Busy Holidays

The problem with not taking your own camera to family get-togethers is that you have to wait on family to email you the pics you'd like to post on your blog. This is why I have none to post here today, the 28th of December, even though we had Christmas on Christmas Eve. Even though I have asked politely, and then begged for the pics to be sent. (Mom, if you are reading this, here is your guilt trip.)

We had lots of fun. Tyler got so many gifts - mostly clothing and books - that he ran out of steam and got very cranky before half were unwrapped. I think he's going to have Christmas paper on some birthday gifts in March. Ha ha.

Well, since there are no family pics available yet, I'll show my Christmas cactus that bloomed on time this year (for once) and really still looks wonderful. I'll have to post family Christmas pics whenever I am able to get them.  (okay, Mom???)

Happy New Year to all!

More Quilts

Since I am posting this from home, I can share more pics of some quilts I've made.

This pattern is from quiltville.com by Bonnie Hunter. It was the Mystery Quilt she called Double Delight. I really love how it turned out. I think of it as a Valentine's Quilt because it is like chocolate covered strawberries to me. This is a photo of the layout, and it is now finished, so don't think this is a UFO!

Next is a commissioned quilt I did last year. It is a variation of Prairie Star Promise from McCall's Quilting magazine. It is queen size.

Next is a lap size Christmas quilt I made several years ago. This one was in American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. It should have come with a warning. Rating quilt patterns at skill level should include whether you have loads of patience or not. Maybe they should recommend you take a class on patterns like this rather than working alone with sharp instruments. You should have heard the cussing! My first (and last so far) attempt at diamonds. I mentally cut it up and burned it several times before I got it finished. It is now much loved and used by my daughter in law. I gave it to her at Christmas last year.

Last for today is this full size quilt that still has no binding after 2 years. I felt bad about not getting it done, because I intended to donate it to the Ronald McDonald House here in Pensacola, but then I heard they are building a new, bigger house, so I have time to get this one finished. I drove by the site the other day and they are at the framing stage, so I have, say 6 months? No pressure now!

I still have not made out my Christmas cards!! How terrible is that? I have a good excuse though. 2 days of helping my daughter move to her new place, shop, unpack, take care of the baby. It is a lot of work! My family has a LOT of moving experience, so when everyone went home last night she pretty much had to unpack her clothes and that's it.

Happy Sunday!

Lost in Twilight again

Its one week til Christmas. I should be filling out the Christmas cards so they can get mailed last minute, but I started reading Twilight again. Who can put that down?

The first time I read it, I think I was too much of a critic. This time I am just enjoying it completely. I was the awkward girl in high school with no friends and no dates. I would have just died if an Edward Cullen had taken an interest in me! I am thinking that most of the other Twilight fans out there feel the same way.

What's nice about the Twilight fanhood is that it is ageless. My daughter and I both love it. How many moms can say they share avid interest in anything with their 21 year old daughter? We even went to see New Moon together. That was such a nice treat.

I truly hope Stephanie Meyer finishes and prints the Edward story that is on her website. Stolen manuscripts or not, I thought it was the best one yet. And so necessary. We all want to hear Edward's side of the story!

Busy Days

Christmas is really busy for me at work, so I have missed a few days to blog.

Big news these past few days. My son got a new job. He was laid off twice this year and has found a new company to work for. I am hoping he is happy in his work and very appreciated for his skills and commitment to doing a very good job every day.

Also, my daughter and her husband and the baby are moving to their own place this weekend! I am excited for them and sad at the same time. There is nothing like having a grandbaby to play with every day. I will really miss seeing him for lunch and after work every day. Getting up with him when he cries and his mama is tired. Helping give him a bath and seeing all his new discoveries, first teeth, making clothes and toys for him has been so much fun. It will still be fun, just from a few miles away.  Tyler, you better never move far away from your Nana!!!

I am such a mom! I adore kids. I should have had 6 or 7 of my own, but c'est la vie! You get what you get. You would think that 6 years of running a daycare by myself would have cured me, or made me crazy, but nope! I still would rather play with babies and toddlers than hang out with my peers.

I am so thankful for my two (now grown) kids. We've been through so much and we are very close. I am so glad that we all live in the same town and can be together often. That we all have wonderful spouses and supportive family in our lives is an extra blessing.

Making Christmas Memories

Yesterday my kids, their spouses, my grandson and I helped decorate my mom's tree and house for Christmas. It was a lot of fun. Due to budgets and space availability, we are doing Christmas at Mom's this year.

