So Tell Me, How Was Your Weekend?

On Saturday I spent the day quilting at my LQS with two very nice ladies, Jo & Di from my Wednesday nite group and of course Susie the shop owner joined us when she could. And then there are the shoppers that sit with us a spell. It's a small world. Both of these ladies (Jo & Di) happen to know my ex-mother-in-law and all were good friends with the family. We shared a lot memories, it was funny to think that we could have actually crossed paths before. We even gave her a call and she was thrilled. Now we are going to plan a little train ride together to visit her. It should be fun! I can imagine all three of us sitting, doing hand work and giggling through the whole trip. While we were there Jo started talking about Verna Mosquera's new pattern. We share a love of applique and Verna's stuff is so beautiful. I knew exactly what pattern she was referring to, Faded Glory! . (My good friend, Deb had called on a Friday while at the Long Beach Quilt show told me to go check it out at Verna's site.) Can we say ADORABLE! O yes we can!. Well Jo was telling me that she ordered the kit from InBetween Stitches. She mentioned that she always liked what they put together. I was sure that I would do this quilt, but I was thinking that maybe I would just pull fabrics myself. Well one by one everyone left and I was still trying to finish the potato bag and Susie tells me that Jo is on the phone and not to leave, she will be right down. OH Boy! What's up? Well Jo went home to find her kit from InBetween Stitches on her doorstep and wanted to show it to me! What an enabler she is and I just met her!!! I kept thinking about that kit all nite. Everytime I try to pull my own fabrics I end up with WAY too much!

The Faded Memories line that I used to make "Rabbits Prefer Chocolate"? Well, I made the bag using only left overs and look! I still have a bunch! I don't mind having it, but I have this problem with using it all up, gosh what happens if I need it for something else? See, if I don't have it in the first place then I won't miss it! But once I have it, I'm in trouble. So all nite I'm thinking about going to Livermore and buying a kit. I talked to Deb and she tells me... don't buy the pattern!! Ooops! My anxiousness spoiled Deb's surprise for me. But she certainly had that gift right!! I called my son and arranged to meet him for dinner decided to hit the road about 2pm. I spent the morning trying to free motion the baby quilt, but actually I spent the morning ripping out whatever I accomplished. I hate it when that happens.

When I got to the shop, I asked for the kits, they asked if I had one on hold, WHAT? NO! They told me the only ones they had were on hold. She opened a drawer and there were the kits and my name wasn't on one of them! DARN DARN DARN....Oh I should have called! Darn! Darn! Darn!, I was so upset! The whole drive over I was thinking that I should have just called and ordered it, with the price of gas, it might have been cheaper, but then I wouldn't have had an excuse to have dinner with my son. So I start looking around to see there was anything else to take my mind off of this I was so focused on getting this kit and was so distressed. There had to be something that would help me feel better. Well, there in a little basket were 3 little kits, only one had borders and they had no patterns left. Ok.. Hello store people! Lookie here!! this little tag says "Faded Glory"! If you don't know what you have, you shouldn't answer!!! So enough said, I bought that and then practically got kicked out of the store because they close at 3pm. But I got my kit!! they did their kits with a few different fabrics and the border are more of 30's look. I like it, and hope I can get to it soon. I just love seasonal quilts.

So at the end of this weekend I'm feeling pretty good, I sure don't want to go back to work tomorrow! I think I would make a very good retiree. That will have to wait.

On Saturday at the shop I finished the bag, here's another pic. It's all DONE! The little stitchery on the front is actually a days of the week tea towel pattern from Crabapple Hill. I just reduced the image and took the day of the week tag off.

Ok, so if you're still with me, you saw that I mentioned a potato bag, well, I'm starting on Christmas gifts for my staff. Right now I have 19. I'm going to make these potato bags and put a grocery gift card inside. I found this perfect fabric at the Fat Quarter shop on clearance. Perfect! This is the first one, I just wanted to see how they went together. If you have any suggestions for a cute wrapping please let me know. Oh wait, maybe I can find some mini brown paper grocery bags! LOL , ok, so have a great week! xomar

Use it for the Holidays

So did everyone have a good Thanksgiving? My granddaughter and I spent a few hours traveling to and from Pine Grove, a little town above Jackson Ca. It was sooo worth the trip. It was wonderful to spend the afternoon with my brother and his wife visiting from Arizona, my stepbrother and family from the bay area and of course my Dad and stepmom. Great meal, great company. And great news too! My stepbrother and his wife are expecting. It was surprize for all of us! And of course the dinner was awesome.

Today I've been pretty wiped out. Did you go shopping today? I went to the grocery store and the dollar store, no crowds there! I seem to remember when we thought that 7am was awfully early to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. The sales were so great, I mapped out where I would go and stood in lines. Not anymore, any sane person is in bed at 4am and I really feel for those who work retail now.

4 am ??? NUTZ !!!

Thank you for all of your ideas and links to crafty gifts. As soon as I posted the question, my friend Deb sent me a link for roll-up placemats. They're cute and have a pocket for utensils. I went digging in my stash and found a few yards of Barb's Kitchen line, you might remember, it has all of the little salt & pepper shakers. Very cute! So had exactly enough of that to make twenty tops and found some vegie fabric for the backs and some stripes for the untensil pockets. I even found some cute fabric napkins at the dollar store. I was looking for utensils, but they weren't very nice. I think I will look at the thrift stores, Ross and stores like that,they really don't need to match. I'll post picture when I'm done, I've got them all cut out and the tops pieced so far. And thanks to all of you I have great ideas for next year.

I received the most wonderful gift in the mail today, from one of the sweetest bloggers we know. How Darlene finds time to shower us with such sweet little gifts, I will never know. I just know that I feel so blessed and special to recieve this little piece of her. I was going to hang it in my sewing room. But now I think I will put it in my office so that I can spend more time with it! Isn't it CUTE???

Thank you Darlene, I love it!!! Just looking at it puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

And speaking of special blog buddies, I think Vicky may be feeling a little better cause she is talking up her stash! She sure gave us a scare. Keep up the good thoughts for her. Since I'm using what I have for my gifts this year, I'll be linking up to Judy's Stash Busters. Wish me luck, the new lines are so tempting!

Well, I need to go prep a block to take with me to pet sitting tonite. I just know that all of you are already busy with holiday preparations. I'm not even going to mention how many days we have. :-)

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Oh what to do, I'm spinning my wheels trying to figure out what to make for my staff of twenty for Christmas. I had big plans of making them all table runners, but just realized after working on them for the last 3 days I could never get them all done in time. I only got 5 put together and they still need a little machine applique. I guess they will be gifts for others. Have any good ideas for me? Last year I made pot holders and gift jars of soup mix. I do have one idea, but need to work up a pattern. Thinking along the lines of a personalized pocket placemat for their lunches at work. Maybe I could find some inexpensive place settings to include? Seems that I have a thing about food. hmmmm.... Wish I would have thought about this sooner. LOL, I could have been done!!! Oh and I'm all about "Homemade for Christmas", I've seen that logo on other blogs but haven't looked into what it is all about. Also I'm REALLY all about "Use What You Have". I've seen that logo on other blogs also, but I'm just doing my own thing.

Speaking of food, I participated in the chocolate swap over at Red Geranium Cottage. Sharon paired me up with Subee. What fun! you can check out what I sent Subee HERE!

This is the fabulous box I received. Su was a little more timely than I was and now my chocolate is all gone. Boo Hoo, it was delish Su and the box was adorable.

THANK YOU!!!

Guess I'd better get back to work! xoxomar