Trying to Keep Up

Did you have a wonderful Christmas?  We did.  I wasn't ready for it, despite all of the advance notice.  What?  You mean Christmas is on the 25th this year?  yeah, I know.  I should have been ready.  Instead, I'm still finishing up gifts and shipping boxes.  Oh, and there are the elusive Christmas cards...I guess we'll just call it a New Year's letter this time around...

I finished up a couple of projects yesterday.  I made this ornament for my son and his new wife, but was stuck when I needed a purple ribbon.  I never did make it to the store.  Instead, I had a genius idea:  why not look in the box of purple trims?  And there it was:  the perfect ribbon.  The ornament is now in the hands of the USPS, scheduled to arrive (hopefully) on Monday.

The white satin strip on the front came from Penny's flower girl dress scraps.  The back is a dusty lavender Dupioni silk, from the dress's sash.

I finally addressed the latest round of cards for Postmark'd Art.  The theme for these is "Winter."

Hopefully they will arrive safely at their destinations some time in the next week or so.  (Did you notice that the backgrounds were made from scraps from the Advent pockets made back in November?)

Best of the Valley's online entry form is now good to go.  Please consider entering your work.  It is open to all, and it's a very, very good show.  You can check it out here.

Our buddy Roscoe disappeared about 10 days ago.  Someone let the dogs out.  We've been out on almost a daily basis looking for him, but our best guess is that he was dognapped.  If you see him, let us know.

And I guess that's about it.  The Visalia animals seem to have declared a truce, and spend a lot of time chasing each other up and down the hallway.  The pitter patter of tiny feet...

And on that, I'll wish you a premature Happy New Year, as my good intentions to blog have not been accomplished very regularly.  Hey!  That might be a good goal for the New Year.  Goals are good!!

Party! P P P Party!

wow.  December is here!  I can tell by my calendar.  Party on Friday, party on Sunday, party on Monday...and it's just getting started.  By the end of the month, I'm likely to be partied out!

All of those parties mean lots of gift giving, big and small.  On Monday, our art group Sew Eclectic had its annual Christmas Feast.  Not everyone was able to make it, but here's our yearly snap for the history books:

We always do some sort of gift exchange.  This year, we exchanged postcards.  Well, most of us did.  Some slipped in a little quilt, in lieu of a postcard.  I don't think anyone minded, especially not the recipients of the quilts!

Here is the bounty that was distributed blindly:

This is the card I drew.  It was made by Beth Shaffer, of Porterville.  Don't you love it?  I love it.  It is the valley, with its rows of crops and the foothills in the distance.  I smile, every time I look at it!

 This is the one I gave.  It started as a snowflake, but morphed into the star.  At the last moment, the little bunny bead hopped into place.  I think he adds the perfect finishing touch.

And in between, I've made a few more heart ornaments.

I have plans for more quick Christmas quilting, but who knows what I'll get done.  It looks like this year I'll have to get it out earlier than usual, because they have a new delivery system in town.  "Brown" is the new green.  ;)

It's great when the sun has broken through, but we've been having a bit of fog.  I wouldn't like to be him on a day like this:

 Or a night like this:  (See how blurry the lights are in the fog?  I was standing on the walkway, about 25' from the house.)

Yes, it's shaping up to be a good Christmas.

Party on!

And don't forget the Reason for the season!

Bernina Time

Now that we're back - well, I was back, now I'm gone again - I spent a few quality hours with my Bernina.  I had to finish up this Advent swag for my daughter, before driving to see her this morning.  ( I didn't warn her that I had my camera, so I cropped the pic.)

 I also put together a number of heart ornaments.  Had I the time, I should have embroidered the date on the back.  Oh well.  Next batch will get that identification.

 Each one is slightly different.

 You can't really tell, but the rhinestone buttons are good quality.  I got six of them at an estate sale, and had been saving them for something special.  What could be more special than Christmas?  Not much!

And that's all from the needle for today, folks.  Stay tuned, because I think I'm just warming up!  :)

Parties & Such

I feel like I'm leaving blog gaps, but the gaps are not only on the blog. They're also in my days, as I hop from party to party. I could be an extra in "Wayne's World" this week..."Party on, dude!" (That's about all I know about the movie, so I could be mistaken.)

Anyway, as I was decorating the tree, I ran across a number of ornaments that I've made through the years. I don't have them in chronological order, but you will probably see a progression.

The first ornaments I remember making were zoo animals, cut from Christmas prints. Recognize this fabric? I made these in the early 80's, probably in 1982. I've got a few giraffes, a dolphin and a camel. I don't know what happened to the rest of them.

Fast forward to the early 90's, when I was introduced to Stiffy. I made a dozen Christmas bows, and I have to say that they are some of my personal favorites. If I knew where I could get more Stiffy (do they even make it any more?) I would put aside a day and make more. Oh wait. I'd have to buy a glue gun too. But it would be worth it. I love hanging them, they're so bright and cheery.

Somewhere I saw a wreath made from this simple 9-patch. I sewed up a few, then decided they weren't as effective as they should be. This is the only one I have in my possession. Who knows what happened to the other dozen? Did I make someone a wallhanging? I don't remember...

This one was made from trimmings from a Christmas vest. Carletta? Do you recognize the geese? ;)

I remember EXACTLY when I made the gingerbread men. They are also favorites, but they were time-intensive. I made the majority of these while sitting on the bleachers in the Selma High School gym (no heating), in December of 1996. My daughter played with the varsity basketball team her freshman year, although only during all tournaments. I stitched away as I watched and wondered what the years had in store for her...

Year after year I've made stocking ornaments. I've tried to vary them, and the degree of difficulty depends on how late in December I begin.

This is an early one. I know that, because it is hand-quilted. With the cows and farmer boys, this likely belongs to Pete.

Sometimes I make them functional. This one has a football, indicating that it belongs to one of the boys. I'm guessing it's Adam's, because of the candy, but I could be wrong.

A few years ago I began adding beads. I like the sparkle, but I don't have the feel for what makes for effective beading. Is it all trial and error? Or is it something that can be learned? Sometimes my beading works, most times I look at it and groan. I do like this particular stocking...

This one was made last year. I think I made three dozen ornaments last year, both hearts and stockings. This is the only one I have left in my possession. I don't keep the best, the last ones at home are those I like the least...

In 2009, I've made a total of two ornaments, both stockings. I gave one to the bug man and the other to my mail man. We've got a big party coming up on Sunday. Last year I gave all the attendees (16) stocking ornaments, complete with candy canes. I hope they're not expecting something this year, because to get my act that organized, it's going to take a miracle.

Hope you enjoyed the show!