Christmas Through The Year….and Some Monthly Finishes

Here we are at the end of the month and our last check in for the year.  Make sure to link up over at Darlene’s to be entered in the drawing for the monthly giveaway……a super cute Snowman runner made by Darlene.  Tomorrow Darlene and I will also be drawing two grand prize winners ….one person to receive 11 gifts from Darlene and another person to receive 11 gifts from me.  If you played at all during the year your names are automatically entered in the grand prize drawing.

My gifts for the month are these two towels and then I finished up this bitty runner.  I had made a couple

last year, and this one was tucked away in my Xmas prezzie box  just needing the binding……so a very simple finish!

I got the top done for my mini Drop for the Schnibbles group.  I used Mama Said Sew.   Maybe a little too busy, but it’s done!!!  Then I decided to try my best to get my Scrappy Stars done for Terry’s group.  Well, I managed to get one done with just a bit to do on the second one.  That will be on my to do list for tomorrow. 

The last few days I have been decorating like crazy for Christmas with just a bit left to go.   Wishing you all a very happy weekend.

A Wonderful Moment

Tuesday I drove out to be with my girl and do some special shopping….real special shopping.  My girl had done her homework. She  shopped and looked online…. she found a
wedding dress she LOVED… found a pretty shop close to her place that had it.  We looked through racks and racks with help from Caitlyn, a sweet girl working in the shop.  We pulled some other choices and styles, then the trying on and modeling began.  She came out in her Dream Dress.....she looked so, so, so  beautiful and so, so, so happy!!  I cried, even though I promised I wouldn't.  Then a flood of memories of her came to mind..... time has passed so quickly.   Soon the many choices were whittled down to 4…..and in the end it was Dress #1, the Dream Dress, the one that made me cry, and she loved from the start... that was the sure winner. We floated out of the shop and grabbed a bite to eat….and talked WEDDING!!! Thank you Pinterest for so many wonderful ideas!!!!!  Such a special fun day with my girl…one that I will treasure forever and ever.  I am a very lucky mom!!!

A Bloggy Meet Up

I spent the most wonderful time today with Lorraine, Granny Loz.  I met up with her at her hotel.  Now she is headed back home to Australia after a fantastic trip to the States visiting so many fun places…..and quilting related stops too.  She has some wonderful posts over at her blog about all that went on.  Meeting her in person was like visiting an old friend…chatting like we were neighbors down the street.  Oh we would get in to some trouble if we lived closer.  So much chatting was happening I completely forgot to take pictures …UGH!!!!!!!  Sending you BIG HUGS Lorraine, for a safe journey home and hoping for another visit with you someday!!!  Since it’s the day before Thanksgiving and traffic can be a nightmare, Mr. P.  was my chauffeur and dropped me off with Lorraine while he did some secret Christmas shopping.  What a guy, and I greatly appreciated him navigating all the traffic on the way home.

For everyone in the States and from our family to yours, a very very Happy Thanksgiving.

Tutorial Monday……the last for the year!

  I always admire people that come up with great ideas……Allie is one of those idea people!!!  It was January of 2011 when she started our Christmas Through The Year Group….just make a gift a month and by the end of the year, you have goodies all made and ready to go for Christmas….GENIUS!!!   Lots of us jumped on board, and boy did it make Christmas a lot easier.  She was an amazing cheerleader, finding wonderful projects to keep us inspired.  At the end of the year there were other things calling to her…creative things, so that’s when Darlene and I decided we would hop in and try our best to make Allie proud!!!!   We have enjoyed the year of hosting together and cheering you all on, but all the while Allie has still been there cheering us on too!!!!  BIG HUGS to you Allie for all your support and friendship, and the big bonus for me is a wonderful friendship with Darlene!!  Now we are stepping aside……things are calling us too.  For me 2013 will be the year of planning my sweet daughters wedding……and enjoying ever minute of that experience!!  Now it’s time to pass Allie’s torch on to Carol.  So here’s to another year of Christmas Through The Year.  Hope you will all join in.  I know she has some exciting things planned!

Tutorials!!!!!

These next few tutorials are from A Spoonful of Sugar……a sweet mother daughter team.  They will dazzle you with all their wonderful, creative projects and ideas!  Have to say I am A Spoonful of Sugar groupie!!!   First off this sweet Neck Pillow Cover… tutorial here. I definitely need to make myself a polkadot one!  If you are looking for a cute ornament idea how, about their tutorial for these Gingham

 

      Stars….love them!!  Yummy treats are always good for giving, and you can find

directions for making these super cute Chocolate Spoons here.  Thanks girls for being so generous with your tutorials!!!! 

