Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday with their loved ones.

 

 



Do you believe this tree?  It's not ours, it is my son's preschool teacher's tree in their home (his teachers are a mother/daughter team.)  My picture does not do it justice; and no matter what I did or how I positioned myself, I couldn't fit the whole tree in.  Their ornament collection in itself is just amazing.  Many purchased while they were living in Germany, many made from preschool students or while they were growing up, many of homemade ones from past family.

Speaking of teachers - here is how their lunch bags turned out. 

 

 

I am rather pleased with them.  Any more sewing for you?  Or are you all resting up, getting ready for a new year?







Last Minute Holiday Making

On Saturday, I had the crazy notion that I needed to battle the mall in order to get my 2 year old daughter, Aslyn, something for Christmas. I had yet to get or make her anything and time was running low. 

Upon this "quest" I realized that the mall has absolutely nothing for a 2 year old girl.  With my 4 year old son in tow, we frantically searched three stores only to come out with a pair of pajamas my son picked out for her from him (it has trains on it,) and a few beaded necklaces.

I think I have mentioned before that every time I have my kids with me at my local quilt shops, they pick out a fabric for their own little stash.  So yesterday, I decided to whip a couple of things up for Aslyn with some of her stash fabric.

 

First was a little purse; she loves getting into mine.  I found this tutorial here.  The outer fabric is Urban Zoologie, handle and lining is A Stitch in Color Little Dot Clementine.

 

Second, a doll quilt.  Currently, she takes her little stuffed animals and tries to wrap them in twin to queen size blankets.  I received the hexagons from my swap partner in the Post-Summit Swap.  

   



 

 

This quilt will more than likely get lots of use, lots of dragging around the house and outside, lots of washing; therefore I quilted it rather densely with straight lines.  I had quilted around the outer edge of each hexagon and skipped over those with my straight lines, so the hexagons kind of pop out a bit.

 

 

 

I had some trouble with the fabric feeding through my machine.  For some reason my feed dogs weren't catching it.  So, it's not the best quality work.  But I don't think Aslyn or her "bebes" will mind.

 









Ornament Exchange

In my post last Wednesday, I wrote about my green and brown scraps and how they were to come together into a possible tree with little colored round fabric pieces for lights.

Yeah, umm, well it wasn't coming out the way I had planned and I was running low on time.  So here is what I actually exchanged...

This picture was taken hanging on the door underneath my porch light, it didn't come out so well.  Also, I was (literally) running to the car to get to the Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild holiday party and meeting on time.  Aackk.   Talk about last minute right?!!

The ornament - I took a 4 inch wooden embroidery hoop and tied a bunch of red and green scrap pieces to it to make a wreath. 

As for the tree?  My 4 year old likes it so I may finish it and just let him have it to play with.

Sewing Again!

Tomorrow is the Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild holiday potluck and ornament exchange.  I took out my bin of green and brown scraps and started stitching them together.  Not sure what this will become - maybe a tree?  With small colored scraps for lights?

Whatever these scraps decide to become, it's great to be sewing again!

Happy New Year Giveaway

Hello all!  Happy 2012 to you!

As I reflect on this past year, there are so many things that I had the good fortune to do.  We went to Washington State to visit family - something we hadn't done since my now three year old son was 10 months old!  I met one of my nieces for the first time and went to my other niece's birthday party.  My best friend from college also lives up there, so we spent a day with her and her little ones.

This past year, I switched this blog over from the life of  motherhood and cattle ranching to sewing projects.  In the process I have gotten to know other sewing/crafting bloggers out there, who have been such inspirations to me.

Speaking of which, I have some plans for this little blog in the coming year, which I am looking forward and excited to share with you all.

So let's celebrate!  A charm pack of Kate Spain's Good Fortune for the coming year. 

To win, leave a comment with a goal for the new year; or with something that you are looking forward to in the coming year (ex. a trip, a new job, a new family member, etc.)

Giveaway closes Thursday, January 5.  I will draw someone via random generator on Friday or Saturday.

Best of luck!!

This and That

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  My house is still a disaster from it all, boxes everywhere!

