The End...and The Beginning

The end of another year.  Unbelievable how slowly time seems to move at times...yet here it is 12 months gone...just like that. 

This year did not go as well as I thought it would...or the way I hoped. 

The death of my friend, Doreen...oh, how I miss her.

The move from the country back into the city.  It is turning out okay, though. 

Becoming the keeper of a cat.  Who would have thought that would ever happen?

I don't like to make New Year's resolutions, but I do think the end of the year is a good time to reflect on what is past...and, on what the future could be. 

I am determined to work on a few things.  Mostly within myself.  Focus is my word for 2013.

And, I really need to work on finishing up quilts I have either already started, or quilts that I already have the fabric for.  I could work all year on what I have in my fabric closet...and only need to buy batting and perhaps fabric for backings. 

I am looking forward to what 2013 has in store for me.  Are you?

Happy New Year!

"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

Ready, Set, Cut!

I have cut all the pieces to make the blocks...

However, I need to order more background fabric...but that's okay.  I have more than enough to get started with.

 

And, yes...Pepsi is what keeps me going.  ~grin~

So, I'm off to do some piecing!

Meanwhile, these two have decided that it is time to start bothering me about supper.  It's about 2 hours too early.  Patience is an unknown virtue to them.

 

Happy Weekend!


"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

I Am Ready...

I believe I have everything needed to make this fabulous quilt.  

*pattern from Lindy 
*notes from Lindy 
*Kaleido-Ruler
*fabric - Curio...how I love this fabric collection made by basicgrey for Moda! In addition to what Lindy sent I was fortunate to purchase more at fab prices...for the blocks and backing! 

I am hesitating a bit...but I will be cutting into these fabrics before the night is over. This quilt is destined to be one of my best-loved! 

Hope your weekend is what you want/need it to be! It's a 4 day weekend for me...wish they were all that long . 

A Very White...and Handmade Christmas...

It's been over a week...I am falling down on the job, here!

My only excuse is that I have been trying to get all my Christmas gifts done and out the door to their recipients.  Almost made it...a few will be getting their gifts late.  I did my best...what's a girl to do?

Two of my grandkids have birthdays close to this time of year...Jasmine in early December and Conlan in early January.  I made separate gifts for the birthdays, too...YAY!!

Did you hear about the snow we got on Thursday?  Over 14 inches...I had two days off work...snow days.  Shoveling out my car so the plow could get the parking lot done was a challenge in and of itself.  But, with help from neighbors, it got done and all is good.  Except, I twisted my knee and have been hobbling around.  Good thing sewing doesn't take much but sitting.

The excitement is building!  Once I get another gift done and finish packaging everything to go into the mail, I will be ready to work on a few major projects!  And, I'll have a 4 day weekend next weekend, so am hoping to get a good start on at least one of them.  I will be resuming work on 'snow days'...need to make the fabric blocks, finish the stitching that extends onto those blocks and get it all put together.  Still some months to go before it's done...hoping to finish getting it all put together by spring.  The other project is the one from my dear long-distance friend, Lindy, of The Gingerbread House...a gift for my birthday last February!  The fabric collection is Curio.  I will be making this quilt...

So.  A handmade Christmas.  I had fun but would have had more fun making everything had I started earlier.  Course, I blame that on my move.  All's well that ends well, though.  Hey?  So...here are photos of most of the gifts.  I neglected to take photos of everything...how did that happen?   

I made several more of these...cannot find the photos.

I made about a thousand of these washcloths (yes, I know...many call these dishcloths, but I use them - and give them - as face or wash cloths )in various colors and patterns.  Okay.  Perhaps I only made about 2 dozen of them.  Some were with a design...birthday cake, Christmas tree ornament, football helmet and sun.  Those were fun to do and so easy...these are the best thing to work on before I leave for work and while watching tv.  Free patterns found here...

And, then.  Yesterday, sister Jill complained that 2 of the kleenex cozies she got earlier this year were plain.  Huh?  So, I made 2 more for her.  I think she will not call these plain.  What do you think?  ~grin~

 

And, then...just for the heck of it, I put together this little pouch for her.  Different than the ones I made for others...just something for cell phone, mp3 player...whatever she wants.  She has no idea I did this...and since she never reads my blog (shame on you, sister!) I feel safe in showing it to you, my bloggy friends.

So, a very handmade Christmas...pillowcases, zippered pouches, face/washcloths, linen napkins (no photo) and a small quilt (no photo).

Oh...and I made a little dopp bag...well, it is actually called a boxy pouch.  Oh dear...I have no idea where I found the tutorial. 

I am sure that I neglected to mention/show something.  But, you get the general idea, right?  

Have I mentioned how much I love my Naomi Janome?  She is very dependable and does whatever I ask.

And, what, pray tell, was the brown boy doing while I was doing all of this sewing and knitting?  

This...

And this...

And more of that 'just laying around' thing.  What can one expect?  ~grin~  

I will be having a very quiet Christmas, but I am okay with that.  What are your plans?

