Christmas

January 30, 2012

Yeah, we made it!

Just letting you know we made it to Holland and are having a fabulous trip so far. For some reason I can't get my tablet to download pictures to blogger. Can't wait to show and tell all about it when I get home next week. See you then.

January 25, 2012

Ready to travel!

Let me introduce you to Stitchin' Shannon. She's all strapped in for her long journey to the Netherlands. Where, oh where will she end up?
See you there!

A Travel Bag Makeover!

I'm failing! What's wrong with me? I didn't take the time to make a new bag for my upcoming trip so when I ran across this bag on clearance I thought I could do something with it to jazz it up a little. It's kind of boring as is I think. Maybe that's why it was still hanging around TJ Max's. You already know how I love that store, right?
I gathered a few odds and ends together and went to work. I had an old hankie that belonged to my Mom which I had cut up already for another project. I had some fun buttons I had picked up in PA last year, there was a satin flower I made with a vintage pin attached. And the cameo pin is a gift that was given to me by my sister, Collette 43 years ago on her wedding day. They adorned our cute little pink dresses. How fun is that little tidbit? It's been hiding in my cedar chest all these years. The perfect accent piece. I think it's got that vintage feel which goes along with all the other embellishments.
And here is what I came up with. The drab gray bag now looks like this. What a difference, huh?
Add a little vintage "S" charm and a bit of bling and you have it made! I think I'm going to love showing this one off!
And this my friends is me when I was almost 7 at Collette's wedding, wearing my cameo pin. I'm the cute little brown haired girly on the end! (Collette probably won't like me posting this picture, but I just had to share it). It's too cute not to.

January 24, 2012

A new addiction!

When Yvonne and Alex were here in September from the Netherlands, they brought all of us a canister of these most delightful candies called Babbelaars. Thanks, Yvonne for my newest candy addiction! These little gems are delicious. They remind be of our Wirther's candies we have here in the U.S., but I have to admit these are much better. They are pure butter! This is what's left in my jar, not many as you can see. So this is a must on my list to bring home with me. Who want's Babbelaar's?

Vegas Baby!

Welcome to Las Vegas! Last week we made a flying (truckin') trip to Vegas. The reason the annual Shot show. We stayed at the Luxor this year. The view out of our 22nd floor window, the highest you can go. Wow, talk about dizzy!We viewed everything new in the industry, like this gun set work $280, 000. Oh my, for guns!
Or something like this. This is one huge gun, it won't be something new at the White house though.
Tuesday night we attended the Outdoor Channels dinner show. They always have the finest of dishes and a whole lot of them. A glass for everything!
The whole meal from appetizers to the dessert was delecious.
After dinner we were treated to a performance by Larry the Cable Guy. A good laugh is always good for the soul. I laughed until my sides were hurting. He's a talker now!
On the way home we stopped in St. George for the night so before we left on Thursday we stopped for an In and Out burger. We took a picture of the nice clean truck because we knew we would be coming home to snow.
Yup, it was here on Saturday. Oh, but it looks nice to see it in the mountains. Glad she's here and we made it home safe.

January 21, 2012

You have my back!

But that's all you get! I'm playing with you now, huh? Can't wait to show you the rest of this little project. Hint, hint, she's just "Sittin" around for a few days!

January 20, 2012

Here's 2 More!

Both of these quilts will be classes at the Corn Wagon this quarter. If you can tell I like quilts that can be done in a timely manner and both of these are very fast and very, very fun. The first quilt is called the "10" Minute Block quilt. I don't know exactly how long this technique has been out but I just found out about it last month. The pattern is from Susan McNeil, she is famous for her patterns used from pre-cuts. This one is from 10" layer cakes and yardage. I used the Reunion line from Sweetwater for Moda. The solid red fabric is from the Circa 1934 line from Cosmo Cricket.Looks a little complicated doesn't it? But it's not, really! 3 seams is all the block has and you have the option to making the center block square or turn it into a cathedral window. It looks like there is curved piecing in this quilt, doesn't it? But there is none of that.
The backing is navy blue minky, this makes is a great cuddle quilt. You can do other sizes as well. Charm squares will make a smaller quilt and it's a great way to use up scraps from your stash.
The second quilt is called Playing with Yo Yo's from the designer Yo Yo Mama Designs. Wow, it's been a long time since I had made yo yo's. I used the Clover large and X- large size yo yo maker. Man this is a great little tool, I had my yo yo's done in no time. Something relaxing to do while watching the television. I already have something else in the works with this fun, new tool. Well, it's new to me anyways.
The fabric used in this quilt is from the Daisy Cottage line from Lori Holt for Riley Blake and there are also pieces from the Moda line Puttin' on the Ritz.
The large circles are raw edge applique but you could most certainly do them turned under. This makes a great little baby quilt.

Both of these are kitted for classes, stop in and check them out in person. Pictures never do quilts justice, do they? They are so much cuter and prettier in real life. The "10 Minute block class will be in February and the Yo Yo class is in March. The 1842 Tea Party quilt I featured yesterday is in April. You have plenty of time to put these on your calendars. If you have been wanting to learn new techniques, now is your time. Start planning now.

January 19, 2012

New Year, New Quilts!

Besides getting ready for my trip I've managed to squeeze in 3 new quilts. The first one I want to share with you is called Tea Party and the pattern comes from Sweet Jane's. The fabric is called 1842 Battle Hymn for Moda. I used one Jelly Roll, 2 Charm Packs and yardage from the Elizabeth Town collection from Jo Morton. The piano key border is cut from the charm packs. The pattern doesn't come with border instructions so I added the inside border and piano key border to make the quilt larger.The new name,1842 Tea Party. This will be one of the up coming classes at the Corn Wagon. You can view our new class schedule there. I have two more on the schedule and I will show them in just a bit.

There are a few kits cut for the class so don't wait to long if you want in. Call or stop in this weekend during our Winter Open house for your discount on 1 item and 10% off your class fee.
So what do you think? To date I think this is my favorite quilt.

New Shoes!

My time is getting closer and closer to be seeing these very cute shoes in person. This girl loves new shoes, just don't know if I will be able to wear them when I get home! I'm kinda liking the red ones!
Just 7 days til my plane takes off, better start packing!

January 10, 2012

Our home away from home!

We received these 2 pictures from Yvonne and Alex over the weekend. Out of the kindness of their hearts they rode their bikes over to check out our vacation rental. They are making sure things are going to be just right for us. This will be our home away from home for 11 days. They don't live far away from here. The little town and where we are staying is called Katwijk. We can't wait to get there.In just 15 more days we will be enjoying the company of these fine people. She has told them to have everything nice and clean as we will be arriving early on the 27th. We are getting excited to see them again. And thanks once again for going and checking out our living quarters. See you in a few days!

Plushy Pillows!

For Christmas I made these 27" plushy pillows for the grandkids. These are for movie watching, playing around, jumping off furniture, etc. Well maybe not for the last one mentioned, but I bet it has happened. All of them are made from a patterned minky and the backing is the new furry shag. The pillow forms are from JoAnn's. Watch for them to go on their 50% off sales before you buy. A little more affordable that way.
The kids were having so much fun with them on Christmas eve after they opened their pj's. McKinley and Karas checking theirs out.Hatch is settled in for a long winters night sleep or watching t.v.
And Teegan getting ready to jump!
All five of them in one spot. They were all hyped up to go home and sleep on them while waiting for the man in the red suit to make his stop.