Home again!

new PJs all around

not to be left out

It has been a few very busy but relaxing days. We spent the holiday with our daughter at her house. With the crazy "no snow" weather the travelling was easy to do. We did a little shopping, decorating cookies and lots of movie watching. She lives near Lake Huron so with the big wind storm we had, one day we went down to the beach and the waves were amazing. It was the closest we got to being cold, with the wind whipping off the lake.

beach at Port Elgin

All the projects I wanted to finish were completed. Deadlines do seem to work for me.So here are just some of the things I have done but couldn't show until now.

 But now to catch up on things. I have fallen terribly behind on the Bonnie Hunter mystery. I think I started clue 2 and have gone no farther. So this week that is what is on my agenda. I also have to get the layout design ready for a class I am teaching in a couple of weeks. We will be paper piecing but I am not sure what the final project will be yet. YIKES!!!
Heading out with a get together with friends so not much slow stitching will be getting done today but check in with Kathy and see what others are up to today. If you still have family around ...enjoy and if all visitors are gone and the house is quiet...enjoy that too!!!

Done Yet???!?!?!

Here I am sewing and quilting like a mad woman. Good thing DH isn't too busy as he is cooking so I can keep sewing. I decided at the last minute to make two lap quilts as gifts. Crazy yes!!! Well they are almost done and I can move onto some last minute knitting that I have to complete. I have enough time...that is what I keep telling myself. I will share pictures after the holidays once all the gifts have been opened....don't want to ruin any surprises!!
Luckily Christmas is at my daughter's house so my need to clean and cook is greatly decreased this year. I only have to bring dessert and baking. I am making cookies at my house and we will decorate them at her house.

from 2 years ago...my Christmas card to you!!!

The ground is white here today and the snow is falling but they are calling for rain so not sure if it will be a white Christmas or not but at least for now a little white stuff at least makes it feel like Christmas.

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and all things new and exciting for the New Year. Have a great holiday with family and friends and we will visit again after the holidays.

Deadlines are looming

Noel and Holly 

Yes  we are starting that last full week before Christmas, when the push is on!! Why oh why do I do this to myself. I had all summer and fall to make stockings, quilts and other items and here I am trying to get everything done this week. Oh well makes for more to write about I guess.

3 stockings and tree skirt

So here we go...since DH and I are going to our daughters we needed new stockings that she can keep there at her house. "Oh and mom I could use a tree skirt too in gold and reds" she says! So they are done and I also finished the binding on this twister quilt that I started last month. I machine quilted it with the words of Jingle bells. It doesn't show up very well but I know it is there. The two bears Holly(red), Noel(green) were given to me by a friend. I have made them each a quilt and they are going to group that helps children in crisis.They may even help someone  this Christmas season.

Twisted Christmas quilt

blocks made ..top to come tonight

I have just added to lap quilts to my agenda. This is the layout of one, very simple so I can get it done faster. I belong to a fat 1/4 club and I am trying to use up some of those packages. This quilt is made with one set of fat 1/4 with a couple pieces pulled from a second one and black from my stash. I am trying to use up my stash but I am finding that I don't have the correct amounts for backings. I am taking a very large (6 meters) and cutting off what I need. Oh well it is getting used and that is the whole point...isn't it!!

I have had a few "ahhh" moments in the past couple of days.First my finger is healing nicely and I no longer have to wear a bandaid on it. You can read about it here...and it wasn't a sewing accident. My niece's friend got a puppy for her son and I got to meet him. Harley is his name and I am sure he is going to be so loved by this little boy! And today I delivered baby quilts to our friends who had twins in October. You do forget how tiny they are when you are holding such a precious little bundle. Almost forgot, my cousin's daughter had a baby boy yesterday. He surprised everyone as he was not suppose to arrive till next week...oh well!! Now I can make a little boy baby quilt...I have the fabric all picked out already!!
This is going to be a busy week of sewing but I have to take it slowly as I don't want to injure my back again.So bit by bit it will get done and I will rest in the evening with some slow stitching and catch up with everyone on Kathy's blog.
Still waiting and hoping to get some white stuff to fall but all it seems to do is rain!! Good luck with all your deadlines and other seasonal things you have to do...checking that list twice as to not forget anything!!