Early Summer

Since last I blogged I found out that Sew Neat in Joplin (that I visited just 3 weeks ago) was destroyed by the tornado.  I've heard that the owner is not going to try to build it back.  So sad.  My quilt guild (Green Country Quilters' Guild) has sent 40 small quilts over to help those in need in Joplin.  If you have a desire to make one, I'd be glad to get it there through our guild or other shops in the area that are helping.  Joplin is only an hour and a half from my home and is located in my home state of Missouri.

In other news:

My tennis elbow was a good excuse to get my daughter over here to do some weeding and planting for me.  (That, and the fact that I hate doing it and she doesn't mind).  She got a little help from the youngest member of the family.

He started out on the blanket....

....but that didn't last long.

There's something about dirt that attracts boys.

He likes rocks, too.  It comes from being the grandson of a geologist and a rock collector.

He'll be walking soon.

Recently we celebrated my second daughter's birthday.  Since it's so unusual to wrap a present in this family (in anything other than a Wal Mart bag) we thought we should get a picture of it.

Yes, I AM still sewing.  This is the next to the last border of my applique quilt.  The last one is almost done, too and soon I'll be putting it together.

In the meantime, I started the quilt that I'll use for my bedspread.  Nothing else matches since we painted the walls this past winter.  3 blocks done....78 to go.

The flowers are blooming...

These lilies are doing well.  The ones in the backyard are being eaten by a family of rabbits.

Somehow they managed to bloom anyway, even though they have hardly any leaves left.

This hydrangea survived the winter.  It's partner 2 feet away did not.  Sigh.

Skippy, our cat watches tv...

...for hours sometimes.  She changes positions from time to time and gets up for a snack and a bathroom break occasionally.

woops...more flowers.

My oldest grandson "graduated" from 5th grade and will go to a different school next year.  The second one finished kindergarten and tells me he'll be skipping 1st grade.  Since I don't have a picture of either, I thought I'd post a picture of my high school graduation some....years....ago.  Thanks to Jeff Neier for posting it on Facebook for all the world to see. 

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.

Merry Christmas to Everyone

I can finally show this.  It's been unwrapped and taken home.  Middle child (Andrea) told me last January that she didn't have a quilt that she could use on her bed.  I made the top in February, but my quilter was busy and didn't get it done last winter.  It sat at her house all summer, then I changed my mind about the backing.  So it's done in time for this cold winter.
Andrea and Patrick loved it!  And Timothy sneaked into the picture.

It's all flannel (mostly batiks) with a batik backing.

A quilter's Christmas

I got this Tumbler Shape to try with my "cutting machine" from Andrea. The bobbins were in my stocking. And look at this beautiful Ginger rotary cutter and seam ripper I got from Tim (with help from Leslie)

These fat quarters were in my stocking. Santa always knows to throw in a few fats.

And last but not least. LOOK!!! This came from my wonderful husband. (Please disregard the old, wrinkled hand).

And here is the poem he wrote that goes with the ring:

Christmas 2009

The artificial and its deceit are apparent in the shadows of night.

Where light blazes forth from the Ultimate Wellspring of Grace,

Hope shines as a standard, a lamp that lights the path to the dawn.

Beyond the sad, slow waning of years, the Ever Living One

...stands, smiling...

A smile, THE smile that banishes fear and heartache.

No artificial device, it was wrought by God without our understanding...

...without our assistance.

Blood, the blood of Jesus the Savior, born that magic morn,

Brings forth the glitter of glory.

His promise...Joy will not be denied.

A White Christmas

Thankfully, all our family arrived safely at our house before noon on Christmas day. We had a heck of a blizzard the night before. It was beautiful, but dangerous and caused a lot of inconvenience here in Oklahoma.

The drifts were 2-3 feet deep in some areas because of high winds. The snowmen in front of our house felt right at home. The snow angel on my front lawn felt right at home, too...but only for a few seconds.

We still have huge piles of snow that haven't melted (mostly on parking lots), but we're expecting more tonight and more in the middle of this coming week. It's really cold so there won't be much more melting going on this week. Thankfully, my little Dodge Nitro 4 WD is doing a great job and we're getting around just fine.

Happy New Year to everyone!

A few more finished projects

I made these potholders to put in my son's stocking. He cooks now that he lives on his own (and he's lucky enough to have a roommate who is a really good cook).

This is an embroidered tea towel and quilted potholder I did for my stitch group exchange. Leslie was the recipient (by chance) Here's another one of those really easy cosmetic bags. Another last minute gift.

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And a pillow I made a few years ago. It's out of one of Nancy Halverson's books.

I decided to make myself some new potholders. All of mine were old and greasy.

Marler Christmas 2009

The Marler Village...hand painted by my kids and friends during a certain VERY HOT summer in Houston when our air conditioning was not working (1994, I think). My Christmas Quilt.

My Jim Shore nativity and angel collection. Some of the pieces are signed by Jim (I met him at the Houston Quilt Show one year).

Our tree and mantle. That's a giant Jim Shore snowman at the left on the hearth.