I won!!!!

I wanted to show you the sweet ornament I won from Regina at Creative Kismet. It's so cute!!! She asked her blog readers to leave a comment telling something that you learned from your granny or mother. Here is the comment I made on her blog:


It’s fitting that your give away ornament is an owl. My Granny had a “thing” for owls. While Granny taught me lots of practical things, the one I think has helped me most is “laughter does good like a medicine”. My Granny was poor and worked hard all her life, but each and everyday she found something laugh about. She had an amazing sense of humor and it helped her through many difficult days. Anytime I think about my Granny, I see her with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

I have the ornament hanging in my sewing room so that I can enjoy it all year long. Thank you so much Regina for the great give away, and the dear reminder of my Granny!!

Regina's pic is SO much better than mine! Be sure and visit her blog.

Oh, and just wanted to mention....I have 14 Easy Spider Web blocks done now. Got another finished just a few moments ago. (I'm gonna blog this into the ground!!!)

Another block done....

but I am restraining myself from showing another picture of the quilt blocks!! Instead, I thought I'd show a pic of what I see from my sewing machine. Each morning (well, when I can), I walk into my sewing room, open the blinds and enjoy the trees while sitting at the machine. We live at the very end of the cul-de-sac and the mail boxes for our street are right behind that group of trees there on the right.

This morning it was wet and foggy outside. (Now it's over cast and dreary looking.) So, while that's not pretty, what I do love is keeping an eye on the neighbors. I see them coming and going while I'm sewing and it's nice to know I'm not home alone in this neighborhood. We have older neighbors who sit on their porch, neighbors with younger children who walk down to the mailbox area in the cul-de-sac while their little ones run around the cul-de-sac, and neighbors who are in their 50's apparently still working each day coming and going at the same time day after day, I can see who is having their carpets cleaned or having work done on their house. I know who does their own yards and who hires a crew to do it for them.

Our neighborhood is VERY quiet, it just sounds noisy from my description. If I wasn't watching, I'd never hear anyone coming and going around here. It's very quiet....

And, the funny thing is that I never knew any of this until about a month ago. My sewing room was the last room to get set up when we moved just 4 months ago. My sewing room is in the formal dining room and the formal living is right beside it, facing the front of the house. The living room has a bookcase, large armoire, a side chair, ficus tree and the piano in it. I don't use that room as much as the kids do. They all play piano, so they hang out in there with their friends, singing late into the night!!

Anyway, the rest of the house is toward the back of the house. Our house backs up to a wooded area, and since we are on a cul-de-sac, we have a large area beside the house that has woods too. We feel so alone, when we look out the back of the house....which we do all day long because we have LARGE windows across the back and we can enjoy the sunshine, birds, squirrels and at night, the raccoons.

So, now you have an idea of my sewing area, and my back yard. Since we moved in the middle of August, we haven't done anything to the yard. February will be the time to trim the bushes around the house, etc. and hopefully, we'll have enough money squirreled away to do some minor landscaping....nothing fancy or too expensive.
Happy Quilting!!!!!!

One More!!

I just have to do this to keep myself motivated. I know it's not exciting blog reading to see someone add one new block each day!!! Thanks for being patient.

I have a few errands to run and I'm hoping to get back in the sewing room this evening.



Happy Quilting!!!!!!

Back to the sewing room!

This has been a good day! I headed back to the sewing room this morning and made more Easy Spider Web blocks. I've added three complete blocks. I am working away at them, although it does take time. I now have 11 blocks! Woot, woot!

It's slow going, but I wanted to let you all know that I am faithfully retreating to my sewing room and slowly plugging along. I think I must be an awful S-L-O-W topper!! But, this much I know, I am a much S-L-O-W-E-R quilter!!!

Oh, and what keeps me happily plugging away at the monotonous sewing??? Here is the secret, my iPod touch plugged into my daughter's iPod speaker system. She doesn't mind if I borrow it! I need to get my own, don't you think?? This one was just $39. And, the music showing there is Keith Green, Christian musician from the 70's and 80's. Love it!!








