Christmas Happenings!

We had an absolutely wonderful Holiday!  Lots of laughter, good food, hugs and kisses----and time to reflect on the reason we celebrate this day and how blessed we are.

Above is a picture of my "quilting" gifts!  I have a "issue" with being really heavy handed when pressing my blocks and again my husband and daughter was really "listening" and not just "hearing" me ramble on.  The Steady Betty is the large 16 x 16 size and from what I hear, it wasn't easy to find.  The little travel iron I was also really shocked about!  I had been looking for a new one.  I have a very expensive Rowenta one that leaks like a sieve---but I really like steam!  This little iron is really heavy AND it steams.  I can't wait to use it and see how it does.  My husband was says he was surfing the net and when he ordered the Betty this came up as a suggestion, so he purchased it mainly because it looked "neat".  I also received a new IPad, a lovely brief case and the usual gift card to Joanne's.  My husband normally gives me the Guild Retreat as a gift, but it is scheduled at a time when I can't go this time, so that money will be used for the AQS show.

I also got a new Daughter-In-Law!  I met her at Thanksgiving, but this time the news was shared!  She grew up in Paris and speaks with the most lovely accent AND I got REAL French perfume!  She is from Cameroon and her mother is sending me some African fabric!  How blessed can you be!  AND she is a really sweet girl!

All in all, everyone was very happy!  The grandbabies were spoiled beyond imagination and received  almost everything on their list----what blessed babies they are (and deserving ones as well).

Now on the quilting front----

I have been working on two projects at the same time---trying to complete one more UFO before the end of the year and quilting on Diane's quilt.  I am almost finished with Diane's quilt but will not finish the UFO in time.  In looking back on what I have accomplished through, it was a pretty good year.  I completed 25 quilts.  Included in this number was 14 quilts that were either charity or associated with Guild.  I didn't keep count of the number of quilts that I quilted.  I am going to have to think about my plans for next year.......but I am pleased with my productivity in 2012.

Well----gotta get back to work!  Have a great Saturday!

The Goings On!

 

The "formal" tree"--  we normally have two Christmas trees.  This tree is downstairs and we open the gifts under it after breakfast.  It has ornaments that are very old---some of them the kids made for me when they were really little. 

 

The "Santa Tree" also known as the "Grandbabies" Tree.  The ornaments are made by the grandbabies and decorated totally by them!  Normally this is where Santa leaves his gifts, but this year we (the adults were allowed to add some gifts.  The gifts under this tree are opened as soon as the kids get up, which can be very EARLY!

 

 

 

I moved the new machine to my sewing table and moved the other machine to the back.  I am now all set up to sew and embroidery at the same time!

 

 

This is the quilt I am currently quilting.  It is from the group that Diane left me to quilt.  Doesn't it remind you of Christmas?  I am quilting Baptist Fan's on it and again, my tension is cooperating!  I will not be able to do much quilting in the days coming but maybe I can sneak in a little!   Look at all those project boxes in the background!  I know what my New Year's Resolution should be!

 

Well, just wanted to let you know I was still around, but very busy!  If I don't "talk" to you before Tuesday----have a blessed and joyful holiday!









It My Birthday!!!!

Today is my birthday!!!!!!!  As with most people, I reflected on my life to this point, and although I have had some really difficult times, "I am blessed and highly favored"!.  The bad times I have had, have all been overshadowed by the good---so what have I to complain of?   NOTHING!!!  Things could be so much worst, plus getting old is pretty good, since the opposite of getting old is ---- dying young!

My daughter took my husband and two grandchildren out to a really good dinner.  I got a large gift certificate to Joanne's and two Pandora charms for my bracelet.  Kids called and wished me well and told me how much they loved me---it was a good day!

I also finished quilting "Gallimaufry"!  I used Til-fil bobbins in the machine and I had absolutely NO problem with tension!!!!  The back looks as good as the front.  These bobbins are a bit pricey---almost $1 per bobbin, but I ordered some!  Sometimes it is worth the money to not have to worry and fiddle with knobs.  Hopefully the new ones will work as well!  The quilt hasn't been trimmed yet but hopefully you can see the texture the quilting gave it.  I also have a picture of the back---a soft quilters flannel.  This quilt is heavy (!), I am so glad I got poly batting since cotton would have been almost too much to even lift, yet along sleep under.  This is going to be saved for really cold nights.

Tomorrow I plan to pull out a UFO---with hopes of finishing it before years end!  Thanks for stopping by!

TA--DA----Completed!!!!!!

