happy

The last few years, it's been hard to be happy at Christmas-time. But this year, how could I not be happy, with all this wonderfulness.... :o) Here is Jimmy with Santa, when he came to visit their PreK class earlier this month. :o)

I'm using "Fresh Palette" fabrics from Carrie Nelson to make the "Mill Girls" quilt from the "More Elm Creek Quilts" blook by Jennifer Chiaverini. LOVE how these are turning out. :o)

Cinnamon applesauce ornaments, made with the kids the last few nights after school! SO easy! Applesauce (the cheap stuff!), cinnamon (which is never cheap!?) and glue -- mix it, roll it out, use your cookie cutters. Then just let them dry! I dried ours in the oven for about 4 hours on 170*, and then let them dry the rest of the way on the counter. We run the humidifier, and also have 2 cats, a dog, and 4 kids, so I figured they'd dry quicker that way... :o)

And last but not least... Brownie! Brownie is my bear, on the right! VERY well loved! I don't remember quite how old I was when I got him, but he used to go to grade school with me, and I'd sit him in my desk, so I could see him... So probably about 35 years old, give or take... And on the left, is Jim's! Apparently, Jim and I really were meant to be, because we both had the same bear! HA! His is not nearly as well loved as mine, and they aren't exactly the same, but definately by the same maker!
I am happy... :o)

Christmas Ornament Swap

I joined a fun "Christmas Ornament Swap" - the main requirement of the ornament was that it had to have buttons, somehow, somewhere... :o) These are the snowmen that I made.

I received this cute Holly Leaves and Berries ornament from Jeanelle. With lots of extra Christmas-y buttons!

Laurie sent me these cute little ornaments, made with miniature baking tins! SO creative! The container is a little red bundt tin! Fun!

And from Robin... PINK! A cute pink button ornament - it's made using a small wooden embroidery hoop! And a little jar of tiny pink and white buttons! How did she know I love pink!?! :o)

You can click the pic above to go see other creative ideas that the other swappers made! This was so much fun!

4 little bears and snowmen...

Usually, it's the story of the 3 bears but this time it's 4 bears! :o) These are the bears that I made to give the kids this Christmas. These are keepsake bears. David gets the dark brown one, Anna gets red, Lizzie gets the cream one, and Jimmy gets the light brown. The boys have buttons on their vests and the girls have flowers... I love how they all look a little different (besides colors) even tho they're made from the same pattern. These bears stand about 7" tall. :o)

And I made some snowmen last week... Out of chenille! Wool felt angel wings, sticks for little arms. (Thanks to my Boy Scout for whittling them sharp for me, to be able to insert them!) Added a little snow glitter to them... I *love* the way they turned out. :o)

stuffing...

Not your traditional Thanksgiving stuffing! :o) I'm stuffing bear parts! This is a different bear than the four that I'm making for the kids, but another Christmas present to someone sweet... :o)
Happy Thanksgiving!

14 and bear parts... :o)

My "babies" turned 14 years old earlier this month! Time is just flying!

Trying to work on Christmas... Remember last year I made a bear for my Mom, and I've made a few others over the year... I'm making keepsake bears for the kids for Christmas. Lizzie's is the yellow "pooh bear", Anna's will be the red, Jimmy's will be the light brown, and David's will be the dark brown. I have all the pieces sewn on three of them (have to work on the dark brown today). I will have to have Jim turn the pieces for me. I can't do it anymore with this arthritis...! (these bear kits were purchased here)

14th birthday - 14% off!

Since this week is the triplets' 14th birthday, you can use the Coupon Code "TRIPLETS14" to save 14% off anything in my Etsy shop, including the new felted wool mitten ornaments, shown here! :o) I hope you'll stop by, if you have a minute!

4 years

Merle Lee Thompson
October 12, 1944 - October 30, 2007

On 9/11 this year, when they were reading the names, one of the gals said this of her loved one: "Happy 10th Anniversary in Heaven". I am trying to remember that, to try to change my way of thinking.

I miss you, Dad. I love you. Happy 4th Anniversary in Heaven.

Mini Backpacks and flannel scraps

I've been working on these mini Backpacks for my Etsy Shop. (Pattern found here.) I ordered maroon-and-gold Kona fabrics to make some for Lizzie's basketball team, for end-of-the-season gifts... :o) I was a little intimidated about the zipper, but once I got the first one done, they are really easy!!

I also added this Woolies Flannel Scrap Bundle to my Etsy Shop. These are left-over from a recent quilt project. :o)

busy, busy

Been busy, busy since my last post! Finished up this customer quilt! Twenty paper-pieced 12" stars, and then just a simple sashing. Hope she likes it! (She supplied the fabrics.)  

