some fabric.

Went in with Joyce saying she wanted purples and pinks.

Here's what we ended up with.

They are gonna be so dang cute! {grin})

Julie bought some fabric for a quilted kitty blanket. More on that later.

We ate lunch here...

(left to right: Joyce, Julie, Me, Jill)

Salute! To the 4 J's!

Of course, time for them to leave came all too soon.

I love them & miss them very much.

Allegra and Sisters

Update on Allegra: she's doing about the same. No better, but no worse. We're hanging in there.

Other news: I am trying to get everything done this weekend...my sisters are coming. Several years ago, I read Nicholas Sparks' book, "Three Weeks With My Brother". It's an exploration of relationships between the two brothers (Nicholas & his brother, Micah), & how life has influenced them, etc., as they go on a trip around the world. I loved it! And, I have an autographed copy!

At any rate, I determined then and there that time spent with my family was the most important thing in my life. Sisters Weekend resulted from that. Joyce lives in Alaska. Julie lives in Colorado (though she still lived here by me when I instigated this idea), and Jill lives about 2 hours away here in Wisconsin. Once a year, when Joyce comes to Wisconsin to see family and friends, we set aside 2 days for the 4 of us to get together. It's not always a weekend, and it's usually only one overnight. But, we spend time together, just the 4 of us...the 4 J's. We don't do anything special. Sometimes we shop, sometimes we just hang out. The one thing we always do is eat well! Julie missed the first year after she had moved to CO, and we didn't have the opportunity last year, so this year is very special. We each buy 4 gifts...not birthday or Christmas...just a special something for each of us to have from our time together. I've been busy, but I cannot tell you what I'm giving...you'll have to wait until next week when this is over.

Julie and Joyce are flying to WI today. They'll stay in Eau Claire where our Mom lives. Julie will come to Madison on Tuesday, while Joyce takes more time to spend with her youngest daughter, her grandson, & friends. Julie will spend time visiting friends in this area, bathing my dogs, and just hang out with me. I only work Monday & Tuesday. We will probably do a bit of shopping...I know Julie needs a digital camera. On Friday, Joyce and Jill will come down. It'll be a great time and I am so looking forward to it!!! It'll come slowly, but will be over much too soon. They'll all leave Saturday night. I hope to have lots and lots of photos to show you!

Here's what I'm working on right now...just need to hand sew the binding...trying to get it done before my sisters are here. Nooooo, it's not for any of them. Just want to get it done. Look at all the quilting on this one...I had some serious fun! Random lines in the center, stippling in the first border, zigzag lines in the floating squares, then just some lazy lines on the outside border (which you cannot see too well because the binding hasn't been turned to the back, yet). I used a brown/cream variegated thread...so pretty!
Have a great weekend.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jog...

I'm home! After 4 days of travel/fun to see my sister, Jill (in Wausau), and me Mum and BFF's Janer and Cindy (in Eau Claire), I am back home!!! Much as I love seeing my family/friends, it is good to be home!

I have much to share...a ton of photos, exciting things...will probably do this in a few different posts...don't want you to get all tired out!

I consider this to be the most important thing that occurred while I was on vacation...I've been thinking of donating baby quilts and/or coverlets to the neo-natal unit in a hospital close by, but wanted to do it on my own...not through a guild. I have procrastinated and not talked with anyone. Then, one day, me Mum was talking about the stocking caps she knits for the newborns at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire (I was born there) and I asked her to talk with her volunteer leader about what I wanted to do. She did and set up a meeting for us. On Friday, I met with Jaci, who was immensely pleased to meet me and to hear what I had to offer. I took my mini-quilt to show as an example of my work...and Jaci kept it! ~grin~ So, that's cool, hey?

What happened next, though, took my breath away...she asked me if I would be willing to sew kimono/bonnet sets for the stillborns. I tried really hard to not burst into tears, and said, "yes, I would love to." How sad. But. How gratifying. I'm not sure if the kimono/bonnet sets will be used as burial gowns, or just to put on the babies so their families are able to hold them and say their goodbyes. Jaci will find out what exactly is needed, the sizing, etc. and will send me a packet. I am so excited to be able to use my skills in this way, I just cannot even begin to explain. Apparently, this is a much-needed service that no one is providing...I will be honored. Once again, I am reminded of how God leads us in the direction He has planned for us.

I got to spend a few hours with some fantastic dogs...Collies! Allegra's breeder has been a very good friend of mine since Allegra came to live with me...but I don't see Cindy often. While in Eau Claire, I took time to visit her. Janer went with...and I think she might have been a bit overwhelmed with all the dogs...but, we had a GREAT time! 2 puppies, several adults. I didn't get photos of all the adult girls, but here are some of the photos that I did get during our time there...

Janer and I visited The Calico Shoppe...you guessed it, a quilt shop. ohman...so glad I had just a limited amount of money to spend. I saw so many fabrics I've not seen before! Picked up a few patterns for future gift-giving ideas and this charm pack...

Okay, this is taking a long time. Will continue later...and just wait til you see what I got in the mail!!! woohoo!!!!