Ok, more cuteness here…Beverly at Flamingo Toes (don’t you just smile when you say that!!) has a super, duper cute tutorial for A Little Potholder Love. ….and also for a more traditional version. 

Beth at Beth’s Paper Cuts has an adorable tutorial for this Grinchy Gift Card Holder. 

Stinkin’ cute and very Grinchy for  sure!

Shelley at Scrappergirl  has a fun and so cute tutorial for DIY Photo Christmas Balls…..and with additonal info on making the photo strips here.  Looks so hard, but her directions are great!!  These would make excellent Xmas presents…I see a crafting DIY Photo Ball party happening here soon!!!

Like before, if you make any of these projects and post them on your blog please make sure to give credit and link back to the crafters!!

  Darlene has a great giveaway planned for November.  She will have Mr. Linky up at the end of the month….make sure you link up to be entered in the drawing for this months giveaway.  Happy week everyone.

Camp Report

FUN!!!!!!  That pretty much sums it up.  There was so much going on….tons of laughing, tons of amazing projects.  Catching up with old friends, and making some new ones.     Here’s where the rowdy bunch sews….all 25 of us!!!  This is my space…yes  I

 

am an over-pinner!!!!  Sitting directly across from me my wonderful friend Annie.  She’s at camp to help out with all our questions,  and even available for ripping out….she’s an amazing ripper outer :-)!!!!!    There’s Annie with her cute mitten quilt…pattern here found on Pinterest.   Some other lovelies from camp friends.  That bag is stinkin’ cute don’t you think?!!!

For me, this is what I got done.  A sweet red and white hanging, Christmas Tree Skirt, my Bounce Stars, and three secret projects ….PIF gifties.   Sue B. who is Eleanor Burns right hand gal, had this cute project for us to make….a pumpkin pincushion……..LOVE IT!!!!!!

Our last night at camp there was a raffle.  I was a very lucky winner.  This basket is filled to the brim with Christmas goodies…books, ornaments, handmade gift bags, and 5 yards of various Christmas fabrics…WOW!!!!

So now it’s back to reality and back to getting ready for the holidays.  Next week I am meeting up with a bloggy friend!!!!  So exciting.   Happy weekend everyone.

The Date Has Been Picked…..

  We are all crazy with excitement!!!!!!  The wedding is scheduled for next October.  The venue has been picked….so, so pretty, up in the mountains with a stream flowing close by …… here’s a picture of the reception area.  It couldn’t be

 

more perfect for our girl and her guy and we are over the moon thrilled and excited.  Now let the wedding dress shopping begin!!!!!

But first…..QUILT CAMP, QUILT CAMP!  I am all packed and will out of here bright and early tomorrow.  Excited to meet up with my sweet friend Annie and all the other campers from years past.  Happy weekend everyone.

Last Call!!!

 We are winding up our group this year…November is the last month!!!  Darlene and I have had so much fun hosting, and I have truly enjoyed getting to know Darlene and chat with her on the phone!!   With that being said, we have both decided it’s the last month we will be hosting.

Now on to some wonderful tutorials. 

This was one of the first tutorials I linked to.  We made this for our family Xmas party last year and it was a big hit.  Just check over at Thrifty and Thriving for the tutorial on making your own.

YUMMMMMMMY!!!  I think this one needed to be repeated again too.  Check over with Ellyn at Ellyn’s Place for the how to on this sweet project.

Marcie at Patchalot More has this adorable mini, Faith-Hope-Love-Joy.  Tutorial here.  I don’t know if any of you have seen this …

 

 

that’s Marcie’s quilt, Issac’s Journey,  featured on the cover of the new Fons and Porter bookazine, Scrap Quilts.

I love these Toy Bags!!  Ruby at Zaaberry has a quick and easy tutorial for whipping up these babies.  What a great way to rangle pieces!

I don’t know about you, but I am crazy for pincushions.  Staci at Yellow Spool has a wonderful tutorial for a Embroidery Hoop Pincushion…..CUTE!!!!

No sewing to report on…..BUT, Friday I’m off to a quilt retreat and dreams of getting some things done!   Happy week everyone.

Christmas Through The Year Winner For October Is……

  …….drum roll please……..and the winner for October is Sunny from Quilting Dreams!!  Send me your snail mail Sunny and your winnings will be headed your way.   Now we are really winding down…..November will do it for this year.  If you haven’t had a chance to join in, we would love to have this month.  Darlene and I have had a wonderful time hosting and cheering you all on.  I will be posting some tutorials on Monday.

We are off for a family getaway to the mountains.  Wishing you all a very happy weekend.