Happy Quilting!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas. May this Christmas bring the blessings of love, joy and peace to us all.



"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...." Isaiah 9:6

Busy hands....

Today, I blanched the green beans, made some Maple Walnut Fudge, some Peppermint Thins and baked the cornbread for the cornbread dressing. I cleaned out the fridge and did some laundry, went over my menu again, double checked my recipes, wrapped some gifts and added a few items to a last minute grocery list.... all while listening to my tunes. I didn't get to the sewing room today, but had a great day, regardless.

Tomorrow, another friend is coming by for a visit.....so nice to have Christmas visits.

Lots of smiles and anticipation. I'll have all my kids home for Christmas and my mother in law will be joining us for dinner too.

How are your Christmas plans going?????

Christmas Cookie Exchange and blessings....

Dear Friends came over yesterday and the hubby of the couple installed two ramps leading to our deck, so that Dear Hubby can roll outside and enjoy a cup of coffee with me! Today, the temperature is 71 degrees. That may still a bit cool for Dear Hubby, he's so sensitive to temperature, but maybe we can slip outside this afternoon for a warm cup of coffee! It's supposed to warm up to 74 or 75. Living in the Houston area allows us to enjoy the outdoors even in the winter!!

And, a friend invited Dear Older Daughter and I over last night for a Christmas Cookie Exchange. Each person was to bring 6 dz. cookies to swap. We actually made 18 dz. cookies and took 1/2 of them over to another friend who is expecting twins, and she already has three little ones!! She and her hubby THOUGHT they were through having babies!! (Babies have a way of happening, but twins can be twice as shocking!!!!) Anyway, she can't do as much this year to prepare for Christmas, so we took her half of the cookies we swapped. Dear Daughter and I had a really nice time. And we came home with some wonderful recipes.

Here is a pic of our loot from the party. There is a lovely little container of broken cookies, ones that didn't make it home intact, sitting beside the coffee pot. Perfect for enjoying while all the other preparations are going on. And, I won't tell how many disappeared shortly after arriving home last night!!!

And, today, another friend is coming by to visit with Dear Hubby. I'm hoping while he's visiting, I can spend some time at the sewing machine. Today will probably be my last day to be able to sneak in some time sewing. Tomorrow I begin cutting up celery, onion, bell peppers, etc. preparing for the Christmas meal. I think I can even make the cheeseball and I really need to blanch the green beans I purchased yesterday. Busy, busy, busy!!!

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas preparations and finding blessings amid the busy-ness!

Happy Quilting and Merry Christmas!!!!

Eight Spider Web Blocks Done!!

I showed this pic to my Dear Hubby and he said, "Yeah, they look just like they did before." He just doesn't get it. There are three more than there were the other day!!!! Good grief.

I know.....I'm slow and don't have much to show for all the hard work, but I am glad I've got three more made! Yay me!!!

Oh, and I took a three hour nap today, so I did get something accomplished!!! LOL

Edited to add link to Quilter's Cache and the Spider Web paper pieced pattern.

Happy Quilting!!!

Needed to mention.....

that I have a new background for my blog.....

and, I'm working away on the Spider Web blocks. Will post pics later.

Spider Web Quilt Blocks

I went to bed at 1:00 this morning, and woke up wide awake at 5:00. I hate it when that happens. I blame it on nightmares. I have them frequently....and they always revolve around my immediate family being in danger, and I have to protect them. I have started dreaming about my daughter in law and grandson now being with us when things go crazy. And, Dear Hubby is always in his wheelchair. This morning the dream involved three men outside our house, with guns, trying to get in while we all slept.

So, what did I do?? What every quilter would do, I got up and .....I started sewing. I made some more Spider Web blocks. These things do not go really fast. Two hours of sewing and I made about (13) seven inch blocks. With the others I had made up already, I was able to get (5) of the large 14 inch blocks put together.

