A Swapping We Will Go

Beautiful Daughter #1 has gotten me involved in the Flickr swapping community.  It started with the ornament swap before Christmas.  Then I did the Pillow Talk swap.  I am enjoying the virtual company of ladies (and even a few guys) who have many of the same interests I do.  With the holidays over - and now that I am (mostly) over the flu - the swaps are taking off again.  I worry that I will over commit (something I have a tendency to do anyway) and take on more than I can possibly finish.  Luckily, the dates are staggered, so that is good.  And - it gives me an excuse to buy more fabric!!  Can't beat that!

So, first there's the Fabric Postcard Swap.  These little beauties looked so easy - until I actually tried them.  Two of my partners wanted Valentine themed postcards, and one just an everyday one.  I had to make the first one over again because I forgot to stitch down one of the hearts.  Then, I looked at what some of the crafters had done last year and I think I should start all over.  Oh, well.  what I have done may have to do this time.  This one is due to be mailed before Valentine's Day.  Haven't got a clue for the everyday one though.  It is really stretching my brain.

Then there is the Potholder swap PP6.  The beginnings of my offering for this swap are above.  When Beautiful Daughter #2 and I were at A&E (our only LQS) we both fell in love with Moda's new Hideaway line.  My partner asked for aqua, so this was perfect.  I have these done - if I send them as they are.  I finished 2 potholders, but I am tempted to start over on an oven mitt or other coordinating pot holder, instead of making them both identical.  Hmmm...  It's not due until February 28, so I do have some time.  And I have enough fabric already purchased.

Then there's the Spicing Up the Kitchen Swap.  The joke is that you have to have a globe to participate in this swap.  I gave the globe away when Beautiful Daughter #2 finished middle school LOL.  Anyway, I really enjoyed making the mosaic for this swap.  It was fun to see what other people had done for their kitchens.  This one is due March 1st, so I'll have to get going on it.  I think this one will be lots of fun.

Make Mine Modern is going to be fun!  The idea is to purchase 1-1/2 yards of fabric in either fat quarters, half yards, or yardage and make your partner 2 items, one of which is for the sewing room.  I was worried because my partner didn't have a mosiac or a listing on the likes/dislikes page, but I found it.  Now, I just have to narrow down all the ideas I have.

 I have also signed up to participate in the Urban Home Goods swap.  I had a really hard time with the mosaic for this one, but finally did come up with one.  This one is due March 7th, so it's a quick one.   I was talking to BD#1 today, and she said one of the things she enjoys about swaps is getting something in the mail besides bills.  It's like Christmas year round.

So, I guess I'm going to be busy between now and Easter.  Better get crackin'.

Happy crafting!

A Welcome Visit

Beautiful Daughter #2 was home this weekend for only the 3rd time since she left for college last January.  I have missed her.  She was very lucky in the days she chose to travel and was able to fly here and back without getting bumped at all.  That meant she was here when I got home from work on Friday night.  Last week was a bad week, so her visit was a wonderful pick-me-up!

Saturday morning, we breakfasted on bagels from Bagelheads, one of our favorite places.  Their fruit wave bagel just can't be beat! 

Then, we took off for A&E, where we perused the yummy fabrics for awhile.  We showed remarkable restraint, I thought.  They did have the McKenzie fabric that we made the pillow sham from at Christmas.  I forgot that she had two pillows, and only made 1 sham.  I didn't take a photo of the sham I made on this visit, but it's very much like the first one (imagine that?!)  The differences are because 1) A&E didn't have the gray fabric or the paisley Minkee we had used on the first one and 2) I couldn't remember ALL of the details.  I thought it turned out OK, though.  It sure went a lot faster than the first one.

After we finished up our fabric shopping, we went to the Navy Exchange, then on to the outlet malls in Foley.  We finished our day with a mani & pedi session, and came home just in time to celebrate my (belated) birthday.  Wonderful husband cooked yummy steaks and got me a book and a new cutting mat, since my other one was 18 years old and had ridges and bumps which made cutting less than accurate. 

