What to do next?

We had a wonderful Christmas--lots of family, food and fun.   I didn't take any pictures.  I borrowed one Jen took, so I wasn't totally photoless--and it looks fuzzy.  I'm exhausted.   Lots of late nights just hanging out as a family again.  The girls are back to their jobs and homes.  DH and I spent yesterday recuperating.  lol  Today we made a business trip and DH bought a snowblower for the tractor.  We had snow last week and are expecting more tomorrow.   The snowblower will make it easier to get around the hay yard and clean the calves' yards.  It will also help keep the road to the highway clear.   I really hope we don't get that much, but now DH is prepared for the worst.

Now that the girls are gone I can get all my sewing stuff out again.   So many quilts, so little time.  I should have January and February to sew.  I really need to get projects out and get organized to finish some things.  Of course, all the new BOMs will start in January and I haven't finished any BOMs from last year.  I need to catch up on Raggedy Ann & Friends.  What to do next?  I need to do borders for one Pinwheel quilt, sash the Jelly Roll blocks, make 3 more Pinwheel blocks in the purple/green colors and practice my Free Motion Quilting.  There are some Snowbound blocks to make and quite a few blocks to embroider for a variety of projects.  Oh my, but I can't resist starting the new BOMs.

The first BOM is from a German blog, All About My Quiltshop Kaleidoskop.  There is a translator gadget on the right side.    

I love hearts.  This is such a pretty design.  I'm going to do this BOM or at least save the patterns.

Little Miss Shabby is starting a BOM in January called Birdie Stitches.  Of course I can't resist this BOM either.  What's a blogging quilter to do?  So many cute BOMs and so little time.  : (

There is going to be a Blog Hop with Valentine Designs.  I bet there will be some give aways too.  It's good to get started thinking about Valentine themed projects now.  You know how I love those blog hops.  : ) I put the button on the right side.

Do you struggle with all the wonderful things there are to do online?   I'm not going to let it overwhelm me.  I'm just going to enjoy working on whatever I am working on whenever I have time to work on it.  This is suppose to be fun--right? 

Merry Christmas Friends

Apron Fun

I wanted to surprise my sister with aprons for her granddaughters for their annual Christmas cookie baking and decorating day.  I found this tutorial on line.  It has a template pattern and very good directions.  I added a pocket and a ruffle to it.  I liked this apron because there are no ties to tie.  The neck strap slips over their head and the belt fastens with Velcro.  This way a child can put on their own apron without adult help.  I think they will like that.

I had fun fusing a flower and a couple bugs on this pocket.

I love this cupcake fabric.  I'm wondering if I should have made both aprons out of the same fabric.  My girls liked their clothes and toys to be different and not identical.  I know sometimes it's better not to have hard feelings over both liking the same item.   I can always make a third one if I need to.  lol

I enjoyed sewing these easy aprons today.  Now it's time to start cleaning up my sewing mess and turning the rooms back into bedrooms.  Michelle and Jen will be home next Wednesday for Christmas.   I need to change bedding and vacuum up fabric scraps.  And put alot of stuff back where it belongs. 

It's been cold here, but we have missed all the snow storms and blizzards that they have gotten east of us.  I'm sure we will get our turn eventually, but it's nice not to have "feet" of snow to deal with yet. 

A Few of My Favorite Things Quilt

I finished up Rocco's quilt today.  This is A Few of My Favorite Things by Heidi Pridemore.  This is one of the kits I won from Quiltmaker.  The fabric is designed by Heidi too.  The sashing strips are leashes.  The borders have leashes, bowls, slippers and other doggy favorites.

I did fusible applique and button hole stitch by machine.  The embroidery is back stitch by hand.

Oops,  there's a string to pick off on the fire hydrant.  I wanted the quilt to be soft for Rocco, so I just stitched in the ditch around the blocks and echo quilted the appliques.

In the outside border I machine quilted Rocco's name and hearts.

Roc was a good sport about posing.  He knows what sit and stay mean--even tho he is kind of camera shy.  Sorry about the red eyes--note to Santa:  I could use photo shop software.  : )

I put navy blue minkee on the back. It is so nice and soft.  It also matches his new bed.  He's so spoiled getting his presents before Christmas.  lol

You may be wondering where my Christmas decorations are---they are still in their boxes.  Today is Jennifer's birthday.  She and I both have December birthdays.  I have always waited until after our birthdays to decorate for Christmas  So I better start looking in that dreaded closet--that may be another reason I have waited. 

We don't make much ado about Christmas in our family.  Jesus is the reason for the season and family time is the biggest gift we give to each other.  Some of that tradition comes from my having worked at the Post Office for 30 years.  Even tho I have more time since retirement, simple celebrations are the way we do our thing.   I'm not knocking the way other people do theirs.  I enjoy all the lights, music and commotion I see other people doing, but self imposed stress doesn't make anyone happier at our house. 

I'm off to start a little surprise Christmas project.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Birthday Book Winners

The winners of the books are:

Shannon won Simplify

Michele won Bloom Creek Quilts

Apple Avenue Quilts won 16 Brides

Congratulations!  I hope you all enjoy your books.

Runner Contest

I entered my Gingerbread Dancers table runner in the Quilting Gallery's weekly contest.  They have a themed quilting contest every week.  This week is for table runners.  This is the first time I've entered.  I'm not asking for your vote, but follow the link to see all the pretty runners. Vote for the one you like best.   Michele does so much work keeping the Quilting Gallery on line.  There are fun contests, swaps and lots of  blogs to read.  If you've never been to her site, check it out.

The baby calves born last spring have grown up.  Today we weaned them from their mothers.  The youngsters are in one pen.  The mothers are in another.  There is a strong fence in between.  There will be a lot of bawling going on for about 3 days and nights.  

This little guy is what happens when "the boys" don't stay in their pen.  He was born about 2 weeks ago.  It will be a cold winter for him.  He's doing well snuggled in the hay.  We'll keep him and his mom near the barn, so they can go inside when it gets real cold.

I'm in the process of drawing the book winners.  I'll announce them in the next post.  I had planned on sewing this afternoon, but I have a migraine.  I don't function very well with one of those.  Rocco and I are hanging out until my meds kick-in.  I want to put the borders on Rooco's quilt and start the sandwich.   I can't believe it's Friday already.   Jen will be home for Christmas in 12 days.  Michelle has finals next week.  She will be home the days Jen is.   Can you tell I'm smiling?

Frosty Morning

Thank you for  all the birthday wishes!!  It was a good day.  I'll draw for the books on Friday.  There is still time to comment if you haven't yet.

It was a beautiful frosty fairyland this morning.  I had to take a few pictures for you.   The little tree that the cats love to climb is loaded with thick white frost.  The sun was so bright and the sky a gorgeous shade of blue. 

Of course, it wasn't much fun driving home in the fog last night!!  We went to Aberdeen (about 90 miles north and east of the ranch) for the day--my birthday.  : )  We did some farm supply shopping and went out for supper with one of DH's sisters and her husband.  The last 45 miles home was pretty foggy in places.  It was -2 F when we got home about 9:00 pm.  Brrrrr.  As you can see we don't have hardly any snow yet.  Aberdeen has about 8 inches.

No surprise this morning to find out that the heater in the shop wasn't working.  Whenever the temperature is below zero you can count on something not working.   lol  Thank goodness DH got good advice over the phone from our propane man.  He had it going after 3 trips to the shop.

The haygrinder came today.  I thought you might like to see the machine that grinds the big hay bales into ground hay.  DH is feeding the grinder the big bales.  We mix the ground hay with silage and oats in the feed wagon to feed to the cows.  He ground bales for 2 hours for $500.00.  The price has gone up since last year.  Hasn't everything?

The cattle have been in the fall pastures.  Last week we brought them home and worked them.  The calves got fall shots and everyone was "poured" to kill lice, grubs and worms.   In a few days we will wean the calves.  There will be alot of "bawling" going on. 

Oliver, Olivia and Lillian are back closer to home too.  Oliver has gotten bigger and has more brown spots on his coat. 

I didn't get to the sewing machine today.  Bookkeeping, cleaning and laundry needed to get done.  I'm hoping tomorrow is more "fun". 

Party Time

to ME!!  Today is my birthday---so it's time for a give away.  I love books, so this time I'm giving away 3 books.  I love these new quilt books.  The third book I just finished reading--a nice historical read.

 Simplify with Camille Roskelley Quilts for the Modern Home by Camille Roskelley

Bloom Creek Quilts by Vicki Bellino

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Just leave a comment--I'll draw three winners on Friday. 

Building a House

This is the first house block I've ever made.  I had to look on the internet for a pattern.  I've never done  "wonky", so I did a traditional house block.  I wanted to make a house block because I read on Beth's blog Love, Laugh, Quilt that if I sent her a house block I might win a set of blocks for a quilt.  I thought that sounded like fun--plus there isn't any obligation to do it.  I'm always nervous about deadlines and if I'll get something done.  I forgot that I'm also nervous about sewing for someone else.  I had fun making the house block.  I'll get it in the mail this week.  It's interesting to see all the different blocks she's gotten so far.  If you would like to join in the fun, stop over at Beth's blog for details.

I started Rocco's quilt from the kit I won.  There are just 6 blocks to applique.  I used fusible and I'm doing a buttonhole stitch around them.

The borders have mitered corners.  I've never done mitered corners before.  I looked up a video on line, so I'll give that a try sometime this week.  There have been alot of fabric sales on the internet.  I ordered  some minkee for backings of three quilts.  Rocco's going to love his soft blanket.  lol  I've never used Minkee for a backing, so that will be a new experience too. 

It's been cold here, but the snow has missed us so far.  We've had trouble with waterers freezing up and one of the older fuse boxes in the barn burned out.  This week looks to be a little warmer--20's.  So there will be some wiring and fixing going on as usual.......

New Blog Hop

You know how I love free projects and give aways.  I found a new one on the internet today.  Have you heard of the Henry Glass Project Parade?   If you go to Heather Mulder Peterson's blog Trends and Traditions, she will tell you all the designers and what days they will have free projects.

1. Each day there will be several designers that will be featured.
2. Each designer will provide you with a free project that you can print off and keep.


3. Each designer will provide a clue that you will collect. At the end of the parade, you will go to the Henry Glass blog and post a comment with all the “clues”. If you win, you will be sent  gifts from all 19 designers, along with a package of fabric from Henry Glass fabrics. I’m telling ya’, the prizes in this blog hop are seriously good!!!!!

Doesn't this sound like a fun hop?  I know what it feels like to win a wonderful prize.  I hope one of my blog friends can be a winner this time.  The hop starts December 1st.

I know it's a busy time of year to be spending time on the internet, but who can resist a blog hop--not me.
 

Thanksgiving Fun

The week of Thanksgiving was a busy week.  I like the Thanksgiving holiday.  Although I spend some time every day being thankful for the many blessings God has given me, Thanksgiving is a special time to stop and remember the last year and the wonderful things He has done.  We have had BIG family dinners in past years, but this year there were 6 of us.  Michelle was home all day Wednesday and had to work 2-10 on Thursday.  We ate at 11:00, so she could be home for Thanksgiving dinner.  BIL Ron, nephew John and his girl friend, Dena shared the festivities with us.   Of course we had plenty of food, football and a nap.   It's hard to have Jennifer so far away on a holiday.  We talked to her by phone.  She spent the day with her cats watching movies.  She was totally booked Friday and Saturday, so it was good she had a lazy day to rest up.

On Friday Michelle came home after working 6-2 and we went to Faulkton to meet the newest member of the family - John Wayne.   He is a wonderful little bundle of love.  We had fun passing him around and snuggling.  It was nice to catch up with two of DH's sisters and all their activities too.  Everyone was very appreciative of the baby quilt and I committed to life time mending if needed. 

Ron and John are the family deer hunters.  They came a few days and stayed with us.  DH thinks they come for the food.  lol  I always spoil them with homemade buns, fried chicken, raisin bars (John's favorite) and other home cooking.  They didn't shoot any deer yet.  They are usually looking for the "big buck".

I took this picture from our deck a few days before the season opened.

He stopped to look back at me too.  We often times have 4 or 5 deer walk through the yard in the evenings.

They stop by the grain bins for a treat of corn or oats that has spilled from the trucks.  They also like to munch on my garden at times.

I haven't done much sewing.  I had to put everything away, so Ron could find a bed to sleep in.  I did make this pillow case for great niece, Mya.  She loves Dora and will be pleased with it. 

I'm being rather lazy today--reading a book and perhaps a nap later.  : )   I hope you are enjoying your Sunday afternoon.

Overwhelmed

I was definitely a "little" overwhelmed last week when I received this box from "Quiltmaker".  I didn't realize that being a "Big Bundle" prize winner in the 100 Blocks Giveaway would be such a generous box of wonderful prizes.  Michelle was home and she just laughed at me, as I kept say "Oh, my", "Oh, My" and "OH, MY" as I took each new and wonderful thing out of the box.

