Thursday slunk along slowly!

Sleeping in.

Long talk lying on the bed.

Getting everyone ready for the last day of the year.

Wal Mart.

Lowe's. (the tv table is now fixed, such a clever man I married!)

Marsh.

The mall.

Back home.

Nap.

Doggy tended and fed.

Cat ignored.

Extra kid picked up.

Extra tv loaded into the CRV. (monster video game marathon tonight for the guys)

At the in-loves.

Eating.

Playing Games.

Eating.

Ringing in the New Year.

Happy 2010!

Wednesday fell into the week with a BANG!

Okay, I figure I had to share this here...

I've been growing out my hair for hubby macho man.  Plus, I hadn't had time to have it colored or highlighted lately, so I'm looking kinda dark.  Actually, my grandma Payne was starting to stare back at me from the mirror, so what happens next probably isn't totally the poor woman's fault.

I shop at Goodwill.  You all know this. 

One day I was in our LGWS and had a couple of sheets and pillowcases to add to the stash.

It was Wednesday.

For those of you who don't shop at Goodwill, that means all the mean little seasoned citizens who live in our town and shop there can go in and get a huge discount.  And be rude.  And grab things from your hands.  And run their shopping carts into you.

Obnoxiousness to the max!

The woman at the checkout register asked me if I got a senior discount.  Me!  Who still feels 23 inside, is barely into my 40's, rides shopping carts down the incline at Marsh's, totally flubs at parenting 98% of the time because I still don't feel grown up enough to be a parent!  Me!

Once I managed to pick my jaw (which is still full of all my own teeth, thank you very much!) off the floor, I told her I might if AARP keeps lowering its membership age.

Pasty white and shaking with shock, I walk to the cute little Honda Civic that I thought I looked cute, young and sassy in...and wept.

Thursday morning.

Over to Misty.

Who cut off about 9 inches of hair, winter highlighted me and made me look like Victoria Beckham.

Well.

Almost.

Close.

Think me.  Only without the tattoos!  LOL

That was a couple of weeks ago.

This morning.

2:30 am.

Middlest comes into the room and says "There's something downstairs I have to show you."

Holy Crap!  You don't just sleep through that one now, do you?

I need to back up about 6 months here.

Middlest, who has responsibility and short term memory issues LOL was carrying around his wallet (which he'd already lost once...and found in the pocket of a pair of jeans he put away in the bottom of his drawer) with over $90 in cash and about that much in gift cards.  Wherever he went.  After he'd been told to leave it at home wherever it was he was going whenever.

So, I confiscated it and have it hidden somewhere in the house for security reasons.  Everything is still in there, just...safe.

Last night this morning, he apparently felt the need to look for it.  And thought it might be on the shelves in the family room.  The shelves that can't be reached by a non-thinking 14 year old boy...unless you stand on the...

Mom and Dad, you might want to stop reading here.

fiberboard tv stand your grandparents gave you mom and dad when they got a new one.

Yup.

Crack went the fiberboard.

Thunk went the kid.

Sliiiiiiiiiide went the tv.

He woke us up and we flew down the stairs.  Bless his heart.  He did try to fix it.  With duck tape.  With superglu.  With blood, sweat and tears.

No children were injured in the telling of this tale.  Thank God.

But, Mom and Dad, if you're reading this and are thinking you don't like your old/new tv stand and would like to get another one...he he.  We're in the market.

I love kids.

Tuesday sort of rolls into the week...

Tuesday.  Already.  Rats!

It's only the second day of our second week of break and I feel vacation slowly slipping away!

Argh!

Last night, I asked hubby snookums to do something in bed that in almost twenty years of marriage, I've been too hesitant to ask:

sleep on pink sheets.  LOL

Aren't they loverly!  These were part of my Christmas gift from the in-loves.  I picked them out!  Sew loving how they go with the shams and quilt and everything!

Thank you honey!

This is a closeup of the quilt I made for our bed.  Even though it is very girly, hubby dove loves it!

