2013-- Bring It On!

Please note: our AYOS parade of Schnibbles normally would be January 1st.

But we are going to have it on Jan. 2nd instead. 

I know, I know... I can hardly stand it myself...

but you know, holidays, traveling... yada, yada, yada. The good news is...

if you haven't made enough of your sweet little Morsels... there is still time.

 I wanted to let you know that JoAnne the Patriotic Quilter did a fabulous tutorial over on 

her blog on how to print on twill tape... great for a certain little Morsel!

...so go check out her blog for great instructions!

I am taking a little break from Block of the Month Rehab.

I hope you will be back and join me next Monday for 

the Rehab. (January 7th), you are welcome to show all of your 

rehab projects for the last couple of weeks!

There are a couple of fun things starting in the land of Blog 

...in 2013 that I am looking forward to.

#1

Monique at Open Gate blog is starting a 6 month BOM. Which is great if

you only want to make a small commitment. If you want to double up

each block and make 12... all the better!

Here is a look at the quilt!

You probably know Open Gate Quilt patterns...

Thelma at Cupcakes n Daisies just finished one of her BOM patterns and posted about it here.

#2

Pam Buda is starting a little sew along on Friday called Pocket Patchwork. 

It will run for 5 weeks... that's it... 5 weeks! 

Do you know Pam Buda... she is Heartspun Quilts. 

Wonderful yummy patterns... we did a parade or two of her patterns a 

couple years ago in La Petite.

This is from Jennifer G from Texas who

 shared her photo on Pam's blog for the last Pocket Patchwork she did.

I can't wait to see what sweet little blocks she is making for 2013!

#3

One that I am looking forward to playing along in is...

Pam Kitty Morning along with the girls at Fat Quarter Shop

 will be hosting a Civil War Sampler BOM. They are calling it Back to School

with Pam Kitty Morning.

There are 50 blocks and they will be making 5 per month.

But the fun thing is... Pam Kitty Morning fabric will be used instead of 

the traditional fabric style. (I'm sure you can use any fabric... but go see how cute

the blocks are).

You can see the first set of blocks at the Jolly Jabber!

I think my book is in my mailbox today! I will be able to get started

soon!

So, if you are in need of any more inspiration for block of the month projects...

I can always find some way to get into trouble over

here!

Roller Coaster to Smooth Sailing

2012: The year of the Roller Coaster!

It's almost time to turn the page and start a new calendar...

2013 is just a few days away.

I was thinking about all the events in my life this year... there was

some sad posts that I shared and a few that were extra special.

I thought I would share a favorite post or two with you of the ones that were happy...

the birth of my grand daughter and maybe my sunflower quilt that I made for her..

.

And then there was the post of my favorite quilt this year...

You can see it on this post. It was part of my "Summer of Fun", 

a little challenge by Thelma at Cupcakes n Daisies.

It was fun to make a list of projects to tackle for the summer...

and fun to see which ones actually got done!

And then I had a little confession to share on this post:

(this photo was taken at Warrenton Antique Fair
and is owned by Lorri at Cute As Pie Cottage blog)

This was definitely a year of highs and lows.

Isn't life interesting that way?

I can't wait to see what 2013 will be like!

I am hoping that 2013 is the year of "Smooth Sailing"!

My Favourite Time of Year

I think I'm actually ready!
I hope all your check lists are checked and you can now relax a little
and enjoy this beautiful holiday!
I have shared this video for the past few years.
I just love it... it gives me goose bumps every time I see it.
I hope you can take a moment to watch it.
Merry Christmas!

(if you have been in BOM Rehab, please forgive me for missing last week...
and since today is Christmas Eve I thought maybe we could just post all of
our BOM projects for the last couple of weeks next Monday, on the 31st.,
I hope that works for you)

Happy Winter Solstice

Even though this week started with a very sad day, 

it ends on a happy note.

Today is not only winter solstice but it

happens to be my son's birthday...

oh wait... that's not him...

nope... that's not him either...

but

these two are them!

Happy 29th birthday to two very handsome men

 that make life special for me, my husband, their

other brothers

 and for everyone who have the good fortune to know them... 

and who are allowed to be in "their world"! 

Because it truly is "their world".

(yes, we get that Tauren and Todd)

xxoo

My Best Friend

Hannah

Feb 2001 - Dec 2012

Yesterday I lost my best friend and special family member.

She was precious to all of us and is going to be missed beyond measure.

We did everything together when I was home and she even came to work

with me now and then. 

She was always by my side, no matter how early 

I got up. But even better than that, each day was that much more 

special with her in it.

She was always happy and greeted everyone with a "baby" (toy)

in her mouth.

On Christmas, she always opened the "first present of Christmas".

She was always so excited to do that...

then she would continue to go to each person and help

 them open their gifts too!

It just won't be the same without her.

I have no doubt that she made me a better human.

Oh What Fun

I got something fun in the mail...

from a sweet bloggy friend. and I just have to share it with you.

It's from Carol at

 Carol's Crafty Creations blog. She made this sweet little sewing tray

I just love it... in fact I loved it when I first saw it (or one just like it) on

her blog that she had made for her sister. I commented that I wished I 

was her sister!

This is so sweet isn't it? I can't wait to fill mine up with a little bit of this and that...

like mini charms, threads and ribbons! 

I just love it... thank you Carol!

Did I mention SHE made it!

Sew Little Time

I made a little quilt up as a special sewing assignment for Fat Quarter Shop

and I saw that they have it up on their web site now.

The quilt is in Quilter's Newsletter Best Fat Quarter Quilts 2012 issue.
The fabric is Mama Said Sew.

Funny enough, when my oldest son was home for Thanksgiving he said he needed
another quilt for his new queen size bed and then he saw this quilt and was so excited about it.
He said it reminded him of decks of cards. He had to take this one home with him also.
I now call the quilt 52 Pick-Up. (do you remember that card game)?

But really just between you and me... I was astonished!
Really? I had made him a king size quilt that
was ridiculously hard a couple
years ago...
and he was ecstatic over this nice-little-simple-easy-to-make lap quilt.
Hmmm.
I'm just saying...
If you DO need a simple gift in a hurry... Sew Little Time would be great...
for either a guy or a girl!

BOM Rehab vs. Cleaning & Decorating

I almost forgot to pick a winner for the Schnibbles Times Two
and Another Bite of Schnibbles books!

The first number generated by random.org was #34 ...
interestingly enough that was Carrie Nelson (Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.) herself.
How does that happen?
Okay, second number generated was #22- BARB

What a wonderful idea! Thanks for the chance to win your re-gifted gift I have been drooling over the schnibbles quilts for ages :) Barb.
Congratulations... please send me your info and I will get these books in the mail to you!

My weekend...
After 9 hours of cleaning on Saturday, including shampooing carpets...

I relaxed and watched the White House tree decorating team On TV.

I never thought of it before!

They have a plethora of volunteers that decorate the White House...

and the Vice President's home as well!

I am  adding this on to my bucket list...

for someday when I retire and I can go to Washington... 

donate my time and play with the big league!

When I was young I had a short-term Christmas job with a Portland 

based department store 

in the display department. 

The theme was carousel horses. They even installed a real carousel on the 

floor that the kids department was on. 

It was amazing. I was able to travel to all of the branch stores 

and decorate them for Christmas. It was so much fun. 

So it would be icing on the cake for me

to be able to give a hand at the White house. 

Unfortunately I never did get to see the inside of my sewing room over the

weekend. I feel so bad that I don't have anything for

the BOM Rehab. But I am sure you understand...

and might have even been faced with the same dilemma...

play or get ready for the holidays...

or...

where you there?

True Confessions & Re-Gifting

It is the season to re-gift isn't it?

I have a little confession to make. 

First let me say that although I don't have EVERY pattern or book

that Carrie Nelson has ever published... I do have a slough of them.

Now, let's go back to the fist part of this year...

I have been troubled by this since May!

Please let me explain...

Here is a photo of Kim Brackett's X Rated Schnibble quilt

from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. pattern.

Here is another sweet quilt, it's called Imagine by Mary Green

at Martingale Publishing. She used Bunny Hill fabrics! K-ute!

Back in May they had a little feature of Carrie's books and quilts

on their blog... Martingale Publishing

They had contacted Sherri and me prior to the blog post and 

giveaway. It was not only exciting to know that they got tipped off about AYOS

(by Kim B.) but the fact that they had a fun giveaway going on for 

Another Bite of Schnibbles and Schnibbles Times Two.

Which all in all meant a whole bunch of bloggy love going out to Carrie.

And.. they asked if they could have a couple photos of my Schnibbles quilts too.

I waited for the day of the post and enjoyed reading it and reading all of the comments

that were coming in of fellow Schnibblers. 

I didn't want to comment

 because I was afraid I just might win...

and that would just be embarrassing!

So, I waited a few days... and I finally commented as #492.

Well, gosh darn it if I didn't get a sweet little Email from Martingale

saying that I won the two E-books... along with Bea!

What could I say?

I said thank you of course... and then shook my head.

This has tortured me for months now!

I have a solution to my guilt though.

I printed out the two Schnibble books (in color)

and put them in a nice little binder.

I thought I would have a giveaway so share in my "winnings"...

but if that crosses ethics boundaries...

I am just going to offer my two hard copies of 

the books, which have spiral bindings now. I do that 

to all my quilt books that I plan on using the heck out of.

So, if you don't already have these books and would like to have 

a re-gifted prize....

please leave me a comment. 

