NY

Christmas is over, and now we are looking forward to a New Year. My wedding anniversary is January 3 (39 yrs), and my birthday is January 15 (61 yo), so all of my milestones are right at the beginning of the year. I'm looking forward to this year. Lots of good things to come I'm sure.

I have signed up for a Free Motion Quilting challenge for 2012. There will be tutorials on quilting with your regular sewing machine on a monthly basis. (See sidebar for link). I do well with my mid arm quilter, but I have never mastered doing small things, as well as marking the quilting patterns. I hope to learn a thing or 2. Or 3.

Dave's brother was here for Christmas. We nor his mother hadn't seen him for over 20 years, but he came back into the fold this year. We got to talking about the old days, and I drug out this picture from when I was 24. What a motley looking group. I am on the far left, and Dave is the one on the bottom right (with the long hair) and our 2 kids, Jack and Cari. Why they separated us I will never know, probably because I am short and the picture needed to be balanced. His brother is the tallest one standing.

Dave went for many years after that with short hair, but when Bush sent the military to Iraq, he started letting his hair grow again and said he wouldn't cut it til the troops came home. He got it cut last Friday. (Can I hear a loud collective YAY!!!!?? For the troops coming home, not his haircut...) Needless to say, it was quite long. But now I told him he can't let it grow again til we get a house where he has his own bathroom. I hated dealing with all that hair in the bathtub, lol.

I hope to have lots of quilty things to show you all this year. And I hope 2012 holds many good things for you all too.

Later,
WilmaNC

Merry Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

"...And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

A great idea, but of course not from me. :)

Just a quick post to let you all know I am still here. I've just been really busy with holiday stuff and visitors etc, but found this tutorial that i just had to share.

I always reuse my plastic bags from the grocery etc for can liners in the TV room and the bathroom. (I try to always use my cloth bags, but sometimes I just forget!!) I have one of those bag holders that all quilters own I'm sure. It gets full and then the elastic stretches out and the bags fall to the floor.

 Look familiar?

This is what my bags look like now...

Remember playing table football with the folded paper? Well, fold your bag like that and they are tiny!!! You can store them in a clothespin bag or any small container. It only takes a minute to fold

I didn't make the tutorial, but here is a link: Click Right Here!! Once you're there, click on the tut and it gets big enough to read well. Ingenious, right??

Hope your holidays are going well and you are staying sane.

Later,
WilmaNC

Christmasy Things and a Request for Knitters

I entered a table runner in the contest at the Quilting Gallery. It is one of my favorites from the monthly table runners that were put out by Cotton Way. I love all of the patterns they make.  It is machine appliquéd and machine quilted. I have only one more to do and then I will have the entire year done.

In my little online group, ABC Quilters, we did a fabric challenge. My sister Roma sent us each a half yard of Christmas fabric and we were to make something out of it to swap. The rule was to make something you would like to receive. I made pillows from mine. Well, when the challenge was over, we were told that we each keep what we made for ourself!!!! Cool, eh? (We are always looking for a few new members who will participate in our little projects.)

I was in a doll quilt swap at the Quilting Bee Forum (see sidebar) and this is the quilt I received. It is so cute!!!! Thanks, Kim Duggin, for the sweet quilt that will go on the wall with my others.

We also did a Secret Santa on the ABC group. We used the word Christmas, and had to give something that started with each letter of the word. I got some really nice things from my sister, Roma.

Oh, and I got this pattern for a Swirl Christmas tree from Frivolous Necessity. It is sooo sweet. I am in the process of sewing down all of the pieces. My sister Patty did one in a red/green color way. It is such a unique pattern.

So, that's all of the pics I have to share right now.

                                            KNITTERS
 I have a request. I want to knit toe up socks. I have googled and watched youtube videos up the ying yang and can't seem to get the toe started. I tried the figure 8, which everything said was the easiest. Do any of you have a preferred way? And if you do, will you share with me. Thanks!!!!

Later!
WilmaNC