This

is part of another queen size quilt (I know, I know.) for our bed.  I bought a remnant of what I thought was plain white muslin one night last summer at Joann's.  I was very tired and not in my right mind (I know, I know.).  I started sewing on this the same night and the next morning realized I had bought shirting quality.

Doh!  Sew now I'm finally ripping out the yucky fabric and putting in the stuff I want.  This will be a summer, lightweight quilt.

Another strip in progress seen here on my nice, new, blue cutting mat!  A Christmas gift from a very thoughtful family!  Thanks guys!

KT surprised me with this sweet little bag when we met up before Christmas

...it's hanging up on the knob of the table next to my side of the bed so I can slip my glasses in there when I go to sleep.  Our vulture cat has this very bad habit of perching on the side of the table as close to my face as possible during the night and just...watching...me.  It's like she's just waiting for me to die.  Spooky really!  Sometimes she sits on my glasses, which is really gross as you can imagine (I know where that cat's bum has been!), so this solves my problem quite prettily!

Friends over most of the day yesterday and two of them got dropped off again today with the third, I'm sure, to follow as soon as he rolls out of bed.  Javi is up now.  We love sleeping in on vacation!

Happy Snoozeday to you!

...and Monday rolls around.

Looking back, looking forward.

Last night, hubby best friend and I were lying in bed.

He asked me if I had any regrets.

Thankfully, none of them involved him! 

LOL

Looking back, some of my regrets have to do with people I've lost touch with, cut ties to or stay distant from (because they're not healthy relationships).

I have a friend who went back to school and is now working full time.  We used to spend every day together in the summer.  Our kids swimming together and the stay at home mommies chatting and keeping an eye on them.  I talk to her maybe once or twice a year now.

Another friend whose son at a much younger age, would hit, kick, push and be very forceful with my boys.  The mom was very much at a loss as what to do with her son. 

I had to sever that friendship for the sake and safety of my kids.

Relationships that are potentially toxic or unhealthy.  Where they want to control your every thought and judge you by their standards instead of letting you be you and enjoying the uniqueness of you.  There is a closeness and friendship that I wish were possible, but allowing myself to become the kind of person I would need to be to have this would shrivel my soul.

Looking forward, that would be my New Year's resolution.  To restore these relationships back to where they were.  But, that's not going to happen.  We're different people now.  I'm a different person now than I was during these times.  I miss my friends and family.  I miss what they could have been, should have been.

But, I'm at a loss.

Looking back, what are some of your regrets?  Looking forward, is it possible to change them or fix them?

Happy the Day After!

We had an ominous start to the day.

We plugged in the tree and...

no lights!

LOL

I think it's revenge for my not wanting to put the tree up this year.

Hubby pessimist-sees-omens-everywhere asked "I wonder what this means?"

I optimistic-sunshiney-glass-half-full sort of person says calmly "New lights next year."

Snowbirds called from the Sunshine State in the am.

Almost all of hubby-sees Death's angel in the door-'s family came over for breakfast.

Day spent at the in laws with all the family in attendance and chaos reigning supreme!

Home at a reasonable hour.

Sleeping in on the 26th.

No sewing like I'd hoped for.

Bummer.

One of my favorite days of the year is December 21st.

"The 21st?", you ask.

Yes.

The shortest day of the year means days can only get longer from here.

And you know what that means!

Spring is on the way!

Woo Hoo!

Why I Hate Christmas!

Or...more probably...why I hate what we've been told and sold Christmas should be.

Perfect.

Obedient, grateful children.

No sibling rivalry.

Baking gingerbread houses and never thinking of themselves first.

Houses that are immaculate and festively decorated for all the dinner parties and carolers who drop by.

Every Christmas card remembered and sent in time.

Every charity given to.

Perfect gifts bought and wrapped with matching paper, bow and tag.

No thoughtless words falling from our mouths on ears that will never forget.

More money left at the end of December than the other way around.

Relationships restored.