Speaking of boxes, I still have some I need to mail to family in Washington State.  We got lots and lots of snow out here on the ranch and I never made the 30 minute drive to the nearest post office. But after talking and explaining to everyone on Christmas day, we all decided that why celebrate Christmas on just one day?  Wouldn't it be best to celebrate 12th night?  So technically, I have until January 5.  Right?

That does mean, though, that there are several things I can not show here.  :(

So the ones I can show....

These are the finished tea caddy's I made for my son's preschool teachers.  As I mentioned before, they love their tea!  I was a little shy when they decided to open them right then and there; sometimes you never know how someone will react to a homemade gift.  I should have known though - they LOVED them!

Another gift (which I haven't finished yet - yikes!) is the Princess Pea quilt for my 16 month old daughter.  It's almost complete, I realized I didn't have batting (not even enough to piece together, thanks to using the majority of it in this quilt!)  So, I am at a standstill until I run into town next and can buy some (which will be later today!)

And here is little Miss Princess Pea, crawling all over her quilt while I was trying to get the measurements so I could piece the back together.

Of course, then big brother had to stop by to check on it as well.  Sheesh.  I finally just folded it all up and waited until they went to bed.

More on this quilt when I have it complete, which (keep your fingers crossed) should be in the next few days.

Sleeping Angels

I interrupt our regurlaly scheduled program to give you this....

The picture didn't turn out so well, but you get the idea.

Here are my two little munchkins, curled up on the couch next to our Christmas tree.  {See the quilt they are under?  That's the first quilt I ever made, a Spiderman quilt for my husband.}  There is just something magical about sleeping next to the glow of a Christmas tree!

How's It Going?

Hope all your wonderful Christmas projects are coming along and on schedule.  I still have so much to do it's crazy!

A project I can show - my son's preschool teachers are big tea drinkers.  In fact when they visit family in Denver, they bring their own tea stuff since the family in Denver only drinks coffee.

For Christmas this year I thought I would make them both a tea caddy.  I got the tutorial for this at Moda Bakeshop.  This one is pretty much completed.  I just need to insert the eyelets, finish and attach the handle. 

Inside of caddy

Outside of caddy

The prints in the above caddy is all out of my stash.  The quilting isn't anything fancy, just stiched around the triangles. 

This second caddy, below I am (obviously) still working on. 





I am using batiks for this second one in a "wilderness" color scheme.  Both his teachers are very outdoorsy.

These (thank goodness) are coming together pretty quickly.  With Christmas just right around the corner, I need fast and easy!

Happy Halloween!

A week of costume and trick-or-treat bag making, and still my sister - who came to visit - and I were up this Halloween morning putting the finishing touches on costumes.

As we were getting the costumes together, I wondered what did we do all week?  It seemed like we were working in every spare moment on it all and still we weren't done?  We went out Sunday, searching stores to purchase some pumpkins for my kiddos to carve; finally finding a few (and expensive) ones at the fourth store we drove by, a feed store close to home.  All the years before my little family has gone to the local pumpkin  patch, but somehow time got away from us this year and I realized while running errands on Sunday that we didn't have anything to carve into jack-o-lanterns.

My son's preschool party was at noon this year so we needed everything done by 11:15 am. I really think that if I didn't have my sister here visiting and willing to help with Halloween costumes, that I would not have had them done.

So thank you, thank you my little sis!!

I did get one out of two trick-or-treat bags done...

And my sister even made a Halloween dinner...

Mummys

And had Logan decorate cupcakes...

Spider cupcakes

Without further delay, this year, with a lot of duct tape, some bolts, felt, a sewing machine, cardboard boxes, paint - I present (drum roll please!)

A rancher in his John Deere Tractor and...
             

his little Wagyu calf.

Happy Halloween!!

WIP #15

First, I would like to thank all those who commented on my last WIP post.  Your comments are so nice and I appreciate them immensely.  I had every intention of replying to each of you individually, but frankly I just never got to it.

Now onto the post...

