It Was A Magical Day...

I'm back to tell you what a wonderful time Mom, Dad and I are havin' with our family! It was just my most favorite Christmas ever!

I had so much fun with our grandkids and their folks that I had a hard time behavin' myself. Mom took lots of pictures that we have to edit, but we're sharin' two of our favorite pictures today. The first one is of me with Mom and Dad. Can you tell I'm watchin' my kids here? There may have been snacks involved, too. I couldn't say for sure.

This one is another favorite...Mom and Dad with our three grandkids.

What more is there to say? It just doesn't get much better than this. Our little red-haired granddaughter loved the jammies she got from us so much that she wore them all day! We thought that was cute. After all, she was home all day and probably the most comfy of all of us. Grandma likes it when our grandkids like her jammies so much they don't want to take them off.

We hope all of you had a wonderful day yesterday. Of course, we're gonna continue to celebrate today and for the rest of the weekend...and you can count on seein' more pictures, too. Mom said somethin' about Boxin' Day today. I'm hopin' it doesn't have anythin' to do with gettin' punched! (She assured me it doesn't.) Just in case...I've gotta run!

Merry Christmas...

It's Christmas Eve...

Hi, Everybody!

It's me again. Aren't you glad to see me?

Well, it's Christmas Eve so I had to come back to tell you my secret.

Mom and Dad got all the presents wrapped and then, Mom said

she wanted me to pose like a little elf in front of some of them.

She got me an elf hat, too, but you can be happy she didn't share it

with you. I looked like a real dork wearin' it, so I said, "NO way!".

I was happy to smile, though. Mom said I look "cute handsome".

Well, here's the surprise part...

Mom and Dad decided that we should go to Wisconsin for Christmas!

So, we got in the car on Monday mornin' and drove to Chattanooga, 

Tennessee the first day, and drove all the way to Wisconsin yesterday!

Dad even let me be a co-pilot for a little while. I liked the view, too.

We drove over 800 (!) miles yesterday, and we stopped for walkie

 breaks, but I was startin' to ask "Are we there yet?" after a while.

We got really tired and were glad to finally get to our destination.

We're so excited, 'cuz we're gonna get to see our family for Christmas!

So, there you have it. Our big surprise! I'm so proud of myself for

not tellin' ahead of time. Mom said I'm really good at keepin' secrets.

Merry Christmas Eve, Everybody!

I hope Santa grants all your wishes, and that you have a great time

celebratin' the real reason for the season. (I don't mean presents, either!)

Tuesdays With Tag - Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh, My...

Hi, Everybody!

It's almost Christmas and Mom took me shoppin' to PetSupermarket!

(I love that place!)

There actually weren't any lions or tigers or bears, but Mom has been

watchin' the Wizard of Oz (she said it's her annual tradition), so I got confused.

 Heck! She's even been dancin' and singin' "Follow The Yellow Brick Road".

 She really lost me when she called me "her little munchkin", though! sigh

Anyway, I did see some critters. I saw ferrets...

and rabbits...

oh! and GIRLS!!!

You know how I love girls!

Although the ferret and I really hit it off, too!

Mom said I'm gonna be writin' more posts this week, so I don't want
to leave all the good lines here. I'll be back again in a day or so.
  It's all very excitin'.

For now, I can tell you Mom and Dad loaded up the truck (they
 said somethin' about a "sleigh") and I'm gonna see some very
 special people for Christmas!!! I'll tell you all about it, I promise. 

'til then...
"Wag Like Ya Mean It!"

By the way...I told Mom I need a new signature picture for 2015.

I was such a puppy in this picture! I'm gonna be FOUR, after all!

The Workshop Is Officially Closed...

I completed the table runner for our Christmas Eve hostess.

With that, the Workshop (studio) is closed for the holiday season.

You'll remember that the pattern I used is Mary's Cottage Quilts' 

"Glad Tidings Table Runner". I decided not to add the final 3" border, but

 it finished a very nice size at 47" x 21".  I love the subtle music theme, too.

I machine quilted this one on my Babylock Crescendo using Floriani rayon  thread. I hadn't used rayon for quilting before (only cotton for piecing), and I was quite pleased with the sheen the thread added to the overall quilting effect. All the gifts were wrapped and labeled over the weekend, and it's nearly time  for them to be on their way. Christmas Eve will be here before we know it. I'm taking the rest of the week off (from the studio), as we prepare for our holiday festivities. Tag will be here tomorrow to tell you about his weekend, and then he's volunteered to come back during the week to share some of his unique holiday spirit with you. 'Tis the season to be jolly, after all!

Jammies Done...

 I can't show full photos of the Grammie's Jammies than these bits

or I'll give away the surprises! Partial photos will have to do for now.

 

  I made the pants, and bought a coordinating top. The colors in the 

shirt really are in the pants. The blue is actually navy, and for some 

reason it shows brighter here than it does in my editing program.

 This set is flannel. I made the pants and a soft, sleeveless

 top, so I added a long-sleeved t-shirt as a warmer option.

Soft flannel pants in a brighter aqua, which I then paired with an equally soft t-top. The sleeves were too long, so I shortened them to  a 3/4 length. That should make it comfy for cool or warm weather.
Three sets of jammies done! I'm almost finished with my list and  will start wrapping later today. Tomorrow will definitely be a day of rest!

Marching Right Along...

Tasha Tudor Image

  I'm getting there! 2 sets of jammies completed yesterday. I'll finish up the jammies today, as well as the eye mask and table runner. I'll be back tomorrow.  (whew!)

