HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

Decided to jump on the Hodgepodge today!  I am on a roll!  This is my second post within a week!  I've been soo bad about blogging, and I do miss it.  I am really wanting to do better but I am not going to stress myself, so when I am in the mood, I'll post I guess.  Anyway, join the other hodgepodgers by clicking on the pic below.

1.  What's a word that describes your life?  A word you wish described your life?  Hmmm I've given this more thought then you might think!  lol  I guess if I have to pick just one word (because there would be many I think!) I would say...blessed.  It's by no means perfect.  I've a list a mile long of aches, pains, problems, and sorrows, so don't think I am not struggling with my fair share.  But at the same time the things I have to be grateful for could take me many posts to explain.  So over-all?  Blessed for sure.  And a word that I wish described my life more?  I'd go with...active!  Now again, don't take me wrong.  I am busy, busy all day pretty much every day.  But my arthritis limits me more than I would like in the "active" department.  Most of my activities can happen easily from a chair, lol.  But at this point, I am grateful that my hands are still able to do pretty much whatever I want.

2.  Back in my day__________________?  We had to worry soo much less about our kids playing outside than parents do today.  I am totally amazed when I listen to some of my kids talk about how limited it has to be with the way things are today.  Your kids pretty much have to be in your sight at all times, and some things my kids did regularly would just be out.  My kids used to (in the summertime of course) go outside and get on their bikes or their skates and take off playing with neighborhood kids just showing up in time for lunch and dinner.  Now if they wanted to leave the neighborhood and go up to the corner store for ice cream or something they did have to ask my permission first.  But I don't remember many a time it wasn't granted.  The older ones looked out for the younger ones and they just kind of lived outside.  Swimming was another permission item but it happened almost everyday somewhere.  There were countless games of baseball, basketball, and kickball played everyday.  All us "at home moms" knew each other and we all kind of watched out for them all too, and talked among ourselves as to what they might be up to.  Today's world is so different.  Soo many mom's work.  Sooo many kids are in the house and on computer games and phones for entertainment.  "Disappearing" outside for the day is truly just a thing of the past.  How sad that is to me in some ways.  Kids were more independent, more self reliant.  I hear the phrase, "I'm bored" frequently!  My kids knew never to utter those two words as it meant a chore was assigned before they could blink, lol.  Sorry, as always my answers are WAY too long.  lol

3.  When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food?  Does a typical week at your house include takeout?  I guess I will go with Mexican, though I don't know if it is Mexican in the traditional sense.  It's El Pollo loco.  They have a chicken bowl that's really pretty good.  And no, takeout for us does not happen very often at all.

4.  Think about the people you most respect.  What is it about them that earned your respect?  I think it would be in the way they treat others.  Always respectfully and with love.  They don't gossip or engage in negative talk about others.  They are strong, mature Christians and conduct their lives as a true testament to Jesus.

5.  What's something your friends might see and say is "so you"?  Sewing machine...hand made baby clothes...Spending soo much of my time sewing baby clothes, lol.  I made a summer romper yesterday for my new great nephew Davis.  I have been seeing the pattern used all over facebook and Instagram and I just couldn't resist making one of these up.  It was fun and a quick and easy sew.  And a "new" challenge as well.  I had never made a shirt or romper that had the front placket before and I really wanted to try it.  Way easier than I thought so now I don't have to avoid them, lol..

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  I am doing this Tues morning and I have a busy day ahead.  I am about to head out to Newport to get my hair done, and then this afternoon a group of high school girls has been gathering here for bible study.  I honestly did not plan on this group and am still amazed that they asked me to lead this considering they are 17 and 18 and I am 63!  lol  But I SOO enjoy not only looking into God's word together, but seeing it through the eyes of such young women.

Hope you all have a good week!  Blessings to you all!  Debbie

THE SIP AND SEE,,,,,

Well here we are to spring, and TWO full months since my last post....I have been very busy with all of my usual things...sewing, grandkids, housework, sewing, bible study, re-decorating my house, and oh did I mention sewing?  It seems as if the longer it gets between posts, the less likely it seems I will continue at all.  And yet...I DO miss blogging.  I come on and read YOUR posts way more often than you might think, because I seldom comment anymore, which is difficult for me as I do feel like I've always got something to say.  But today I woke up without a whole lot on my agenda, rain falling outside which makes me want to just stay put, and a full on desire to TRY and catch things up a bit.  I've no idea if anyone at all will read this as I've been sooo absent from the blogging world, but I REALLY want certain things to be documented in my books, so here I am.  Truthfully I am not even sure where to start.  I guess I will just tell you about the Sip and See I had here for my niece Jessie a week ago.



