Christmas gifts

The cat quilt is a paid job. Finished it just in time for the snow storm to get in the way of delivery. It will be picked up after Christmas now.

The frog quilt is for Anna, hopefully I will get to see her after Christmas. I made up the pattern as I went, it was really fun to make.

The string quilt is one our quilt group did together for Mom, I put the borders on and quilted it this month. It will be going to a very special little boy soon.

We are in the middle of a snow storm (so's half the country) and I'm planning on being snowed in for the next two days. Just going to do a little cleaning, a little crafting and a little wrapping. Kristin is making Italian food tonight for my B-day dinner.....yummy! My husband bought me a new pink phone also, it's so cute and it matches my new wallet from my Mom. It's been a very good day for a B-day. I do think it's the first snow on my day that I can ever remember....

Popular Christmas

Here's a pre-view of the most popular Christmas panel/project for 2009.(top two pic's) Roseann at work picked these up in Omaha during Thanksgiving weekend shopping. It's amazing what a little magazine exposure can do for a fabric line. (I know the pic's suck but it was dark and to cold to do outside) The last pic is last years line by Art to Heart, ribbon border by the girls at work. (there is one more kit for this wall hanging/throw then it's retired) I like the way the lines of this fabric kind of tie together year to year, makes mixing and matching easier for people like me who buy it but don't get it made for awhile and then need more for binding or something.

Today the guys are working on the kitchen, hooking up the gas lines and electric for the island. Kristin is going to paint for me, I really wanted light pale pink...........but I settled for light pale blue. Kevin was with me and vetoed the pink. I know it's my house and I should decorate the way I want but I try to keep peace and compromise a bit, little does he know I'm going to put bird curtains from my moms on the windows for Christmas.......hehehe! I will show pic's when it's finished.

few thing done

Hey I finally got my brother's gift quilted.(last years) it's big and it's heavy, should keep him warm with the flannel on the back. Now to find the binding.................(yes that is drunk devils with kegs and beer mugs on the fabric)

I quilted this one for Mom to give to her Uncle in Florida, it's going in the mail tomorrow.

This one is for her Aunt, I know my mailing is getting a bit late for Christmas but I know my mom will bind late night if she has too, it will be done for gift giving.

This is what has been going on at my house the last week, well since the 4th anyway, the top is finished as of tonight. Time to set the cooktop and finish the base cabinets.

I had a tooth pulled Monday, uggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! So needless to say I don't feel to good this week. I did work at the quilt shop yesterday, but today I spent it in bed. I guess I'm not a tough as I'd like to be and it caught up to me today. I did get some quilting done tonight and that was good because I'm running out of time! Tomorrow is a full day with the shop then the bar, and back to the shop on Friday......no more quilting till Saturday.

After Snow

My final snow day was a waste, felt sick most of it and slept al ot. Maybe to much togetherness at my house??? Oh well anyway I did a bit of quilting for customers yesterday, it was hard to keep the studio warm enough to work so I came in the house last night with cold toes. Today I decorated the tree at work, finished a binding on a T-shirt quilt and retired a quilt(OK I sold the last kit and took the quilt off display) worked at the bar tonight.........yeah I'm tired and planning to sleep late, we'll see if Kev wants me to go get the rest of the stuff for my island in the kitchen before his Christmas party for the hospital tomorrow night. Maybe he'll just let me sew tomorrow..........

Snow day

Josh, Sara and I moved Grandma Allen's sewing desk into my quilting room today. Sara loves to sew with me but she didn't like being alone in the sewing room part of the studio. (to many questions for me to answer and help with) I stacked a few boxes and sorted some junk and made room for her. The green machine my mom gave us awhile back, it works great with a little practice. She is working on happy blocks in the pic, she got the first row done before we got tired and came in the house for dinner.

This is #2 of the quilts I'm quilting for my mom, she is giving it away for Christmas.

This is a gift for my friend Anna, she collects frogs. We saw this fabric together and she asked for a quilt. I ignored her in the store so the next time I saw the fabric I bought a sample pack. She will be surprised unless she reads this......

