It has been a very busy time in our household!  Christmas came and went, and I'm still behind!  I've done some quilting, some knitting, some general sewing, but mostly, I've worked!  My husband and I have a business ( since 1983) and this economy has been hard on it.  We have downsized, and that meant laying off people - so sad, because they had worked with us for many years, and are like family.  We hope to climb out of this hole soon, but in the meantime, I am doing the job that used to be done by two people.  I am missing my assistant - she was the one that was the backbone of the office!  When I get home at night, I'm tired.  And there is still stuff at home to do!  The creative juices are still there, but there is just not enough time to create!  We are in the process of moving the office home and that is a good thing.  But it takes a lot of time and energy to do your job, pack stuff so you can find it when you move, and organize the new home office.  There's not a lot of time left over for anything else.  I keep telling myself that this too shall pass.   I just wish it would hurry and that I didn't have to go through it!  

Enough of my whining!

I did get a baby quilt made for my assistant's grand baby before she left!  It was a cute panel print and was super easy, but it turned out really nice.  

I've also made a couple of pincushions - they were so easy!  I did the embroidery on my Bernina, sewed and stuffed them - it was a quick project, and sometimes a person needs something to kick start them - this was it for me!

I'm working on several projects right now - I finished the embroidery and the piecing on the Raggedy Ann and Andy quilt that I'm making for a special little girl named Sarah, shown in the picture below being held by my hubby!  

It will be the next quilt on my Gammill. I'll post a pic when I get it on the machine! The pattern is from The Painted Quilt blog designed by Kaaren Johnston.  She is such a talented lady and has designed many beautiful quilts and wall hangings.  I did one of her wall hangings as a gift for our hostess for my trip to Illinois and Kentucky back in the summer.

This weekend, I'm meeting with the Library quilting group to make a donation quilt for our little library here in town.  We've decided to do a Texas Braid - pattern by Bonnie K. Hunter.  I'll take pics - it should be a lot of fun, and will be used as a fund raiser for new books and programs.  


I'll close with a pic I took of my rosemary bush this past weekend - this is February, and it's Texas - 

I'm ready for Spring!

See what I won!

I am one lucky quilter!  Linda at Living 4 Quilting http://living4quilting.blogspot.com/ had a give away and I won!

The new Jennifer Chiaverini book, The Wedding Quilt was the prize - it is a great book - I've already read most of it and am enjoying it!  But that's not all - Linda is amazing.  She included a beautiful hand tatted bookmark with it - she is multi talented.  Not only does she quilt, but she knits and tats.  Wow!

To top it off, she also included a really cute bag - it a called the Perfect Pouch by Lazy Girl!  Beautiful!  I love it.  It is perfect as a carrier for books, or - my IPad!  I am so happy with all my goodies!  Thank you so much, Linda, for everything!

I have finally finished my Christmas shopping - except for my dear hubby.  We have been remodeling our bathroom and we both decided that getting it retiled would be our gift to each other.  But I want to get him a little something to put in his stocking - anyone have any ideas?  I'll post pics of the new, improved bathroom when we get further along.  It is going to be great!

Three more days until Christmas, and I'm almost ready.  I still have grocery shopping to do, and one more potholder to make, and the house to clean!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is almost here and I’m so behind that I’ll never catch up, but that’s ok!  I’m at that stage where it doesn’t really matter that my house is not decorated like a magazine layout.  The tree is up, the Advent wreath is sitting on the kitchen table, and most gifts are purchased or made or in the process of being finished.  I have five days in which to finish.  Yahoo!!! 

I didn’t realize I hadn’t blogged in a while, and when I checked my blog I was so surprised.  Over a month – almost two.  I guess that I think about it every day, and write in my head – it just never makes it to the computer.  So, one of my resolutions this year is to update the blog at least once a week! 

Running is ….. not so good.  It has gotten cold and I’m just not good with the cold weather.  I still get on the elliptical machine and work out, but just can’t put on my running shoes in cold weather to run outside.  I have great admiration for anyone who can – I won’t say I never will, but at this point – no can do.  Maybe someone can give me some pointers to make the process of running in the cold, rain, snow, or otherwise bad weather a little more enticing.  Any suggestions? 

 

On to Christmas!  Last year, I made scarves for the stockings for everyone, and I can remember finishing up the last one on Christmas Eve!  They were a hit, so I decided to make aprons this year for the females in the family.  My hubby will take care of the males!  After completing the aprons, I realized that they would not fit into the stockings, so I have started making matching potholders for the stockings, and after they have found them,  I’ll present the girls with their aprons.  The only daughter who reads this blog is in Seattle, and I’ve already mailed hers (and one for the granddaughter there).  If you read this, Ang, I’ll be mailing your matching potholder after Christmas!! 