I have no idea if I mentioned that my niece Jessica (who is not only Melody's cousin but life long best friend as well...not to mention my hair dresser) adopted a sweet baby boy they named Davis John last Oct.  They already have a son, Weston, who I have probably mentioned a time or two before as well.  So my sister Danae (Jessica's mother) and I decided to throw her a party to celebrate this new baby, and welcome him into this family.  Melody decided to bring Claire and fly out for the party, and trust me I couldn't have been more elated.  They were here for 4 days which was just wonderful.  Jessica's brothers and a couple of my sons, plus my other sisters and their kids and grandkids all gathered, and it was just such a fun day.  Some of the cousins had not seen each other since my mother's funeral, which was almost 5 years ago now, so that was really nice.  It truly is scary sometimes how fast time goes.

I think I did mention that I made the quilt for the new baby's room.  I might have even shown it already, which if I did I am sorry.  I don't think I showed it all finished though, lol.  It was a lot of fun to make, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Trust me, I look for reasons to make a quilt, or to make baby items, so it was a fun few weeks for me.

I MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THAT SHE DID THE NURSERY IN BLACKS AND WHITES (with pops of red and mint green)  I MADE UP SOME OF THESE SQUARES, AND PLAYED AROUND WITH IT A LOT, BUT WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT CAME OUT

THE QUILTING ON THIS WAS DONE BY A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAS HER OWN QUILT SHOP AS WELL.  SHE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB, AND I REALLY REALLY LIKE WHAT SHE DID WITH IT

THE BACKING WAS DONE IN THESE CUTE LITTLE CLOUDS. 

 And then....I had bought a "panel" which is a printed picture or saying on a piece of cotton lycra knit from my favorite shop well over a year ago.  At the time, Jessica was going through fertility treatments trying soo hard to conceive another baby, and I bought it in hopes that God would answer her prayer.  Well, He did answer her prayer with the coming of baby Davis.  Soooo I wanted somehow to incorporate that panel into something for the baby.  I originally thought maybe a nightgown.  But as it turns out I heard through the grapevine that Jessica is not really fond of nightgowns, and plus, they don't really last very long.  I decided after a lot of thought to make a pillow out of it.  She can put it into the nursery somewhere (plus the colors were black and white so that helped a lot) and keep it for a while to remind her of God's goodness.  I ironed a pretty heavy interfacing onto the back of the panel to help it be stiff enough to work for a pillow (the knit was pretty thin and soft...like a tee shirt) and went from there.  I used some of the fabric from the quilt, and pulled in some of the mint green too.  Let me show you...

I LOVE THIS BIBLE SCRIPTURE, THOUGH THE WORDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FROM I TO WE!  

I PUT HIS NAME ON AND ADDED A DECORATIVE STITCH FOR SOME OF THE QUILTING.  I HAD ALSO ADDED A LAYER OF BATTING TO GIVE THE FRONT JUST A LITTLE MORE UMPH...BUT THE REST OF IT WAS JUST STITCH IN A DITCH

HERE IT IS WITH THE FINISHED QUILT

I made her a few more things, some of which I KNOW I've already shown you, but here they are again...lol

THESE TWO PICS GOT REVERSED BUT OH WELL, LOL.  THIS IS THE BACK OF ONE OF THE TEETHERS WHICH IS MADE OUT OF A SOFT TERRY CLOTH.  THEY ARE MADE WITH AN ORGANIC BIRCH-WOOD TEETHING RING AND THEN YOU JUST TIE THE FABRIC ON.  IT CAN BE TAKEN OFF AND WASHED, AND I GUESS DAVIS IS REALLY ENJOYING HIS

FRONT

PRETTY SURE I ALREADY SHOWED YOU THESE LITTLE BASKETS.  I STORED THE LITTLE TOYS AND TEETHERS I MADE IN ONE, AND SOME OF THE BIBS IN THE OTHER. SHE HAS SOMEWHAT OF A LLAMA THEME IN THE NURSERY AS WELL

 

BURP CLOTHS

MORE TEETHERS

LEGGINGS...SOFT AND COMFY

TOY...ALREADY HAD THIS EMBROIDERY DESIGN, AND ALL THE FABRIC AND RIBBONS TO MAKE THIS, SO WHY NOT?

