Merry Chrismtas

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday.

Its a Piggy Christmas

Great new piggy items made their way to m y house for Christmas.  Love the pig fabric!!!  Will have to find something perfect for it.  Plus a piggy spatula.

This is Arthur the Christmas pig, he was feeling left out, so I added a Christmas ribbon to him.

Christmas Vacation

I am so excited that we are out of school for Christmas vacation. I guess I should be politically correct and call it Winter Break, but to me it is Christmas vacation and that is what I am going to call it. Vacation got off to a great start on Friday night with Thimbles.  Unfortunately I was too exhausted from such a busy week at work to stay too late, I did get to see some great quilts.  Sarah is working on her version of Kitty's Baskets from Pat's book.  Her version looks dramatically different from Pat's neutral one. 

Teresa was getting in the spirit with her miniature Christmas hat.

Carmen's version of Scrappy Nines, another quilt from Pat's book.  She is doing her version in grape and neutrals.  I really like it.

Lynn a new member to our group totally wowed us with her log cabin quilt.  It is a gift for her mom.  It was absolutely beautiful.  She did a really different setting and it looked like stars.  If the front of the quilt wasn't enough, when we saw the letters on the back, several of us had tears in our eyes.  She and her brothers and sisters had written letters to their mother, and Lyn had embroidered them for the back. 

 One reason I didn't stay too late at Thimbles was I had a busy weekend  ahead of me.  We were doing Christmas with DH's family on Sunday and I had to do some major house cleaning on Saturday, plus start preparing the food. The menu was lamb, roasted green beans with potatoes, cranberry apple casserole, bread, fruit salad, and an assortment of cookies and candies for dessert.   Lamb is a big tradition in his family and not something that I am very comfortable cooking.  I wanted to get it in the marinade on Saturday, plus get as much of the food prepared as I could.  All in all I think everything turned out ok.  The lamb appeared to be a big hit, I didn't eat any of it, that is one meat that I just can't bring myself to eat.  After a late lunch it was present time.  Way to many presents but it was very nice.  DH racked up on the goodies.  I got several books that I had asked for plus to gift certificates to the quilt shop up in blue Ridge.  Can't wait to spend them!!

Joe's mom and niece opening presents.

Christmas Lunch

 The best people work in Elementary Schools.   I am lucky enough to work with three of the  most wonderful people in our office,  Julie, Maryette, and Patrice.  They prepared lunch for a number of us today for Christmas.  Not only did they prepare lunch but they decorated too.  I love the little snowman in the fern.  There was soup, several different kinds of salads, (the fruit salad was wonderful), bread, and of course the desserts were yummy.  It was a nice break from reading the Polar Express.

Lovely table in Patrice's office.

Yummy cornbread to go with Maryette's delicious potato soup. 

Great Christmas Reads

 As most of you have figured out by now, I love Christmas, anything to do with the holiday, but especially Christmas books.  I have several favorites.  One of my favorite adult holiday books is by Truman Capote, A Christmas Memory.   It tells the story of when Capote was a child living with relatives and the Christmas tradition they had of making fruitcakes for "special" people.  This is a wonderful heartwarming book, not very long at all. 

Another of my favorites is Clay's Quilt Silas House.  I didn't think I could do justice to the summary so I borrowed from Amazon. 

After his mother is killed, four-year-old Clay   Sizemore finds himself alone in a small Appalachian mining town. At first, unsure of Free Creek, he slowly learns to lean on its residents as family. There’s Aunt Easter, who is always filled with a sense of foreboding, bound to her faith above all; quiltmaking Uncle Paul; untamable Evangeline; and Alma, the fiddler whose song wends it way into Clay’s heart. Together, they help Clay fashion a quilt of a life from what treasured pieces surround him. . .

One of my favorite books to read to little ones is Auntie Claus.  Each year Sophie tries to figure out why her Aunt disappears to in October and doesn't return until March.  It must have something to do with her favorie saying, "No matter what the holiday, remember it is better to give than receive."  Will Sophie solve the mystery before Christmas?

I don't do this one justice when reading  but I try really hard, a Cajun version of the classic Night Before Christmas.

You can't go wrong with Olivia helping out in the kitchen for the holidays.

The Polar Express, no need for words.

Olive, the Other Reindeer.  What dog hasn't wanted to be a reindeer.