We have lots of changes taking place at our house – we are downsizing our family business and moving the office home.  I’m really kind of excited about it, because that means I’ll be closer to my studio and during down times, I can quilt!!  My hubby is getting close to retirement, and the contracting business is very slow right now.  We have been hard hit by this bad economy and I hurt for those who have lost their jobs.  My prayers are that this next year will be better for everyone. 

The week after our daughter’s wedding, my lovely step mother passed away.  Lora was loved by everyone.  She and my Dad got married after my mother died in 1998, and even though I missed my mom, I knew that Lora and Dad were perfect together.    Even though I lost my wonderful mother, I gained a great stepmother, and a new family of two sisters and a brother.   It was like a bonus family in my adulthood!  My father died five years ago, but that did not end our relationship with our stepmom.  She was so wise, not to mention a great cook, and was such a Christian lady!  I will miss her so much. 

A week after we lost Lora, one of my uncles died.  He was in his 90’s, and had lived a long and full life, but he will be sorely missed.  Uncle Charlie was so much fun.  I remember visiting him and Aunt Bea and going to the beach, playing in the surf, and building sandcastles.  I played with my cousins, and we were very close.  Uncle Charlie had lost two sons, and his wife and he was ready to go.  He missed them and knew that they were waiting for him, and even though it is hard to let someone go like him, we give thanks for his life and know that we will meet again someday. 

As you can see, we have had some ups and downs lately – One wedding and two funerals – kinda sounds like a movie plot, doesn’t it?

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year – I love the family get togethers, the food, the traditions we have established for our family, and especially, the “reason for the season”.    As the children have grown up and established their own family traditions, it makes me smile to see that they continue some of those rituals that we had when they were little. 

Running progress, a wedding, and Ghastlie winnings!

I don't know where the time goes, but it does past swiftly. So - to catch up :

Running - I am still sticking with the training program - but haltingly.  I run slower that my lovely 11 year old granddaughter walks.  Of course, her legs are longer than mine, and I have a few years on her, but when we are at the track, she laps me at least a couple of times each evening.  But I'll keep plugging along.  I'm not loving it, because I am a true couch potato!  I know it is good for me to keep moving, so that is motivation enough!

The wedding of our youngest daughter was on Saturday - it was wonderful.  The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, the ceremony was meaningful, and the reception was a lot of fun.  My favorite moment was the Daddy-Daughter dance.  My wonderful hubby danced with the bride, and then danced with the rest of his daughters - including our lovely daughter-in-law.  We are so blessed that our children have found spouses that become part of our family so easily.  Our new son is everything I could wish for our baby daughter - we could not have hand picked anyone better suited to her.  They leave tomorrow for their honeymoon and will be gone for two weeks - we will miss them!  

Now for the Ghastlie News - I hope you have been following the Ghastlies Blog Hop, sponsored by Madame Samm of "Sew We Quilt".  I have so enjoyed all the fun projects that bloggers have done using the fun "ghastlie" fabric line, and I have entered to win all the prizes.  I rarely win anything, so you can imagine my surprise this past week when I got an email from Ms. Karen Ghastlie saying I was the winner of her blog prize, and also that I was the winner on Madame Samm's blog -

This is what I won from Karen:  a cute "ghastlie" mini quilt, three hand knit mug rugs, and a skein of beautiful thread.  I received four yards of Alexander Henry's ghastlie fabric from Jane's Fabrics and Quilts as the prize from Madame Samm!  I'll photograph that later - it came in the mail today.  Now I just need to decide what to do with the fabric!  It has been a great week!

Running - really?

I tried something new tonight - not in the least quilty. My middle daughter, Jen, talked me into going with her to a "Couch potato to 5 K" running class.  A little history would probably help this scenerio - I am not an athletic person.  I am fine with that.  But, this year, I have been trying to get healthy, lose weight, and gain more energy, so I thought this might be ok.  I can do this.  I even went out and bought new running shoes!

Cute, huh!  I am 64 years old, a certified couch potato who hates exercise, and I thought this would be a good idea!  The session started out easily - a five minute warm up walk, 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking repeated for 20 minutes.  Let's just say I found out just how out of shape I am.  I made it through the 20 minute session, just barely, then proceeded to throw up everything I had eaten for dinner (and maybe for lunch - who know!)  I am fine, I just got really hot and tired.  I also will never have what I had for dinner again - ever.  I hate throwing up!  After a shower and a protein drink, I am feeling much better.

