Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year!





I wasn't able to post before the 15th, or before I left on the 21st to spend Christmas with my family in Massachusetts but I was able to finish 3 more purses, another monster, and 4 more scarves! Of course the monster was a companion for the orange one I made for my great Nephew Gus! The backpack tote/purse with the snap bags is for a niece whose favorite color is purple. The photos directly below show the outside, and then the inside of one of the reversable purses. This one went to one of my nieces whose favorite color is yellow.
This purse went to my sister-in-law, whose favorite color is purple.
As usual we stayed with my Gram, who turned 99 in August. She had fabric set aside that she wanted to find some matches in her stash so she could start another rail fence! We found one match, but then went to the local quilt store and found 2 beauties that really make the quilt striking! She got all of the blocks done, sewn into rows, and by the time I left she only needed to sew the rows together. I'll add the borders when she sends them to me. I also cut rectangles for a lap quilt for her to work on. I brought home a lap that I'll need to add borders to, quilt, bind and return :) We had a wonderful Christmas, even though the kids were disappointed that there wasn't any snow. The picture below is of my niece and her scarf that I finished on the drive to MA, and a bit while we were there! Her purse is next to her, and one of my earlier finishes :)
And finally, I was a pretty good girl this year and so Santa, among others, rewarded me with some yummy fabric and tools to quilt with! Beautiful Samantha is pointing out my favorite and what I will probably use first ! Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Decorating for Christmas . . .


Is also a trip down memory lane! Sometime in late September of every year, I start noticing Christmas ideas, fabrics etc., and start dreaming of how I'd like to decorate my house for Christmas. This year I really started to dream after I discovered a website Pinterest.com (do NOT go there unless you are willing to lose MANY hours of your precious time) I even created a board there, titled "Christmas" and started pinning my favorite ideas. I noticed that I was leaning towards ideas that were red and white, and I thought, it would be really pretty to do everything in red and white, I even bought some mesh to do a red and white wreath . . . Then we took the tree from the garage (real trees are too aromatic for me) and the decorations from under the eves . . . and then I remembered, sigh. Every box I open, every ornament I unwrap is a memory. Especially all of the ones that the children made - I love those more every year! Among my favorites are decorations or cards made from the hand prints of my children. Some, like those below, were made at my children's daycare. Dated on the back, they are perfect time capsules.
Others, like the wreath, I made for relatives when my daughter was 1 year old, but I remembered to dip her fingers in red paint to make berries in their wreathes! The tree was a brother/sister combination, with the little one's prints for the top, and big brothers paw prints for the base of the tree. Another year I used plaid fabric and heat n bond ultra hold for her hand print. It is plaid on both sides, I just fused the fabric together and used a permanent marker for the year and her name. I wish I had thought of that one when they were both infants, it would have been nice to have one for each year, just different fabrics. I also wish I had invested in better quality paper and paint to do the projects, but the ideas were kind of spur of the moment and I just used what I had on hand, I'm grateful to have them! So, I guess until I get a bigger house, I'll just stick to decorating with my memories!! Happy Quilting!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

November Finishes

I keep thinking I had finished more things this month, and I guess I did, but other people's projects - not mine! I have done alot of long arm work this past month as people want gifts or wall hanging's done in time for Christmas. I am showing today one of the scarves that I made, but couldn't show earlier since it was a birthday present. These scarves are sooooo easy! They are knitted, which normally I can't do because of carpel tunnel and basal joint arthritis. They are made from premier yarns and is called Starbella yarn, (which I can only find at Benjamin Franklin Craft store) the yarn is like a fishing net, with a distinct top and bottom, just cast on 8 or 9 stitches and simply knit! It goes very quickly, although you have to knit slowly in order to open the top loop, I guess that's why my hands don't hurt so much when I do them! Lots of fun and really cute! Well, going to start dragging out the Christmas decorations and lights today, I bought the kid's chocolate Advent Calender a month ago . . . now where did I put them? Hope you have fun getting ready for your holiday! Happy Quilting!