Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Not so secret now

It's wonderful to be able to create handmade gifts for your loved ones.  But sometimes that old saying "your eyes are bigger than your stomach" should be re-written to apply to quilting (or sewing,  knitting, painting or woodworking or where ever your talent might lie!) .  There are always so many things I'd like to make, especially at Christmastime. Most of them remain ideas floating around in my head and some of them are lanquishing on the floor of the sewing room closet.  But look!  I did get a few projects done! 

On one of our trips this fall, I found a book by Gudrun Erla called Fast & Furious Quilting As You Go .  These little quilts were fun to put together and I was able to whip them out pretty fast for our grandsons (and expected grandson!).




One other bigger project completed was this twin size quilt I made for our son and his wife.  After he made the comment recently that I'm always making things for the girls and the babies but that I've never made him anything I decided I'd better get busy!  I found a kit on Ebay using Moda's Pine Creek Crossing fabrics.  It has a northwoods look to it and some of the fabrics even have bears and moose (s?) on them in honor of their recent trip to Alaska.  Though it's not big enough for their bed it will be nice to curl up with on the couch in the  basement family room.   I used a new machine quilter for this one and I was quite pleased with her work. 



So these are some of the "secret" projects I've been working on.  Now it's going to be time to start another baby quilt! This one won't be quite so secret though.   J and I looked at fabrics last weekend and we both like the Goodnight Monkey and Funky Monkey fabrics by Erin Michael but there are a lot of cute little baby boy fabrics available now.  Another quilt shop trip might be in my future! 


HAPPY NEW YEAR ! 

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Best Gift....Ever!



Okay - you'll have to indulge me this once. If you stopped by to see a travel or craft related post, you'll not find that  here today.    Just the highlight of Christmas week here at our house.  These two little boy cousins met for the first time and  I tried all weekend to get a good photo  of them together.  Both are adorable, but also very active little boys so this is the best I could do.   

The little peanut came to Grammie's in his cute reindeer pj's.  Little J had the cutest little sweater vest and looked very much the big brother he soon will be.

Peanut was awed by his cousin.  J loves Dora the Explorer and loved his new toothbrush Santa left in his stocking.

But he loves his little cousin enough to give him a "brotherly" kiss.

And I think Peanut was just as excited to meet a new pal!

With his own version of "brotherly" love! 


Leap Frog for the little cousin.

And Elmo for the toddler cousin!

They were both so cute opening all their gifts but it pretty much took us all day with  breaks for bottles, naps, snacks and diaper changes.  There may have been some gifts for the older kids too!  In fact, the big boys had a blast playing with their remote control helicopters and everyone enjoyed the cookies, candy and other snacks that kept us going until an early supper.


Boys with toys!


Thank you  all for coming home for Christmas!  The best gift .... ever!






And just because this is my blog and I can post cute pictures of adorable little grandsons if I choose too!



Our best wishes for a Happy New Year from our family to yours!