Back in the Studio

Yay. After an hour of clean up yesterday, and more today, I found the top of my sewing table. The two last photo albums waiting for attention were attended to. Here is the first:

Here is the second:

While I was on the computer, it occurred to me that I should check my alternate email address. I rarely check it. I have issues with ATT, so typing in ATT doesn't make me want to correspond, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, while I was not checking my email, these pictures were waiting patiently for me to show up. They were taken at the Hartland Quilt Retreat, back on November 1. wow.

Actually, this is a project I was trying to locate yesterday. I found it today. I don't think I need it any more. I'll work on it next year.

And here is proof that I press every time I sew a seam. yep. up and down, up and down. With all that exercise, you'd think I'd be in better shape, eh? ;)

That's all I've got for you today. Hope your December is looking merry and bright!

Another Cover

I don't have much to show for yesterday. I covered this photo album:

Here is the back:

And when you open it:

You see the space for the photos...and the tag stating that it's all acid-free storage for them.

That's it for yesterday.

As to decorations, I haven't gotten any further than the ladder in the bathroom. ;)

But I did take 3 large photo albums, 3 journals, 3 small photo albums and two small (very small) framed art quilts to Arts Visalia. They are having a Holiday Sale, now through December 20, and they agreed to offer a few of my pieces. (I'd give you a weblink, but they don't seem to have one.)

And that's a wrap. I HAVE to decorate! :)

This n That

I spent time in the Studio yesterday; I'm starting to think of it as a workshop. I've been finishing a number of projects that have been planned or partially done for months. I'm actually hoping to take them to Arts Visalia, to offer them for sale. Today we'll find out if I meet their standards. A month ago they were interested, but they hadn't seen my wares.

The first thing I did was cover another photo album. I think I have three naked albums left. These are nice albums that hold 4" x 6" pictures, on acid-free paper. :)

I covered this journal months ago, but it needed something. I think the buttons add a nice touch.


This little wallhanging, which Blogger (maybe I should refer to it as Blooger when it tips my pics) tipped, has been waiting for quilting for months as well. Picture it right-side up/left-side down.
It measures 12.25" x 8.5" It's made from leftovers of my "Color Runs" quilts.

Finally, I love these random pictures. Maybe it was the talk of my kids going to see the Treasures of King Tut at the DeYoung, but this sure looked like they were marching a body down the street this weekend. (It's really a Christmas tree.)

And this picture totally cracks me up. I'm disappointed with the glare in the window, but I'll tell you what you're seeing. Charlie was sleeping (of course). Edgar jumped up and started licking him. Then he started biting. Charlie got mad. He hates it when his nappy-time is interrupted. Here he's pushing Edgar off with one back foot and the other back foot and one front paw are poised for action, claws extended. Edgar looks up at the camera. "What?" If you click on the pic, it shows more clearly.

So anyway, that's what I was up to yesterday. I can't wait to see what I come up with today! Have a good one!

A Bit of Stitchin'

Today I planned to decorate for Christmas. I brought the ladder into the house. Does that count?

Instead, I sat at the computer, then moved to the Studio. I put together two photo album covers, using leftover strips cut for my 2008 Hoffman Challenge. yeah, I know. Why are/were the strips still hanging around?

They are not my usual color combos, that's for sure, but I was
S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G myself, doncha know? ;)

Here's what the inside looks like. All acid-free and everything. :)

I never did touch my November Step. oh well. Maybe next month...

Keeping Organized?

Wow. Blogger flipped every single picture. That's not a very Christmassy spirit. That's downright Halloweenish. grumble grumble Blogger.

I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who writes a Christmas letter. I'm not sure if I've always done it, but I've done it for a long time. Our family was in flux for so many years, always adding children or moving or whatever, that it was the one time I made sure to sit down and record what we'd been up to.

A few years ago I was organizing, and put together a container of Christmas "leftovers." It was filled with extra cards, letters and photos.

Last year it occurred to me that it might be nice to put them together in something accessible for all. I stashed them in a binder.

Last night I decided to cover the binder, so that it no longer looked like a generic binder, lying around, seemingly without purpose.

Here's what I came up with. (Tilt your laptop, Kristin!)

The opening page has the oldest Christmas photo card I sent. It's dated 1986...when we only had 2 kiddies.

By 1989, we've got four!

In 1996, we took our Christmas photo in Scotland.

By 2006, my how we've grown!!

Unfortunately the collection is incomplete. I'm missing a few letters here and there, and more than a few pictures. oh well. It's still a lot of fun to flip through and see just how much we've changed.

I haven't lifted a needle on my November Step, but I have been keeping busy. How about you?

Today's Production

I've actually done more today than what I'm going to post, but these are the things that I finished. I put together the background of three other cards and prepared a third journal for a cover. But I'm not going to bore you with those.

First, here is the birthday card for my sister. Her birthday is on Thursday. She doesn't read my blog. (At least I'm pretty sure she doesn't...)

And yes, it does say, "Hoppy birthday."

I also made these manly journal covers. I don't think the boys read my blog, at least not very often. One of them finishes his last class in a couple of days, and finishes his internship next week. After that? Road trip! Every road-tripper needs a journal, doesn't he?

I've been doing some other things as well, but I can't unveil them until early next week. You'll just have to wait.

That's all for now...

Taking a Sewing Break

After being away for a few days, the work that needed to be done around here began to stack up. It always does, doncha know? ;) The bedroom is still half-painted, and I just realized that I never finished cleaning and papering the last few cupboards in the kitchen. Folks, that remodel was back in July. My biggest problem is that when I've seen a mess for too long, I stop seeing it. I HAVE to remember to look around here with new eyes - to see the mess as others see it - and yikes! There is much to do.

But deadlines have arrived, so I took the day off to spend in the sewing room. Item #1 was to box and ship "Cascading Crystal Kaweah" to Pacific International. Consider it done. whew!

I covered another journal, and am quite pleased with the results.


I have a lunch date with a friend tomorrow - friend, if you are reading the blog, cover your eyes! I needed to make her a card. Mark another item off the list.


Finally, we've been invited to the final adoption hearing on Friday for Relli Mitchell. The invitation included a cute picture of little Relli, and I thought it would be appropriate to "immortalize" her in fabric.


I am really enjoying our new printer and the quality transfers that it does onto Printed Treasures sheets. I love these front-opening shadow boxes. They are perfect for transforming little quilts into works of art. (I get the boxes at Michael's, usually at 40% off.)

Oh, and hey Charlotte! See that sea foam? It's cheesecloth!!! I cut a 1" strip of cheesecloth which I rolled in a 2" strip of tule. I then stitched it down with some free-motion foamy stitching. It almost looks like lace, but now you all know better.

And hey, there's one more to come. I haven't transferred the photo yet, but I need to give the gift on Sunday so there will be another post some time soon. Happy quilting!!!