Blogger's BOM # 4...........

Here's #4 designed by Pat Sloan. Nice and easy. And here's all four together so far...

Will probably not leave them in numerical order when it comes to 'layout' time. Looks like #5 should have more of the orange fabric--or maybe the red, when we make it next month?? These are fun to use the Kaffe's on.                             
Here's something else that will make me smile everyday...

                                       Isn't he too cute??  Christmas gift from my friend Karen.

Making a list.....

My BQFF Barbara has gently convinced me (& Judy S. I think!) to try Judy's UFO challenge for 2012.I have 10 out of 12--and would be thrilled to finish 5!! So first up is Pat Sloan's 2009 OP challenge flimsy.

2. The great friendship strip quilt flimsy (made with 5 sweet quilty friends from our guild)

3. The cross quilt started by following Wanda at Exhuberant Color's tutorial.

4. A blue and yellow courthouse steps started many moons ago........

5. A scrappy nine patch that needs sashing, sandwiching and the rest!!

6.Progress needs to be made on these Farmer's Wife blocks! I'd be happy just to complete all of them by year's end!! :-)

7. A pretty Bonnie K. Hunter 'Star Struck' needs backing, binding and quilting....

9. My 'Design Your Own Landscape' quilt from a class with Karen Turkes. Great fun!! Needs careful quilting and binding. (This one is a liitle intimidating!!)

10. I hope I DO finish this UFO this coming year...it's a sampler quilt I took classes for probably 10 years ago!! It's the second bedsize quilt I've ever made. There's hardly floorspace big enough to sandwich and pin baste this one.......!
OK--there it is. If Judy picks #11 or 12, I'll start on my #1 or 2 and see how that goes. I'm excited and terrified at the same time!!
Happy New Year, all! And Happy Sewing, always...........

What a very Merry Christmas............

Starting just before the holiday--dinner with one of  my BQFF's, Barbara. We're showing off our sweet handmade wool ornaments made by Judy--our other BQFF. There's also little binding clips gifted with those ornaments, and a great binding tool not pictured...I get to try it out first!

Next is (a very bad picture) the beautiful ornament Barbara brought all the way back from Dusseldorf, Germany while visiting her family for her mom's birthday!

Here's the exquisite detail on this lovely little treasure....

Our home was the scene for a Christmas brunch with my family...

and dinner with Jim's family.

The best part was having ALL this family around us all day and sharing it with our DS and DIL, home for 2 weeks from South Korea.

Our DS is the first grandchild born to my hubby's family--and the little guy is Jacob, the first Great grandchild born to this wonderful family...!  God Bless us, every one............!

Take one small car + one small tree.....

And it equals:

And that brings us.....

We were out and about together on Friday and REALLY didn't want to come home and switch cars to go get the tree, so...........we crammed a nice little tree into the bug with the backseat down!! Voila! Done, home, decorated and being enjoyed....It even has quite a few gifts under it already.
Did some de-stressify sewing on Saturday. You know, what you do to keep from thinking about all the stuff you have to do--but can't do YET??? !! This was the end result:

Very pleased with the new pillow--and it kept me occupied just right! It's 16" square and the little finished squares are 1" each...the back's an envelope and the patches are just raw edge appliqued on for some color on the reverse.
Hope all who stop by this blog are nearing their finish lines for Christmas and looking forward to a happy, healthy time with family and friends. Happy Sewing all !! :-)

Just remember.....

I sure hope this is true...! ;-)  The semi-panic that sets in 2 weeks before Christmas is creeping up quietly....
Not much sewing going on, except these 2 pillows...they are gifts and this is the back of them, of course.

That envelope closure sure is neat. And I LIKE to use zippers--but this is fast!(photo of the fronts after they're received by their new owners...)
More going on in the kitchen for gift giving...

This is the BEST bark for the giving, I think! Here's the recipe, from a FamilyFun magazine a few years ago. 4 ingredients and a little time and you have some good stuff to pass along!!

If you can't read it after clicking on the picture to enlarge it--email me and i will send you a copy.
Here's the sweet wool ornaments, handmade by Maggie, that I received at the guild's ornament exchange!
Our DD made the lovely Christmas log cabin tablerunner a few years ago!! (She's got the Q-gene, I think!)

They make me smile every time I look at them. This little Christmas creamer makes me smile too! She came from the same store as the tea cup.

These will all come in handy if that 'semi-panic' starts to creep up again.........time to put the kettle on !
Enjoy the season...... :-)

November Bloggers BOM....

Here's the split star block designed by Stephanie at Loft Creations. Like it a lot--but having some contrast issues on the left side there...  Here's all 3 blocks so far:

No time for 'do-overs' though, there's lots 'o Christmas to be planning!! Here's an ornament prototype...

It's about 3" big finished and sounds really cute with 6 little bells on it!! Need a little stitiching practice :-)
Also finished up my sister's pretty wool cape--just needs the invisible snaps and buttons sewn in/on...

Was a very productive, fun weekend! Have a great week ahead & let's all get started on our Christmas crafting!! (and not stress over it!!........... ;-)

And now there are 30......

Finished 2 Farmers Wife blocks this weekend...was hoping for a thrid, but a sinus bug kept me down. Happy with these 2 though... Cups and Saucers and Darting Birds.

                                                       

Next project/present on the list is a cape for my sister. She loves coats, jackets, shawls, and really liked the ones that were  made for DD's wedding party. This fabric is some of the most beautiful wool I've ever seen. It was purchased at Haberman's Fabrics in Royal Oak. (Great fabrics for every kind of sewing)

Have a great week ahead, all! And watch out for those cold/flu bugs--they'll slow down your sewing!! ;-)



P.S. Sign up for this in 2012:

I'm looking forward to the expert help and practice for my FMQ'ing!! :-)

Because she liked this.....

I made her this.....

for her birthday!! My sweet friend and neighbor of 20 years, Karen. Good neighbors and friends, near and far, are one of those gifts in life that I'm thankful for. Especially this time of year.         Remember our new little granddog Callie??

Pictured this summer with DD. Well....here she is just a few months later!

How's that for a cute face?? DD and DSIL are in New Orleans for a long weekend. We have such fun with these furry family members!! But life is tough sometimes with G-ma and G-pa!! Just look how worn out they are...

Have a wonderful weekend, all. Next post should have a couple Farmer's Wife blocks to show. Wonder if the fabric stack for those blocks feels as bad as I feel for putting them on the back burner??  ;-)

A Start and a Couple Finishes............

Over at http://attic24.typepad.com/ there are some wonderful ideas and tutorials for baubles and ornaments. After gathering my cotton yarns, I've attempted her Bauble Decoration for possible gift giving this year.... The directions and pictures are great and it went so well, I purchased the little bells to embellish the 'star' points when I get them done!

That's the 'start'....the 2 finishes are  a larger version of a tissue holder for a new mom's baby wipes! Seen here to start with the one gifted to me by my BQFF Judy.

and here's the 'finish'......

Finish No. 2 is the brand new GARAGE!!  Yea! It seems bigger (cause all the 'stuff' hasn't been returned) And we won't have to scrape our windshields in the morning when the really bad weather turns up!

Here's to 'starts and finishes'--hope you all have some of each going yourselves!