Happy New Year

Mailman brought package....

Snow Folic

Yuletide Snowflake quilt



Woodland Stars Winter Fun (table runner/wallhanging)

 I placed an order with Connecting Threads last Sunday and here it is. These kits were on sale/clearance. They always have more than enough fabric to complete the projects.  I think Woodland Stars will be the one I do first...but I have to make a sample project for the class I'll be teaching starting the end of January. I went to Hancock Fabrics yesterday and bought the fabrics for it. It is going to be super easy...large scale print and 2 other colors.
    Today I am still packing up Christmas "stuff' ....dishes and decorations. Hopefully I will finish soon.

Can you believe...???

I went to WalMart (7 miles from my house) to get a Christmas tree storage bag.....there was no way I could get that tree back in the box it came in. The road was clear. Yesterday, we had 10-11 inches of snow... the cashier said she worked 12 hrs. yesterday. I said the store was open??...she said yes, and the people were packed in. (Only 4 cashiers made it in)  Why risk your life and that of others to get to a sale or return something??? They had tons of Christmas items  and looks like most will be there a week from now.

Snowy Day in NC

Trees in our yard are covered. Some trees with leaves ( Bradford Pear,Magnolia,etc.) we had to shake snow off to keep limbs from breaking. We have 8-10 inches and it is still falling!!! Glad it was not snowing yesterday. I hope the folks who were supposed to work today ( at the mall, WalMart, fast food places) got another day off.

Need another project????

11th Hour quilt

Ryan and Charlie designed this mini quilt/tabletopper  for Patchwork Squared. You can get the free pattern from http://www.fatquarterly.com/. Another project to add to my to do list for next year!!!

Merry Christmas

No Sewing....

guest towel display fixture

No sewing has been going on the last 3-4 days...I'm trying to reorganize my sewing room. I discarded some fabric that I know I will never use,so I have more space to put other fabric/items. I  have tried to sort out by color, panels, seasonal,etc. also. I found the above item ( guest towel holder) at an outlet store yesterday for $.50 each. I got several. It is made up of 2 cubes (each 4.5 inch square). They are great for fabric markers, fabric pens, scissors, rotary cutters, seam rippers, screw drivers, etc.  I can see what I have....I did not know I had so many seam rippers!!!
I hope I get through today....I have one shelf that miscellaneous items end up on. I hope to find everything a home today!!!

check this out

Quilt Frenzy ( http://www.quiltfrenzy.blogspot.com/) is having a giveaway. It's a one year subscription to Love of Quilting.!! check it out.

Stitching For Christmas block

My last Stitching For Christmas block...I should have been finished, but got behind. Now I have to add sashings. It won't get quilted this year but may be used as a tabletopper anyway!!!

Asking your opinion...

paper pieced Christmas tree mug rug

I know I haven't made the last mug rug for the last ornament set....but I couldn't locate the pattern as I sat at my sewing machine,,,,but I did see the pattern for the one above. I am thinking that I will bind it with the same white snowflake fabric. Do you think the blue goes okay with the tree fabric? Instead of white, should I use a green fabric on the tree???  I'd love to have some input from others.

mug rugs

paper pieced mug rugs
I hope to get the 4th one completed today...but that may not happen. I have Christmas cards to address, pecans to shell, laundry, and the list goes on!!! I have not had much experience with paper piecing and the little flying geese were a challenge. They are 5 inches square. They also gave me practice with mitered corners on the binding.  My husband says they are too pretty to use.

Prizes arrive!!!

Today, the mailman brought the 12 Days of Christmas wallhanging and pattern I won on Leona's Quilting Adventure blog's  Let's Get Ready For Christmas giveaway. The quilting on the wallhanging is beautiful. I have the perfect spot for it. I love the pattern also, although I may not start on it for several months.  On her blog, she also had a birthday signup and as my birthday is next week...she sent the tissure holder ( I need it...I have a bad cold) the zippered bag with safety pins on it and the buttons bag. I love all the gifts.

check this out!!!

Check out Bee in My Bonnet's (http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2010/12/post-signature.html) button tree!! it is so cool!!!

Bingo

Want to have some fun??? The Quilt Shoppe's bingo starts on Dec. 10. Check it out!!! http://www.the-quilt-shoppe.blogspot.com/ 

Time Flies

Well....so far I have been to the gym and exercised an hour ( working off that turkey!), made chicken salad and am preparing to machine quilt a Christmas throw. This afternnon I have the class I teach at the local community college (beginners). They are all progressing well. 

