Sunday Stashbusting Report...

Not much sewing has been going on here in the Lakes. It was a quiet, normal week, filled with the usual sort of work, school, running errands and regular activities...not much to blog about but very nice indeed. I did start a new quilt for Project Linus. This is a Buzz Saw quilt and was posted by Kairle at Happy Valley Quilter. I've had it on my list of projects to do for awhile and finally pulled some blues from the stash to make it. Everything for this will be from the stash.

I've been doing a lot of cooking, mostly from Weight Watchers cookbooks. Last Sunday I made this chicken fettuccine dish that was sooo good with a salad and a glass of wine. Last night was pasta with shrimp and now I've got a chicken roasting in the oven with lemon, garlic and rosemary...I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed cooking! I also made a WW meatloaf in the crockpot on Friday which we sliced for sandwiches yesterday...it was incredible. Now their cheesecake that I made was not so good...that one went into the trash...

I'm looking forward to tomorrow...my youngest gets her braces off and after 8 years of paying for braces for our two girls, we'll be finished! The youngest and I also signed up to take a Wilton cake decorating course at Michael's in February...I decorated cakes for years, but never had any formal instruction, so we're both looking forward to learning how to do it right. But the best part will be eating our mistakes!

And I have the t-shirt to prove it!

I have fulfilled my one New Year's Resolution and I have the shirt to prove it! I didn't chicken out and made it through the donation. We were at the donation site for 3 hours and I still didn't leave! Yeah, now that it's over, I don't know why I made such a fuss...and I'll be doing it again, probably every 8 weeks. Especially if they have Tastykakes every time I go!

I also finished a sock today...here's a picture for the color of the yarn, whose band I don't have handy and I can't remember what it was....

And this one is to show the pattern...Lacy Mock Cable Socks. Now on to the second sock, even though I really want to cast on something different using this!

Another Finish...

This quilt is one I made last year and Finn blogged about on her Riding the Orphan Train blog. I quilted and bound it and it will donated to my local chapter of Project Linus. And now my vacation is over and I'll get back to quilting customer quilts!

Happy New Year!

I'm a little late, but the sentiment is heartfelt! I hope all of you have a wonderful new year! Although I'm not officially in May Britt's January WISP Challenge, I have decided to finish up a few things. I received these paper pieced sewing themed blocks in a block swap about 12 years ago when I lived in New York. They traveled with me to my first home back in NJ, then the home where we now live. And they sat. In a plastic bag. For years.

Over the weekend I pulled them out, removed the paper, made the alternate blocks and put them together. It was so quick and easy, once again I can't believe they sat for so long! I quilted it yesterday and put the binding on last night. This will be hung in my living room, which is where my longarm lives.

I've had to slow down my sewing and knitting...after spending hours knitting on New Year's Eve, my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome reared its ugly head. But, instead of being in one hand, now it's in both. Knitting has become too painful to do for more than a few minutes, even hand sewing is painful. It's been challenging...I just can't sit still without something to keep myself occupied. I've done quite a bit of reading to stay busy. I really enjoyed this book...




I've just finished this book...and loved it...

And I've just started this book...

I've got another binding to hand stitch down (you really didn't think I'd let a little carpal tunnel stop me, did you?) , hopefully another finish to post tomorrow!

Last Finish of 2007

I cleaned my sewing room last night and came across this, which I pieced over a year ago. I had started quilting it on my Pfaff but I'm not sure why, what with the longarm sitting in the living room! This morning I loaded it, quilted it and bound it. It took about 2 hours total...I can't believe I left it sitting so long for 2 hours work!

Now I'm ahead of the game for Valentine's Day!

I wish all of you a happy, healthy, peaceful new year.

Stash Sunday

I've been doing much more thinking about quilting than actual quilting in the last week. I did finish embroidering this little guy, which took a 12" square of backing and one of muslin out of my stash. I also quilted a quilt that my mother made and used about two yards of 108" muslin for the backing. I have a few things planned for this afternoon, so will post those if I actually do them!

I've been thinking about the new year and what I would like to accomplish. I'm not one for making resolutions, I usually make new plans in September, rather than January. My life has revolved around a school calendar since I was young and to me that is the start of the new year. So, what would I like to do in 2008? I think I'd like to focus on making some baby quilts for Project Linus this year, using some of my stash. I'd like to knit some more socks, I certainly have the yarn for it. But my big goal is to give blood. I've had blood taken for testing, but I've always been too chicken to actually donate blood. My two kids who are old enough to donate have done it, so I decided it is time. I'd even like to give blood regularly if the first time goes well! So, I've done it. There is a blood drive at a local firehouse next Saturday and the boss and I have 11:00 appointments to give blood. I'll try to be brave...