WH also finished my entertainment center he has been working on since the summer of 2007!  So beautiful!  Isn't the finish lovely?

Now, I'll have to dig out the DVD player from storage so we can watch movies in the living room.  BD#2 and I had to kick him out of the den to watch our movie the other night.  It's OK though, because he was sitting in my chair!

It was a lovely weekend.

My Poor Little Neglected Blog

So, a lot has happened since I last wrote on my poor, lonely blog.  First, I had projects to finish.  The big day was coming and I found that I was way behind. 

I made an even dozen table runner sets.  It started with French General:

Then we added some 12 Days of Christmas.

And some Michael Miller Holiday Trees.  (I got the towels confused and sent the wrong ones.  Luckily, they went to my daughters who got together for Christmas.  Hopefully it all got straightened out!)

And some Robert Kaufman.  




There was some other still unfinished Christmas sewing.  A green velvet coat.  And a smocked dress for Abby. A growth chart.  And some other unfinished projects. 

And then we flew to Utah for Christmas.  It was wonderful to see everyone. We had a great time.  Beautiful Daughter #1 and Dear Son-In-Law graciously accepted the family invasion.  The gifts were lovely.  The food was wonderful (as always).  And we had a great time.

Grandma got a new camera.  Abby got a new toy.  Unfortunately, Grandma hasn't quite figured out the camera yet. 

And Abby had lots of fun helping with everyone else's gifts too.

And her mommy got a new toy.

It seemed to make her pretty happy!  (That's a Bernina 440 QE in the box right there.)

We relaxed.  REALLY relaxed.

And then, once the big day was over, we had to try out the cool new sewing machine. And now there were TWO sewing machines for 3 sewists.  Much better odds...

Ari and mom made a pillow.

Or two.


Amanda made a quilt. And Ari and mom started a quilt.  (We had lots of help with our projects!) Abby was sure it was her job to sit right in the middle of anything spread out on the floor.  SUCH a big helper!

And I discovered a new fabric store to love.

We saw the lights on Temple Square one really, really cold night.

And stayed up to see in the New Year, then talked til time to leave for the airport.  Sean and I left for the airport at 3:15 am, and after 21 hours of travel, I finally arrived home with the flu.  Needless to say, there haven't been any more projects completed since New Year's.  I am just now beginning to feel human again. 

So, little blog, I am sorry you were neglected, but I have been really, really busy.  And then really, really sick.  I promise to try to do better.

Happy Birthday, Abby!

Today is my beautiful little granddaughter Abby's 1st Birthday!  This picture is from her birthday post on her mommy's blog.  Isn't she a cutie?  And such a funny sense of humor.  The wonderful thing about this girlie is that she KNOWS she is being funny, and is just waiting for you to crack up.  She always has a joke up her sleeve. 

It wasn't so long ago that she looked like this...

Amazing what a year can do.

This lucky Grandma got to watch her open one of her birthday presents.  She is great at ripping the paper off presents.  It seems to be a skill kids are born with - or just intuitively know.   As my dad used to say, "She's one sharp little cookie."

Anyway, Grandma had fun sewing for the birthday girl.  A couple of things didn't get finished, but here's one that did.

Her name is Oopsie, and she is an octopus.  The recipe was on Moda Bake Shop a few months ago, and I couldn't wait to make her.  It's a recipe by Melanie of Melly and Me.  The recipe is here.  So fun!  She was one of the projects I finished at the Stitch-In last Saturday.  Abby's mommy says Abby carries Oopsie around in her teeth.  Maybe that's what she has feet for.

Anyway, Happy Birthday beautiful little Abby!  Can't  wait to see you in 10 days!!!

The Last Ornament of the Season

I started this ornament at the Stitch-In and finished it tonight.  It was really intended for another ornament exchange, but I didn't get it finished in time.   My friend Julie was so disappointed that she didn't get my smocked ornament in the Stitch-In swap, but she was number 4 and number 3 took my offering, so maybe I'll give it to her.

