The Final Saga

Well, Christmas is over and I'm full of turkey and ham - just the thought of those two meats makes me go 'EEWWW"... what we have left is going in the trash... I'm thinking a good greasy burger would be wonderful!

We had a wonderful time at my son's house - it's big and roomy and everyone has room to move around and -- most important -- since The Most Amazing Grandson and The Most Precious Granddaughter live there, they don't have to completely be on their best behaviour! They are at home and it makes it SO much easier!

I won't go blow-by-blow of the gifts but the quilts for these two were big hits! The Most Precious Granddaughter fell in love with hers and I got a great big hug and kiss! Everyone oohhed and aahhhed when she opened it and she looked really really happy! See her pose!
The Most Amazing Grandson was so cute when he opened his... he reached into the big bag and pulled out the quilt and just hugged it to him saying "My turtule quilt!" brought tears to my eyes ( most things do nowadays ) I think he was very happy to have his quilt all done and he could wrap up in it... See the missing teeth!
Yes, they are truly amazing kids....
OH, I did put labels on both quilts, too! and I even named the quilts! Gee, I did good this time!
I printed them on Printed Treasure fabric sheets and sewed them to the backs. The labels were like these but a little different. I didn't like the purple background but couldn't figure out how to change it - the Turtle Quilt is named "Have you seen my turtle" and of course the other is Precious Little Princess. Thanks tirane for the name!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that Santa was good to all of you. New Year's is coming and there are a couple of mystery quilts I'm thinking of following - no nono no,,, I will not get them sewed this weekend, but I could start them I guess. Hey! what's one more unfinished project, hey?

till later


aka The Wonderful Grandmother

RETREAT TIME!!

gee, it's been a while since I have posted anything -- ya'll might think I was either REALLLLLYY busy or just nothing was fun and frivilous in my life. -- Well, we did have Thanksgiving ( which was great, by the way ) and then there is that thing called 'work' that I have to attend to on a daily basis but I did get to go to RETREAT!! I just love retreats!!

I belong to a pretty large bee - guess there is about 20 of us,, might be more but I haven't counted lately - and we are so lucky,,, yes, so very lucky,,, to have our own special retreat house! One of our founding members decided that her life calling was to open a retreat house,,, just about an hour away from where we all live, out in the country ( you can even see cows in the pasture sometimes! ). Well,,, it's called CREATE-AWAY COTTAGE -- click on the link and see what we get to go visit! It is just the most perfect place I know of to get with friends and relax and just escape from the daily life grind.

Ok,,, the retreat is Friday thru Sunday,,, I get lucky and take Friday off - (( that in itself is enough to make me jump with joy !! )),,, I have a hair appointment at 8, figure that takes about 2 hours, then the drive up to retreat,, aahh I should be there about 11. Great timing! AND I have ALL DAY to sew, nap, read eat,, whatever I want to do!
Well, to get there from the beauty shop,,, I decided to take a toll road. Now,,, I don't every have to drive a toll road, can count on one hand the times I have been on a toll road,,, I didn't know you have to pay money to GET ON the toll road!! I thought you paid when you got off!!

Oh MY,,, I screech to a stop at the little booth,,, no attendant,,, GADS do I have any change ??? OMG what do I do ??
Well, I found some change ( only needed 40 cents,,, had dollars but change was scarce ) SO,, found a quarter, two dimes,,, ok, that's too much but who cares,,, throw it in the basket -- DO YOU THINK I CAN HIT THE BASKET ??? NO BLOOMING WAY does it go in the basket !! AARRRGGHHH
by this time I have someone behind me,,, then this BELL starts making noise... can you see my frustration!! I NEED MORE CHANGE ( and thoughts of "what happens if I just drive thru this @@**#&# thing?" ) what a way to start off my perfect weekend!

ok,, I found some more change,,, feed that darn basket, light turns green, bell quits ringing,,, I"M OFF!!!

there were several more toll booths, they all had attendants,, my dollar bills worked just fine,, I got to retreat!!

I think that we had 16 total show up... one member came to visit and crochet and take us on a field trip to her new OMG cabin by the lake and see the OMG boat that they have,,, gee,,, talk about a RETREAT!! How much fun to have a place to go and sit by the lake, take the boat out,, aahhh,,, what a life!

There were lots of projects that were finished, worked on, started. Thought I would share some pictures



This is a pattern called "FRACTIONS" I think, done in batiks,,, this is a wall hanging that was made for a contest PAIR/PEAR,,, if you look closely, it is an outline of her daughters faces... now how cool and creative is this!

I just love this wall hanging,, I think the pattern was a Patrick Lose ( is that the right spelling?) raw edge machine applique,, she put some special stitches in places, you will have to look close to see. But she started it at retreat, finished it, quilted it and I think even got the binding on! Speedy Gonzales!
This one is made for a purple contest,,, I just love foundation piecing - and the book that this came from was something I would like to add to my library... This one is being made for someone who has an interest in space,,, cool focus fabric I didn't get a shot of the borders that she is going to use,,, we picked colors and laid some different things out ( a big design wall is great to work on! ) I think the layout of colors sorta looks like "day going into night"...
these two are great, aren't they!! and this one is made with batiks that have shots of gold in them,,, BEAUTIFUL! I like this one,,, I can see so many different color combinations -- gotta get that pattern OH and look at this one!!! Have you seen the Braid quilts?? this one is a little miniture ( is that how you spell it?),, so cool! This is one that was just started,,, I love the colors.. and this one is very spring'y... it was a jelly roll pattern and she finished the top on this -- why can't I sew that fast?? and this one was already finished and it is pinned for quilting - isn't it wonderful?? I just love the colors that she used - send it my way! I'm sure I missed some of the other great stuff that was being created... these are only shots of the things I saw on the design walls, or that was being displayed. I didn't even put in the one quilt I was working on! I had a kit that I bought at the local quilt shop at the last retreat, cut it out before I left, and spent all weekend sewing pieces together... almost all the blocks are finished - almost - but there is nothing yet to share.


