Quilting Bug

A number of years ago I began this quilt.  I designed, cut it, sewed it and quilting was the only thing left to do.  It's a Irish chain - nine square pattern (2" squares)  I remember when I set the blocks and thought this is gonna be big project.  It was!  My father-in-law, Irvin made the quilting frame for me when I was working on a quilt for Grandpa John.  We've been cleaning the storage shed and garage and came across the quilting frame which then reminded me of my unfinished quilt.  I hand quilted about 1/3 of it so far.  It was stored in my craft studio behind the door, still on the frame poles!  Too easy I said to myself...
I set it all up yesterday and ready to get my supplies.... ruler "check",  pencil "check", thimble "check", quilting needles "check", and quilting thread...darn it no quilting thread!  Today I have thread...
I sat down for two hours today and noticed my stitches need practice.  But it did feel good to quilt.
 

Winston dog found his place under the frame

Stitches I did today....practice practice practice

Earrings

While in San Diego we came across the cutest shop. 

Noon Design Shop

They had such neat store displays and props. 

 They had some very nice earrings and after looking at them

I thought why not try and make a pair or two. 

Their earrings were made of high quality metals and stones.

But I used what I had and they turned out fine.

I ended up making 8 pairs! 

Love them...what do you think?

Holiday decorating

My friend, Michele, called and asked about stopping over to visit.  I said of course and let her know I was in the middle of holiday decorating.  Then the fun begins.  Her daughter, Miranda and son, Kurt also got involved in decorating. 

Michele, me, Miranda & Kurt

Miranda tossing snow on the snowman display

Nutcrackers on my dresser

Santa on the picture shelf

2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Goodbye to 2011....

2011, what all happened this past year?

I retired

Traveled some

Got to visit lots of family

Went to my first Kansas University football game in Lawrence

Drove my Mini 20,000 miles

Upgraded my camera

Got into the Kindle craze

Read a lot of books

Adopted Bella girl

Lost weight

Boston, Fenway Park, Marshfield beach

Texas Tech basketball game in El Paso

Took several online craft classes, loved them

Spent Wednesdays with my brother

Treasure hunting at my mom's

Halloween with my sister

Photographed Claire, Olivia, Addison, Marisol, Owen, Gabi, Teen, to name a few

Three weddings, Casey, Melissa and Kerry

Got great advice from Cathy

Soldered

Painted canvas, fabric, paper, wood, hands

Sewed

Designed invites

Danced & laughed

DVD's over & over, again & again

Got another tattoo

Made new friends & lost a few, too

Just to name some things of 2011....

2012.... let's get started.

Happy New Year, friends

Cheers, here's to us!

Jobi

December 30th

It was such a nice warm day today.... 71 degrees and sunny.  Windows open, fresh air and sunshine.  Not a bad way to ring in 2012, is it?
I'm thinking I would like to post my best 10 photos of 2011.  It's going to take me some time to sort through my files, New Year's Day I will post them.
I've thought a lot about my love of photography and I'm going to give myself some challenges for 2012.  I'll fill  you in later.
In the meantime, enjoy your Friday!

Cookies!!

This year was the first time in 15 years I didn't host a cookie exchange.  

Looking back on this decision.... I missed an evening with my friends.  

So next year I may have to return to the cookie exchange.

BUT...

I had fun making cookies with Kerry & Donna!

Kerry has this huge kitchen &

fabulous island... perfect for baking cookies.

 We each arranged to make two cookie recipes each.

I decided on sugar cookies and chocolate mint cookie.

Donna made  layered bar & snicker-doodles.

Kerry made oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookies &

white chocolate macadamia nut cookies!

See, what I mean about the perfect island!

Room for all of and all the baking stuff.

Okay, I was in 4H as a kid and learned baking perfection.  

How to read a recipe, getting the right ingredients, measuring correctly which means using the right measuring cups ... liquid and dry ingredients use different type of measuring cups!!!  Come on...  

Using liquid cup measure for cocoa powder!!!

Kerry was making her chocolate chip walnut oatmeal cookies

she was on her fourth ingredient and I was ready to bake sugar cookies..

Kerry's in-laws were in town.  Her mother-in-law decided she didn't want to hang out in the kitchen with us....but her father-in-law was very interested and finally got in the groove with us.  He's showing Kerry how to roll the cookie dough in waxed paper and chill in the fridge so it will be easier to cut and bake! 

 Apparently, he loves to bake.

Our cookies....

white chocolate macadamia nut 

chocolate chip oatmeal walnut

7 layer chocolate bars

chocolate mint cookies

sugar cookies

2011 Christmas card

This year's card was so fun to make, I figured out it was 15 separate steps in all. 

 I took an my on-line class that used the plaster rolls to make pages of a book and that inspired me to experiment & use it on my cards. 

 I love the texture and feel of the plaster pages. I cut strips and dipped in water.

I laid the pages out on the tablet to completely dry

Next step was to paint a blue light tint on each page.

This was a tough step because I wanted to keep painting more and more layers!

I printed my greeting on tissue paper.

 Used gel medium to glue them on the plaster pages.

I used christmas themed scrapbook paper, ran it through sticker machine, cut it in strips & made the tree shape.  I added a star shaped brad that I added glitter to.  Gotta have glitter, for goodness sakes it's christmas.

I tried various methods to glue the plaster pages to my card stock and nothing worked well.  The plaster dust got in the way of sticking.  Sewing was the best way and it must say it was a good option, don't you think?

I cut white cardstock, scored it and printed my greeting.

Now to sit down and fold, sign and assemble.

I printed my envelopes and that saved me so much time.

  I made 50 and realized it was not enough cards!  

I only mailed out the out of state cards and I finished more for local friends.

Merry Christmas!

This year's Christmas card

Can you believe I made 50 cards and never took a photo of a finished one!  I have 15 more to make....but I'm gonna have to hunt one down from my friend to get a photo!

More decorating....

I wish I'd take the time right now to post photos of the past week....but I'm so tired.  

Please stay tuned...cookies, trees, holiday parties and a house full of holiday cheer.  

 I'm loving Christmas time.  Friends, family and food.

Okay, one photo....my two trees

December 15th....

....   is my 385027930th birthday...  mega dang dang!  Who's counting?

tis the season!

Holiday decorating has begun around here.....

Lights are on the house...
but not not on the courtyard wall
Stay tuned....

One of many Santa's looking for his place
among the rest of the decorations

Two fresh trees!

More trees and lights!

 I love this time of year 

and really wish I could 

figure out a way 

to see inside your house

 and enjoy all your decorations

Family Photo Session....

While I was home we decided to get together 

for some family photos,

these are some of the un-edited ones....

Playing in the street

fa la la la .... tis the season

Today was spent making Christmas music CD's.  Music is the best way to get into the Christmas spirit and I need some help.  Tom spent the day watching football and hanging the lights on the house.  Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to place the garland/lights on the courtyard wall!  Geez, I brought the cold with me...my plants are mad at me.  I have lots to think about, I have to come up with a Christmas card idea, well I have ideas but how to get them on a card and then multiply it by 50 or 60 cards, oh and get them made and mailed out on time.  I have to decide what cookies to make since I'm not doing a cookie exchange this year.  I have to decide if I'm going to throw a holiday brunch or a dinner or both and with who and when....see lots to think about.  I did get all the holiday decorations out, but no tree, yet.  Good thing it's only December 5th.  (Don't forget December is all about me & Jesus, our birthdays!)

I wish I knew how to attach a Christmas song for you
Tried it but it was an epic fail...I'll keep trying so stay tune