This is a wallhanging I have been working on.  The greens do not show up very well. It's the first log cabin blocks I ever made...I want to do more!! That book with the log cabin projects has me hooked.  I think I will applique a few gifts under the tree...I don't like empty trees!!

almost forgot

I almost forgot to post something today....after blogging everyday as part of the NBPM challenge!!. No sewing went on today ,except for some hand embroidery on my Stitching For Christmas block. I did shell out pecans part of the day...hopefully I can make some candy soon as if I need candy!!!

Mug Rug

I made a mug rug..now have to make 3 more to go with it!!! It's 4x6 inches....I may decide to make them napkin size...who knows??? I really want to make some with a snowflake appliqued on them.

Look What I Won!!!

Look what I won over at Leona's Quilting Adventure!!! It was part of her Get Ready For Christmas Giveaway...the other part is a cute pattern!!!  I have just the place to hang it!!

I Got A Package!!!!

I got a package in the mail today!!! It was from Carol in Indiana. I love it!!! It's the Secret Santa Christmas Swap item. I have the perfect spot for it. Now, it really puts me in the Christmas decorating mode! i hope my person got hers today.

a thing of beauty

Thanksgiving Cactus
As you can see my Thanksgiving cactus is in full bloom...I have two and both are opened. I have two ivory Christmas ones that will open as soon as I bring them in from the garage. I am waiting for these to go by. I have limited space for them inside and it soon will  be time to get the Christmas tree up.

Stitching For Christmas

Last week's block that I had not posted the picture of.

This week's block

Now I have the block that I am behind on left to do...I hope I get it mostly complete by Friday....depends on how long we are gone to visit family and eat!!! I like the blocks but am still undecided about the sashing...I think I will ignore the directions And do my own thing!!!


HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!

Happy Thanksgiving poem

, TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING

 BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UPTURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL



I do not know who wrote the above,but it says it all!!

Secret Santa Swap update

My wallhanging is in the mail...took it to the post office this morning. They said it would get there Friday. Nothing is happening to the 84 snowballs for Stitching For Christmas. I think I will do something else with the squares for the sashing. Still pondering!! Our yard looks like a leaf blizzard hit during the night...no grass to be seen. Unfortunately, there are still lots of leaves on the trees. We have lots of trees!! My husband tries to get them up every other day or we would be overwhelmed!!!

Leaves, leaves....

....and more leaves

Bradford Pear

Maple

Oak

Adding to list

I am also thankful that on Thanksgiving Day, I have family to share the day with.
I have started the 84 snowball blocks for the sashing on the Stitching For Christmas quilt. The blocks are very cute...I am embroidering one with a fireplace now. On the snowball blocks, I may go back and figure out how to use the squares, then cut diagonally after stitching across. I cut little triangles, like the instuctions said, but that is not working too well for me. I think the other way would be faster.  Off to ponder!!

new list

Before heading off for Sunday School, I was working on I Am Thankful For list. I have a long list of what I am thankful for including: home,husband, family, health, freedom, having too many things, a good retirement system, not having to carry drinking water in a bucket, not worrying when I hear the sound of aircraft overhead, and the list goes on. Have you thought all the things that we take for granted? Aren't  we fortunate people???

Stitching For Christmas

Last week's block is finished...I'm still a block behind. I got to start making 84 snowball blocks too. I planning on cutting them out tomorrow.  I have to wash the block and press it, then I will post a pic of it. I hope to do that tomorrow.
It was a beautiful day today..no jacket needed. The trees are beautiful. Plenty of red, yellows and golds.

Busy day ahead

Been to exercise...getting ready to go to lunch with cousin that lives in Colorado, one from Omaha, Neb., and one from Chicago. (We see them about once a year). Going to Bill's Barbeque in Wilson for the buffet. Other cousins from here in NC will be there also ( about 25).

That part of post was written earlier today...we also went by Lowe's  to get a saw blade so my husband could install a cat door for my daughter. Now she has to train the 2 month old cat to use it. He stays in the garage most of the day, so this will give him a way out.

Quilt Show

Check out SewCalGal's(http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/) Christmas Quilt Show. Presently there are 97 quilts listed. You will be inspired!!! I have seen several that I would like to try to do.

First Camillas

My first Camellias of the year. If you are where they do not grow, Camellias start blooming at this time of the year. It may get very cold and kill the opened blooms, but as soon as it gets in the mid 40's again, more open. They bloom through February-mid March.  They belong to the same family as sasanquas, which started blooming  early October. I'm working on my new project as well as an older one...I should have  finished the older one first.

Too Busy!!!

My time to wind down came at about 7:00. My day went like this...Exercise ( an hour), go to grocery store to buy a turkey and other things, get ready and go to a luncheon meeting ( 11-1, but really lasted to 1:25), taught quilting class 2:30-5, teachers meeting 5-6, home ( husband said he was not feeling well...made us hot ham and cheese sandwiches), watched my favorite show (Jeopardy), planned to do some embroidery BUT didn't!!! I read a book instead. Today, I plan on doing nothing...we'll see.

