Last Week of Dec 2011...FUN!

Had a great time celebrating Christmas on the Eve with my parents and sibs.

Christmas morning drove four hours back north to in-law's....lovely day!
Then the day after Christmas we did it all over again, just the four of us...rip and tear...it was great!

Several days later took the girl to her biometrics appt. She is applying to extend her visa to the UK for two more years. Then we went walking around Old Town Alexandria...where they hang their trees!
When we returned home there was a package on the porch...it came all the way from Scotland!

Dear sweet Lynz made me an awesome yellow and grey pillow...with a pony button!! She included this amazing calendar of Scotland...it is already hanging above my computer...waiting for tomorrow...the first day of 2012! Thanks bunches Pal...I heart it!:)

The last thing I managed to do this year is finish The Sketchbook Challenge. I'm happy to report that I submitted something all twelve months and I'm excited that they are doing it again in 2012!

Speaking of 2012....

...this is what we are going to indulge in on the first day of the new year...gift from my brother. But for the last day of the year it's lasagna and Haagen Daz...Cherry Garcia and Half Baked Chocolate ice cream....um...and I think we'll drink that little bottle of Processo!!

Happy Freaking New Year Everyone!

xo

~d

Happy, Happy!!

Happiness is being with the ones you love....

(The trunk is a scarf I crocheted for my brother)

...Spreading a little Humbug Bag joy....

...yep, these are called Humbug Bags and I made 18 of them!

Happiness is a new Birthday Banner...made for my in-laws....

...and a clutch of chicks, a brood of hens, and a parliament of owls made for family and friends.

(Opposites Attract pattern by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts)

Happiness is a new lap quilt or two made for mom and pop...

...and new Perle cottons for quilting and embroidery....

...ah....but mostly I wish you the happiness in those eyes...really....he's happy!;)

Merry, Merry to Everyone!!

~d

Tis the Season!

Wow! It has been quite a busy couple of weeks and I am happy to report I am DONE! Everything is wrapped and baked! Now we are just counting the hours til Wednesday when the girl comes home for the holidays from the UK and the boy joins us next weekend. The boy gave me this Christmas cactus last year and it is give, give, giving! That's just the start of my wealth of receiving!

Max...my 8 year old buddy on the west coast...sent me this amazing "Window Tree" mini for last month's Mini QT swap! Isn't it amazing! There is no end to this young man's talents and we are all the luckier to have become online buddies with him! Look at the luscious fabric he sent and that fantastic card! I have strung it on a ribbon and pinned it to the back of the mini. It is now hanging right above my nightstand so it's the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night...I dream about what is beyond the window tree!!:) THANKS MAX, I'll treasure it always!! xoxo

The bounty didn't end there...my Scotland pal Jo (bearpaw) sent me this totally unexpected surprise! She started to teach classes at the family shop, Avery Homestore, and I often bugged her with ideas...cause I'm extremely jealous and so wish I could be there to help play! Because of my pestering this lovely personalized journal arrived at my doorstep! It is just beautiful and what's nice is after you fill the journal you can always replace it! Just look at that keyfob, yep she sent that too! The leaf is so soft I just sort of play with it while I'm driving...just kidding...but it is soft and lovely! I even saved the wrapping! Thanks so much Jo, your kindness has touched my heart! xoxo

Still having loads of fun at the sewing machine (even though the light bulb is out!) making things with scraps from work.

This mini was made with scraps from a line by Dan Bennett, very colorful. I only had a few wonky pieces so I paired them with a grey Bella solid....I really didn't notice the big circles until I took the picture! The binding is from one of the girl's dresses. Love recycling!

Here were some Blueberry Crumb Cake scraps. I meant to make this look like it was woven, should have just put that cream sashing on opposite sides of each block then alternated. Don't know what I was thinking when I put it on all four sides!

I love making stockings....this one is for the boy's girlfriend and the scarf is from something my folks gave me...I have enough cream fleece leftover to use for the cuff of future stockings. I finished sewing a bunch of other things...but I can't show you right now....you know why!:)
Here is our tree. First time we have ever put up an artificial tree. It belongs to the girl, she used it when she was at WVU and has informed us that when she returns home from the UK for good this tree is going with her. That's fine with us...as long as she does return!:o

Hope you all are having a great December too...can you believe it is almost 2012?

~d

Remember that Stack of Loulouthi?

It was killing me...I really wanted to play with my Loulouthi but Christmas presents (which I can't show to you) had to have my full attention. Then I caved.



