Can't forget this one!

This, my first "Crazy Quilt" has been completed for several months. I just loved making it, so as soon as it was finished, I started using it! These scraps all came from my quilts and sewing projects as well as few of my Mom's. I foundation-pieced each block on muslin, so it is a little thicker than other quilts I have made. This is also the first my Mom quilted on her new long-arm, that makes it extra special to me! I am definitely going to make another. It was great to have something to work on between other projects. I love it!

Tranquility-completed

Here is the "Tranquility" quilt complete. The 5" sqaures are from Moda, the "Tranquility" collection. This is my first "long-arm quilted" project. Took about 4 hours total, from mounting the fabric and batting to completed quilting. It measures 62" square. I used my Mom's Voyager 17 long arm that she got back in the summer. I joked that I am moving back home for the long-arm! Seriously, it was a lot of fun! I am starting my king-sized quilt later in the week and plan on going to quilt it at Mom's as well!
We are having some mild weather and I am taking the hubby and the dogs to the Greenway for some outdoor time!

New Pattern/New Project/COMPLETED!

I have spent most of this dreary, rainy day sewing! This cute backpack is the result. I started with several patterns and pulled what I liked from each one. Then I have made several construction changes. I believe I will write this up and run it by my mom. This one is for my niece, Kahia, who turns 9 next month. I know she will like it.
The red floral fabric came from Mary Jo's and the yellow/pink dot came from a small shop in Elkin, The Sample Store.
Any comments?

Family Fun for Christmas

We have had such a wonderful, blessed Christmas! As you can see by the photo, my nieces and nephew were quite full of themselves and made all of us laugh! We were surrounded by love and the joy of being together!
Pepper enjoyed her first Christmas as well!

The calm of December

No, we haven't had any of the wintery wet stuff the rest of the country seems to be getting, but it has been ccccoooolllldddd! And joy, of joys: our furnace went out today! But, we have the wood stove downstairs and the fireplace upstairs and the chimney sweep came yesterday so we can hold on til the furnace man comes tomorrow! Whew!
My gifts are all wrapped, the turkey is in the fridge, the last grocery list is on the counter. Hubby's hip is healing and the Man-cub is on antibiotics for bronchitis. The calm of December is here. I really like this time, the way that there is a stillness in the night, the hum of humanity seems less. I feel more connected to the season. It is refreshing, this peace of winter. We have enjoyed gathering with friends today, taking part in the age-old tradition of wishing each other "Merry Christmas", toasting the passing of this year and stating goals for the next. These threads of our friendships are so precious. It is fitting, then, to take these occasions to just celebrate being, and being together.
We will gather at my Mother-in-law's tomorrow for my hubby's family Christmas, then my parents, brother, sister-in-law, mother-in-law and any others who arrive will gather here on Christmas Day. We will eat, laugh, hug, and enjoy each other. My Christmas wish: that the peace and stillness of this season will inspire more peace and love throughout the world.

Ready to Quilt

I finished this top just now.
It started with a "Tranquility" charm pack from Moda. I added 2 1/2" strips of the stripe and 2 batiks. I am going to quilt it on my mom's long arm next week and will probably hang it in my living room. It is approximately 65"x 65".

What a week...

High points from this week:
1. AC/DC Thursday night (thanks to Baby Brother for the early Christmas gift!) These guys maybe AARP members, but they have stayed true to their rocking roots and still can give a great show! The picture is Angus showing us how it is DONE!
2. NC Dance Theater presentation of the Nutcracker Saturday matinee. Magical, exuberant, excellent way to reconnect with the child-like view of the Holiday season. Over 100 dancers in the cast, all did a fantastic job. Thanks to best-ever boss for the tickets!
3. Judy and Tammy loved their handbags. I love giving gifts!
4. Man-cub got home, posted EXCELLENT grades for the semester.
5. Handsome hubby continues to recover with his new hip.

Now the downside:
1. Still need to obtain a few more gifts for relatives. We drew names this year, to minimize expenses and waste, so I want to make sure we get them something they will like!
2. Man-cub is sick. Can't get into the doctor until tomorrow.
3. Even though I am glad to have a 2 week vacation, I am still worried about the future of my job. Will I have it through this time next year? Not looking good for the remaining few domestic textile mills.

Still, today is the Winter Solstice, the sun is out and I am going to keep a positive outlook. I have about 30 minutes to a completed quilt top, and that is something I greatly look forward to!

Shameless self-promotion

YAY! My fabric mecca (MaryJo's of Gastonia) is featuring my work on their Community pages here. This is for Tuesday, December 16. I am so excited!

Also a little promotion for a friend: Jeff Welch of Luna Cycles won the Men's B 40+ race at Cyclocross National Championships in Kansas City!Great job and congratulations!

I now have 3 days left to go into work this year. I am off from Dec 19-Jan 5. I sure hope the mill is still open so I can go back! With the current economic woes, I can't take it for granted. We have dramatically scaled back the Christmas gifts this year. We are drawing names with my husband's family this year and plan to so with my family next year. We are all so very blessed and none of us "need" any trinkets or tchotckes to add to our clutter. It is enough to have each other and the opportunity to be together. All I want for Christmas for myself is time to rest, a complete night's sleep and time to sew. For the earth as a whole, I want Peace, Compassion and Love.

2 new bags complete!

2 more Christmas presents complete! The beautiful brown floral (great fabric from Moda, lined in orange dimples) is for Judy, the Elephant applique bag is for Tammy. I love both of these bags! I want to make one for me next, but need to start my king-size quilt first. I think I am going to do it in a rail-fence pattern. The fabrics are all soothing taupes and grays.

New runner finished

I finished this runner last night. Most of the fabrics came from MaryJo's. This is the second I have made from this pattern (from a Fons and Porters magazine). Amazing how much quicker the second one goes together! I am improving on my free-motion quilting, it just takes time and practice.
I brought my handsome hubby home from the hospital yesterday. He had a new left hip implanted on Tuesday. He is doing well, this also takes time and practice to improve!

Happy Howl-o-days!

Oh, the things we do to our beloved pets (teehee!). She is a good sport!