Coming Along Nicely...

Ready for quilting...

What's On My Sewing Table...

More to come...

Thank You, Bonnie Hunter...

Thanks to watching QuiltCams by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville's Quips and Snips blog, I have learned the time saving joy of chain piecing.  Chain piecing is when you feed your fabric sandwiches under the needle, one after another, without cutting the thread between.  Above you can see the "chain" being processed for a Christmas 12" mini quilt to grace my foyer this holiday season.  It truly is an incredible time (and thread) saver!

However, for the first few times that I employed this time saving method, I still used a pair of scissors to cut the pieces apart...even trimming the ends of the thread even with the fabric.  Egads!  It was cumbersome and wasted all of the time I had just gained!  Then I heard a "trick" for cutting apart your chains quickly and safely.  Enter the lowly letter opener.  I used a piece of "velcro" to attach the opener to my sewing machine for ease of use and removal.  Goodness how that chain just flew through the opener!  Within a few short minutes I had all of my pieces cut apart, ready to feed back through my machine for the next step.

I am now a convert to Bonnie's method and see LOTS of chain piecing in my future.  The only "process" recommendation I can make is to hold the pieces of fabric taut as you pull them down into the letter opener, the connecting thread centered over the blade to be sure not to cut into your fabric.  Give it a try and let me know your thoughts.

Toodles...

A Gift From The Past Means Even More Now...

Last week my son, his girlfriend, and her little boy came over to help us around the house.  His girlfriend is a loving, considerate, sweetheart of a young woman.  She called me out to the car and, after reaching into a bag on the floor, handed me this adorable clock!  As she explained, this gift was a LONG time coming!  You see, my son and this young woman had dated for quite a while 5 years ago and apparently she had bought this for me way back then...only to have their relationship end before she could give it to me.  Life took them in different directions 5 years ago, but it has brought them back together again...this time with an adorable little boy as part of the package.  We couldn't be happier! 

Thanks to her I now have a clock near my sewing machine so I can keep track of the time without straining my neck to see the clock that is on the wall behind me.  Plus, it has an alarm to keep me from getting "carried away" (not that any of us ever do that!) with my sewing, possibly missing an important appointment.  The clock is a perfect color match to the zippered pouch that I use to hold machine needles close by on my sewing table.  It is bright, happy and Oh. So. True!!!  I need to live to 150 to finish all of the quilts that are floating around in my head!

As soon as the holidays are over I will be putting my living room furniture up for sale and will begin the job of moving my sewing room to the main floor.   This clock will have a place of honor as a gift from the past that means SO much more now.

Toodles...

Christmas Painting Through the Years...

One day last week I was thinking about Christmas.  No surprise there, right?  Most of us are panicking that it is already December!  But with a special little boy in our lives this year, my son wants Christmas to be an "old fashioned" Christmas like when he was young...a Christmas tree that grazes the ceiling, the "family recipe" Christmas cookies baked, and carols heard throughout the house.  That got me thinking back to MY childhood!

When my dad was young, a "tween", he would paint pictures on store windows to make money at the holiday season.  When I was in MY tween years my dad told my mom about his painting.  She was amazed that she had never known (they've known each other since the 4th grade)!  She immediately requested that he paint the large mirror over the sofa in the living room.  With a quick trip to the craft store, the painting began.  

Over the years my dad painted numerous scenes, and by the second or third year he even convinced me to have a go at painting the powder room mirror.  Gosh how I wanted to see those paintings again!

I called my folks and on Wednesday dad brought me a handful of photos.  Unfortunately, many have really begun to fade, but I am going to scan them into my computer for posterity before the images fade completely.  So between now and Christmas I will share these memories from my past...a time when life, and the world, was a simpler, safer place...

This is dad's favorite painting.  Unfortunately, you can no longer make out the scowl on the elf's face as he holds the sacks of toys from falling off of the sled.  It was totally precious!

This was my first attempt at following in dad's footsteps.  Not bad for a beginner!

So...anyone out there think they would like to give it a try?  Pick out your favorite holiday card scene, draw the design with an oil pencil and then paint.  Years ago we used "poster paint"...I'm thinking MAYBE a craft paint would work as well.  

From me and my family...let the holiday festivities begin!

Toodles...

A MOMENT OF REST IN A BUSY, BUSY DAY...

Dear Hubby and I have been busting our tushies for the past several hours.  Yes, I know it is early, but we have a ton of stuff to finish before work begins in our master bedroom tomorrow AND all of the family is coming over at 6:00 PM tonight to celebrate Dear Hubby's birthday last week!  So, we have been in non-stop motion since 6:30 AM and I am ready to collapse!!

We get this wonderful break in activity because Dear Hubby needed to get gas in his car (he hates to stop on the way to work) and he volunteered to bring me back an iced coffee to "energize" me.  Sigh...  Love him to bits!

The painter is arriving at 8:00 AM tomorrow to convert our bedroom from Cottage Chic to a new sleeker, minimalist haven.  Fortunately, they will move the furniture to get to the walls and will remove any last minute wall adornments before they begin. 

The "cottage" wallpaper and border are going to be replaced by the same gray paint as is in the master bath.  I should have taken pictures when our bedroom was still "together" so you could see the floral curtains and matching comforter and pillows.  The bed linens have never been slept on and the curtains, which are in great condition, have been washed...everything is all ready for listing on ebay.  

The gazebo that hung between the two windows  and the rose picture  that hung above my cedar chest are going as well.   In a way I would REALLY love to replace our bedroom furniture.  But, as Dear Hubby points out, it is all solid oak and constructed much better than anything we could buy today.  Plus, we really don't have the money for a whole new bedroom set.

Now that my master bath is "spa-like", the bedroom was much too "fru-fru".  I am hoping that neutral walls, sleek cordless blinds at the windows and a geometric comforter with less ornate shams and throw pillows will camouflage the 1980's oak furniture so it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb.   Maybe I will even reupholster the cedar chest!

This room redo is just another step in the remodeling of our almost 26 year old home. Stay tuned for the "after" pictures!

Toodles...

FAVORS FOR THE HOLIDAY TABLE...

This year is the first year in a long time that we may be having more than just our immediate family here for Christmas Day.  My son really wants "an old fashioned Christmas" like when he was young.  Unfortunately, I have downsized almost all of my Christmas decorations!  My ultimate goal was to replace bulky holiday decorations with hand made, "easier to store", decor.

Although we will be having a buffet dinner, it would be nice if each visitor had a "little something"  special at the table.  I began to think about what I could put at each place setting that would give our guests a little something sweet to take home with them.

As is my habit, I started walking through my sewing rooms, opening doors and drawers, hoping something would jump up and bite me, declaring itself as the perfect solution!  When I got to my button storage cubbies I stopped dead in my tracks.

I had forgotten my suggestion, "way back when", that these cute little containers would be perfect to hold after dinner mints, nuts, etc. at parties and weddings! 

 Eureka!

Grabbing a handful of free mints from local restaurants, I dumped out the green buttons and filled the container to the brim with peppermint sweetness.  By Jove I think I've got it!

Although my green, red and white holiday theme will be perfect for Christmas...this idea would work equally well in fall colors for Thanksgiving or blue for Hanukkah!  I may even wrap each favor up in a bit of cellophane and tie on a bright Christmas ribbon!

Now if I can just find some green "Christmas" fabric in my stash and the time to complete construction before December 25th!