I stared another quilt for my mom BUT I bought the wrong backing for it. It was the same pattern as one on the front but a different colorway...ugh!!!! So I unpinned the back and went searching for something else for the back, ended up with a brown print, don't look to bad so I got it sewed up and sewed up another back before coming into the house for the night. It's a blizzard outside and the walk to the house was tough, wind blowing, dark, cold and snow to mid calf and deeper in some places. I don't mind snow but when it's blowing into my face so hard I can't open my eyes I don't like it.

Tonight the guys are working on my island. Starting the glue process for the counter top. They have been busy all day plaining boards and such, now they are snowed in so two extra bodies here for the night. Just like a slumber party...hehehehe! (I think I will hide in my room later)

Monday

Hard to get back into the groove of things after the weekend. I had a really nice weekend and now it's time to get my act together and get a few things done but I have no motivation. Friday night we went to Co. Bluffs to a surprise B-day party for our friend Tom. It was a total surprise and a lot of fun. His wife is taking him to Datona Beach FL this week, that was the BIG surprise! On the way home we stopped at Lowes and bought stuff to make an island for my kitchen. So yesterday morning we hopped back in the truck and went to Norfolk to pick up a few more things for it. We found a gas cook top on sale (Kev really wanted one) so he tells me by Christmas it should be done. I still have to find bar stools for it, I am also moving my round oak table into the dining area and taking my large kitchen table to my studio. I am looking forward to having that table out there to put a large cutting mat on and still have room to lay things out on.

Last night I worked, Kev came in and tended bar while I went to my FCE party, the food was soooooooooo good! Oh can those ladies cook! It was a very nice party, just hated that I had to run off back to work. (it was a practical gift giving event.....we're all getting old and who needs a lot of nicknack's, blankets, towels and food ruled the night!)

So after my busy weekend it's time to get moving and clean house and sew!

Christmas Season is Open

Well the Christmas Season has opened around here, got thru Turkey day and now the fun starts! As you can tell the kids were just thrilled to have their annual pic taken together.....well the girls thought it was great, the boys not so much. Sammy and Sadie love it, they get new sweaters and held on someones lap, what more could a dog want?

Oh and did you notice the scarves? We have a Hogwarts theme going on, Kristin has been making them for her friends for gifts. She ordered patches for them today so they should be all ready for Christmas. Josh and his friend Erin ordered the green and silver for themselves, I'm guessing they think of themselves as evvvvvvvvvviiiilllll! (house of Slitheren)

Today I have been working on customer quilts, just taking a small break then back out to the studio I go.......

Thanksgiving

Got one of Mom's quilts done this week, it's for her cousin Gayla. I love the tones and how soft it looks.

Thanksgiving will be a small intimate breakfast with a guest list of eight. Kevin, Me, Josh, Kristin, Brad, Sara, Kelsey and Helena.

• The menu includes;



• Waffles, Blueberry and regular(heart stopping artery clogging yummy kind) with syrup,honey, jam, butter and peanut butter. Whipped cream optional.
• Crockpot Egg Bake (eggs, sausage, cheese, onion, greenpepper)
• Spinach dip, spicy cheese dip, ranch dip, and Snickerdoodle dip with Teddygrams. Assorted crackers and fresh veggies will also be offered.

I am also serving coffee, orange juice, milk, and Wassail

or for the adults.......Wassail with Brandy, Champagne Mimosa, Vodka with White Cran/Strawberry or Bloody Mary's.

And if anyone is still hungry they can top it off with Brownies with pecans. Brownie cheesecake or Cherry/pineapple cake with whipped cream.

Sara and I set the table tonight with Grandma Allen's dishes (Kristin's) .

We are going to Kevin's parents for dinner, I made pies tonight while hanging out at their place, Wanda broke her wrist awhile back and still can't get around well so someone has to be there to help. Pumpkin and Pecan , yummy!!!! My night will conclude with hanging out at the bar...oh the life of a bartender!

Start of the week

Just a little sewing going on this week, it's rush time for Christmas quilts. Pic's will be far and few around here from now on I'm afraid, either it's gifts I'm giving or customer quilts. I have a full day of quilting (should be 3 full days!!!) so off to the studio I go to get started.....

Thursday

Sara and I made Sea Glass candy the other night, I love hard candy! We decided the mint was our favorite. We made orange, lemon, mint and raspberry. It's a start to our Christmas cooking for gifts.

