*Pioneer Christmas*

 

It's snowing!!! Yea! I am substituting a class at church on Sunday that is full of 11 and 12 year old girls. Their teacher has finished all the lessons for the year. So, I thought we would have a simple lesson on Church History and the simplicity of Christ's message to us. I am feeling kindof Pioneer-ish and thinking about having an all home-made Christmas next year. {I've been introducing this idea to sweetie-pie and the kidlets over the past several weeks.} I pulled out some odds and ends and made these darling little treat bags. I think they look like the little paper candy sacks that small children would have gotten at the local dry goods store in days gone by. What do you think?

Christmas Give Away!

 

Just checking to see if anyone is checking me {this blog} out during the holidays....If you are, just send me a quick email and I will send this little kitchen towel to YOU!!! There's only 1, so act fast. Toodles! **Update** Congrats to Debbie. It's in the mail!

December BOM

 

Here it is! The December BOM. AND it's finished early! Of course, it was extra-easy. Just these 3 hearts this month. After the quilt is quilted, I will probably add some button embelishments. Don't have to worry about that until summer, at the soonest. Just 3 more months to go. How sad.

Some spare time & spare parts!

 

Look what I did with scraps! I felt a hankering' to sew up something without spending any $$$. Actually, I did spend $ , once upon a time, when I bought the fabrics & batting for the original projects. I was thinking that I needed to use up some scraps from the drawers in my sewing table. Here's the story: Next to my computer hangs a quilting calendar with a cute "Holiday Blooms" quilt for December. I was looking at it and thought to myself, "I really like that poisetta-looking applique block. I think I'll make a cute little pillow using that block." So, I spent a couple hours Thursday hunting around for fabric, a couple hours Sunday applique-ing, a couple hours Monday machine quilting and binding what became this little quilt. I think it turned out really cute!!! It will be bittersweet to give it away. But I am determined to share the love. Only one person can get the quilt, but to the rest of you...Thank you for sharing my journeys with me. Luv U!

Early or Late?

 

It is feeling more Fallish than Wintery today, so I decided to sew my little Happy Jack while doing laundry. I got the fabric and pattern for this cute 12 inch quilt the latter half of October. I knew it would be a quick project to get done and today I felt like doing a quick project. So, you decide...did I make it too late for Halloween 2009 or early for 2010?

November BOM

 

Ta Dah! Here are the November blocks! I think I will put some eyes on the birds after the quilt is finished. AND,the angel needs a little bling, too. But I don't know what. So, nothing will probably happen...unless I get a sudden stroke of genius....

Just in Time.

For those who are following the progress of the quilt...Here is this months BOM with 11 1/2 hours to spare! I didn't think I was going to make it. But, Ben and the boys are in Provo @ the BYU Scout Pow Wow and Audrey is @ the Logan Tabernacle at Best of Especially for Youth listening to John Bytheway. So.....while the family is away, Julie will play. And then do housework, which I am starting right now. Watch out bathrooms-here I come!

Wild About Wood Ducks!

Finally, Holden's Eagle Project is complete! Now we just need to encourage him to get the paperwork submitted. Holden is so excited about his project and in helping the Waterfowl Conservation efforts through the group Wild About Wood Ducks (W.O.W). He worked really hard, (with some parental supervision, of course)to get materials donated and lots of man-hours donanted to get these 14 wood duck nesting boxes finished. They will be placed by W.O.W. in the spring along local rivers, streams, etc.

Do you see what I see?

Finally, we had some rain (and snow) yesterday. This morning the dogs and I went on a walk to inspect the frost damage in the garden. Here is the view as I stand amid the frozen tomatoes. I luv FALL!!! It's a good thing we picked everything that was hinting at ripeness on Monday. I spent the rainy day chopping, steaming, and boiling. My hands are still burning from chopping jalapenos!

Bigger Pumpkin BOM Block

Sorry about the picture....still learning. Or more appropriately-not learning, because I keep making the same mistakes!

September BOM

Two pumpkin blocks this month. AND they are much cuter in person. I spent a whole bunch of time trying to crop and adjust the color of the pictures so they would appear more accurate, but I am obviously doing something wrong because I can't get those pictures to download.

No sewing this week.

I picked up my September BOM last week and got started on it, but then I HAD to set it aside to get some bottling done. This week I have worked on tomatoes, peaches, & raspberry jelly. YUM!!! Today was the first meeting of my new Quilt Guild. After the meeting I came home and put the canning stuff away and finished my BOM. Maybe I can sew a little bit tomorrow, too! However, tomorrow and Saturday I will be attending Time Out for Women. If you haven't ever attended-I highly recommend it.

August BOM

Once again I am having technical difficulties, because I don't know what I'm doing! I tried to rotate this picture, but couldn't get it to work. Sorry. Anyway, super easy block. Was finished in a couple hours! Yea!!! Now I'm caught up from leaving the country. By the way, the July and August blocks were completed on Aug. 28th leaving me with 3 days to spare!!!

And....July BOM

Not the best picture ever, but this block took a while. The "berries" are extra small yo-yo's. I think they're about 3/4". I'm not sure how long it took to make them, but I was focused (or the more appropriate word could be "possessed", and made all 50 of them one evening. Then I spent the next morning-about 4 hours-sewing them on. In the end I think I only used 48 of the berries. This block looks really cute, trust me!

This is June House #2

It's never too late!

Finally, they're here....June BOM has two house blocks. This is House #1

Just in case anyone is wondering...No, I did not get the July B.O.M. finished. Becasue of our trip to England I got a little distracted. For June, there were actually 2 house blocks. I will get the pictures posted as soon as I charge up the camera batteries from the trip. Speaking of cameras, Brock's camera is still in the UK who knows where.

Puppy learns a lesson!

Growing pains can be, well....painful. In the past week our 11 month old puppy,Mo, has learned not to play with skunks, not to jump out of moving vehicles, & not to play on the side of the road. As parents we try to teach our children (and pets) how to be safe. But, somethings you just have to learn on your own.

BOM update

Just in case anyone is wondering....Yes, I have been staying on top of the quilt block of the month. April was finished in April & May was finished in May, barely.

For the 1st time ever...

Here it is! Yesterdays big plunge into my 1st QBOM (Quilt Block of the Month)! It's all neatly packaged and just waiting for me. The April block is towards the center of the quilt and it is the one with the 4 pineapples. This pattern is a touch primitive for me, but I have been wanting to learn how to applique, so here it goes! My goal is to have this one block finished by the end of April. If anyone wants it when it is finished, let me know-you have a year to think about it.

something new!

Today has been a day of new things for me! First, I attended a new quilt guild group this morning (which I've been planning to do for two years) , then I took the plunge and joined my 1st ever "Block of the Month" group (which I've been thinking of for two days). And to top it all off, Colette inspired me to start a blog (which I've given maybe two minutes of thought to-and great family picture, by the way. It's good to know I was one of those last 9 cards you were waiting to mail!). I've decided it's time to break out of my shell and start doing what I love!