SHOWED HIM BEFORE TOO.  THIS IS A NEW EMBROIDERY DESIGN

SOME OF THE BIBS...I ACTUALLY MADE A FEW MORE.  THEY CAN BE MADE WITH LITTLE PIECES OF FABRICS (MANY WHICH I HAD IN MY STASH)...THE FLIP SIDES ARE DONE WITH TERRY CLOTH SO THEY WILL BE ABSORBENT, AND A SNAP FINISHES THEM OFF.  DAVIS HAS QUITE THE ISSUE WITH SPITTING UP, SO HE GOES THROUGH SEVERAL A DAY OF THESE.

MY SISTER DANAE BOUGHT THIS FABRIC AND ASKED ME TO MAKE UP A FEW MORE BIBS AND TEETHERS AND LEGGINGS, BECAUSE HONESTLY YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF ANY OF THESE ITEMS.  I GUESS FOOD PRINTS ARE VERY TRENDY AND POPULAR RIGHT NOW AND JESSICA REALLY LIKED THESE PRINTS TOO

MY SISTER ALSO BOUGHT THIS FABRIC BUT I ADDED THE BLACK ON THE ONE SIDE OF THE FRONT JUST BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT LOOKED PRETTY CUTE.  I ALSO ADDED THE LITTLE POCKET.  I TOOK THIS BEFORE THE SNAPS WERE ADDED THOUGH AND THE ONE I HAVE WITH THE SNAPS ON DOESN'T SHOW THE ROLLED CUFFS, LOL, SO I JUST DECIDED TO POST THEM BOTH

SNAPS....THE BACK OF THE ROMPER IS ALL THE MILK PRINT

Sooo here are a few pics of the day, and the time spent with Mel and Claire...

MEL (in the blue) AND JESS IN FRONT OF THE DESSERT TABLE   GUESS I DIDN'T TAKE A CLOSE UP PIC OF THE CUPCAKES AND COOKIES WHICH IS JUST A SHAME AS THEY WERE JUST DARLING

STAR OF THE SHOW

DAVIS AND I

MISS CLAIRE

SHE IS NOTHING LIKE HER MAMA AS SHE IS SUCH A GIRLY GIRL, AND MEL WAS ALL TOM BOY TILL SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD, LOL...OH HOW I ENJOYED HER

BE STILL MY HEART

CAPRI, JEFFIE, AND JD...A FEW OF MY GRANDS

CODY, PRISCILLA, TELLA, AND VINNY....A FEW MORE

SOME OF THE OLDER COUSINS

EACH OF MY SISTERS AND I HAVE ONE DAUGHTER A PIECE.  HERE WE ALL ARE...FROM LEFT TO RIGHT..JESSICA AND DANAE, MEL AND ME, KATIE AND DONNA, AND DIANE AND MICHELLE

Well this is long enough (if your even still here, lol) so I will close for now.  I have a few more things to catch you up on which I will try and do another post soon and do just that.  I hope to get around this afternoon and catch up on the rest of you as well.  Sooo many blessings to you all!  Debbie

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

I decided to jump on the Hodgepodge this week even though I haven't participated in a while.  Hope ya all haven't forgotten me.  Anyway, you can join the others here

1.  Speaking of endings....at your wit's end, at loose ends, a dead end, burn the candle at both ends, all's well that end's well, or no end in sight....which "end" might be best applied to your life lately?  Explain.....  Well, let's see, I honestly don't know if any of them really apply.  But I think I will go with....no end in sight.  lol.  Which I generally take in a negative way but I am not applying it here today.  I was thinking last night as I was falling to sleep....there just never seems to be an end to the things I want to sew.  I am not sure why it has such a grip on me, lol.  It's become beyond somewhat of a hobby or a way to fill my days, and has gone into somewhat of a passion or even maybe an obsession.  I am just always putting things together in my head.  Dream of new things I can attempt or do, etc. Wouldn't even consider buying something for a gift at a store if it is something I could potentially make.  And don't even get me started on all the fun Fabric shops I've found online.  Soooo many choices and soo little time.  At this point, there truly is just no end in sight.

