Zen

Here is one of the new quilts I have started, Zen. It is out of the february issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. These are half of the blocks. The other blocks are just plain but I have to figure out something to do with them. It will be a great quilt to practice quilting on with all of that open space. Now that I have collected all of these cream batiks I need to use them.
Song of the day: "Don't Dream Its Over" by Crowded House

Birdie Sling

Well I have to say it should be called the Lazy 12 Days of Christmas. I have not felt like doing anything since my son got out of school. It felt good to catch up on my sleep. On Christmas day I ate, took 2 naps, ate again, watched some movies and then went to bed. I have been sewing but pretty much anything else I have not wanted to do.
Before Christmas I went to my friend Barb's house and she taught me how to sew one of Amy Butler's bags, Birdie Sling. She made one too. I cut it out before I went then it took most of the day to sew. Now that I have made 3 I can do it all in one day. It is like anything else I do, I cannot just make one. Now I have gifts. My daughter took one with her to Florida, one is for my niece in college, and as of now I will be keeping the one with the red band. I have bought more fabric for more purses. So which ever one I like best I will keep. The pink and brown one I made 2 in that fabric. The pattern calls for 1 1/8 yard of 3 fabrics but if you buy 1 1/2 yard of each and cut it out carefully you can get 2 purses out of it.
I started 2 more quilts also. Nothing hard just wanting to work on something. I have until the 6th to get the Mumbo Gumbo finished. That is what I will be doing until it is done. I found some great black and white flannel to go on the back. Barb put that on the back of hers and it really looks good. I was going to put a colorful stripe on mine but when I saw hers I changed my mind.
Song of the day: "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper

Luminary Night

Tonight where I live we line the streets with luminaries. That makes it great to go out and see all of the christmas lights. As soon as it gets dusk everyone lights them. There is a candle burning in each bag. They stay lit until the candle burns out. That is usually very late into the night. My husband and I joke that we would have not moved into this house if we would have known about the luminaries. Because we live on a corner lot we have about 30 more to put out than most people. I think because it was dusk my picture is very blurry but you get the idea.
Song of the day: "Silent Night"

Together With Friends

We had a great get together today. Sewing, laughing, and eating. Barb made a fabulous chicken and rice dish, Chris brought a salad, and Vanessa made a dessert. I forgot to photograph the table. It was decorated very pretty.
Sharon worked on her x-mas wall hanging, Barb cooked, Vanessa made an apron, I worked on another x-mas quilt, and Chris made a pear pincushion. The talk of today was Chris's fabric. Ladies with big fruit butts!!! Now I have to get some of that. She fussy cut the panel so she got each butt on a section of pear. It was a great time with friends.
The weather was nasty all day then started snowing around 4pm. I think we ended up getting about 1-2 inches. Enough to cancel school tomorrow. Now I will be sleepin in!!
Song of the day: "Barbie Girl" by Aqua

Christmas Shopping

Today was the best day. It was so dark, gloomy, and cold. Just the way I like it. I did photograph it but there was no card in my camera so you will just have to trust me. Normally I try not to go anywhere when it is like this because it makes a great day for sewing. Today was the 2nd day for the sale at Kohls, so I had to get out. Everything was 50% or more off. I needed to wrap up some shopping. It took care of most of my gifts so I can relax a little. I did buy myself one thing. I broke down and bought Rachael Ray's garbage bowl. I am the only person that has bought this, a garbage bowl??? I could not resist. I know I need help.
That is Pal in the picture. He always comes over and smells the bags. I think he thought I went to the grocery, so he is looking for his bag of treats.
My small sewing group is getting together tomorrow. I am looking forward to going. I am not sure what I will work on. I have them all a little x-mas quilting gift. I hope they like it.
Song of the day: "Holiday" by Green Day

