anna

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

One of my most treasured Christmas presents!

Sara Kelly gave this to me for Christmas. I am so totally in love with this. Thank you, Sara, I will always treasure this. There is nothing like a gift from the heart and hands.

Christmas 2012

This was the quietest Christmas we have ever had. In all our time together, Jeff and I have never not celebrated with any kind of family. We spent Christmas Eve with "The Hobbit" and then dinner at BJ's Brewery. Christmas day was us sharing a few gifts with each other and talking to the kids on the phone. I think next year we should just go on a cruise!

We did have some friends over on the 21st and I made 20 coasters to have for the party. It looks like I'll be teaching some of the ladies how to make these. I feel like I cooked for days and if you know me you know I really don't cook much. It was a great party and we all had a good time.

I taught a half day class at Bolts in the Bathtub and stayed to take the Magic Stocking class.

Here are some aprons I made for some friends for Christmas.

I made all the grand kids (5) aprons too. Of course, I was in such a hurry to mail them I didn't get any pictures. Here are Keira and Ephram (wearing his backwards) with theirs. Ephram is not so sure about it but I tried to explain that they are not only for cooking but art work too.

I also made bags for each of the kids. I layered fun goodies on canvas then covered the front and back with plastic and quilted through it.

Here is Becky hugging her bag.

A friend of mine, Mary, makes these wonderful caps and I just had to get one for each of the kids.

Keira loves hers.

And so does Daniel.

Here are Serena and Lexi getting ready to open presents. Christmas this year was lonely but we are so thankful for the health of our children and grandchildren and that is what is important.

Here are the great shoes Serena got me for Christmas. They are Ed Hardy shoes with crystals! I am in love with them.

Needle Divas Christmas Party

Our friendship group, Needle Divas, met one Monday in December for a great Christmas party. We were only missing Kathy who has moved to Colorado but we were able to talk to her on the phone. As you will see we had a great time.

This is the quilt I made for the name I pulled. It's called "Peace Like a River". Look below to see who it was made for!

We played more than one joke on Linda.

Leslie received the most decorated bag.

And these are Leslie's socks. She has a great sense of humor.

We enjoyed Grace's hospitality.

Linda loves puzzles.

Little did Susie know she would receive Steeler goodies from Grace.

Carol received this wall hanging from Leslie.

Barbara received a basket of goodies.

And here is Sara receiving her quilt from me. This quilt has been forming in my mind for sometime and it was always meant to be Sara's. So glad I got her name.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Quilting Therapy gets me through the hard times!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were home without family so we invited a couple from church. Wednesday I got it into my head to make this table runner, place mats, and napkins. I had this fabric from last year hoping it would cheer us up in the apartment but we went to San Diego instead. So now was the time to make them. I like them and think they are cheerful but it is time to put them away already and get set for Christmas.

So I have been busy. This was a panel Serena picked out from Bolts in the Bathtub and wanted a quilt. Panels really are a pain. What to do and they are never printed straight. Everything except the panel was from my stash.

Here is another quilt from my stash. I love this pattern and am already planning another one This is a Christmas present and I won't say for who.

Instead of killing myself to make new quilts for Christmas presents I found this top and quilted it. I think it will make a great gift. For the life of me I can't remember making it.

I made two of these snowman advent calendars. I think I had these panels for a few years. I'm really trying to finish things!

When Serena and Andrew where here, Andrew fell in love with this Advent calendar panel and asked if I could make it. Every date is a little pocket to put goodies in. I'm mailing these advent calendars tomorrow and hope that they will get there by the December 1st.

If any of you know my family you know who this is for. Serena again picked out this material. She wanted a purse with a zipper. It's a Lazy Girl pattern and wasn't really too hard to make.

More panel projects. I really wish they would print them straight!

Tomorrow is Christmas shopping and somewhere in this next week I need to get some Christmas decorations up. Last year we moved in during the week of Christmas so the only decorations we had was the tree with just lights. Right now that is the only thing up also. Jeff took it out this evening. I thought it would make me sad since it is only going to be the two of us for yet another holiday but the lights are cheerful. As we grow older our lives seem to be taking us in a different direction. Not always easy but quilting always seems to get me through the hard times. Quilting therapy available here!