I decided {at the last minute} to make some trick-or-treat bags for my kiddos; I haven't even really dug into making their Halloween costumes yet!  (eek!) Every year thus far my son has just taken one of those cloth bags you can buy at the grocery store, and every year I watch him struggle with hauling it around.  So I thought some smaller sized ones made by mom would be a nice touch...

Obviously it is still a work in progress.  I am making two up - more details next week.

Another new project:

These little strips are going to become a coupon organizer.  I bought one years ago at the dollar store, but that didn't last long before it all fell to pieces.  Since then, all my coupons have just been shoved in a side pocket of my purse, I figure it is about time to have a new, better quality - and pretty - coupon organizer don't you think?

Projects in progress:
Kaleidoscope quilt (behind)
Skill Builder Sampler (same)
Daisy chain ABC's sampler (on the letter 'J')
Christmas gifts
Halloween bags/costumes

No progress:
Bottled Rainbow quilt (sorting scraps)
Princess Pea quilt
Husband's shirt

Quilt/Bind:
Log cabin quilt

Currently on hold:
Beatrix Potter quilt (working up design)
Barn quilt

This week's stats:
Completed: 0
New projects: 2
In progress: 9

Linking to other great works in progress at Freshly Pieced.

Fall Traditions

To some, winter is the most magical time of year due to the Christmas season. Fresh fallen snow, twinkling lights in windows and on decorated Christmas trees and so on. To me, this is also true; however, I believe it all begins with the coming of Fall. When the hot summer months changes to sharp, cool, crisp autumn days.

There is a tradition I follow every Fall.  It wasn't until last year how much I realized this little tradition sets the tone for the next three months.  When I failed to do my usual welcome Fall things I was Ms. Bah-Humbug throughout the entire holiday season - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and yes, even the New Year.  So I made sure to get them in this time!

What is this little tradition you ask?  It all starts with a caramel apple...

From there, a pumpkin scented candle.  Though this part is critical - it has to be a certain candle.  Not all pumpkin scented candles are a like.

Then it moves to a fresh batch of hot apple cider simmering in the crock pot...

And lastly, a Fall picnic (this date is set for later this month,) with homemade soup, fresh baked bread, and other rich, yummy foods.

I can officially say that I am excited and ready to go for the upcoming holiday season!









Happy 4th!

How do you celebrate our nation's Independence Day?  A camping trip with the family?  Do you stay at home, barbecue and let off fireworks in your backyard? 

Whatever it is you do, have a happy 4th of July!!

Easter Weekend 2011

We had a nice, quiet, relaxing weekend.  On Saturday, one of Logan's classmates, Emma, called and asked if he could come over to her house and dye eggs.  Well, Logan was pretty excited about this!  Since Emma started school at Cibola House, he is no longer the youngest and has made it his job to take Emma under his wing and show her the ropes. 

Even though the day was for the kids, us grown-ups had a good time too.

Getting the dye prepared.  Krista (Emma's mom) and Emma

Picture time.  Emma's dad (Ryan) is behind Logan snapping away.

Checking out Emma's eggs.

Dying eggs.



Emma and Ryan

 The Easter bunny hid the beautiful eggs that Logan and Emma had dyed.  So Sunday morning Logan and Aslyn hunted them down in our backyard.

Aslyn enjoying the egg hunt.

 

Happy New Year

Can you believe another year is gone?  The days are just blurring together here.

Well, in honor of the new year, it is time to reflect on past resolutions and make a whole new set.  How did you all do?

Here are my goals for 2011....

1. Find a picture I love and hang it on my wall. - - For those of you who have been to my house know that my walls are absolutely bare.  Not a single thing hangs on them.  It's time to change that!

2.  Take a class in something. - - Whether it be a day long class that our local nursery offers or a longer one (i.e. photography, salsa dancing, or fly fishing)

3. Blog at least two times a week. - - This past year I have not been very consistent with this blog!  From one blog a month to seven.  I think twice a week is doable since I don't always necessarily have to write.  Some days can just be pictures! 

4. Do at least one "new" family thing a month. - - Every weekend it's the same thing; go into Albuquerque and run errands, grocery shop, etc.  Well, I would like to take one weekend a month to do something different, whether it's going to the zoo, a local baseball game, or just a picnic.

