KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE MY BLOW DRYER RUN!

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year

Procrstination Quilt
Instead of showing all the quilts I made this year I will only show the one that was the most interesting one to make.
I put off making this for quite a while, but really wanted to make it. I was very happy with the way the blocks kind of worked together even though they were from many different "almost" quilts. It was a challenge and I learned a lot from working on it.
It also won the judge's choice award at our guild quilt show which made it even more special. I gave this quilt to my brother in law and his wife for their 50th birthdays, I think they will take good care of it.

Today is my oldest grandson, Griffin's 7th birthday! Happy birthday Griff!!!!!

I am not one to make new year's resolutions but I am going to try and make some positive changes in my life. How about you? Sewing resolutions?
Happy New Year to you all.

Kelly

Friday, December 30, 2011

Shopping

Today my friend, Suzanne and I went shopping at a place called Burkholder's. It is far away, over an hour. It gives us a chance to catch up on each other's lives as we don't see each other that often.


I some how was able to find a few things that I liked......imagine that



1. Amy Bulter "Nanna Chic" (love that name) 2.Michael Miller "Dumb Dot" 3. Amy Bulter "Ivy Bloom" 4. Michael Miller  "Picnic" 5. Amy Butler "Treasure Box" 6. Jennifer Paganelli "Siobahn"



I am going to use these to make some new pillows for my family room, you know in my spare time, which at this point I don't seem to have.  I know my grammar is atrocious, please ignore.
The colors don't look that good because it is 6:30 here and dark but mostly they are blues and yellowy greens with touches of turquoise. My old pillows are starting to look rat a tat tat. Soon, very soon I will have new ones, she says very uncertainly....

Kelly

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Diary Quilt Tuesday

Diary Block #3
I cannot tell a lie. I started this today. It is not my best work but hey it will do. Not every one is going to be a winner!

Christmas Eve was at our house this year......


All these people are my husband's immediate side of the family.......



With a couple of boyfriends thrown in.......


It was over 40 people.......


And I did not feel well.......



John, Ellen and Bob
 But everyone had a great time.......


I am just thankful it is over......and I can go back to sewing!

Elliot and Maddy
The kids had fun as they always do on Christmas.


 Fallon and Maddy

Griffin

David
David is sporting a tie I made for him out of some vintage fabric. I also have a quilt promised to him that will get made in the very near future.

I gave my husband Bob an iPad. He didn't even know he wanted one, but he does now!

Okay the home movies are over!! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.

Friday, December 23, 2011

I Should Be Cleaning

I really need to be cleaning my house. 40 people will be descending her tomorrow afternoon for presents, food and family. They are just going to mess it up, maybe I don't have to?


Dylan and Nancy
My mother in law, Nancy and her son David are visiting us this week....there is no sewing going on but a little bit of Scrabble play.
A trip to Longwood Gardens was on the agenda.......

 This is a gingerbread house with sugar window panes.




Lots of candy....



Gorgeous trees...

Another gingerbread house.


The arrangements are so pretty!


Inside you feel so peaceful.


So cool.


This is a favorite picture I took. I love the white peeking through the red Winterberry, edged by the bright green.




An unusual (to me) black orchid.


An unusual shaped white one.


An herb wreath.


No flowers, just 2 different colored plants, great idea!


Another....


How about these for inspiration?

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Kelly

Monday, December 19, 2011

Diary Quilt Tuesday


I have to say this block was a lot of fun to make. This past week I have been busy finishing up my shopping, wrapping presents with some other fun events. My mother in law arrives in about 45 minutes so I am posting this now as I am not sure what the rest of the week will be like and if I will have time to blog.

When my credit cards expired for some reason I just threw them in a drawer. They worked out perfect for this block and this time of year. I appliqued the Target bag to the background and used a tiny hole punch to sew the credit cards on.

I get to live vicariously through my quilting. I love her red boots and would love to be able to shop in them, and run in them as well!
Okay I have a question I will throw out to you all. What do you think about putting the date of each week on the block? There is a part of me that wants to but then another part that does not....feedback?
I am also not sure if I like the embroidery. I certainly don't like doing it at all. Writing with a pigma pen? something else....??? Give me your thoughts.



Maddy was a little crafty this weekend too. Making gifts for her teachers.

She was working on the design wall...check out all the pins. Some have as many as 4 pins in each square!


She got her Hello Kitty sewing machine out and sewed away. It really is enough to make some one not want to sew. I can't wait until she is older to get her a real machine.


Finally she gave up and asked if I would help her make this quilt for her teddy bear. I let her pick out the stitches and we just slapped on the squares and sewed over them...she loves it and slept with it last night!
Kelly

Saturday, December 17, 2011

I Know You Are Jealous!

You know you wish you had one of these! One year our kids gave us this for Christmas. There is a movie called "A Christmas Story" and this was one of the interesting things in the movie. Check it out, you will be laughing! It is a funny movie.

Isn't this beautiful! My friend Cynthia, from Arkansas made this for me for my birthday. She is such a talented quilter and sewer. I am always excited to see what she sends me. Thank you Cynthia!!!

Here are my littlest grandchildren, Elliot and Maddy. They are all dressed up for Elliot's concert at preschool.
At the concert Elliot chose to lip sync! For whatever reason he did not sing! Oh well who knows what goes on in the mind of a 4 year old???


I love them at this age and want to hold on to it forever! Notice the sparkley shoes on Maddy!!

Kelly

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Handmade Days

The past 2 days have been a little crazy! I had lunch with my friend Judie, she gave me this beautiful handmade angel. It also has the beach theme going which is a love we both share.
My other friend, Suzanne made this cute pincushion from an egg cup. How cool are those feet?


Christine made this lovely quilt that has silk leaves all over. It does feel like they are blowing in the wind. My granddaughter Maddy immediately claimed it as her's! I stole it back.

Cheryl took a book binding class last fall and made this stunning book for me to write down all my thoughts or ideas in. I love how she personalized it with the "K".

Sujata made these adorable mug rugs in my favorite colors! She even did hand quilting in the center.

Isn't this cute? Jane made this in my colors as well. This is something I really like but would never take the time to make for myself!! It is good to have creative friends!


My oldest granddaughter, Fallon made me a cup for my coffee. I will keep this always as she is growing up fast.

My husband surprised me last month by asking if I wanted to go to an art show and pick out a piece for my birthday. I will tell you I almost fell off the chair. This is not something he would want to do and I so appreciate his thoughtful gift. It is not a great picture but it is a watercolor that suggests trees to me, maybe at sunset or sunrise, you decide. Yellow is a color I am growing to like more and more.


Griffin, Elliot and Maddy made these santas. His beard is numbered and you cut off a slice every until Christmas. They are really enjoying this!

These are my name tags I made for some of my friends.....I took them with the iphone and I don't know how to turn them right side up...anyone know? This is annoying but I will show them to you anyway. Jane I can't find yours!









Kelly