Almost 2010

Here it is and it's time to Wish all my friends a Happy New Year 2010 ~ Kind of hard to believe...
One of my friend told me Jim C. had this to say and I think it's a nice thought too.
"Time.... Wish we could keep it in a bottle"
I put some of the Christmas decorations away yesterday and cleaned up lots of last years dust just to make room for 2010. ;o}
I've been working on some of my UFO's again once again I'm going to try and work on more to make room for other dreams I have floating around in my head.
This is another great quote I read and I really think it's a nice thought~
"I like that January brings a fresh start to life! We have a chance to put the old behind us and look forward to the new year. It gives me a feeling that anything is possible" Robin Bateman, 31, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Near and Dear to my Heart ~

Things that are near and dear to my heart *


Autin's day... First he started off working with his dad .. At times even thou he is only 3, he thinks he is 33!




He loves to fish with his dad and was so excited when he caught his big fish!


This can tell just how hard he worked and played when it's the end of the day~
*****************
These are our furry friend and do they ever rule the house, telling us when to go to bed and when it's time to get up ..FOOD FOOD FOOD ... meow .... You are taught kitty language real fast when you have three such friends.. This is our Gidget .. the queen of the house
Waiting very patiently for their nightly treat (how could you resist those sweet eyes) Sneezie on the left and Ms. Paws on the right... Sisters

Christmas Memories

Memories ~ ~ ... ~~
I just remembered I had this picture my SIL gave my husband of the our nieces, nephews and two of our sons, taken at Christmas time around 1983, most of them have children of their own now.. I love this picture.

Christmas mouse

It's time for the Christmas mouse to come home, she's been in the corner of Lynn's kitchen watching her cook. It's been so much fun listing to the laughter and watching her cook and getting ready to celebrate the Holiday with family and friends. She told me she even saw a darling Christmas ornament of one of her family members handing on her tree. Lynn said her mother had painted it, it looked just like Grandma Christmas Mouse ~ She told me it was really fun visiting and she said she was so glad she didn't scare anybody, usually when somebody seems her they scream, so that's why she stayed hidden in the corner and just watch. She said,
Lynn is so much fun and has such a nice family too! Thanks Lynn for all the fun times <3 <3
Christmas Mouse >^..^<

We had the pleasure of having Mr. Gingerbread Man come and decorate our table for the holidays~ He came all the way from Fresno ... Full of goodies ... how much fun it has been~ ~



Austin was excited
The girls were playing games and the guys were in the family room watching the foot ball games and talking about hunting and cars and such ~







We had our last Christmas party last night for Jonny's family. Some of our family has moved out of state and some had to work so it was a very quite Christmas this year. We went to my SIL for our celebration. Vicki always has her home fixed up so nice and it's fun to see all of the new and older quilting things she has completed. Her needle is always busy ~ We really had a nice time a enjoyed everything that all the girls brought. We missed our family members that weren't with us.

Merry Christmas to everybody May Your World Be Filled with Warmth, Joy and Good Cheers ~ Have a Prosperous New Year

Christmas Morning, I just read this, and wanted my friends to read how wonderful this words are. I hope the lady that wrote this doesn't mind that I barrow her words? How true and what great thoughts

A Legacy of Stitches

©Sandra E. Andersen 2001-2008
A Legacy of Stitches is what we leave behind;
the imprint of our very soul that lasts beyond our time.
The heart that quilts knows, oh, so well the peace that can be found,
as needle meets with fabric, for there is no sweeter sound.
Whether quiet piecing done by hand or on our sewing machine,
there’s rhythm to our stitches as we sew along each seam.
Those stitches tell the story of our lives as they unfold
as we think of quilts that Grandma made with stories left untold.
The humdrum of our daily lives grows elegant and grand,
when we start to cut the pieces, then stitch the fabric in our hands.
And whatever is the reason for the quilts we piece and sew,
and whoever is the maker, there is one thing that we know.
Each quilt is full of memories, and is a treasured thing.
If quilts could talk, imagine how some quilts would surely sing!
For some quilts are sewn in happy times and others when we’re sad,
and some are sewn in laughter and others when we’re mad.
Some are sewn to warm us, and some sewn just for fun,
and some are “works in progress” that never quite get done!
Some quilts are sewn for beauty, a quilt made just for “show”,
but the heart of the true quilter is the one who really knows~
That no matter how the quilt is stitched, we leave our mark in time.
This Legacy of Stitches is what we leave behind.
By Sandi ~

The more you give..........

I didn't write this poem. It was posted on the bulletin board at the company I worked at many years ago. There is a great deal of truth in the poem. I just like what it says........

The more you give, the more you get.
The more you laugh, the less you fret.
The more you do unselfishly,
the more you live abundantly.
The more of everything you share,
the more you'll always have to spare.
The more you love, the more you'll find
that life is good and friends are kind.
For only what we give away,
enriches us from day to day.

Author Unknown

Debs purse ~

Five days until Christmas ~ Where did this year go?

