Joy In the New Year

The lovely Jacquie has had the wonderful Joy in the New Year challenge going on. And while I have not been very good at meeting this challenge. I have only had one finish from my list of five. Christmasing took precedence. I did make this journal cover as a prize for someone who did better.

I learned raw edge applique from Jacquie. Isn't she such an inspiration to us all. When I first got to know Jacquie through her wonderful blog she made this. And I got to be one of her neighbors, living in a high rise apartment in her neighborhood. I took her neighborhood theme of bloggers and tweaked it a little. I made friends; one to represent Jacquie, one for me, and one for the winner.

Hope you are doing better than me in this motivating challenge. And good luck winning all the wonderful prizes I know Jacquie has lined up.

SSCS gifts

Look what my Secret Santa sent me. A little angle to watch over me while I sew. Thank you so much Renee for taking time to make this precious gift.

She also made this little bag. Look how lovely her stitching is. It is just adorable. Thanks again Renee.

I forgot to take a picture of what I made before I sent it so if you would like to see the table runner I made for Teresa. Pop on over to her blog All Things Vintage and have a peek. I had fun sneaking about her blog to find out what she liked before I made it. I wanted it to fit her personality and be the perfect fit.

I hope you all had a delightful Christmas and wish you the best in the new year.

Christmas Party

We had a wonderful time at our guild Christmas Party. I just love these wonderful women. First a little showing of some of their fine work. I wish some of these pictures had turned out better. This quilt of Denise's was amazing. I love all the scrappy little pieces. This was a fun Christmas quilt also made by Denise. I can't remember if she said she used a layer cake or a charm pack for this. But it was bright and fun.

This beauty was made by Michelle. I just love pinks and browns. Don't you.

And this Thimbleberries sampler was also made by Michelle. Very nice indeed.

This fun moose was made by Dolores.

As was this cute Christmas row quilt.

And this beautiful Christmas quilt.

And what is everyone so enthralled with here?

Our wonderful entertainment. Denise and Karen wowed us with their quilty rendition of Jingle Bells. Oh you should have heard them. They had us laughing like there was no tomorrow. Wish I had the words, I'd share them with you and spread a little quilty Christmas cheer.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday festivities. Merry Christmas one and all!

Happy Birthday Grandma

My Grandma had a birthday last week. She turned 89 so we had to celebrate. She choose Golden Coral and a nice man at the table next to us took this picture for us. I feel so blessed to still have my grandma in my life. I look forward to our visits. She is one amazing woman.

On the way to grandma's house I stopped at my Uncle David's Bakery. It's Christmas time and I needed to get some goodies. Here is a giant speculass cookie he let me have. I shared it with my whole family.

I bought these smaller ones to share with grandma, family and friends. Plus I had promised DD a doughnut. So I got one for each of my children.

Then I just had to get a butter letter. I just know Uncle David, and Grandpa before him, make these in a M because I'm their favorite. hee hee

I also got a loaf of stollen. While I was getting this one of David's friends asked why he was advertising stolen goods. Oh they are so funny at the bakery.

Show and Tell Friday

It's Friday and I have a finish so I'm joining in Amy's fun.
As promised here is the chair for my daughter's room. I am so happy with how it turned out. It is going to look so cute in front of her vanity. I can just see her sitting there looking into her mirror. Does she see how beautiful she is? See her dreaming. Does she know how great she is? Forgive me a little sentimentality. Here is the before picture. Oh what a difference.

Alex in all his manly wisdom, when asked how he liked the chair said "Well it looks padded now. It's not going to hurt your butt when you sit on it." Men are so practical. So glad for DD who will be thrilled with how cute it is.

Santa Baby

Santa baby slip a cutter under the tree for me. Been an awful good girl Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight. Santa honey a clover quick yo yo maker to, small will do. I'll wait up for you dear. Santa baby and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Think of all the fun I've missed. Think of all the fabric that I've not caressed. Next year I could be oh so good if you'd check off my Christmas list.

Santa honey I want a pin and that's really a bargain. Been an angel all year. Santa baby and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa cutie there's one little thing I really do need the deed to a fabric mill. Santa cutie and hurry down the chimney tonight.

And Santa baby fill my stocking with new snips

And clips, so I don't steal my daughters. Santa cutie and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Come and stock my sewing spot with fabric bought at Fat Quarter Shop. I really do believe in you. Let's see if you believe in me.

Santa honey forgot to mention one little thing, batting. I don't mean in a cage. Santa honey and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie and What to do with...?

Twenty years ago today I married this wonderful man. Oh what a ride. He still makes me laugh. Is there anything better than that? Thanks honey for some really great times. Here's to many more. This picture was taken at our last family reunion. Becky had set up her photo booth. Let me tell you that is a great addition to any party. It's out in the open so everyone gets to see you ham it up. Makes for some great memories. Now for the what to do part of the post. This chair is from our early married days. It didn't look this bad when we first got it. And actually this picture is taken after I had taken it all apart and then thought you know I might want a before and after picture. So I carefully set things in where they used to be and snapped a picture. Taking it apart took a little while. The seat was easy. It just screwed onto the metal frame. The back however was a mystery. Those metal posts sticking out had the front screwed to it and then there was a back that was glued and attached with some kind of screw/nail thing. It had ridges like a screw but it did not spiral and it's head was like a nail. So whatever that is. But the upholstery was covering all this hardware so there was a lot of prying going on. Alex, who was home studding the last of his finals, eventually came to see what I was doing. Apparently I was making some interesting noises. Wish he had come to investigate sooner because he was better at getting it apart than I was. I only had one screw/nail thing left when he came. Here is the chair all taken apart.Next I cut some strips and sewed them together. I was about to staple this to the front when I realized I needed staples. So off to Home Depot, where I got the wrong staples and had to go back. Grrrr. I was just finishing up the back when I heard DD come home. Now since this is going to be a Christmas gift for her I quickly hid all the parts.
Hopefully I can finish it today and take it to my dear neighbor's to hide until Christmas. I will post a finished picture when I get to that point.

Dilly Bags from the Scrapbag

Here are the gifts for my DD friends. We made them using Lurline's tutorial. They are so easy and fun to make. We just used scraps from my brights scrap bin. We are hoping the lizard print one will be okay for a boy/girl gift that she needs for school. We are filling them with goodies, yummy, yummy Christmas treats. This weekend we had our family Christmas party. We were only missing two both of whom were feeling the stress of finals and the need to study. They were missed but the rest of us had a wonderful time. We enjoyed delicious soups. I really need to get my sister, Julie's, recipe. Her creamy tomato and basil soup was to die for. We played bingo. And of course opened gifts. See what Julie gave me. Aren't these just such happy and fun prints? Julie is so talented.

I hope you are finishing up your Christmas sewing and enjoying this wonderful time of year!

Busy In Santa's Shop

Christmas is fast approaching, and I've been busy in Santa's shop. First I made these frosty fellows to share with some friends I am going to lunch with today.

Next I got started on this book for my son, Alex. I don't know if you remember last year my family's tradition of the three gifts. You can read about it here if you want. Well, this is his gift from the heart from me. I am feeling it with memories of all the wonderful things he has done that made me happy, proud, etc. I am also asking teachers, scout leaders and others to do the same. I'm hoping this gift will be a strength to him as he faces the challenges of college and the major decisions that come with this time in ones life.

I am also making one for his brother Josh, who is fast approaching this exciting and challenging time.

What fun things are you creating in your Santa's workshop?

Monday Muse

Since my theme for next year is 'Scrap Happens Make a Quilt' I thought it would be fun to have prizes be cute little packages of scraps. Fat quarters have been the main stay in the past. But I want to mix things up. So I've made a couple of fun little bundles of 56- 2 1/2" squares. (That's the number of 2 1/2" squares you can get out of a fat quarter) And these mini jelly rolls. Also the equivalent of a fat quarter.
Our prize basket was getting picked over and like I said I wanted to do something different. We've talked of donating the remains of the prize basket and starting anew. I wanted to do bundles of love but I was too late for that. Does anyone know of a charity that could use sewing items? I welcome suggestions.

Ornamental

Don't you just love homemade ornaments? They are full of love and memories. The care that goes into making them makes them extra special. I thought I would share a few of my love made, merry memory ornaments. I received this mitten in an ornament exchange from my quilt guild Along with this cute little frosty fellow.

The Santa stocking was made by my beloved neighbor, Pauline. She is my children's adopted grandmother. So nice to have a grandma across the street, especially when the other grandmas live miles and miles away.
This cute Christmas tree also came from my quilt guild. I love it's primitive look.

I made a bunch of these candy canes one year. The little pocket is good for putting fun treats in.

This year I took part in Chookyblue's SSCS and here are the lovely ornaments Renee made me. Look at how precious this is. The time she must have put in to make it. I feel so blessed. And this little guy just made me laugh. Isn't he just too much. I had to share him with everyone that came to visit yesterday. Had to share the joy he brought. Now I'm sharing with you.

Thank you so much Renee!
What are some of your favorite homemade ornaments? If you post them let me know so I can come and see. Have a great weekend! Enjoy your holiday festivities.
Em

Hummin' Along

Apparently I'm a thief. My hubby told me I keep stealing the covers. I started this quilt ages ago (You've probably seen it a time or two.) I'm hoping it will help with my thieving problem so my dear hubby does not freeze. Our current quilt barley covers the bed. This one has plenty of overhang, so even if what my hubby says is true, I'd have to steal quite a bit before he runs out of quilt and the frosty air hits him. I've taken the last week or so to quilt it on my dear friend Marilyn's Handi Quilter. Thank you, thank you Marilyn I don't think I could have wrestled this on my Bernina and been happy with the results. You can see the quilting better here.

So now it's time to bind. Binding is one of my favorite parts of quilting. I love the quiet relaxing aspect of it. And lucky me while I was down visiting my parents last week I found these at a garage sale. Some of them have never been open. They will be great to watch while I bind my quilt.

I'm a bit of a musical junkie. I love the old musicals. Growing up in a house full of girls we enjoyed many hours enjoying these classics. My dad said they should be required viewing for all young men so they know what a girl expects and can act accordingly. Don't you all agree? My boys think he's crazy but they have seen them all. Someday they may thank me when they win that special girl's heart.