The prizes included:  40 fq bundle of Moda French General-- Petite Ecole, 20 fq bundle of P & B Textiles-- Safari So Good and 16 fq bundle of Clothworks-- Dinos on Parade, Antique Sampler pattern by Sue Daley, 3 Modkid patterns (pillows, purses and a wall hanging),  Marsha McCloskey's Feathered-Star Quilt Blocks II book, Tidbits from Triangles by Kari Ramsay book, Tidings book by Nancy Halvorsen, Rotary Cutting Revolution by Anita Grossman Solomon book, Treasures from the '30's by Nancy Mahoney book, Suzn Quilts by Susan Marth, Fireworks! and Lynda's Sunflowers by Possibilities,  Fit to be Geese pattern and template by Open Gate, Decadence, Reflections and Bloomington by toadsew, Peppermint Candy and In A Snap patterns by Susan Guzman AND of course, Quiltmaker's new 100 Blocks magazine.

This wonderful kit "Eye Candy" from Planted Seeds Designs that was published in "Quick Quilts" .  This will be so much fun to sew.  I love all the bright colors.

 Even Rocco will benefit from my winning.  A quilt kit by Heidi Pridemore called "A Few of My Favorite Things.  Don't you just love the bones on these blocks!

And last but not least--thread from Sulky and floss from Presencia.

 I can't believe all the wonderful items I received.  Thank you so much "Quiltmaker".    So many choices of projects to make!   I've had so much fun looking at all the books and patterns.  The French General fabric is outside my "box".  I'll need to find a special project to use it.   I think I'll start Rocco's quilt--his Christmas present.  : ) 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

I Won and A New Challenge Site

I got an email from Quiltmaker that I'm a winner.  All that time I spent on the internet wasn't wasted.  lol  I had alot of fun looking at all the blocks and visiting new blogs.  I'm such a blog junkie!  I love my laptop.

I went back and read the blog.  I'm one of the Big Bundle winners.  I'm so excited!!  It's not a GO, but I'll take it.  lol  :)

 Isn't this the cutest button?  I love the quilt and of couse the cat under the table.  There is a new blog in blog land.  It's a challenge blog.  Paula of Paula's Crafty Corner has started a second blog called Paula's Sewing Challenges.  You can enter a your project for a chance to win prizes.  Please stop over and see what Paula is doing with this new blog.  I'm sure you have a project you can enter.

This is the project I'm entering in Paula's challenge this time.  It is Gingerbread Men table runner.  It was in Quick Quilts.  It was so much fun to make.  I like gingerbread men almost as much as I like snowmen--love those men.  lol

I quilted it with peppermint swirls.

I hope you will stop over and check out Paula's blog for challenges.  It is so nice of her to go to all the work of setting up this fun site.   She is giving away the cutest prizes too. 

I better get busy.  BIL and nephew are coming tonight.  Deer hunting season opens tomorrow morning.  I need to get my sewing room in order, so he can find a bed to sleep on.  We will be headed to a funeral that DH is a pall bearer for in the morning  His Dad's cousin passed away this week.  

I need to do Thanksgiving food shopping.  I hope to stop and do that after the funeral 

 Have a good week-end!

Snowfriends

This is my entry for SewCalGal's Christmas Quilt Show 2010.   There are some lovely prizes being given away.  It is so much fun to hop around the blogs and look at all the beautiful things made from Christmas fabric.  Christmas fabric is one of my "many" favorite kinds of fabric.  I want to someday make a large Christmas quilt. 

This is Snowfriends designed by Lynda Howell and published in the Nov/Dec 09 issue of  Quiltmaker.   I hate snow, but I love snowmen.  When I saw this wall hanging I knew I had to make it. 

I wish I had used a different color for the roof.

The original pattern did not use this "saying", but I wanted to use it, so I did.

I used a type of material that is off white and roughly woven for the embroideries.  At the moment I can't remember what you call it.  lol  I'm sure you know what I mean.  : )   I quilted it with plain stitch in the ditch and it hangs in the bedroom that is my sewing room.  The first of December I will move it to the dining area where the fall wall hanging is now.

Now I'll have to see if I can figure out Mr Linky--this is a new thing for me.  I hope you enjoy looking at all the Christmas quilts.