Back to work and somes finishes

Worked a bit longer last evening than I normally do but I did get some projects finished before heading out to work today.
My "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" is now Diamond Tree Skirt... as much as it was stressful to cut it, I now look forward to spreading it out next Christmas at the bottom of my tree.

Next......Ta DA!
My "Birchwoodlane House" by Suzanne McNeil from her book is all done... and I would put in my "favorites" category.
Every project I have made with a Holly Taylor lines go to the top of the list.

The house with a little appliqué ....

And of course Agnes' superb hand quilting which she demonstrated with the hearts she quilted in the border to match the heart on the house.

Check out Kate Spain's giveaway

Visit Kate's blog and to win this beautiful fabric
all you have to do is leave a quote that is inspirational to youfor example my quote: When I walk in a room I don't say'" look at me"; but rather " there you are"!

All the entries so far are great ! Check them out. A good read!

Last vacation day!

Today is my last day on vacation and as I look back on the work I accomplished in the last few days I am very satisfied. Also I am going to work with a feeling of gratitude for having a good job that I enjoy. Kelly asked me if I was ready to retire ( which could have happened in October 2009) and I had to think for a bit, but not long, because I enjoy my work and knowing I can submit my resignation anytime makes it more enjoyable. I am there because I want to and not because I have to.

When I am working I like to have projects lined up so I can work on them as the time permits. At the sewing machine when I have lots of time, small projects when I have just a few minutes and of course lap work when I need to just sit. Having said that, here is what I organized for my return to work.

First off you all remember my "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend" project by Karen Neary?
Well over Christmas I kept thinking how I wish I had made it into a tree skirt(which I needed badly) so yesterday with lots of courage and shaky hands I took the cutter and made the cut for a tree skirt..

the binding needs to be hand sewn and that is one of my lap projects I can do in the early am.

The next project "Heritage Square Quilt" by Miss Rosie...my sister, Simone, gave me

is the one that I will sew a few blocks at a time. This one requires the use of my machine so it will probably be the one I work on in the early evenings and it will be a long term project!

The next project is also one that requires my machine. This is the one I had submitted a few months ago for my CGQC project and never got around to doing it.

"Star Trip" by Jan Patek in the "Cranberry Wishes" which I call a no brainer and this one I am doing because want to try my skill at machine quilting. And to help me out I am reading..
Which I find very informative... but then these expert make it sound so easy!

Next project is the "Roses are Red" pattern another one by Jan Patek and I am making it with the French General "Rouenneries" ,

This has appliqués and it will be another lap work piece for when I settle down to watch a good show or even the Olympics in February ...This is the one I want to try my luck at hand quilting.

And the last piece I prepared is...(drum roll and/or fireworks) YES!! my Birchwoodlane house is

ready for binding and that will be another project I can do in my easy chair!

So am I ready to go back to work? Yes and no...but there will always be that excitement at the end of my day to come home to my projects / oh.. and of course my ♥husband♥

Elizabeth, one of the Charming Girls who won the $25.00 gift certificate for the December draw from;

says.... "I can't believe I won and I can't wait to go shopping".

It's a perfect time to go shopping because Kelly is having an amazing New Year clearing out sale!

Well I am still on vacation and happy to report I have been working on one of my January projects

Cause for The Cure "Heritage'. It is coming along very well but one thing I do not favor are patterns with "set in" triangles... and this one has them so I am dreading putting this piece together...Oh well! "One Row At a time".

And the winners are?

It is absolutely remarkable to see all the projects done in a busy month like December....Here are all the entries

of the various activities of the for the month of December ♥♥♥

So I seek help in picking names from my basket for the two $25.00 gift certificates from the

"Jay" always ready to help picks
the first winner... and it is
Elizabeth who's lovely bags, table runner and quilt for her daughter-in-law can be seen on my blog And the second winner

Cathi who thought she was too late to enter her name in for the draw. I recommend you click on her name to see her beautiful HoHoHo Quilt.

Congratulations ladies. I am going to send you an e-mail but if you read this blog before I do please connect with Kelly

So what have I been up to on this vacation day? My plan was to sew in my pj's all day but the sun is shining and the temperature is over the zero mark so I had to get dressed and take advantage of this beautiful day. I went for a long brisk walk early this moning and then cleaned my freezer. Boy! was I on a roll...

A lot of the blogs I visited I would read about the re-arranging of the sewing room/studios so I felt a little intimidated everytime I walked in my sewing quarters.Now every project that I am working on has its own box and packed neatly in a corner.

Then I attacked my stash and ironed and folded all my fat quarters/leftover fabrics. Now that everything is clean and neat, I do hope I will be able to find my things . I always said there was a meaning to my madness because in the clutter I could find everything!

Look no threads on the floor! It's a known fact that when you come to visit you do not need to bring slippers because the loose threads will cushion your feet well....

More December finishes

Elizabeth's December finishes.... She actually made 11 of these bags... what beautiful gifts! This beauty was made for her future daughter-in-law. Elizabeth says this is her favourite color... What a way for a mother-in-law to welcome a new daughter with a quilt!

And this braid tablerunner (my favourite pattern) Elizabeth made it for her brother and his wife.What beautiful gifts Elizabeth!

Carol's post "Time for Hearts" inspired me to put out my "hearts" quilts. These were the very first projects I stippled. When I made them, (a few years ago) I anticipated they would be just practice pieces but I did keep them, even if they only sit in the quilt cupboard.

January Projects

A blizzard, the decorations are down, the house is back in order and it is "Sewing Time"! I am still on vacation until Thursday so I hope to get my January projects going and they are:

Here is my first one: it is the BOM from "Better by the Dozen" by Susan Teegarden Dissmore and I am doing this quilt in the "Kansas Winter" by Kansas TroublesNext I want to finish my Birchwood Lane house in the "Birchwoodlane" line by Holly Taylor. And the last one I want to finish is Cause for the Cure "Heritage" by Howard Marcus . It was a kit I received last Christmas in my stocking and the only one that seemed to get exceptional revues from my husband, so I think it will have to be his.

So CGirls post you January projects on your blogs and let Kelly know you have done so .

December was a great month to host the CGQC and I thank you for all your support and patience. It was a very busy month and the postings may have been slow at times, on my part but visiting your blogs and admiring your holiday decorations, learning about your traditions made my Christmas so special this year and I thank you for sharing!

I will be doing the draw for the two $25.00 gift certificates from

on Monday; so if you haven't posted your December projects on your blogs yet you may want to do it this week-end so your name can be be entered in the draw and let me know on this post.

Kelly is your host for January and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hope everyone is well after the New Year celebrations. Our New Year's Eve was filled with happiness as my sister and I enjoyed ringing in the New Year together.
Quilting and future quilting projects was the topic of conversation, ( sort of ignored the men for a bit) He He He! because Simone brought me this beautiful gift..


A kit for the "Heritage Square" quilt by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.. I was speechless and so excited I told "Jay" he would have to move over because I couldn't let go of my new gift and I would need to sleep with it.
My sister and I decided to get comfy and sew in our pj's , so off I go to get changed and there it was; "Jay" had placed my kit neatly on the bed....LOL
There is no better way to start off the New Year than with a new quilt project !
Happy Happy New Year!♥♥♥
With the new year comes also the new January projects. Kelly is your host for January so once you have posted your January projects on your blog leave a comment with Kelly or if you wish you may leave a comment here.