Family Matters

This past week is exactly that "Family Matters"

Christmas Day is always a little sad for me as my daughter's other family, Husbands, has always gotten together for Christmas. So after they were married we started having our Christmas on the 26th.

This year we were fortunate, due to some family changes on my daughter-in-laws family they came East instead of her Mother going to Colorado. So it was a win win situation. I told my son when he said they were coming to be sure and save the 26th for us.

They were the first to arrive. Son, Daughter-in-law and Sara, 16 and Chris, almost 14.

They at least helped get the table ready. We would be 12 altogether. The kids set it and then Daughter and her family arrived. Hubby and kids, Joe, 21, Ashley, 19, Angela, 18 and Dan, almost 14. The three older are in college.

I said before they came they were going to help. and they did. This is a picture of all the kids acting up in the kitchen before dinner. They did this for some reason. I came out to my porch and got my camera. We called Joe to come get in also. So this is the group.

The first two on the left at DS's from Colorado. Chris is the one I showed a picture of a couple months ago that got his very blond hair dyed purple. At least now it is a deep blond.
The other 4 are my DDs. Great kids really

This is the three girls doing the dishes after dinner. They had quite a routine set up. Ashley was washing , Angela, drying and Sara put them away and they were done in no time..You can see how the big window opening over the sink looks out to my sewing porch

Since this was the first time that all the family had been together in my home, the other time had been at the beach. I was sure to get some pictures. I had asked my neighbor to come over and snap with my camera.

So here we are. Hubby in his chair and me with the bare feet. The two boys on either side. They are only 2 days apart in age. and Chris has finally caught up to Dan.
DS is in back with the dark beard and Jeanne and Sara. Then in the red is DD and her hubby with the white beard. and the rest of them.

Hard to tell when we will ever get together again. Sara will be going off to college in the fall to Northern Co. University at Greeley.

Joe the oldest GS will graduate from Salisbury University this spring.
Ashley is in her sophomore year at University of the Arts in, Phila. and Angela is a Freshman at University of Western Florida in Pensacola.

They all went home that night except DS. He said he'd stay overnight if I could take him back to Fairfax, and his MILs home on Thurs.

So this past week has been very busy. But what a wonderful time. The kids all get along so good together.

Family is very special and so are all my online friends and bloggers. I love to hear from you all.

Happy new Year.!!!

One down and one to go

Boy am I behind, This week has gone so fast and It has been so much fun. Before the family came on Wed. I finished up quilting this baby quilt for my Great, great niece in Colorado. It is one of the Cover Story printed tops that Thimbleberry came out with this fall. I just thought it would make a cute gift and could be used or hung. I know her grandmother is making her a quilt but it might be awhile till it is done.

I've had it quilted but the sections around the stars and above the soldiers needed some meandering and I hadn't gotten to do that yet. Scared really. I'm new to machine quilting. So finally went for it. Isn't the best but will be OK. So this is for Samile.

This next is a runner in progress. These are the leftover blocks from the quilt my great niece, Samile's Mother Briana made and I quilted it for her this summer. She had sent everything with it. I used some of the extra blocks for pillowcases for her but thought these would make a neat runner for her dresser. Then what to do. This is what I came up with. remembering how neat the braid looked that Kim made.

Then I didn't know whether to put on another border or not. Here's the rest of the binding laid around it.
It's about 3 inches wide and I think distracts to much. So think I'll just bind it with that. Pin and quilt as it is. What do you all think? Any suggestions?

Tomorrow I hope to talk a little about our Christmas. Have pictures
of my whole family. The first that they have all been here together and might be the last time. So see you tomorrow.

OH, I almost forgot

I said I would give a pattern to someone who would like the Minutures. Only had one ask for it and it way past Christmas so Kathy, you know who you are, send me your address privately and I will send it right out.

Kairle, winning the basket from Red Geranium reminded me. I'm so ingrossed in finishing a mystery quilt for our TB group that I never gave it a thought. Thanks, Pat E for reminding me, and I will need to get your Strips to you also.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wanted to wish each one of my blogger friends Very Merry Christmas and enjoy the time with your family.

Today you are all my family since we will have our Christmas tomorrow when My DD with her 4 and hubby comes and my DS and his two and wife come for our Christmas together. Might be the last time for awhile since, the oldest Grandson will be graduating from Salisbury State this spring and the two girls are both in college. My Sons oldest will go next year in Colorado. So it will be hard to get them all together.

I have a busy day today getting food ready for tomorrow. The Turkey is thawing in the fridge. but I need to steam and peel about 6 pounds of Shrimp today. They will nibble on those till dinner is ready.

This will be like being at the beach which we did for about 10 years starting when the little boys were about 6 months old. They were born 2 days apart but half the nation apart.

No pictures today. Kim didn't get the last one I sent uploaded but that will be something for Thurs.

Hope Santa brought everyone JUST what you wanted.

Greetings from Maryland where the BIG FULL MOON is shinning in my window.

Finished projects

Here's the finished snowman runner. This is the best place for a picture it is so long. My 6 foot island still isn't long enough. I have this finished and want to take it to my neighbor today as I don't know if they will have family coming for Christmas Day.

Isn't this cute. I sure hope she appreciates snowmen.

This is a closeup of the end. You can see the quilting I did. By hand of course.

I called over this afternoon and they were both home so went over with my package. Hadn't been in the house since right after they moved in. What a surprise. Snowmen everywhere. She has this long table which I thought this runner would fit on perfectly. She had a runner with snowmen. Her big tree was snowmen. So I told her to open it.. I knew then that she was going to like this gift I had worked on for about a month. Makes one feel so good that it's Christmas

The center star.
After I finished the snowmen I decided to make another Candle Mat Wanted to give one to my DDILs Mother and her Aunt.

So found this bit of last years Christmas fabric and figured it would show up so much better than the first one I made, So easy and what great little gifts.

My Son and daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren from Colorado are here now in Fairfax staying with her Mother. They will be up along with my daughter and her family for the day after Christmas. Will be the first time we have all been together for several years. Might be the last as GS#1 will be graduating College this year. 2 GDs are in college now and one more will go next year so as they get older and away from home it is hard to get them all together.

Hope one and all has a very Happy Holiday season and thanks for stopping by.

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Quilts Around the House

Here are some more of the quilts I have around the house. These are three quilts I made several years ago which are miniatures put into a larger quilt. They are all designs by Elizabeth Carlson from Gaithersburg,Md. in 1994. Guess it was a long time ago.

I took a class from her for the first one to learn about making Minatures. Ended up making all three of her patterns. This was the last one I made. It hangs in the large basement room we have fixed up for the grandchildren when they visit and also has the furniture that we wanted to keep so was room down here. The walls are paneled so needed something on them.

This is over a small book shelf that has my old singer protable on it.

This is a closeup of one of the blocks with a lot of individual blocks. like the baskets and a trees. This was a block I substituted for a Texas Star block which I had made in one of the other quilts. It is probably about 8 inches altogether. This was the last one I made.

This one hangs over the single bed that is a match to my bed. upstairs. They were from My husbands grandparents home and were considered a Mr. and Mrs. beds. Old spool type.

This is a closeup of the Texas star block. You can also see some of the hand quilting I did on this quilt.

This is the block of little houses all in a row. This was the second of the quilts.

This is the first one I made and hangs at the bottom of the stairs so the funny angle of the picture.
Had to take it from the steps.

If I remember right this is called Bee Hive and it was a dozy to make. Nine patch with those little bees coming out which were all individually appliqued on. Was glad to get that block done.

Now to get on with Christmas gifts. Am trying to get the Snowman runner quilted.

Thanks for looking at some of my older quilts.

Candle Mat

At the TB club meeting last week the store owner showed us this cute candle mat and of course had some kits made up. It uses 2.0 in. Thangles and the pattern comes with the package of Thangles. I've never used them so decided to buy one. It consisted of 3 FQs and the batting and package of Thangles for $15. Not that big an outlay of money. The one I picked had this cute Snowman on the larger print, a light and then another smaller blue print.

I made the mistake of using this cute snowman print for the top. The print got cut up to much and the design doesn't show up as it should. The other print I used for the backing. As you can see it consists of HST and squares and rectangles. Easy to make. In fact I think if I hadn't been trying so hard to get the snowmen on the outside pieces it would have been faster.

Then with the other FQ as the backing you sandwich and turn like a pillow case. whip the opening and quilt. All in all it took me about 3 hours. I did simple quilting 1/4 in all around. This one I think was the picture I took before I quilted it.

This one has been quilted. I can't see it as I type this but when you click on it you probably can.

What a neat , fast little gift. All you need is the package of 2 inch Thangles and hopefully the pattern is in it. Need a quick gift. Good to use up some stash.

I had a someone inquire about the patterns of the miniature quilts I had on the last post. I will give one of my patterns to someone who comments on that post before Christmas Day. You will have to ask for the pattern. If i get more than one I will draw a name from the list.

Merry Christmas all