5. Take a gosh darn family photo! - - Our last "real" family photo, Logan was three months old in!

6. Gather Logan and Aslyn's baby things (i.e. footprints from the hospital, ultrasounds, etc.) and put them in their photo/scrap books.- - Right now all of these things are either shoved in my file drawer or between books on Logan's book shelf, it's time to organize them.

7. Catch up on some of my sewing projects.- - I have three aprons I promised people two years ago, curtains to make, a quilt for Logan, a quilt for Aslyn, and so on.

Okay, while I could probably come up with many more resolutions; I think this list may be long enough!  Wow!   2011 is going to be a busy year!

May you all make 2011 an incredible, joyous year filled with love and laughter.  Cheers! 

Bah Humbug

Every year it's the same story.  I get all jazzed for the holidays.  I LOVE this time of year!!  I plan when we are going to get the tree - making sure I bring my camera for the photo.  I make plans for Christmas eve dinner at a family friends house, when we drive through Madrid to see the town decked all in lights, Christmas carols are constantly playing as well as holiday movies.  While I am joyous and bubbly, JP is moody and well...the grinch. 

You see I always felt a magic in the air this time of year.  I looked forward to curling up next to a crackling fire, the aroma of mulled cider, hot cocoa, and baked goodies wafting in from the kitchen.  An evergreen standing tall, lights twinkling with all my childhood ornaments lovingly hanging from its branches.  Outside large snowflakes drift down, blanketing the world white - perfect for bringing that special snowman to life.

This year however, I find myself lacking the spirit.  Here it is 4 days until Christmas day and I haven't done a single thing.  There is no tree (one of my most favorite traditions) standing proudly in my living room - we never got one or haven't gotten one yet.  I never sent out holiday cards wishing everyone a merry Christmas.  Even when people have been wishing me one, and I back - my heart isn't in it.  We threw our family photo time out the window. 

We did do a bit of Christmas shopping for Logan and Aslyn - Logan is getting old enough now to understand.  This left me feeling even less spirited and disgusted.  Disgusted by the herds of people pushing and crowding to get this or that.  Children screaming and throwing tantrums because their mom and/or dad said they couldn't have something (this is another thing I am soooo very proud of Logan about.  He took a toy horse off a shelf and showed it to JP and me.  He carried it around and looked at it.  When we told him to go put the horse back, he did just that, then walked off on his merry little way.)  All I wanted to do was go home.

I have done everything I can think of (besides get the tree) to bring myself out of this blahness.  I've baked, listened to Christmas music, watched my favorite holiday movies, we looked at the lights in Madrid - nothing has worked.  Then I start feeling worse looking at Logan and how having two scrooge parents isn't fair to him.

All of this reminds me of an article I saw the other day titled, "Christmas - It's the Most Stressful Time of Year."  Below this it read, "Remember when it used to be the most wonderful time of year?"

Holiday Recital

Today marked the last day of school for Logan until January 3. To celebrate, Cibola House Preschool put on a little holiday recital for the parents. The kids all lined up in the East room while the parents gathered in the West. Soon the kids came in ringing bells, searching for their Moms and Dads with big grins on their faces.

You may have noticed a hole where a kid should be as well as a missing little boy.  There are actually two kids missing - both the youngest in the group.  As the class piled in the two younger ones decided that they would prefer watching rather than participating (I think it was all just a little bit too much for them.)  So, Logan sat on my lap smiling and cheering on his classmates.

        

  Of course that soon ended when the singing was over and it was snack time...

As the kids gathered around the table, the parents stood nearby socializing.  (Beware - bragging about to take place.)  I had parent after parent approach me and tell me how much they have heard about Logan.  Apparently it is always, Logan this and Logan that.  One couple approached me and told me how their daughter -Thora- came home and said she "liked a boy at school named Logan, he's two and rides horses."  Her parents and older brothers told her she was making Logan up, there is no two year old who rides horses.  After the teachers of the school heard this, they were adament on having Thora's parents meet Logan and his parents.

I also heard over and over how much Logan is a joy to have around and how much everybody adores him.  I'm so proud of my little guy!!