Back To Mumbo Gumbo

Now that Thanksgiving and the guild x-mas party is over I have to get back to work on a few projects. My mumbo gumbo has to be finished by our January meeting. My small quilting group will be showing them at show and tell. I think I am the only one not finished. There are six of us and this is the quilt that we chose for the year. We are meeting this thursday and hopefully we will be able to decide on a new pattern for 2009. I hope to get a really good pic of all of them and post them. I decided I wanted mine bigger so I finished 2 big blocks along the bottom done today. I have one more to go along the bottom and then 4 more down the side. I think I will be quilting circles all over it to clash with the straight lines. I will quilt a practice block and see how I like it. The pattern is from Pie in the Sky Quilts.
Song of the day: "Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera
Missy I cannot leave a comment on your blog. I was glad to hear from you. I was getting worried. I thought you stopped blogging!

Decorating

It has been a busy last 3 days. Friday I spent all day helping Stitchers Garden, the quilt shop in downtown Franklin move their location. Of course I was not the only one. Ladies from our guild volunteered for a donation. I have never lifted so many bolts of fabric. Her store is big and open now with lots of light. Will it stay that way? Who knows.
Saturday I got the christmas tree up and decorations started. My kids were getting upset because I was not doing things fast enough. They help for about 30 minutes then I get to do the rest. That is ok I got to watch the Gators beat Alabama. We left during the 4th quarter to watch the Predators so I watched the end at the Sommet Center. It was a good day, both of my teams won. We had a semi good fight at the hockey game too. The Predators traded one enforcer for another one about 2 weeks ago. I guess this one is better. He fought a guy that was listed at 6'8". That guy left the ice with a bloody nose and did not come back.
I did a little christmas shopping today. I am not an early shopper. It takes me a while to figure out what to get everyone. My kids are at a bad age. My daughter is 19 and has everything she needs and we are paying for college right now. My son is 11, so he is not little or big. I think he probably has more than most adults. He and his dad are big gadget people, the latest and greatest. I told my husband we just need to start taking a cool trip at christmas and making memories instead of buying things!!!!! The only problem with that is we do not like to travel when everyone else does. I am sure we will figure something out.
Song of the day: "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak

Christmas Party

It seemed a little early to have it today but it went really well. We decorated the tables last night. One of the committee members dried some hydrangeas and cut fresh greenery from her yard to use as centerpieces. They smelled wonderful and looked great. The hydrangeas had purple in them so they matched the tablecloths perfect. It was a nice change from the regular red and green. We had our business meeting, played a purse treasure hunt, and had a huge show and tell. Everyone seemed happy to have completed a christmas quilt. I have no pictures of the show and tell because I hardly even got to see it. I was getting the food ready, bummer! I am going to get to see pictures.
The pears were a big hit as door prizes. I can't wait to make some more. I think if I would have had the pattern in the summer I would have made everyone a pear. We also had a guild member that has an online store donate fat quarter packs. If you like all the contemporary fabrics her shop is great. I quit ordering from her online. I just found out where she lives and I go over there. She is probably like, this chic is crazy! She is great and her shop is Be Sew Happy.
Song of the day: "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who

Pear Pincushions

I actually have 2 patterns for this pincushion but I decided to make the larger one first. I have not made a pincushion up until a few weeks ago, now I am addicted. I just keep making them in groups of 2's. I look at my stash and think that would make a cute pear then I make another one. The hardest part is stuffing them. It took way more fiberfil than I expected. The very bottom is filled with rice. That makes it bottom heavy and stand up better. The first pattern I bought was from Heather Bailey. Her fabrics and patterns are so feminine. The second pattern was from Nancy Halvorsen. That is the pattern I used. Her pear was about 7 inches tall. It is in her 12 Days of Christmas book. I am sure I will make more before christmas to give as gifts.
I am getting ready to go to the church to set up for our party tomorrow. I hope the ladies like getting the pin cushions as a prize in our scavenger hunt. There was a slight chance of snow but I think it has passed. No school no party. My son is doing the snow dance!
Song of the day: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul