CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

For a long time, I have loved elf Christmas stockings.  I searched around and got a couple of ideas.  The first one I made was out of an old sweater, but I was to small.  Thinking again, I came up with these two.

CANADIAN TENORS

Last night my hubby took me to see the the CANADIAN TENORS.  They are such fabulous singers a long with being quite humble.  Frazier shared he met a man in the elevator that drove down from Seattle to see them.  He couldn't believe someone would do that.  Oh and did I mention they are stinkin', stinkin' CUTE!!!  They signed their CD's after the concert, so I wiggled my way up close and took these pictures.  Their concert made my heart sing.

MRS PERSONS ANTIQUE QUILTS

The BFF came down for a visit and shared some of her Mother-in-laws antique quilt collection.

NATIVITY ORNAMENT

I am going to an ornament exchange next week and the theme is nativity or church.  After hunting around and not finding what I wanted, I went on PINTEREST and searched for a nativity ornament.  This blog had a wonderful silhouette ornament in a glass ball that I loved.  Not being a paper person, I was clueless on how to go about cutting out the silhouette, and that's when I called my friend Jane.  This is the finished ornament....

I have a "sewing emporium" and Jane has a "paper emporium" with a flat screen TV!!!!!

Being an expert paper artist she had a short cut on how to make the ornament faster.  Instead of using paper and gluing it to clear acetate, she cut the image out of vinyl that had a sticky backing and she transferred the silhouette to the acetate.  We only made two ornaments because we were giggling and talking so much, that was the best part about the day.  Jane is now on her second computerized cutting machine.  (I told you I'm not a paper person....I don't even know the name of the machines) She has all sorts of paper gadgets and files her paper like I file my fabric.  Jane also showed me other things she's made, subway signs, scripture verses for the wall, her grand kids names with cars and flower decorations.  It was amazing.....AND FUN!!!!  Thanks Jane.

CHARGING INTO CHRISTMAS

I'm working on this.....

And did a little cyber Monday ordering....pogo stick, Mickey Mouse Camping Adventure and a pink Razor scooter.  I'm working on some elf style Christmas stockings for my honey and myself....hope to have a picture soon. 

NOTHING TO SAY

Do you ever feel like you have nothing to say???  That's how I've felt this last month.  I've just been doing "life"....things like taking the car in to be fixed, a trip to the vet with the dog then the cat, blowing leaves....you know "life"  Here's something I found this morning from Betz White.  I don't knit but I can make these.

                                  And this......

NW QUILT SHOW

Last week my "MASTER machine quilter," Laurel and I went to the NW Quilt Show and spent FAR to much time examining each quilt, along with talking and laughing.  Being with her made me look closely at each quilt, not just the pattern, not just the colors, but especially the machine quilting.  Here are some beautiful quilts I especially liked.

  The blue feathers on this quilt stuck out giving it dimension.

 

This quilt was made out of all salvaged edges and the background fabric had script on it.  Here is a close up of the window in the above quilt....don't you love the squirrels???

This quilt was my favorite because of the color, pattern and the quilting was out of this world fabulous!!!

And the rest are some other quilts and close ups, that I enjoyed.

And of course my favorites are still the antique quilts!!!!

That's all I have to say today besides.......

Life is good!!!

OOOO NOOOO!!!!!

My husband and I have season tickets to see Oregon State Football, and Saturday I realized I got a little sloppy.  In the first half of the game I asked my husband if I could have a handful of pistachios, then put them in my lap to chew on.  Second half I looked down to see the man in front of us had one of my pistachios in the back of his pants.  My friend Gail and I laughed and laughed and then wondered how do you graciously tell him "excuse me but one of my pistachios fell in your crack?!?" We are so squished into our seats, it feels like we sit on top of each other.  Now I have proof.   

Webcam 101 for Seniors....

911

                            WE WILL NEVER FORGET........

