Making life easier

I'm all for making my life easier and a little bit more organized around the house.
I have a huge design wall in my sewing room, but it's covered with stuff--a lot of unfinished projects and whatever I so randomly pin up there.  Also, it's mostly blocked by my cutting table.  So....I bought the "Disappearing Design Wall" when I was at the Houston Quilt Show in November.  I finally got my guys to hang it up for me. 

Here they are pretending to be happy about this "Honey-Do"

They installed it in the (large) hallway that I have right outside my sewing room.  I keep the ironing board there (because there's no room for it in the sewing room).  So, now as I press blocks, I can put them directly on the design wall.

Here it is installed.  Looks great!  I'll put some framed pictures on top of the shelf someday.

Here it is pulled down.  It works like a window shade.  And the great thing about it is--I can roll it up without taking the blocks down.  It doesn't completely block the sewing room (on the right) or the bathroom (on the left) so I don't have to roll it up to go in and out of those doors.  I love it!  And I love my guys for installing it for me.  (Of course, they had to have a special treat afterwards and I was glad to make them both and Italian Creme Soda.  One for me too!)

The Things I've Been Working On

Cold winter days make me want to do nothing but make quilts.  Unfortunately, there are other things that HAVE to be done around here.  My long term projects have gotten pushed aside and I'm busy starting new things and finishing other smaller projects.

I made this 9 1/2" block for my guild's outgoing president.  She gets to choose the block.  Her choice was:  A 9 1/2" house block with green grass and blue skys--any kind.  And it had to be signed.  I signed mine in the smoke of the chimney.

I finished this little quilt last week for my friend Theresa's first grandbaby.  I gave it to her on Friday and the baby boy was born Sunday.  Good Timing!

It never hurts to throw in a little "Beatles" fabric.

Another bag.  These are so quick and easy.  Made for my friend Phyllis'  birthday.

Last week the two older boys had a day off school so we celebrated  with Mexican food.  Gabe had just returned from a Boy Scout campout in Kansas (as if it's not cold enough in Oklahoma!)  His mom was grateful that he was NOT one of the boys who had to call their parents to come get them for failure to follow the "DON'T  GO NEAR THE NEARLY FROZEN RIVER" rules.

Guess who's sitting up all by himself?  Wesley likes to come over and participate in afternoon "sew-ins" with his Mommy and Mama T.  I don't get much sewing done with a cutie like that around!

This is my mom's special black walnut ring.  When I was growing up she made it at least once a month.  This is the second time I've made it and it turned out just like hers this time.  Yummy!

Just a reminder of how good it was....and that I can't eat this EVERY DAY!  (I wish!)

I made this purse last week to carry to the Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show.
It's made of wool .  Hand embroidered and machine appliqued.

I made this little bag for my friend Ranette who by the way won first place for her Peppermint Twist Quilt at the show.
AND she won the Viewer's Choice award, too.  I'm so happy for her.  See the pictures here: http://ranettesdailystitch.blogspot.com/

New Quilt for a New Baby

Calista (oldest daughter) and I made this quilt for her friend Sonja's first baby.  Lucia was born on December 22 and we finished it just in time.  We had finished the top in time for the baby shower a few weeks ago and presented it to her unfinished.  It felt so good to have it done in time to welcome baby home.

Calista did a lot of the piecing and the tracing and cutting of the applique pieces.  I machine appliqued it and did the quilting.

Look what Leslie made me for Christmas!  Isn't it beautiful?!  And I even saw her working on it and thought it was for someone else.  I'm glad it was for me. (Don't know why it's sideways)

And here's what I made for her.  It's a pillow.

We did our yearly thing and hung out together and sewed on New Year's Day.  Our hubbies watched a lot of TV. 

One Last Glimpse

Today, before I put all the Christmas decorations away, I thought I'd do one last glimpse.

This is my favorite Christmas quilt.  It all flannel and oh so cozy.  (must be why I posted it twice)

                                      

Another flannel quilt.  I'll leave this one out, cause it's a winter scene.

The Christmas wallhanging I made some years ago and the Marler Village.

Our tree this year.

The stockings were hung on the kitchen bar with care.

My collection of Jim Shore figurines....and an angel quilt that's so old I don't remember when I made it.

The brass sleigh that my dear mother-in-law gave me many years ago.

The bear that reads the ENTIRE "Night before Christmas" and the moose that sings "Santa Got Run Over by a Reindeer"--fun to have around until the grandkids push their buttons TOO many times. LOL

The tiny "quilts" on my gold tree.

The advent that I didn't exactly keep up with.

Last, but certainly not least... the true meaning of Christmas.  My favorite.

May each of you enjoy the blessings of the new year.