Merry Christmas Everyone

What?!? Today forecast is "I'm cute" with a chance of "I'm even cuter tomorrow"

Even puppies get Christmas

A handmade poncho for little one

This was the best I could get

Santa lost weight

Us girls in the morning

She is moving all around

My Sister got a BUG

Isn't she soooo cute? She is a Boston terrier and Pug mix. My sister got her for Christmas. She has been pineing away for this "dog at the pet store" for a while and her hubby surprized her with it. He had a little fun torturing her too. Telling her he was watching some teenage girl buy her dog at the pet store while he picked up food. Guy's got to have his fun. Happy buggy Christmas.

In the Works

The kids were home from school and the hubby was home from work so what you see on the table was because of that.

We have igloos made from frosting and marshmellows, sugar cookies, butter cookies, and peppermint cookies. I did make it out to the grocery store again for a short time to collect the bag the cashier forgot to give us yesterday. (my big outing)

Happy first day of winter.

I have a couple of things in process and when they are done I will share.

We dug out.

Thank goodness it was a light snow because there was lots of it. I think we got over 2 ft. The roads here are awful so school and work has been called off for tomorrow. I'm sure Soulmate will work from home cause he can. The girls and I are making igloos.

The monkey business I've been stitching at night. I've got an idea brewing.

What the girls and I did for the birds today who are probably saying to one another " I thought we went far enough south. Now we're screwed." Well, maybe not in those words, but close. Frozen bagels with peanut butter and birdseed on a string.

Let it stop!!

Out our front door and this is after shoveling twice. School is closed for Monday and Tuesday. The kids are going to be thrilled. Maybe the grocery store wasn't a bad idea. Good thing I can walk there. Stay warm.

There is snow and then there's SNOW

Ok, I admit it. I was one of those that said, "yeah right. I'll believe it when I see it". We live in Virginia, not upstate NY. This was the area that had snowdays for the threat of snowfall. Big difference to what we were used to. So when we woke up this morning and saw a foot. I was impressed and excited. Real snow. Then we got out and started to shovel those 12 inches off our driveway and about mid-driveway I was no longer excited- yet still impressed. It is coming down faster than we can shovel or plows can plow. We can get out of our driveway, but the roads are another story.

The kids have been busy making snow caves.

They are loving it!

Let the baking begin!!

Look at this cute owl!!!!!!! He is sooo cute!! I love him.

One of my favorite cookies - Peppermint Meltaways

Bags

These are called Poochie Bags- the tutorial was from The Happy Zombie at www.thehappyzombie.com I love this pattern. You use 3 fat quarters for each bag and it is so simple and easy and the end result is great. You have 3 different ways you can finish off the bottom of the bag. Thank you Monica for sharing.

This one is called a Friendship Bag by Rachel Griffin of P.S. I Quilt. It is a quilted little gift bag for when you want to give a little extra. You can find the tutorial at www.psiquilt.com

Progress

Swaps are ready to send out. I somehow signed up for 3 in the month of Christmas. Two of which are through the Old Red barn Quilt Along Group that I love so.

Over 300 chocolate covered pretzels were made and bagged with ribbon for Soulmates Christmas party.

Christmas cards got put together and are ready for the post office. The list is still long, but I feel like I'm making a little head way.

Let it Snow!!!

3 weeks-1day and counting

One present down. A crocheted poncho for the youngest queen. Now to get the blankie done. I looked at the calendar and my chest got a wee bit tight. Going to have to put the petal to the metal as they say.

We had a great visit with the Grandparents last week. Thanksgiving was stress free and relaxing. We took walks, watched movies and went to some great restaurants.

Now I'm off to get stuff done!!! Happy Holidays!

What I won!

or was given, I should say. Hawthrone Threads- my "go to" place for fabulous fabric sent me this fat quarters set. There was nothing in the envelope but the fabric and I know I buy a lot of fabric, but I couldn't remember ordering this. Then it hit me- the giveaway. Later, I got a email asking if I by chance got the giveaway fabric because the giveaway person got the fabric I actually ordered. I wrote back to Charlie and said I had and asked him what he would like me to do. He e-mailed me back and said my ordered fabric was on the way and to keep the giveaway fabric. How wonderful is that? Doesn't that make you want to deal with this store and give them your hard earned money for some great fabric? Telling you now- go to www.hawthornethreads.com They have sale fabric also that is to die for. Have fun shopping- tell them Dena sent you.

