Snickelfritz

Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Christmas gift

    I couldn't show this quilt before Christmas because it was for my only granddaughter.  I had a great time making this, picking out the fabric, sewing it, machine quilting it.  I'd like one like it for our bed, but I have already got another one I am working on for our recently redecorated bedroom.

      Most of my favorite colors are in this quilt.  I love greens and pinks together.  I always thought if I had been an old maid living alone, my house would be decorated in pinks and pastels and lace with doilies on the chairs and embroidered tablecloths on the table.  I try to get a few pastels around me by painting the walls softer colors.  When we repainted our bedroom, however, David had a big part in the decision of the color and I think he picked a wonderful one that complements alot of different colors.  The quilt I am making has alot of red in it which isn't something I would usually do, but it will look good there.  Anyway I hope it will.

        I embroidered my granddaughter's name at the top of the quilt.  I like to add some personal things on quilts I give away whether it is pictures. something about the person quilted in the quilt, things like that.  I used a varigated colored embroidery floss to make each letter different.  I like how it turned  out and I hope my granddaughter will have this quilt all her life. 

       I have several quilts planned for the next year.  Some will be gifts.  I treated myself the other day by ordering some beautiful fabric I absolutely love.   You will be seeing it in at least one of the quilts this year.    You know how an artist has to paint, well, I have to quilt.  I haven't got to do much this week with my daughter being sick and all the after Christmas cleaning and laundry I've been doing and next week doesn't look too promising either, but I do have this weekend so I will be out in my shop as much as possible.  Of course I will be making pillowcases New Year's day.  My mother always had to make pillowcases every year.  For luck, I guess although I just think it's nice to start the year with new bedding.  I got a Bed Bath and Beyond gift card for Christmas so I am going to buy a new set of sheets. I'll make up the bed with all the new bedding New Year's day. 

   Speaking of my mother, this is her graduation picture.  She taught me so much growing up even though I tried hard not to listen sometimes.  Because of her I will be sitting at my sewing machine Sunday making pillowcases and enjoying every bit of it.  I think of her every day and am so thankful she was my mother.

     Don't know if I will be writing again before the new year so hope everyone's year will be healthy, joyful and full of peace.   Always keep looking up to the One who watches over us all. Bye.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

After Christmas

  We had a wonderful Christmas day with church in the morning, dinner with family and gift unwrapping in the afternoon  As the afternoon progressed our daughter, who was not feeling well, was getting progressively worse.  She had an infected hangnail and a fever.  I told her maybe she should go to the emergency room and not wait until Monday.   So her husband took her into the hospital while we watched her two boys.

    I thought they would be gone for a couple of hours.  She would get checked out and sent home with some anti-biotics.  Five hours later they came here and Jeremy came in to get the boys and said Sara was completely incompacitated.  Couldn't walk or barely move. She'd been given a morphine shot and had been on an IV.

    He took her home and with his dad's help got her in the house as she was as limp as a ragdoll.  Next morning her hand was red and swollen and she had a big boil on one of her fingers and she had a high fever.  After talking to the doctor, she was sent to St.Vincents which, evidently, is one of the only hospitals around that handles hand problems. 

    As soon as she got there they put her on an IV and later the surgeon came in and after conferring with another doctor did some minor surgery on her hand to get out some of the infection. Unfortunately he had to numb her right at the most painful place on her hand and it wasn't pretty.

      She has been in the hospital since Monday and gets to go home today, but must remain on an IV for two more weeks.   I think I will be going over there to help her out if they need me.

      Anyway, it was a bad end to a wonderful day, but am so glad she is doing better and went to the hospital and didn't wait or she might have been worse off.  We never know when our celebrations can become times of worry and pain so enjoy the celebrations while you can because life has a way of handing you lemons.  Just have to go make some lemonade right now.  Bye

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas

    I managed to tie a green scarf around Bonnie's neck without her going berserk so we could take a Christmas picture.  My hat looks like it's superimposed on my head but I was wearing one.    Bonnie seemed kind of proud to be all decked out in what is considered finery for her as she usually will not allow me to put anything on her other than her collar and leash.
     David had to snap the pictures fast as Bonnie was on a mission to go on a walk and did not want to mess with any of this posing for pictures and such.  Isn't she pretty with her shiny black coat and the green around her neck?  Not bad for a middle aged dog.