Will I do this again on Wednesday?  I'm going to sleep on that decision.  Things may look different in the morning.

I'm even to tired to do any quilting!

Friday musings

It's finally Friday and I'm seriously ready for some weekend time.  I finished quilting a lovely Hawaiian shirt quilt this week, but did not take pictures - you'll just have to imagine how lovely it was.  I also worked on the Vintage Valentine quilt, and on one of the antique quilts that I am repairing and adding borders to before I quilt them.  So, I have done a little quilting.

I didn't share about the trip I took to Illinois and Kentucky with my friend, Glenda.  It was so much fun and so relaxing!  We visited with a cousin of Glenda's, went to a quilt show, and visited the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.  I was overwhelmed by the talent at both the quilt show and the museum, and came home with a new resolve the work on my quilting and improve the quality.

The Quilt Show was in Metropolis, Illinois (yes, the home of Superman)  - that is me standing by the statue!



I understand that the city has a Superman celebration in June every year - now that should be fun!  But it is also home to lots of history and beautiful parks, too.  We visited Fort Massac State Park, where they have encampments and battle reenactments of the Revolutionary War battles every October.  On the Ohio River, it is a beautiful site.    The quilt show was presented by the Massac Quilters Guild - they have some very talented quilters in their guild.  Glenda took lots of pictures - I didn't - but she has promised to share with me!  The National Quilt Museum was wonderful - I plan on revisiting it again - there is just too much to digest at one time.  I was most amazed by the collection of miniature quilts - so intricate, with quilting stitches so impossibly small.  We were not allowed to take pictures in the museum, so you'll just have to go see for yourself.

This is a shot of part of the Miniature Collection - straight from the website of the museum - there is as much detail in these small quilts as in a full size quilt -

Now that I'm home again, with new resolve, there are several things going on in my life that are taking center stage.  First, our daughter's wedding will be in a few weeks, so we are picking up speed on the details.  I still don't have a dress to wear, but shopping is planned for the near future.  I don't know about the bride, but I know that the mother of the bride is getting a little nervous about all the details.  Let's see - church-check, reception venue - check, food - check, limo - check, wedding dress - check, photographer - check, DJ - check, invitations - check, flowers - still working on it, and on and on.  

This should be a wonderful weekend - I have some quilting planned, and a new book to read.  Plus, my middle daughter has talked me into a new venture - I'll tell you all about it next week.  I'm a bit anxious about this one!  Until then, create something wonderful!

Loving the Weather!

The weather this past weekend and today is wonderful!  It is in the 80's and the sun is shining.  Since we have had many, many days of over 100 degree heat, this is heavenly!  I have opened windows and turned the AC off.  The weatherman tells us that the temps will go up again next week, but maybe, just maybe he/she is wrong!  I'd like for this to continue for awhile.  Some rain would also be welcome.
 
The wind has been blowing, and the drought we have been in is causing a lot of people a lot of grief.  There have been numerous wildfires all around Texas, and our heart goes out to those who are hurting.  I cannot even imagine what it must be like to lose everything you have to a fire - our prayers are with them as they heal.

I have been busy with customers quilts and have had little time to work on my own, but this weekend I took a break and got out a work in progress that has been around for several years.  It is an appliqued "Vintage Valentine" that was a block of the month at my LQS.  I kept up pretty well until the final block which was the medallion, and then three of the blocks were lost for several months.  So, it all got put in a box and shoved under the table.  I took it out, trimmed the blocks to the proper size and laid it out on the floor of the studio.  Now I am ready to border and quilt it.  If I'm really efficient, I might get it done before a certain wedding and it would make a nice surprise gift.  I am trying to embellish it some more, but I might wait until I finish quilting it.  Here's a pic I took of my studio floor last night!

What do you think?  Wedding gift? Or should I just keep it!! 

School has started here and my Texas grandkids are back in the groove.  The youngest started kindergarten this year and loves it.  My daughter sent a pic to me of the first day of class for both of them - I thought I would cry - I have many memories of my children on the first day of school. We took similar pics of them every year!

My other grandkids from the Northwest started school this week - I am waiting for those pics! 

I'm going on a road trip with a friend this next weekend, so I'll have a lot to report when I get back. Until then - spend some time in your studio and have fun.