Just as I finished the last batch of candy Josh came home from work so we decided to color his hair. Hehehehe it's for the school play.......he plays a goth kid. It looks better than I expected except for the brown tail he has in the back.....oops! The first contest was Tuesday and they got 4th, not bad for a new coach and new bunch of kids. One of the guys got best actor award, Congrats Jordan!

I finished Brad's quilt today, it looks better in the pic than it does in real life..........

My Grandma had the blocks made for my Mom originally, Mom's favorite color is green but the three greens used in the blocks is awful together. I have to thank Margie for helping Mom pick border fabric that matches, (quilt shop owners are awesome when asked for help) Mom got the center set together and I put borders on it and got it quilted. Brad is the lucky boy who is getting this quilt, his favorite color is green, darker the better. One of Grandma's quilts down, three to go........

Quilting?

I did get a little quilting in tonight, Sara and I went to the studio after dinner and I got a tabletopper, wallhang and throw done for a customer. I also quilted Brad's quilt from Mom and Grandma(not sure I want to take a pic of it, my mom was right when she said it was ugly.....) I will finish the binding on it at work Thursday. I have a full day of hauling beans tomorrow so I'm taking a small crochet project along for the waiting time while loading. ok off to bed!

Wild Saturday Night

My Brother-in-law is moving to Nebraska, his friend Joe helped him move this weekend and brought this sweet girl along for the ride. Ripley is well behaved and loves everyone. She also likes to wear sweaters so I gave her the candy corn sweater I made last month. (it was to big for Sadie) I added a draw string around the bottom so it didn't gap around her belly and it was sooooooo cute! Joe was very patient and understanding about me and Sara dressing his dog! (she ended the night setting on Kevin's lap)

Andrew and Sara played with playdoh they found in Brad's room, he's been hoarding it awhile I think, after them arguing over the two cans they finally made more. They stole Josh's pizza cutter he got from work (thanks Hotstuff) then I gave them the meat mallet, and finally the cookie cutters came out. At 11:00 I finally made them clean up and go to bed. So the doh is in bags and the tools are in the dishwasher, everything will be ready for Sunday morning play!

Andrew lost his first tooth this week so he's showing off the gap a lot!

I taught a hot pad class at the quilt shop today, it went well and we had a lot of fun. I am still working on fleece throws for my little kids Christmas presents, 1 is actually totally finished.....only a dozen or two to go.........work tomorrow at the bar then the rest of the week is mine. (or so I think)

Quilt Group Christmas

Left: Sandie, Jennie, Anita, Wanda Right: Edna, Linda, Janie, Luanne, and Maxine. Missing is Linda (who is babysitting grandkids) and Mom (who is riding out a hurricane in Florida)

The Orchard Quilters always have a party out in November for Christmas. This year it was at the Blarney Stone in O'Neill Nebraska (Irish Capital of Nebraska) The food was fantastic!!! My Tequila Lime Chicken was fantastic and the French Onion soup was great, and my salad looked so pretty I had to take a pic. I feel like a stuffed toad as I write this because I ate everything and enjoyed it all! The last pic is all the little gifty's we gave each other, I did hotpads and pickle relish,(top left in pic) Mom made everyone address books and Luanne made the cutest wrapped decoration (top right in pic) it's toilet paper wrapped in fabric with a flower and ornament. The note was the best part of it, the last line was "and you all know what you can do with the Angelsoft" I loved the soap wrapped as a piece of candy too, I'm going to set it in the bathroom and see which of my kids open it first, won't they be surprised when they find soap! In fact most of this will decorate my bathroom this year! I have snowmen planned in blues and greens with a splash of red and everything I got tonight will look soooooo cute! It really was a nice evening out with fun ladies!

Dog quilts

I decided to make my cousin Mike and his kids a couple of quilts. These will be the first quilts I've ever sent to him. (if you didn't get married or have babies you have been out of luck on the quilt receiving end) I wanted something fun and useful for the kids but not to fancy that he wouldn't let them use them so this is what I came up with. The first 3 pic's are my process, the last two are what the finished quilts look like. I hope the kids like them and they don't clash with Mike's house to much. Someday I hope to get a quilt for Mike done but until then the kids come first!

