a whole lot of ho-ho-holiday fun . . .

Thanksgiving was lovely and fun . . . 

. . . and the holiday somehow slipped into December without me realizing it! I'd say I was shocked or surprised--but really, it's the eleventh time it's happened this year, so I'm just accepting it. C'est la vie!

Ellie and I started the month off right by making our first Christmas craft of the season on Tuesday:

A hands and foot print Rudolph!  Isn't it darling?  We made four . . . one for me, and three for Jocelyn and whoever she wanted to share them with.

Wednesday, Kim and James brought Sawyer and June and a friend and her three children up to the camp for a candy cane scavenger hunt!  Isn't that awesome? They brought a picnic lunch and then after they ate, while the kids played on the playground, James and I hid the loot.

They all had a great time and went home with buckets full of fun Christmas cheer and treasure!

Thursday was my Stitchers Etc. stitch group Christmas party.  As always, we're to bring an ornament to exchange, wrapped in a Christmas fat quarter.  I found a darling sewing machine ornament at Cracker Barrel:

I spruced it up by making its own mini quilt out of the same material it was wrapped in.  It was really cute--so much so that I may go back to Cracker Barrel and get another two or three of those!  I also came home with a really darling ornament . . .

I adore holly, so this really made me squeal with delight!  It was wrapped in a darling fat quarter, but I'll share that later (wink, wink).

Friday morning, I picked Sawyer up and we met Jocelyn and her kindergarten class at the Von Braun Center, where they were showing Disney's Princesses and Heroes on Ice!!  It was *awesome*!!

I think the look on Sawyer's face speaks volumes!  He and I both had a blast -- he was transfixed by it all and I spend half my time watching the show and the other half watching his sweet face!

Friday evening, I worked on/finished up a little button craft I'd started . . .

I've seen these all over Pinterest and had determined I was going to make my own!  I finished it up and Todd and I declared it The Polar Express night.  Of course, you can't watch that movie without a nice mug of 'gourmet' hot chocolate!

I'm proud to say I still hear the bell ring.  Just sayin'.

The week has been *so* busy ... non-stop motion ... so I decided today would be 'stay in your pj's' day.  It was lovely!  Todd had a Sunday school get together with his class (at someone else's house) this afternoon, so it was just me and my sewing machine!!  Remember that FQ my ornament was wrapped in?  I put it to perfect use . . .

As the background for my Christmas tree!  The brightly colored packaged made the perfect backdrop, don't you think?  I started and finished it today.  I love, love, love this and I'm so glad to have a festive Christmas something to replace the pumpkin in my mini quilt stand.  Hahaha!! Working with all the buttons and beads for the wreath ornament got me wanting to play with more beads.  I used holographic thread to criss-cross the tree like garland (or lights) and then took a metallic silver and *paired* it with a dark, glossy red to quilt the cross hatches. I'd never run double thread through my machine before ... I liked the effect. So FUN!

Friday kicked off The REAL Studio Tour sponsored by Vicki Welsh of Field Trips in Fiber.  This week we were to share our favorite non-traditional tool.  One that wasn't a standard tool, but one borrowed from the garage or the kitchen or wherever.  To be honest, I had a really hard time with this one.  Because as non-traditional as my quilting and my quilting space are . . . my tools are pretty darn traditional!  The closest I could come up with is my window design wall . . .

The windows in the bunk room of the RV are slender and long . . . and one is the perfect place to hang an end of a vinyl tablecloth, so I can audition blocks.  Right now it's filled with assorted stitchery projects. Including the cornucopia....Ooops! That window is also doubles as a great place to hang my thread collection *and* my square hoop. I like having my threads just an arm's length away. Be sure to come back next Friday when we share our favorite storage methods!!

Time to tuck in . . . there's a whole new week of activities starting tomorrow morning . . . I *need* my beauty sleep!!

:)

over the river and through the woods . . .

It's been grey and cold here . . . it's flurrying/sleeting as I type, as a matter of fact.  Nothing like they're getting in the northeast, of course, but it's nice to see a little of the white stuff  Temperatures are supposed to be warming, so I imagine it will turn to rain (and puddles) before noon.

Joc and Ellie came for a visit yesterday!  Ellie's only been here a time or two and you could see on her face as they walked up to the RV that she was a little confused about where she was and why she was there!  The relief on her face when she saw me was evident ... even though she was still a little confused that I wasn't where I was supposed to be ... at her house!