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

 
"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

Let It Snow...

NOT!

It's warm outside, so I am hoping that this snow will not stay around long...right now it's slushy, is all.

What a smart brown dog Tag is...it's snowing outside, so he is playing with his snowman toy!  ~grin~

I've been sewing on Christmas gifts...here are 3 of the zippered bags I've made thus far...more to do.  The pattern I used is Terry Atkinson's.  I was planning to add embellishments, but didn't.  At least, not yet.

And, the last thing I have to show you is this small Christmas quilt that I put together a few weeks ago.  I used fabric scraps of Jovial by Basic Grey for Moda.  I first used that fabric to make this table topper last year.  This one is quilted with loopy-loops...kinda reminiscent of tree lights, don't you think? 

  
And, that is about all I have for today!  If I get busy, I should have much more to show you by next weekend. 

Have a great Sunday!



"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

Catching Up...

Wow...where does the time go?  It's been almost 4 weeks since I last wrote.  Guess I have not been paying attention.  

Where do I begin?  


I think I'll just take a deep breath and jump in.  I might have lots to say, so get comfy!

My granddaughter, Kaylynn - aka Princess Kaylynn - came for an overnight last weekend.  What a delight that child is.  I do nothing but smile when she is here.  This was her first visit to my apartment.  We didn't do too much...watched a movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel"...the one where they meet the Chipettes (who sing "Single Lady" by Beyonce...so darn cute).  ~grin~ 

Made mini pumpkin pies...in a muffin tin...that was fun!

And, they were very good!

Course, Tag and Kaylynn fell asleep together...

I took a lot of pictures...and came up with this one.  I so adore this girl...

The visits with Kaylynn...excuse me...Princess Kaylynn...are always too short.  

Tag thinks so, too.  He thinks she comes just for him, you know.  ~grin~

I took my latest quilting projects to show off at work.  I am always so pleased to receive feedback from my coworkers.  

Let's see.  I seem to recall that I was going to talk about living with a cat.  Yes, indeed.  I have a cat.  Not solely by choice, but rather more of necessity.  Julie's cat.  Kisa.  When Julie was moving, she couldn't find a home for Kisa, so rather than have her go to the humane society or to a rescue, I offered to take her.  What was I thinking?  I have never had a cat.  For a reason.  Because I didn't particularly want one.  Not a cat lover.  Not a cat hater, though.  Sort of ambivalent, I guess you could say.  So...Kisa has been with Tag and I since we moved here and I must say that I am pleased that she has decided to become part of the family.  She is now more a participant than an onlooker as she was when we all lived in the country.  She is a good girl...doesn't climb onto tables or counters...uses her litter box, tolerates Tag (and me, too) and loves to talk.  Little chatterbox sometimes.  Takes her cues from Tag as far as eating time goes...what a nuisance those two are together!  ~grin~

Here are a few photos of her...

That is me under the quilt.  When Tag lays next to me in the big easy chair, Kisa feels that her place is on me.  Funny girl.

If they're not with me in the big easy chair, they're laying on the sofa...Kisa is the indentation on the left...on the back of the sofa...

 

She really is a pretty cat.  A Pixie-Bob.  

OH!  And, I won a giveaway!  I rarely enter them, anymore.  But when Erin, over at Why Not Sew? was having a giveaway for the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine, I had to enter...and I won!  woohoo!  ohmygosh...the blocks are all amazing!  There are several I want to try.  Someday.

                                 

Why was Erin having a giveaway?  Because...she has a block in the magazine!  I am impressed!  That girl rocks, for sure!  Here is her block...can you say WOW!?!?!       

  

 
Other than work and getting settled into my small apartment, I've been working on gifts for birthdays and Christmas.  Nothing to show just yet.  Lots of knitting of face cloths, which are nice to work on before I leave for work in the a.m. (actually relaxing to sit and knit for the last 20 minutes or so before I need to leave) and in the evening while watching tv.  Getting down to "get serious and put your nose to the grindstone" time, though.  Always one to work best under pressure...that's me!

OH!  And, the 2Sheep hooked rug...the current header of this blog...the rug that took me forever to complete?  I sold it!  Yes, I did!  It doesn't really go with my stuff and my friend, Claire, has always admired it...so I sold it to her.  YAY!!     

And, for those of you who are keeping track...I have now read 81 books this year...and will surely surpass last year's total of 84.  Can you believe it?   

I think that is about it for now. 

Have a great weekend!

"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

Swoon...

I have a finish!  woohoo!!!  I started working on this quilt back here...all the way back in January.  It's the 'swoon' pattern by Camille Roskelley of the Simplify blog.  It's amazing and I loved putting these 24 1/2" blocks together  I originally intended to make 9 blocks, which would have made the quilt about 75" square (without sashing or border).  After making 7, I decided to use sashing and a border and use just 4 of the blocks...making a nice lap-sized quilt at about 55 inches square.  The remaining blocks (probably 2 of them, anyway) will make really nice pillows.  Not a priority, but certainly on my 'to do' list.

