As NewYear approaches

Can you believe that I didn't get ONE thing for Christmas at all sewing/quilting related? BLASPHEMY!!

Yes, one could argue that Suki was my early gift, and it was. But I could have at least seen a spool of thread, or a magazine, you know?

I'll have to correct that this week. :-)

I've been thinking of things ahead in 2010. I'd like to focus more on my quilting projects and less on the research and dilly dallying. Is that a word? Since February, I've really taken quilting to a new level, more enjoyment than just an occasional hobby. I'd like to step up to more projects, instead of admiring others, I'd like to showcase more myself. Stay tuned.

The holidays have been a blur - but good. My inlaws from South Carolina, and dh's Grandma from Vancouver came into town for the week. It's been busy trying to accomodate everyone's needs. All in all, I think it went fine, especially cramming 7 passengers in the 7 passenger minivan. My ass just doesn't want feel the love of the back bench seat squeezed in with the two kid carseats.

There's 4 generations right there - isn't that cool? We're so lucky to have Trent's mom pull well through chemo, and have her well enough to visit us here. Does she not rock the chemo scarf, or what? She's the most glammed chemo chick I've ever seen. I'm going to be making her more scarves like that. She brought her favourite ones along, I investigated how it was made, jotted down measurements and am going to work on it.

New Years Eve plans - most likely in bed by 10:30. We don't do anything crazy. I don't like the major hype and then the let down the next few days. New Years has started for me now. Including the chocolate Santa I stole, er borrowed from my son while composing this post.

What are your plans? Your aspirations in the new year?

Merry Christmas...

today's been one of those clumsy days where many dumb clutzy things happen, and you kind of wonder...whatthe???

As I type here gimpily with my 9 fingers...(I cut 1/2 my nailbed all the way through this evening making wifesaver foe tomorrow....the grande finale to my clumsy day) just wanted to wish all of my blog friends a Merry Christmas and happy holiday with you and you families.

I love the holidays , but I just can't wait for the normalcy again. The clutter free home, and the routine...and the sewing. My space has been taken up as my inlaws are visiting with us during the week.

Hope eveyone has a wonderful time!!!

Missing you mom.

Dear Santa....

Dear Santa,

For Christmas, I'd really love to have some solid fabrics. I've been thinking about you and your circumstances Santa. I know it's not nice to say, but I think that you and Mrs. Claus need a bit of a clothing makeover. Your elves are also looking like they need some new uniforms. I don't know if it's global warming, or the pollution in the snow, but things are looking rather dingy. If you sent me this coloured jelly roll I could definitely outfit a few of your elves in crisp and bright new red and green. Hey...I could even shake things up for you and Mrs. Claus and make things more tropical in your summer outfits!

I hope you're not offended by my letter Santa. I'm just trying to help you out a bit, since you're always helping all of the children around here. It's time you get a little something back!

Love,

Andrea

p.s. If you go into the pantry, there's a little extra irish something to add to your hot chocolate.

Mixing it up...

Why is this photo of my piano here? My pin basted quilt is, er, was laying on the floor right in front of it. After I had pinned it, I realized how much I disliked the pieced back. I unpinned it, and re organized the backing. Now it's ready to be pinned again. While I'm pinning away, I look up at my gorgeous piano and realize it's time to tickle the ivories again. Charlie Brown's Christmas tunes sound so wonderful...it's been awhile since I've played and it feels good.

So, my creative outlet is a little mixed this week, as I catch up on Christmas songs to play, and piece together my quilt.

Christmas memories...

So the tree went up finally, and I wanted to share my 3 favourite ornaments. Our tree is decorated in white lights, German wooden ornaments, a few collected from friends over the years, and some family ones.

I've got only two of these German gnome dudes. I don't know what they're called, but they're from my opa from awhile back. His little head is on a spring so it wobbles around. Isn't he precious? Dude, I question what's in the pipe...

This other gnome dude in red... The copper walnut beside it was my mom's favourite ornament ever, and I believe it is from her grandfather's tree in Germany. Knowing that I have a little piece of my mom on the tree is cool... I still remember her decorating the tree, singing German carols with the record player, and having tears in her eyes as the music always moved her. I think I got that emotional bit from her too.

I have 5 of these gorgeous hand made crochet stars. They are stiffened with starch. These are from a grandmother of a boyfriend from 15 years ago. I was so fond of her, and these ornaments were one of the favourite things I've received from that segment of my life. I have a thing for grandmas and grandpas, I don't know why, but I cherish old people so much and love to hear their stories and their quirks.

I would love to be able to make some more of these stars...I haven't a clue how to start though. I know it takes a tiny little hook though!

So...do you have a favourite ornament? One that has a lot of history or story to it?

Finger Lights

Okay...seriously. I'm still trying to figure out why or how a blue, green or red led light would be helpful to someone quilting?

And then the other thing... how will this help me with my hand stitching?

These were 16.95 at my LQS. LED finger lights. Except for the velcro vs elastic finger band, they are exact replicas of the ones I bought for my son's birthday party at the dollar store. for a dollar. ONE dollar for four lights.

Has anyone used these for stitching? I have used them for star wars light saber and dark room battles. If you need advice on that, just let me know.

Maybe I should buy out the dollar store and open up my own etsy shop and re-market them. LOL.

Winner...

is #12 !

quilteddog said...

I would love some hard to find Heather Ross fabrics,or any funky cool fabrics, sewing machine needles, flat head pins, an awesome iron, and of course, more TIME!