2.  What was a must have accessory when you were growing up?  Did you own one?  If so tell us what you remember about it.  Hmmm this might take some real thinking.  Off the top of my head I guess the thing that comes to my head is a transistor radio.  I am not sure that would even fall into the "accessory" category.  Other than once I had one, I ALWAYS had it with me.  It was the summer I was 12 and had discovered the wonder of music and the power it had to transport me most places I wanted to be in my mind, that I received my first one.  I took it EVERYWHERE.  First thing I turned on in the morning, and the last thing I turned off at night.  It played while I was in the shower, doing the dishes, laying at the beach, talking on the phone, even riding my bike.  And of course doing homework. Mine had a lovely tan cover and an antenna (which most didn't as I recall!) making it able to receive many channel choices.  I was really somewhat obsessed with it.   Are you noticing a pattern with me?  (wink)

3.  Something that made you smile yesterday?  Honestly there were SEVERAL things that made me smile, but I will narrow it to two.  First up is I am in the process of helping my niece put together some things for her nursery for her newly adopted baby boy.  She has a "somewhat" theme of llamas going, so I decided to try and make her a tiny stuffed llama using my embroidery machine and an "in the hoop" design.  Let me just say this.  It stitched out in about 15 minutes.  No biggie.  But then turning it inside out and stuffing it and closing it up took me well over an hour!  lol.  I was never so glad in my life to finish something.  But when I finally saw the finished product, a big smile was on face for sure, because every agonizing second was worth it.  It is just adorable!  Such a cute pattern and design.  Let me show you

YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL BY LOOKING HERE, BUT HE IS REALLY LITTLE.  MAYBE 4 INCHES TALL.  MAYBE 5.  SO HIS LITTLE HANDS AND LEGS AND NECK WERE REALLY HARD TO TURN AND STUFF!  AND LOOKING AT THIS BLOWN UP HERE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I GOT ALL THE STUFFING EVENLY DISTRIBUTED EITHER.  BUT IT'S AS GOOD AS IT IS GETTING, LOL.  I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT I MIGHT MAKE A FEW OF THESE.....AH, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A BIG NO WAY!  LOL

HES STANDING HERE AGAINST A LITTLE FABRIC BASKET I MADE TO HOLD SOME OF THE OTHER LITTLE TOYS I INTEND TO MAKE AS WELL.  HOPE THE OTHERS DON'T TURN OUT BEING THE PAIN THIS ONE WAS, LOL

And then the second was the little video that my daughter texted over to me in the late afternoon.  Her 2 year old daughter Claire has spent the night before throwing up and so both she and my daughter had a rough night.  But she was feeling better and the little video was such a welcome thing.

4.  January 30th is National Croissant Day.  Do you like croissants?  Sweet or savory?  We're having chicken salad for lunch....would you rather have yours served on a croissant, a wrap, a bagel, or a roll of some sort?  Well, first off I LOVE croissants even though I haven't had one in a few years.  And I definitely prefer savory.  And IF I could still eat them, I'd definitely chose that for my chicken salad lunch.  It was always one of my favorite lunches, if not my VERY favorite lunch.  But croissants left my diet when I was forced to go gluten free, and while I am sure there must be gluten free ones somewhere that are good, I've never been able to bring myself to even try.  Do I miss croissants?  Most definitely!

5.  Sum up your January in fifteen words or less.  January was both busy and lazy if that is even possible. I have had many projects going, got a lot done,  BUT it was all done at a very slow and unhurried pace....      Did I make it?  nope!  lol  And you wouldn't believe how much I cut.  lol

6.  Insert your own random thought.  I could go soooo many places with this one as I have MANY random thoughts as always.  It's hard to just pick one.  But I think I will go with I am going to start up again with a late afternoon bible study for some teenaged girls, (including my 17 year old grand daughter) one afternoon a week after school.  I am soo looking forward to this.  I would covet your prayers that this will be blessed and the girls will learn and grow.  And me too!  Oh!  but just have to mention as well that today is our 43 wedding anniversary!  How is that even possible?  I have truly been soo blessed in the husband department that I could almost feel guilty.  As we have aged and grown up together I think I could honestly say that living and loving with your best friend is a big part of it.  I thank God every day for him.

