I can't believe the year is over tomorrow. Where did the time go? My baby is almost ONE and my oldest is almost THREE. I am still amazed that I managed to make 17 quilts this year. Some turned out better than others, but I am very happy with all of them.
I've had my favorites #5, #11 and #12. But, honestly, I love them all. I was really obsessed with the string quilts/paper piecing method. I love the way the quilts turn out. Very symmetric. Five of these quilts were gifts, some are at the cabin, one on my bed, one is my lap quilt, three are for the girls, and there's a couple extra in there somewhere.
I do have a challenge for myself for 2012. I am going to work on making more challenging quilts. Gretchen will also be getting a twin sized quilt and I have the fabric picked out and cut. Now I'm working on piecing it together and it's rather difficult. It's going to be a diamond quilt set on point...stay tuned.
Hope you enjoy. I've had a lot of fun planning these out and already have some excellent ideas for 2012 quilts. Will you be lucky enough to get one?
Friday, December 30, 2011
![quilts of 2011 by [griff] [griff] 'n [chuck]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6603444499_523781bc98.jpg)
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Matthew's Photo Quilt & Merry Christmas!
I have a cousin that recently passed away. It's been really, really hard on my family. People have changed and relationships have changed. Those of you who have lost somebody close know the affects it has on an entire family. Please continue to pray for my Aunt.
With that being said, my mother, her sister, wanted to give her a very special gift for Christmas. Something that would be a reminder of her son and something that she can use and have every day....a quilt. More specifically, a quilt of Matthew and the happy times they had. It was a joy to put this quilt together for her. The colors are Dallas Cowboy colors because that was Matt's favorite team. I also had a woman do some embroidery for me. The embroidery along the outside really adds something wonderful to the quilt. The words are part of the song "I Can Only Imagine." It's a very special song to our family and has been play at multiple funerals.
Here are some photos of the front. The back is white minky fleece to keep my Aunt warm. If you are reading this post.....we all love you, especially Barbara Jean.
With that being said, my mother, her sister, wanted to give her a very special gift for Christmas. Something that would be a reminder of her son and something that she can use and have every day....a quilt. More specifically, a quilt of Matthew and the happy times they had. It was a joy to put this quilt together for her. The colors are Dallas Cowboy colors because that was Matt's favorite team. I also had a woman do some embroidery for me. The embroidery along the outside really adds something wonderful to the quilt. The words are part of the song "I Can Only Imagine." It's a very special song to our family and has been play at multiple funerals.
I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
I can only imagine all our broken lives resurrected in the healing light.
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| photo quilt |
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
christmas eve
Christmas Eve. A day and night I've been waiting for all year. Like birthdays, I absolutely love Christmas. I'm not a crazy Black Friday 3 a.m. shopper-- but I do pull out my Christmas decorations and lights before the month even hits the calender. To me, Christmas brings a deeper meaning of joy and happiness. Sure there are many grouchy people hitting the stores, but I find most are happy to spread cheer.
It's also a time I begin to reflect on my life and what I've done the last year. Perhaps it's also the end of the year that brings this about, but I can't help but think about what I have in my life and how truly lucky and fortunate I am.
Today we'll be taking the girls to church for a 3:30 p.m. service. With all the standard Christmas chaos, I know this service will be at least 2-hours...that's a long time to be in a church with two kids under three-years-old. We discussed not going, to make our life just a little easier. But then I was drinking some coffee (of course) and realized that I have too many good things in my life to not give Jesus a measly 2-hours. After all, if it wasn't for Him, I probably wouldn't be so fortunate. I also want to make sure the Girls know how important Jesus is to Christmas. We've always told Charlotte that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. She plays with the Nativity all the time.
Each year I always donate something to the Angel Tree at chruch or pick a family to help out. This year I didn't and it's really bugging me. How did I manage to forget those that need things the most. So, if you are reading this, take a moment to remember Jesus and all that he's given you. You may not understand everything that's happend this year, but somehow, he has a plan for us.
Those of you who have lost somebody, just remember,
It's also a time I begin to reflect on my life and what I've done the last year. Perhaps it's also the end of the year that brings this about, but I can't help but think about what I have in my life and how truly lucky and fortunate I am.
Today we'll be taking the girls to church for a 3:30 p.m. service. With all the standard Christmas chaos, I know this service will be at least 2-hours...that's a long time to be in a church with two kids under three-years-old. We discussed not going, to make our life just a little easier. But then I was drinking some coffee (of course) and realized that I have too many good things in my life to not give Jesus a measly 2-hours. After all, if it wasn't for Him, I probably wouldn't be so fortunate. I also want to make sure the Girls know how important Jesus is to Christmas. We've always told Charlotte that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. She plays with the Nativity all the time.
Each year I always donate something to the Angel Tree at chruch or pick a family to help out. This year I didn't and it's really bugging me. How did I manage to forget those that need things the most. So, if you are reading this, take a moment to remember Jesus and all that he's given you. You may not understand everything that's happend this year, but somehow, he has a plan for us.
Those of you who have lost somebody, just remember,
"Have a Merry Christmas and wipe away the tears.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year."
Gretchen's 1st Christmas
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
family photo
We decided to get a family photo taken. I was so excited about it!! I crave professional photos after walking into other people's homes and seeing the wonderful artistic creations hanging on their walls. I knew my mom would also love to have a family photo of all her children and grand-children.
