Christmas is over?

I can't believe it. Just yesterday was my last post on December 2nd, oops. I almost forgot my password. I am enjoying every bit of my 6 days off. Working on a new pattern for the quilting cruise. Hopefully I will have the top together before I go back to work. Here is just a sample.

Think of candy (Good and Plenty), sprinkles, and candy wrappers.

The Decorating Begins

I love snowmen and I love vintage Christmas. Here is a nice combo of both. I will be hauling out the ornaments and Christmas tree tomorrow. I'm feeling very nostalgic these days. Now that my children are almost grown and starting their own lives I seem to reverting back to my childhood memories. I was lucky enough to still have our old ornaments from the 50 's and 60's and every now and then I pick up one or two up at an antique store. I remember the silver tinsel trees with the light colorwheel underneath that made the tree change colors. My sister and I would lay underneath that tree for hours, no peeking at the presents of course.

Coming Up For Air

I think I blinked and a whole week passed me by. I have been locked in ACT land helping Joseph to get ready next Saturday for the big test. He is very worried about taking it and I keep telling him that he is the smart one and the test is stupid. When will society ever learn that we all can't be conveniently lumped up into one standardized way of thinking. I see so much potential and brilliance in Joseph, however sometimes it just won't come out on paper. All he wants to do is go to college, the same college his brother attends and begin to start an independent life, he had the grades 3.0 but a stupid standardized test might blow it for him. I have done all I can for him at this point, requested extended testing time, practised testing and now I pray. Ready Go! Enjoy the day...

Paying It Forward

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, but you will receive one within 4 months and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. I am getting a Pay It Forward from http://okperisplace.blogspot.com/.

What happened?

Someone must of come in while I was sleeping last night and dropped a bomb in my sewing room or..... maybe Santa's elves are playing a trick on me or...............maybe it's time for a vacation. Yeh that's it, that must be it, time for a vacation I like that idea, however that won't fix the current problem at hand. So guess what I'll be doing this weekend. NOT GOING ON VACATION!!

What's on your bed?

I would rather show you what is on my son's bed after he goes to college and moves into his own apartment. I have a girlie room perfect for princess Audrey when she comes to visit.... oh and it is the cleanest room in the house. I think it's close enough to Christmas to get ol Frosty out for display.

Cool Yule

This is my favorite all time Christmas Album, well next to Bing Crosby of course. Bette is one of my favorite artists and she even does Bing on this album. Remember, Mele Kalilimaka, I know you do!!!! Anyways go out and get it! It will definitely put you in the mood.

Christmas Countdown

And so it begins the mad dash to finish your Christmas projects. I know, I know we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet but times a wasting. I am almost finished with my Holly Jolly Charm Table Runner, needs to be quilted (planned weekend project). Isn't it sooo cute and it' s for me!!! I love those blogs that show the percentage done on all outstanding UFO's. Can anyone tell me how that is done? I need all the motivation I can get. Enjoy the day!

Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday little Audrey!

I'm two years old today!

Annual Halloween Party

Obviously I'm having problems posting pictures. Sorry!

Yes, there are still a few adults out there, who don't mind dressing up a little ridiculous to have alot of fun! You can't live in this part of the country without Elvis stopping by and I was happy to see

Wednesday and Uncle Fester this year.

Don't you just love this Mummy. My sister the zombie above put it together and I think it is too cute to eat! It's a cheese log covered in cream cheese. Uploading these pictures is making me crazy so I will post more later...Any tips would be appreciated.

Princess Audrey!

Here is our sweet Little Sugar Plum, Audrey. I wish I had those big beautiful blue eyes. Her Birthday is coming up on Halloween. She will be two. Just another reason why this is my favorite time of the year. Granddad and I better get busy and go present shopping. She already has a quilt, but she might be due for another one for Christmas. Just one more thing to add to my long and getting longer Christmas list. Enjoy the day!

Pumpkin Patch Complete!

I had a great week. Spent a little time with my BFF Denise from Marquette , MI. Did our own shop hop. Fun was had by all and I finished by Pumpkin Patch!. Just a little machine applique and it will be ready for shipment. Now comes the task of cleaning my sewing room. More on that later. Have a great week!

TGIF

First block finished (well except the machine applique part). Had a hard time sleeping last night I must have been counting pumpkins instead of sheep. Tamara has set up a pumpkin block swap http://groups.google.com/group/bloggerland-swappers/web/pumpkin-swap-rules

One down and 5 or 11 more to go. Join our pumpkin patch and make some blocks. You have the whole weekend.

