Work Done Today

Wow , I have done some serious work in the sewing room today. Sadly it was not a sewing experience. I spent most of the day while I was home cleaning things up in there. You see, that is the only spare room and I will need to have room for a bed on the floor in there. My son and his girl will be staying there for Christmas. They don't mind that it is tight. Only before today they could not have gotten in there at all. I was down to a small path from the door to the chair. Now with just a few more min. of work we can get that bed blown up and ready for them.
Well, my mother is on my list this year, and all she asked for was a set of pans. Now she doesn't even cook anymore, so I thought they were kind of a ridiculous idea. However i was going to get them for her if possible. I tried to order them and they were sold out. So I have been to six or seven different stores that I thought might have them. No luck at all. So today I was shopping and praying about it. I strolled around yet another store, looking for inspiration. Suddenly I remembered the project I have planned for myself. I bought myself two sweat shirts and took the seams out and removed the band at the waist and neck. I have this idea how to quilt it up in french braids. Some how it isn't working out in my head though so I have not started them yet. Any way I bought mother two sweat shirts and I am going to quilt them up for her. I may only get one done before Sat. but i can do the other one next week . Kind of added to my list of things to do, huh? I may be an idiot, to think I can do it, but I sure am gonna try.
I went out this afternoon and met with the lady I am making quilts for, to let her have the one I finished weeks ago. I kind of needed the money and she gets to use it for Christmas. I got a call for another quilt too, so I have work on the way. Is that called an income??? I sure hope it is. I promised the lady today I would try and get her other quilt done by the first week of the year. I still need to get busy with the had quilting project and I have two crochet projects to get finished too. Kind of want to make some goodies for some others that I care about around here too. We will see. I did finish putting the patches on my sons knit hats that he brought me in the summer. Tomorrow I want to hem his t-shirts for him as well. That way I will have them done when he comes and he can take them home with him. Only problem is that is a stitch I have not used often on my serger so I am not sure I remember how to do it. I may end up having to go to the store and have them remind me. I need to get them done he has been so patient and not complained at all that I have had them for almost 9 months and he still doesn't have them back. He is a great son, and I am so happy to have him in my life.
I keep forgetting to tell you, I have joined the UFO challenge for 2011. I have chosen 10 quilt UFO's and numbered them 1-10. The leader of the challenge will then choose a random number each month from Jan. to Oct. That will be the quilt I will work on that month and complete it. That means I will have at least 10 quilts in my UFO box finished by the end of the year. With any luck and some extra time, it might even inspire me to finish some others quilts that I have not added to the list. I will have listed and numbered all of my UFO's by the end of next week. I am almost terrified to know what that number is. I need to not start any more quilts until I have completed the ones I have in progress. More on my goals for next year in another post.
Well, I am off for tonight. Yall have a very quilty day tomorrow.
Tennye

Working and Cooking

Well, I have made a very cute apron for a friend who is a waitress, I made some bags to mail to my daughter in Tennessee. I have been to the post office to mail  boxes two times this week and I really need to make another trip.  I helped my daughter make cookies last night, today I made four batches of Peanut Brittle. I have the quilt almost made, now I will have to quilt it. Then an income. I finished the dish rag I was crocheting for the class I am teaching next month. I still need to get the fabric and make the PJ pants for the sewing class in Jan. I have two quilting classes, one crochet, three sewing classes. Please pray they will fill up.
  I really need to get this thing behind me that keeps me from setting up an ETSY store. Why does fear keep getting in the way? I look at all the stores, there and I am at least as good as they are. I am better at what I do than some I see. My design for the coffee sleeve I make is better than any I see. They all are willing to give theirs away though and my time is worth more than others think theirs is. Am I just being snutty?
I am working on getting our scraps under control, and I am taking pictures so that when I get is all figured out I can show all of you how I did it. Sorry to say I didn't have time to make any photos of the bags I sent off to TN. I will take one of the apron though, before I wrap it. My camera battery is dead so I have to charge it first. Gonna need to have it ready for next weekend any way ,so now is a good time. Right!!!
Well, I am getting distracted with the movie the kids are watching I gotta go.
Have a very quilty day,
Tennye

Christmas Spirit

I am having a hard time finding my Christmas spirit this year. However today I got a call from my youngest daughter, the one in Tennessee. This will be her first year to not get to come home at all for Christmas. We had a lovely talk and I started to remember that if we don't get that box in the mail for her and her new boyfriend, it won't be there on time. So I went in search of the the stocking stuffers that I have been buying all year. Especially while I was on vacation. Of course her new special people were not in her life when I started buying, so there are not so many things for them. Funny I have a Barbie dress that I crochet for her when she was a child and never got the closure on it. I am getting it finished and sending it to his little girl. We actually have a pretty good sized box for her. While I was looking for the gifties I found my Christmas spirit. I could even see myself making some new stocking for the family next year. I may even make one for the new child in the family.
So I am still behind on the quilt I am working on. Not that she has any need for me to hurry. She is not waiting for it, she bought the fabric over a year ago. She has told me not to worry about getting it made.  I watched a Christmas movie this afternoon while I was working on it. I have been watching Christmas movies for a week or more. I love them and will miss them when the holidays are over. So tomorrow will be a day of running errands. I already have a list of things to be done.
The boss is wanting me to start a crocheting class in Jan. so I started a dish rag tonight. I have it about half done, and when it is ready I will take it to the store and let her put it up. I have not done much of it since I got the quilting bug. So I will get back to doing that for a while. Not to leave quilting behind I assure you. I love to design new quilts and hope to get those scraps under control for myself and all of you.
Well, off to bed for the night. Have a very quilty day tomorrow.
Tennye

Today as it is.