Her great grandparents got her a darling little stuffed owl for Christmas, which she loves!  She holds it and talks to it and gives it kisses ... and then she holds it out for me to give kisses!!  

And of course, the phone always makes for a happy distraction . . .

Can you hear me now?!  I love her little cupcake shirt! I also see a bit of the future "teen Ellie" in this pose!

Those same great grandparents (my folks) gave Todd and I two *marvelous* birdhouse/feeders for Christmas.  This is the first one . . .

Isn't it darling?  Todd put it out and I was able to capture Mr. Nuthatch on it . . .

Is there anyone in there?  I adore how they hang upside-down!

Last night Todd and I finally used the ticket portion of the free movie tickets we won (see this post) and got to see The Hobbit!  It was really good ... we both agreed we could turn around and watch it again.  I do believe I'd have sat for nine hours in the theater in order to see the entire thing in one sitting!  And while there was quite a bit in the story line of the movie that *wasn't* in the original book, for the most part I think it enhanced the story and it didn't disappoint.  I'm already looking forward to the next part!   

I got some lovely, quilty gifts for Christmas, too . . . I'll be back to share them tomorrow!  

And finally, it wouldn't be a Friday if there weren't a little feline in it, right?  I'm out of cat pics at the moment, but in the spirit of Christmas, will share the link (I couldn't embed it) of How to Wrap a Cat video on YouTube.  

Then be sure to head over to Sarah Did It! and check out her Feline Friday linky party!  Happy Furr-iday!

:)

friday mish mash . . .

No Ellie pics or quilt pics or Sawyer pics today .... I left my camera at Ellie's house (go figure) along with all the darling pictures I'd taken yesterday!  Oh well, if I wasn't going back over there today, it would give me a great excuse to do so!!

I will share that if you're a quilter and you've not seen Stitched the Film, you really should.  It was wonderful!  It was funny and interesting and gave me a whole new perspective on the trials and tribulations of getting a quilt juried into a major show.  Though I just saw it last night at guild, I'll no doubt purchase it for my own movie library (and watch it while sitting in a much more comfortable chair)!

On top of the movie, I won the name tag raffle last night which was our featured Gadget Girls gadget for January ... The Steady Betty!  I tried them out last night and was very impressed.  I'll definitely put my winnings to good use on my acrylic rulers and templates!

And finally, I am going to quilt my way through hearts for tonight's Friday Night Sew In.  It's not too late ... head on over to Crafty Vegas Mom to sign up ... there are over 150 participants so far!  Click on the FNSI button to link up.

Happy Friday!!

:)

two in a row . . .

Two great days in a row, that is! Yesterday was a ticket-buying/picking up kind of day. First, Jocey came and got me. It was a grey, snow-flurry, misty morning ... can you believe that it was 33 degrees and we had snow flurries in November in North Alabama?! Some of the more mountainous spots in Huntsville had TWO to FIVE inches!!

But I digress.

Joc came and got me . . .

And our first ticket stop?! A 11:30 matinee showing of Breaking Dawn! Yes!!! She'd purchased tickets online to ensure we'd get handicap seating. The theater was nearly empty (which I enjoy) and we sat center stage. It was GREAT! Joc had gone to see it already (the very first showing), so this trip was just for *me*! What a darling daughter, non? I'd make Nutella No-Bake Cookies and cut up some cheese and crackers -- we had quite a feast for lunch watching the movie. Real swank-like. LOL!

After the movie, we headed over to Jo Ann Fabrics to look at material for curtains for the nursery and pick up some flannel and other supplies. Joc also got some dark pink minky material so I could make a new changing pad cover. It was fun meandering around the fabric store!

From there, we did ticket pickup number two ... tickets to a December 10 performance of The Nutcracker! It's put on yearly by the Huntsville Ballet Company. This is the 45th year of the production. I got a great deal on Living Social for $15 orchestra seats. I was so psyched! That'll be a busy day -- we're celebrating the coming of Ellie with a small gathering for dessert at The Melting Pot earlier that evening.

After we picked up the ballet tickets - and since we were so close, we stopped at my (our) favorite bakery, Peggy Ann's Bakery. They have the BEST petite fours I've ever had. Seriously. I sent Joc in by herself (which may have been a mistake) and she came out with a pastry box filled with some lovely, lovely sweets . . .

