Getting ready for Christmas!

Thanksgiving is done and I am tired of turkey and pumpkins so now the time has come to focus on Christmas. I like Christmas better anyway! The kids are getting all excited and letting me know what they would like to see under the tree. Andrew is the only one who really doesn't care. I have been making gifts and stockings. A few years ago, I made stockings for pretty much everyone I could think of. I have the best pattern in the world....they take about fifteen minutes to cut out and stitch and they are fun to embellish too...A lady a few years ago showed me how and it was just a word of mouth thing. If anyone would like directions, just email me and I will be happy to share it with you. The kids no longer have their stockings so I am doing a major stocking replacement project. I try to make them in fabrics that the kids can relate to and I like to mix patterns, but they would be beautiful in velvets or satins or something fancier. I also finished a big lap quilt for one of my friends. I made it to go with her bedroom...she has a beautiful satin duvet cover in a gold tone so I picked fabrics based on that. I also made two big pillowcases to match. I am happy with how it turned out. I used a "nine patch pizazz" pattern. I bought the book and it is pretty cool.....It sure makes up an easy quilt. I am using it to make a "fairy " quilt for my sister too...I also have a purse almost done, a fleece/ fur jacket and two quilts ready to quilt. We will see what I get done before Christmas...I have not done any shopping yet and actually, I am not all that excited about it. I like buying the gifts and giving them but figuring out what to get is a little overwhelming right now. I have turned into a hermit and hate leaving the island to go into Seattle.....(want a little cheese with that whine?) I know, I know.....there are worse things than traffic and hordes of people pushing and shoving and way to warm stores....I am resolving to post more on my blog...I really do like to talk to myself you know...We will see if I can manage it. Well, off to my sewing room and my favorite tv show tonight! Project runway!!!! I love this guy named Ricki that cries over everything.....I don't think I have seen him dry eyed yet! It is hysterical....

busy week........

I have been busy around here this week! Besides working at the fabric store, I have been getting ready for Thanksgiving and have started on some handmade Christmas gifts. Last year I made my brothers and sisters gifts and I think I am going to do the same this year. So many people sympathize as far as me having the little kids to take care of and I have to say, I really have grown to love having them here. Once the initial adjustment happened, it just gets better and better. They make me laugh and they fill up my heart. I am amazed by something they do or say every single day! Yes, my house gets ripped up and I gotta do ten tons of laundry but my life is richer because of them. Now the teenage years? Lets just hope that their mom and dad have it together by then because I would not look forward to doing that again! As far as creativity goes, as usual I am working on several things. I am trying to finish up some quilts, making a new purse for me out of some really funky and bright fabrics and I made a new Christmas quilt and pillowcases for my bestest friend in Portland. She has asked me for the last two years, and I finally got it together and got busy. I am going to quilt it tomorrow and then I will take a picture. I also finished the top to my "One block wonder" and man, it is a wonder it is done. It is the most work in a big quilt that I have done but sooooo pretty. I don't really have a purpose for it...Seems like it was too much work to give away though. I may just have to admire it for a while and then pass it on. I finished the last of my "Color me silly" groups altered journals. This was for Heather Holst and her theme is the forest. I loved working in it because I always loved the woods. My sister and I had the ocean and beach in front of us and the woods behind us and we would play for hours in our secret place in the woods. We even got chased by a bear one time but our dog saved us...but that is a whole "nother story.....Heather's book is now all done and tomorrow will be on its way home...Mine is still lost in Canadian customs somewhere. I am thinking it is like a time capsule...it could be a month, a year, a hundred years but eventually I am sure it will show up! I have faith....really. In the meantime my lovely group members are all sending me 8x8 spreads on friendship. We as a group are also doing another round robin altered journal go round. I am going to do a book on altered family recipes. It should be fun....The pictures I am posting are of the forest layout, and Andrew and Cooper hanging out...Note Andrews socks...I think he is sooo adorable with his little mismatched feet up in the air and the last photo is Olivia and Andrew eating Halloween suckers on the kitchen floor....I also have to share that I am sooooo excited for this Wednesday night and the PREMIERE of PROJECT RUNWAY as I am a die hard fan and I hope there is tons of drama and fights and beautiful clothes! If you havent seen it, it is on Bravo....watch it, it is some rockin tv!