Miracles performed.

But...

it isn't that way.

And if it were, there wouldn't be a need for a Savior.  And Christmas wouldn't be celebrated all around the world. 

Which is why I love Christmas.

A reason to celebrate.

A need so great we can't fill it.

We can't shop it away.

Eat it away.

Drink it away.

Overdose or pop pills it away.

We can't love it away.

It is a need every human heart feels.

Some ignore or deny...

but that hole is there.

A hole that can only be filled by a knowing who we are, because of Who He Was-Is-and Will Be.

A silence of all our internal clamoring that can only be given when we stand before Him in our own silence of the heart, mind and might.

I love Christmas because it is a Beginning that has an End.

An End to pain.  Fighting.  Anger.  Jealousy.  Bitterness.  Loneliness.  Depression.  Fear.  Hate.

It is a long time coming, that's true.

But there is a purpose in the Plan.

So I think it's okay to hate all of the things we're told and sold Christmas should be.  Because these things really take us away from the meaning of it all...that we are imperfect and have a Need.

And that Need knew this and was willing to come and be like us, talk like us, feel like us...to understand us and help us understand Him.

In the end, the Beginning is a glorious thing to be celebrated!

And in the Beginnind, the End was already known and chosen to be experienced anyway.

For love.

Merry Christmas all!

Peace that passeth understanding and Love that knows no limits be yours in 2010!

Lady Threatens to Set the T-Rex On Me!

Sunday, hubby snowflake took the boys "shopping" and they were gone a long time.  Before they left, they had helped tidy up the house so I would have time to work on finishing Aunt B's quilt.

This summer I got a new Janome Quilter's Companion and it came with a walking foot.

This close to Christmas I didn't have time to quilt using a meandering stitch like I like...sew, I just did a simple grid quilt pattern.  I really like the way it turned out.

And so does Lady.

Who doesn't want to see the quilt leave the house.

And threatens to tell Rexy.

Which is a whole other story that will have to be told later!

Also, by the end of last week, I had finished up this

for a certain, sweet, shy, friend from Middlest's science class.

Ahem.

When Sew Mama Sew went insane a couple of weeks ago...I cashed in on the insanity!

Tina of cutelittlepiggytoes was gifting away

"a pair of New-Mommy Warming Slippers (made with Amy Butler fabric) and new-Baby Booties. The booties should fit 6-12months and the slippers fit up to size 8. The mommy warming slippers are something new I'm making. The bottom of the slippers have pockets full of rice. So, just pop these babies in the micro and you've got some soft warming slippers."

They came.  I saw.  They conquered!

They are...absolutely...the Bomb!

My feet get so blasted cold in the winter, I could not have won a better giftaway! 

This is also a "Moments' picture.  On the left, last year's school stuff, some of which we still use.  Behind my feet, this year's school stuff we definitely use!

Also included in the package of sunshine and cheerfullness

little bitty buddy shoes that need to be shipped to Florida!

An origami ornament (which thrilled the male people of my house to no ends!) which is too cool!

And

star fabric and quilt labels!  Tina went above and beyond and I am adding her to my blogroll, because anyone who can survive three boys and a husband is a Superhero to me!  I hope you stop by and take a look and maybe order yourself a pair of the best slippers in the world!

Thanks again Tina!

Suddenly Okay with Christmas Trees

To begin the beginning...

it never ceases to amaze me.

The kindness, the mercy, the grace and love of strangely friendlies.

People I've never seen face to face or exchanged a hug or single word with

reaching out through the strangeness of time and space

to speak a word of comfort, encouragement, peace

and acceptance.

You.

Strangely friendlies,

friendly strangers.

Sisters who share a passion and hope.

A purpose and longing.

Blessing upon blessing you send out

to be recieved.

Humbly thankful.

I have this thing about Christmas trees.  For years, I worked at creating the "perfect" tree.  Collecting coordinating ornaments, scouring magazines and cannibalizing ideas from other people's homes.

