Black and White and Red All Over

Staying with the same color scheme as yesterday, here's another Christmas gift. My eldest son and his sweetie are decorating their apartment in black and red with white accents. I discovered the book Skinny Quilts & Table Runners by That Patchwork Place last February when I was in Houston visiting my friend, the quilt shop owner. The book is a compilation "from today's top designers". The pattern I picked is called Astrological by Marti Michell. I knew then it would work up really nice in their colors but didn't get around to making it until this last trip to Houston. It is also my first attempt at machine quilting(just a little cross-hatching).






















Hubby and I are headed to Toledo today. He's being fitted for a new driver. He may not be able to play golf right now but it doesn't stop him from thinking about it and planning for next season. I'm going along to scope out a couple of quilt shops there. Isn't it nice that quilt season runs from January 1 thru December 31!! I'm hoping to find some great end-of-the-year sales!!

Happy New Year to all!!

Gifts revealed

Life here is slowly getting back to normal. Well, as normal as can be with a new puppy in the house. He's doing great but is so constant. I'm hoping he'll be completely trained by the time school starts again Jan. 5th. (I know I'm delusional!!!) I guess "grandma" will not get much sewing done for a while. ;-(

Back in November I showed you some Loralie fat quarters I brought home from Texas. Here is what they became.


I made my mom a purse, kleenex cover, and a zipper bag for Christmas. She has been wanting a bag like this to carry her Bible to church. I was really pleased with how they all turned out.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Happy Quilting and Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Past is Past!

Can you believe how quickly this Christmas flew by? We have already put away all of our Christmas decorations except the snowmen. They hang around here until about March then off they go into their boxes in the garage until next year. We had a great time with all the kids and their "girls" here. Our oldest brought the "grandpuppies" with him. That always stirs things up nicely. They are both Miniature Pinchers and are full of energy. We just love having all of them here from Florida.

Of course, my Christmas was all about quilting. I got a new chair for sewing and a new 36" X 48" cutting mat. I'm in the process of reorganizing the room so when that is done I'll have pictures of both. I'll also post pictures of all the sewing I've done over the past weeks that got wrapped up for gifts but first...I have to show you the cutest gift received by anyone this year.



















Meet Rudy(shortened from Rudolph(yes, the reindeer - he was after all a Christmas gift.) He is our daughter's. He is a full blood border collie. Isn't he just adorable. He's one big ball of fluff. Oh, and sharp little teeth too! He is 9 weeks old and was adopted from a rescue place in Indiana.
I think he will be keeping all of us on our toes for months to come. Our daughter plans to become a dog trainer as her line of work once she graduates from high school. In order to attend the school of her choice, the National K-9 Learning Center in Columbus, OH, she is required to bring a dog to train - hence Rudy has been added to our family. I think she has her work cut out for her!!

Thanks for stopping by!! I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours!!

Merry Christmas to All!!

Since arriving home from my trip to Houston December 8th I have been in fast forward mode. Note to self -- next year DO NOT plan any out of town trips after Thanksgiving!!! I did, however, get an amazing amount of sewing done while in Houston. So what else happens at a quilt store? Duh!! (Another Duh!! Yes I did bring home fabric and patterns. Those pictures coming after Christmas.)

I did not finish all the projects I had planned for gifts but did get the major ones done and they are wrapped and under the tree(or in route to their prospective recipients). Sorry the gifts are arriving late mom. ;-(

As you can see, I also got some baking done. These nut cookies are a tradition in my husband's family. They are a must every year even if nothing else gets baked. There is more but no pictures of anything else. Really the main reason I am on the computer at all today is to wish all of you who celebrate this wonderful season a blessed Christmas! I hope you enjoy this time of family and friends while remembering the real reason for this season doesn't lie in the decorations, gifts, food or even time with loved ones. Jesus was born one blessed night so that He could live and die to live again so we might have life eternal.

Born To Wander

Why is it that I always let Christmas sneak up on me? It's not like it doesn't come around the same time year after year. I love Christmas. I love all the music and the food and the lights. I plan every year to start on Christmas presents in August but it never happens. My house still looks like Thanksgiving. The snow falling outside should be motivation enough for me to dive into all those boxes of decorations out in the garage but I can't seem to stay home long enough to do that.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We left Wednesday to spend a few days with friends back in Illinois where we moved from last year. It was fantastic spending so much time with such good friends. (We really missed you guys, Lynn.) I even found time (of course) to visit the local quilt store where I spent so much time when we lived there. If you are ever in the area around Oblong, IL (yes, it is the only Oblong) you just have to stop in at the Village Stitchery. It's on Main Street. You can't miss it. Lisa and Sherry are the sweetest and they have that place just full of wonderful eye candy and treasures!! Our plan was to come home on Saturday because my sweet hubby and I were due to fly to Houston on Tuesday and back home again on Thursday (him for business, me for a visit). Instead our friends talked us into staying an extra day.

Well, as often happens, yesterday his trip was moved from leaving today back into the middle of January. So, what's a good wife to do? Cancel her visit too? NO WAY!!! I just called the airline and extended my stay. It's a good thing too because I'm such a dope and had made my reservations for Wednesday instead of Tuesday!! God has to work overtime watching out for me!! However, I'm so excited. You see, my best buds back in Houston now own The Quilt Room. Here are a couple of early pics from her place. I'll be sure to get new ones while I'm there.

Since I'll have to go to work with her every day (Aw, shucks you say!! hehe) I'm taking all my Christmas projects with me and will sew, sew, sew. How convenient will that be? All the supplies I could ever need right there at my fingertips. Can you spell H-E-A-V-E-N? So, here I go again back to Texas for the second time in less than 4 weeks.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!!
And Happy Holidays!!