Christmas Quilts

Have you noticed that the radio is playing Christmas music?

That must mean it's time for Christmas Quilts 

and SewCalGal's Quilt Show!

Get off the quilt doggie - I want to show if off to everyone!

If you are new to this blog - this is my husband's first quilt. (I'm very proud of him.)

I wanted one to replace the first quilt I ever made.  Which also happens to be a Christmas Quilt.  How funny is that? Both of our first quilts are Christmas quilts.

Do you see where a puppy chewed that corner?  

The new Christmas Quilt won't really replace this one.  I could never give it up. 

Too many years of being cozy warm under it - and how else could I remember what a little rumbustious, funny, adorable puppy Neptune used to be?

I hope you have some nice cuddly quilts to enjoy this winter.

Be sure and check out the rest of the quilt at Sewcalgal Christmas Quilt Show

Merry Christmas,

Linda

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving today.  Tomorrow, I'll be busy with family and not even remember that I own a computer. 

This year I will not be having Thanksgiving a my house, but I'll be going to my son in law's grandparents.  It will be nice to only make one dish instead of the whole dinner.

And then on Friday I have big plans... 

Shopping with my daughters.   What I actually think will happen is we will shop one store and then end up at Starbucks!  We aren't good shoppers - we are good talkers!!  LOL

I'm hoping to do a bit of sewing...but with all the company around, I'm not counting on it.

What are your plans for the holiday?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Linda  

We decide to take off and have a few days of fun.  We took off in our RV and stayed at the Wine Country RV Resort.


It was just as beautiful there as the above picture shows. (which is from the Wine Country RV Resort's website.)  I love when the trees turn colors!  I just didn't snap very many pictures.  Sometimes that happens to me.  I start having so much fun I just forget I have a camera.  

Another picture of the Wine Country RV Resort.

We went to a couple wineries.  I didn't find any wine I wanted to buy, but Mark did.  He bought a bottle and shared it with the other people we were camping with.   

These wineries really do up their places to attract customers.  So much fun! Check out this patio for BBQ's.   You just don't see something like this everyday.

Sorry for the shadows. I couldn't stand around all day and wait for the sun to move, I had wine to go taste!!  LOL!! 


Cool sun on the patio floor.

And here's the back wall..Oh and Mark of course!  He's from the school of "Pictures should always have people in them".  Even if the people are not smiling! Hehehe!

Sewing??  You want to talk about that?  I did some earlier in the week, but forgot to snap some  pictures! Hopefully tomorrow!

KitKat and her Surprises

Would you all like to hear a funny story about one of my dogs?  


Good, cause that's what this post is going to be about.


I have this little dog KitKat.  She's a little bitty thing - less than 12 inches high. 

KitKat playing with one of the puppies

 She's really pretty good.  Doesn't chew things up - or do other bad stuff.   


Well, lately she's been leaving me presents in the morning.  Yep, you know what I'm talking about.  I've heard tale of crating little dogs with bad manners.  So I took the time to teach her to "Kennel" using treats to get her to go in the crate by herself.  Okay she likes the crate.  Later that night I put her in - gave her plenty of treats and locked the door.


And this is what I found in the morning:

Oh no Mommy - you are not locking ME up!

Can you see those little plastic pieces? She had chewed her way out - but still slept in it!! I laughed and laughed!  How in the world did she chew that crate wall up? Oh and that little poop poop problem?  There's been none of that since.  Strange little doggie.

If you don't mind I think I'll sleep with my head hanging out the crate for a while.  Then  you can clean up this mess.  And I would like ham and eggs for breakfast. 

I sure hope your day has a nice surprise in it. 

Winning!! Winning!!

I love winning!!  And I won this 100 Blocks Magazine over at Ribbon Candy Quilts!!  Oh I must admit I'm so happy.  There are several blocks I would really love to make from it.  Including the one that Margie created.

Isn't this just the cutest little penguin?  I just love him!  And I know of several other people that would too.   He's going on my list of things to make for Christmas gifts.  


Thanks so much Margie!!


Another block I would love to make is Yvonne's Mystery by Cinzia White.  Isn't it pretty?

And I love this block by Sandra Workman.  It would be just perfect for a laundry room.  I could make it for my mother.  Won't that be sweet?  Or maybe for my daughter, she needs her laundry room brighten up.

And check out this block by Laura Roberts.  It's so pretty and modern - it reminds me of flowers in a meadow.

