The End...

of 2010 is upon us.

Here's a peek at some of what I've done this year.  Baby quilts, lap quilts, table toppers, doll quilts...these are my faves of 2010.

For a complete list of what I've finished this year, go to my '2010 Finishes' page (in the tab under the header photo) and follow the links.

What does one think about at a time like this?  As one enters a new year...a new decade?  I think that most of us think about past accomplishments & failures.  Reflections.  Determinations.  Resolutions. 

The resolutions I am making for 2011 are resolutions I need to make...whether tomorrow is the start of a new year or not.  Things need to be taken care of and attention needs to be paid to what I'm doing.  

I'm trying to concentrate on the progress I made in my personal life these past 12 months.  Not the failures...ohyes, there are failures.  I do believe that my biggest progression this year has been in my walk with Jesus.  I feel closer to Him and that is such an enormous comfort!

My sewing/quilting has been a source of (mostly) pleasure for me.  I still consider myself a beginner...but am willing to admit that, perhaps, I am an advanced beginner?  I need to increase my level of difficulty...that's one goal of mine. 

I want to thank you, my blog friends, for coming here to read my blog.  Oh, I'd still probably write if no one came to read, but it's much more fun when one gets feedback & comments.  I am so appreciative of you all and hope you continue to visit me here in blogland in the new year.

Happy New Year...may you receive many blessings.

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

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

Merry Christmas

Well, here it is Christmas Day afternoon.

The festivities are over.

I went to son Matthew's this morning.

He made us a huge breakfast.

Conlan and Jasmine loved the tv/floor pillows.

I received a very nice framed photo of the kids

and a new mouse pad with a photo of the kids on it.

Love them!

Here's Conlan.

(aka up & coming rockstar)

In his suit, no less.

He asked for a suit for Christmas...

can you believe that?

An almost 8 year old?

Perhaps more Michael Buble than Jon Bon Jovi?

(Gotta tell ya, though...I've seen Jon in a tux...looks so good!)

Here's Matthew, hard at work.  Makin' bacon, methinks.  

And, here's Miss Jasmine, Miss Blue Hair (before her time...isn't it usually the old ladies that dye their hair blue?).

Unfortunately, those are about all the photos I took.

But, here are some of your favorite brown dog!

With a new...you guessed it...WART HOG!

From Santa (aka Aunt Julie)...

 

 

 He hasn't let it out of his sight.

It was a great day.

I need to finish up 3 gifts and get 2 packages shipped.

Then, I will officially be done with Christmas.

Right now, though?

I am going to sit and spend some quiet time reading.

In my jams.

Snuggled with Tag.

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

Pillows for Two...

I whipped up 2 of the 4 pillow covers I need to make for the grandkids.  These are for Jasmine & Conlan...I will see them tomorrow morning.  I found some great home decor fabric on sale...YAY!  I made these pillows for the grandkids to use on the floor while watching tv or while reading propped up in bed...or whatever.  They're 24 inches square. 

Jasmine's fave color this year is lime green...

 (I think the pillow is upside down)

I put zippers in them so that they'll be easier to wash.

 

Conlan is Tag's boy.  Seriously.  Tag thinks that Conlan was put here for him.  And, Conlan does love the brown boy.  I figured brown dots would be ideal for him.

I washed the fabric before putting these together.  This piece shrunk enough so that the width wasn't quite as much as I needed.  But, it had nice wide selvages.  So, I used them!  My flash whited this out, but the zipper is actually halfway between the two white edges.  I think it's pretty cool, but am sure that Conlan will not be as impressed.  {grin}

Hope your Christmas is Merry!

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

Drummer Boy

I love their version...heavy on the drums.

I have a few things to do, yet.
YIKES!
Time is running out. 

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

The Box...

arrived today

and I could not wait to open it!

can you say, "WOW!"???

wanna know what all that is???

some hope valley by Denyse Schmidt...

 

  a double hourglass quilt started.

for me to finish...

 aviary by 3 sisters for moda

jelly roll and layer cake

 gypsy rose by fig tree quilts for moda 

jelly roll and layer cake...

 some yardage of (mostly moda) reds...

 a fig tree quilts jelly stars quilt kit 
(dandelion girl fabric)...

 and that's all!
not that it's not a lot.
just that there is no more to show you.

for now.

a bit more will be coming.

this all from Cathy of Quilting On Turtle Hill!

remember her?

if you don't, check this out.

so.

Cathy was having a destash sale a week ago.

i, of course, wanted it all.
i, of course, did not get it all.
but, for what i received...
we wheeled and dealed.

she drives an awful hard bargain!

{grin}

actually, she made an offer 
that i absolutely could not refuse.
part of the offer was that she asked me to

put together a quilt top for her.

i am so excited!

and honored!

her payment to me for doing it?
some of the above fabric!
what could possibly be better than that??
i mean, really.

 i am so blessed!

thank you, Cathy!

with this added to my stash,

i have plenty to keep me busy in 2011.

wouldn't you say?

please shoot me if i mention

that i need to buy fabric!

other than specific fabric
to finish something, that is.

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

Christmas Gifts

I am almost done making Christmas Gifts.  I need to finish one more thing and then everything I have will be ready to mail.  I mailed a big package to Joyce today.  Had to make sure she got her box, as most of the stuff in it is for her to give.  

Unfortunately, I cannot show you any of what I made for gifts until they've been received.  It won't be long, now!

I can show you these, though...the two carrycots I made for my sister to give her granddaughters.

