Gifties

My daughter Jill made candles this year and even covered boxes of matches to coordinate the set. She really knows my colors!

My daughter Paige gave me this book by Vivian Swift.  It's a delightful watercolor journal of a year in the life of the author.

I had a wonderful Christmas and I'm looking forward to a new year of creating art.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Rare Sight

Our daughters have gone home after the holidays, we are starting to get the house back in order and I am able to set up my sewing/painting/crafting table again in the spare room.  To see the surface of the table completely clear of clutter, the sewing machine and art supplies is a rarity.

A Big Thank You

Thanks to my husband and my dear friend Sherry, I  received a start of the colorful dishes I have been admiring for several years.  They are made by Waechtersbach of Germany, come in beautiful bright colors and each piece is purchased individually.  I plan on adding more to the collection during the year.

Merry Christmas

Fat Quarter Swap

I participated in a fat quarter swap through "15 minutes play . . . Bumble Beans, Inc."  These are the fabrics I chose to send to Teresa in Portland, Oregon.  Visit her site at crinkledreams.com and take a peek at her Etsy shop. 
Happy quilting Teresa!

Cookie Time

almond crescents

thumb prints

Palm Beach biscotti

Orchid Spikes and Christmas Lights

My cymbidium orchids have new bud spikes.

Now the wait begins until the flowers open.

You know you are in Southern California when you have Christmas lights and orchids out on your deck at the same time!

Christmas Cards

The Christmas cards I chose this year came with plain white envelopes - way too boring!  So I did a quick fix with star stamps and ink pads, an easy solution to add holiday cheer!

Waiting for Santa

I cross stitched these two little ornaments in 1982 for my daughters.  They are only 3" tall and the stitches are really tiny, my eyesight was a lot better back then!

Our tree is up and waiting for family and friends to help us celebrate the season.

Toasty

Poipu, Red and their ceramic buddy always catnap in front of the fireplace on nippy nights.

It's a Wrap

For over 30 years, my friend Sherry and I have exchanged gifts.  This past Saturday, we celebrated Christmas and Sherry's birthday.  Sherry is a raspberry/fushia/silver devotee and I always wrap her gifts in her favorite colors.

Sherry knows I love bright colors and if you are from San Diego, you would recognize this wonderful box from Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town (one of my favorite shops).

We put a lot of thought into the wrapping of our gifts and it's almost too hard to open them.

Finished Top

The Block of the Month quilt top is finished!!  Now I need to make the back, pin it and quilt it before the end of January.  I really went out of my comfort zone in patterns and colors but I think it turned out great.

I didn't have enough fabric for the borders, so I inserted random reds and yellows around the edges.

Deck the Halls

We don't have our Christmas tree yet but the house is starting to look very festive!!

Groovy

When kellygirlquilts.blogspot.com shared this fabric on her site, I knew I had to have some. I love my lime green beetle and have a collection of toy cars, leaded glass ornaments, rubber stamps and even a charm from Brighton Jewelry - but I had not seen any fabric before. 
Kat, from Kelly Girl Quilts, and I exchanged several emails as I tried to locate some of the fabric but I could not find this print.

These arrived in the mail on Saturday from Kat.  How do you find the words to thank someone that you have only met through the internet for their kindness and generosity?  Not only did she share the bug fabric, but she also sent me some wonderful lime green fabric and a custom made mug rug!

THANK YOU SO MUCH KAT, YOU HELP ME BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF FRIENDSHIP!

Deadline

The deadline for our FINISHED Block of the Month Challange quilt was December 1st.  As you can see, mine is not done.  Luckily, the deadline has been moved to the end of January.  Now I can take down my sewing table and start getting the spare room ready for Christmas guests. 

Christmas Log Cabin

I made this holiday quilt several years ago using my favorite log cabin pattern.  Poipu can't wait until I put this quilt on the sofa so she can curl up and sleep on it.

This is one of only 3 quilts I have ever had professionally quilted, I love the varigated thread and the perfect swirls.

Tis The Season

I must have been really good this year because Santa arrived early at my house.

Look at all of the wonderful goodies I received from my swap partner, Marlynne.  A Christmas quilt, holiday fabrics, antique buttons, jingle bell jewelry, a darling little teddy bear, a holly decorated light post and a Christmas card painted by Marlynne.  I feel very spoiled!

Marlynne made me this wonderful little folk art quilt using holiday colors and prints.  She hand quilted it and added a tiny row of rick rack along the edge. 

Thank you Marlynne for getting my holidays started with your creativity and kindness.

Seasonal Swap

I made a little cabin in the snow for my 12" x 12" swap with Marlynne Joy in Missouri.  The cabin and tree are made from fabric scraps.  The night sky is snowing with little snowmen while the ground is blanketed in joyous words.  I embroidered a wreath on the door and added tiny lights in the tree.

On the back, I added a label using the blanket stitch.

 I painted a poinsettia on the plain white delivery box.

Happy Holidays Marlynne Joy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

6 Months Ago

I can't believe it's been 6 months since I signed up for the Block of the Month Challenge through "15 minutes play . . . Bumblebeans, Inc."  My 12 blocks are done and I'm ready to form my quilt top.

Yesterday, I started adding the sashing and I will share the completed quilt soon.

America's Cup

Yesterday, my husband attended an America's Cup race held on San Diego Bay.  Boats from America, New Zealand, France, Korea, Sweden, China and Spain participated.

These catamaran racing boats are 45' long and their wing sail stands 65' tall.  It costs over one million dollars just to get each boat into the water.

My husband really enjoyed the chance to see these magnificant crafts and was happy that one of the American teams won this leg of the race.

The day was gray, cold and windy with a chance of rain. I stayed warm at home, sewing and roasting a chicken for dinner!

Imported Autumn

When you live in Southern California, you get very excited when a package arrives from your sister in Texas filled with real autumn leaves.  Thank you Marcia!

Last Class

On Tuesday we met for our last session with teacher Jane LaFazio and her class "Sketching and Watercolor - Journal Style".  The six weeks went by too fast and we were all sorry to have to say goodbye.  The next session starts in January and many of us will be returning for new lessons.

Holiday Swap

I have been working on a 12" x 12" holiday quilt swap through the blog "15 minutes play ... Bumble Beans, Inc."  These are some of the fabrics I'm using and I will share the quilt after my partner receives her surprise.

Quilting Assistants

I always find it so comforting to hem my quilts but what really makes it special is the companionship of Poipu and Red.

Autumn Hues

Watercolor Tuesday

In yesterdays art class, we carved stamps to incorporate into backgrounds for our watercolor journals. I choose a little canvas kitty that my daughter had given me.  It was so fun to make and much easier that I thought it would be.

Fall

Here in Southern California the weather is changing.  It is getting colder and damper each day.  I made this autumn leaf quilt a few years ago, perfect to keep on the sofa for chilly days.

Charm Swap - Part 2

"from the blue chair" blog is holding the second phase of the color wheel charm swap.  I was assigned the color violet and I need to send in 56 blocks each of dark and light violet.

Once again I will mail my charms to Kati in Utah and receive 112 different color wheel charms back in a few weeks.  I already have some quilt ideas for my assortment of colorful charms.