Not sure why Mondays are so ughhhh around here, I think I try to cram to much into the weekend so by Monday I'm beat. I am in the process of making Christmas presents and a little quilting on the side. My crochet has been keeping me company a lot lately too. I have made a hat/scarf for charity, 3 scrubby/dishcloth combo's and a bunch of granny square centers in blue, with a few white added yesterday. I also have a scarf started for ME with a hat or two planned. (that depends on how much yarn is left) Kev took me to Lincoln on Friday, I hit 4 quilt shops and a yarn shop in 4 hours! Ok I spent a little money too, oh it was fun!!! I think I will get moving and go play with my new fabric..................

I should be doing housework today and quilting but there is no motivation in me........

Cyclones

I started a scarf project tonight, 3 down, 12 to go.........think I will take orders at the craft show on Saturday, I've run out of time! The scarves are wool ends I bought at Pennelton Woolen Mills in Bellvue quite awhile ago, another of those grand ideas for presents. I work tomorrow day at the quilt shop, the night at the bar and the show is Saturday morning......ugh! (wish I was packed for it)

Here's my little football supporter's leaving for the game, they had a good time even though the football team lost..........Sara came home running a fever and Brad slept on the bus so he's just now heading to bed. I hope Sara is feeling better tomorrow, my luck she brought home a bug and I'll be the one sick.

1. 6 baby bibs
2. 2 baby quilts
3. 7 handbags

these are the things I finished at work today, I have hot pads almost done for a party in November at the shop(we're making a variety at a sew in) and 5 more handbags to line and sew straps and closures on. I am happiest at work when I can make samples and plan classes.

Ok I'm off to bed, it's gonna be a long weekend so don't look for me till next week.........

whats going on

Not much going on here today, it drizzled some and started raining tonight. I felt a little strange all day so spent part of it in bed. Played tag with the kids after school and made two trips to town...ugh! Spent tonight setting up my computer and embroidery machine, had to clean off the table in the family room, my yarn took it over for awhile. Kev told me to finish a few projects, I told him they were for his next wife to finish......he then told me he needs to find a girlfriend to finish a few of them.......I almost jumped for joy! I would love crafty company(don't think he had crafting in mind when he mentioned a girlfriend though) well anyway I think I will start something new just to aggravate him!
I finished Sara's hat and did a little football with the name Cyclones under it on one of my old black T-shirts for her to wear tomorrow, Brad is also going but he bought a $40 sweatshirt so no need to make him anything fancy to wear. I am going to try to snap a pic in the morning of them but who knows if I will remember........mornings are not my best time!
I work at the quilt shop the next two days and help set up for the craft show tomorrow night, I am looking forward to the show, just wish I had more projects finished. Oh well I will take what I have done and hope for the best.

Josh's B-day

I whipped up this cute kid's Christmas quilt this week, loved the bright colors and it's flannel so it's warm and snugly. I will do the binding by machine sometime this week before the craft show on Saturday. I'm just in finish mode now for the show, no starting new things........

This baby quilt feels soooo goooood! It's flannel with blocks of chenille. Love the texture and it's big at 45x60. I am thinking about making one for myself twice this size cause I like it that much. (only in pink) I did a machine binding and have it all done and ready to go.

I made these for a sample at work of a panel we have for sale. I'm planning on bringing them home just before Christmas and surprising the kids with them on Christmas morning. I know it will be a surprise because they all think I'm a dork for having a blog....

Just want to say Happy B-day to Josh, he's 17...........wow.........Josh collects dice so Sara and I thought he would love these sunglasses, he did! I also got him two new pets, meet EEEKKK and MEEEEKKK. (I named them, he will change the names I'm sure, something to do with names of epic leaders from history)

We finished picking soybeans today, hooray!!!!! I have a load on the truck and some on the wagon, it didn't all fit in the bin. It's supposed to start raining again after midnight so getting them done was such a good feeling. If it don't rain I will deliver to town and spend the day sewing tomorrow, I'm looking forward to having the day to finish a few things up. I did finish Sara's green scarf, a lot of it in the truck waiting to dump beans and she fringed it while watching T.V. tonight. I started a new hat for her to match it but my shoulder is starting to hurt so maybe tomorrow. The football team is going to State Playoffs and she's going to watch, it's a 4-5 hour bus ride away Thursday, Sara wanted something to wear in team colors so I gave her the scarf early. If I remember I will snap a pick of her in them. (felt bad because we missed the deadline to order t-shirts so maybe a scarf will make up for it)

THIRD SNOW!!!!!

