Getting the Valentines Ready

No matter what my intentions, it seems that I just can't make myself post regularly.  Well, I 'intend' to post again tomorrow, but we'll just see what happens.
I've been busy with lots of sewing and cross stitch.  I'm working on a small Easter sampler and have it more than half done.  I'll show you when it's done.

 

I've been working on a table runner and candle mat for Valentines day.  I've used Sandi Andersen's candle mat pattern that she posted last fall.  I had intended to applique a heart in each corner, but when I got it all put together, I liked the look of the plain corners.  The fabrics are so busy that the plain white seemed right.  By the way, I won the fabrics in a giveaway at seventhsister in a giveaway in August.  When I saw Sandi's pattern, I thought it would be perfect for these fabrics.

I've also finished up a heart table runner that I started last year.  It's not very well made, but that's ok, it's for me.  Whatever, it's another UFO off the list!

I love basket blocks, and recently made one for a swap partner.  It makes me want to make more of them.

Happy New Year

I know, I know ... we're almost 2 weeks into the new year, but as usual, I'm a little way behind.  Another year has passed, and I always look hopefully to the new one. I always hope I will finish up some of my UFOs, and so last year joined OPAM with high hopes for some finishes. Well, I had finishes, but they were almost all new projects. As far as I remember, the only UFO was my Christmas table runner which I started in November 09.  This year I've joined Myra's PhD (projects half done) challenge. I've only signed up for 2 finishes - a half finished charity quilt, and my Dear Jane.  The challenge only runs until June so the chances of me actually getting it completely done are zero slim.  I'm planning to make it my top priority, but I seriously doubt that I can get it completely hand quilted by June. 

I've finally gotten back to sewing, and have completed 2 more triangles.  I can now count  the number of pieces left to do without using all of my fingers!  I can't believe it - 8 more to go.  

I'm also trying to catch up on the Moose on the Porch quilt along.  I had only made one of the blocks, and the 6th  was put up this week.  I printed them all out and made the 2nd one today and hope to do one a day until I get them done.  I made the blocks in last Moose on the Porce quilt along, but wanted to make a large quilt. I'm making these blocks with the same fabrics so that I can put them all together into one project.  I may remake this block - it's just too white.  We'll see...

I volunteered to 'angel' a mugrug swap for Aunt Pitty Pat.  I still have to get a couple of things to send with the mug and mat, but I really enjoyed making the mugrug.  I'm going to have to make a few for myself.

Your prayers please

I had so looked forward to the holidays, and getting back on here to tell you all about it.  Everything that I could control was fine - my children were all here, gifts were getting wrapped and we were enjoying each other's companay.  But God has his own plan.  On Christmas Eve we got the news that my sister had passed away.  My heart goes out to her children, and I ask for your prayers for them as they learn to deal with this new reality.

Merry Christmas

From my house to yours, may you have all the joys and blessings of the season.  Merry Christmas!

More Trees

We were under a winter storm advisory yesterday, so we weren't surprised to wake to snow.  We only got about 2 inches, but since it rained all day yesterday, we knew there had to be a lot of ice out there as well.  It's been a good day to stay inside and sew.

I finally have all my trees up, and I've found a place to put a new one.  I even found a tree I liked at Crafts 2000, but it never has gone on sale, so I won't be having that one.  I'll find one sometime.  Anyway, this is my family room tree, all decorated in painted glass ornaments.  I still have about 100 small ornaments to put on it.  They always go inside the branches to kind of fill it up, but I may not do it this year.

This next tree is my grandson's favorite.  I have been a Star Trekkie (not quite that bad) since the original show back in the 60s, and fell in love with Star Wars when the first one came out.  I've been collecting the ornaments for quite a few years.  The first one was a Star Trek shuttle craft with the voice of Mr. Spock giving a Christmas greeting.  My children never did like either ST or SW, and always made fun of my "traditional" tree ornaments.  When my grandson came along though, he fell in love with them and was surprised to find that his Grandma really liked watching the movies with him!

My last tree is a mini for the kitchen counter.  I've had it for about 15 years, and have always used a cheapy little tree skirt.  You know, the red fleecy stuff with a red and white edging.  For all these years, when I put it up I thought that I really should make a skirt for it.  Well, finally, I did! It was a little more work than I thought it would be, but it's done and I love it.

Also, the kitchen table looked so bare without a runner.  I remembered that I had started one last year and hadn't finished it, but it took me awhile to find it.  It was pieced, sandwiched and basted.  When I started working on it, I remembered why I had given up last year.  It just wasn't flat, and I remembered all the time I had spent trying to improved it.  So I tried to quilt it into submission.  It's ok, but not great.  It still isn't very flat, but that's ok as well.  I learned years ago that if I wanted something perfect, it couldn't be something that I made, because my work is far, far from perfect!  But I keep trying, and hopefully improving.

Decorating

I can't believe it's been more than 6 weeks since I last posted, but hopefully, I can get back on track. I've had almost endless computer problems. Thank goodness for my helpful son who fixed all the problems.  It's working beautifully now, and the only thing I lost was my bookmarks.  I guess if they're important enough to me, I'll find them again.

Along with not blogging, I have also not been sewing, so I don't have anything to show you today.  I'm working on two Christmas tablerunners, so maybe I'll have one finished tomorrow.  Oh, maybe not - tomorrow is card day.  Anyway, soon...

What I have been doing this week, though, is decorating Christmas trees.  I love trees and decorate five.   I only have 3 of them done, and hope to do the fourth one tonight.  I found a place to put another tree, but I haven't come up with a theme for it.  I also don't have the tree yet, so I'll plan for it for next year, I guess.  This is my traditional tree with all the ornaments I've bought, been given, or have made with the kids.  I always really like it with all the memories it brings back as I decorate it.  My grandson helped me this year and asked me about each ornament as he pulled it from its wrapping and hung it on the tree.  It made me really think about each one and who exactly had given it to me.

This one decorates my entryway, and it's really pretty.  I stumbled and almost fell down the stairs as I was decorating the top.  Fortunately, I was able to really grab the railing and didn't go all the way down.  My arm sure felt it the next day.

I'll show you the rest as I get them done.

Home Again

So did you think I'd fallen off the edge of the earth?  I've been here,

spending 7 days cruising the Mexican Riviera on this wonderful ship.  The cruise was wonderful, after the first 2 days, and until the day before we returned.  We sailed from San Diego, which I understand is a sunny, southern California city.  You couldn't prove it by me.  It was cold, damp and dreary when we arrived on Friday, and even worse the next day when we boarded our ship.  We sailed on Saturday (cold) and had 2 days at sea (cold) before arriving in Mazatlan.  It was nice to finally get to some warmth.  From then, everything was so nice until our last day at sea.  Again, it was cold and the sea was rough.  After breakfast I spotted flying fish and had a great time watching for them.  I didn't realize until almost too late that I was getting seasick.  (shouldn't watch the water when the seas are rough!)  Fortunately, they keep plenty of seasick medicine onboard, and I was fine in no time.