Busy, busy, busy!

Busy seems to be my middle name lately, as I'm sure it is with all of you.  One holiday down and only about 5-6 weeks to go until normalcy returns.  Thank God we haven't had any snow yet, that always seems to hamper my plans.  It seems there is something I must have immediately as the days go on, or things I think of, or run out of, or something or another, and clear weather makes it easier just to jump in the car and go without thinking.

I do have a couple to things to show you today though.  I got my swap package from my partner, Laney (lrmcdonald2000) from the mug rug swap and the rug is already hanging in my kitchen for the holidays.  I adore it!  Simple and sweet and on a white background just like I like.  We agreed that we'd make each other's portrait style rather than landscape style just for this purpose since I have only a tiny wall space that needed to be filled.



If you remember, this is the one I sent to her:



Then, finally I had a chance to make something that I wanted to do for a long time.  Months ago I joined the Charley Harper quilt along.  I really wanted to copy one of his awesome works for myself, but at the time was just too busy with the "Ladies".  Finally though, I was free enough, and inspired enough by this print  to make this:



I really had fun doing it, and it too, is hanging in my house for the holidays.  I think I'll pack it away every year with the Christmas stuff just so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

Today I have to tackle the dining room table.  UGH!  What a mess!  Next time I'll show you a picture (not that I haven't done that already on numerous occasions.)  I was going to do it yesterday, but decided to go to lunch and visit with a friend instead.  (After all, aren't we supposed to be of good cheer this time of year?  Hello!  That's what I thought too!)  Take care my friends, and breathe.........

Happy Thanksgiving

Enjoy the day, my friends!  I am thankful for all of you!  Peace!

Are you in the mood yet?

Personally, I wish I could hibernate from now until about January 10th.  Well, maybe make that until spring as long as we're at it!  With no food, and all that sleep, just think how thin and productive I would be the rest of the year?  And, on top of that, I'd get out of all the holiday hassle.  It's amazing to me how my hubby can dictate orders and make suggestions while in the middle of a 847 page novel he started just days ago while I have Christmas shopped, cleaned the house, put up the tree, made one Thanksgiving pie already and froze it (with two to go), and finished 12 different kinds of Christmas cookies (mostly double and triple batches) and all he did is sample them and put the containers in our basement deep freeze.   And then, he asks why I don't have any Christmas spirit???  Hello, I've been tryin'!  Believe me!  

I thought it would be fun though to show you some fun pictures I've swiped from various places to try to help myself:

Are you there yet?  No, you say?  See, what did I tell you?  Me either, although some of that stuff sure does look yummy.......like those chocolate covered pretzel rods?  Ummmmmm!!!  And I love the floating candle in the mason jar.  Too bad I don't have wide mouth mason jars!  I'm sure not buying a dozen for just one!  I do like these though:

Can't you just imagine all the stares I would get at my age wearing something like that?  If I could find a pair of those I'd buy them "just like that"......just for the fun!  'Course I'd have to get me some Converse tennies to go with um......I don't think they'd look too cool with my loafers.  LOL

An Exclusive

For any of you wonderful followers that live close to my favorite quilt shop (Patched Works in Elm Grove) tonight will be special and I think you should go there.  Every Wednesday night for the past who knows how many weeks, they have featured fun projects which are simple and creative.  Tonight I will be the "feature".  No, not me personally, but an applique project (with free instructions and pattern) that I created just for them.  (Actually, it is a take off on something I did for a secret swap and haven't shown anywhere yet, but don't tell anyone!  That's also the reason I'm not showing a picture of it.  Duh!) You'll just have to go and be overwhelmed (I hope!)  They're open until 8 CST.

In the meantime, and for all of you who live too far away to go tonight, I can show you two things that I recently made and showed sneak peeks of last time.  First was to Mom Cindy for the STUD group.  Remember, STUD stands for "swap til U drop".....not something nasty.  LOL  The theme this time was pets and since we both have dogs, that was the object of both of our mini quilts to each other.  This is her "Sophie":



I was really undecided on how to do a dog (in actuality I wanted to do a cat), until I found those flowers in my stash.  Once I found them, the whole thing seemed to evolve from there and even after I was done, I had to get out my pearle cotton and embellish a bit with some embroidery.  Lately too, I have been enthralled with using buttons in quilts for some reason.  You'll see what I mean in the next one.

My absolute two favorite swaps in the world are the doll swap (which, by now, should be no secret) and the mug rug swap.  Personally, I wish they both were ongoing because my imagination seems to go in those directions with whimsy and fun.  For the current mug rug swap, the theme was Christmas and unlike in times past where we had secret partners, this time partners were assigned.  My partner, Laney, (lrmcdonald2000) posted somewhere that she loved color on white.  (Which by now, my friends, you should KNOW, is my very favorite to do!)  I knew immediately what I was going to make:





With a personalized gift tag, just for her!  (Did you note the buttons?????  Told ya!)  I had a hard time giving that one away.  After it was done, (and with the addition of a O ring on the back) I had it hanging in my kitchen for a few days just to smile at it every time I walked by.  I hope she is smiling too!

So, that's it for today, my friends.  I'm working on something else, but who knows how far I will get.  I still have so many ideas for this year, but I'm running out of time!  (I did get all 12 double and triple batches of Christmas cookies done though (and in the freezer) this past weekend so I'm one happy girl!!)  One thing off the list to do!!!  Yeah!!!  Hope your list is going as well............until next time........