This is an Ellen McCarn pattern with adjustments to make it fit the ornament idea.  In any event, I enjoy making them.  They are easy and fun and they go quickly.

So, Merry Christmas, all.  Happy crafting!

The Stitch - In

Way back in the 60's, students sometimes protested by staging a sit-in.  They would invade a school administration office and sit there until their demands - whatever they were - were met.  Tonight I participated in a stitch-in.  Luckily, with this event, there were no demands made - just a great Christmas dinner, an ornament swap, and 6 or 7 hours of stitching and chatting.  I only knew 2 other ladies who attended (both from work) but it seemed like the other ladies and I had so much in common, I never felt like an outsider.

Some of the ladies were working on very elaborate projects.  One was making a plaid pillow - by stitching all the plaid herself (my friend Julie and I looked at each other and almost simultaneously said, "Wouldn't it be easier to just go to the fabric store?"  It is just possible that we have missed the point).  Another was making a 12 Days of Christmas Sampler.  Everyone had a project to work on.  I took Christmas gifts to finish.  Got some things finished, too.

While we were there, some of the ladies were talking about finishing their ornaments by making their own cording.  It seemed very complicated and like it was a lot of work.  (Here again, Julie and I looked at each other and said, "Don't they sell cording at Jo Ann's?  Again, I think perhaps we missed the point.)

The picture above is the ornament I made to swap.  It is very much like the first candy cane ornament I made, but I like this one better.  I exercised a little creativity, which is something I have trouble with the first time I make something, and added a little color.  I think the green jazzes it up a little.

I'm not sure the recipient liked it.  It was very non-traditional for that particular group of women (well, considering that the stitch-in itself was held at a needlework store, I guess that's not too surprising).  They were all working on counted cross stitch and needlepoint and other kinds of traditional embroidery.   She said she liked it.  And my friend Julie said she wished she had gotten it. 

Here is the ornament I received, made by Shirley R.  It is beautiful.  And it is much more traditional for this particular group.  I love the beading, and the buttons are adorable.  I love buttons.  I was very happy with my swap. 

Here is a close up of the detail.  The flash made it a little weird.  The color is almost a seafoam green and the beads are red and white.  Still, it's pretty cute, huh?

I have one more ornament to make for an ornament swap, and I actually started it at the stitch in.  It will be similar to the candy cane ornaments, but this one is Christmas lights.  Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Happy Mail Day!

 I received both of my ornaments from the Flickr swap today.  They are awesome.  And let me just say, it is so refreshing/exciting/great to get fun mail.  Really makes a blah day special.  Say what you want about "snail mail", but try getting something like this via email!

The above ornament is from freidazzzzz.  It is a beaded Christmas tree with buttons for the topper and trunk.  It is quite small, but very cute.  I have all but decided to only put up a mini tree this year (if I put up a tree at all) so this will go perfectly on said mini-tree.  It came in an adorable little box, all wrapped in tissue paper.  So fun!

The other ornament came from mandalin18 all the way from Australia.  I was so excited by that fact that I posted a photo of the package that had the sender's complete address showing.  What a dummy!  Anyway, the moderator pointed it out to me, so I took another photo to post.  I had to leave the "Australia" part visible, though.  I don't think I've ever gotten mail from that far away before.

Anyway, it was the cutest package, all wrapped in tissue paper and closed with stickers.  Then, inside was this cute Christmas cone ornament.  What a fun place to hide a surprise, like a gift card or piece of jewelry.  It reminds me of the May-day baskets we used to make when I was a kid.  We would fill them with flowers and hang them on someone's door knob, then ring the bell and run away.   Anyway, inside, was a package of Cadbury chocolates called Snow Babies that I have never seen here in the US.  I hate to open them because the package is so cute.

Thank you freidazzzzz and mandalin18 for making my day!