Goodies in the mail

It's no secret that I like presents, and I like fun mail, and once again Marty the Mail Lady and Aunt Nancy did not disappoint!  Haha - I think MTM likes fun mail days just as much as I do!  Look at the goodies...

 English toffee...my all-time favorite!

 Fudge...yum!

 The best caramel corn I have ever eaten

 A Sew Line marking pencil - which I have been wanting to try, a new magazine, Holiday towel and a dip mix.  But, do you see that fabric with the cardinals on it?  That is not just fabric, it is an apron!  I have been wanting an apron forever (but didn't want to make it!).  And this is perfect timing, because Mom and I are baking cookies together tomorrow!  Thanks Aunt Nancy - I LOVE IT ALL!!!

And look at this....remember my plea for the red fabric?  Well, no one has any of it - but Candace did find a 5" square - which beats nothing!  When the envelope came, I knew it was too fat to be just a 5" square. Candace also included some scraps for me and I have already used a lot of them for jewelry.  And knowing my love of kitties, look at the card that she enclosed!  Thanks to you Candace - your kind words always mean a lot to me.

 And yet another present!  This is from Lisa and Jess at Primitive Gatherings.  I gave them a few items for their open house, and look what they sent me...a pin cushion kit and some other patterns that they had for the open house - do you think I made it yet?  Hahahaha - I've thought about it several times, does that count?  I also had another gift, of sorts from Lisa the other day.  I talked to her on the phone several days ago and told her that I had not been working on too much jewelry - been kind of in a funk since CC died.  But I have been working on a quilt (I'll post it below).  Well, I think Miss Lisa thought I needed to get my butt in gear because she posted this on her blog - which brought me a bunch of jewelry orders!  But, I'm not complaining -  I've been busy filling those orders and now may just be back on track to get some more things made (thanks Lisa..lol).  And if you don't follow her blog, you should sign up and go read all of her 12 days of Christmas Needful things posts.  I think I pretty much want one of each of the things she's posted so far.

 And ANOTHER surprise!  This box came the other night (poor UPS guy is working some serious OT) - it is from the girls at Fons & Porter.  They always save their scraps for me and it's always tons of fun to go through and see what fabrics they have been using.  I've already used a few of these too (I have been making SOME jewelry, just not as much as usual).  They had some small pieces of the Metropolitan Fair line.  I really want a fat quarter bundle of that line - it is really yummy.

 So...WOW!!  That was a lot of goodies in the mail - such fun!

And here is the quilt that I've been working on - this is Dancing with the Stars that I bought at Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI, in April, when Kim and I went on The Great FART (and if you don't know what that is, go to my April posts!).  I had made a few of the blocks when I was sewing at church on Tuesdays, but then I got so busy that I haven't been there for months.  Well, I've been working on this on and off for the last couple of weeks  and finished it up the other night.  I already have the backing fabric - bought it at the same time for 50% off - couldn't refuse a deal like that.  But now I don't know what to do about quilting.  I will probably not hand quilt this one.  I have too many others that I want to hand quilt to put this one in the line up.

And you know I don't usually post without some kind of a kitty picture.  Since CC died it seems that the other two are visiting me in my sewing room a little more.  She always hissed and smacked at them when they came in here. - she preferred to have me to herself.  Here is Callie distributing her fur...

Doesn't she look perturbed?  It makes me laugh.  See that nice looking bundle of fabric that is by her?  Oh yes, that would be Snowman Gatherings - Lisa Bongean's new fabric line that will be in shops next spring.  Kim brought that home for me from Market in Houston.  Mr Awesome got it for her, to give to me.  Mr. Awesome would be Lori Kabat's son Phil. He has been deemed Mr. Awesome ever since he stood in line at the Moda booth (or did he elbow his way in?) during Sample Spree.  If you aren't familiar with Lori and her business, Lily Anna Stitches, make sure to take a look at her website - she has lots of great patterns.  So far I have just been using that nice FQ bundle as eye candy, but I must may cut into it very soon.