Alright, what a good photo you are thinking, right? We'll here here comes my critique. I hate it. All of it. The color, the lighting, the burry, the staging and....the fact you can see the crappy seats we are sitting on. Needless to say, I'm so disappointed! Uber, uber disappointed. These wen't cheap, but apparently, I'll have to spend even more next time to hire a GREAT photographer. I've spoken to the guy and he's trying to work with me, but I think I just didn't do nearly enough research and waited too long to book an appointment.
Here are my beautiful girls. It's a better photo (lighting) but still not crisp and clean. Why, oh why, do I seem to have such bad luck at photography.
Update: Gretchen is starting to walk along the couch. Watch out!
Quilting update: I have a very special quilt I'm quilting this week to finish up. Photos to come right after Christmas.
Alright, what a good photo you are thinking, right? We'll here here comes my critique. I hate it. All of it. The color, the lighting, the burry, the staging and....the fact you can see the crappy seats we are sitting on. Needless to say, I'm so disappointed! Uber, uber disappointed. These wen't cheap, but apparently, I'll have to spend even more next time to hire a GREAT photographer. I've spoken to the guy and he's trying to work with me, but I think I just didn't do nearly enough research and waited too long to book an appointment.
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| Charlotte & Gretchen |
Update: Gretchen is starting to walk along the couch. Watch out!
Quilting update: I have a very special quilt I'm quilting this week to finish up. Photos to come right after Christmas.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
oh what fun
Did you know that Gretchen is crawling like a maniac all over the place? She can't hardly be stopped. On Thursday she moved from the ottoman to the couch (standing) and I know it's gonna be Christmas and she'll be surfing along all my furniture. Seriously, if she has free roam, I can turn around for a second and she's gone and into the next room. Crazy! If you tell her no she also has a fit. Not liking it when Mom and Dad limit her reach.
Charlotte is doing great and loving the Season. The poor kid keeps asking for snow and wants to go sledding. Personally, no snow has been rather nice for every day travels, but I know it just can't be Christmas without a blanket of beautiful snow outside.
Last week we played a little baseball with the kiddos for a MOM's event. I can't say she'll be a baseball player, but the way she was running around the cages, I do think she'll be a track & field star!
Charlotte is doing great and loving the Season. The poor kid keeps asking for snow and wants to go sledding. Personally, no snow has been rather nice for every day travels, but I know it just can't be Christmas without a blanket of beautiful snow outside.
Last week we played a little baseball with the kiddos for a MOM's event. I can't say she'll be a baseball player, but the way she was running around the cages, I do think she'll be a track & field star!
Friday, December 16, 2011
candy cane cookies
I don't bake. I've never claimed to be able to bake. I can, however, bake Christmas cookies. They always turn out perfect and I never want to share. The recipes are probably perfect, leaving it hard to make an error. I pay this tribute to my Grandmother and her trying and testing of recipes. She had a tendency to modify things over time and was truly a baker. With this, I share another recipe this year.
The Candy Cane Cookie. Sure, there are many out there, but this is the one. The mix of vanilla and almond extract is delicious. It's heavy on the almond, a yummy flavor that few desserts have these days. Sure the candy cane cookie takes a bit of patience, but with a little TLC, they are well worth it. A very festive cookie too. My added tip: bake on parchment paper to make it extremely easy to lift of the cookie sheet. This minimizes the breakage.
The Candy Cane Cookie. Sure, there are many out there, but this is the one. The mix of vanilla and almond extract is delicious. It's heavy on the almond, a yummy flavor that few desserts have these days. Sure the candy cane cookie takes a bit of patience, but with a little TLC, they are well worth it. A very festive cookie too. My added tip: bake on parchment paper to make it extremely easy to lift of the cookie sheet. This minimizes the breakage.
Ingredients
- 1 C butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 C powder sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 1/2 C flour
- 1/2 C crushed peppermint candy canes mixed with sugar
Directions
Cream sugar and butter, beat in egg and flavoring. Mix in flour and salt. Blend a few drops of red coloring into half of the dough.
Flour a pastry cloth. Roll the two separate colors until you get a skinny piece about 4" long. Place strips side-by-side, pressing lightly together, and twist like a rope. Cookies must be completed one at a time. Bend one end to form a candy cane.
Bake 5-7 minutes at 375. Remove from oven and while still hot, sprinkle with candy cane mixture. Carefully remove from cookie sheet to cool.
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
santa baby
Today we visited Santa at the Annual Santa Baby event at Columbia Center. Charlotte was very excited to see Santa! She knew right away to ask him for dinosaurs and had no problem sitting on his lap. Gretchen wasn't unhappy or happy. My smiley little girl was straight-faced the entire time. Maybe next year she'll be as anxious as her sister to sit on his lap and ask for gifts.
Friday, December 2, 2011
my baby bump for columbia center
You may remember that I did a favor for the wonderful Columbia Center, the speciality birthing hospital that both girls were born at. After a small photo shoot, they used my photos for some online advertising and a few minor print things. No, there was never a billboard...
But today I saw this on Columbia's Facebook page! I forgot how much I loved my baby bump! Yes, I'm starting to itch...but not itching too bad yet.
But today I saw this on Columbia's Facebook page! I forgot how much I loved my baby bump! Yes, I'm starting to itch...but not itching too bad yet.
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| image source |
23 adult truths
I can't take credit for this. I wish I was this clever. You may have ran across this on the Internet, if you haven't, enjoy. I love finding these little bits of sarcasm and wisdom. After all, everybody complains about getting older!
1 Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How on earth are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind-of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
Ladies.....Quit Laughing.
23 Adults Truths
1 Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How on earth are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind-of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
Ladies.....Quit Laughing.
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