I can't believe it's snowing again and it's not even the end of October. I think it's going to be a long winter! I'd like to say I love snow but the older I get the less I like it, I hear that from a lot of people around here.........I'm not the only one. This was the drive home between my house and Mom's, I should of taken the oil road and saved myself a little 4 wheel drive time. My red truck is half brown with mud and slush. (ok I don't mind a little mess but when it's splashing over the top of the truck it's a bit much)

Just a few place mats I made for work,

Halloween table runner at work.....

Table runner made with McKenna Ryan fabrics.......love this!!!

Busy weekend

It was a busy weekend for all of us around here. I worked at the quilt shop and the bar both Friday day/night and Saturday day/night then I helped haul beans to town yesterday. Today I am hauling beans again before the rain tonight. I hope the weather forecast is wrong but the way our luck goes it will rain buckets! While I wait for the truck to fill I crochet in the truck or I come home and try to do a little housework. Laundry and dishes seem to keep me busy! I was going to show off a few things I have sewn lately but my purse and camera are in the truck in the field........tomorrow I work at the quilt shop and have class that night, then again Friday and Saturday. It's a busy time of the year!

Second Snow

Can you believe we have had two snows and freezing rain already! I'm not ready for winter......not that winter cares if I'm ready or not. I woke up this morning and had Sammy and an outside cat laying in bed with me, I know winters coming when Fluffy Cat wants inside. The guys have been cutting wood but we've been using it to so I hope the pile gets bigger before the cold really hits hard.

I'm going to visit Kristin today and deliver a truck full of junk for her play. I'm looking forward to watching the practice and the process of the whole thing. Oh and I'm taking her to dinner too.

Sorted stuff in my studio yesterday and quilted a bit, also got Mom's computer shipped to her in Florida, still have two more boxes to go.........

First Snow

We got our first snow on Friday night/Saturday morning. By the time I thought of taking a pic it was already melting. My MIL said this was only the second time in 53 years it had snowed on her B-day.

Kristin came home to find stuff for her play, she is the Prop Master! (me, Josh, Sara and Skylar played Prop Crew for the morning) We found some great stuff for the play that is set in 1937, I am really excited to see it all pulled together in November. I have to deliver the junk Thursday due to my truck needing a new thermostat.....can't send her with the truck overheating.

Brad, Sara and Andrew made fire starters for the wood stoves. Newspaper, dried pods off the locust tree's and dryer lint all held together with a little wax. They worked great as I tried them out this morning! I love to take pic's of them working together, it makes me smile every time they do it without the sarcastic arguing that teenagers are famous for.

Everyone in the house gave me stress for saving the dryer lint.........

whats going on

I helped Kev pick beans last Friday before work. I also quilted a sample quilt for work in between loads. I LOVE these 1930 Aunt Gracie prints! The quilt is 48x52 and it went together really fast. I always wanted to do a tumbler quilt and this was a good starting point, makes me want to do a big quilt next. We have 5 kits ready to go at Quilters Candy Shoppe as soon as I go to work tomorrow or Friday. (Might work tomorrow, don't know yet) Hey did you notice I didn't stipple the quilt, I did wavy lines and then re pinned the quilt and did lines the other way, it was fun and something different for me.

Friday

Not much going on today, just a little housecleaning.......ugh! I have a few things to quilt for samples at work, will show them off when finished. Getting stuff ready for the Orchard Craft Show on Oct. 31 guess I'm going to have a table by my SIL 's table. I have lots of hot pads and purses ready, and quite a few baby quilts. I don't usually sell much but it's local and supports the community and my FCE group is hosting it so I will be there anyway.
I have been working on a spiral scarf the past few nights, wow does it take a loooooooooong time, I could of had 4 regular scarves made in the time it's taken to do this one. I am half way done with the last row, you can bet I'm gonna show pic's when it's done! I think I will go back to purses...........instant gratification!
I don't know if I work this weekend at the bar, that will cut down on my sewing time if I do.....be back sometime with pic's.........