Send me an email with your mailing info and I'll get your fq's to you as soon as I can!

Thanks everyone.

I'm feeling the stress of Christmas this Monday morning. I have NOTHING ready. ..that and the -30 temps this morning has made me grumpy.

busy week...

Have you ever hosted a kids birthday party at your house? A boy's birthday party?

Don't.

walk....no RUN to your nearest jumperoo play place, sports gym, jungle equipment place. And have it there.

I'm exhausted. Truly. The kids who we thought were going to be trouble...er challenging, were angelic. The ones we didn't consider (only 2 of them) were wild.

It was an experience I've learned from. Ethan had lots of fun. It was a wild 3 hours. The kids had fun. We had the snowstorm of the year last night and this morning...and then our party.

We did however, enjoy the 'zoo' presentation that came:

Ethan's birthday is actually December 24th. We try and do the kid party at the beginning of the month to make it more special for him.

**I haven't forgotten about the draw for the fat quarters - I will do so tomorrow. My brain is too fried to figure out the random number generator right now!

Dear Santa....Our Wishlist Compilation

Here is a compilation of ideas and wishes from some of our fellow blogland quilters. At first I thought to myself, what the heck am I doing? This is alot of work! And then, as the ideas came in, I started to learn about new tools that I had no clue about! I will be printing this out and highlighting my fav's for my husband! So...read on, click on links for photos and ideas, and I hope there's something there that can pique your interest and help your list grow.

The list of course, does not include everything and anything - just suggestions from you. The books and magazines list is small, and I know there are oodles more to choose from.

*disclaimer - I am not affiliated, nor do I get perks for linking up to these sites. I have no idea how to do that kind of thing. LOL. I've just done some searches through google, amazon and a few of my known online fabric shops. I have just linked them so you can view a photo of what the item is and become familiar with it.

Books

• Abstract Quilting in Solids
• Material Obsession Two
• Elm Creek Books
• Yoko Saito Books, preferably translated in English

Magazines (subscriptions, issues, back issues)

• Quilt Mania
• Quilting Connection (Canadian publication)

Cutting Mats

• self healing cutting mats (Olfa brand was mentioned a few times)
• Lazy Susan type cutting mat (how cool does that sound!)
• pinnable cutting mat

Rulers

• 2"
• 6"
• 6.5"
• 9.5"
• 12.5"
• 5" square
• 9" square
• Shape Cut Plus ruler - this looks really neat!
• handle to attach to ruler - I found a few like this one, this one, and Evelyn suggested this one

Tools

• Accuquilt Go! Okay..maybe pipe dream, but I would really really want to have one of these! I am a gadget kind of girl. ;-)
• tape measures
• new rotary cutting blades
• a good seam ripper - the Clover Seam Ripper and this stand up seam ripper were suggestions
• Kwik Klip - a tool for pin basting quilts -I want this!!
• flat head pins
• numbered pins
• good quality scissors like the Gingher I've been hearing about
• the Bernina Lady's Knife
• Sewline fabric pencil
• mini iron
• sewing machine needles
• iron
• teflon pressing sheet
• batting
• thread, thread, thread. Good quality, quilting thread from the quilt shop. Cones of it. white, basic, varigated And not the cheapo stuff honey. You know when you tell me the difference between a good quality golf ball and a cheapo one? That the $7 ball STILL performs way better than the $1 ball, especially when it usually ends up in the water trap?

Accessories

• a design wall such as this one
• shelving
• totes and bins
• folding tables
• folding cutting table such as this one from Joann
• folding sewing table such as this one from SewEzi
• 20" pillow forms
• magnets
• size 36 and 45 buttons to cover
• Ikea storage like this set of drawers
• Ikea desk/table in shiny red
• desk top Ott-lite

Fabric

• Love by Amy Butler
• Flora and Fauna by Patty Young
• Jelly rolls
• Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt
• Deer Valley Collection by Joel Dewberry
• Meadowsweet by Sandi Anderson
• Kona or Bella solids - assorted colours
• Kona colour chart card
• Heather Ross hard to find fabrics
• a surprise stack of assorted purple fabrics (or choose your colour)
• fat quarters of 37 Japanese taupe fabrics
• Japanese fabrics - mushrooms, gnomes, deer, taupes, luciens
• a selection of hand dyed fabrics like this
• wool felt selection

Other

• Dear Family, the number one thing that I want is TIME, uninterrupted, leave me alone, quilting time. Perhaps make a coupon book for me with time increments, where you take the kids out for the afternoon while I get to sew!
• gift certificates to local quilt shops
• gift certificates to online quilt shops such as this one
• a trip to a quilting retreat ( I know a few of the local LQS have retreats and cruises that they organize...check your local LQS or your local guild)
• someone to assist me in clearing out and setting up the unused room in the house
• a dedicated sewing space
• a Persian cat name Winston -lmao!!

Thank you for your ideas and suggesstions...I really do appreciate it. I'll be drawing a name later today!

Add your items!!

Today is the last day...I'm giving away some fabric (most likely Katie Jump Rope or FleaMarket Fancy!) as a thank you for helping me generate a list to help family members (my husband) do some shopping! Okay, I'm doing it because it's fun and I need to get into the mood somehow...

These are all fantastic ideas so far. Do you have a MUST HAVE tool that you would recommend as a stocking stuffer or gift for a quilter? Is there something on YOUR list?