DH's Birthday

 Yesterday was my DH's birthday, Happy Birthday.  I usually take the day off and we do something together, but I since I don't have a clerk this year, and I have already taken several days off for unexpected events I decided to work.  One reason I take the day off, is I cook him something special and I don't like to be rushed when I am doing it.  Yesterday we had Shrimp Fettuccine with cream sauce, fresh croissants, salad with honey balsamic dressing and for dessert decadent Chocolate pudding.  (his favorite dessert)  For the first time I made him something (that he could actually wear out in public), I was inspired by a fellow blogger last year to  make him a camo fleece top.  It was  my first experience sewing with fleece and it went together perfectly.  I think that he liked it.  I should  have made it a tiny little big bigger but it fits.



Camo fleece shirt

The first year we were together I got him an ornament for his birthday and it has become a tradition.  I usually get him an animal ornament or some type of outdoorsy one, this year he got a bear.  I bought it because it had such a goofy look on its face. 

I love Christmas!!

 When it comes to Christmas, I revert to childhood and get excited about everything, especially lights.  Last night DH and I went to the Garden of Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  It was out of this world!! (well worth the price).  This was the first year for this light show and I hope it will continue.  If the crowds last night were anything to judge by it will definitely be back.  The fountain to the right contains a one of a kind piece by Dale Chihuly, it is something to see, especially with all of the blue and green Christmas lights around it. 

The light orbs that pulse in color to the Christmas songs.

Poinsettia Tree in the greenhouse.

One of my favorites, the red and white snowflakes.

Skyline of Midtown. 

I can't believe that I won something!!!

 I never, and I mean never in anything.  But I must be living right, I have won two things in the last month.  Wooh!!  My first win was a tub of cookie dough from school, (you don't see it here, so you can probably judge my enthusiasm for that item).  What you do see, I am so excited about.  I had a quilt on The Blogger's Quilt Festival and my number was picked for one of their wonderful prizes.  I won the give away from Prairie Moon, (what could be better for the Quilting Cowgirl?)  I was so excited the day the package came in the mail.

Festive, western inspired tissue paper, what's in it?

Oh, boy!  A pattern, four fat quarters and a stocking kit.

Can't wait to get started on this stocking kit.  Too bad it probably won't be finished for this Christmas.

It's beginning to look like Christmas

 It should start to look like Christmas, it took three days to get my  tree up and decorated.  I love real trees, but for the last few years I have caved into pressure for DH and gone the artificial way.  ( I have to admit they are easier to put up and deal with).  Here is DH putting an antique Santa ornament that belonged to his Grandfather on the tree.  Our tree has all and I do mean all kinds of ornaments.  Some are mine from when I was little and some are were DH's.  I also buy ornaments anytime we go on vacation, they last longer than T-shirts and you can always find Christmas ornaments.  It is fun to put them on the tree and remember where we go them. 

Here is the tree all decorated, except for the scene and goes under it.  That job belongs to DH. 



Some of my many pillows.  I have lots and lots of Christmas pillows, this one is my favorite, All Jolly Old Fat Men Welcome.   



Snowman peeps add a special touch to hot chocolate. 

Christmas Quilt Show

I know I am late getting my quilt up, but better late than never.  Christmas quilts are  my absolute favorite, they are my favorite to make and to look at.  I couldn't decide which one to post and finally decided to go with the last one that I finished.  It is a stitchery pattern from Crabapple Hill, Snowman A-Z.  It took me almost two years to get all of the blocks done, but I had a great time doing it.  The one thing I wish I had done differently is buy more of the border fabric to use as the backing fabric.  I love my candy cane inner border and binding.   

The Truck Fairy Came

My DH had been talking about getting either a new truck or a new car for the last few weeks.  I really didn't think that he would get either one for a while.  DH doesn't like to spend money.  However after looking at only one truck he decided to purchase it.  I couldn't believe it.  It was  a great deal, a 2011 with only 7,000 miles for a great price.  I was told him that he would never get a deal like that again and he should definitely take it.  It rides great, and DH looks pretty happy with it.

Reconnected

I have been out of computer range for most of the last two weeks.  That sounds really strange in this day but it is true.  I was out of town unexpectectedly for my Uncle's funeral the week before Thanksgiving.  I was at my mom's house and she doesn't have Internet access, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  This was my mom's only brother, he had been sick for the last few months. so his death wasn't totally unexpected.  It was a chance for the family to get together, a sad chance.   We haven't all been together since my dad died three years ago.  Here I am with my mom, my brother, (who looks just like my dad). and my niece.  My great niece was trying to sneak into the photo, that is her bow that you can see in the lower right.  It was a sad time but great to see everyone.  My uncle was a WWII veteran  and had a military funeral.  I did ok, until they played Amazing Grace and a member of each branch of the service came in a saluted the casket.  Amazing Grace played on  the bagpipes always makes me cry there is just something about it. 
After coming back from the funeral, I was only home for two days before heading up to our cabin for Thanksgiving.  It was great to be away from everything for a few days but I did wonder what was going on in blog land.  Hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