Aside from the petite fours, I think both of our favorite sweet treat were the petite four cookies (which we ate in the car, pretty much before we left the bakery parking lot). They were *wonderful*!!! There were some sweet tea cookies, a lemon bar (which was scrumptious), and a frosted brownie (we split the two bar cookies). It was so fun we *had* to get out the China and have a tea party!! So, a little on my Lenox Kelly, a pot of Almond Rocker tea and a plate of cookies, all on the Christmas topper ... it was quite a lovely feast!

And that's when I remembered I hadn't looked through my latest issue of Tea Time! I was saving it for a special occasion. :)

Perusing through it, I came across a page of recipes for a Christmas Eve tea.

How festive!! The candied fruit scones look marvelous, but it was really the Christmas Tree Tea Sandwiches that caught my eye.

Aren't these darling?!?! They are heartier than they look and the recipe was fairly easy.

Christmas Tree Tea Sandwiches from Tea Time Magazine
Yield: 12 sandwiches
Preparation: 30 minutes

12 slices pumpernickel bread
12 slices ham
12 slices Havarti cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
48 very thin slices English cucumber

*Using a 4-inch Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut 2 tree shapes from each slice of bread, ham, and cheese. Using a 1/2-inch star cookie cutter, cut 12 stars from remaining cheese scraps. Discard all scraps.

*In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Spread mayonnaise mixture on pumpernickel bread. Top each bread slice with 1 slice ham and 1 slice cheese.

*Cut cucumber slices in half, and arrange on top of cheese in shingled fashion, trimming as necessary. Place cheese stars on top of cucumber layer. Serve immediately. [And enjoy!]

It was such a fun day -- and I definitely think I'm beginning to get into the Christmas mood now!! Decorating on Friday ... whooohoo!!

:)

not too shabby . . .

Every once in a great while, I stumble into a Saturday that doesn't have me going in a million directions. A Saturday in which I can do pretty much as I please. A Saturday like today!

I hit the post office and the grocery story early (relatively speaking) and had the RV tidy and groceries put away before 11:00. That left me mostly the whole afternoon! I did two of my favorite things. Put in an old movie and got into quilting mode!

Movies: Gone With The Wind and Father's Little Dividend. Definitely chick flicks. :)

And while I was uber-productive in the ol' quilting room today, I'm going to just highlight a few things. The first being a few quilting stencils I picked up yesterday, when I picked up my April BOM. These are perfect for the 8" squares that we're doing.

I really like this one. I like the simplicity and the sweet curves.

This one just made me laugh. But it looks FANTASTIC on one of the blocks that I've already completed, so I really just had to get it. (Among other things, like rulers, gadgets, books, and fabric, I'm a stencil-aholic.)

But this one was my absolute favorite find of the day . . .

Isn't that just FUN?!?

Perfect on this very geometric block! Can you see my blue lines? I'm all ready to start lap quilting! I actually prepared two blocks, just in case I start and finish this one before Tuesday (when our Stitcher's group meets for hand sewing), and need something to work on!

I also played around with some 4-patches . . .

This is practice for a bigger project I'll talk about after Tuesday. This will probably end up being a quilt for a certain American Girl doll, who lives in Virginia. I wish the photo did better justice to the colors -- it's really sweet fabric!

And now it's time for this quilty girl to call it a night!

:)

can't make me!

I am not going anywhere today.

Now hear me correctly . . . I didn't say I wasn't *doing* anything today; in fact, I've already been quite productive. I got up and made Todd's lunch, fixed (re-heated) breakfast--that yummy breakfast casserole I made on Saturday--and had coffee with him before he went out on shift. Then I had another cup of coffee and washed the dishes, folded towels, got more laundry started, made the bed, wiped down all the counter tops, and swept. Then I had another cup of coffee and washed my face, brushed my teeth, pulled my hair back, and got dressed.

Honestly, I've done a good day's work, and it's only nine in the morning. I'm feeling pretty good about myself! And having another cup of coffee.

But I'm still not getting in my vehicle and going ANYwhere today.

*This is the day that I pull out the sewing machine and finish the applique on my swap topper.

Yes, this is the one that *has* to be in Saturday's mail, on its way to its new owner!

*This is the day that I put old movies in the DVD player.

Hmmm . . . decisions, decisions . . . such tough decisions!

*This is the day I make a pot of tea in the beautiful glass teapot that all the kids got me for Mother's Day.

Pomegranate Pizzazz . . . very yummy!

*This is the day I sit and watch the wildlife flit in and out of my picture window's view.

Oh wait. I pretty much do that *every* day! Can you blame me?

As long as we're clear . . . I'm not leaving this place today. I love Mondays!

Salutations!

:)