Giveaway

www.sewtakeahike.typepad.com/fleamarketfancyfreaks/2009/11/it'stimeforagiveaway
That was the best I could do. I'm so not computer savy. GRRRR. But if you win- you must share. HA.

Ode to an Owl

Picture taken in the place of inspiration. I was by the river when I heard a lot of noise in the tree and what should I see but this majestic owl. He was stealing the nest of some birds. not nice of him I know, but that is what they do.

My friend, aka Spinster Sister gave me the owl fabric featured in the log cabin blocks and the rest just rolled into place. The greens and teals reminded me of the trees and river.

The back- not as scrappy as my normal backs, but I like it just the same.

The front. Quilt measures 54 x 65. Perfect sofa size to snuggle under. Quilted in free motion loops.

Works in Progress

The picture above is a teaser on something I'm working on now. I just need to quilt and bind it and then it will be done.

These blocks are called "Crazy 9 patch" and something I learned from Old Red barn quilt along. This is going to be a Christmas present for the oldest queen to match the banners I made for her room. There is some other stuff throw into this quilt- like string blocks and some other goodies. so far so fun. During the evening I'm working on a poncho for my niece and I love the yarn I'm working with and how that is turning out.

Taking Stock and Making Lists

Back of Kiss of Kiwi Quilt- say that three times fast.

Here is the front. With the shop opening and Christmas looming I was up last night with the pencil and pad writing away. I was glad to get this quilt off the to do list. I made this one as round one of a quilt along. Of course, I tweaked it here, there and everywhere because for some reason I wander off the instructions and go down a different path. But this quilt along group has been a godsend and the women in it are so nice and encouraging. I can't say enough wonderful things about them.

How many of you are having the "OMG Christmas is just six weeks away!!!!" thoughts?

For those of you that like shopping, you probably don't feel like you are in the weeds. I have decided to do a mostly handmade Christmas this year and for that reason I may need to send out a S.O.S. My lists includes scarves, poncho, 3 quilts, table runner, afghan, and stuffies. I know. Who needs sleep? We will see if I end up making that last minute trip to Target or not. Wish me luck.

Some News!!

First, I have to tell you how proud I am of the queens. They came home this week with report cards and both of them got straight A's. Beaming smile from ear to ear. If they would let me I'd Kiss em up one side of their faces and down the other. SO PROUD OF THEM!!!!

Second, my lovely sister, made my throat choke up and tears threaten when she did a blast email to her mailing lists about my quilts. With her encouragment, I have started a website to sell my quilts. It is called www.denawaynedesigns.com . Wish me luck.

Call me Crazy

But I have signed up for three quilting bees for the year of 2010. Circuit Block Party, The Block Swap and Modern Quilting Bee. I am very excited to start each one of these. I'm sure I will learn quite alot. I am still doing the Old Red Barn Quilt Along. We are almost 1000 strong and I have met some great women there, not to mention all I have learned.

Fabric Store to die for

I found a new fabric store on line called Hawthorne Threads. To see all the yumminess from them go to www.hawthornethreads.com . It is owned by a husband and wife team and they have the best possible taste and selection. Head over there now and check out the giveaway they are hosting. Enjoy!

Jamestown

English settlement

Dressed in period

Indain Village- log houses not tepees

Queen 2 and I had a good time on her field trip. It was 7 hours on a bus with two 4th grade classes. The weather was great, breezy but warm.

Bit of Boo done

I embroidered the centers in Halloween fashion. The alternate squares have green fabric with owls. Shocking owls, right? So a little bit of wonky log cabins, a little framed squares quilted in a fun free wild way.

Wonky Horse Quilt done

I do so love this quilt. It was very fun to put together and once I got a sewing machine that worked it went quite smoothly.

This is the back and I am proud to say that I used up all the fabric left overs from the front. I didn't have to buy anything more and I love the scrappy puzzle piece feel it has.

Kitty Fun

What is it Jack sees outside the window??

The neighbors cats playing with Queen 1 while she waits for the bus. Pumpkin and Little black

Pumpkin is a snuggler.

I got a new machine

Isn't it beautiful? It has more bells and whistles than I know what to do with but I can grow into it. I love the quilting table extension.

These are the blocks that I did to try out the machine and get to where I could do a straight stitch. It has over 75 stitches on the machine so finding the basic one took me some time.

I finially bit the bullet and started quilting the horse quilt. I have three more to do after this one and I was making a list of all the ones I want to do and it numbered nine. Yikes!!!