SNOW DAYS

Life has slowed down a bit in our corner of Missouri.  We had some nice snow on Friday, but what you don't see is the layer of ice underneath it all that transformed our little town into an ice skating rink in a few hours.  More snow is on the way for tomorrow.

This is a busy time of year for me.  I'm straightening and organizing my sewing room in preparation for a wonderful 2013 filled with new quilts and machine embroidery!  We have a small business and this is the time of year to close out the books and get set up for the new year...so there have been very few idle hours around here for the past week.

I made a few snowflakes for the Sandy Hook Elementary project and was advised last night that they are no longer accepting any more snowflakes due to the enormous outpouring worldwide!  I'm thrilled about the response, but saddened that our snowflakes aren't there.  One of the drawbacks of living in such a small town with limited shopping is that I had to order the special stabilizer for machine lace from the Internet and it took a week to arrive.  Our snowflakes will go on our tree as a reminder of Sandy Hook.

Enjoy the remainder of 2012!  I wish you a very Happy and Healthy 2013!!

                             

THE DAY AFTER

I hope Santa filled your stocking with every sort of goodie and treat and that you had a wonderful time with family and friends on Christmas day!  I especially enjoyed my time on the phone with my granddaughter Bree. 

Our Christmas day was slow and sweet.  We had several calls from family and friends and followed that up with a good meal.  Actually I ate far too much and will have to take it easy today with the treats!

Traditionally this is the day to go shopping for next years Christmas cards and wrappings...also to exchange those items that don't fit or please you and to spend your gift cards!!  This is the day I don't go near a store of any type!  According to the news the holiday sales were the lowest since 2008 when the country was in a hard recession.  The good thing about being a quilter is that we manage to get our hands on fabric regardless of the economy.  I wonder if I should put myself on a fabric diet..not buying any more fabric until I use up at least 1/3 of my stash ~~~ no that will never happen (no discipline in this area!!). 

This is the time of year when I reflect over the last 12 months and look forward to the fresh new year.  I'm formulating some goals for my quilting and also personally.  Like everyone, I would love to lose some weight and be more physically fit.  

Creatively, I plan to use the 25th of each month to work on Christmas gifts for next year...isn't that a wonderful idea!!  Someone shared this idea on the quilting forum at Missouri Star and I thought it was such a great idea.  I use the month of January every year to plan and gather supplies for making Christmas gifts next year.  I have also made a commitment to make a few quilts for the Cardinal Glennon PICU in St Louis.  This project is so worth of my time and efforts. 

Wishing everyone a great Day After!!!

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ON THIS JOYOUS DAY!!

 

 

 

 

Wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Creative 2013!

TWO MORE SLEEPS

Just two more sleeps and Christmas will be here!  If the weatherman is correct, it should snow here on Christmas Day! 

Christmas isn't the same when you don't have children around to maintain the wonder and excitement of the day.  This year Hubby and I have chosen to stay close to home and do our visiting on Christmas Eve.  Christmas dinner will be ham, baked beans, broccoli casserole, fruit salad, jello salad, homemade rolls, Dutch apple pie and cheesecake.  Christmas morning we will have semi-homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee and starve ourselves until our dinner around 2:00. 

Here is a new twist on cinnamon rolls I'm going to try Christmas morning:

1 bag frozen cinnamon rolls (12 count)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted vanilla ice cream (measure after it's melted)
5 Tbsp butter

Put frozen rolls into a buttered 9x13 pan.  Put the sugars, ice cream and butter into a saucepan and bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute.  Pour this mixture over the frozen rolls.  Place in cold oven overnight.  In the morning bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes and drizzle the icing that came with the rolls over the top. 

I have a reliable source that promises these are wonderful!!

Wherever you are, however you choose to spend your holidays, we wish you joy, peace and love... 

                                     Barb, Jeff and Miss Molly

WINNER, WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!

Just look at the beautiful quilt kit I won in the drawing at www.mylifeasaquilter.blogspot.com.  I have been waiting anxiously all week for it to arrive and it showed up this morning!  I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

The name of the kit is Falling For Fall and it's a great combination of piecing and applique in Fall colors. The fabrics are extra nice and the colors will fit in with our home perfectly.  I know what our new quilt next Fall will be!! 

Thank you so much, Jeanne, for your generosity and giving spirit!  I feel thoroughly blessed!  I think this may be the first thing I've ever won and it feels great!

I wish Peace & Plenty to everyone who reads this blog.  Until next time, take care and keep sewing!    Barb

MUG RUGS

I have to admit that it feels a bit shallow blogging about the joy of sewing in light of the tragedy in Connecticut a few days ago and the resulting mourning and sorrow.  I know  that our prayers are with each an every person and family affected by this heinous act.  I pray for God's grace, peace and comfort. The sorrow that this act brought into a community and our nation is unfathomable.

We had a slow weekend, but I worked a little on some rug mugs that resemble a fingerprint.  I found these designs at www.secretsofembroidery.com  They come in a wide rage of designs, but I bought just three:  the coffee cup, a heart and a spiral.  These little mats are nice to hold a cup of tea or coffee and a few cookies.

 

These take about 15 minutes from start to finish and are a good way to use up scraps.  They measure about 5 x 6.5 inches.  One or two of these are cute rolled up and placed in a mug with some teabags or hot cocoa mix.  A quick and thoughtful gift.

Until next time, I wish you Peace.....Barb

MONKEY BUSINESS

Christmas is really sneaking up on us.  We're done with the busy part of the holidays and can slow down and enjoy the season.  I didn't go overboard on decorating this year  ~~  telling myself that less can be more.

One thing I always do it put up a small kitchen tree that holds a mishmash of miniature kitchen items as ornaments.  The star at the top is an old Pillsbury Dough Boy cookie cutter.  The tiny Christmas tree ornament with buttons was made by a dear friend and the placemats on the table came from a friend in Pennsylvania. 

I am currently working on a sock monkey bow tie quilt for the Cardinal Glennon PICU in St. Louis.  I joined a group at Missouri Star Quilts dedicated to making quilts for children.  I think this will be fun for me, as we don't have any small children in our family anymore and I love juvenile prints in quilts.  There's some serious monkey business going on around here! 

It's Hubby's day off and I promised him french toast and bacon for breakfast, so I'm off to put on my chef's hat!!

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday filled with Peace & Plenty!