The Day After...

I loved Christmas when the kids were younger, but I think it's so much more fun now they're older! Andrew came home from college on Sunday afternoon, much to our surprise. He had to go back down to work on Christmas Eve, but got back shortly after we returned from 7:00 mass. We chose to let the kids sleep in on Christmas morning and opened our gifts on Christmas Eve. This had to be the best Christmas ever!

All three had picked out their presents, so there were supposed to be no surprises under the tree. But there was one big one...we had scored a free Wii game system! We picked up an extra controller, a Mario game and Guitar Hero to go with it and they were so excited that they stayed up until 2am playing. But the highlight for my husband and I was our gift from them. They had all gotten together last week to go shopping. Little did we know that they were actually going to get their picture taken with Santa as our gift. My kids HATE to have their pictures taken so this was a real treat for us!

On Christmas Day, the boss and I went to the 9am mass, then came home and relaxed. Without having to open gifts, it makes the morning very quiet! I'd made our dinner ahead of time (lasagna, chicken parm and Caesar Salad), so after my parents, sister and nephew came by to exchange gifts, I started a loaf of bread in the machine, put the lasagna and chicken in the oven on timer and headed over to my brother's house for a short visit. After dinner we went to see the new National Treasure movie. It was excellent, it even kept me awake. I'm notorious for falling asleep in the movies!

The time spent with family, the fun of the holiday and the fact that the boss was unhurt in his accident and we were able to be together for Christmas made this one of the best ever. I hope your Christmas memories will be happy too!

Merry Christmas...

I hope you have a blessed, peaceful day, filled with the people and things you love. Merry Christmas!

Sunday Stashbusting Report...

a day late! Not much sewing has been going on here, I've been busy shopping, wrapping and spending time with my family. We're looking forward to relaxing a little now that most everything is done. So...the strip twist quilt is done and bound - completely from stash!


I turned the jelly roll that I won from the Fat Quarter Shop into a fall rail fence throw, which is awaiting borders...


On the buying side, I went back to The Mullica Hill Quilt Company and once again they were wonderful, although the highlight was that they remembered me from my visit back in April, had printed out my blog entry about their shop and had it hanging in the store. I felt like a rock star! :o) Once again, the service was wonderful, the fabric I purchased was beautifully wrapped in tissue and it was a wonderful, friendly store. I'll be visiting here regularly!

The reason for my trip was for some planned purchases, which I believe Judy said were legal! I'm planning to make an applique quilt for a dear friend for Christmas next year. Since I'd like it to be hand appliqued and quilted, I thought it would be a good idea to start now, seeing how the last applique quilt took me 10 years! I'll be using some of the blocks from the Rose Sampler Supreme pattern and making yellow roses . The gold floral will be for sashings. I'll be adding more yellows and golds as I go. I was surprised that I only had 2 yellow fat quarters in the stash, I guess that's a color that's definitely lacking!


I'm enjoying working with the stash, since I don't have a lot it's challenging to put things together that will work. My next project which I'll be doing along with the applique is a snowman design from Crabapple Hill Designs. He's almost done and I'm thinking he'll become a pillow to keep out for the winter. The fabric and floss for him are from the stash too!

New pictures

The boss went back to the auto body shop with a camera today, to get some good pictures of the car. (The one in the last post was taken on his cell phone.) He walked in and the guy said to him, "Is that your Ford out there?" DH said, "Yes it is," and the guy looked at him and said, "You should be dead." Yep, that pretty much covers it...

The car is full of glass...

The ice came right in on him...

The car is still full of ice...

Luck...

Yesterday, as my husband was driving through Connecticut, a sheet of ice broke off the top of a panel van. He saw it coming and slowed down a bit. That may have saved his life. The ice hit his hood and then came through the driver's side windshield. Had he not slowed down, it would have come straight through the windshield, full force. He called me about an hour after the accident and said, "You know those movies where ice comes off a truck and flies through the windshield and the person is always killed?" Fortunately, he walked away with a cut on his forehead, a cut in his finger where a piece of glass went in when he was brushing the snow and ice off of him and some sore muscles. A miracle.