Well, I have had one of those days, you know the kind where you start out with the intention of doing a full day of work. You are ready to hit the sewing room bright and early. THEN it happens.... the phone rings, and you have to run an errand for hubby. You get home and realize you need to go do an errand you promised the kids you would do for them last night. So off you go to do that and while you are out you remember that new store is open and you really want to check it out. After all it is Christmas and you are no where near done with it. So you stop in and check it out. Back home and you need to start your day although you are late you still have hopes of it being a good work day. You look up at the clock and wow it is time to make lunch. Lunch is made you cleaned the kitchen and your ready to get busy, but go check email first. I had so many emails that when I finally got it all done it was 4 in the afternoon and I was frustrated. So did I got to the sewing room and get some work done???? No, I just gave up and played cards. Went out with my daughter for supper tonight, and when I got home, I sat down and watched a Christmas movie. Ahhhh such is life, you just have to take each day as it comes and if it doesn't turn out as you expect, well It's gonna be okay there is another day tomorrow.
Have a quilty day and I will be back soon.
Tennye

Happy Day

Well, just stopping by to say hello and I am so happy, today. My daddy is feeling much better and acting right. I had x-rays today and my elbow is not broken, so I don't have to worry about long term issues because I waited to long to see the Dr. Yea!!!!!!
I need to be in the sewing room but I must admit with my arm in so much pain the last week I have not gotten there. I decided today I would write and go there no matter what my arm is feeling like. I want those quilts gone asap so I sew. Pain will not stop me. Besides I have so much I want to do with you I don't want this to go on any longer. Next time we start the scarp project.
So have a scrappy quilty weekend.
Tennye

Christmas is a coming

Well, I do hope all of you had a wonderful weekend. I had a very busy one, going to the hospital, decorating the house, cleaning things up, and doing some laundry. Today I cleaned out the refrigerator from the Thanksgiving feasting. Now there is room for some goodies for the next event.
I still have not put up my village, we have a debate over where to put it this year. You see the cats like to use the half wall as a pass through on the way to my room. Then there is the idea that Cali likes to play with the people and sometimes we find them in strange parts of the house. LOL

Here is the small forest.

This is the entry table. 









I like the way it turned out, and I am so grateful to one of my husbands customers for the lovely Poinsettia. I have a little side story about this part of my house and my cats. See the door to the left of the table? That is our coat closet and this morning when my husband left for his first job, he opened it and grabbed his coat. He was only in there about 20 seconds or so. Later, I was doing some work in the kitchen and on the computer and Hydie my orange cat kept messing with that door and rattling it. I tried to get her to stop, but she wouldn't and I was busy so I just went on with what I was doing. Later i headed to my bedroom and Hydie was lying snuggled up to that door. I realized I had not seen Cali in a while. I opened the door and sure enough there she was. She wasn't even very interested in coming out. I had to laugh that Hydie was trying to get her out and I didn't realize what was going on.

This is the fireplace (DUH) and off to the left is the manger I told you about that I got for my first birthday from my grandmother. I haven't had time to finish cleaning up the boxes and getting things in order so I didn't take any more pictures.
I worked on the quilt I am making drawing lines on the diagonal to make large flying geese. I will do the sewing tomorrow, and if things go well I will have the top completed and ready to sandwich and quilt. I will be happy to have that one completed and off to its owner. Not only do I need the income, but I truly had planned for it to be completed over a week ago. With falling and my dad being in the hospital I am behind in so many things. My arm is still swollen and bruised, and some days hurts really bad. I am glad I can still work at all, and my dad got out of the hospital today. He has some real changes to make in how he lives, but he is home now and happy to be there.
So we will have some scrappy things to do soon. Have a very quilty day and I will talk to you soon.
Tennye

The Beginnings

 Well, our family started the magic of Christmas last night after my husband got home from work. He and my daughter pulled out the boxes and then we started right away putting things up. We got the first tree up and decorated, and the pole is decorated. Then we got out the nativity I got for my first birthday. That is just the very beginning of course, but at least the magic has begun. I am in the middle of a quilt that I should have gotten done last week or the week before. I was however in pain from my fall, and then just when I started getting over that , well , my dad did his thing. So my plan today is to get that as far as I can, however my husband has other plans for me. He is good at that.
So today I am going to get working on that lizard quilt, and with any luck get it cut and at least half sewn up. Then if I have any energy left over I will try to get the Christmas dishes changed out like hubby wants me to. Maybe someone will also decide to get another tree or two up and decorated. So needless to say I need to get off here and get busy.
So have a very quilty weekend.
Tennye

This Day

 Well, I have had a completely odd and somewhat hard week. A friend of mine from high school had a heart attack this week. I am eternally grateful that we had a high school reunion this summer. I spent about an hour just visiting with him that evening, and I have thought of nothing more this week. So grateful I had that time to reconnect with someone from my past who meant so much to me so long ago. We never dated and never wanted to, but we were good friends and lost touch over the years. So please take some time at the end of this year and in the new year to reconnect with old friends  Don't be saddened by the loss of opportunity to talk to an old friend.
My dad is still in the hospital and will most likely be there over the weekend. I stayed home today so i could work. I really need to get this next quilt completed and get the hand quilting project finished. I have not been able to work with my injuries from the fall before Thanksgiving, now this. I have very little time to work when I spend a couple of hours a day at the hospital and then mother and I go to lunch or dinner. I know you all have been through those times in life. I got frustrated today when I realized that part of the fabric had been washed and not the other part. Needless to say I had to take time out to do that before I could cut it out. Tomorrow it will be cut out and hopefully I'll start sewing.
So until I am beck have a very quilty time,
Tennye
Sorry for the less than up post the last few day.