I am using my scrap bucket for the dark fabrics. Because of the weird shape of the light piece, I am pulling my 4 inch strips of lights to make this block. It's not hard, just a bit time consuming, but a great way to use up those scraps in the scrap bucket.

The pattern is a free paper pieced block from Quilter's Cache. You can find the Spider Web block here. When I use my odd shaped bit and pieces from the scrap bucket I will either use a paper pieced block or a foundation pieced block. These pieces are just easier to deal with using some sort of foundation.

My intentions were to baste the baby quilt this weekend. But, I never left the house....so no basting pins. I'm taking Dear Younger Daughter out today for some Mama and Me time, so we'll try to make a stop at Hobby Lobby for some pins. I have been through every single item in my sewing room, setting the place up, and cannot find my basting pins. I have about 100 of them, and I even know which container they are in, but I cannot find them. Does anyone else have problems like this??? So frustrating. Fortunately, they aren't too expensive, and I do have a coupon.

Ok.....so off the computer and on to my day. Hmmmm....maybe I need a 45 minute snooze first!

Happy Quilting!!!!!!!!!

News!!!! And my newest project!!!

Before I show any pics, I have some news to share with you. You may remember, Dear Older Son married April 4th this year. I have pics of the happy couple posted about 7 posts back. I slowed down my quilting and then stopped.....and it all started because of the wedding plans, caregiving and then the move just a few months ago.

Well, Dear Older Son and Dear Daughter in Law are now expecting a baby boy!!!! Things have been a whirlwind and I wanted to share the news, but just haven't had the time to get it all together.

So, even though I probably don't have to tell you this, now I've been bitten by the grandbaby bug and I'm wanting to make some things for this sweet little one. He is due April 10th, just one year and 6 days after his mommy and daddy's first anniversary. She is a bit over the half way point!!! They are excited and we are absolutely thrilled!!!!

He is a pic of the sweet parents to be.

And, a pic of all my sweet children, taken at Thanksgiving.....left to right, Dear Younger Daughter (who is growing up so quickly), Dear Younger Son, Dear Older Daughter, Dear Daughter in Law and Dear Older Son.

And, lastly, a pic of the quilt I made last year from scraps leftover from two other projects. I put it away and told Dear Hubby that I liked it so well, I would save it for our first grandson. I had no idea it would be needed so soon!!!

I added the blue border last night. I have sewn the backing together, and have it layered, but for some reason I have misplaced my basting pins!!! Looks like I need to make a trip to Hobby Lobby or the quilt shop for some pins. I need to get this basted and start on the hand quilting. This is going to be a fun project to work on!!!!

I'm going to be a grandma!!!! Woot woot!!!!!

Happy Quilting!!!!!!

Edited: here is the link to a previously posted pic of the baby's quilt.

I'm back!!!!!

Whew. All moved in. Everything settled......and it's feels, oh so GOOD!

As of November 23rd, my sewing room is all set up!!! Yay!!!! I've even started sewing again. I pulled out my "Spider Web" blocks and am in the process of making more. I am enjoying touching my fabric, digging through scraps, etc. It's been a fun process, and I'm beginning to see just how much I've missed quilting.

We've had a lot going on here. Dear Hubby has had a difficult time adjusting. We absolutely LOVE our new home, and the location, etc. It just seems that he is not bouncing back as easily as he once did and major changes and "hiccups" cause us to slowly readjust everything. But, we're starting to feel like we're back in the groove.

I still don't have all my software installed on my new laptop....since the hard drive crash this summer, so posting pics that are sized correctly has been a challenge. Thought I'd share them regardless.......

Please comment and let me know you are reading. I'm hoping I haven't lost ALL my readers!

And, I'm hoping this next week to have a celebration give away!!!! So stay tuned.......

Happy Quilting!!!!!!!