Merry Christmas Everyone

It's been a year since the children did their production of the Blessed Night. The costumes will come out again soon as they reenact O Holy Night, what a labour of love those costumes were & the grandchildren did a wonderful job with their acting too : )

I finished this 12" block last night, I wanted another embroidery project for the car ride to South Carolina. So I pulled out the Vintage Stitches by Thimbleberries 2006 block of the month club that I had bought back then & began it. Hopefully the UFO's numbers will be coming down this new year 2012, I just love the sound of it 2012, I have such good feelings of positive vibes towards it, this my be one of my best years. Don't know why...just feel it.

The corner blocks are 3" blocks, each block is different, monthly themed with the borders changing too. First the centers-there's 24- are outline stitched with 8 perle cotton, there's two blocks for each month. One for the front & one for the back--I'm making two fronts & putting flannel backs to both, that's a lot of work to just have it underneath, with flannel the quilt won't slip off the bed & sleeper underneath the quilt stays cozy.
Yes I do have that Hugs & Kisses to finish, those are such spring/summer colours & this is much more of a warmer colour to work with. Sew much-- Merry Christmas Everyone : )

The Last of the Appliances Installed : )

This month has been a busy one with the replacement of appliances, the fridge & wall oven went in two weekends ago with the free delivery-one time deal. The dishwasher & ceramic cook-top were not stocked & took 2 weeks to get in. The 1st installed was large & went in easy, the 2nd installment was not as easy.

After the box & wrapping was removed--this was not the dishwasher I ordered, this one had handles & yes the handles matched the fridge & oven handles & it was a Fisher& Paykel but it was not what was ordered. The one that was ordered had a flat front, my kitchen is so small you could not swing a cat in it! not that I ever would. These handles would be hitting my hip & shins as I worked at the counter. With a phone call to Goeman's Appliance my husband was told, I don't know what happened I'll call back-yes they called back to say that the loading dock gave us the wrong one. So back it went & ours was installed & what a beauty it is - I think that the crystal/gunmetal knobs are more enhanced with the no mark stainless steel appliances. Boy did my husband go ballistic back in 1996 when he got the bill for those knobs-they look as beautiful as the day they were installed & easy to clean too : )

This is the before shot of the old Bosh dishwasher that has done us proud but will not work at our sons house as his dishwasher just died. When the wood front was removed it looked as new as the day it was installed in 1996. This old 1918 house has had many an appliance come & go, I just hope this batch holds out as well as the last--which were installed to replace the Harvest Gold ones LOL- remember the coloured appliances-now it's the stainless steel era!

Christmas Mini Quilt

This is the close-up to the Christmas Mini by Red Brolly, it's a free download that was given to me by my girlfriend Bev, she too is making one. The photo does not show that the background is done on muslin & the 'stamps' are on Kona & are stitched on with the X or whip stitch. It works up fast as the finished size here is 11"x13", it was all made from my scraps of fabric & threads, I love making something from nothing.

The Stocking Were Hung...

This week I have been busy making Christmas stocking for my in-laws as they will be looking after Boris, the grand puppy, over Christmas. The detail of the quilting doesn`t show up in the photo, I used gold metallic thread & a light foot during the grid-quilting of Grandma & Grandpa`s stockings. I`ll miss the little guy but will post photos of our Christmas cruise in the Bahamas.

Can You Feel the Love ;)

This was a photo shot I just could not resist, Boris & Diesel having a snooze on the lounge rug with their paws almost touching. Boris loves his new roomate with that gorgeous warm coat of his, it takes the shivers away on these cool days.

Tom cat loves baskets to cuddle up in, here were 2 wicker baskets on my footstool & he stayed warm & cozy till Diesel barked at him so much he left his little haven :(

Tom cat & Boris have had a love relationship for years, this is a shot of one of their `share the moment` times, yes the cat is as big as the dog but weighs 7 pounds less. The two just love the fireplace however Diesel moves to another room or on the couch set in front of an old drafty patio door, to flee from such heat.

Binding My Time :)

I've got this 1/2 done now, with the hand sewing & cold weather my index finger has begun to crack again, bag balm is used just before bed time to moisturize these dry hands & nails. The quilt turned out so beautiful, I had Tim at The Marsh Store in Coldstream ON, to do the meandering with the maple leaf in it. This was to be a Canada Day quilt for my son Donald's wedding that took place on July 1st this year. He & Melissa have still not seen their quilt but I'm working to have it done before Christmas & their pillowcases done for Christmas. Sew much to do :)

The quilting really enhances the quilt. This has been the largest quilt I've ever made, finishing at 97"x 97". 

Warmth, comfort, and sweet dreams to the newlyweds.

Squirrel Fun!

So cute, I'd subscribed to Primitive Quilts & Projects last summer & just love the projects. This wee fellow is only 7 inches tall & is all hand sewn. The tail is rug hooked from my scrap burlap from the Boris Loree rug, it's just wonderful how all the crafty things I learn,  I can transfer to other projects. I hooked two tail patterns then crocheted them together with a pipe cleaner on the outer  edge, to make it bendable. The whiskers are from my cats--no I don't pull them out, they fall out & I see them when I vacuum (almost daily with all these pets)The cotter pins & glass eyes were ordered in from a shop called Out-of-Hand  in  Calgary. There's one more to make but Christmas presents have my time right now. These were made to put in the vine wreath, with 5 cotter pins, they have full movement to look playful. 

So for now this little squirrel is decorated  for Christmas, wearing a festive red gross grain ribbon with a gold heart.

One of many of the 'hairy pets' that make me vacuum, he's so beautiful & the shedding has somewhat stopped with the cooler weather.

Bagging it again...

I've sew much to do with so little time--I worked these sewing bags in the Jo Morton fabric charms, there bound for Farmer Wife & Civil War sewers. Still have several more to make, I wish I could stay more focused-just can't do the assembly line thing.