Happy Fall Y'all

Don't you just love fall.....and batiks. What a great combination. It's my favorite time of year. My friend Charlotte painted this gourd for me his name is Eddie, Joseph named him several years ago. She wants me to take up gourd painting too but those things take way to long to dry out and I got some quilting to do and don't forget studying for the ACT. Joseph is taking it in December and we have started the review. I fiqure this is my penance for not paying attention the first time around. Say a prayer for Joseph would ya, standardized testing is not his thing. Enjoy the day!

My Sassy Sixteen

Just finished my Sassy Sixteen. I've had it cut out for weeks and finally had time this weekend to put it together. It took me two and a half hours and my favorite part, no matching side seams, except when you come to the border. But you don't have to have a border....My good friends know these are not my colors but I know someone who will be getting this for Christmas. Santa can't tell.

Traditional Santa

I received my package yesterday from McCall's. As I promised here are the pictures of the other set of place mats with the more tradional look. It has been a long week, so that explains no writing in the blog. My son Joseph and I went to a conference on Aspergers Syndrome given by Dr. Tony Atwood. He is one of the leading authorities on this syndrome. The conference was awesome and I was so proud of Joseph that he hung in there all day. I purchased a copy of his new book and after taking time out to read it this week, I wished it would have been available about 5 years ago. If you have a child with AS go and get it now!! Friday was college openhouse day and Joseph and I went (with a few of our good friends) to go visit MTSU. Huge campus. I think we walked 8 miles and my feet were killing me. It was a little overwhelming. Next stop, U of M in a couple of weeks which is alot closer . Trying hard not to be one of those helicopter moms. It's probably not working.

Carnival Quilting Cruise 2008

I have been asked to teach on a quilting cruise, March 7-10 of 2008. The cruise is out of Long Beach, CA and we travel to Ensenada and back again with alot of quilting inbetween. If you are interested in coming along, you can contact Oasis Travel 1800-642-1712 and ask for Pam. The cost of the cruise is $315 not including air travel. I think a deposit of $100 is due by the end of October and the remainder needs to be paid by January. My friends at Quilt n Sew are the sponsors.

Kits for the more Traditional Santa Place Mat

I just wanted to let you know about my kit source for the more traditional santa that is pictured in the magazine (small photo).
Quilt N Sew
435 673 1993
175 West 900 South, Suite #4
St George, UT 84770
Just ask for my buddy Nance.
When it was time to send my samples into McCalls, I could not make up my mind which set of place mats to send, so I sent both. The editor actually told me that they were going to use the more tradional santa because it would show up better. So I let the girls at Quilt N Sew know and guess what...... they used the other set. So just in case you are more of a tradional girl, this is the kit for you. They also carry all my other patterns. Sorry they don't have a website yet. McCalls emailed me yesterday and are sending my samples back so when I get them I will show you a better picture of the traditional santa. Have a great day and take some time out for quilting. You know I will.....

Fabrics used for my Santa Place Mats

I have had alot of questions regarding the fabrics used for my pattern. Apparently it is not listed in the magazine. I would't know, I am still waiting for my magazine. Most of the fabric is Moda 3 Sisters Roman Holiday. The fabric around the face of the Santa is from Moda 3 Sisters Mistletoe Manor. It is a older line but you can still get it on the web. I found it the other day at http://www.rivercityquilts.com/. Oops, I forgot the beard is an older line from Nancy Halvorsen (love her stuff!) and the stripe is from my scrap bucket, sorry.... Send me pictures of completed work, please. I am finally getting the hang of this BLOG business.

Guild night at Pickin Up The Pieces

Like my buddy Kimberly I belong to Pickin Up The Pieces Quilt Guild and we had a terrific meeting last night. So many beautiful Show and Tell Quilts. I would like to show you some but I don't have a camera yet. Just take my word for it. One of my favorite people in the whole wide world named Mary G. won third place in a quilt contest for her paradise quilt, which had tiny little pictures of Elvis on the beach. I think I feel a theme forming here. Maybe she will consider passing it on to my son Jimmy, the hunka hunka burning love, but I doubt it. Anyway's I am so proud of her. I always like the way I feel after guild meetings you feel so motivated and inspired but then unfortunately, reality sets in and you have to switch gears to Algebra II. Like now......

Lil Happy Creations Table Runner

Of course they could not fit the Santa Table Runner that goes with the placemats in the magazine but you can order the pattern that has both through my email at lilhappycreations@yahoo.com.

New kid on the blog block

My good friend Kimberly is sitting here helping me set up this blog site, since I am mentally handicapped when it comes to computers. The reason I need a blog (per Kimberly) is because I finally got published. I am happy to announce that one of my quilt patterns is in the McCall's Christmas Quilting Issue which comes out the first of October. I have been making patterns for 4 years now inbetween working fulltime and homeschooling my highschool student. He graduates this year!!!! Hang in there, eventually I will have this BLOG thing figured out and will put up more pictures of my patterns.