I will pick someone on Monday.

Sail Away

I have not one...

but two...

 flower blocks done for my Quilt Soup Mystery BOM.

I wasn't able to load them on to the computer yesterday...

and today, I am having some troubles...

so I couldn't edit them...

I might try again later.

On another note...

I got my Christmas cards finished!!!

And I ordered the new kit from Fig Tree & Co.

Sail Away

Oh yeah... I'm a happy little camper!

(don't worry, they have more kits... you can have one too)

BOM Rehab: Any Progress?

Although I worked on my BOM Rehab project I

have nothing to show for it today.

My camera battery is dead and I don't have the charger.

It's too bad because it was about the only thing I did get

 done over the weekend!

How was your weekend? 

Are you finished with your holiday decorating?

Did YOU check into the rehab over the weekend?

AYOS Little Bites Parade

Welcome December and welcome

 to the AYOS parade of Drop! 

We switched things up a little...

and I mean a little!

We made a Little Bites quilt pattern this month...

DROP!

We were hoping that a little project would make it easier for 

everyone... as we approached the holiday season.

Can you believe that we are finishing up Another Year of Schnibbles?

Our December project is another easy one...

It's another Little Bites pattern by Carrie at Miss Rosie's Quilt Company ...

called Morsel. 

It looks like fun and I hope you find time to make one or two Morsels...

maybe one for you and a gift for someone else?

It won't take much to get started on one... but I hear that they are

addicting! You can find the pattern over at Carrie's on-line store.

Okay, now it's time to sit back,

grab a cup of something warm and enjoy the Drop parade!

I will start with my Drop... I didn't have it ready for the last parade...

Next in the parade is... 

Here is Drop made with Sanctuary by Kim at 

A Peach In  Quiltings blog.

 Precious little quilt.. 3 Sisters fabrics are always wonderful.

Carol (no blog) made a gorgeous Drop quilt...

it looks like stained glass... so pretty!

Carol, Carol's Crafty Creations made her sweet little Drop with lots

of fun details. I love the border fabric but do you see the buttons and the

embroidery in the centers? Love it!

 Bea from France made a beautiful version is
gorgeous colors... it's just perfection!

Denise from My Life in Quilts made this pretty little version of Drop...

Pretty little purple fabrics with a touch of green and red!

Diana from Quiltecke blog made this beautiful blue version.

I love the little stars in the sashing! It makes a nice little runner!

Gerri made a gorgeous quilt... this is a great photo of

the quilt on point... you really see the red squares.

Just beautiful Gerri!

Hildy made two of the different versions of drop...

both are so sweet... and so different from each other.

Cute and even cuter!

JoAnne, the Patriotic Quilter made a beautiful little table mat

size of Drop. I love her use of French General fabrics. It's gorgeous JoAnne.

Karen O. made this fun little Drop. I love the way the colors just

kind of sparkle... and the border is fabulous!

Brenda made a bright and cheerful Drop... it looks like ribbon candy!

Very festive!

Cheryl at Polka Dots and Ric Rack made a beautiful version

using Sweetwater's Mama Said Sew fabric group.

I love the stripes in it... for a little pizazz!

Izzy made a gorgeous version of her Drop quilt using Tapestry

fabrics. It's beautiful and I love the scrappy border!

Kristin at Meadowbrook blog

made a beautiful holiday version of Drop. I wish I would have thought

of that! I love how the pattern plays with these fabrics.

I see four patches and then a star pops out.... fun!

Edith used Kansas Troubles fabrics to make her sweet little version
of Drop. The colors are beautiful and the light border really
makes the little blocks pop!

This sweet little one was made by Kay (no blog).
Isn't it just so cute...I love it!

Last but not least is a Little Bites of Drop...
made by Paulette (no  blog)... who turned her finished little quilt weeks ago.

So sorry that we missed her gorgeous quilt

Don't you love the pattern of the rows in her quilt?
The use of the browns and the reds. really make it interesting.

Have you been over to see Sherri's half of the parade?
More gorgeous Little Bites to drool over there at A Quilting Life!
Thanks for visiting.

I'll Take One of These...

and one of these...

and just go ahead and add one of these too...

and some yummy, French General...

oh and look at the Sweetwater fabric.

And have you seen this group, Twirly Bird?

It is so sweet with Jaybird/Julie's pattern!

Sometimes when I am out Christmas shopping... and I see

something really cute for somebody, I find that a second one of the

same item slips into my shopping cart for me!

Does that ever happen to you?

I might just be weak. But truth be told... I don't go out shopping very often.

Fortunately these fabric groups don't come out until after Christmas!

They all look so fresh and spring-ish.

Unfortunately, the Pam Kitty Morning fabric is out now...

and it's begging to be put into my shopping cart!

Okay, I'll take just one... they're small!