Dee's Doodles: December 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Goodbye 2013!

2013

was a busy year! and I'm looking forward to 2014!

We'll have two graduations (highschool and university), an official highschool freshman, and a wedding!

Hoping to wedge lots of sewing in between these huge milestones and events. A quilt for the couple and one for Chris.

Finishing this year happy!

Started December inspired.

Ending it satisfied.

I think I nailed it!

An improvisational-wonky Log Cabin table runner for the winter months. Nothing but scraps used. These were quick and fun to put together and gave a sewing fix in between homeschooling, co-op classes, decorating and family festivities.

Just a down and dirty all over meander for a quick finish. I took some of the remaining red scraps and pieced them together for the binding.

My great-grandmother came to stay with us the summer I turned 13. I treasure the time I got to spend with her and all the things she shared with me!

This was her on her 87 birthday. She passed away many years ago, and didn't get to meet my husband and children. I wish they could have gotten to know her. She was an awesome cook, wrote for her local paper and stayed busy and active throughout her life. She taught me to make a family favorite food, Rivvles and to crochet. Every time I make this dish, I think of her and I think she would smile to see her gift of teaching me to crochet used to gift others.

Simple single chain stitches. One of my favorites for scarves! Not a lot of space for the wind and biting cold to get through. I love the little rows of stitches lined up like little toy soldiers ready to fight Winter's worst...and if you're consistent in your stitching, patterns emerge in variegated yarn. The top one especially with its blue "stripes".

The "chocolate covered cherry" one is for Chris's special friend, Olivia. The purple, teal and blue on the bottom right is for Jon's fiancé, Rebecca. The light blue, cream and purple on top is for my mom.

What a fun way to let my great-grandma "hug" these special ladies in my life.

I hope you get to spend some time looking for inspiration and ways to pass childhood memories on to those you love!

Follow me to these blogs and find something that makes you smile and maybe motivates you to get to the machine today!

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Monday, December 9, 2013

Sew excited!

My LQS Always in Stitches just made my year!

Saturday, we took Ben and went to Noblesville, IN. There are several stores we like to browse, shop and ogle!

The town had ice sculptures all around the square. It was a beautifully sunny day, but only in the low 20's.

I love having our kids along for "adventures" in antiquing and shopping! Ben found a WWII Air Force coat he was quite intrigued in.

I found my Christmas present!

Always in Stitches is now offering certification classes to rent and use their HQ Avante' longarm and their Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen free motion quilting machines!

I'm asking for a class and the time to go quilt!

How fortuitous that Christmas is coming up. How handy that Tax Season Saturdays (hubs works all day...it's just me, the kids and the pets) are on the way.

Don't bother calling me on Saturdays, 'cause I won't be home!

I love the HQ16! I've test driven it several times, but it's a hefty investment and it does need some space. Not as much as a longarm, but it would require significant shifting of stuff that just isn't practical or possible right now.

There are quilt tops I would love to quilt on this machine.

Higgeldy-Piggeldy

Rose Star Quilt

The Linens Quilt

(when it's finished! LOL)

While I was drooling and dreaming over the thought of using these machines, I managed to find some fabric.

A 5" charm pack of Heather Bailey's "Lottie Da".

Oh the colors! Makes me want Spring now!

"Honeysweet" from Moda. Oh, so soft, feminine and sweet!

Work continues on the winter tones quilt.

I have over 20 blocks now. It's super easy to sit down in between helping kids with their school work and make a couple of these.

This was the Pinterest color-way that inspired me. Such calming colors with a pop!

Hope you had a great weekend and stayed safe and warm!

and

host linky parties each week. It's a great way to connect with other bloggers who love to sew and quilt. Come get inspired and encouraged!

You can find me here!

Monday, December 2, 2013

December Finish and WIP

Hello campers!

It's December! I totally blew November off for posting. We finished off October with soccer. The Sr. High team took Third Place in the Gold Division for Nationals. This was Chris's last year on the team and a mild concussion during the third game kept him from finishing out the tournament.

Here he is with their trophy, and thankfully, he's all over the symptoms of his concussion now!

November was a crazy month! Homeschooling is one of the best things we've ever done, but it's time consuming! We hosted Thanksgiving for hubsmuffin's side of the family and my Mom and Dad joined us this year.

Here we are relaxing after the turkey and ham were eaten, dishes washed, chairs put away and company gone home.

Ahhhhh!

Thanks to the hubsmeister, I got to have some sewing time over the weekend.

Another sweet repurposing of a vintage hankie into a basket to hold goodies around the house.

Flower Sugar, Ruby, scraps and leftover linen from the Linens Quilt.

Which is still in progress, just put up to work on after the New Year. This was because my sewing area is in the living room and needed to be organized and cleaned before our Thanksgiving company came.

Having time to cruise Pinterest is dangerous!