One of the items set out for display is the salt dough Nativity scene that my brother and I made with mom many moons ago. I wish I could say that my dad was part of the fun, but he was in the Marine Corps and not home to do the craft things with us most years. Anyway, this was a Morton Salt recipe idea with the figure built around old fashioned wirey hair rollers. What do you think? Many people have asked why there is a big turtle in the group, but he's actually a camel. LOL 

Even when money is tight or the weather is bad, you can make the best memories and gifts with little ones. One year mom bought plain stationary and envelopes and we decorated them with "thumbprint people" and gave sets as gifts to loved ones. Getting them back in the mail with a nice note from a grandmother made it even more enjoyable.As we got older, the crafts became more detailed. A set of wood cutouts one year got decorated with paint to become tree ornaments, like nutcrackers, Mr and Mrs Santa, teddy bear, etc.  When I had kids I continued the traditions with them, and I can't wait for the grandson to be old enough for crafts with Nana!

This year as we hear about people spending less, giving less and staying home instead of traveling, I hope you have a chance to make something for someone in need. All People Quilt has a great  and easy idea for giving pillowcases to needy children here: http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/index.html 

You can send a card or gift to a wounded soldier through many different groups. Quilts of Valor is a wonderful group giving hand made quilts to wounded soldiers.

Make Christmas Merry! Make something with your own two hands and your family or friends. Even if you are only stringing popcorn for the tree, it will be one of the best memories ever.

Typically Weird Weather

Saturday was another cold, dreary day. It rained a bit, but mostly it was cold and windy in the low 40s. That is cold enough for me. Then it started to warm up after sundown. Then the thunder started. It really poured all night. About 3 inches at least. And today was warm and grey. Tonight will stay in the 60s with fog. Tomorrow's high? 72. Supposed to rain til Wednesday.

And that is how it is in the South. They say "if you don't like the weather, wait a minute."  So here we are in mid December in short sleeves again, with high humidity and mosquitoes still biting.

Oh, and there was a baby corn snake on the front porch tonight.

The other saying around here: "Florida ain't for sissies."  And they ain't kiddin'!

Quilts

Okay, this is what I am really here about. I make quilts. I take it as a great compliment when someone sees my work and wants me to make them one. Whether they want to pay what it is actually worth is another story, but I digress. I haven't kept pictures of all the quilts I have made, nor did I keep track of the numbers. I really regret that I have not labeled them. Now that I look back, I wish I had because that is valuable link to the past for any quilts you make.

I started making quilts when I saw the cover of October 2002 McCall's Quilting magazine. It was a maple leaf / log cabin combination in batiks and I just had to make one like it. Here is that quilt. I used leaf print and fall colored fabrics instead of batiks for mine.

No one in my family made quilts, so I had to find a class to learn the basics. That was fun because a nurse I worked with wanted to learn also. We took the class together. We both moved out of California so I wonder sometimes how she is doing. Is she still making them? Did she get as hooked as I am? Addicted? Drooling over the new fabric lines. Envious of all those lucky women (and men) who get to design fabrics and patterns and get paid for it? Jeanie in Kentucky, if you ever read this, I miss you!

This is a quilt I made for my daughter. She wanted a black and white, and I spent almost 2 years finding all the right botanical prints. The pattern is called Three Bean Salad. The original pattern was in yellow, red and green, hence the name.

What I love about making quilts is that you can take a pattern and make it look so completely different with your color choices. People who don't quilt usually fail to see how that could be until its done.

Well, that's it for today. Enjoy the coming Christmas season!

Friends

I recently decided to look for long lost friends and family, using Facebook. And I have had really good luck with finding my old friends.

It is amazing and wonderful that years and a whole continent of separation doesn't dim friendship. We have all been thinking of eachother. Wondering where the other is and wanting to be in touch again. This couldn't have come at a better time too.

Friendship is a precious thing. Some people make friends easy, have 100s of people they call friends, have huge lists of people to send Christmas cards to, etc. Not me. So finding my two oldest and dearest friends is my Christmas gift this year. And I am going to keep them close from now on.

I hope you have at least one really good close friend. Keep track of eachother in this crazy fast-paced world. Friends can make all the difference in tough times, and they will rejoice with you in good times.

Here's to all of us having someone to lean on and talk to this Christmas and in the New Year!

My first blog!

I am addicted to reading blogs. It can take up most of a day sometimes. There some very creative and funny people out there.

Does everyone else have a blog but me? It seems like it. Everyone posting comments and entering giveaways seems to be a blogger. So I decided to give it a try. Even if I don't have a great camera.

I hope I have enough interesting or funny things to fill up a few moments of your time in the future.

For now, let me say that this internet is so amazing. You can find long lost friends, learn new things, get recipes, read reviews before buying, laugh, cry.

My plan is to share what life is like here in NW Florida, share my quilt adventures (and misadventures), share recipes and maybe some family stuff too.