Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends.
We hope that 2016 will bless you with wonderful memories.

Christmas is coming

Princess loves to check out the box sizes.  If it fits her, it is okay to use.

We went out for a little drive to see some of the wonderful decorations on local houses.
There is music synchronized to the lights.
We are still trying to figure this one out.  They were playing "Mister Sandman".
Did not sound very Christmas like to us, but was a good job for synchronization.

This house has so many things going on in their front yard.  It is packed full of Christmas decorations, and and fun to see.

We have to check this one out each year.  It is truly encrusted.
Still trying to decide if the roof was lit last year.
Got to go back back and check previous years pictures.

Still working on a few more Christmas cards.

This is the quilt I am going to send to my sister and her husband.
It is called Asian Ribbons, and I made it in September of 2007.  She had visited and seen it and mentioned that she like it.  Time to gift it to her. It is all Japanese prints.  The pattern was a great way to showcase them.

I received all my quilts back from my friend that quilts for me. Wendy does such beautiful work on the quilting. Now for the binding for them all.

Hope you are having a great week.
Mary

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 From our family to yours, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year.

This house is in Naperville.

I showed this same house with Halloween decorations, now it is on display for Christmas.

Santa is getting ready for the big night.

So are some of his reindeer.  Have to eat for energy.

This display is two blocks long and tells the whole Christmas story.

The nativity is beautiful.

Snoopy is getting ready too.  Woodstock has a red nose to help guide the sleigh.

The Red Baron sends his greetings too.

Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year
Mary

Thursday sew Christmas Party

Yesterday was our little Christmas for our Thursday sewing group.  We meet at the quilt shops class room every Thursday to work on quilting projects. It is always a lot of fun.  We decided to have a pot luck would be in order, and of course a gift exchange.  The food was great. We quilters do know how to cook!

Our presents were wonderful.  We bring them wrapped and get to draw a number, and pick a present.

Donna was number 1 and picked this darling table topper made by Cheryl.

Jan was the next and picked mine.  I had made a Tammy Bag, a pattern by Mdm Samm,, from "Sew We Quilt". I love making this bag.

Cheryl picked this darling pillow from Marilyn. It is cross stitched with Merry Christmas and made with gingerbread fabric.

Marilyn received Jo's gift of a darling wool snowman candle mat with a snowman light.
Jo does wonderful hand-stitchery.  

Jo received a neat zipper pouch that has a vinyl front to see what is inside the bag and a cute Christmas wallet, that had a Dairy Queen gift card in it. Donna makes such cute pouches.

I received this gorgeous table runner of Jo Morton fabrics from Jan. Jan is a wonderful and prolific sewer and quilter.  I love this table runner.

In the mail yesterday I received this adorable mini Tammy Bag from Mdn Samm. She even embroidered a sweet flamingo on the front.  It is an ornament for now.  It is a treasured reminder of a lovely friendship that has grown in the past year.

All we need is Love

This graphic was created and shared by Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt

On Christmas morning our son Andrew shared his thoughts:

I really hope that everyone who's celebrating with friends and family this holiday season truly takes a moment to just reflect on what's in front of them and how special it really is.  Maybe give each family member a hug that lasts a couple seconds longer, or go out of your way to talk to that aunt you don't really like.  There are so many people in this world that don't get to experience this.  So please don't take it for granite and cherish the memories you make now because, they may not be there next year.

I think he said it all. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Mary

Secret Santa and Door Hangers

Look at these adorable ornaments I received in a Secret Santa ornament swap with an online  "Friendship Block Swap" group.  Cindy made them.  They are so cute.  I love them.

Back in September at the quilt retreat I went to in Racine, Wisconsin, one of the other quilters was making this pattern.  It is a free pattern by Kim Diehl on her website.  I thought they were so cute, that I decided to try them too. Here is my end result. 

I used some of the buttons I have collected.  I think they turned out very well.  I was sewing buttons on them when my husband and I were on our last little trip.  I finally sewed the backs on and finished them last weekend.  The pattern suggests you stuff them lightly.  I quilted them to a light weight batting.  When I turned them right side out, I felt they did not need the stuffing.  Just a thought!

Have a great weekend. Happy sewing if you are still working on projects.

Merry Christmas

Mary

Thursday Sew Christmas Party

Today, Thursday, our Thursdays Sew group celebrated Christmas, by having a little party.  The sad part was not everyone was able to attend.  Nine of us brought in dishes to pass. We could not wait to lunch time, so by 11:00 we were eating.  Even though there were only nine of us, we managed to cover all food groups!  We had appetizers, salads, main course, and desserts. Quilters are definitely great cooks, well all by me. (I brought Subway sandwiches.)

