And we’re off!!!!

To 2014!   2013 is almost history, and actually in some parts of the world – already is!  So off to 2014.  Will you set goals?  Do you make New Year resolutions?  Have a big vacation planned?  Me?  No real goals.  Like most, I’d like to lose a few pounds and like to think I’ll make healthier choices, but I’m also a realist…. New Year resolutions?  Not for me – I don’t want to feel like a failure at the end of a year.  I’d rather concentrate on what I did than on what I didn’t do!  Big vacations – nothing out of the ordinary.  I will attend Sew Fest with the QFC group.  This year it is being held in Sept. on the Oregon coast.

I’ve sat here this morning wondering what I did in 2013 and was thinking “not much”… then I looked at some pictures and realized I really did have a pretty full year.  I wish I knew how to make one of those picture collages, I’d post one of some of my finishes this year.  Alas, I don’t know how so I won’t repost pictures that I’ve already posted…  In summary, though…. I made at least 12 quilt tops and all but 4 of those have been quilted so therefore – finished!  I quilted I-don’t-know-how-many quilts for QFC (Quilters for Comfort for those who don’t follow me on a regular basis) and constructed a few quilts start to finish for that, too.  I made most of my Christmas gifts, either by sewing or knitting.  I sewed a few ‘home dec’ items.  And that’s the sewing room stuff.  I spent 5 days at Disneyland with my son and family – super great time but always reminds me that I’m not getting any younger.  I don’t keep up with those (now) 4, 7 & 10 year olds!  I spent a week at the QFC Sew Fest in the White Mountains here in AZ at a wonderful retreat called Quilting on the Rim – talk about relaxation!!!!  Saw my granddaughter, Kari, graduate from high school and start her studies in journalism at Northern Arizona University (can you tell I’m just a bit proud?!)  My 10 year old grandson hunted and shot his first deer (yes, the men in our family are hunters!).  I was honored when he called and asked me, “Grandma, I need you to show me how to bone a deer.”  Yes, another one of my talents – I have butchered the game in our family for a lot of years!    There is so much more from 2013 that gives me joy.  Top of my list is that my family is healthy.  The second is my dear friend who underwent stem cell transplant for leukemia is doing well and considered ‘cancer free’.  He still has challenges and works daily to regain his strength but I am so thankful to God that he is still with us.  So, Yes, I’m very blessed in my life and pray I will continue to be as blessed in the New Year.

Blessings to you all,

Katie   who is saying about 2014 “bring it on!”

Christmas cards

These are from last year.  I love making fabric post cards and several years ago I stretched the size to make fabric Christmas cards for my g-kids and special friends.   Last year I might have sent out a few of the paper cards.  This year I haven’t sent one and I have not done my fabric cards either… Seriously, it’s the 21st, will I get some done?  probably not and you know what? I don’t even care.  I used to send out about 40 cards.  Then I got to thinking about why.  Because my mom always did and I thought that was the right thing to do??? Well, I made the decision to cut my card  sending to only those who I kept in contact with throughout the year.  My closest friends and family.  Why would I send a card to a high school friend who I haven’t seen in 40 years and will never see again?  Someone who I really have nothing in common with other than ‘I knew you when’ ?  Now I also have to say here, when I was sending cards, I put a personal note in each & every card specific to the person receiving those cards.  I don’t mean to criticize anyone but I, personally, really dislike getting a beautiful card that someone has had embossed with their name or a simple signature saying “the XXXXX’s”.  Come on, let’s be honest here, those cards are shoved in the envelope (assembly line style), they have the return address labels ready to stick on, then all they do is address the card to send.  How much thought really went into the card other than flipping through the address book???  Okay, so now you’re all thinking “what a Scrooge!”  and maybe you’re right… but I have to say that I’m getting so very tired of the commercialism of Christmas and cards are right up there with it.  People are running around, stressing to find the perfect gift for this one or that one, worrying about getting the baking done, get the house decorated, and ‘oh no, forgot to send a card to…’ and ‘oh, dear, what if someone gives a gift and I don’t have one to give back?’ I know people who keep wrapped gifts of a generic variety to have on hand ‘just in case’……  Okay, so what prompted this (what some will say “negative”) post, I received a card from a close family member and it was simply signed “the XXXXX’s” and I have to admit that it just struck a real bad note with me and I had been feeling a little guilty about not sending cards (and quite frankly, it’s because I did not have the time to sit and make them out).  I no longer feel guilty because if you can’t even add the Dear so & so, to the top of the card, to make it even appear that you were really thinking of me – don’t bother sending the card….

My blog, my opinions and truly not meant to be critical.  I do understand that I’m sure the family member feels better because they got their cards sent… enough said….

Katie who truly isn’t a Scrooge, just hates commercialism and what it’s done to Christmas…..

