A Merry Little Christmas

I hope this was a very special Christmas for all of you.  I wanted to share a couple of special little gifts I received that helped to make our days cheerful.

This hand embroidered pillow made for me by my sister will be treasured.

This sweet little spring snowman was also a gift from  my son's family before Christmas and it added some cheer to our kitchen.

Merry Christmas!

Library on Wheels

Sometimes we all need to stop and count our blessings.  One of the blessings in my life is my job.  I manage the Library on Wheels department for Sno-Isle Libraries.  I enjoy my job but I won't deny that some days it is hard to get up and go out the door to work.  I am thankful that the work I do and the people I work with are a blessing.   A short while ago a blog post about the services the Library on Wheels department provides was written by Ginger Kauffman who blogs at Three Minutes to Nine.  Take a few moments to visit her blog here and read a little about what I have been blessed to be a part of for over 23 years.

This is a picture of part of the fabulous Library on Wheels staff and our beautiful new bookmobile.

More Fun With Zipper Bags

I did a little sewing and have completed two more bags.  I bought a few zippers from Zipit  at a great price and they came so quickly.  I have had some fun stitching the 2 1/2 inch squares together for these little bags.  

I have plans to make six so have begun piecing together and quilting the next four.  

I am almost ready to stitch the next four together

Now I must find the time to get back to this.

I have enjoyed these bags and want to thank Patty of Elm Street Quilts for the tutorial and the inspiration.  Time to make more bags!

Bag It!!! Boxed Corners

Bag number 2.  I used the same basic tutorial with a few changes.  The bag is a little larger and the corners are boxed so that the bag stands up.  Both bags were made with one mini charm pack, with a few charms left over.  I think I was ready for a project that I could complete in a short time.  I have a few more of these fun bags on my sewing list and I may get the chance to try more of  the Bag It!!! tutorials at Elm Street Quilts. 

The fabric is Elementary by Sweetwater for Moda

Boxed corners help the bag stand up.

Here they are, my first two of many.  I'll let you know how that works out.

Happy sewing!

Bag It!!! Zipper Pouch

I made my first zipper bag using "Bag It!!!" basic zip pouch tutorial found here at Elm Street Quilts. I used some of my mini charms and it went together very quickly.  I learned a few new things and was reminded of some old sewing techniques I have not used in some time.  I had some fun with this, made a few mistakes but this is just the beginning.  There will be more bags to follow.

So many bags to sew, so little time.

I have to get back to my sewing so that I can share the next bag I am working on.  Visit Patty at Elm Street quilts and join the fun.  I have a link on my side bar too.

My Favorite Chair Has A New Slip Cover

Several years ago my husband bought me this cozy chair, it has been my favorite chair we have ever owned.  It is upholstered in a lovely flower fabric that has been showing wear for some time.  A week ago I started working on a slip cover using a matelasse bedspread.  I was quickly overwhelmed by the project and tossed it in a pile in my sewing room.  I was ready to throw the whole mess out.   I picked it up again today and decided to give it another try.

Here is my cozy chair with its new cover.

It is not a perfect fit but I do think it is a much fresher look.

The buttons down the side make it easy to remove the cover and toss it in the wash.

The view from the back.

We do have a dog, cat and many grandchildren to I am sure that this cover will be washed often.

Going back to the project when I was a little more focused did help a lot.  I was close to tossing the whole thing out the first time I tried working on it.  I think it will be a while before I try another project like this one.  I am very happy with the results but will stick to some "fun" sewing for the next few weeks.

So Many Blessings

Time for the "simple things" at home is always a blessing.  I had a few days this month to spend some time just being at home.  Baking, sewing and painting are some of the things I was able to do.  I am thankful for my job and all of the activities I am able to participate in but you can't beat a day at home doing the simple things.

Like baking cookies.

Sherry's Oatmeal Cookies

                            1 cup butter                                                    

                            1 cup shortening                                             

                            2 cups brown sugar                                         

                            2 cups white sugar                                          

                            4 eggs

                            2 teaspoons vanilla

                            4 cups flour

                            2 teaspoons baking soda

                            2 teaspoons salt

                            6 cups oatmeal

Blend butter, shortening and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir in oatmeal.  I use my Kitchen-aid to blend everything together.  This is a large batch and hard to mix with a wooden spoon.  That is how I made them for the first 15 years.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 Minutes.                         

                                                              And sewing quilts.

Flying geese for my Midnight Mystery Quilt

And more baking.

 Zucchini bread

Some with raisins and some with chocolate chips.

Squash from a friends garden.

And more sewing of quilts.

 Midnight Mystery Quilt

Freshening up our home.

Fresh paint on the front door.

Isn't it nice to enjoy the simple things, I am so thankful for my simple home and time spent there with family and friends and a little time alone is nice too.

Tea Cup and Mug Exchange

I participated in a Tea Cup and Mug Exchange sponsored by Stephanie at The Enchanting  Rose.  It has been a while since I participated in a swap or exchange so I thought this would be fun and it was.  I enjoyed gathering things together for Mary, her blog is called Material Girl Quilter.

I was excited to see my package from Naomi (www.whatjoyismine.net) when it arrived.  I took it to my sewing room to look inside and take each item out slowly.

Two new towels for fall.

So many thoughtful gifts,towels, candle, cookies, embroidery threads and designs, cookies, tea, bath tea and a note from Naomi.

I love this sweet teapot and cup.  Thank you Naomi for the box of goodies and thank you Stephanie for organizing the exchange.

Midnight Mystery Quilt - September

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is sponsoring Midnight Mystery Quilt-a-long.  My blocks are complete for September and I am ready to work on the October blocks.

It will be fun to see how this quilt comes together.  I love a mystery.

2015 Finish Along Q4 Goals

I have been focusing on completing projects this year and joining the 2015 Finish Along  organized by Adrianne at On the Windy Side has helped me to stay focused.   I have added quite a few projects for the 4th quarter of the finish along because I have so many unfinished projects and I hope to cross several off my list this quarter.

1.  These are some of the completed blocks for my Sunnyside quilt top, 6 are complete and I have 14 more to do. I want to have this completed and ready to be sent to the quilter.

2.  This quilt is quilted, my goal is to complete the binding.

3.  Five of the nine embroidery blocks complete, others ready to stitch and piece together.

4.  Tote bag Mystery Monday at Little Bits of This & That.  I had good intentions but did not even get this project started.

5.  The Abbey Bag pincushion kit.

6.  Christmas Tree Pincushion kit.

7.  Fruit Salad pincushion kit.

8.  Daisy Days embroidery wall hanging.  Complete it and hang it in my dining room.

9.  Quilt and bind this petals table topper.

10.  Quilt top complete - finish pieced backing and send to the quilter

11.  My Scrappy Quilt has been sent to the quilter, get it bound as soon as it gets back to me.

12.  I would love to use my JOY banner as a decoration this year.

13.  Quilt and bind this project so that I can hang it in our guest room.

14.  Complete this paper pieced Polar Bear pillow.

15.  Machine quilt and bind my Aurifil designer block of the month quilt.

16.  Complete the cross stitch ball jar and frame it.

17.  Machine quilt and bind my jelly roll bird quilt top.

I know that I have listed quite a few projects and I will be distracted by holiday sewing but I would sure be excited to complete several if not all of these projects.  Writing this post made me take a look around my sewing room and focus on some projects that I would love to call finishes.