We also had a gift exchange.  Everyone that came brought a gift that would cost about $15.00, and had to be made by you, and be something you, yourself would like to receive.  We each drew a number and got to pick a gift, as long as it was not your own. Worked out fine.  We then opened them in the same over, one at a time.  It gave each of us a chance to admire the handwork, and of course take pictures.

First is Jan holding the gift Karen made for her.  It is a wall or door hanger with two pockets stitched in the front to hold winter decorations. So cute!

Cheryl, received this great snowman wall hanging made by Danette. ( I am so sorry for the blurry picture.) It was Danette's first time doing machine quilting.  I think she did a great job.

Jinnie, receive an adorable pillowcase and fleece scarf with kitty's on it made by Jan.  Jinnie was thrilled. Jan comes up with some of the neatest fabric to make her pillowcases.  (Jinnie is a kitty person.)

Marilyn received this wonderful winter table topper made by Kaye.  Love the stripped binding.

Jo received the great binder made by Jinnie.  Jo just happens to be a note taker.  Jinnie also included a fob for her scissors. Jo was delighted.

Danette received the door hanger and pincushion I made.  She is going to use the hanger as a wall hanging, as she was afraid it might get caught in a door.  Danette also said she did not have an official pincushion!  I am so glad she liked what I made.

Karen, received this wonderful wall hanging made by Marilyn. I hear it is a Patrick Lose design.  It is so cute. Marilyn added some darling Christmas buttons to the tree.

Kay received a framed applique piece made by Jo.  It is wonderful.  Jo is noted for her hand applique.  It is a lovely piece. I think Kay was so please to received this. (Again, sorry for the poor picture quality.)

Last but not least, I received this darling Christmas table topper made by Cheryl.  She did a great job of piecing and machine quilting it. It is going to look great on my table.

My presents, the table topper from Cheryl, Kay made a pot holder with a towel tucked in it., Karen made hexagon wreath ornaments with beads attached, Jinnie made the purple and turquoise stiletto to help my sewing, and Danette gifted  me with Lindt chocolates.

We had such a wonderful day. It is always fun to share with each other.  We enjoy each others company so much on Thursday's.

Merry Christmas to all my quilting friends and their families.

Mary

Christmas Lights, again

I think I have shown this house before (last year). It is located in Elburn, Il.  The owner is a landscaper and for the past several years has decorated his house and put music to the light show. 
Our son Andrew was out for a visit this past weekend.  He finally had a two day off from his new job.  He was game to take a drive and see Christmas lights. 

This is one of our favorites.  We sat in line for 45 minutes watching the lights and listening to the music.  It is amazing how they synchronize the music to the lights.

Another color combination.

It is so beautiful and special.

On our way back home we stopped at a new light show for us.  The campus of Mooseheart has a drive through.  There are several radio stations that are playing Christmas music. You can tune in and sing along and see the lights.

Their lights are static displays. (no animation)

They are so lovely to see.  Several park districts or communities are setting up these displays.  Some charge a fee to drive though, others are by donation.  All have been for good causes.
We love to drive through neighborhoods in the evening and see how the houses have been decorated.  My preference is, more is better.

Hope you are having a wonderful week.
Enjoy the season.

Mary

In the works

This is the Prairie Flower top I am working on. It is from the Friendship Swap Yahoo group.  I have the top put together, now auditioning fabric for the borders.  Princess is not sure that block should be where it is.  Shes helps by rearranging blocks for me.

My friend Kay, from the Thursday sewing group, gave us the pattern to make these cute angels. Well I had to try them. Even though the "Holiday" is over does not mean I am through sewing for next Christmas.  Four more Santa's are in the works.  Actually, there are even more cut out.  Both the angels and Santa's fit very nicely in cards.

I still have a couple hundred yo yo's made up that will become ornaments.  When Dad was in the hospital a couple of years ago, I sat and made yo yo after yo yo.  Something to keep my hands busy while he was recovering.

Okay, on to finishing or working toward a finish.  Found a zip lock bag with these two projects in it. " The Little Quilts" pattern had 9 fans that needed to be appliqued onto background. Done! Now to sew them together and add the borders. Notice how old some of this fabric is. This is some of  the first 30's that came out, shall we say 20 years ago??  These are 5 1/2 inch, unfinished.

Now look at these.  3 1/2 unfinished.  The pattern is by Tina Gravatt, and is dated 1986.  There are 16 fans in this group. These too needed to be added to background fabric. These will be mini quilts to hand quilt. 

After I started sewing my Klosjes together, have decided I do not have enough, so back to stitching individual blocks.  I want to added more colors.  I use leftover scraps to draw my blocks on.  Those yellow, and gold fabrics were extras I had cut for an applique border on another quilt.  They will work just perfect for this project. 

So while watching football games, movies, and catching up on shows I have missed, I have been doing a lot of hand sewing.

I hope all of you have been having fun working on projects.

Happy Sewing

Mary