Eat your heart out!

Am I mean or what?  Look what I was gifted from my quilt shop owner:



She knew how I was coveting this stuff!  It's Malka Dubrawsky's newest line from Moda, "A Stitch in Color".  Granted, I only have a 2 1/2 inch square of each fabric (for now) but I'm sure I can come up with something wonderful until I get more.  Thank you, Julie!!!

On another note, I sent my mini quilt to my partner for the QT swap, and even though she hasn't gotten it yet 'cause she's traveling and I didn't know that when I sent it, I was naughty and posted a picture of it anyway.  I don't think she'll mind.  (At least I hope not.)  The theme was windows and doors and I chose to use a window.  This quilt is 9 x 11 inches and I call it "Cherry Pie".



Lastly, you must see my boy in all his glory.  My daughter and her hubby and dog stopped over last Sunday and when that happens, Toby and Miya (a 6 year old, female, 45 lb airedale) chase each other all around the house.  (Actually, Miya chases Toby, cause he only goes after her when her back is turned and then when she notices and runs after him, he runs under a chair!)  This time though, he really wore her out:

 

Enjoy your weekend, my friends!  I think I'm going to start my Christmas cookies and freeze them.

What a deal!!!!

OMG!!!  Did I find a deal and I'm sure you're going to agree after you read this post (which, incidentally has NOTHING to do with sewing, crafts, food, or related items.)  

As many of you know, I recently had cataract surgery.  Now, after a few weeks when everything settles down, you go back to the eye doctor and get a prescription for new glasses.  I was looking forward to that since I hadn't gotten new glasses in about 5-6 years.  I also figured it was time to get new prescription sunglasses (which I keep in the car, but need for really sunny days).  I went around my town trying on various frames and pricing their lenses prior to getting the new prescription so I'd be "ready to go".   What really flipped me out was the difference in cost from one place to another.  I wear single vision lenses since I only need my glasses for distance.  (I take them off for close work.)  One place wanted $158 for those and another only $48 and that didn't include the cost for high index (which makes the lenses thinner).  Those prices also ranged from $50 to $100, plus the various costs of the frames.  One thing I really wanted was polarized sunglasses and those prices were really unbelievable!  I was thinking that this whole endeavor might put me in the hole over $800 for both, if not more.  That was.................until I found this:

I had heard about Zenni Optical on the radio once upon a time, but had forgotten about it until a friend of my hubby mentioned that he got his glasses there and was really pleased.  So, I checked it out and look what I got for a total of only $62 shipped right to my door!!!!

And they're polarized plus anti-glare!  I LOVE them!  In fact, I love them so much that I'm going to order another pair and right now the shipping is free!

So, you ask, what happened to my everyday glasses?  Well, I ordered them from a regular eyeglass place because I LOVED the frames so much, AND I needed my PD.....pupillary distance (the distance in mm from eye to eye....which you can get from the last place that made your lenses) to order the Zenni glasses.......BUT, it's been over two weeks and guess what?  I still don't have those!!  Crazy!  

Short and Sweet

Not much going on here today, but I just wanted to pop in a show you a few things.  First off, I got this gorgeous quilt from the "Little Quilt - sew,vote, swap" group:



That was made by "jgmehlin" aka Julie and was all paper pieced (if you can believe??)  Flips me out because I still cannot, for the life of me, do paper piecing.......'course, I haven't really had the time to try lately, but I don't think I would be any better now than before, so why bother???  (You know what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks!!)  My talents go in other directions, I guess, and that's why I so appreciate the talents of those fine paper-piecers.  WOW!!

I did finish two other smallish quilts for swaps, BUT because I haven't even sent one out yet, and the other apparently has not arrived to that partner yet, I can only show you sneak peeks.  (Bummer, I know!)





So, that's it for today.  I'm working on some other stuff, in my head if no where else.  LOL  I get these crazy ideas and then I pull out all this fabric for one or another and then I have such a mess I don't know where to go, or what I was doing in the first place.  EIKES!!!!  Does that ever happen to you???  It's not a wonder my dining room table looks like a quilt shop exploded!  If I could only stick to one thing, I'd probably be lots better off.  Does this sound like ADD????  Kinda, huh?  Can you get ADD at my age?

I shudda known....

I guess I should have known that my Ladies Series wasn't over.  After all, there are LOTS of quilters and sewers out in there in blog land, I guess.  AND, some even want themselves "forever" in fabric.  Who am I to deny them, anyway???  Today we have #19 - Jane!  I know that many of you are keeping track and will correct me on my numbering system, but I must tell you that there is a #17 and #18 too and both have made it to their destination, although one of them is a Christmas gift and will stay a secret for many weeks yet.  Now, if I can keep track, that's another story!!!! By then, I can only wonder what number I'll be on????

May I present "Jane" to you?  First, as always, the drawing, then her pretty eyes and finally the finished quilt.







Besides, "Jane", I have one more thing to show you today.  This was my entry for the "Little Quilt, Sew, Vote, swap group".  I bought Malka Dubrawsky's book, "Fresh Quilting" some time ago and had to try her methods.  I really had fun and can't wait to do a few more when I have some extra time.  (Now, if I only had some of her newly released fabric, I'd have a much better time of it, believe me!!)



So, that's it for today.  Right now, I've been working on more swaps, and they are partner swaps, which means I can't show you until my partner gets it.  Bummer, I know!!!  Perhaps a few sneak peeks next time though.  Would you like that?