...I mean come on, how could I resist and our sad looking couch was calling for some attention!

See! I mean SAD! It's bad enough that we have an ancient This Ends Up couch but I can't do anything about that so the gross old pillows and dated duvet cover had to go!

Found a two-sided coverlet with colors that compliment the Loulouthi...at least I think it does....then I headed to the sewing machine....

NEW PILLOWS!!

Really...it's kinda hard to tell from the photo but the pillows really do go with the colors on both sides of the coverlet!:) But something was missing...

...oh yeah...a new quilt!:)

Yes, so much better...I mean I'd love a new couch but that will have to wait for a new house!;) There's a new area rug too...but I have to leave a few surprises for the kids!

Now I want to play with these. I need a bigger container!
Here's a wee peek of the rug...with a new stocking for boyfriend of little sis. OK, back to sewing and cooking and baking and.....!;)

~d

I'm swapping with an eight year old....

....and I am so honored and thrilled!:) Especially since Max is a Star Wars fanatic like my own kids!:)

This month's theme at The Mini QT Swap was windows and doors sooooo since my partner is the very talented Max and his favorite character is Obi-Wan Kenobi I thought What did Obi-Wan fly? An email to my girl in the UK and a quick reply...."an Eta-2 Actis-class light Interceptor." Of course...why didn't I think of that?;p


So here is my version using some Stonehenge for the planet and space, some batiks, a little Fairy Frost, Dimples, felt...and clear vinyl...

...instant Jedi interceptor...well maybe not instant!:)
I made a slit in the back of the window and a pocket in the front because I wanted Max to be able to take the figures out.

I permanently "borrowed" a couple of my son's micro machine figures...these were made WAY before Max was even born and before the SW prequels...back when Polly Pockets and Micro Minis were one inch tall...before they made them bigger because they were a choking hazard!

The ion cannons were made out of shish kabob sticks colored with Sharpie...the laser fire is glow in the dark thread as is the...

...white Fairy Frost binding!:) Love that My Universe backing fabric...you can just see the little slit to the left of the E in Earth. Love that seamripper too!:)

Can't just send a mini to an eight year old without some goodies and a few things for his sister....no those books aren't the boy's...I bought them especially for Max. I hear he loves the mini!;) Thank heavens!

(I put the avocado there for size reference!)

Now I'm making (trying to follow) recipes for The Turnips that Ate Virginia! Hope the relatives are ready for these on Thursday!:o

~d

ps...I can't wait to get my mini from Max....stay tuned!

Mini Quilt Challenge? You Betcha I'm There!:)

Heard about it from Dana at Old Red Barn Co.....amylouwho is having a
Modern Mini Quilt party and giveaway to celebrate the new flickr group! Giveaway...I'm in!

But mostly it's nice to have another fun place to post photos of my minis...which are mostly made from scraps...scraps from full size quilts but mostly scraps I get from work (see Webfabrics.net button over there on the right)!:)

Another great thing about minis is the chance to try out different quilting methods...

...but as you can see I am still afraid of my free motion darning foot!

Mostly straight or wavy lines for me! I really need to get over it! In the meantime hop on over to amylou's and the new flickr group and have a look at all the creativity out there....I'm inspired!:)

I can't wait to show you this...but I'm gonna have to! Ugh!;)

~d

Journaling a Giveaway Winner!:)

Want another idea for all your scraps? How about a Journal cover?

Grab a handful of scraps (in someone's favorite colors), some interfacing and an awesome Marble Composition Notebook with GRID PAPER!!!
Stitch the scraps together...fuse on the interfacing....do a little accent stitching...add a couple of flaps and a piece of elastic and there you have it....

A journal cover to spark your imagination...or at least jot down notes!

This was a birthday present...I really wanted to keep it! The Waterman pen was a present from hubby many moons ago...that I DID keep!:)

Ok, ok...I know this is what you really wanted to see....the winner of my Second Year of BlogBlatherings giveaway!!:)

Random Gen picked.....

....PINKBRAIN!! I love that moniker!!:)

pinkbrain said...
Happy Blogiversary! I absolutely love that little scrap quilt you made! Those costumes are awesome. I love it when adults dress up for halloween. My favourite cookies are peanut butter cookies (straight out of the oven!).

I love adults dressing up in costume too...and I am getting ready to bake some cookies because you ALL have made me very, very hungry! Pinkbrain is going to get all the above goodies and I thank everyone very much for all your lovely comments...and drool inducing cookie ideas!:)

Now I am going to go play with some more scraps....think I have enough?:)

~d