Only letting the guys set the tree up, and me, listening to Christmas music, decorating it alone.

I've had my perfect tree.  Only to find out just what that tree was from a purely historical perspective.

A pagan custom adopted by Christians to make things easier. 

Sort of like me decorating the tree.  It was easier.  No fighting.  No sibling rivalry over who's doing the best job.  No wrestling over who puts the star on.  No wobbling, tinkling, teetering tree because of rough, excited little hands.

This year, I didn't even want to put the tree up.  I saw it as an un-holy symbol of all that has gone wrong with Christmas.  I mean, Christmas can't even be pinpointed as His birthday.  We've outshopped each other to try and outgive the Greatest Giver of All.

I think we're close in celebrating His conception...which I believe was during Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.  What better way for the Light of the World to be conceived than during a time celebrating the return of Holy Light to the Temple?  For eight days this miracle is celebrated.  Eight days is also how long the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated.

 I think it is during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) that He was born.

It was in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, that God dwelt with the Israelites.

Isn't it just like Him to send Himself Incarnate, Emmanuel, God With Us, to be born in the flesh during a holy festival celebrating this...where the priests sang a song of praise "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to the people of goodwill."

To be born in Bethlehem.  Bethlehem in Hebrew means "house of bread".  What more fitting place for the Bread of Life to be born? 

KT over on her blog links to this incredibly beautiful post.

We've been to an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  We took hubby love's parents and our boys, headed north and stood in awe!

I encourage you to read through this thoughtful and insightful post...I did.  Until I hit this translation of a fragment from Isaiah.  "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him."

The blog's author tells me "We're standing before a 2,100 year old Jesse tree.  A Jesse tree that hadn't yet seen the star shining in the manger, a Jesse tree that still only prophesied His glorious coming...a Jesse tree that believed."

So...I've been doing some research.  In the same book I'm told about the Jesse tree, I find this "Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." Is 55:13.

And I am blown away.

The Father tells me through Isaiah that the pine tree will be an "everlasting sign" of Living Water and the Bread of Life...given freely at no cost to me...that will satisfy and is worthy of my labor.

Of "food" that is good for me to eat and will delight my soul.

A sign to remember an invitation to "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that my soul may live."  He invites me to seek Him and call on Him.

He covenants with me!  He promises me His faithful love.  Mercy.  A pardon.

Freedom.

A going out in joy.

Being led in peace.

And "the mountains and hillswill burst into song before you,and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

What a journey I have taken this morning.  How far I have come and I do rejoice!  

The blog's author writes, "At home by the fireplace, our Jesse tree stands on the other side of Calvary's Tree.  Our Advent is one of waiting for the coming we know that comes, of prophecy fulfilled, eternal life shooting from the truncated."

Thank you, Ann.  For your beautiful words that have given me back the magic and true meaning of the Christmas Tree.

 

Victory in Admitting My Limitations!

Okay, two people today whom I love and admire very much asked "What's wrong with you?  Are you all right?", because there's been no new post since last Wednesday!

I have been "sewing like a mad woman" and having sew many of my projects take more time that I wanted them to (or the directions said they should!), only to have to put aside malformed, mis-sewn, totally screwed up bits of evidence of time I can never get back.

It's too late to start over and I'm spending time frustrated when I could be spending it enjoying my family and friends.

Sew...

Nutz to anymore handmade gifts this year!  No pencil roll ups (Leslie, I needed your mojo on this one!), no  more fabric baskets, no cute messenger bag and the quilt for Aunt B is looking more and more like a birthday present.  LOL

And...I'm...okay...with...it...all.

Really.

Originally uploaded by scottfidd on 12/14/19

Part of the equation is the amount of time I need to spend with my kids.  Homeschooling is fun, but it can be time consuming!  Especially when you're learning Cartesian coordinates and how to graph perpendicular lines, and find the standard form of the equation of the line.

It's okay.  I'm clueless too most of the time.  LOL

Another all day event was celebrating our state's 193 birthday with Bean's class.

