SSCS 2008 = gifts from my Secret Santa

Okay, we got so excited with the package, that we opened it up and tore open all the lovely packages inside. Vanessa sent along a really lovely letter along with all these lovely gifts. There was another one, but my Dad really loves licorice and he tore open that package as soon as the wrapping was off it. So they didn't last too long. I don't know if you can see the great koala fabric that everything is lying on, but I have been collecting anything koala for almost 30 years and this was such a wonderful surprise to receive. Vanessa sent along two other Australian fat quarters, but for the life of me, I don't remember where I put them. I have been trying to straighten up the den before my trip to NY, so I must have put them somewhere where I thought I would remember, but......We haven't had any of the Vegamite yet, I think we're scared, lol. I have been using the pin cushion, and I found two pins in it before I took the picture. It is a staple beside my sewing machine and I have another one that I received in another swap on my cutting table. And the wall hanging. What can I say? I don't think any picture can do it justice. Just beautiful. I am in awe. And it jingles. Vanessa put bells on the bottom of each panel. I have it hanging on a lamp shade right by by cutting table so I can see it all the time. I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of everything when they were still in the box or before I ripped into everything, but they were wrapped in red tissue paper with green ribbon bows, really pretty. Thank you so much Vanessa, I appreciated everything you sent and I really do hope that I can get over to your country before too long. This has been a really fun swap and I hope everyone has a very happy, healthy and quilty New Year. Renée

Double Delight

This is the last time that I am going to change my fabrics. I have FINALLY decided on these. I don't know if you can see, but the top fabric is dark purple with light lilac flower on it. I am using that as my indigo, the green is my brown and everything else is the same. I might make just one more change and that would be to get some solid or tone on tone green and purple just to help make the pinks stand out more. We shall see if I get inspired to go out today or tomorrow. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and have a wonderful New Year. Renée

SSCS 2008

Here are the steps in my Secret Santa Swap gift for Jo in Tasmania. Even though it was paper pieced, it still came out wonky. The sashing was supposed to be flying geese, but I just couldn't work with such small pieces of fabric, so I ditched that idea and just used a regular sashing. I didn't have much in the way of Christmas fabric, so I used what I could find. I loved that holly fabric. I had this done in August and then just put if off to the side. Before I knew it, I was receiving e mails from Chookyblue and it was time to mail and I still hadn't finished it. Oh, what to do. So I attempted to quilt it myself, that was a big mistake. I wound up just tying it. And then to bind. What's a girl to do? I took the easy way out and I just pulled from the backing and sewed it to the front. I did the best I could with these fingers of mine. I hope the boat load of fat quarters I also sent will take the edge off the disappointment that Jo must feel getting my meager offering. So sorry. Renée

Finished One Mystery, Starting another

Well, I finished the Christmas mystery and now, thank goodness, Bonnie has decided to give us a New Year's present and is doing another mystery called Double Delight. I have picked my fabrics and this one is not going to be scrappy. I found some yardage in my stash and I am going to use that. Of course, I am changing some of the colors, mine to be pink, green and purple. This is going to be for me, me, me. I've done enough gifting of quilts lately, I would like to have one for my bed.

Those are the fabrics, up there and the other is the finished top of the Christmas mystery. I am going to attempt to quilt that one myself, we shall see. I hope everyone had a great holiday. Renée

Next Mystery Project

Here are my fabric choices for the next mystery quilt that I have decided to do. One of the nice ladies on Quiltvillechat told us about this group, A Pocketfull of Mysteries, on yahoo. So, since I do not celebrate Christmas, I've decided to do this mystery as it starts the day after Christmas. I won't be busy with all the things that you are busy with after Christmas, so I should have loads of time to do this mystery. Lots of the women from Quiltvillechat will be here with me, so I won't be alone. It took me quite a while, at least four days, to finally decide on these fabrics. Thank goodness I asked for help and Dorothy Young, who runs Apocketfullofmysteries, said that they were okay. So, Thursday I will cut the fabrics, although the focus fabric is already cut, as I was using this come heck or high water. I might do another with the top fabrics, as I really don't know what to use those chili's for. I can make the duck one for my new grandbaby and I can donate the chile one. So, I will keep myself busy until I have to pack for my month up in New York, ugh. Cold weather. Yucky. I will be taking pictures of my SSCS 2008 gifts shortly and will post them on Thursday or maybe Wednesday night as the Aussie's will have already celebrated the holiday. I received amazing gifts. Unfortunately, I am not a needle work person. The only needle work that I can do by hand is needlepoint and some small amount of binding. All the ladies are so talented, so creative, so wonderful, my work cannot even compare. I hope I haven't disappointed Jo too much as she is one talented and creative woman. Well, off to watch some football, GO JETS!!! Have a happy, quilty day. Renée

4D Sonogram of my Granddaughter

This is just way cool. That's my grandbaby down there in that picture. You can see her eye, nose, mouth. Isn't she just the cutest thing? She looks just like Ally. I hope she's as healthy as Ally was and as good a baby. They broke the mold when Ally was created, that's why we didn't have anymore. Ally gained one and a half pounds in two weeks. She goes back to the doctor on the 23rd and then she starts once a week visits. The baby is 4 pounds, 3 ounces. They couldn't tell how long she was as the screen for this sonogram is too small. However, how awesome that you can actually see the baby's face? I'm trying to get myself into gear to go up north, but I am not looking forward to the COLD. I haven't even gotten my ticket yet. I'm going to have to go up for a month because of President's week. The weekend that I would like to come home is the last weekend of President's week, so the ticket prices were incredibly high. So I'm going to have to go back on the Monday after President's week. Oh, well. I'll go to Brooklyn and bond with my grand nephew and grand niece. And my big brother will take me to the airport and my daughter can look after her daughter and herself all by herself. Anyway, going to bed now. Isn't she cute?

MC Blocks

Here are two of the lovely MC Blocks that I've been swapping. These were two of the blocks that were sent to me. As you can see, I chose pink and purple as my colors. I'll post some of the other blocks soon. This was an experiment. It seems that I cannot upload to an e mail, but I can upload to my blog. How confusing. Anyway, really nice blocks, huh?