Monday, December 31, 2012

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

Sunday, December 30, 2012

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

Saturday, December 29, 2012

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

Sunday, December 23, 2012

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

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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