Happy New Year…..a Time For Reflection

Here we are at the end of 2012…the year that zoomed by.  Like everyone, life has given us ups and downs……happy and sad times.  None of us can escape either, but that’s what makes life, life.  There are always lessons to be learned, and family and friends who surround you …to be there to cheer you on, and there to pick you up and support you when needed.  I am so, so grateful for my wonderful family and the great friends that I have, which includes so many bloggy friends.  I have been thinking about my word for 2013, and I have decided to reuse my 2011 word…..Gratitude!!!!
The last few days I have been a big  blob…just kind of hanging out in my sewing room straightening a bit.  The dust bunnies were starting to wave at me as I walked in and out, so figured it was time to do some straightening and cleaning!! 
Yesterday I decided to sew a wee bit.  I saw this cute towel on a few blogs by Sweetwater and knew I had to have one….so in no time whipped it up using Mama Said Sew by Moda.  This months Schnibbles challenge was to sew something from the Morsels pattern, so I whipped up a pincushion using the Lucy's Crab Shack fabric from
Moda. Thanks to Sherri and Sinta for hosting Another Year of Schnibbles….so fun!!!! 
Tonight I am going to watch New Years TV and work on a runner of packages from The Christmas Favorites book.  I made one earlier in the year, but this one is going to have six packages to go on my counter in the laundry room for next Christmas!  I am still in denial that Christmas is over…it just went too fast.  Speaking of Christmas… Kim at Lily Patch Quilts has very graciously taken on hosting Christmas Through The Year for 2013.  Word has it she will be posting about it tomorrow, so check over at her blog.
From our family to yours we wish you a very Happy New Year!!!    Here’s to a great 2013!!!!!!

SSCS Reveal!!!!

Finally time to open the "Main Event” present!! The suspense was almost too much to take, but as you can see well worth the wait!!

Such a sweet holiday hanging, the fabrics are so perfect for me and I love the star hanger. I LOVE IT!!!!   Thank you so much Nicky, and thanks to Elf Donna for such a wonderful swap.  She had parcels flying all over the world!!

Then there was a wonderful brown squishy package that came from Darlene…… inside, this sweet pincushion and cute pins.  I love it Darlene, and such a wonderful reminder of our friendship.  It’s new home is right next to my sewing machine.

Our girl and her guy were home from Christmas Eve and they both pitched right in and helped with all the Christmas preparations.  My girl made a yummy ice cream dessert for Christmas Day……I found the recipe here on Pinterest.  It  was OUT OF THIS WORLD  DELICIOUS….even though I forgot to drizzle the chocolate on the top!!!! Here’s what is left!  The recipe called for mint chip ice cream, but we went with Cookies and Cream!

I don’t know about you, but Christmas was pretty much a blurrrrr…and now on to celebrate the New Year.  I was so bad about pictures on Christmas day, but I will be borrowing some from my girl…those to come later!!!!

Merry Christmas!

  The gifts are wrapped, goodies are made and the soup will be on for Christmas Eve.  The Dots are so excited for Christmas and we are looking forward to a fun day tomorrow with family.  So, from our family to yours a very, very Merry Christmas!!!!

Getting Close…….

Yes, the time is counting down and as ready as I have wanted to be, well you know, I guess I’m really not :-)!!  That’s ok, because it all will be ok!

There has been some wonderful mail.   This sweet pouch is from Carol….she knows I love Vintage Modern…and those sweet scissors..love them!! Such a sweet

charm on the pouch.  thanks so much Carol!

 

 

Such a CUTE Reindeer and pincushion from my other bloggy friend Carol….ADORABLE. The Dots are having so much fun moving him here and there.  Thanks Carol…and again, love them!!!!

I know I use the word sweet a lot, BUT……look at this SWEET Tree Topper Annie.  Nicole at Raggedy Old Annie’s is this creator of this precious girl.  She always has wonderful Annie’s looking for some good homes….have a peek!!!

These towels were a gift from a customer…LOL….funny!!!!!  Then there was a wonderful squishy package that came today, but I won’t give that away because I know there are more brown squishy packages headed to other homes. 