Bean and then here are some of the kids from our group.

And a rotunda I would love to have as a quilt! 

It was an all day event our school was honored to be a part of.  Over 700 kids from all over the state.  We even got to see "Our Man Mitch" pouring his own cuppa Joe and he had all the kids in our group come in his office and talked to them and signed their little activities passport book.

Saturday was an all day trip to a town that Time forgot.  Ever see the movie "Hoosiers"?  Well, we played in a gym straight from the 40's/50's.  It was awesome!  The scenic drive south, the houses and Christmas decorations of the town felt like we had stepped back into Life as Norman Rockwell would have known and painted it.

Sunday...day of rest?  LOL

Monday...co-op, Christmas accessories shopping, and "Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince" movie night.

Tuesday...well, I have two botched projects on the table and I'm not going to go look at them again!  Except to place them in the trash bucket!

Sew, now I'm back to where I started. 

Tonight is a choir concert for Middlest's friend at school.  She is very cute!

Tomorrow is a day of work around the house and trying to remember where the washer and dryer are.

Thursday is the Christmas program at Bean's school.

And Friday, well, I'm going guilt free shopping for two nieces, an aunt, a nephew and whatever else needs shopped for manufactured by someone else who's probably not on the "naughty" list like me!

Originally uploded by pjovertherainbow 12/13/09

Because I'm trying really hard to celebrate and remember what the real Reason of the Season is all about!

Love.  Hope.  Joy.  Peace.

On earth.

For me.

For you.

One Day and a Quilting Bee

Randi over at "I have to say" is one smart, sweet and giving lady! 

Please take a minute to read this:

Our church takes part in a ministry called "One Day to Feed the World" each year and we donate one day's income to help feed those in need, here in the states and around the world. The organization is able to take the money they receive and multiply it times four through the help of corporate sponsors:

"Your gift, equal to one day’s wage can help change the world for suffering people. With the help of corporate sponsors, Convoy of Hope can multiply a $100 gift into $400, or more, of life sustaining goods. Everyone can participate in One Day to Feed the World.

Imagine, you take the equivalent of one day’s pay, give that to help hurting people and Convoy of Hope can multiply that gift by at least 4 times! You have the power to make a difference in the lives of people that are hurting, or people that are victims of a disaster. You can have an impact, by participating in One Day to Feed the World!"

Well, today is my "One Day".

100% of today's profits from my shop's sales will be donated directly to the One Day organization. I am very excited about working with an organization that uses it's money so effectively. Also, this is the first time in many, many years that I have actually had my very own income to give to something like this.

Aubry also wanted to participate and she made three dolly-slings to sell in my crafty shop. 100% of the money she makes will be given to the organization as well. Her willingness and desire to take part in this makes my heart smile.

So, if you have been wanting to buy some fabric from my shop, please do it today. And if a dolly-sling fits the bill for someone on your Christmas gift list, feel free to snatch one up.

'Blessings!

I've bought fabric from Randi before and let me tell you, the shipping was instantaneous, the service was above and beyond anything I've ever ordered and this is an awesome cause to be part of!

Heard around our house lately.

Hubby comedian: Two blondes walk into a bar.

Me: And?

Hubby comedian: You would have thought at least one of them would have seen it!

Never a dull moment here, let me tell you!

I joined a Virtual Quilting Bee!  Yes.  Me.  I've had so much fun with the mini quilt exhanges I've been part of, I thought I would take the next step and commit to 12 months of quilting with and for strangers.  Not really strangers because I've been following some of their blogs for a while now.

We're called "The Incredible Shrinking Quilters" because not only are we quilting for each other's benefit, we're going to encourage each other to eat more healthy, exercise and become more physically fit and lose weight for 2010. 

My first block to sew's instructions and fabric came in the mail this weekend.

Now, I can also fill in with creme colors from my stash to help Jessica make a "Coffee and Brown Sugar Quilt" to celebrate her giving up coffee as part of the health and fitness challenge of the bee.