Ozzie has been in my sewing room a lot now, but I haven't taken any pictures of him.  He comes to visit in the morning and sits on my lap when I'm on the computer.  Which is kind of nice, BUT...he is very big and very furry!  His 18 pounds is a bit more than I was used to - CC at her heaviest was a little over 9 lbs.  Guess we are all making adjustments!  He also has been napping in a chair in here a lot too.  Kind of nice to have a visitor - it's been lonely in here the last month.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Patchalot

I wanted to quickly share something wonderful that I received in the mail today.  Are you familiar with Marcie Patch - the brains (and major talent) behind Patchalot Quilt Patterns? I met Marcie through blogging, and we have become cyber friends and hopefully will be able to meet in person one of these days. I have always admired Marcie's patterns - it seems that each one is better than the last.  You can see them on her website here.  She has been published in many magazines and you have probably seen her patterns in some of your favorite quilt shops.  I've intended to place an order forever, but frankly, every time I went to her website, I wanted ALL of them!  I had a terrible time narrowing it down, but I finally made my decision late last week.  And today...this is what Marty the Mail Lady brought me...

 Aren't they awesome? There were a few little surprises in there as well - and you all know how I LOVE surprises! I still don't know which is my favorite.  Can you pick just one favorite out of all of these?  I just don't think that I can. Be sure to visit Marcie's blog too - she has a darling picture of her little grandson on there, not to mention more great quilts, lots of market pictures and much more.

Ok, I think it's obvious that I have a love for Marcie, I will move on! We have been very busy working on jewelry - I'm sure that many people are buying gifts for their quilty friends - so it has been fun working on that. Here are a couple of new Christmas pieces that we finished.

Can you tell that is Santa in the upper left?  When I asked DH, he had no clue!  Lol - he doesn't like when I ask him those things!  I think he did figure it out eventually.  It was something new, and I thought it was kind of cute.

I also caught up on my NFW blocks awhile back, but didn't ever post the pictures.

I am 3 behind now, and Randy should give us a few more this week, but we are almost finished, so I'm not stressing out as much about getting behind.

Are any of you doing Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery Quilt?  I have never participated in a mystery quilt challenge, but I am seriously thinking about starting this one!  Someone please talk me out of it.  I was having trouble trying to figure out how to change her colors to something more my style.  It's just hard, when you have no idea what the pattern is going to look like.  But...I looked at some other blogs and got some ideas.  I really don't need to start this.  Come on...talk me out of it!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...or is it??

If you look outside, it is NOT looking like Christmas - it is sunny and 61 degrees today - yesterday the high temperature was 70 degrees!  What the heck?  Are we sure it's December?  If you look at the jewelry we've been making you will know that it is, in fact, December!  Here are a few pieces we finished last weekend...

This is a new style of tree that I hadn't made before - they are 1 1/4" pendants...

These are 1 1/2" pendants...

 1 1/4" Pendants...

 More 1 1/4" Pendants...

These pieces are all for sale, but are not on the website, so if you are interested in any of them, please let me know.  You  can wear them as a pendant or hang them on your Christmas tree.  I could custom make some for your family with names/dates on the back (that's what we did for our family last year!).

Yesterday I discovered that I am out of one of my favorite red fabrics, and wondered if anyone happened to have some that they would be willing to part with.  I would love to have a half yard but would take more if it's available.  I swear that I bought yardage of this, but it is not in my stash closet!

I am still really missing CC - it's just not the same in my sewing room without her.  I know I posted this picture before, but I love it - she had actually gained a little weight here - her heaviest ever was about 9 1/2 pounds (compared to Ozzie's EIGHTEEN!) and she just looked so nice and healthy here.  It was last summer - I was packing up my quilts for a trunk show and lecture that I was doing and she thought she needed to be the Queen of the stack! Most likely she was guarding them from Callie.

Hope you have a great day...

Support USA

Lisa Bongean posted this on her blog...makes you think and gives you great gift giving ideas A New Christmas Tradition  As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. How about a gift certificate to the local Chiropractor? A local Quilt or Fabric Store? Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the dollars on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town American with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by theAmerican working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about? BUY AMERICAN - BE AMERICAN - The job you save might be your own.