Foto Finish

I've decided to play along with Barbara's Foto Finish each week, and this is my first offering.  DH and I are sitting watching TV, and his cat is snuggled up beside him.  Zoe is a "daddy's girl" all the way.

The movie that we're watching is of absolutely no interest to me, so I'm going to head down to the sewing room.

Have a Happy New Year to all of my USA friends.  My international friends have already seen in the new year.  Here's to hoping that 2012 will be a little kinder than 2011.

Counting my blessings.....Sunny

Catching up. . .

I need to get caught up on quite a few things today.  First, I received another Christmas gift from Di.  She sent this beautiful table topper, and it's even hand quilted.  She also included a nice little sweater for one of my bears, and a bon-bon.  The bon-bon was filled with M&M's, but somehow they seem to have disappeared.

I used the table topper on the table with my hors douevres on Christmas, and received very nice comments on it.

I also received some Hexie flowers from Anna, just because.  She also sent some fabric which is destined to become part of more flowers.  Thanks Anna!

We had a very nice Christmas, filled with family and friends.  Santa brought us some gifts, and most of mine were stitchy things.  I received fabric, scissors, needles and rotary blades.  I'm terrible about changing my rotary blades, so I immediately put a new one in my cutter, and it's amazing how well it works.  Why don't I change them more often?  I also put a new needle in Fiona, and she's very happy..

I got a little behind on my BSA blocks, but today I mailed off my December and January blocks.  This block went to Shannon for December:

And this block went to Andra for January:

I've been working on finishing several small projects, and will have more pictures soon.  I'm trying to dig out my sewing desk, and instead of moving the piles around, I'm trying to finish up the project.  It feels great.  I have a huge list of projects to do, and I'm going to tackle them one at a time.  No more buying!  Just sewing.

Counting my blessings.....Sunny

Merry Christmas to All

And to all a Good Night.... Sunny

Busy Postman!

Well, it's official.  I'm ready for the big day.  I need to pick up a few groceries tomorrow, and drop off a gift, and that's it!  I put up my outside Christmas lights today.  Wearing a T-shift.  That's just not right.  Now it's raining.  I don't want rain for Christmas - I want Snow!!

No, this is not my house.  But isn't it pretty?

Today I made several loaves of cranberry bread, and some chocolate covered pretzels.  The pretzels didn't work out the way I thought they would.  I covered them with crushed up candy canes, but the candy didn't want to stick to the chocolate!  I gave up after about a dozen. 

I've been neglectful in posting about all the little packages that have showed up at my house lately.  A couple of weeks ago, Heather posted a picture of the most adorable snowman.  When I asked her who the designer was, she found the pattern and sent it to me!  I think this will be my first project after Christmas. I'm in love!



Picture borrowed from Heather's blog.

I also got a little wool kit from LeAnn

Blogger wants this picture to be sideways, and I'm too tired to argue with Blogger tonight.  If you turn your head to one side, you can see how cute it is.  Thanks LeAnn!  Maybe this will be my little project on Saturday?

The next delivery was from my very dear friend Maria  in Australia!  She sent me the cutest little bon-bon, and - the pattern to make more of my own!  I've been planning to make a few, but I've never quite got it done, so now I have no excuses.  Maria was the first person that I ever exchanged/swapped with after I started my blog, and we've become good friends.  When I win the lottery, I'll be visiting her in Australia.

Yesterday, a Lapel Stick arrived in my mailbox. I'm embarrassed to say I don't remember whose blog I won it from. I'm looking forward to giving it a try. I pictured it here with a stocking that came in the mail today from Di

Look at the size of this stocking!  Seriously, did she knit it with toothpicks?  Did you, Di?  It's so cute, and it's hanging on my tree.

Today's mail brought the cutest little thread catcher from Linda.  I had admired these on her blog, and was very surprised to receive one of my very own!  And it came with a big bag of deeelicious caramel corn.  Too bad hubby isn't able to eat popcorn yet.  LOL!

I had hoped to try out the thread catcher tonight, but I started wrapping gifts, and then started this post, so haven't had time to stitch.  Watch out tomorrow, though.

It's been a fun couple of weeks.  I think I'll finish opening the gifts in my Santa Sack tomorrow.  And then it will be almost Christmas.

counting my blessings....Sunny

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SewMamaSew Giveaway winner

Thanks to everyone who entered my drawing!  I made some new friends and gained some new followers, for which I'm very happy!  I loved hearing all your favorite songs.

Drumroll . . . . . . . . .

Mr Random Number Generator picked #74, who is:

Rose!

"love that snowman!!
My favorite Christmas song(s) is Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth as done by David Bowie with Bing Crosby."

Rose, please send me your snail mail address, and I'll get Mr. Snowman in the mail to you pronto.

counting my blessings......Sunny

My Santa Sack Overfloweth!