We have a flickr group and a blog we're using to keep in touch!  Jessica told us in the blog that "I sent out a selection of beige, cream, and/or brown fabrics with a smaller piece of a deep turquoisey blue. Please make one 9 x 9" finished (9.5" unfinished) block of your choice. Any traditional or slightly wonky (think maverick stars) pieced or appliqued block is fine, but please chose something that works on point (i.e. don't applique your scene without rotating the foundation first!) Please use the blue in or towards the center, if possible."

She also linked some potential blocks she would like us to make and after consulting with her,

this is my block.

Originally uploaded by Marci of Quilter's Cache

 

Paper pieced perfection!

On the weather front...went to bed last night with a barometrically induced migraine, got the boys up for school, took medicine and went back to bed to sleep it off.  Middlest of course doens't mind, because he gets to sleep in too!

I woke up to ice pelting our western window and the most brilliant sunshine streaming in through the southern window.  Looked out the back (northern) to see a sky as black as night!  We have high wind alerts today.  I've been lifting our son, Javi, up in prayer this winter season driving on the roads.

Safety for all today!

Mail Call!

This sweet pile of perfect pink and orangeness was waiting for me this weekend in the mail.

Rene' had a giveaway not too long ago.  And Saturday, while I was away on a three hour drive there, three basketball games, three hour drive back day...the mail lady delivered so much kindness and care to my mailbox, that it was probably bursting at the seams.  Rene' read how I was saving these colors for a quilt and generously, thoughtfully sent along some beautiful fabric to help my stash grow!

Also in the envelope were these stunningly lovely notecards wrapped with so much care!  The ribbon reads "Blessings".  Too much!

And then, out slid this pattern book!  Which I'm just dying to get into...but I'm trying to be "oh so patient" until after Christmas!  LOL  Most people want to open things before then, but I'm going to have to wait until some of my Christmas projects are done and given away!

Rene', what a blessing you have been to me.  Your blog is a wonderful place to go and be inspired and share in your life!  Thank you for being such a sweet person, loving mom and the kind of friend we should all be and want to have!

Christmas Friday Sew and Tell Edition

Sew much potential and an awesome selvage!

Santa's elf has been busy!

On the homefront, Katelynne's birthday party is Saturday!  Hubby workaholic and I have decided we'll give her the pinwheel quilt and a Katelynne Bag for the party.  I putzed around and used copy paper, a straight edged ruler and dinner plate to come up with a design of the bag.  I'm pleased, but know I can improve on it.  Just not today!  LOL

The bag holds her quilt until she lovingly cuddles her dollies in it.  She can then use the bag to carry whatever her sweet, little heart desires.  More white flannel, Grammy stash and scraps from Javi's "Blueberry" quilt. 

For Christmas, we decided we'll give her the Sherbert quilt and a new dolly to love.

Soft, so soft, white flannel with orange, pink and yellow squares.  The binding is the softest yellow!  One of my favorite colors!

Sew, all total this week:

one pinwheel doll quilt bound, washed, dried and ready to go

one Katelynne bag designed, made and filled with the pinwheel quilt

one Sherbert doll quilt made beginning to end, washed and just perfect for snuggling baby dolls

two little Christmas bags for two special ladies!

Make sure you find the Sew & Tell button on the left side and click on it.  It will take you to a wonderfully inspiring site that hosts our weekly finishes!  I get such great ideas and encouragement from the other women sharing what they've been working on.

Can't wait to see what everyone got done this week!

Updating to add some very important news!

Kerri at Lovely Little Handmades is hosting with eleven other blogs a giveaway of momentous propotions!

On December 12, Kerri will select a winner and that winner will be entered to win an EZ View Desktop from the Original Scrapbox!  That drawing will take place the 14th at Rachel's Writing Spot.

This is a desk top designed with Scrapbook storage in mind, but can't you just picture all kinds of quilting tools and supplies in there!

