2015 is a Wrap

A New Year wrap up of 2015 and changes for 2016.

I didn't get a whole lot finished the past year. 

I made this cute little wall hanging as a gift for Dawn at SewYouQuilt2.

A wall hanging for the We Support You Blog hop.

A baby quilt for the new niece Miss Violet.

Basket case full of Posies Quilt

Holly Jolly Table Runner

Talkin Turkey Table Runner

 And some small things

St. Patrick's Table Topper

 Fall table topper

Halloween Table Toppers-  I made 3 of these!

Some pillowcases

A shopping bag

Apron

I did tally that I read 94 books last year too! 

You can really tell when I am not around the house I don't get a whole lot of sewing done! 

As to my word for 2015 it was Reduce and oh did we reduce!  I cleaned out my closet we took several garbage bags full of clothing to charities, sheets which did not have matches anymore, and other linens were set aside to use the fabrics.  I also lost about 40 lbs due to a huge change in my diet due to being diagnosed being pre diabetic.  Not a bad way to reduce.

 What is 2016 going to bring?  I am going to join the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for 2016.  I would love to use up some my scraps.  I am going to make these blocks.

Sawtooth Square

 Crown and Star

 Twisted Blossoms

 Navajo

I think one block a week in the color would be easy, and at the end of the year I would have 4 more flimsies!  Maybe 5 or 6!

I will keep up with my current projects, both large and small. 

Right now the current hurry up and finish project is a quilt for the soon to be born grandson. DH actually took a trip with me to one of my favorite LQS to look for fabric.  There were many comments from women as he helped me select fabrics.  These are the fabrics which I have chosen.  I will supplement from my stash also. 

 I have taken several different quilts and will meld them into a quilt. 

Two blocks done, and a few more to go.  I had a wee bit of time this evening to start the 3rd block I am putting in the quilt.

2016 is off to a splendid start! 

Happy New Year's

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Here's to a New Year full of promise and hope, love and friendship, making new memories, and forgetting the old sorrows.

May your New Year be wonderful.

Recharging

We survived the Christmas holiday, and the past few days I have spent recharging.  Don't get me wrong, Christmas was wonderful, dinner turned out fabulous.  I always enjoy spending time with my family.

I received a couple sweet gifts.

My mom and dad got me this really cute kit from a The Christmas Goose Quilt Shop.  It was part of the 2015 Row by Row.  Aren't the machines cute?

My SIL and brother sent me this cute fat quarter set.

The daughter and her SO worked until about 5 pm Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve looks like it will be the same.

I have done a wee bit of sewing on part 3 for the Allietare!

These are part of the 4 patches which will be very scrappy, and the strip sets that I have left to cut.

 I just need a few hours, but most evenings by the time I get home it is too late, and sewing when you are tired is just a really bad idea. 

Are you recharging and planning for next year?  I know I have some ideas to make for Christmas, and I have a baby quilt to get done in the next few weeks, we have a grandson which is due at the end of January. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas! 

May the season be joyous and magical.  Filled with family, love, and laughter. 

Tiny Finish

I survived cookie day.  OK it was not officially "family cookie day" since we originally cancelled last week.  The impromptu cookie day was to celebrate the middle boy's 7th birthday.  Since it was his party only grandma B was invited.  The boys enjoy family cookie day. 

I managed to get all of my sewing stuff picked up and put away.  OK maybe not quite put away, more like hidden away.  A quilter/quilting frame without  a quilt on it is kind of like a treadmill in the bedroom.  Kind of a catch all.  I put a shelf across the cross members on the frame, and I put everything on the shelf , or under the frame and we cover it with a sheet.  Out of sight, safe from the majority of the minions. 

Saturday morning the oldest boy had community service for Boy scouts, so they didn't get to our house until after 3 pm.  Before they arrived I finished up the reversible apron I was making.

 The reverse is just a plain muslin, but a little more body to make it last longer. Exactly like the front pocket

Isn't this the cutest fabric?  My sister in law is an artist and I saw this fabric and it just reminded me of her, so I bought it to make something for her for Christmas.  