Hope you are all off to a good start with this new year.  I am looking forward to visiting around and reading all of your answers.  Have a good rest of your week!  Blessings, Debbie

A BABY QUILT AND ANOTHER CATCH UP....

Well 3 weeks have gone by and I haven't done much better in the blog writing department.  I think I have fallen into what lots of former bloggers have done and that is to post quick updates on Instagram.  I swore I wasn't going to do that and yet here I am.  I really REALLY prefer blogging, as some things just need more of an explanation, and I do so love reading what is going on with others.  But for some reason I have just found myself amazed sometimes that soo many days have gone by and I haven't been around.  I can only keep trying...

Soooo, what's been going on with me?  First off I have not felt totally well since Christmas.  Not sick enough to take to my bed (except maybe one day) but just not all that great either.  I had a decent little cough that I think I have FINALLY shook, but I haven't had one of any sort in years, so I feel like I can't really complain.  My husband has had very similar issues but has managed to keep working and not really be down either, so we are as I tell my kids.."moving along".  I am SOOO grateful however that when I am not feeling up to speed I can just rest, take a nap, read a book, or just generally take it easy, while poor Jeff has to haul himself off to work.  Thank God he is as healthy as he is and doesn't have my list of aches and complaints.  Other than that, I have been busy at the sewing machine when I have found the energy and desire.  My niece (the one who does my hair and Melody's best friend) has adopted a new baby boy!  We are all SOOO happy for her.  She has had fertility issues from the beginning, and managed to have one baby, but had been trying unsuccessfully for almost two years when they decided to throw in the towel on fertility treatments and adopt their second.  They were on a list and got the baby quite suddenly just a few days before Thanksgiving.  I offered to make her a quilt for the new nursery, and to give her a women's sip and see for the new little guy in late February.  Melody and Claire are going to come out for it too, so I am really excited about that as well.  She wanted the quilt to be done in blacks and whites, so I got to work and got it together and delivered it to the quilters last Sat.  Let me show it....

SHE TOLD ME SHE WANTED A PATCHWORK QUILT DONE IN BLACKS AND WHITES SO I JUST GOT 2 DIFFERENT SWEET LITTLE PRINTS AND THEN FOUND THE FABRIC THAT HAD THE LITTLE SAYINGS ON IT TO ADD TO THEM.  I CUT THEM ALL IN 5 AND HALF INCH SQUARES AND THEN DECIDED TO FILL IN WITH SOME PLAIN BLACK SINCE THE OTHER TWO PRINTS HAD WHITE BACKGROUNDS.  BUT THEN I DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY OF THE SAYING THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE THINGS EVEN, SO I MADE UP LITTLE 4 SQUARE PATCHES TO GO WITH IT ALL.  I PLAYED AROUND WITH THE LAYOUT OF IT ALL TILL I LIKED THE WAY IT LOOKED.  THEN IT WAS TIME TO FIND SOME BORDERS THAT SEEMED TO GO WITH IT ALL.  IT TOOK ME LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT MIGHT, AND I ENDED UP AT THE QUILT SHOP WHERE THE OWNER IS MY QUILTER.  I REALLY LIKED WHAT I FOUND THERE.  THE OTHER FABRICS I MANAGED TO FIND ONLINE WHICH PERSONALLY I THINK IS KIND OF HARD TO DO.  SOOOOO MANY DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLACK AND WHITE...WHO KNEW?  LOL  THE BACKING IS A BLACK WITH BIG WHITE CLOUDS ON IT, AND THE BINDING WILL BE THE CHECKERED IN THE FIRST BORDER.  I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT BACK FROM THE QUILTERS AND SEE HOW IT ALL FINISHES UP

HERE'S A CLOSE UP ON ONE OF THE LITTLE SAYINGS...THIS ONE IS A PSALM OF COURSE WHICH I LOVE

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HERE HOW THE FABRIC CAME.  I HAD TO "FUSSY CUT" THE SQUARES WHICH HONESTLY WAS NOT MY CUP OF TEA, BUT I GOT IT DONE.

