OK, so I’ve spent a lot of time at my sewing machine this last week…here are the latest projects:
A cute little bag for Morgan to carry a notebook, pencils, and other miscellaneous stuff in to basketball games, etc. I totally copied the idea from Heather Bailey’s Smarty Girl pattern…just saw it online and tried to duplicate it. I was actually practicing to make a little bag for my new toy…Barry got me a Kindle for Christmas, and I’d love to have a little bag to carry it around in. I’ve got just the fabric in mind, and I learned a thing or two from this project that will help me. Mostly, I’m dying to try a ruffler foot so my gathers will be more even. Does anyone have one, and if so, do you like it??? The only problem is, when you make something for one girl….the other one wants one too. I ought to be really good at this by the time I do two more!
Next, I spent HOURS putting this section of a new quilt together:
This is a different Block of the Month quilt that we are doing at the store. It’s actually more like a quilt section of the month–five sections in all. It’s really a cute watermelon quilt–perfect for summer–but the directions are not so great…too bad we advertised it before testing it….TUITION! Once I got it together, I felt a great sense of accomplishment, but I’m telling you, I about SCRAPPED the whole thing before I was finished. I don’t think the rest of the quilt will be too bad. This one had some major paper piecing in the middle, which I’m definitely not a pro at, but I’m LEARNING. A long time ago I took a quilting class from a National Teacher, and she said she never makes the same quilt twice because she always learns something from each new quilt…I believe it. I learned a lot about paper piecing. The next question: Will I be able to teach it? (Nervousness!)
As I went out to feed the dog this morning, I looked out the window, and this little gem in our back yard caused me to smile…
(S)he’s only about 2 feet tall, and a little out of proportion, and just the other day I saw a much BIGGER snowman in someone else’s yard, but the girls had such fun playing in the snow together and making this little one…it helped me remember that we don’t always have to be the biggest or the best to bring joy and smiles into the hearts of those around us.
And…here’s the first block.
I’m loving the color scheme! And, I can’t wait to get the rest of it finished. The original quilt was in pale blues and yellows…so not my favorites. We started signups at the store yesterday and so far we have 25 people signed up for this Block of the Month Program. The fun begins…
I’m beginning to work on the sample of our new Block of the Month Quilt at the store. I’m really excited about it. I HOPE it will turn out as great as it looks in my Mind’s Eye! Here’s a sneak peek at some of the fabrics:
The Cookies Extraordinaire turned out pretty well. We made regular Peanut Butter Cookies, then dipped them in a peanut butter-chocolate concoction–melt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, then stir in 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter. The chocolate didn’t harden as much as I would have liked, but it sure tasted good! Santa liked them too…
I also thought I’d share a picture of one of my Christmas Favorites–the Advent Calendar I made was so fun. We had a different (mostly small) activity in each pocket to help us count down to Christmas. The kids loved it, and the parents were able to enjoy it without too much grumbling:)
After the whiney tone of my last post, I laid in bed feeling sorry for myself for a while, then I decided I am responsible for my own Christmas Spirit….So, today, I am taking it upon myself to have a happy, jolly holiday and doing the sorts of things that I envision when I think of having Christmas be a season of Joy….a liberty I can take since I’m done with the Must-Do List. (Maybe this is a good thing to remember for next year…get the Must-Do’s out of the way early so I can spend ALL of December being Joyful).
I’m wearing this,
Playing Christmas Music all day,
And making what I hope will be Cookies Extraordinaire for Santa…if they work I’ll share later.
Of course, this will all be followed by spending time with loved ones and having the ever popular Waffle Supper and Christmas Concert this evening, watching the Nativity one more time, then we’ll all go to bed and dream of SugarPlums while waiting for Saint Nick…
Merry Christmas Eve!
Sooo…
Just some random things floating through my head this evening:
Whew! I’m tired from doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms all day! And the laundry still isn’t done. We have way too many clothes!! AND–I need to do laundry a little more often…
Happy Birthday yesterday to Dalene!
I can’t believe I didn’t get Christmas cards out until yesterday and today….Happy Holidays everyone!
As I was tucking M.E. in bed this evening, she said, “I just love Christmas! It’s such a happy time!” Happy?!?!? How do two people living in the same house have such opposite feelings about the same event? Where did that happy feeling go for me? It’s more just a stressful time, and once school gets out it’s trying to get through the hours until Christmas morning without the kids driving me and each other crazy. One of the songs at the Elementary School Christmas sing says, “Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you?” These words perfectly describe my Christmas feeling these days…ALTHOUGH–I’ve had glimmers of that good old Christmas spirit:
Making snowflakes to decorate our front windows.
Watching “The Nativity” (video put out by the Church) with the sound turned down and Amy Grant’s “Breath of Heaven” playing instead. If you’ve never done this, try it–it’s the BEST. We’re going to watch it again tomorrow night before bed.
Finishing up the last of my Christmas errands amidst gigantic snowflakes that fell from the sky yesterday morning (a whole three days ahead of the actual Day on the Christmas Shopping Completion–I need to be congratulated! I even wrapped a good portion. Maybe we’ll get to bed at a decent hour tomorrow night).
Reading the packet of memories that found its way to my mailbox today…this is one of my favorites. Rather than exchanging gifts, my siblings, parents, and I all record and share memories with each other every Christmas. Thanks guys! I really enjoyed reading them this evening. In spite of some minor grumblings going around here and there, I really do LOVE this tradition and think we should continue!
And a well-lit Christmas tree in the quiet after kids go to bed always brings happiness to my heart.
The Christmas Spirit is there…I just need to figure out how to let go of the stress so I can find it.
I love having windows up high with no blinds–when I wake up in the morning, I can see what the weather is without even getting out of bed (advantageous if it’s nice and sunny–makes me want to roll over and go back to sleep if it’s bad). We also really enjoy seeing a bright, full moon peering into our family room windows at night. This morning, M.E. exclaimed “Look at that cloud!” Just before sunrise, a jet flew over the mountain and left this in its wake:
Of course, I ran out to the deck in my robe and snapped a picture. Fun to take a moment and enjoy the little things…
I just finished this book:
It’s called Hang a Thousand Trees With Ribbons by Ann Rinaldi. Loved it! It is about Phillis Wheatley, a slave in Boston in the Revolutionary War period. She is known as America’s First Black Poetess. This is written for ages 8-14, but I, as a middle-aged romantic, enjoyed every word. For me, it brought to mind one burning question: Is it better to be a slave and be pampered, spoiled, and treated as one of the family, or to be free but destitute? Read it and let’s discuss!