I also put together my "Friendship" row swap rows. I will probably hand-quilt this one. This row swap was SO fun! Our group is doing another one in 2012. (I'm the hostess! Yeah!) I need to start thinking about my theme... :o)  

I got my "Snowmen A to Zzzz" quilt top together. Still have to get batting, and then I think I'm going to tie it, with all sorts of red buttons, in the corners of the embroidery blocks. This one will be for my Mom for Christmas.  

And last but not least... I made this rag quilt using the "Wanna Be a Cowboy" fat quarters from Riley Blake. It went into my Etsy shop this morning... It'd be perfect for a new baby boy, or for a take-along quilt for a wanna-be-cowboy! :o)

Not much else going on besides that... :o) Besides my Mom falling and breaking her arm 2 weeks ago... Oh my! :o) 

M, R, S, T-U-V

Finished a few more embroidery blocks over the last week... M for Mittens... 

R for Reindeer... 

S for Snowflakes... 

And T-U-V for Twinkle, Up on the housetop, and Village...
And now, all the embroidery is DONE! :o) I'm hoping by the end of the week, to have a completed quilt top! We'll see.... :o)

Happy Birthday Dad

Merle Lee Thompson
October 12, 1944 - October 30, 2007



Connecticut Stars and "W"

Been sewing along on my paper-pieced Connecticut Stars, and now have all 10 done! Woo Hoo! There are two each, of these 5 color combinations. Like I said, this will be scrappy, mostly purples, but with some other colors thrown in. All fabrics chosen by the customer... :o) Now to put together the 10 "Tennessee Stars"! :o)  

The only embroidery was "W" for Wreath, since Lizzie had 3 home basketball games this past week. :o)

C and D, customer quilt and flannel rag quilt! :o)

More embroidery! :o) C is for Candy Cane... 

And D is for an oh-so-cute Drummer Boy! :o)  

Not the best pic, but starting on a new quilt for a customer. 20 paper pieced stars. This is the "Connecticut" Star, from the book "50 Fabulous Paper Pieced Stars" by Carol Doak. There will be 10 of these stars, and 10 of the "Tennessee" stars. They will be scrappy, purples, and some other colors mixed in. :o) Good thing I love paper piecing! :o)  

And last but not least, the new "Plaid Woolies Flannel Rag Quilt" for the Etsy Shop. This would be the perfect quilt for a new baby, but I really think the colors are perfect for winter - pale pink and blue and whites. Love the plaids, especially! And the flannel is OH SO YUMMY! :o)

Coin Purses and K & L

I finally went to the doctor yesterday and I have a sinus/ear infection, so I haven't gotten much sewing done this week. I did finish up these two coin purses for my Etsy shop, tho! I'll probably have to hide the pink one from Anna, or she'll be taking it! :o)  

I also finished this double block - K and L, for Kris Kringle and Lights. Another favorite! :o)

Christmas Pillow Covers and E&F, G, H and X!

Adding more Christmas items to our Etsy shop! :o) Two new pillow covers - both featuring machine embroidery designs. "Elegant Christmas Cardinal on Santa's Boot Pillow Cover", above.                                       

And the "Christmas Ornaments" Pillow Cover, above. I used a snowflake tulle over Kona Avocado, to surround the embroidery design. Love the sparkle! :o)  

Been stitching along on my "Snowmen A to Zzzz" blocks, too! :o) Hoping to get the embroidery done in the next couple of weeks... :o) Here is E and F - Elf and Fir.

 G is for Gifts.

 H is for Holly Berries.

And X is for "XOXO" - love this one! :o)

A, B, Q, and Y and Z...

More of my "Snowmen A to Zzzz" blocks! First off, A for Angels. This is a wider block, it will take up "3 blocks". Love it. 

B for Bells.  

Of course, my favorite! Q for Quilt.  

And Y and Z... :o) These are going pretty fast. I'm *considering* giving this as a Christmas gift to my Mom, if I can get it stitched up and have it quilted quick enough. That may be pushing it tho. Can't believe September is half over already!

Happy Helper and Etsy...

Jimmy came running out of school one day last week, with THIS! He was the "line leader" that day, so he got the "Happy Helper Award"! He was so Happy! :o)

Been working on new things for the Etsy shop.  First off, is this "Winter Pinwheels" throw in "It's Snowing" fabrics. This is the Schnibbles "Jacks" pattern. Very fun, and I love the secondary designs that the blocks make. I've had these fabrics since at least before last Christmas, and decided it was time to do something with them! :o)

And then for Fall, I made this "Scrappy Autumn Owl" pillow. It was fun to just randomly put together his body section, using all kinds of fall colored scraps. David helped me draw up the pattern. :o) Thanks for looking!