And then, beings how baby things are my all time favorite thing to do and honestly take me very little time and effort, I decided to make up some other things as well with fabrics and patterns I had on hand, which means of course they were free!  lol  First I made up some burp cloths.  I guess she goes through quite a few a day as the baby is quite the little spitter, lol.  Let me show you those...

THESE ARE ALL MADE FROM A HIGH QUALITY FLANNEL, AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE I LIGHTLY QUILTED THEM WITH DECORATIVE STITCHING AND EMBROIDERY THREAD.  THERE IS A LAYER OF WARM AND NATURAL BETWEEN THE FABRICS TO HELP WITH ABSORBENCY.  THEY WERE QUICK AND EASY TO DO AND WAS A FUN WAY TO SPEND AN AFTERNOON

And then I had ordered some knit that is in the same fabric design as the back of the quilt (which is of course a cotton) as I knew she really LOVED it.  I made up a little romper out of it and a little pair of legging pants.  They are soo tiny.  But he was a premie, and it still quite tiny.  Here they are!

I LOVE THE PATTERN FOR THIS LITTLE ROMPER AND IT WAS PRETTY QUICK AND EASY TOO THOUGH THE SNAPS STILL NEED TO BE PUT ON.  HUBBY USUALLY DOES THAT FOR ME THOUGH, SO MY PART IS DONE, LOL

THESE ARE SOO TINY AND STILL NEED THE ELASTIC IN THE WAISTBAND, BUT I AM WAITING FOR HER TO MEASURE HIS LITTLE TUMMY FOR ME SO I CAN BE SURE THEY ARE NOT TOO TIGHT, OR TOO LOOSE

And then finally I have been wanting to change out my table runners for different holidays and I have a few, but I did not have one for Valentine's day.  I wanted to get it done before February 1st, so I saw this kit and tutorial on my new favorite site, JORDAN FABRICS and ordered one and put it together too.  It was super quick and easy with all the fabric pre cut, and I made it easily including quilting it myself, and binding it in just one day.  I LOVE their stuff, and I LOVE the way it came out.  Here it is.

REALLY LOVE THE FABRICS AND THE COLOR IN THIS KIT!

JUST A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK ON ONE OF THE HEARTS

Well, that's about it for now.  I have several more little things I am going to make up for the baby out of some of my scraps and stash, and my sister (the new grandma) bought a few pieces of fabric and asked if I might make up some things for her to give her too.  No problem here that's for sure.  Hope all of you are doing well, and everyone is staying healthy.  The flu is just rampant here in California, and I do thank God that we have been as healthy as we have been.  Many blessings to you all!  Debbie

A RIDICULOUSLY LONG CATCH UP POST!!!

Well I am of course sooo ridiculously behind now that I should probably not even try to catch it up.  But.....since that's not really in my nature, and I do want a record of things in my blog books, I will do my best to get things in here.

Both Thanksgiving and Christmas 2017 were wonderful in almost every way.  I think I will mainly just show pictures and narrate somewhat as these books are one of the only places I have pictures eventually printed, and I don't want them to be missing.  On the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Melody and her family were here and had rented  a big house in beautiful Temecula so that they could host Thanksgiving for everyone.  It was sooo nice.  The house and the time together, the meal and the memory will go down as one of the best so far.  Here are some of the pics of that time...

THIS WAS THE WHOLE GROUP...THE ONLY ONES MISSING WERE MY OLDEST TWO GRANDCHILDREN, EVAN AND LINDSEY, AS THEY WERE SPENDING THE DAY WITH THEIR OTHER GRANDMA, AND ANNABEL AND HER LITTLE FAMILY HADN'T GOT HERE YET.

