Happy New Year!

I want to wish all my family and friends a Very Happy New Year.
Today has been extremely warm.  The high today was 77 but a cold front from our Canadian friends will be here later on tonight.  Then we should be back to our normal temperatures.
I didn't do any sewing today.  I sorted and put away fabric that a dear friend gave to me.  Visions of quilts danced through my head as I was fondling the fabric.  Anyway, my New Year's Resolution is to get this sewing room/studio cleaned up from all the Christmas sewing.  It's a disaster right now.  After I get it cleaned then I can work on my Orca Bay.  The last clue comes out tomorrow and I sure ain't ready......
I did do some sewing last night.  I made 2 pot holders.  I used my Go! to cut them out using the tumbler block.  They are good enough to use at the microwave.

Using the Go! to cut these potholders.

Today I finished taking down the Christmas decorations and putting the living room back to order.  After all the exhausting work, I made dessert for tomorrow's dinner.  We are having Corned Beef and Cabbage with potatoes and carrots.  It's suppose to bring good luck in the new year.  Being from New Jersey and I listened to what my Mom told me, I have this every year.  Texans here eat peas/beans for the good luck.  Not sure which one.  I'll stick to my corned beef and cabbage (New England Boiled Dinner).  Here's some pictures of my desserts:

Bread Pudding with NO raisins

Cherry Cheesecake

I'm going to make Rice Pudding in the morning without raisins.  I hate raisins but my brother and sisters love them.  They aren't coming for dinner - and it's their loss!  (I still wouldn't put raisins in the puddings if they did come)  I am also having Carrot Cake and there is ice cream in case the little ones would rather have that. 
That's about it from the happy home of Jean!

Today was a first for .........

Ethan.  He got his very first haircut.  No more curls or hair in his eyes.  He looks so 'grown-up'.  He didn't want his picture taken today so it was hurry up and snap a pic before he runs off.

Daddy holding him in one place

Grandpa trying to get him to look at me

I found that Bill had taken some pictures (3) when the kids started to open their presents.  Here are 2 of them.

Ethan asking grandma - 'Is that all there is?'

'Let's find some more presents to open before Tanner gets them'

I did do some sewing today.  On Christmas day, Sharla (daughter-in-law), asked me to make her some more towels for the kitchen.  The ones that she had my Mom had made for her back in the early 90s.  She brought some towels over and I cut up 3 of them to make 6 towels.  I used my Go! cutter to cut out the tumbler block.  I still need to put buttonholes on them and sew buttons on.  I still have 5 more towels to make 10 more kitchen towels.  Maybe next week I might get them done. 

Since the towel was a one-way design, when I cut it I had to put a binding on the cut part on the left side towel.

The towels on the right only had the one design.  I added a strip of fabric to the other one.

Last night I did some cutting and sewing for my Orca Bay Mystery quilt.  I needed 700 - triangles (small ones),  I cut 500 only 200 more to cut.  I have my strips ready to cut out 350 pairs of brown and white triangles for a different block.  I am starting getting confused.  Tomorrow another clue comes out.  I'm not ready!

If you have your sound on, I did change the Christmas music.  A little Dino and some country.

Peace and Quiet

It feels so good to RELAX.  After having the 2 little kids for 7 hours and the 2 bigger kids for 3 hours today it is so nice to hear - nothing.  I didn't realize that 4 kids (1 1/2, 6, 13, and 17 years old) could make so much commotion.  But they were all very good.  All were very happy with all the gifts that they received.  The ham dinner turned out okay.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it very much.  I will post some pictures when I get them.  I had my camera all ready to take pictures and then I forgot to take them. 

This picture of Tanner was taken yesterday afternoon.  He's taking his afternoon snooze.  The couch is not for people, it is for dogs only (that's what Tanner thinks).  That is his quilt that stays on the couch.

I hope all my family and friends enjoyed this day as much as I did.
Jean

Texas Sunset

The storm passed by and after the sun started to peek out I took these photos.  It was still drizzling as I took them.  I think the purple, pink, orange, and yellow are outstanding the way they just blend in.

I managed to make a sketch pad and marker holder for the little girl for Christmas.  I made one yesterday but I certainly didn't know what I was doing.  It quickly went into the trash!  So after sleeping on it over night, I figured out what I was doing wrong.  Here are a couple of photos of the finished item.

Sketch pad and marker holder closed

Sketch pad and marker holder opened

I went to the doctor today for my checkup results.  Everything came back great.  The only thing that is not so good is the arthritis of the spine.  I told the doc that I could live with that and Aleve.