You can see why I'm so excited to get the magazine.  So many blocks to choose from! 

The Devil's Puzzle Book Review

As you know I was given two books from Plume, a division of Penguin Publishing.  One book for a give away and one to review.  So here's my honest review -  First let me say this is not the type of book I would normally read.  I like books with a fast pace and action.  A book that includes quilting just doesn't seem like it would entertaining.  But O'Donohue did provide just that.

Devil's Puzzle Variation Block
From Quilter's Cache
http://www.quilterscache.com/D/DevilsPuzzleVariationBlock.html

O'Donohue has a nicely paced book -  the story really moved along. She makes her characters real and believable and she adds bits of humor throughout. I like that, it makes the book so much more fun.  I really appreciated the way she added enough characters and a complex plot so that I didn't know what would happen next or who was going to do it.  She kept me entertained and guessing right up to the end!  She does deliver a nicely wrapped ending. Which is a must for me.  

Devil's Puzzle Block
From:  Early Women Masters. net website
http://www.earlywomenmasters.net/quilts/d/devils/index.html

My questions when reading a book are:
Did I enjoy the book as I read it?  Yes   I really enjoyed every page - no dull spots.
Would I read another book by Clare O'Donohue?  Yes!
Would I recommend this book?  Yes.  I had not read the other books in the series. This book can stand alone and it was very good. 

Devils Puzzle Variation from Crazy Block.com

And as for reading a book with quilting references.  Oh yes!  That was actually fun.  I didn't think I would like it.  But I really did!!  

From Quilter's Cache - Devils Puzzle Variation Block as a quilt
http://www.quilterscache.com/D/DevilsPuzzleVariationBlock.html

I learned a few things about the Devils Puzzle Block too!  I did not know what the block looked like, nor that there was a variation.  And even a variation on the variation.  That  shouldn't come as a surprise, quilters are always changing things!

Look! They are done!

Look!  They are done!

I turned one upside down so that the fabric would be upside right for the photo.  Both pillowcases have the green trim on them.

Can you believe it? One item to check off my list already!  I love those quick projects!

And while I was outside ( it was freezing cold - well to me anyway cause I'm a California Girl and 60 degrees is sooo cold) I  took a picture of my mums.

I really  like them - so different from other flowers.

What I found.

I know I could be in there sewing away, having fun with my machine.  But I just can't do it.  I just think no - not right now.  I'll sew later.  But later has now become two weeks.  Yep, time flies when you not sewing as well as when you are.




So - then it becomes a bit hard to post on a my blog - hmmm.  I can't take picture of nothing!  LOL!!!


All that aside I do have something to show you. (No, not sewing - and no, not cupcakes! )


A really cool SALE!!  This is probably the best sale I've ever had.

Worst Cell phone picture ever - both fuzzy and boring! LOL

I needed a nightgown and got this one (combed cotton - so soft!) at JC Penny's.  It was on clearance from $38.00 to $15.20  BUT WAIT there's more!  We had a coupon for $15.00 off it you spent $15.00.  Total purchase 21 cents!!  


The sales girl said "Jerry has to get his one cent."  I was thinking Who's Jerry???  I don't know any Jerrys!  


Finally my husband asked. And sales girl - said Governor Jerry Brown.  Oh right!  I've just never heard that one - I really don't think about him.    But it was a bit funny trying to figure out what she was talking about.


Oh and the nightie fits really nice-  Looks much better on me!  LOL!!

November Goals

The last two months I haven't posted my goals.  And it's a good thing too - cause I didn't complete what I would have listed. 

But now that it's November I think I'll make a list.  I know to keep it short - this is the start of the busy holiday season. 

#1 on my list - something fun!!!  The star for Angela's quilt.  
I have all the pieces cut out - now the hard part, finding them!!!

Okay and for goal #2:  Pillowcases - how easy is that?  I love doing pillowcases.
These are for the trailer - too cute. Right?

Goal #3  is Judy's UFO Challenge.  She picked #3 from the UFO List.  Which is the Christmas Tree wall hanging!  So appropriate to get done this month so that we can enjoy it next month!!  Thanks Judy!  (Now where did I put that????)

There.  That should do it.  A minimum of projects should help keep the stress levels down.  Last year at this time (and into December) I was finishing up two bed size quilts and didn't feel stressed.  But this year I would like to do some other projects and so I don't want to have too many sewing projects.


And what fun projects to you have waiting for you this month?

Linda