Looks like I'm stuck in fall...

Just fall fabrics. So I finished this top using the same fabrics as in the zig zag quilt. I really do love them. I have a little bit left but really and truly what is left is just scraps. Couldn't make another quilt with them unless I added lots of other fabrics to them. And since my stash is full of fall coloured fabrics I guess I could do that. Here is the whole thing. I didn't want to add a "foreign" fabric to it so pieced the border. The binding w ill be the same as the sashing. I really like this pattern. I am sure I will make it again. It was quick and fun. I never would have found it if I had not seen it made up since the pattern cover sample is done up in batiks. It's called "Fractions".

As you probably remember I am about to retire. Only 2 weeks left. Well, 8 days actually because of the holidays. Friday night was a retirement dinner put on mostly by my group plus my two immediate bosses. We had a great time but even greater was the gift they gave me. Remember I made them all little quilts? Well, they made me all little quilt blocks. Each one is completely different. I have them spread out with some auditioning sashing fabrics. I really like that bright stripe but decided it would take over from the blocks. And the red one is too red I think.

See that pale green ladybug print on the left? I think it is my favourite of what I have on hand. There is lots of blue in the blocks and there is a little blue in the ladybug fabric. That blue dot is the right blue but I thnk it would be overpowering, too, but I am thinking it might make corner posts. Just can't decide.

What do you think? Or do I just not have the right fabric? The blocks are 8 1/2 inches and I am thinking 2 inch sashing. I think I only have enough of the ladybug fabric to do 1 1/2 inches but that would be okay, too. I am thinking just sashing and corner posts, no borders. What do you think? It's hard to pick a favourite block. Each of them made one representing themselves plus some generic all department ones. Isn't this just the coolest present ever?

I would like to get this together soon so I can take it in and show them the finished quilt but if I can't find the right fabric in my stash I will not make the two week limit. I broke a bone in my foot last Monday so between hobbling around in a big black (stylish, not) boot and all the ice and snow that has been falling the last few days it will be tough to go shopping. So vote for your favourite!

See, back as promised

And the Christmas decorations are finished. Not real happy with the tree this year. Can't really say why. But we'll get to Christmas in a minute. And to the giveaways, too. First, I was looking in a magazine about over the top event planning that came into work addressed to someone who has not worked there for a long time. Found this picture whcih I think is really pretty. I am not much for garnishes but the crushed peppermints look really cool here I think. But on the same page was this. This looks really weird to me. I can't imagine eating it. It is a basil coating. That red thing is a pomegranite seed. Smoked turkey is the base. Hmmm. Nice Christmassy colours though I guess. Just had to share.....

So now that the tee shirt quilt is finished I have been sewing. I have had these fabrics in a pile on my cutting table for months. Well, all but the one that looks like it has arrowheads on it. That one is new from my last trip to Charlotte.

Anyway, I had been looking for just the right thing to do with them. When I saw this picure I realized I had finally found the right thing. I think this picture attracted me first because the colours are somewhat similar. And then because of the use of big prints. Since this stack included some large prints I wanted to be sure the pattern would not chop them up too small.

I've seen zig zag quilts before, usually made with half square triangles. But this pattern called for the Easy Angle and Companion Angle. I had them from using the coupons at Joann's but had never used them. have to say that it took me awhile to see how they were helpful getting the corner overages nice and even so the strips would look nice but I finally figured it out.

Well, then the rest of the quilt did not want to cooperate either. I didn't have quite so much fabric as the pattern called for plus I wanted to use some of these fabrics for another quilt.
So I decided to make the quilt smaller. So I cut fewer Companion Angles. Then for some reason I thought I would use the colours twice alternating them. Much seam ripping later I finally figured out how to do it.

And here is the top all finished. I really like how it looks. What do you think? Yeah, yeah, it's Christmas now but now I have months to get it quilted in time for next fall. Think I can do it?

So on to Christmas. This is the new Noah's ark ornament I just got. I don't know why I like it so much but I really, really do. And no, not from the thrift store -- from a craft show.

Look at this Raggedy. Isn't she fantastic! One of the folks who works for me gave it to me. I felt really bad taking her because she is so cute. Hmm, but I did now, didn't I? I just love the hair. And the bow. Love me some polka dots.

Here are some other tree shots.

This is not any old bell. It is one I painted myself with splatters and dots. Probably my best paint job ever. Yeah, the bar is low.

And now for some other Christmas. Every year I do things mostly like the year before, but not completely. I love this little picture. The quilt hanging from the hat rack is one that I finished this year. I like the funky light green. And it is churndash, one of my all time favourite blocks.

Last year this is the quilt that was on the coat rack. It's a favourite, too. Love the snowman fabric.

I think this is the same spot where these little Moda stockings were last year although I am not completely sure. I like their not quite Christmassy reds and greens, too.

