Pat Wys Workshop

Last week my guild had a workshop and trunk show with Pat Wys, Silver Thimble Quilt Company.

She wrote two book on using Neutrals.  Now I'm usually a brights or reproduction fabric fan (I know two polar opposites) but I really liked Pat's quilts.  Definitely something I'll try - most likely when I have to make a "guy" quilt!

Pat demonstrated several different techniques during the day while folks sewed on the quilt pattern they selected.  So we had lots of different colorways (ya, purple can be a neutral to some folks!)

It was fun to see the different quilts coming together.

The trunk show was wonderful...she and her husband brought lots of quilts!

I loved her Christmas book...ya, she brought lots of patterns and books!  And it is never to early to start stitching for the holidays...my Grandmother started on New Years Day!

So I bought some neutrals at the Hancock's going out of business sale and added a couple from the stash that I will use on a quilt soon....

Christmas fun in the Kitchen...

I know I should be stitching but instead I am baking!

or at least doing all the prep work for my upcoming cookie marathon!

Each year I bake a dozen different cookies and make up cookie boxes and trays for friends and neighbors.

First I decide on what cookies to make and gather the recipes.

Some cookies I make every years - Mint Snowtop, Christmas Biscotti, Coconut Biscotti and Molasses cookies.  Some every few years - Peanut blossoms, Almond Jam Slices, Toffee cookies, and Ellie's Butterscotch Cookies.  Then I always try a few new ones - Gingerbread biscotti, Pecan Cresents, Peppermint Candy sugar cookies.

Then I inventory the baking supply cabinet...I buy new baking powder and baking soda each year and also check the dates on all the spices.

Then I gather together the containers.  I usually buy the containers at the after Christmas sales but I also use some non-traditional containers like fun tea-cups or bowls that I find during the year.

Now how does this go with quilting you may wonder?  Well, I have stitching on Wednesday - will bring a tray of cookies.  I have bee on Thursday - will bring a cranberry pecan cake.  And on Friday I have a holiday get together with my Woolie-Woolie group and will bring home-made Stollen and some cookies.

Reuse decorations...

I just read an article about this year's decorations at the White House.  They really are beautiful and as a bonus 90% of them were re-used from prior years.

Santa on books - 1991, Maryland

Which got me to thinking about how many of my decorations were "re-used."

Russian carved santa - Moscow, 1993

This year, except for the Poinsettias almost all of my decorations have made prior appearances!

Santa Smoker, Germany 1984

When I traveled often I bought a Santa almost every year so I have santas from Germany, Russia, England, Poland, New Mexico, Virginia...well, lots and lots of places!

A lighthouse star from my Mom, 2005

My tree ornaments range from German, New England seaside, to scottie dogs (yes lots of scotties!)

Plus a few sewing related....tiny thimble ornaments!

Christmas Music Magazine, 1927 (framed in 2010)

I even change out some of the pictures on the walls.

Today I'm making some fun table runners using Cowboy and truck fabrics...

need to add a few new things to the mix!

Post Thanksgiving Notes

I successfully avoided shopping on Thanksgiving...I only succumbed to a quick visit to a Hancocks on Friday to pick up a new large cutting mat (50% off.)  I even stayed away from shopping on Saturday...

However today, Cyber Monday, I admit to buying some of my favorite hand lotion on line, got some deals at Missouri Quilts (3 Aurifil threads for less than $10!) and a Sinatra book for my husband.

I did get out to do a bit of walking around the Canal this weekend.  My goal is to walk there three times a week.  It has a half mile loop...

There are three projects that I have deadlines on...

first this small wool and button project.  My woolie group is having an exhibit in January.  This is tough for me as I give away most of my finished items.

second is this little Christmas pillow (mine is the large one in the back with borders.)  It would be nice to be able to put it out on the couch before the 25th of this year!  My Wednesday stitching group did this as a day project.

and finally, the Elephant and me baby quilt for my nephew and his wife who are expecting in January.  The piecing on this quilt went quickly...the applique not so much.  Large applique pieces are tougher for me than small ones!

When I finish these I have another baby quilt for another nephew and his wife who are due in March!  Maybe I should start making some to keep on hand...