HERE'S THE GROUP WHO GOT THE CHRISTMAS PJ'S THIS YEAR.  THE WEATHER WAS SOO BEAUTIFUL THAT DAY, AND THERE WAS A GIANT FIRE PIT OUT BACK THAT WE ENJOYED OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO THAT OVERLOOKED THE BEAUTIFUL WINE COUNTRY IN TEMECULA

OUR FOUR KIDS.  THEY SOO ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER

2 YEAR OLD CLAIRE TRIED SOO HARD NOT TO TAKE HER NAP THAT DAY BUT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.  WE LOOKED OVER AND SHE HAD JUST LAID DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING, AND FELL FAST ASLEEP, LOL.  GRANDMA KNEW THE FEELING

THESE 4 COUSINS SURE ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER TOO.  POOR LITTLE TELLA BROKE HER ARM TWO DAYS PRIOR AND WAS STILL WAITING FOR SWELLING TO GO DOWN TO GET HER CAST.  SHE WAS SUCH A TROOPER ON THE WHOLE EXPERIENC

KIDS TABLE

LITTLE SOPHIA IS SUCH A LITTLE DOLL.  I DON'T SEE HER NEARLY ENOUGH.  SHE WAS SOO SWEET

SOPHIA WITH HER GRANDPA

MY OLDEST AND MY YOUNGEST.

Ok, I "think" I had shown you most of the gifts I had made and gave out that day, which meant then I started getting busy on some things I wanted for myself.  It took me WAY longer than I intended it too, which left me very pressed for time, but I was really glad I pressed on, as I ended up being really happy with it all.  I bought a line of Christmas fabrics by Robert Kaufman, and made pretty much everything out of it so that it ended up all coordinating.  Let me show you all of this.....

THIS WAS DONE FROM A KIT WHICH I JUST LOVED...IT WAS THE SAME LINE OF FABRICS, AND WAS PRETTY EASY TO DO.  I TREATED MYSELF TO AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT AND BOUGHT A GATHERING FOOT FOR MY MACHINE WHICH MADE THIS HUGE HUGE RUFFLE MUCH EASIER TO ATTACH!

I MADE THESE SANTA CLAUS EMBROIDERY DESIGNS INTO PILLOWS USING THE FABRICS TOO.  THESE WERE SOOO MUCH FUN.  I HOPE TO MAKE SOME MORE NEXT YEAR, THOUGH I WILL START WAY EARLIER, LOL.  

I MADE TWO

JUST HAD TO SHOW YOU UP CLOSE SO YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE DETAIL.  I USED A FURRY FLEECE FABRIC FOR BOTH HIS BEARD AND HIS HAT

AND THEN THIS LOG CABIN BLOCK RUNNER WAS ALSO FROM A KIT.  ALL OF THE FABRICS WERE PRE-CUT, AND WHAT A DREAM THAT WAS.  THIS WENT TOGETHER REALLY EASILY IN AN AFTERNOON, AND THAT INCLUDED DOING THE QUILTING WHICH I DID MYSELF.  I JUST DID A STITCH IN THE DITCH, AND IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.

CLOSE UP ON ONE OF THE BLOCKS....I SOO LOVED THIS FABRIC

HERE'S WHERE I PUT THEM

I ALSO MADE A COUPLE OF FABRIC TREES OUT OF THE FABRIC, AND A SET OF 8 COASTERS.  I USED CHARM PACKS OUT OF THE FABRIC FOR THESE AND IT MADE THEM QUICK AND EASY.  I LOVE MAKING THOSE TREES  I MADE 4 OF THEM THIS YEAR

I MADE THIS BY COMBING A FEW OF THE EMBROIDERY DESIGNS THAT I GOT FROM A SHOP THAT I LOVE AND USE FREQUENTLY.  I GAVE IT TO MY NIECE JESSICA WHO DOES MY HAIR FOR HER LITTLE BOY WESTON WHO LOVES LEAVING TREATS FOR SANTA

HERE HE IS ON CHRISTMAS EVE ALL READY FOR SANTA

HE GOT A PAIR OF THE PJ'S TOO

I ALSO MADE A FEW OF THESE AS GIFTS THIS YEAR  IT IS ALSO FREE STANDING LACE WHERE YOU STITCH OUT THE FRONT, THE BACK, TWO SIDES AND TWO ROOF PIECES AND THEN SEW AND GLUE IT ALL TOGETHER AND ADD A RIBBON HANGER.  I LOVED THE DESIGN AND THEY CAME OUT SUPER CUTE.  BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY TOOK A LONG TIME SO I NEVER DID GET ONE MADE FOR MYSELF.  NEXT YEAR FOR SURE'!