ETSY FIND

I am a huge fan of etsy and this is what I found this week....couldn't live without it.
                       Zoe Chen is the designer,

BUSY,BUSY,BUSY

Last Thursday we all went downtown Portland and listened to the Portland Symphony, watched some ballet and as the sunset over the river they shot off fireworks.  The night was magical.

Along with 15,000 people we spread out our blankets and then Kathy and I decided we needed an elephant ear.  YUM!!!

On Labor Day I started out washing the girls...that's me and Maggie in the swimming pool/bath tub.  Honey Buns and I spent the day at friends eating and talking with friends.  The only thing I did was move my chair 10 yards and I enjoyed myself completely.

LIFE IS GOOD

LAST WEDDING, NEW BABY

Two weeks ago we had our last wedding for the year, here at the farm.  Sean & Brie have been engaged for two years and waited until they both graduated from college before starting life together.  The wedding was delightful, with different pies instead of cake, and lots of lawn games to play after the ceremony.  Here they are all dressed up and beautiful....  The little lantern candle on the side lined the walk way.  TOO CUTE!!

And this last picture is of our friend Cassi & Jeff.  Dad passed out during labor, hitting his head so hard they found bleeding on the brain after a Cat scan.   He looks like the one who went through labor.  Dad, Mom & Emmalyn went home on the same day.  Dad is recovering well.

WHIRLIGIG FINISHED

The BFF came for five days and our project we made this year was whirligig's.  On day one we found out how "tool challenged" we were, and had to call a friend with a drill press to help.  It took him 20 minutes to drill about 60 holes for us.  On day two we started to assemble and found out our drill was going backwards.....we had to laugh!!!  On day three we ran out of time but promised to finish. 

MARIA MADEIRA

Last month I was using PINTEREST to look at wool dolls and I found Maria Madeira.  She makes the most wonderful and laughable dolls, and I couldn't resist this one.  She now sits on my sewing counter with my other lovely ladies.

Here's a close up of her face.

 

The quality and workmanship of this doll is top quality.  She is stuffed tightly, all her face is hand stitched, and the intricacy of her little boots is incredible!  Take a look at her shop for other unique wool dolls.  You won't be disappointed and her prices are very reasonable.

 

VALORI WELLS SKIRTS & RUFFLES

This summer while on vacation my daughter-in-law, Enna and I went to town shopping and found this adorable skirt pattern by Valori Wells, called Twirl skirt.  The pattern is on a sewing card which is 4x6 and only $3.00.   Enna picked the color and fabric for each of her little queens and then I went to work making them.  Do you loved them???  My little grand daughters did. 

OLD QUILTS & FRIENDS

I was in Colorado Springs last weekend with my friends I've know since childhood.  We had a blast, laughing, shopping and eating chocolate chip cookies.  My friend Connie lives there because of what happened to her husband when we had the draft for Vietnam, his birthday was drawn #1.  He was at Oregon State and quickly wrote to one of our senators for a recommendation to the Air Force Academy.  They loved Colorado Springs so much they decided to live there after 25 years in the Air Force.

This quilt was made by Connie's aunt who was a very frugal woman.  When looking at it up close I noticed the entire formation of the star was pieced differently.  Then she laid it on a white background and appliqued it on.  Gee, we all thought we had a new idea when piecing our quilts randomly and all it took was being frugal and using everything we have.  When I held the quilt up to a window you could see the seeds from the cotton batting.  I love these old kind of quilts, and because it was so big I had to stand and shoot the picture from upstairs.  

Here we are 40 years after graduating from high school.  From left to right, me, Connie, Melinda and Jill.

 Jill modeling glasses....I could always get her to do anything, even be my room mate in college.

This was painted on a canvas cloth and hung behind the cash register in a funky shop in Old Colorado City.  I thought it was marvelous!!!

This was the dressing room....to fun!

We saw repurposed things every where.  This flower was made from newspaper and tissue paper.  I also noticed several women's stores with repurposed clothing.  It was inspiring.

LIFE IS GOOD...