I have not washed/dried this quilt, yet, so it's not all soft and crinkly.  I wanted to be sure that you could see the quilting on it.  I decided to step out of my comfort zone with the quilting on this one.  And, I have to tell you that I am crazy in love with it!!!

Here's your first look at the entire quilt...  (I apologize in advance for the fold lines...it was folded and smashed in a bag yesterday.)

Orange and aqua...who would have thought that color combination was so fabulous? 

Here are some closeups...

What I did...I quilted diagonal lines in each of the 4 blocks...all going from the center of the quilt to the outside border.  I quilted pebbles - in various sizes -  in the sashing.  Then on the border, I quilted several straight lines and quilted 2 rows of bitty pebbles.  None of this was difficult on my Naomi Janome...and it's not totally off the grid quilting, but it was different for me.  Not perfect, but I am so happy that I did this.  I definitely see more adventures in quilting in my future!

Ohyeah...and here's the back.  Pieced, of course...

 

Can you see why I am crazy in love with this quilt?  ~sigh~

I need to write a long blog post one day soon...on moving and owning a cat and a multitude of other topics.  But, this is all I have for now.

Have a great 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

Still here...

Just working on getting some quilting done. 

Photos are of a completed small hst quilt and my lap-sized swoon blocks orange/aqua quilt in progress.

Have a great weekend!

GIVEAWAY WINNER...

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway...and thank you for all of your comments regarding your love of this season.  I will definitely come back and read them again and again as we move through these next few months.  And, I will try to be more appreciative of the season.

I sure wish I had a small quilt for each and every one of you.

Unfortunately, I only have one.

Congratulations to Julie of Dog Trot Farm!!!!  You are the winner!!!  I will email you forthwith...please reply with your mailing address.

Again, thank you one and all.

Perfect Day!

So far today...

*cleaned litter box

*sorted through and moved boxes in bedroom

*texted with 2 of 3 sisters

*finished knitting a face cloth

*made and ate lunch

*paid some bills

*finished reading latest Reacher book (author = Lee Child)

It's moving toward late afternoon...and that is all I have done. 

And I am still in my pajamas!!

How do I feel about that?

Absolutely fine...the PERFECT day!!

Be sure to sign up for the giveaway in the previous post...ends tomorrow at noon!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Yay!!!

A GIVEAWAY!!!
 

For no special reason.

Just that I made this small quilt

and want to share it with one of you.

 

This small quilt is made up of 2.5" 

red, blue, green and brown squares

and measures ~17 inches square.

I quilted it with straight lines...

one on each side of every seam.

It has not been laundered...

thought I would leave that up to the winner.

I will include care instructions.

This will be quick and easy.

Just leave a comment on this post...

telling me why Fall is special to you.

It is not my favorite season...

mostly because it seems short...

and it is followed by the dreaded winter!  

(I do, however, love the colors of fall!)

**Entries are now closed...thank you!**

Please ensure that you are reachable by email.  

Good Luck!

Back...For Better or Worse!

I am back.

Finally.

I have a computer...a laptop!  woohoo! 

I have internet access.

What could be better?

Well, am sure there are better things, but for right now, right here...this is it.  I sure have missed posting...and it is a bit difficult to comment - at least more than a few words - on your blogs with my phone...so hopefully, you will see more comments from me on your blogs. 

In the meantime, I've some photos to show you.

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I pretty much gave up on knitting socks...until (if) I take a class.  In the meantime, I have been knitting these...keeping my hands busy while I am too unsettled to do much of anything else.  I plan to make many of these for Christmas gifts to give my coworkers.  This is a fun - and easy - design called 'double bump'.

Me Mum and sister Julie were in town...we spent some time playing cards.  Dimes.  I won 60 cents that day, so it was a good time.  {grin}

I have slowly been getting unpacked.  Decided to go through my cedar chest...look what was there?  These dresses were worn by my sisters in my wedding.  Way back in '74.  Junior bridesmaid and bridesmaid.  I might have to make something out of them.  For fun.  What else would I do with them?  Don't really have a reason to keep them,  ya know?

I put this together last weekend when I just had to sew something!  Ya know?  I think it will be a giveaway.  When finished.  Should be in the not too distant future.

And.  A few posts back, I posted this photo...

No one said anything.  "cat got your tongue"?  {grin}    

Yes.  This is Kisa.  My sister's cat.  Or, should I say...used to be my sister's cat?  Yup, that's right.  She now lives with me.  And, Tag.  Julie wasn't able to take her to the apartment she's living in with me Mum, so...

Never having had a cat before, I am finding the experience quite interesting.  It was one thing when we all lived together in a large house...now it's just Kisa, Tag and me in this small apartment.  Kisa is a very nice cat, though not real outgoing.  In the time we have been here, though, she is becoming more social.  And, she keeps Tag company.  

So.  Here we are.  That's all I have for now. 

What are your weekend plans?





"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