The kids arrived and the wild rumpus began.

The cookies, all frosted, and sprinkled.  This is on a dining table which has the leaf and will seat 12 people for dinner.  The boys are getting to the age where you cannot get them to take a picture without doing something crazy.  

Except for The Finn.

Finn's backdrop is the quilter with all the sewing projects under the sheet!

This is Finn's adorable pose.  LOL  

We made 2 big plastic sweater boxes full of cookies, another tub full to distribute to friends and family, and the two oldest boys ran a container full of cookies down to the ancient ones.  We had pizza for dinner, and cake.  Fun was had by all, and while there are some sprinkles wandering around the dining room floor, the rest of the house is relatively unscathed, except for the pile of frosting and sprinkles I found on the bathroom sink this morning.  Overall not a bad day. 

Tic, Tic, Tic

I thought I would write a super quick post before I "officially" begin my day.  No I have not been attacked by the chicken girls and eaten (did you know that chickens are raptors?).  Finn did not tie me up and leave me across a train track in front of an oncoming train, even though I am sure he would like to some days. And though I am a child of the 60's and 70's I did not go stand in line for 48 hours  to wait to see the new Star Wars film.    I have been trying to kick whatever creeping crud I have, and trying to keep the world (ok maybe I am being a bit melodramatic) from skidding out of control.  With great power comes great responsibility.  Hee hee hee. 

The past week I attended a quilt guild board meeting.  I am vice president. Kind of like being the 1st runner up to Miss America.  My job is to sit in the wings looking pretty unless the president is unable to perform her quilt guild presidential duties.  I attended a boy scout Arrow of light and award ceremony---very cool.  And one day Finn and I ran around like the wild things we are.  To the bank to sign paperwork for quilt guild, to my house to check on papa he was sick (yep I am officially disease infested vermin), back home.  Um that is over a 120 mile day.  

Nothing completely accomplished on the home front when it comes to Christmas sewing though.

A few snowman on the assembly line.  A couple of heads made and stuffed, and their little orange noses painted and  in a pile waiting for facial placement. 

A reversible apron which I adjusted the pattern multiple times.  (Do you know how expensive a clothing pattern is now?)

All of the sewing will be put away once more because the youngest daughter wanted to do Christmas cookies at our house, and celebrate the middle grandson's birthday.  So Family cookie day part deux! 

A big shout out. warmest hugs, and a ginormous thanks to Dawn from SewYouQuilt2.  I had this sweet little package waiting on my doorstep.

A list pad, a zippy bag, a purse pattern, and some Christmas fabric.  I just want to say my bloggy friends are the absolute best! 

Oh my got to run, the clock is ticking, I have a kitchen to clean up, an apron to finish sewing, all of my sewing accouterments to put away, a trip  to the feed store for food for the girls, a trip to the dollar store for birthday gift wrap, and a trip to the local grocery store for cookie making supplies!  I am shopping local today, even though it is much more expensive.  Maybe I will remember to take pictures of the insanity and post later!  

Happy Saturday, six days until Christmas you all!

Flakey Friends

I made this guy many years ago. 

I adore him.  He has had a bit of rough trade the past few years with the grandsons around though.

Someone jerked off his nose.  I tried to reglue it on but it is just a mess.  The rose on his cheeks has faded too. 

And his pompom was attacked at one time or another and almost pulled off.  I think he is in need of some love and repair.  When I flipped him over to see if he needed any more repairs guess what I found?

Yep somehow he ended up with a farmer's wife quilt block stuck to his butt!  Lucky for me or I would have never missed the block. 

The daughter mentioned the other day when was I going to make her a snowman?  I started looking and fairly quickly I located the book.

I only paid $3.99 for this book many years ago.  So I guess someone will be getting a snowman.  Not like I don't have extra batting. 

While not a flake, but a great friend Julierose  from Julierose quilts sent me this sweet little package.

Isn't it fabulous?!?! And it has the embroidery floss also in a color that I adore.  I can't wait to start stitching it! 

Aren't friends, old or new, flakey and just fabulous (yes you Julie) the best!