Maybe????

Six days away.  Yes, that would be Christmas and am I ready?  Of course not!  But maybe.  On my to do list is to sew up one more pair of pajama pants and then I have 3 T-shirts to embroider.  The only problem with that is that I ordered the T’s on line and still waiting on two of them…. Still have shopping to do – nope haven’t done that yet.  Cards?  Haven’t sent out one!  That falls under the shopping list – need cards!  I was busy helping with an event that I believe I told you about – The pictures with Santa thing.  It went well and I’m very glad that it’s over.  It seems I’ve had something I had to do concerning it every day for the past week….

My daughter asked for a larger quilt and I told her she’d get one for Christmas – done!  This one is a large queen.  By large I mean, it doesn’t just fit over the top, it has some drop on the sides.

My oldest granddaughter’s quilt.  I had put this top together a while back.  It’s mostly 6” blocks that I made when I was learning to quilt.  There was a lady on the About.com forum that was helping ‘newbies’ with color value and accurate seams and the like.  Anyway, I decided my granddaughter needed a quilt.  She’s 21 and her last quilt she received when she was about 10 and it was a flannel rag quilt.

Back in Sept. I sent a baby quilt to a young friend (she’s more of a daughter….) who was having her third child.  The quilt was backed with Minky like fabric and her daughter loved it.  So I took the left over Minky like fabric and made her a Teddy bear with it.  Because of the stretchiness of the fabric, I lined it with muslin so the bear would hold /keep it’s shape.

Several years back a dear friend game me this painted doll face on fabric and enough of the fabric to make a doll.  So this is my new sewing room assistant who at this point remains nameless…..  She hasn’t really been much help in the sewing room – so I may just call her Lazy instead of Lacy….   I have to tell a little story here (I know, surprise, right?!)  I pulled this pattern, cut it out and then discovered I did not have the directions for sewing it up.  I DO, on occasion, actually follow the directions.  But she came together and is so stiff armed, I went back to look on the pattern piece to see if maybe she should have had some ‘soft sculpture’ but didn’t see any markings.  I may yet just to it anyway…

I will be busy the next few days with finishing what little sewing I have to do, getting the house cleaned and getting what very little baking I’ll do, done!

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season and I take this time now to wish you a very Merry Christmas or whatever other December holiday you may celebrate.

Katie

How did it creep up so quickly?????

I know, I say it every year but it still surprises me.  I know it’s coming, I think I’m prepared, I even make a list (and I’m really not a list maker!) then it hits me – Christmas is only a couple weeks away!  I haven’t even thought about shopping – I hate crowds and rude people and we all know how the retail stores are this time year…. I’ve done some sewing.  Have some things cut out waiting.  I have done some knitting.  And I keep changing my mind as to what I want to get this one or that one. 

Hubby asks, “Where are you putting the tree this year?”  (we use a 30” fiber optic thing from Lowes… and I don’t really consider it a big deal)  My answer, “I’m not putting up the tree.”  Hubby:  “But why not?”  Me:  “Because the kids won’t be here during the holidays so no sense in putting it up for just us.  Besides, we rarely even turn the lights on it.”  Whew, got by that one…. He put up the outside lights, I put up my Nativity (the most important decoration!) and hung my g-kids stockings (even though they won’t be here, the stockings make me smile thinking of my g-kids). 

So now I wonder (or contemplate)…. Is Christmas supposed to be stressful?  What’s this about Holiday Cheer, good tidings and all that????  I think the commercialism of Christmas has gotten the better of everyone… Go buy the biggest, brightest, newest electrical / tech gadget…. Don’t forget the latest and greatest video game console and the games to go with it…. And, holy cow, don’t even think about the price of toys!! I picked up a ‘wish list’ booklet from Walmart.  I was hoping it would give me some ideas.  Thanksgiving I gave it to the kids and told them to pick out a few things so I’d have ideas.  If I had looked at that thing before giving it to them, I’d have burned it!  Anyway, enough of my whining… I will be ready when the ‘day’ gets here as I usually am.  I will say “Happy Birthday, Jesus” and remind my g-kids to do the same.  I will once again hope that my handcrafted items are well received and the few things I buy will be gifted with a return gift receipt

So for now, be happy, be healthy, be content with your decisions and to heck with the stress – give it off to someone else who deserves it (such as that rude customer ahead of you in the checkout line who’s giving the clerk a bad time about not getting the price from the flyer that expired a week ago… (Hello, Lady, Black Friday was a week ago and with limited hours to boot!)

Katie

If you have a little girl

If you have a little girl in your life who loves the American Girl dolls (or other 18" girl doll), you really need to check this out.  She is having a give-away for one of the American Girl dolls - but more importantly, check out the store here .  Such cute little outfits.

Anyway, just thought I'd share...

Katie