Presents from near and far (wins too)

Christmas is over, insert sigh but it was great to see our oldest grandson who will be 18 in January, yikes.  We usually only see him once a year and I swear he gets taller every time we see him.
Once back home I took time to clean up my sewing room and rearranged my quilting books, sorted and on and on it went.  You know how that goes but it feels more sane in there and I quilt only when there is less clutter surrounding me.

 

 My mug mats in different stages, these are the projects I like to work on when I need some down time and are mindless fun.  Some just needed a binding on them so that'll be some hand sewing.

 My new color printer, yeah now I can print out my thread color selections for my Embroidery projects and there is an audio book I picked up at our local Library on the Real Downton Abbey, oh yes I'm a big fan.

 Here are some of my rulers that fit perfectly on the wall above my ironing board.  I found the saying at a local shop to remind me what we are capable of.... adorable may be a stretch though ya think!

Time to start working on a Christmas project I started in November, the Snowmen on Parade.

Mine is a tone on tone so will be very different but in a good way I hope.
I resisted doing some online after Christmas quilting buys and wow that was tough except for a wool project and a yard of wool and I "blame" Sweet P for this because on one of her posts she mentioned what a great deal this was on this kit, almost half price and it arrived in the mail today, yippee.

My New Years resolution is to spend more time on my wool projects and this will be a fun one to play with.
 I was lucky to win some giveaways and they are very special.  The first one is from Mdm Samm and look at the loot I was gifted.

 The Fat Quarter bundle was from Andover Fabrics and she added the rest of the goodies to make up for me having to pay for postage.

The other win is from Fabricworm and I really like these fat quarters too, so different and the texture of the fabric is linen like.

Off to my happy place and start the audio book with a fresh cuppa Tully's coffee in hand my Saturday is about to begin.  

Merry Christmas from my house to yours.

Leftovers

 I really like working with leftovers, small bits and those ever increasing scraps.  I've been working on snowflakes with my embroidery machine and there seemed to be fair bit of water solvy left so after trimming the sides I joined the pieces together and put them in my smallest hoop and after altering my design to the size that would fit the hoop this is what I ended up with.  Now, I was doing this at 11 PM last night and not expecting it to turn out too well I used a taupe thread to join the solvy and yes I should of changed the thread.

See how small it is and then it hit me I have some water soluble thread so out with the regular thread and I will put the other in to join the water solvy.   Man, sometimes you shouldn't have these brainstorms so late at night, but lesson learned and I'll be pounding out more mini snowflakes to use up the "leftovers"!
Hubby and I spent Sunday morning making Perogies to take with us to Vancouver for Christmas for my son and Grandson,  We did a taste test and they are mighty fine and next time we'll make more but we felt that 12 cups of flour was enough for this tri

Notice there is some baking supplies behind the Perogies and I just may work on that today while my snowflakes are floating down to earth via my embroidery machine.

Prayers to our American neighbors, as parents our heart aches for your loss.

Mug Rug

Sometimes you just need to make something simple.

This is for a lady who left free apples in a box on her front lawn this past Fall.  I don't know her but I pass her house when I go for a walk.  Those apples were beyond delicious and I thought I should say thank-you in a way that I know best. 

I need to:
Do the laundry
Vacuum and dust
Make my bed
Empty the dishwasher
Buy groceries
Empty the recycle bin
Iron clothes

I want to quilt!

Wanting trumps need every time so quilting here I come!

Last Quilt Club for 2012

What fun it's been and what great show and share we've seen but we'll have to wait until February, 2013 for the next Quilt club at Cloth Castle and our ever inspiring Natasha who gets us motivated every month to be the best we can be.

This room of quilters, knitters and crafter's are what keep me energized and eager to create everyday.

Enjoy these photos and I hope they are the nudge you need to finish that long list of Christmas gifts you so lovingly make for your family and friends every year.

Pretty sweet right and they all were so much fun to see and even touch, yes they are passed around  so we all can enjoy the project close up and personal! 

February seems so far away but patience is a virtue so I'll try to keep that quilting Mojo going strong so I'll be able to have a few more quilts to share with my Quilt clubbers. 

Here is my finished project from Christmas Cafe which is a get together that happens once a month.  I did most of it on my Embroidery machine and the hearts were sewn on by hand.  I'm pretty pleased with the end result.  I was asked who I'm giving it to because we all know that very little we keep for ourselves and I don't have anyone particular in mind.  This led to a discussion as to whether we as quilters, knitters, etc should always feel that our projects should be gifted or not.  Does the recipient appreciate the time and effort you put into your quilt, etc and will they love and take care of what you so lovingly created?   Do we let it go and know that it may be openly displayed with pride of new ownership or end up on the floor of a closet?  Let me tell you it does hurt to see a hand embroidered wall hanging lay on the floor in a basement closet.  What do you all think, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts too.

What's Up? and Monkey business

Busy working on two lap quilts for family members and completed a class for Snowmen on Parade.

 It is a great technique quilt but the fun is in the gals you spend time doing the project with.

Though I didn't get anywhere near finished I sure did see a lot of the ladies have come a long way with theirs.  I  have some pictures taken the week before and as you can see someone had some fabric throw-up issues, we still love you Doreen!

Progress is the name of the game with these gals and boy am I behind the eight ball or Snowman!

Linda was too busy to give me her great smile, nose to the grindstone for her.

Carol, quiet and sew busy you hardly know she's quilting on the other side of the room.

Terry was able to stop her quilting to give me a great photo and I think she was the only one that was closest to having the top pieced.  

Marilyn always had her project organized, actually that whole table was to be admired.  I think there is a lot to be learned from this group of ladies and how lucky I am to have the opportunity to share this class.

Diane was another quilter that almost had her top pieced and as you can see by her smile that she enjoys every minute if it.  

Unfortunately Maureen couldn't finish this class after breaking her ankle and we wish her well and a speedy recovery.

Here are a few pictures of the paper piecing, don't you just love the colors.

Here is our instructor Natasha with Terry and how Natasha keeps me on track is a small miracle.

My sock monkey has been monkeying around our home lately and this is what I caught him up too. (Actually this is where I found him one morning, thanks to Hubby!)  OK, so there is a cake mix or two in my pantry but I do prefer from scratch but this monkey doesn't have time for that.  Notice the Oreo cookie on his arm, oops caught again.

And here he is again sitting in the Hubby's easy chair watching TV with his hand in a bowl of potato chips.  That monkey better watch his sodium intake don't you think and his waistline! 

You never know where that monkey will show up next, who knows maybe there is a trip in his near future!