Last Little Gift

A friend visited me last summer and watched as my machine stitched this design out. She never forgot it and asked if I would do one for her.  Of course I forgot about her request until yesterday....... I quickly got it stitched out and mailed off..... whew!  I think she wants to frame it.
These types of machine embroidery designs are amazing. I sat and watched as the needle did the work.... LOL..... I used a dark bronze thread on a tone-on-tone beige fabric. (5" X 7")

Favorite Fabrics

I made this quilt from some of my favorite fabrics.... you know, those textured fabrics that I can't resist buying. I did the foundation method, strips of fabrics different widths, sew, flip and press. The first border was sort of bland until I added the leaves and berries.... nothing fancy but that little touch made me happier. Then I followed up with a 4 inch small print floral.  Love it! The quilt measures 48 inches square.

Christmas Cheer!

Christmas Eve was spent with the boys, wives and of course my little princesses. Then today, Christmas day was spent with our church family and a tasty luncheon.
Now, I'm napping while the dishwasher does its thing.
I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

"Rules"

Christmas Cookie Rules

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.
2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.
3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend.  Because your friend's first cookie is calories free, (rule #1) yours is also.  It would be rude to let your friend sample alone, and being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.
4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move.  This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.
5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.
6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories.  Red ones have three and the green ones have five..... one calorie for each letter.  Make more red ones!
7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street" have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.
8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.
9.  Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate.  We all know ho calories like to CLING!
10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed out have no calories because cookies used for "medicinal" purposes never have calories.  

It's a rule!  So, go out and enjoy those Christmas Cookies.... we only get them once a year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Finally Finished

As you all know, my "Lazy Hearts" BOM was over this month. But I had not sewn the blocks together. I'd experimented on my EQ7 with designs but wasn't happy. The blocks are so scrappy that I just couldn't decide. So I dug into my scraps of 2 1/2" squares, cut them down to 1 1/4" squares and hundreds of squares later, the blocks came together. I used tone-on-tone cornerstones to add that little something to the overall quilt and finished off with a dark 2 1/2" border.
Me like!
What do you think?
If you are wondering where all the BOM pattern are, I moved them to this page. Just scroll down to find them.

Tiny Squares

I've been cutting these little babies all day to use them in a project that need to finish before the new year.  They remind me of confetti at this point but will really bring my little quilt together.  Maybe I'll get to sew tomorrow.  Maybe it will happen..... we'll see..... sigh!

Great House Cleaning Music

For me, that is.
I can listen to the video over and over during the Christmas holidays until the vacuuming is done, the mopping and even dusting and lose a couple of pounds as I dance and swap to it....... just saying and sharing!

Christmas Up At The Cabin

I made this log cabin blocked quilt a few years ago from fabrics that looked Christmas-eee. I used some of my famous textured fabrics for the actual log cabin center. Final measurement 56 inches square.

Something to Think About

I saw these quotes worth re-quoting in an Almanac and wanted to share them with you all.

• "Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us." (Earl Nightingale)
• "A well developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life." (William A. Ward)
• "Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit." (Aristotle)
• "It is wise to keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final." (Roger Babson)
• "Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk." (Doug Larson)
• "I never learned anything while I was talking." (Larry King)
• "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." (Victor Borge)
• "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength." (Charles Spurgeon)
• "A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down." (Arnold H. Glascow)

Coming Soon

Season Greetings everyone. Wow, Christmas is almost here with anticipation of another "big" meal from my family but I have a "big" surprise for them...... hehehehehehehe..... the boys are not getting that turkey and dressing dinner we just ate at Thanksgiving. Nope, I'm going with a good old rib eye, shrimp, baked potato, green beans, homemade rolls (to die for), Waldorf salad, apple pie, peach cobbler and iced tea menu. That should hold them!!
My little princesses are getting various size boxes. Yep, you read it correctly. They love playing with boxes, climbing into them, building with them, etc...... so who am I to deny them anything.....  hehehehehe

Meanwhile, I've been busy developing yet another BOM for the new year. This one is hand embroidery oriented  and really fun, although my skills are fair to midland, I love getting in the practice.  Sorry no photo of what's to come but stay tuned for I will post this new one very early New Year's morning.

Thoughts of Apple Pie

Yesterday I was craving something sweet so I gathered up the ingredients for an apple pie.  This was going to be tasty. My grandma use to make apple pies this way with the crisscross dough on top. I popped it in the oven just as unexpected company came.  Needless to say, I had to share slices of the pie with them..... sigh!

Just Sharing

I saw these items in a restroom of one of my favorite quilt shops and just had to share with you all.  No worries, the owner gave me permission to snap away!

 I think this first one applies to dogs as well.

The following photos are framed on the bare walls. I really love this idea. What do you think??

When Nature Calls - Block #5

 Background type fabric (example)

Block #5 is up and ready. I am really excited about this particular block because of the background fabric choices. This block is a great one for that unusual woodsy, forest type fabric because this particular outhouse is deep in the great outdoors, so to speak.
I have provided a sample above along with a fabric that compliments it for greenery.
A PDF has been provided on my sidebar plus a LINK right here because sometimes I forget. Enjoy!