Early in December

Here I sit, finishing up my Christmas gifts, just a little handwork and I will be done. And yesterday DH and I were out doing the last of the Christmas shopping. Next week I will be wrapping and packaging the gifts that get sent and then I plan at least two weeks of studio, and possibly a little house, cleaning (much needed).

This week I did receive a giveaway gift from Sandi of A Legacy of Stitches.

These are beautiful Christmas fabrics and I already have something in mind to do with them. But, that will have to wait until later this year. Thanks, Sandi.

Did you see the change in my header? I spent quite a lot of time sewing all those little bells (43) on there and isn’t it beautiful on my front door? I think this will be my design wall this week since I don’t think I will be starting anything by Monday. We’ll see if I can keep myself from sewing for a full day.

As part of my “cleaning” project, I have repurposed a display case belonging to DH and now have a quilt storage cabinet.

After I took this picture I filled up the entire cabinet but two of the quilts in there are going to other homes so there will be a little room for more. I really love seeing my quilts and this is sitting in the great room, in full view from my chair.

On Monday I am part of the committee going to see the building where the guild will be holding it’s next quilt show (November 2010). Why am I going? Because, at the last guild meeting, for some reason, I volunteered to be in charge of the quilt hanging. I’m not sure how that happened but I do remember hearing my voice saying something. So I am going to get to see where we will be housed and then we can look at our hanging system and plan what will hang where.

So, how is everyone doing on Christmas? Gifts all ready? Decorating done? This is how I like is, just a relaxed slide into and through the holidays.

Design Wall, etc.

What a great weekend we had. Friday was spent sewing and this is one of the things I got done.

Since nothing else I have been working on can be blogged about, I decided we needed a new Christmas decoration. I found this tutorial on a blog last week, I feel so badly that I can’t find where I found it , and with a few changes, this is what I have made. I am going to decorate it with tiny gold/brass bells and it will hang on our front door for the month of Dec. While I was sewing, DH was trying to make up to me for not helping move furniture prior to Thanksgiving, as I had asked. I came in at lunch and found the front room all moved and cleaned. There is still a lot to do but it is started and I am very happy.

Saturday we spent the morning at the beach.

It was sunny, warm, and the beach we go to is very family friendly so we were able to see families enjoying each other while we reminisced about what all we used to do when our children were little. It is so nice to be able to look back and smile while looking at the present and smiling. I so enjoy the quieter life we now lead but loved the hustle and bustle of life with four children, when I was younger. After that interlude, we went to Red Lobster for Snow Crab Legs. It is one of my all time favorite meals and DH enjoys watching me crack those shells (rather than him…lol).

A short stop and Joanne’s and Barnes and Nobel and we were on our way back home. Thanks to in car phones, I was able to talk with my children and my mother so it was a very complete day.

Sunday found me back at work in the studio. I am hand sewing the binding on one of my gift quilts, completed a BOM for Dec., arranged the bells for my tree (see above) and got one of the rag quilts on the frame for some spot quilting. Oh, and I got one quilt label embroidered and ready to sew on. I did get two more labels designed but they have not been embroidered yet.

And now it is off to get more done. We usually decorate on the first Saturday of December so I have a few days to get that stuff out and find a new place for the tree. I love having my house decorated and even the job of putting it up (taking it down, not so much).

Have a great week and see ya later.

Edit: The directions for the Christmas tree can be found at

http://www.pleasant-home.com/