His car was towed back to NJ and when I picked him up last night, saw the car and saw him, I made him go right to the emergency room to be checked out. He's fine...I'm pretty thankful today.

This followed a wonderful weekend...our son came home on Saturday and he and the girls went Christmas shopping. Afterwards, we all went to the bowling alley and rented a lane for a few hours. From there we headed to the diner for breakfast...at 10:00 pm! It was great fun, we hadn't had a family outing like that in a very long time!

Not much to report for stashbusting...I guess I'll get to that next Sunday!

Christmas Favorites

I have a few favorite decorations that aren't ornaments. This little Christmas Quilt Shoppe came to me from a friend's collection. Years ago, a group of us met online through AOL. My four best friends came from that group and we are spread across the country. But there was a fifth friend, a very sweet lady named Sheryl. Sheryl passed away a few years ago after suffering from cancer. I was fortunate to receive two of her quilts...one was a top and the other was a partially quilted quilt. I finished both of them. I also received this little quilt shop, which lives in my sewing room all year long.

Another favorite is this Santa. A friend of mine made him for me back in college, so he's quite old now! That friend is now my daughter's Godmother. What I love about this Santa is not only that she made him, but he's hiding a surprise inside that you would never expect...

Yeah...Santa is my kind of guy!

Free Shipping!

If you're still looking for Christmas gifts, visit my Etsy store! I'm offering Free Priority Mail Shipping on all items in the store! The following items are listed....

Knitting Markers

I found the need for some knitting markers last week, so decided to treat myself. If you need them too, go check out Hide and Sheep's Etsy shop. These markers arrived on Friday...they were reasonably priced, beautifully packaged, shipped promptly and are just gorgeous!

Sunday Stashbusting Report

Finally, after 10 years, I have finished my Grandma's Album Quilt! The backing and binding both came from stash and that's all I've used this week. It is so nice to have it done...this was my oldest UFO and I really never thought I'd get it finished. Now I'm planning my second applique quilt, but that one has a deadline...I'd like to have it to give as a gift next Christmas, and I'd like to hand quilt it. I'm going to do it...no more 10 year quilts for me!

chocolatey goodness...

During the Christmas season, friends of ours participate in the Living Nativity that is presented by their church. At the end, cookies are provided for all. Last year over 14,000 people attended...that's a lot of cookies! I volunteered to bake some this year to help out. So I made these. The recipe comes from a book called "Ideal Cookie Cookbook" which was published in 1984. I got it as a freebie when I signed up for weekly delivery of the Courier Post...way back when I first got married. I don't know how I missed this recipe until now!

Rich Chocolate Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen.

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup water
1 package (15.5 oz.) brownie mix
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla

In a large mixing bowl, blend eggs and water. Stir in brownie mix, baking soda, flour and vanilla; blend well. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto a greased and floured cookie sheet. (I didn't flour mine.) Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet to wire rack to cool.

They are delicious! For those like me, who think the corner pieces of brownies are the best because they're crunchy, these are amazing. Crunchy on the edges, soft in the middle. Try them...they're easy. FuriousBall, do you want some?

And here's Cheyenne, trying to get into the Christmas spirit. It's not working....

Thanks, Finn

I had to try it too! Although I like Christmas better, the description is pretty accurate!

You Are Easter

You are an optimistic, hopeful, and genuinely sweet person. Sensitive and affectionate, you are easily touched. You love nature, animals, and anything cute or cuddly. For you, every day is a new chance - no matter what happened yesterday. What makes you celebrate: Almost anything. You love most holidays and celebrations. At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The peacemaker. You can prevent any squabbles that might break out. On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Remember to include everyone

What Holiday Are You?

Just Listed...

I'm doing a little cleaning in my sewing room and have just listed this pattern on Ebay. Take a look if you're interested...

Thanks!!!

Sunday Stash Busting Report

This week I finished the Strip Twist quilt from Bonnie's site. Everything came from stash, even the flannel print for the backing. I've been saving this for years for something special. I think I found it!

This project made quite a dent in my flannel stash. I do have some customer quilts to quilt this week, I'm hoping to find time to bind a few quilts that are waiting. That's next on the list, along with some sock knitting that's been languishing in my knitting basket. How is everyone else doing???

Christmas is coming...

The Santas are waiting...



The stockings are hung...or at least it says they are!

No, they really are!

The snowman is waiting for the first flakes of winter...

What is it about Christmas decorations that puts me in such a good mood? Maybe I should keep them up all year long!