     As I will be up to my ears in baking, cooking. church going, grandkids and Christmas celebrating the next couple of days, I want to wish everyone a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.  Whether you have a crowd or are alone Christmas day, pull up a chair when you dine and invite Jesus to share the meal with you.  He loves you unconditionally and was born to set you free.  Happy birthday, Jesus.  Bye for now.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Almost Christmas



     I've been busy making Christmas gifts and finally gave some away this week.  This is a quilt I made for someone I love very much who always says when I ask her that she wants something I make.



          I also made this pillow.  I love this pattern.  I think it came from an old Better Homes and Gardens quilting magazine and I have made several things from pillows to dish towels to table runners using it.  It is really easy, but looks like I spent days making it.  It works well with batiks which I very rarely use except when I am making this poinsettia.



      I've been burning candles alot lately.  I have one called Autumn Leaves that make me think of Christmas, I don't know why.  I burn alot of candles in the winter as it makes me feel warm and the house always smells good.   I put a candle on the stove burner where I think if I forget it, it won't set the house on fire.   

      Now this thing about Christmas.  I love the season.  It just doesn't seem to last long enough.  We barely get done eating our piece of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie and the race to Christmas begins.  Every year I plan to have all my shopping done before Thanksgiving and the house decorated the week after so that I can bask in the glow of a heavenly Christmas and dwell on what the season is really all about.  I always plan to give more each year to the Salvation army and I do try not to pass a bell ringer without puttin a bill in the pot, but I want to do more.  I love going to church and seeing how beautiful it looks in all its Christmas finery and I love the carols we sing and the good feeling one gets from thinking on the Christ child.  But I want to do more.  I want to give more.  I want to receive less.  My husband and I always say don't get me a gift, but we always give in and get each other several gifts. 

      I am planning right now to do more this year.  To give more of my time and my money.  To tell others the Good News about our Savior.  To do unto others as I would want to be done to.  The grinches in the world do not like this holiday for some reason.  I don't understand why.  It brings out the best in alot of people.  I know it brings out the worst in some also, but those are the exceptions I would like to believe.  I have not come across anyone grouchy in a store.  Even today this close to Christmas, people were smiling at each other and saying excuse me at the packed Wal-mart we were in.  Maybe it's me looking through rose-colored glasses which I tend to do, but I love everything about this time of year. 

      Anyway, me and Bonnie will be back to wish you all a Merry Christmas in style in my next post.  So bye for now.

Friday, December 16, 2011

'tis the season

  I don't know what it is about the Christmas season, but I get especially creative at this time of year and I sew all the time.  I have all my Christmas presents made that I'm going to make this year, but as you can see, I am still making little people.  I'm up to twenty-five and I see no end in sight.  I have plans for some of them and some of them I will place around my shop to remind me of some fabric that I am fond of.

    This is Mr. Jingles.  He has a jolly bell and snowflakes for hair.  He wants to be Santa, but he doesn't quite make it, but he is still a cheerful chap and is pleasant to have around.

          This is Holly Berry all dressed up for the holiday season.  She has big party plans, but she hasn't let me in on them.  Oh, well.

      Besides making the little people I am making quilts for all of them.   They need to stay warm this winter don't you know. 

   Here are a few more snuggled under their blankies.  Too bad they can't shut their eyes.

     I will leave you with the gratuitous picture of Miss Bonnie Blue.  She always puts on her sad face when I try to photograph her.  She and I have a Christmas picture I will share with you another day.  Maybe two or three.  She got all dolled up for Christmas with a bright green scarf.  Have a wonderful day.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Eating and creating

 
   Eating and creating things are two things I have to do.  I have a shop, studio, creative center in what use to be our two and a half car garage.  We removed the garage door and put in a wall and David put up pegboard and I painted the walls and the floor.  The ceiling hasn't been finished, but now I have a great place to go when I want to do my quilting, crafting, sorting of fabric, etc.    I also refinish furniture here and the above chair is one I am working on right now.  I will sand it, stain it and put a sealer on it and then it will go in our diningroom.