Tonight was our potluck/gift exchange at our friendship group……you know one of those pick and steal exchanges.  Much laughing and silliness went on…and I have to say that felt really good.  Here’s Sindy modeling her Diva glasses…she wore then very well!!!  The food was over the top yummy too.

So moving on…tomorrow is Big Dots class party and Little Dot and I will be attending…the boys will be in their PJ’s… Nana Banana won’t!!!  Don’t know if I have mentioned it, but Nana Banana is the nickname they have given me……that makes me smile super big.    Happy Thursday everyone.

Prayers

Like everyone, just trying to digest and wrap your mind around what has happened in Newtown is a struggle.  The feeling of wanting to do something, but not knowing what you can do looms. Today I read this blog post by Susan Branch…….with some suggestions of some things we can do… write letters.  To let people in power know how we feel….how we want some changes to come about.   Things just have to change.   Thoughts and prayers to Newtown.

Happy Mail……Happy News!!!

 It’s that time of year, and Elf Chookyblue’s sleigh is making the rounds all around the world. 

Waiting at my door was my SSCS parcel from Nicky all the way from New Zealand!!!!

How exciting.  Three packages…one marked “Ornament To Be Opened Now”!!

 

So, so cute and what an amazing job Nicky did .  I LOVE snowman anything and everything, and to have a cross stitched ornament from Nicky to add to my handmade ornament tree is wonderful.  Now there are two other packages to tempt me…one marked “Open Whenever”.  Ok, I am very weak!!!  My whenever lasted about 12 hours!!!!  It contained a super cute tea towel from New Zealand and a wonderful assortment of Christmas ribbons.  I love the ribbons my packages were tied with, and now I have my very own !!!  Package number three marked “The Main Event” has been hidden away….I cannot be trusted.  Nicky thank you so much for my wonderful goodies and a HUGE thanks to Chookyblue for coordinating this fun international swap!!!

Now for some more Happy Family News.  In the words of my sweet niece “After many, many years of being a girlfriend I was promoted to fiancée!   So another wedding will be happening in the family!!  We are over the top excited and proud too!!!  Her guy recently passed The Bar and has been officially sworn in!

Anyone looking for a good attorney??  He comes highly recommended by his future Aunt!!!!

 

I am still under some deadlines for Christmas bindings…..so no sewing here!!!  But tomorrow The Dots are coming and there’s some big time playing with Papa and Nana scheduled!!  Happy week everyone!

I’ve Been In Lock Down

……..getting customer bindings done.  There are some beautiful quilts being made for Christmas..lucky people!!  Today is delivery day for some of the quilts,  and I am going to play for a bit with a friend….a needed break!!  I am way behind on emails and all things bloggy, and I even missed a friends birthday…bad me and no excuse for that :-(.  Hoping to catch on up life this weekend. 

Exciting Christmas Through The Year News…..and WINNNNNNNERS!!!!

It’s been a fun year of cheering, and watching those Christmas present boxes fill up.  Darlene and I have thoroughly enjoyed hosting this group and getting to know so many wonderful crafters.  The gifts that have been made by everyone are amazing, and just knowing we are headed in to Christmas prepared is HUGE!!!  Deciding not to continue on was hard, but this year ahead will be a busy one.   So now for the exciting news…..Kim of Lily Patch Quilts has decided to continue on with Christmas Through The Year!!!  WOOOOOHOOO!!!  She has some sponsors lined up for the coming year, and will be announcing details in January.  We are so grateful to her, and to stay up to date with what she has planned you can follow her over at her blog.  BIG HUGS to you Kim and here’s to a wonder CTTY 2013!!!!!!!

WINNNNNNERS……. Sandie from Crazy’boutquilts is the winner of this months prize….Darlene’s stinkin’ cute Snowman Runner.  Congrats Sandie!!

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS…….The winner of Darlene’s grand prize is Karin (Ranch Wife) of Lovin’ Life At The End Of The Dirt Road.

The winner of my grand prize is Carrie P. of A Passion For Applique.   Just send us your snail mail addresses and your prizes will be on their way.

Thanks again everyone for making this such a fun Christmas Through The Year group!!!