If you've never swapped with Laura of Fun with this and that, you don't know what you're missing.  We were paired for Cheryll's Santa Sack Swap.  Starting in July, we were to send our partner 2 gifts each month to put in their Santa Sack, to be opened in December.  There were so many gifts in my first box that I thought Laura had decided to save on postage, and send everything all at one time.  Not so.  I received another box every month!!!!  My Santa sack is still overflowing, because I've only opened the large items that wouldn't fit in the sack. 

I should mention that Laura is not a quilter, but an artist!!  And my December gift was a signed watercolor!  I just love it, and it's the perfect colors for my living room.  I don't have an artistic bone in my body, so I'm in awe of anyone who can draw or paint.  But wait, there's more.  One of the earlier gifts was this hand-painted box.

And then there was the wonderful centerpiece in November.  It's a little treasure chest filled with hand-painted Santas, fabric candy canes, and assorted pretties. 

Thank you Laura!  I'll be opening and sharing more gifts later.



On the sewing front, I've finally finished a set of place mats.  The recipient really liked the focus fabric, so I snuck some into my cart, and it took quite awhile to decide what to do with it.  Then of course, because it was so directional, I had to improvise to get four place mats.  Then I decided I didn't like them at all.  But I kept going.  Once I finished the binding, I decided I really did like them

Blogger insists on flipping this one.

I think I finished my Christmas shopping today.  Now I have to make some cards.  I think that's what I'll be doing tonight for FNSI!!

Counting my blessings.....Sunny

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!

It's here, and I'm playing along.  Are you?  You can follow THIS LINK to Sew Mama Sew's blog, to find a list of who is participating.  I hope you're in a comfortable chair with a nice cup of coffee or tea.

This is what I'm giving away this year:

Just leave a comment on this post telling  me what your favorite Christmas song is, and your name will be entered in the drawing.  International entries are welcome.  I will be drawing the name on December 18th, and 5:00 PST. and the package will be mailed the following day.  (eta:  I will post about the winner, and email them if I have a contact.  There are already several no-reply-bloggers who have commented.  You will have 48 hours to claim your prize or I will draw another name.)  Are you ready?  Do you have that favorite Christmas music playing?  Then leave your comment below, and start hopping to the other giveaways.  Good Luck!

counting my blessings.....Sunny

FNSI results, Occupy, and Mail call

I am so far behind on blogging, so make yourself comfortable if you plan to read this.  I was sick most of last week and didn't accomplish much.  Unfortunately, tis the season when much needs to be accomplished, so I've been sewing like crazy this week.

FNSI results:  only a sneak peak is permissible.

Friday night was spent sewing down bindings on mini quilts!  I also worked on an embroidery piece that will be shown as a finished project on Give Away Monday.

OCCUPY your sewing room:  I spent most of the day on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in my sewing roon making the aforementioned mini quilts.  They are now winging their way around the world.  Who knows where they'll show up!

Block Swap Adventure:  This is my December block from Shannon, and is a beautiful addition to my basket block collection.  This is number 14, so I need to start thinking about a quilt design.

I also received my December hexies from Kathryn, my partner for the Inchy Swap.  She even sent a pretty little piece of fabric, which I'm sure is destined to become another flower someday soon.

This swap has been so much fun!  It's just a 'little something' each month, but I get to add unique flowers to my garden, and most of the ladies also send a postcard from their area.  I'm getting quite a collection.

I also did a private exchange of stitched ornaments with Patty C.  Here are the beautiful ornaments that I received from her.

I don't have my tree up yet, but these will be hung front and center when I do.

Be sure to stop by on Monday for the big Giveaway Day, because I'm planning to participate.  Read more about it HERE.   It should be a lot of fun, and lots of giveaways!

I guess that's it for tonight. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I'm falling asleep at the keyboard, so I'll call it quits for now. I spent the entire afternoon at a car dealership (crocheting) while DH purchased a new car. Then we went to friends house for a lovely dinner and a glass (or two?) of wine.

Occupy 2011!

Ladies, it's time to Occupy Your Sewing Room!  Barbara, from Cat Patches, has a great plan for us to occupy our sewing rooms for an entire day, during the week of Dec. 3 - Dec. 10.  If you can't do an entire day, break the time up however you need to.  Have fun. Get some projects done.  Win Prizes.  You can click on the link in this post, or on my sidebar to go visit Barbara and learn more about this fun time.

from my sewing room.......Sunny

I Need Assistance!

I saw this picture on another blog recently, as an example of kitchen decor.  I totally fell in love with the curtains.  I immediately went treasure hunting and bought several vintage hankies.  The problem is, they're all different sizes!  Then I realized that this is yardage, it's not individual hankies sewed together.  Any suggestions how I can accomplish something like this?  I REALLY want these curtains.

counting my blessings....and my hankies.....Sunny