This is new this year because the piece of furniture is new. I like the way it worked out for Christmas.

Another corner of the dining room.

And another. I do have alot of little chairs, don't I? Another of my collections.

And the I have had this candle holder forever. I mean that, probably like 35 or more years.

A flat birdhouse Mr THQ made for me. That is a pretty recent thrifted sign. Again with the odd Christmas green.

Near the front closet.

My only ever successfully finished doll. Once I retire I intend to try more dolls. Let's see how I do.

This is a new location for the bunnies. It's a good one I think.

A new miniature chair fits this Santa quite well. He fits in it perfectly.

This is a new combo, too. Now that I have this picture I can remember it for next year.

The mantle. I was trying to remember where I got that nice rusty lantern but I can't.

Here is a farther away view of the mantel.

Don't you love the camera light? Yes, Mr THQ made it -- a long time ago. Nice shot of the receptacle. Oops.

Everyone has a Bannock device, don't they? Perfect to decorate for Christmas, too.

Moved this guy this year, too.

Over the cabinets in the dining area. That sled is new. From my daughter last Christmas. Makes a great addition.

My favourite gingerbread corner.

So now, that I have made you read all the way to the end, the winners. Boy was the cat bowl popular. 4 people expressed interest in it and the winner is the 2nd cat bowl chooser, Sherrill. Since there was so much interest in the cat bowl and not much else I am going to leave the giveaway open another week and see what happens. See you then.

Long time no blog

Yeah, I know. Been busy, busy, busy. Hasn't let up for a minute since the Thanksgiving holiday. We have alot to catch up on, so let's get started.

First things first. We need giveaways to celebrate 100 posts. Well, 101 posts. We have 4 all with a holiday theme. All you have to do is leave a comment as to which one you like the best and next Sunday, December 12th, at my usual posting time I will pick winners. Since I don't get a whole lot of comments your chances are really, really good. We will go in holiday order so the first one is a Halloween cat bowl. It's around 6 or 7 inches in diameter and very, very prim. It came from Gooseberry Patch when they still had a catalog. Boy, I miss that catalog. On to Thanksgiving. A cornucopia. Remember how I told you I was garland challenged? Well, it turns out I am cornucopia challenged, too. This is not my first one nor the only one I own. But it is definitely the cutest one. It is a Boyd's Bears item. I just never can make them look good in an arrangement. But I bet you can.

On to Christmas. These are old fashioned icicles from the old Martha Stewart catalog. Since my tree is always a riot of colour and all kinds of stuff, I do not know whatever possessed me to buy these elegant things. Once I used them on a small tree with some old glass ball ornaments that I brought home from my mom's. But it just wasn't right for me. I bet they will look great on your elegant tree though.

So from elegant back to prim. When we first got married we lived in the top of a 2 family house and the people below us had been stationed in Germany when he was in the Army. They brought home the tradition of putting LIT candles on their tree. I just knew they were going to burn the house down. They didn't and when I saw these with faux wooden candles that clip onto the tree branches just like the ones they used to have I had to have them. Prim, too, aren't they? But they take up alot of room on the tree and mine just doesn't have that kind of room. But you will find a spot for them I am sure. Oh, there are like 6 of them.

So, there you have it. I am excited to share these things with you because as you know I love to decorate for the holidays. And yes, they are slightly used but only barely since they were better in my mind than in my real life.

On to what has been going on. I went in over Thanksgiving weekend and hung all the stashlets in my old office. Then everyone got to choose the one they liked the best. It was amazing how quickly they all gravitated to one. Only a few folks had a hard time choosing. It did look stunning I think. Here, see if you agree.

And the rejects went into the annual Craft Fair. Unfortunately for sales at the craft fair on the first day we had 7 inched of snow and many folks did not make it into work. Then on the other two days the main employer in our complex had a main electrical panel exploded so they had no power and so no employees. So few customers. I did sell a few things but not nearly as much as I usually do. Oh, well, I was told I could still participate as a retiree!

So, what else. Oh, I finished the tee shirt quilt and presented it to them last night. They seemed to really like it and I was very happy to get it finished. It was big and heavy to quilt. I am glad to have done a tee shirt quilt and I am pleased at how nice it looks but I don't think I want to do another.

And now that it is finished I can get back to working on other stuff. So I finished cutting out the Buggy Barn Quilters' Village. I haven't shuffled them yet though. I wanted to get the cutting done so I could put all the fabrics I had pulled back into my stash. I have been on a bit of a cleaning up binge.

And I finally found a pattern I like for a stack of fall fabrics that I bought quite a while back and couldn't quite figure out how I wanted to use them. Now I can get started on that, too.

It seems like it's been awhile since I sewed for fun. Oh, and I did get Christmas all up. I will get some pics for you. For some reason I am not real happy with how the tree turned out. Can't really say why. Pics next time and you can see what you think.