One of our ladies decided that we all needed FRESH BAKED SUGAR COOKIES!! yyuuummmm !!! so she got the flour, sugar and all that stuff ( no manufactured roll cookies for us! ) and even made icing!! I think everyone had a hand in the decorating... well, fiddlesticks,,, I had these in the right order, then messed with them, now they are out of order, but you get the idea! We had some little bitty gingerbread men too,,, that were 'anatomically correct',,, but I thought I had better not post those! (( hehehe,,, little gingerbread men with little gingerbread thingys !! cute! )

We also had our annual Christmas gift exchange. We were given a name and we had to buy a gift that started with the letter of the person's first name... I saw this somewhere on the web, I think, and it was really fun. Like, if the name you get is Martha,,, buy something for Martha that starts with the letter "M"... it was a big hit.

Lots of fun was had by all,, we talked, sewed, ate, ate, sewed, talked, ate some more... I hope that when you go to retreat you have a great group to go with and that you have as much fun as we do!

When is the next one ????

Saturday Evening and I'm Tired

It's been a busy day - first I got up early and went to out Super WalMart -- well you know it takes for e-v-e-r to get thru one of those.... and of COURSe I had to buy stuff other than food ( like a new sweatshirt, new sweat pants, OH and I found a pair of Tinkerbell flannel pj bottoms on sale! -- had to get those of course)

well,,, a lot of money and 2-1/2 hours later, I had all the stuff my kitchen will hold and all the food I need for our family Thanksgiving tomorrow. Part of my family won't be in town on Thursday, so we are doing this early. I got the good deal,,, I cook and we all meet at my son's house! ( do you hear the laugh and giggle coming from me??? I would much rather cook and take to his house than cook AND clean mine!! wwhhhhaaaaa !!)

so,,, one pumpkin cheesecake and a triple batch of manicotti later,,, oh, and a green salad,,, I'm tired!!!

So, thought I would browse the net and some blogs and just wanted to share what I found - no they aren't quilty at all,,, but oh so delicious!!

First, for a good laugh go here http://despair.com/viewall.html
read all the posters and things,,, my sides hurt from laughing...

Then, when you are done there,,, don't forget The Pioneer Woman! WWHHOOAAA !! she has a video of The Marlboro Man !! go here http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/ it should be the one for November 21.

Ok, I'm done,,, enjoy!

HOLIDAY TABLE TOPPER

I went to bee last nite and took the table topper, fusible stuff that I had traced the pattern pieces onto, the fabric I wanted to use for the holly and berries, my iron and an ironing pad. It is so relaxing to sit with good friends and work on simple things, like ironing the fusible to the fabric back... mindless work is good for the soul - but chatting with good friends is better! gee, wish there had been some wine to go with it!

Betsy helped me cut out the shapes then I started placing them. I got one side ironed on last nite and just finished up the other three sides. LOOKEY LOOKEY!!

Well, it's coming along. I'm thinking satin stitch the berries in red and the leaves in green - nice shiney glittery red and green. Then I can put the border on it,,,,

but that will have to wait until tomorrow,,,

Table Toppers

Last year at the Houston Quilt Show, I bought a book from Kim Schaefer ( yep, she even signed it ) called
A COZY QUILTED CHRISTMAS.. ,,, I have been looking at the quilts and toppers in this book for a year! I thought it was about time to make something - they look really fast and easy to do. And besides, I need something on my new dining table that will -- maybe -- keep all the stuff that seems to collect on tables from collecting.. maybe.

So last nite I cut all the 4-1/2 in blocks in tans, all the 4-1/2 inch blocks in greens and the 2-1/2 in blocks in greens for the border. Like I said,, the designs/patterns are really easy. I had a good time sorting thru all my Christmas and non-Christmas fabrics! ( and I've been collecting Christmas fabrics - boy! have I been collecting! because you know, they just are not going to make any more of this stuff, so I have to have some JUST IN CASE they stop making it, and it's on sale and it's pretty and they just might not have any more !!)

so this is what I got together last night....

I'm not sure I like it,,, the dark golds seem to jump at me and that ONE darn square in the greens melts into the tans. The green 2-1/2 inch border isn't on yet so that might help a little and... I don't have the holly on it yet. OH YES,,, there are holly leaves and berries that go around the the tan part... this is my -- do you hear the drum roll (grin) ADVENTURES IN MACHINE APPLIQUE..
The holly leaves are pretty big, the berries are pretty good size so - I figure I CAN DO THIS!!! ( Do you hear my Tarzan yell! ) I think there about 36 leaves, 24 berries - a LOT of practice! I have them traced on the fusible web, got my stabilizer out,...

Oh fun! I get to pick some more fabrics !!

Till later,