Another project??

Secret Santa Christmas Swap label
Yeah!!!I got the label made and hopefully will get it stitched on tonight.

My next project is coming from this book. It's the Santa on the cover. It's made of log cabin blocks. I hope mine will look as cute as this one. I got the strips cut. I might get one or two blocks made today...I have a few pieces of clothes to iron.  I'm one of those crazy people that LIKE to iron, so I iron things that others wouldn't!!!

Distractions

My embroidery machine is stitching along making a label for my Secret Santa Christmas Swap item. I spent some time this afternoon doing the fabshophop troubleshooting...it starts tomorrow but I started early. I love all the quilt sites/shops. If you find the rabbit, on some sites is a quilt pattern for Signs of the Season:A Christmas Sampler. It looks like it would be fun to do. I think it may be my Christmas Quilt Along project next year.
My 4 year old granddaughter spent the night with us. She is SOOO smart. She certainly has grown fast. I enjoy her all I can...Grandma may not be her favorite person long!!

Two finishes

Secret Santa Swap wallhanging

Stitching For Christmas block 5

  The top pic is what I made for the Secret Santa Swap...the fabric beside side it is what I used for the backing. It is several years old and no matter how much I use, there is still more!! I am going to send this out the end of next week so that my person will have it when she begans Christmas decorating.
The other block is for the Stitching for Christmas group. I am going to change the bird's eye color to black, I don't know why I thought it was yellow. I have the one for this week and last printed... got to catch up!!!

Busy day???

Stayed gone most of the day...breakfast out with hubby, Hancock Fabrics, Home Depot to look at tile for shower/bathroom makeover, Lowe's to look for carpet & wallpaper for church parlor, pottery to check out Christmas decorations, Sears to checkout cookware ( to use on that new range), Chick Fil A for sandwich, home. Tired!! I did finih last weeks Stitching for Christmas block, so I'm only a block behind now!! Will post pic tomorrow.

Countdown

Wow!!! I added a countdown to Christmas widget on my blog!!! Who knew it was so close???!!!  I better get busy on my Christmas projects....I have several Christmas UFOs...I better get them laid out and get to work!!

Sad day

Today we went to a family friend's funeral...I've known him since we were teenagers. It's so sad to see someone die young. His parents are 91, it was so sad to see them. I hope there will soon be a cure for cancer.I feel great pain for his family.

Finally!!!

Today at lunchtime, I'm going to be testing the new range.  It arrived while I was at quilt retreat...so my husband did not test it, either. Yesterday, he decided we would go over to Selma and check out some antique shops and eat at Cracker Barrel. They have a new entree..it was DELICIOUS!!! It's Cider glazed Pork Roast. The glaze had apples, raisins & pecans in it. We both had it and loved it. It was a large portion of meat, too. Now, I'm getting ready to do 2 things....iron a few items and work on the border of the retreat item. In about an hour...I'll start cooking!!! This afternoon , I teach a quilting class at the community college....so there goes my day!!!

retreat report

On Friday night, Karen Sievert presented her trunk show.  It really got our creative juices going!!! We were ready to put our foot to the machine pedal!!!

Roman Tile

This quilt was beautiful...it is on her book cover ( Better Together) . She does her own quilting ( free hand!!) It was spectacular.
These are also shown in her book, but the pictures do not look nearly as great as the real item.

Contrasting Stars





Circles,Stars & Medallions

Framing The Stars

Midnight Fairy Lights



Sherbert Stars



Stacie's Quilt



Sun Kissed Roses  (different focus fabrics)




retreat

Karen Sievert
This was our instructor at the retreat. This is not the project we made. This quilt was from her trunk show...she had lots of fantastic quilts to show. She is so friendly. A couple of our guild members met her last February at the Hampton Quilt Festival and made arrangements for her to come to our retreat. I'll show the project we made in a day or so when I get that second border on it.
The retreat was so much fun...I did the planning for the site, food, etc. The Hampton Inn had a wonderful meeting room with plenty of light...no need for extra lights. Sweet Tomatoes catered the food Friday & Saturday...it was great. They brought tons of food and it was all served in disposable containers. They did the set up & brought everything needed, plates, soup bowls, eating utensils , etc. They were very prompt also. We did some shopping also...Wish Upon a Quilt, Bernina World of Sewing, Carolina Sew N Vac, JoAnn's and Hancock fabrics ( and Michaels, too). A great time was had by all!!