     Today I asked David if he would make dinner since I was going to be extra busy making things in my shop.  Things I cannot show because they are gifts for certain people.  He made meatloaf, mashed potatoes and I made us salads and it was all so good.  David's meatloaf is really good.  He said he would tell me what he put in it after I ate it and I told him not to tell me because it might make me sick.  Whatever he put in it, it was delicious.

 

 
                   This is what my shop looks like while I am creating.  I tend to root through all my fabric to find the perfect piece and leave it in piles until I am finished. 


            This is a pile of fabric I am working with.  I have about four or five projects going at the same time.  Isn't it funny, with so much fabric I would have to go out and buy some more?  It's true, I do.   I am using alot of Pamkitty Morning fabric right now and I love its colors and brightness.  

 
      
 Whoops, how did food slip in here again?  David was a good boy and ate all his green beans.

  
      I will leave you with a picture of my messy shop which I am not ashamed of because I know I will eventually get it back in order again only to mess it up again when I start on other projects.  Bye.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Little people and a dog who thinks she's one

       This is my black lab, Bonnie.  She is seven years old and far past the pup stage.  This summer she discovered she could lay on her back and she has been doing it ever since.  She looks like a bat in this picture when it hangs upside down in a cave.  She doesn't know that.  She thinks she's adorable and so do I.  But on to something I've been working on.


             You know those nesting Russian doll?  I forget what they are called, but I saw alot of them in Alaska and thought they were wonderful.  I thought, why can't I make a stuffed doll that looks like one of those so I drew a pattern and started in making these dolls.   I have become addicted to making them I'm afraid.  I was only going to make six, but now I have fourteen and I see no end in sight as I have a hundred ideas to make more.  Each has its own personality and, of course, I had to name them.  The two above are Dave and Grandma Nana.   He is quite dapper and she is your typical sweet old granny.

        


        This is Ruth.    She reminds me of my Aunt Ruth who always looked so nice when she dressed up.  She always smelled good too and she always had a smile on her face although she had a hard life.  So I like to think this little Ruth is happy and enjoying life to the fullest.

     This is plaid Patty.  Or plaid Pat if it looks like a boy to you.  Remember Pat on Saturday Night Live who no one could ever figure out if he/she was a boy or girl?   Maybe I should put a bow on Patty's head to distinguish her.  Or maybe not.

           This is a few of the gang together sitting on my quilts on the sofa lounging away while I try to write this blog and get the pictures posted that I want.  I am new to this and I get so dang frustrated sometimes and my husband is trying his best to teach me, but today I think the computer is playing tricks on me with things I've typed disappearing and pictures not uploading.  I am just happy I got this far.         
         


            I will just leave you with a very happy dog.  She doesn't even know or care what a computer or a blog is.  Maybe she is fortunate.  I think I'll go and lay on my back in my bed for a while.  I'm exhausted with this whole thing.  Bye.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Posing

    David and I went to the Santa train with Sara, Jeremy and the boys.  There were alot of different characters there that would pose with the children.  Since the grandboys were not too keen about posing, Sara and I did it for them so we could get some pictures of the characters.  Here we are with Rudolph. 


        The Grinch was there being his usual naughty self.  He was so funny.   The grandboys got to sit on Santa's lap and we finally got them in a picture.   

   
        Sara and I aren't the only ones who have been posing lately.    This is one of Belle's favorite poses.  I've never seen a dog who liked to lay on her back the way she does.  Bonnie is looking bored with the whole thing although she also has learned just lately how to lay on her back and does it quite often.  I will post some pictures of her another day.


        
         Here's a stack of fabric posing for me.  It will soon be made into a quilt and some dolls I am presently working on.   I'll be showing them soon also. 


         It's been a fun weekend with the Santa train and then the grandboys' co-birthday party today.  Hope everyone had a great weekend and ready for the week ahead.  Only three more weeks 'til Christmas.  Just wish the season lasted longer.  It goes so fast.  Bye for now.