I went to their website and want this!

Swiss bovine!  This would be awesome!  I'm in the chair already, lovin' every minute of it, crafting and quilting my little heart out!

They also have an EX View Craft Desk I would taken when if I win the top!

You can go to Kerri's blog for a chance to sign up to win!

Going back to the Original Scrapbox now.  Please don't mind the drool on the keyboard!

Giveaway Heaven

Have you seen the lists?

The folks at Sew Mama Sew have gone insane!  With a little help from their friends!

This list is for giveaways of Handcrafted Item(s) + Supplies and Materials.

This one is for Handcrafted Items.

Holey cow.  Swiss bovine!

Get there now!

edited to add I've shamelessly spent the last two hours some time this morning signing up for everything and anything I can!  Two lists down!

Lost in New York

Tonight we started watching "Home Alone 2 Lost in New York". 

Hubby smarts and I decided a long time ago that our boys would never see the first Home Alone.  Mostly out of fear.

We're extremely afraid that the tricks Kevin McAllister played on the bandits would be played on us.

Trust me.  It's probably one of the smartest things we've ever done.

Well, I figured if all this action took place in New York, there would be less chance of new pranks being played on Mom and Dad here at home.  Or so...that's my hope.

Lots of fun stuff besides Christmas movies and scared Mommies.

Remember I won 10 1/2 yd bundles from Kim at True Up?

Well, it came in the mail Saturday.

Sew much sunny, cheerful goodness just waiting to be made into fun gifts for two of our older nieces.  I'm trolling through everyone's tutorials for just the right gifts to make.  I think for Brooke, a pencil roll up!  She loves to draw and her homemade cards are the best.

Abbi is a little bit harder.  Maybe a messenger bag?  Ahhhhh. To have such cute, girly fabric to play with.

Also in the mail was this beautiful mini quilt from my Flickr friend, Ansje.  What shabby chic, cottagey (is that a word?), cabbage rose colors.  I love the aqua and red together.  Very vintage and victorian!  And the embroidery in the middle is just too perfect!  The boys were trying to decide if it was Dumbledore or Gandalf...I bonked them both in the head (twice) for that one.  It's an exquisite embroidery of St. Nicholas walking through a hushed, snow shrouded forest.  There is a reindeer following him.  I do so love the colors she picked out.  Blue is one of my favorites!

She also sent this too hip tissue holder!  Oh my!  The fabric is just too much!  I feel very spoiled.  Also in the package was a really fun 2010 photo frame calendar that I can't wait to fill up with shots of the boys!

Thank you, thank you Ansje!  What a blessing to have you as a friend!

I love getting stuff in the mail.  Well.  Not bills maybe.  Well, not just maybe.  Definitely not.  I would much rather have this kind of package over bills every any day of the week!

I'm sending out these two little packages today.  One for Katherine (Scootin' Annie) from the STUD group and Ansje's.

The "Snow Cat", 1/2 yard of the cutest reindeer fabric, some Dark Chocolate Cocoa (they had a mint that was brown and green to match the quilt, but not sure if she likes mint cocoa!) and a snowflake ornament with bells!

Ansje's cocoa is Raspberry Dark and the wrapper matches the purple on the quilt!  1/2 yard of soft Christmas colors with snowmen, trees, all kinds of sweet things!  And another snowflake ornament for her tree.

Ladies, friends, I hope you like them and that this Christmas is a blessed one!

If you have never been part of a mini or doll quilt swap, you should seriously think about joining one!

You get to meet some really sweet and talented ladies and enrich your home by having these beautiful minis to remind you of your quilt buds!

Quick peek at what I picked up at Goodwill yesterday that is now in the wash! 

Two vintage pillowcases!  Now here is the dilemma: do I keep them as pillowcases for my bed?  They're crisp and clean and I don't think they were ever used.  Or...do I stash them with the other vintage fabric for my quilt and to share with KT?

Hmmmmmm.

Tuesday Toodles to you!