"Gallimaufry"

83 x 97

I decided to not add the bottom border---it is large as it is and an added 7 inches would make it weird in size (the pictures really don't show the real size)----a total of 2,009 squares (and I still have some left in the container). I really love it!!!  I was able to line the squares up in the border really well with those in the body. Doesn't it look like pixels in the photo.  I am going to load it later today and then quilt it.  I am going to get a poly batting since I don't want it to crinkle when I wash it---too many seams I think---and will bind it in the bright turquoise.   I have also changed the name to "Gallimaufry" (gal-uh-maw-free), a noun that means jumble/hotchpotch.  It is a word I found while reading blogs this morning.  It seems an appropriate name.

I have also been testing out my embroidery machine.   My grandchildren spend Christmas Eve with us in anticipation for an early Christmas morning.  All of them who are in town stay including the college age one.  They get new Christmas pj's and I make them a pillowcase.  Yesterday I made three pillowcases designated for the girls...the boys will get theirs made this week-end.  They don't photograph well because of the cuff fabric (a red and white stripe), but I think you get the idea.  Instead of a contrasting little band, I used rick-rack.  The boys will have a red piping on theirs.  I love my machine---the embroidery is really great---it is bright green to match the fabric (which is m and m's).  Cute huh!  They look a little crooked in the picture---and maybe they are---but guess who isn't going to lose sleep over it. 

Sorta Finished!

I have finished the center of "Scrap Happy"!!!!!  This is sorta becoming an obsession.  I AM going to finish this quilt.  It is the type of quilt that would easily become a UFO-----49 2.5 inch squares per block!  The center along has 1,715 squares (counting the solid colored ones as well).  The only thing I tried to do was to not place two-like squares together, other than that, I just picked squares randomly as I sewed.   I was determined to not cut more squares, so there are duplicates, but there are so many---it really doesn't make a difference.



The container is still about 1/2 full (wow I need a new ironing board cover!).   I didn't realize how many squares you can squeeze into a relatively little container.  I am going to make a pieced border, so these squares will be put to good use....again I will not cut more but use what I have.   The quilt is currently 70 x 98----a really weird size I think, so I am only going to add borders to the sides....a total of 14 inches, so it will end up being approx. 84 x 98 which seems more reasonable.....rather than 84 x 120, if I add the border to the bottom and top as well.  Maybe I will just add a border to the sides and the bottom.  I have seem antique quilts like this----I will see how I feel after piecing the borders for the sides and how the quilt looks.  My goal is to have it done by next week-end.

I am going to bake some cookies and then my two youngest grandbabies are coming over to help decorate the Christmas Trees.  They really seem to enjoy it and it is fun to watch them.  Well, gotta go get ready. BTW---I have been "breaking" the embroidery machine in.  I have made about 4 test labels.  This machine does a really good job!!!!  I found the disc I had for the older Brother I have and they work great, so I have more designs to choose from.  I also went on-line and got some designs as well.  The only "oops" I have with the machine is the design you are using isn't clear on the screen.  It looks nothing like what you are embroidering, but it isn't a "deal  breaker" really.  The results are so nice.  I will have some samples to show next time.

Well, have a great remainder of the day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Birthday/Christmas Gift

My birthday is the coming up (next week in fact)!  As a child I NEVER got a birthday gift instead getting a combination birthday/Christmas gift.  I was never really happy about that and couldn't understand why I had to sacrifice my gift just because my parents didn't plan well and I was born close to the holidays.

My husband surprised me with a birthday gift, that because I love it so, it also qualifies as an early Christmas gift.  I have been talking about getting another embroidery machine.  I have done lots of research, talked to people who had one asking their opinions, went to local shops trying to figure out the best way to go.  I have a smaller Brother embroidery machine that I got when I was living in Florida.  It actually makes beautiful stitches, better than my Viking even, but it uses a small hoop (as does my Viking).    In addition, I am not able to get designs from the Internet, since it is incompatible with my computer.   I have seen some beautiful quilts that incorporated embroidery designs so I wanted to expand my quilting repertoire as well.

Anyway, according to my research, the Brother machine is an appropriate comparison to the other higher priced embroidery only machines.  It has a USB port so I have unlimited access to designs.  In addition, it has a card and so I can also use my Viking designs with it.  I mentioned this to my husband really just talking through the process not really asking him to purchase it.  I had plans to do so myself after the holidays....but, Cyber-Monday came and he got a fantastic, absolutely, FANTASTIC deal!!!!!!  I was gonna go ahead and wrap it and put it under the tree, but what the "hay", I am gonna play a little.  He said he was making up for the fact that he didn't get the "door buster" for me at Joanne's----sure glad he didn't :c)!!!!! 

"Pictureless" Sunday :c(

Just wanted to check in.  The holidays are fast approaching and I will have company this year.  My favorite nephew and his family and my middle son and his significant other will be here.  It took me all day to clean my kitchen yesterday.  Not that it was that dirty, it is just that as I have aged I am easily distracted.  Had to stop and look at some magazines I found on the bakers rack, had to dance to a song I heard on the radio, had to stop to eat some yogurt, etc.  In the end, I did accomplish what I wanted, but now today I have to stay focused and clean the rest of the house---including three bathrooms!