Still Sewing, Can't Talk...

Actually, I do always sew gifts for the holidays. You already know that.  I'd love to sit and chat with you today, but I'm a little busy.
I have a doctor's appointment first thing today, and then finishing up a few  things before I'm ready for Christmas. I may add more if there's enough time.
Here's what I have left: 3 sets of Grammie's Jammies Bind one table runner and one lap quilt 1 (more) eye mask 2 zippered kit bags   If I have "extra" time: 2 - 3 more wallets 3 gift card holders   If you ask me, I'm doing pretty well! I have three days by my calculations. I know some of you are laughing right now. I don't have time to post photos,  but I will get pictures of everything before I wrap the projects for delivery.
How are you coming with your lists?

Piecing, Binding and Keeping Things Tidy...

I finished a table runner top Sunday night and will quilt it today.

I know it looks "wonky", but trust me, that's just the perspective from the way

I hung it up to photograph it. It really is squared up and even all the way around.

This will be a gift for our Christmas Eve hostess. The fabric has poinsettias and 

music motifs, and I'll bind it in green. I love the traditional Christmas colors.

If you have a last minute gift to make, I can recommend this as an option.

It's called "Glad Tidings Table Runner" designed by Mary's Cottage Quilts.

Note to self: Clean up after each project. Make something new. Repeat.

I'm managing to keep the studio relatively tidy while I'm creating.

A basket of Necessary Clutch Wallets and my "wall of inspiration".

It's nice to be able to go to the shelves for my fabric choices, rather

than leave home and run to my LQS. Don't worry though. I still go

out to visit the girls. I have to see what they're making, after all!

Mom's pattern cabinet, front and center.

Grammies Jammies fabrics are laundered and I'll be making those later

today or tomorrow. I have time to get them finished, but I'll tell you about

that another time. It's going to be an especially magical Chrismas this year!

Wet Noses...

  I made another wallet yesterday. I'm calling this one "Wet Noses". Retrievers front and center, featuring a  Golden Retriever and a black Labrador on the flap. What a lucky fabric find.

Inside a soft gray for the credit card slots, pockets and dividers.

I completed this wallet with riveted sides and a very special puppy charm.    I have a small number of these charms left over from the trade shows  where I used to display Brynwood sampler designs and patterns. You may remember that Bryn was the name of my very first yellow Lab, which led to Brynwood Needleworks' name. At one time, I gave these little charms (suspended from pretty silk ribbons) as gifts with purchase. I only have a few left, but felt it needed to be on the zipper pull here.
This one is a gift for someone very special. Luckily, she doesn't visit my blog unless I give her a heads-up, which I definitely will not by doing for this one! I don't want her to have any clue to what her gift will be this year.

In The Spirit of Christmas...

As I spend happy hours in the studio, I find myself contemplating  what represents Christmas for me. ("Snow" was even on the list!)
My friend, DeeDee of DeeDee's Craft Spot shared this on Facebook yesterday and I thought it was perfect. It says just what I was thinking...only "prettier"! I hope you're embracing the Spirit of the Christmas holiday this year. I know I am. I'll be back tomorrow with more finished projects to share.

I'm In The Workshop...

 I've been busy in the studio Santa's Workshop this past week.

I'm thanking my guild girlfriend, Melinda, for introducing me to this

 latest project, and I'm having fun a blast working in my stash of fabrics.

 Nothing like a little Mary Engelbreit to add some cheer...

 and this Country Girl (me) loves this fabric line featuring farm animals.

 Don't you love Alice in Wonderland? I do, too, and I've had this fabric  for so long, I was afraid it was going to end up in my "permanent"  stash assortment. You know - the stuff you never intend to cut into. Not anymore. I've been cutting away!

 This set is from two different fabric lines that are coffee-themed. I'm making these (and more) as gifts - or to offer in my Etsy Shop.    Curious about what these are going to be?  I'm still cutting and preparing pattern pieces, but I'll have  pictures of finished projects to share on Monday. (wink)   Happy Saturday!

It's That Time Again...

Happy December!!!

After much consideration, I've decided that the theme for our Christmas 

gift giving this year shall be..."Comfort and Joy"

With that in mind, I made out a list, checked it twice, and began my first project.

I remembered a tutorial for hand and neck warmers I read and bookmarked, so

in the spirit of "credit where credit is due", I'm sharing the original post with you. 

Lori Holt at Bee In My Bonnet has done all the work for the tutorial, and I

wouldn't be a bit surprised if you decided to try one or ten of these yourself!

(Just click on her name to go to her blog for the tutorial.)

The main instruction is for handwarmers (which I'll also be making), but she

finishes with the measurements to modify them into the larger neck warmer.

(By the way, you can also pop these in the freezer to use as ice-type packs, too!)

I decided to use Jasmati rice and infused it with a few drops of lavender essential

oil (right in the jar) before filling the warmer. Then, I started sewing the fabrics.

This project took no time at all. I actually used the whole container of rice in this

one, which I made just a bit wider than in Lori's tutorial. I think it will be just right.

  I'm going to add a sleep mask in matching fabric (with a soft flannel on the "eye side") and then, I'm going to add a candle and other goodies to complete the gift.

I found this pattern on Craftsy by PetitBebeCreatioNZ. Here's the link (just in case) Best part? It's FREE!!!   And, so it begins... The Season of Making...and Giving... Comfort and Joy!