My girlfriend is still in the hospital after her surgery.  Per her sweetheart, she is doing as well as can be expected.  I haven't talked to her for a week and I miss her voice or is it the constant talking :)  Hope she doesn't read this or I will be in deep trouble!
Jean

Christmas time is a comin'

Christmas is getting here just to darn fast.  I've still got some more shopping to do for the 2 oldest granddaughters.  Bill and I shopped a little bit for them but didn't get all that we wanted.  Maybe within the next couple of days.  We couldn't go yesterday or today because we had 2 little sick monsters.  Their dad had final exams both days and couldn't miss them.  The granddaughter has strep throat and the little rug rat has a double ear infection.  Considering how sick they were, they were really good.  This picture doesn't look like they are sick.

Little brother loves big sister

Needless to say, I didn't get much sewing in. After they left today, I did get some red string blocks done for my step 4 of Bonnie Hunter's (Quiltville) Orca Bay Mystery Quilt.  I need 65 blocks that are cut in half to make triangles.  I got 10 done!!!!!!!!!!!!  I didn't even start on step 3.  Maybe when the holiday season slows down I'll get caught up.

Step 4 Red string blocks cut in half for triangles.

I did decorate - if you want to call it that - the tree and mantle.  I was looking for a simple look.  I think I got that - real simple.  I did make the tree skirt this past weekend.  I used a 9 degree wedge (which I borrowed from my friend) to cut 40 wedges, sewed them together, and lightly quilted it.  It will do.

My simple tree

My simple mantle.

I couldn't put anything in front of the fireplace because that is Tanner's sleeping area.  I did the best that my non decorating skills will allow.

Looks better showing the mantle and tree together.

I wish that I had been a good girl this year but I think Santa is only going to leave me some coal in my stocking.  Do you think if I'm good for the next 11 days I might get something under this tree???  We shall see!

Excitement and a surprise!

I talked to my girlfriend early this afternoon to see how she was doing.  She informed me that she will be having surgery next Wednesday.  I asked her if I could come over and pick up some fabric that she had at her house and to see her.  I was suppose to get it last week but the sinus headache monster visited with me instead. Anyway, after I get to her house, I was informed that our other friend was meeting us.  I had known that she had made Cheryl  a wall hanging and she was going to give it to her.  The excitement started to rise in me because I knew Cheryl would just be so thrilled with her gift..  When Birdie got there she had 2 gifts instead of one.  I thought well since Cheryl is having surgery, Birdie got her a little gift to lift her spirits.    The surprise was that the other gift was for me.  Wow, now my excitement level is super high because I'm the one that got the surprise!

Cheryl with her columbine wall-hanging quilt

 This is an explanation from Birdie's blog:
Cheryl is from Colorado, so I painted columbine on her quilt.  It is acrylic ink painted on plain cotton fabric.  I heat set it, but I also told her not to wash it!  Because it is ink instead of paint, I wasn't sure if I could mix textile medium with it as I would normally do.  This was my first experience with ink.  She doesn't look like she minds, does she?!

 

 

 

Jean with her wall hanging quilt

 Here is an explanation from Birdie's blog:
A poem by Suzy Toronto entitled, "She Who Believes in Herself" is embroidered (by machine) on Jean's quilt. Jean is the quilt expert in our little flock, so I just had to do something "quilty".  Yes, that's Ms. Jean on the quilt - can you tell? I painted the flesh parts, appliqued her clothing, and added a mini quilt tacked loosely onto the main quilt.  My daughter-in-law discovered the coordinating floral fabric, and it's perfect!

Here is a close up picture of 'me'.  Birdie did me perfectly; t-shirt, bootcut jeans, and bare feet.  Oh, and the curly hair!
Can y'all tell that I'm excited?

Is it December already??

My goodness, how time flies.  It's been quite awhile since I've blogged.  Maybe the reason is that I've been busy shopping and making things for Christmas. 
Today, Bill and I put the tree up.  It's not decorated yet.  I guess when you get older it takes longer to do things.  After I get the tree decorated, I will take some pics to show you just how horrible my decorating skills are.
I got some new rulers to help me make cutting HST and QST a lot more accurate and easier.

I know they don't look like much but I just love cutting with them.  Very easy to use and I don't have to do the math on what the cut measurements should be.  I just need the finished size.  I'm headed to Joann's tomorrow to get another ruler.  I've found a pattern for a tree skirt that I must make and I need to get a wedge ruler.
The youngest granddaughter is coming over on Saturday and we are going to make soap together. She wanted to make some Christmas gifts for her family, friends, and teacher.  A 6 year old thinks that grandmothers can do anything.  I hope her bubble will never burst!
Jean