I did manage (of course) to get some quilting in---I got up early (to clean) and instead worked on "Scrap Happy", I also finished Diane's quilt and managed to order some more Circle Lord templates (they are having a Thanksgiving Sale)---it is interesting how I can stay focused and multi-task doing things like this...maybe because it is so much more (excuse the double adjective) fun!

I am almost finished with "Scrap Happy" (pictures wouldn't really be that interesting since it looks like the last ones---just bigger) and have decided to add a border.  I just can't seem to make a "small" quilt----I want my quilts to cover my bed if possible, so I am going to add a 6 inch border to the sides.  I have "thought" it out, and my plan is to stay with the scrappiness.  I think it will work out!  If not, it is my quilt and I will  love it anyway.  I am going to use one of the new templates to quilt it.  Since it has so many seams, I will not quilt it as heavy, going for "soft".

I am also getting ready for the "Friday After" sales.  It is tradition for my daughter, my niece and grand-niece and a friend to go shopping, leaving the house at midnight!  We have so much fun.  Last year my oldest granddaughter went, and my friends daughter, they were amazed and couldn't believe we are able to stay awake that long.  I am amazed myself actually since I find it difficult to stay awake past 8pm  normally, but this is different.  My son's significant other is from Cameroon and doesn't really understand this particular custom of "Friday After" shopping.  I am not sure if she will go, but my son and she will meet us for lunch when we stop to get "energized".  It may not require such long hours this year since so many of the stores are opening on Thanksgiving evening.  In addition, my grandbabies are older and so require less "toys" and more substantial gifts which may not (or may) take as much time.  At any rate, it is a custom that I personally enjoy, but realize it isn't for everyone. 

My DH is going to go to the Joanne Fabric Doorbuster on Wednesday for me!  I have a early clinical and so can't make it, and really want this doorbuster-----hopefully he will be up for the challenge.  I really appreciate him doing this for me though, especially since he says women after a deal "scare" him :c)!  He says however, if I miss this deal, I "scare" him more!!!!!   I am going to work with him today on appropriate strategies to use :c)!

Well, gotta get focused and get to work!  I DO NOT want to spend all day cleaning!  Have a blessed Sunday!  and thanks so much for stopping by!

Random Thoughts!

I wrote in an earlier post acknowledging that this is not my most favorite time of year.  Fall has always been a time of change and reflection for me.  It might be because during Fall everything is sorta fading and folding on itself to "sleep" for the winter.  It is also my birthday, so I am always reflective.

My birthday is in December.  As a child growing up, I never got a birthday gift.  It was too close to Christmas and my Daddy would always remind me that I would get something extra for Christmas.  I never quite understood, since I didn't choose my birthday, therefore, why should I not have it recognized.  We have a son who's birthday is even closer to Christmas than mine, but we have always made a special attempt to celebrate it.  Anyway I digress----I was thinking about my birthday and remembering when I would say at 10, "gee, I will double my age at 20"; at 20 I said, I will double my age at 40, etc.  I now realize I will not likely double my age---people just usually don't live to be that old.  In thinking about that, I naturally thought about my life as it is today, and what I had hoped it would be at this age.

I had hoped  be in a stable, caring marriage---I am, we have been married so long, we actually can read each other's mind with a simple look.   My health is pretty good, and sometimes I actually have to think a minute before I say how old I am, since I don't look it nor feel it.   All our children are all taking care of themselves very well.  They are well educated, and usually quite nice people---although they certainly have their moments.  No one is in jail, or hiding out from the authorities so I am good there.   My grandchildren are absolutely wonderful, beautiful/handsome and love me as much as I love them.   I have a very rewarding job, although exhausting at times (but what job isn't).  I can honestly say what I do is important and that I am truly changing lives not to mention teaching students who will ultimately save the lives of others.  In addition, I am really good at my job, so I feel rewarded.  I live in a safe neighborhood (about as safe as any I suppose), with the majority of neighbors who are kind and friendly.  My home is nice and accommodates me and my grandchildren well.  There is even a room dedicated to my art of quilting!!!!!  I could use more money, since my art can be expensive; and more time to spend just doing what I want.  I wish I had a wider support system of friends who would drop by or invite me over, but having said that, I am not "friendless" either, just "close friendless" (here anyway).

I say all this to say, people so often spend so much time complaining about what they don't have, what they should have done, what they can't do-----particularly as they get older, they don't stop to think about what they DO have, what they have done and what they will do.....then it is too late.  I plan to try as hard as I can to double my age (and have fun doing it) but I am truly "blessed and highly favored" today.

Four More Years!!!

Oh happy day!!!!!!

 

The Democratic Process AKA Election Day 2012

Too many people have suffered, even losing their lives so I could exercise this right  --- I will never NOT vote!!!!