I completed a bag for my sister. She loves to play Bingo, so I'm sure this will go with her on some of her Bingo trips. I think I'll make her another one. This one didn't really cooperated with me but it's just a bag. I tried doing some things and my poor sewing machine just kept say ... Just like that little Train... I think I can? I think I can...? then all of a sudden.... Phew ~ ~ I knew I could! I knew I could!~ I put pockets on the out side instead of the inside... it works! I also added a large heavy washer for a weight, and enclosed it in the flap.

Austin left Teddy at Grandmas, but only for one night. Teddy really missed Austin, he waiting for a long time and then moved right by the front door for his pal Austin to come and get him.
Teddy slept right by the front door for Austin, he was so sad he has never slept without Austin before.
I completed a table runner yesterday for my daughter-in-law Ana.




I'm going to make a purse today for my sister, I might even make her two. I just can't make up my mind which pattern she would like, so I figure I'll settle that one and give her two.
The sun is out today ~ Now no rain until Monday according to the news paper. We'll see?

December 13

Austin and his pal Teddy... Now he has two (button) eyes. It's had to barrow Teddy but I convinced Austin to let me put another eye on his pal! He didn't leave my side we looked for that perfect eye in the button box! He kept telling Teddy he would be okay and it wouldn't hurt at all and he needed to be brave ... It's going to be okay Teddy don't worry! Now~ ~ ~ Here is something .. I can't believe, that I found Teddy right by my computer table this morning, this has to be the first time ever that Teddy didn't sleep with Austin or Austin didn't sleep with Teddy! Is this a sign of changing times and entering that grown-up world? First the sippie cup and graduating to the big boy cup... I sure hope there weren't many tears when he discovered he forgot Teddy? How sad to see my three and a half year old grandson growing up so fast and what sweet memories we have made together. <3 <3 <3

December ...

My friend Liz from Britain sent me a beautiful seed bead needle case she made ~ all those little seed beads and I know you cann't see but there are small little daisies all around the case. Such a beautiful charm, I'll treasure it for ever just as I do our friendship~
My friend Janet who is a California transplant in Ohio sent me a sweet little hand made mini basket full of sewing notions. I now know I'll never lose any notions. The little basket is hand made too, so cute right down to a rotary cutter and mate. (enlarge this picture and you can see the little daisies... and the small notions inside the small basket! So Cute)

I know everybody is getting ready for Christmas and I've been helping a few people by quilting their work.


Gina my niece came and picked up her darling reindeer wall hanging .. I had a lot of fun quilting it and she did such a good job for being new at sewing. She wanted snow flakes so look close and you'll see three~ ~


I completed quilting all five of Sharon's Table Toppers. This is the last one:
Back side of table topper


I quilted a quilt that Joanie made for a friend and she came and picked it up and is putting the binding on. I really enjoyed quilting this, such a nice looking family~ Joanie did such a nice job, The person that's getting this is going to be so surprised ~ What a treasure of a gift ~ ~ and Loving memories ~ ~ ~




The last quilt I did was for my friend Gerry it's the paper doll quilt. I sure do like the darling pictures of all the little dolls.

Quilting in November

I've been so busy quilting and have hardly had time for much more then just that. Everybody is getting Christmas gifts completed. I've quilted eight small quilts this month. I did make time to make a scrappy quilt for my cousin's first Great Grand Daughter due at the first of the year. It was all scraps and I did a wide zig-zag over the seams, I used a flannel backing and even did the binding using scraps and sewed that from the back to the front and zig-zaged that as well!~ I've tried this before but wasn't happy with the look but this time I am. I washed it as I wanted that real quilted look, it so soft and inviting for a new baby.








So fare I've quilted four table toppers for my friend who has five daughters, she's got one more to complete.





This is the block for an all green quilt I'm going to make for my nephew ... I'm looking for TIME!

October with Austin

Austin came over today to visit with Grandma while Daddy took Mama to the doctors, she hurt her toe and had to return to the doctor to have it check out. Poor Mama..
We had a nice visit but NO hugs, he told me he was saving them until he left, he kept asking me if I felt better every few minutes. I told him no hugs makes me so sad! When his Dad came to pick him up he gave me a hug and wiped off my little kiss, then asked if that made me feel better. He was not in a mood to let me take his pictures. I tried to get one with that darling dimple but no luck today. So cute and such a good little boy, he even picked up all his toys and didn't even have to be told. Good Little Boy wish he wouldn't grow so fast!
Can't forget Teddie... His true love... He really needs a bath! Ya right! Just try and get him away long enough for that~

Rain Rain and Love'n it~

Sharon made this quilt and I got to quilt it for her, I think this was one of five or six I quilted, it was just so much fun, all kinds of glitzy threads and lots of bead work on some. So much fun!




Spiral Mania

We had such a nice day of rain all day yesterday, I love it when it rains but do not like driving in it. We had 3" and a little more rain this morning, but the sun is out today.
I wanted to share the Spiral Mania I quilted for a friend, I really enjoyed doing this..... Lots of fun and I just let my imagination fly~ Can you tell?

(click on the pictures to view the stitches and detail)