Santa Came!

Santa made it to my house! And, he was very generous this year. Thanks to my sister I am going to have one happy, happy day or two at Quilting By the Bay, Panama City, FL. I have been making plans in my head! I, also have an Omnigrid ruler grip, a new rotary cutter, three project filled magazines and several quilt making "gadgets."

My wardrobe increased in shades of blue, silver and white.

My parents were here for Christmas. We had a lovely family holiday.

The tree came down today. All the Christmas decorations are packed away until new Thanksgiving! Cha Cha was not a happy cat when her tree was boxed until she discovered her favorite table back under her favorite window. 

Giveaway(s) opportunity - Dawn is holding a wonderful New Year Fabric Giveaway. She has 7 yards of Dr. Seuss for one lucky winner. Drop over and visit her blog to enter. Should you happen to win please remember to send me my share for sending you over to her blog -- just kidding! Good luck to all!

Charlie of Qubee Quilts is having a giveaway for a Fandango layer cake in honor of his birthday.

The Tree Stands!

Almost a week and the tree still stands.

I am going to try wrapped PRESENTS next!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

My Christmas music boxes both play We Wish You a Merry Christmas ...... Don't you love the sights and sounds of the season?

The Lights Sparkle as the Music Plays

HO HO HO

Fontanini Nativity - Carmelite Monastery

A favorite Christmas memory is browsing in the Carmelite Monastery Gift Shop, Jackson, MS. The gift shop is open year round; however, between Thanksgiving and Christmas the shop is whirl wind of activity. This is one of the most beautiful shops I can recall being in.

This next one is the Nativity contained inside a lovely tear drop glass. The ornament is meant for the year. Not this year. Cha Cha required non-breakable ornaments. Although she has done amazingly well leaving the tree standing.

Should you be in Jackson, MS make the Carmelite Monastery a must see. The nuns bake fabulous Rum Cakes. Grab a few as soon as you get to the kitchen area. The cakes will be long gone if you don't.

IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

A few pictures of my Christmas tree, which is still standing! Yeah! A lot of the ornaments are handmade - the stars, candy canes, and felt pieces. The rest has been collected over the years. The tree skirt is actually a table runner I cross stitched years ago. It fits perfectly under the smaller tree I now have. I am waiting a few days before introducing wrapped presents. Cha Cha needs "adjustment time."

IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY QUILTING!

Cha Cha's Christmas 2010

Look How Tall!

Unidentified foreign object detected in my living room

Smells Unlike Anything I've Run Across

It has lights!

Wonder What We Are Supposed To Do With This Thing

Bite It??!!??

Slap It???!!!??

Climb It??!!???

Perhaps We Sleep Under It!

 

 

 

JUST REMEMBER WHATEVER I CHOOSE TO DO

THIS TREE IS MINE - ALL MINE!

I HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION!

        

Christmas Party, Christmas Decorating, Christmas Fun in Blog Land

The office party was last night. My employer had her home decorated for the season in tasteful, comfortable style. We had quite a gathering of employees and their families. I ate way too much. The caterer was the Chef from Dirty Dick's Crab House, Panama City Beach, FL - fabulous! I believe my favorite thing about living in Florida is how seafood is tradition at every occasion. Should you come this way for the holidays (or any time) make sure to experience Dirty Dick's Crab House. You will be amazed.  Can you believe Christmas is almost here?

My dad got home from the hospital. He walked out rather than the usually mandated wheelchair ride. It seems the Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS is overflowing. They lacked an available wheelchair, so the nurse walked with my dad to the car waiting at the door. I haven't gotten to speak with him yet. He was napping yesterday afternoon. I'm hoping for my opportunity to talk this morning.

Today is the day to put up the Christmas tree. This is Cha Cha's first Christmas at my house. I am thinking this may be an "experience" for both of us. I will try to get pictures before the "re-decoration" begins.

Be sure to check out the Henry Glass Designers Holiday Blog Parade. Today is day 5 but you have time to get involved. All the links are on a separate page of my blog.

Also, starting December 10, 2010 In Stitches is sponsoring the Holly Jolly Blog Bingo - the link is on another page of my blog. Go to the In Stitches blog to select your 25 words, so you will be ready to play. Don't you love all the fun blog hops and games in blog land?  I certainly do.

Happy quilting to all.

Table Runners, FRIENDS Swap and Christmas

This is the back side of the top of a table runner under way. I had to take a picture. The seams bunted just right and everything went together without use of the seam ripper! And the finished size measured correctly according to the wonderful skill building book "Quilters Academy - Vol. 1" by Harriett & Carrie Hargrave. Love that book.  I haven't posted the practice pieces, however, I am studiously working through the lessons in the book. The process has been rewarding.

On to the table runner. All I have so far is the top. I think it is turning off fairly well. This is a Christmas gift for a dear friends, who loves birds and gardening. I believe she will enjoy this.

The funny thing is I lost on of the 5" blocks just before I was ready to start sewing them together. It fell or blew right off the table when I turned my head away to take a sip of coffee.

Oh, look Cha Cha found it! Isn't she a brilliant cat? 

This "incident" was approximately 5 minutes after she came out from hiding under the bed. Earlier this morning I ran to the store - wasn't gone long.  Miss Cat must have figured I was finally gone for the day. She's less than thrilled with me taking time off from work. I cramp her day time activities. Back to the story - I guess she failed to hear the car drive up because she was playing in the dried beans soaking in the pan sitting in the kitchen sink. My "What are you doing?" sent her streaking down the hall to hide under the bed, where she stayed for quite some time. The little darling came out just to help me sew! Sweet kitty!

This picture is the Christmas table runner I have been working on.  It is narrow to fit the table it is being made for. I had to stop because the border fabric I purchased is way too busy. I am thinking it is going to need a fairly solid muted green.  Hmm, I am thinking with a different border fabric this may become a fall table topper rather than a Christmas table topper. Food for thought anyway.

My FRIENDS Swap goodies are close to ready to ship to Australia. Just a few loose ends to tie up. The swap has been loads of fun! I'm thinking I will probably do it again!

I have spend days blog hopping to the over 130 blogs participating in the Fall Into Fall Giveaway. I've greatly enjoyed the journey, have added a few new blogs to my regular reading list and put my name in the pot for some wonderful giveaways. If you haven't checked it out, I recommend you get busy. Just click the button on my sidebar to be "magically" directed to the fun.

Well, that's it for today. I have sewing to finish before I have to go back to work tomorrow. Not to mention my house could use a bit of cleaning. Until next time .... Happy Quilting!

Christmas

Started a Christmas project today. This is the beginning of a table runner. I did not get much done - had several not so great starts, which required the use of a seam ripper. Ughh! All of you bloggers make this quilting look so easy. I find myself thinking oh yes, I can do that! I am finding the doing a bit more complicated than my thinking. But Rome was not built in a day!

I kept hoping the local quilt shop would have a new quilters class. They have been telling me to check back in the fall; however, although the weather remains Hot in Florida, it is October. No class has been listed. So, I purchased the Quilters Academy by Harriet Hargrave and Carrie Hargrave. I am told it is a great skill building - learning to quilt book. I intend to start on page one and do the projects in order.  I have been pleased so far with the few projects I have worked on; however, I know I have lots to learn. I'm also thinking I need to go take a picture taking class! The colors are much richer in the above than they appear on the screen.

Anyway ... I am having a grand time learning a new skill! Happy quilting!