I MADE THIS SET OF COASTERS FOR OUR LIVING ROOM AS WELL.  THIS DESIGN IS FROM THAT SAME SHOP WHICH HAS DEFINITELY BECOME MY FAVORITE.  THESE WERE A LOT MORE WORK THAN I INTENDED, BUT WERE REALLY WORTH THE TIME I FELT.  I MADE 8 OF THEM, AND EACH COASTER TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO COMPLETE.  THEY HAVE A LAYER OF WARM AND NATURAL IN THEM SO THAT THEY SOAK UP ANY MOISTURE OR HEAT REALLY, REALLY WELL.  I USED METALLIC GOLD THREAD FOR A LOT OF THE DETAIL STITCHING WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY TOOK SO MUCH TIME AS IT IS KIND OF PAIN, BUT AGAIN, REALLY WORTH IT.  THESE PICTURES DO NOT DO THESE JUSTICE AS THEY KIND OF SPARKLE TOO.

WANTED TO SHOW YOU A CLOSE UP OF ONE OF THE CORNERS, AND THE DECORATIVE STITCHING ON IT

BIG DECORATIVE STITCHING WENT OVER THE CENTERS

THERE WERE TWO WITH GOLD CENTERS, TWO WITH RED, TWO WITH GREEN, AND TWO WITH BLACK.

HERE'S WHERE THEY WENT

Then!  We hosted out annual brother/sister dinner at our house again and it was once again such a good time.  I'll just post pictures of this night as they are pretty self explanatory.  There are a few pictures of all of our Christmas decs as well.

MY MOM'S CHRISTMAS MICE

I MADE AND GIFTED 10 OF THESE ANGELS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING MYSELF.  THEY TOOK AN HOUR AND HALF TO STITCH OUT ON MY MACHINE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO SIT THERE AND WORK THE MACHINE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO PUT ON MERRY CHRISTMAS AND 2017.  I LOVED THEM.  THEY ARE STIFF AND YET SOO LACY LOOKING.  MIGHT HAVE STARTED A NEW TRADITION, LOL.  A DIFFERENT ANGEL WITH THE YEAR EVERY YEAR, LOL.  AGAIN, I WILL START WAY, WAY, EARLIER.  THERE WASN'T A SINGLE THING I DID THIS YEAR THAT I WASN'T FINISHING UP THE DAY OF.  

We celebrated my husbands 66th birthday, a grand daughters 13th, and another grand daughter's 17th as well but I don't have any pictures of any of those events.  And then the Sun. before Christmas we celebrated Christmas with our 3 sons at our oldest son's house.  We had Italian food and it was just a wonderful, wonderful day.  I can't be sure why I took NO pictures, but I didn't.  I think it might have been the brother/sister dinner had just been the night before and I was beginning to drag just a wee bit, lol.  And then!  the Friday before Christmas hubby and I loaded up and took off for New Mexico to spend Christmas with Melody and her family there.  It was the first time we have done that and they have been married over 9 years already, so I think it was time.  It too was such a good time.  I have a few pictures from that...

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A BOY AND HIS DOG...THIS IS CODY

CODY GOT TO HAVE A PJ DAY AT SCHOOL AND WORE HIS NEW CHRISTMAS JAMMIES

HANDSOME LUKE

DARLING SAM

LOVE THIS PICTURE OF CLAIRE...THEY GOT SOME SNOW A LITTLE AFTER THANKSGIVING...DIDN'T LAST THOUGH

LINDSEY AND HER BOYFRIEND ON HER 17TH BIRTHDAY 

MY YOUNGEST SON AND HIS FAMILY

SAN DIEGO GRANDS

CODY AND I HAD A MOVIE DATE AND SAW THE STAR...SUPER CUTE MOVIE

LINDSEY AND HER DADDY JOE ON HER BIRTHDAY

I doubt anyone makes it to the end of this post especially as un-involved as I have been with blogging.  I have really missed it, and I do intend to get around trying to catch up some tomorrow.  You can imagine I think how long this took.  But I feel good that I did catch up.  How grateful I am for how much the Lord has blessed us with.  I am going to be busy this next month as I am going to make a quilt for my niece new baby!  She and her husband adopted a BEAUTIFUL little boy the week before Thanksgiving.  We are soo happy for her.  Hope you all are having a happy, healthy, holiday season.  Many blessings to you all!  Debbie