Clean up in post holiday aisle...

Today I am in serious post holiday clean-up!  By the end of the day all traces of cookie marathon will be banished from the kitchen...

Christmas fabric will be back in the closet...(ok so I made a bunch of Christmas projects which theoretically should have reduced the stash...then came to holiday fabric sales...duh!  Just have to accept there will always be a large, full Christmas fabric bin in my sewing room!)

I am going to take another run at clearing the cutting table so I'll have a clean start to the New Year...It may just take me until the 1st before I see a clean surface!

One of the Christmas items that will stay out for awhile is my Christmas Sampler.  I can't believe it is now ten years old!  I remember making a road trip to Mary Jo's with Tonya to find a plaid border (and scored the Santa fabric for the back in the bargain bin!)  This was also the first quilt that Bonnie Hunter quilted for me (this was back when she did long arm quilting!)

Lots of memories stitched into this quilt!

Disappearing 9-patch

A neighbor came by yesterday wanting to know how to do a disappearing 9-patch.  How often does that happen!

She is a new quilter and had watched an online video but hesitant to go it alone...so now I have another UFO!  It is a very fun method and quick...this table runner only took a couple hours to make.  (Would have been faster if I wasn't talking someone through the process...like that saying, "if it will take one quilter one hour then it will take two quilters two hours..."  Basically to do this you make a 9-patch (my squares are 5 inches unfinished) then slice the 9-patch through the center block giving you sashing and cornerstones.

I wanted to get a picture of hers before she left - she used cat fabrics!  I think I'll finish up this Christmas one today before it gets lost in the UFO pile...(it measures 34-1/2 by 15 finished)

Update on the pets...Brownie is doing fine.  Macbeth is having problems with stairs and still sleeps most of the day.  Last night he had a panic attach (don't know what else to call it.)  We ended up sleeping on the floor in the living room for most of the night...it was the only way to keep him calm.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Holiday energy needed...

I think my holiday energy ran out yesterday...no sewing...no cooking...

a bit of reading.  (I am definitely getting the next book in this series, Thomas Cromwell Trilogy!)

and opened a Christmas present early...

Today I am taking it slow...thought I would do some final clean up out front since is it nice and bright out.

But the little gecko's love to sit on the pumpkins out in my front garden....maybe I could paint the pumpkin's stem silver and pretend it is a big Christmas ornament?  I hate to take it away from the little lizards...besides these guys are great for keeping down bugs come spring!

I did cut out some of the next step for Bonnie's mystery.  I love the colors in this but I am missing pinks and reds...guess I know what my next quilt will have in it!

Ribbon Candy!

I sewed the final border on my Ribbon Candy Top last night!  A finish!!!  This is my version of Bonnie Hunter's Smith Mountain.  I used a few more colors (hers is brown and blue) and I changed up the border so I could use the mountain of half square triangles that I had made (over-made?)  The quilt still needs a good pressing but that will have to wait until after the holidays.  (I ordered backing fabric for it from Hancock's of Paducah who is having a great sale right now!  Good time to get backings....)

Today I also picked up a box of the ribbon candy!  I think I by I buy these more for the memory than the candy itself.  Don't get me wrong they taste good but they are a bit dangerous...sharp edged candy.  Who thought that was a good idea?!

I can remember Sister Rudolph (yes that was her name!) my 3rd grade teacher, kept a box in her desk for days when students did really well or just needed a pick-me-up.  She would break off a small piece of ribbon and we would eat them very carefully! I thought they box of ribbons was beautiful.

Redwork Santa

With all the projects I have going on you would think the last thing I would want to do is start another one!

Well...you see I found this redwork santa that I hand-stitched at least 6 years ago in with the Christmas decorations.  I still had out some of the vintage blocks and bits that I used to make those Christmas pillows...I guess I still have pillows/cushions on the brain!

I think I'll try and make on of these up over the holidays.  I'm debating appliqueing the Santa block down on top of the ring or appliqueing the ring down on the santa?  Decisions....

First I have to decide which ring to use and select a background fabric....ah, playing in the fabric stacks...my favorite part of quilting!