What I bought in Houston

 As you know I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to travel to Houston with my three best friends, Becky, Krisie, and Pat.  It was the best time, I am still telling everyone about it.  Yesterday I was going through my purchases again and realized that I hadn't posted about them.  First, I can't even hardly to begin Spree, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go.  We got there just as they were letting people in, didn't even have to wait in line.  Becky and I wanted to head to Moda, it wasn't hard to figure out where the were, all you had to do was look for the huge, and I do mean huge crowd.  I knew exactly what I wanted, the new Primitive Gatherings Christmas line.  I managed to make my way to the front and ask a fat quarter bundle.    Luckily they still had them!!  I got my bundle and my Moda collectors item bag and then when exploring to see what else I could find.  There was so much to look at, I was in quilter's heaven.  I could have bought much more than I did, but I had given myself a budget.  ( I only went over  little!!!!)

The new books were very tempting, however I only bought one, the new one from Edyta Sitar, Reasons for Quilts. It is a wonderful book and one that I would recommend to any quilter. The patterns are absolutely out of this world and the stories that go with each pattern are wonderful to read.





Here is my Primitive Gatherings bundle, plus a bundle called Serenity.

Before going to Spree we headed to Painted Pony, I had heard of this shop from Pat but wasn't prepared for all of the great fabrics and patterns they had.  I bought some great fabric for a vest and a pattern.  It is now cut out but not made yet, have to find some lining for it.  I also got a few fat quarters of some diawabo fabrics  for my Snow Day's stitchery that I am working on.  Can't wait to cut into those pretties. 



Diawabo fat quarters

Now I need to get busy and finish some projects.

New Stitchery project

I always have some type of hand work project going, usually stitchery or applique.  A couple of weeks ago I dug out the Snow Days pattern by Crab Apple Hill Designs.  I purchased the pattern last winter and put it aside.  I know that none of you would ever do that!!  During the summer I found the fabric that I wanted to use for the background of all of the stitchery blocks, it is barely off white with tone on tone swirls. The swirls look like snow blowing in the wind.  I am using one of my new favorite tools to mark the blocks off, the Frixon Pens from Pilot.  I think I am in love with these pens, I have them in blue, black and red.  They are absolutely wonderful for marking patterns off.  It leaves a fine line and if you don't cover it up, all you have to do is iron it out.  What could be easier? 

I am also using one of my other new favorites, Cosmo thread.  My friend Kristie had some of this thread last year but with my stock of DMC I wasn't going to buy any, even though it is really nice.  I did decide that I wanted to use the recommended thread for this project.  The color is really unusual, it is called Seasons and is a greenish, greyish, brown if that makes since.  You can see the first block that I have completed below.  The light isn't great, will try to take another photo or wait and show block #2. 

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I always look forward to seeing all of the wonderful quilts and reading the stories about them in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.    This is my snowman stitchery quilt that I just finished.  I purchased the fabric two years ago while on Christmas break.  I usually go shopping with my friends Becky and Kristie sometime during our winter break.  Kristie and I  both saw this pattern and fell in love with it.  I have to admit it took me a while to get going on it, but once I did I couldn't wait to finish it.  I love the way Leisa quilted it.  I should have taken a better picture of the quilting, she put snowflakes all through it. I had debated on if I should let my mom hand quilt it or let Leisa machine quilt it.  Nothing against my mom, but I love what Leisa did.  The only thing I have left to do is make a label for it.

Going to Market

Last Thursday my friend Kristie and I flew to Houston for the Quilt Market.  It was our "first time".  (I hope it isn't my last).  We were there to help out our friend Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Quilt Co,  she was there to promote her new book, Spotlight on Neutrals, and her new pattern Glory Garden.  On Friday, Kristie, Becky, Pat, and BJ headed to the market floor to start working on the booth.  As I said this was my first trip and first time setting up a booth, everything was there waiting for us.  It didn't take us long to get going. (when you have two current media specialist, and one retired media specialist there was lots of years experience setting up book fairs, this wasn't that different).  After getting the booth started, we took a break to help Pat out at School House.  Kristie, BJ,  and I were quilt holders, Becky was the flyer lady and Pat did a great job talking about her neutral book and quilts.  There was lots of positive response. 



After School House, finishing up the booth.



Pat and BJ in the finished booth, ready to sell, sell, sell.

After getting the booth all ready to go, we made a trip out to Painted Pony.  More on that tomorrow.

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone has a Frightfully Happy Halloween.  Just came back from Houston yesterday. Had a great time and will start posting about the trip tomorrow.