I think they turned out darn cute!  As you can see, I used the same fabric for the outer shell for the two carrycots.  To distinguish one from the other, I quilted them differently (one meandering and one loopy), made the pillowcases with different trims, and used red on one quilt front and backing and yellow on the other.  Alyssa and Ashley will (hopefully) love them!   These are not difficult to make at all, but ohmygosh, they take a good bit of time and are so putsy!  Not complaining (well, kinda), cuz it's all simple sewing...but just sayin'.

It was sure nice having today off!  I only work 3 days this week, 3 days next week, then work 2 weeks and have a week off.  Pretty tough, alright.  {grin}

Stopped at my LQS to pick up thread and came home with 1/2 yard linen.  I didn't know they had it, so was quite excited!  I've been wanting to try working with linen.  Not sure if I'll incorporate it into a small quilt or use it to make napkins.  Only time will tell, I guess!

Must go quilt a tablerunner.  I'll be able to show you that one when I've finished it.

Have a good night!

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

Mary, Did You Know...

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

I Cannot Tell A Lie...

I did no sewing last night.  Can you believe that?  What a bummer.  2 things - and two things only - will keep me from my Naomi Janome.  Talking on the phone and reading.  And, I did both last night.  I think the fact that this is a 3 day weekend influenced that.  And, the fact that I sewed or cut out fabric each night this week.  

ohwell.  

Needless to say, I have a lot to do in these next 3 days.  Hoping to get everything done and packed to ship out on Monday.  See you when next I poke my head up.

Oh, and by the way...to my faithful readers...I have gotten far behind on replying to your wonderful comments.  Please don't take it personally.  I am way behind on reading blogs, too.  Things should return to normal in a few weeks.

And, for your viewing pleasure...this is how Tag left the little sheepie...on her head.  Cracked me up every single time I walked by it.

Have a great weekend!

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

Friday Night Sew-in!

Yup, another Friday Night Sew-in!

That's two this month!

Someone must think we all
have a lot to work on.

{grin}

I would be sewing, anyway, but

it's nice to know that all of us are

working our fingers to the bone

trying to get Christmas gifts finished.

Click here to join in.

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

Winter Wonder?land...

Not sure if I've said this here before,

but I really do not like winter.

Snow.

Cold.

ugh.

Although, I must say, it can be pretty.

That is all I can say about it.

Doesn't look like we got much in this photo.

(You can still see the grass poking through.)

However, to my right, there are 3 foot drifts.

I am ignoring them.

Getting colder, now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I started/finished a custom order this weekend

for a carry cot.

I think it's darling.

Several pieces to this...

carrycot,

pillow & pillowcase,

mattress,

quilt
(I usually make a sheet, but did a little quilt this time).

Still have many Christmas gifts to sew.

Time is running out...

YIKES!

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

An Unexpected Package...

I love getting packages (especially big packages ).  Well, any mail, really.  Except bills.  But, I really don't get many bills in the mail, because I pay them online.  So.  It's either junk or fun stuff!  Today, I received a package that was totally fun stuff!  I was not expecting it.  At all.  From Kim.  From over at My Field of Dreams.  I ran across her blog earlier this year and have gotten to know her...she tells the most interesting stories and I thoroughly enjoy her blog.

Anyway.  Apparently, she felt the need to thank me for a box of rug hooking goodies I had sent to her.  Not necessary (but I'm not sending it back...just sayin').  Unexpected.  Totally appreciated! 

What fun...lookie!

Want a closer look?

Here you go...

Jif Peanut Butter (cuz of this post)

Blueberry Jam made by Kim...

Sweet Relish made by Kim...

AND, as if that wasn't enough...a fat quarter bundle of Hoffman Batiks!!!  ohmygosh, these are so gorgeous.  The name of this bundle is 'coconut'...simply luscious...seriously PERFECT!  I LOVE it! 

I love everything she sent!  What a wonderful and thoughtful woman she is.  Thank you so much, Kim!  I am so blessed to count you as a friend.  Thank you for being you.

   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight is Friday Night Sew-in!

Sure wish I could tear into that fat quarter bundle...

but, I must work on Christmas gifts.

 

Go here to sign up for tonight.

Bye for now...

must get sewin'!

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

Poor Warthog...

injured animal photos ahead...

if you're squeamish about seeing

injured (stuffed) animals, 

you may want to bypass the photos.

{grin} 

Accidental injury!

By Tag E. Butt.

To his warthog.

 Not sure it's going to make it.

Lost a lot of stuffing.

Keeping a close eye on it
(& keeping it away from Tag)

until a surgery date opens.

Which may not come until after Christmas.

This may be the end of it for this warthog.

It is, after all, 3 years old...

which is very old for a much-loved toy.

One that has been carried around

both inside & outside,

chewed on,

cuddled with,

tossed up in the air

(by me for Tag to catch)

and has generally gotten 

a lot of use.

This warthog is Tag's
all-time fave toy.
Seriously.

It already had surgery once.

Remember this...last spring?

Well, this injury is much more serious.

It's a waiting game.

Just sayin'.

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

She Likes It!

Baby Maggie

- the green charm squares quilt recipient -

likes her quilt!

YAY!

 

Look at how adorable Maggie is...

and look at that hair!  

She is beautiful.

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

Kindle Cover Done!

Here it is...finished!

Kindle Cover recipe found at the Moda Bake Shop here.

It was easy peasy.

Took me longer to decide what fabric

to use than it took to sew it.

Well, almost.

Finally, I remembered that Kelley 

had sent me a bunch of fabrics awhile ago.

(thank you, Kelley!)

I think they are perfect for this.

I cut out enough strips & lining

to make another just like this.

Be sure to click to enlarge to get a 

good look at those decorative stitches!

Measures about 6x9 inches closed...

could easily be adapted for the iPad. 

I also got a good start on a few

other things that I am not able to show.

A good day with Naomi Janome!

How was your day?

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