Happy New Year

Where did 2010 go?  It seems like just yesterday that we were starting 2010. All in all this has been a good year, no major personal disasters.  I did think that my birthday would be a low point of the year, I was not looking forward to turning 50, however it was the best birthday ever. I have come to the conclusion that age is just a number and you are only as old as you feel.  I definitely don't feel 50, at least most days.   I was able to spend a lot of time with both family and friends this year and hope to spend more time with family int he coming year. 

This year my two resolutions were to finish some of my UFO's and to live each day to the fullest.  I finished some UFO"S although not as many as I had hoped.  (will definitely work on that one again next year).  I think that for the most part I have lived each day to the fullest at least I have tried on most days. One other resolution for the new year is to be more consistent with my blogging, I have really good intentions but sometimes life just gets in the way, either in a good way or a bad way.   My wish for the New Year is that everyone have a safe and happy year. 

One Bright Christmas spot!!

For years I have wanted a red KitchenAid mixer and had just put off buying one.  Hubby surprised me with the exact one that I had been looking at.  Can't wait to use it!!!  Will be a while since we had to leave all of our presents up at the cabin.

I'm back!!

Did you ever have one of those Christmas's that you just wanted to be over.  I have to admit that this was the first year that has ever happened to to me.  I love Christmas and it takes a lot to dampen my holiday cheer.  This year if it could go wrong it did.  The Sunday before Christmas my hubby's last and favorite uncle died in Virginia.   Bill was 92 and had been sick for several years so in many ways his death was a blessing.  This meant an unexpected trip to Virginia for the funeral.  While there hubby wasn't feeling well, which called for a trip to the doc in the box in Blue Ridge on Christmas Eve; he had a severe ear infection, sinus infection and an upper respiratory infection.  Needless to say he didn't have a lot of Christmas cheer.   One bright spot was on Christmas morning when we got up it was snowing, and it was beautiful.  The bad thing was it snowed all day, we ended up with 8 inches of snow before it was all over with.  I have never seen that much snow here in Georgia before, it was our first white Christmas since the 1800's. 



This is one of the snowmen that I built.  It was great snow for snowmen.

 I had all of these wonderful ideas for pre-Christmas blog postings, now I am just glad that it is over with.

Evening with friends

 There is nothing better than getting together with good friends at this time of year, or at any time of year.  Earlier in the year I tried really hard to have friends over once a month for a sewing evening, somehow during the summer things got away from me and this is the first time in months that I have had everyone over.  Karen, Becky, Pat, and Cindy came over to sew, laugh, and drink.  Karen was showing off her new toy, a Kindle.  She has even made a cover for it.  Looks good.

Pat spent most of the evening looking at magazines and enjoying a glass of wine. ( She did bring sewing but no thread)

 Becky is making a scarf, for her son. 

Cindy was working on the binding for this gorgeous quilt.  Cindy looks great, congratulations on the weight loss.

Christmas Reading

 Two of my favorite things are reading and quilting.  Some days I would put quilting first, other days I would list reading first.  Today is one of those reading days.  I read a variety of books and at this time I year I just can't help but read sentimental holiday books.  I love Debbie Macomber's books and enjoy her holiday books.  The latest one, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, is a heartwarming story of the true meaning of Christmas.  It also reminds us that unfortunately not everyone has wonderful childhood Christmas memories.  Would definitely recommend this one, it is a very quick read.

Mary Kay Andrews is a local Atlanta author and writes extremely amusing books.  Blue Christmas is no exception.  Weezie is up to her neck in decorating for Christmas and at the same time trying to instill a little bit of Christmas cheer in her boyfriend.  Things don't turn out so well when she invites his family over for Christmas Eve dinner. 

 

This is only the second in the Domestic Diva series by Krista Davis that I have read.  They are basic mysteries with recipe and organizational tips.  This one, The Diva Cooked a Goose involves a Boxing Day murder of a wanna be Domestic Diva.  Sophie is called on to prove that her sister-in-law's sister didn't commit murder.  The characters are believable and it is a quick amusing holiday read. 
I am always looking for good holiday books, so if you have some suggestions leave them for me. 

Ta Da

Here is is, a finished Christmas Pie Pincushion.  I love the way it turned out.  Might have to make some more of these.

My new thing

 Who knew that pincushions could be so much fun.  I saw this pattern on the web a few weeks ago and thought I just had to have one of those.  It has two of my favorite things, quilting and stitchery.













After doing the piecing and the stitchery you make a pincushion sandwich.

Then you  turn and stuff with walnut shells or fiberfill.  I still need to do the holly leaves and the the ribbon.  Have to finish that tonight,





All Aboard

Each year I try to do something special for the holidays at school.  After my gypsy wagon earlier this year, I  knew that I had to step it up a little.  I decided to go all out and create a train for the Polar Express.  I had done this a few years ago, but all I did was line up a few chairs and put our some fake snow.  This year I used the same dividers that I used for the wagon, covered them in black paper and created my cowcatcher, along with the headlight and the lights around the top of the train.

One of our teachers even volunteered to create some windows to go on the inside of the train.  They are beautiful.  They kids are so excited about it.  I dress like one of Santa's elves and as I finish the story I get a special delivery from the North Pole, a box of bells.  I keep it in the freezer so it will be really cold when I had them out to the kids.  I even had all of our cafeteria workers and custodians come down on Friday for a reading.  I love my job.

Just in time

I have gotten so behind on the new Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.  I did the first two steps and still havent' done the third step.  That is why I was so excited to see that we had a new phone book in the mail yesterday.  We never use our phone books, so I knew that this would be perfect to use for the string blocks.  Hopefully, my  I will be able to answer the call of my sewing room this weekend.

Secret Santa Time

A  while ago I signed up for the Secret Santa Swap.  I love Christmas and thought this would be fhte perfect opportunity to make something for a fellow blogger.  I decided to make a table rummer and a pillow for my Secret Santa.  I got so carried away that I forgot to take a picture before I sent it to my Secret Santa, Margaret in Arizona.  I was really excited yesterday to get home and find that  I had recived my pacakage from my Secret Santa.  It was so exciting to open the package.  I loved the way it was wrapped.

I quickly tore open the package and found two hand made knit dishclothes and two hand towels that were decorated with lovely Christmas material.  Thank you so much Margaret.  I am already using them.

It called, but I didn't answer

Yes, over the weekend my sewing room called my name, very loudly.  But I didn't answer.  Not because I didn't want to, I wasn't able.  Last Monday I had a root canal, this was my second and the first one did not bother me at all, this one decided to wait until the weekend to kick in.  I thought I was going to die, luckily I didn't.  It did mean that there was no sewing at my house over the weekend.  Bummer.

Folk Art Tribute # 4

Just finished block four for the Folk Art Tribute BOM.  I love doing this, probably because the pieces are so big, they are easy to do.  I just noticed that one leg is a little off, but it is folk art.

Design Wall

Yes, that is a blank design wall.  There is absolutely nothing on it except a few threads from an old project.  I finished by Secret Santa Swap gift and that is the last thing that I have worked on.  Thanksgiving really wiped me out, and what Thanksgiving didn't wipe out having a root canal on Monday did.  Now I have to start decorating for Christmas.  One thing that I am very proud of is the fact that all, yes all of my Christmas shopping is done and most of it is wrapped.  Yeah!!!!  I hear my sewing room calling my name this weekend.