Retreat

Yesterday, we arrived in Raleigh for our annual guild retreat. There are 20 of us...so you kknow we are havibg a great time!!! Good food, fellowship & shopping , as well as sewing!!! We have a wonderful instructor, Karen Siervert. Our projects are looking good...will post pics tomorrow.  More about the retreat laterMy husband got the range correct setup.... the cord was too long to let the range slide all the way into its place.....now it's set to go!!!

work continues on Secret Santa Swap item

Block 3

Another block completed... I also have to get going on this week's Stitching For Christmas!!! I'm getting behinder !!  LOL!!

STILL WAITING....

No call from Lowe's today...so still rangeless.  Is that a word???   I could get use to this....But my husband is about fed up!!!   Going out to eat....AGAIN!!!

Waiting...

My new flat top range is SUPPOSED to be delivered today. Of course, we thought that last Thursday! So I have suffered  8 days without a range (no cooking) !!!LOL!!! We took out the old one last Wednesday morning so we could get all the dust etc. from under it cleaned up. I suggested to my husband that we could put a piece of plywood across the space and do without a range. He didn't go along with that. So here I am, awaiting the call!!

Nail Day (girlie time!!)

Hurray!!! It's Wednesday....my nails have looked awful for a week...today I have an appt. to get them redone. One broke, so it is shorter than the rest. I'll be glad for them to look good again. I thought about getting my toes done, BUT  my toes are a laugh. They are funny looking, the second & third ones are longer than my big toe!!! I guess that really makes me the boss in my family!!!

Check out That's Sew Shawna's (http://www.thatssewshawna.com/)  PURE giveaway.

Election Day

If you haven't already voted....GO VOTE!!! You can't complain if you don't!!  I work at the polls so it will be a long day for me ...we have to be there by 6:30 AM and stay until about 8:30 PM. I hope we will be busy...time goes by faster. At least I can sleep late Wednesday!!

NaBloPoMo challenge

I took the NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month ) challenge.....I probably be out by the week's end!!! I've added a badge so you can check it out for more info. I should be able to think of something to post each day... I just hope I have the TIME!!!

Stitching For Christmas Block

Block 4

I finished the block just in time....now I am ready to trace the one that was posted yesterday. I had a busy week with the quilting classes I teach at the local Community College and waiting for items to be delivered by Lowe's. The flat top range that was to be delivered Thursday morning is not here yet...which is OK... we took the old range out Wednesday afternoon ( NO cooking going on here!!!LOL!!)

Secret Santa Swap continues....

Block 2

 Another part of the Secret Santa Swap project is complete. I need to speed up, I want to be finsihed by mid November. I have to look through my reds or maybe greens and decide on the fabric to use.   Maybe go shopping....??

Secret Santa Swap

Finished the first block for the Secret Santa Swap item I am making...three more to go. I hope my person likes it.

giveaway

Check this Blissful giveaway out that Little Bluebell is having (http://www.littlebluebell.com/).
If you win you will be full of BLISS

Stitching For Christmas  Block 3
I completed Block 3 of Stitching For Christmas. Tomorrow Block 4 will be available. I had so much to do since last Friday...I was afraid I wouldn't finish it.

I Won!!!

I won the Halloween wallhanging pattern, fabric postcard and 3 fat quarters of Halloween fabric from Quilted Pieces in the Fall into Fall Giveaway!!! I can't wait for it to arrive so I can "fondle" the fabric.

How to make perfect flying geese! ( Tutorial from Clothworks' blog)

Checkout this method of making flying geese...it's from the Clothworks blog.

How to make perfect flying geese!

Secret Santa Swap

Merry Mini ( Christmas Joy)

Hooray!!I found what I was looking for my Secret Santa Swap. Now on to gathering materials. 

Secret Santa Swap

I got the name of my Secret Santa Swap partner....I'm thinking of something red.  Red prints and redwork...hmmm... got to get looking!!!

Christmas Quilt-a-long & Stitching for Christmas



Block 2 Stitching For Christmas

 While riding to Mt. Airy, I worked on the 2nd block of Stitching For Christmas.  I also called it my Christmas Quiltalong project. There are 7 more weeks of the Stitching For Christmas blocks. I hope I keep up!! I am happy with the results.

Weekend

I loved the Border of this one. 

Pineapple Blossom

Pilot Mountain as seen from Blue Ridge Parkway

My husband and I went to the Autumn Leaves Festival this past weekend in Mt. Airy, NC. The weather was beautiful and the crowd was large. Looked at lots of crafts. We always go to the quilt show that is held the same weekend. I could not get great pictures as the space was small.  Of course, I didn't win the raffle quilt! There is a very nice quilt fabric shop in Mt. Airy and I helped the local economy there!! I did work on my Christmas Quilt along project...I haven't taken a pic yet.