Cute Lollipop Ornaments

Looking around on different blogs, I found these cute fabric covered lollipops and a video showing how to make them.  They are, of course, made in the same way as fabric covered bowls but much, much smaller and more doable.  I posted the video on our quilt guild blog - Pass the Tiara.  If you would like to take a look at it, simply nudge the little yellow chicken on my side bar and you will be there in a jiffy.  Enjoy!

Little Bit of Christmas at My House

Slowly, slowly, a start on getting my house decorated for Christmas.  No longer the whirlwind I used to be in getting things done, it takes me so much longer to do things.  Sometimes I feel like I am doing something wrong but then I'm intelligent enough to know that actually I probably have done some things right and that I am so blessed to be able to do what I do at my age.   So, if I don't get all the decorating, shopping, etc., that goes along with this lovely season, it will still be lovely and a  very, very special Christmas this year.  The pretty poinsietta came home with me Sunday evening when I had dinner with Sherry and Barclay.  What says Christmas louder than a poinsietta?

This little white chamber pot full of Christmasy things sits on top of the piece that holds my tv.  My "arrangements" are always just kind of stuffed in a holder.  I think I have old newspapers crumpled up in the bottom of this one.  It looks okay, though.

And here is the wreath beside the front door.  I took the faded little old snowman off and replaced it with a perky new Santa Claus.  It looks pretty good.  May tackle my mantel and hang some of the wallhangings, etc.  Still don't know if I will bring up the tree that is already decorated or not.  Time will tell.  Again, Ho, Ho, Ho!

A Good Giggle

I found this on Pinterest and it made me laugh out loud, really!  Potty humor, I know, but so darned cute to see a Christmas elf fishing for "goldfish" in pretty blue water.  I have a couple of little vintage elves but they are dressed in green.  I don't plan to set up a little still life in my bathroom, however.  Such a clean, sparkly bathroom! 

Hope you get a giggle, too!  Giggles are good for us.

Christmas Projects

One of the small projects I'm working on for Christmas.  They actually go pretty quickly once the fabrics have been picked out and fused down.

This is a cute little fellow - still in need of eyes and buttons.

Takes a little longer to applique, but it's pretty cute.

This one is quick and simple.  Will do a few more of these patterns and also have a couple of others which I need to resize.  Ho! Ho! Ho!

A Trip to Joann's

 Paid a visit to Joann's yesterday afternoon with coupons, of course, and found things I could purchase with them.  Lots of the time you cannot as what you are looking for is usually on sale.  Found this book "The Flirty '30''s" and it's a cute one - right up my alley.  Also bought some tea towels for applique or embroidery and a ball of Sugar and Cream. 

A year or two ago, Leslie game me a knitted dish cloth and I really like it. Can't knit, but can crochet and that's what I am doing - isn't that neat yarn? It's a mindless pattern and goes quickly. Love the scrumptious colors.

A  page from the book - very cute applique pattern and

two more nice patterns.  Don't know when I think I will get all this done, but just love having it around.

And a note about my two granddaughters in Africa.   My daughter talked to them yesterday and they are having a great time.  They went back to Hannah's site a day or so ago, and Molly said everyone was waiting for them.  Molly told her mom they all love Hannah and she doesn't have to worry about Hannah - she's "sassy" and knows how to negotiate to get what she wants!  What an impact this time in the Peace Corps will have on the rest of her life.  It is very, very hot and Molly is not used to that, but is having a wonderful time anyway.  Actually, they will be spending Thanksgiving with a big group of PC volunteers and then Molly will be on her way home day after.  Hannah will be doing some more traveling and will be basically on her way home for Christmas.  School has been out there for a time now.   Am so anxious to see her and hear all her stories!  We also skyped with Norah in Denver and got to look at Henry.  My, he is growing and changing and adorable.   And to top it all off, Barclay cooked steaks, Sherry made the great spinach salad and baked potatoes, and pumpkin bread.  My private 5-star restaurant!!  (Click to enlarge)

One Hour and Ten Minute Table Runner

The pattern for the ten minute table runner has been floating around for some time now, and the other day I made one.  Only exception is that I decided to do some applique and it turned out it took quite a while to do the three snowflakes.  They look so simple, but there are five little extensions on each arm of the flake so that was lots of stopping, turning and going again.  I did some of those on runners a couple of years ago and now remember that they were pretty tedious.  However, a simpler flake could be used.  Another thing I would change about this is the length and the width.  It's kind of short and stubby.  The fabric is to be cut width of fabric, but I wanted the rows to go up and down and I only had a yard of the striped.  Therefore, instead of being approximately 42 inches long, it was 36.  The main fabric (in this case the red with the appliques) was to be cut 10 to 12 inches wof.  I cut it 12.  Next one it will be 10.  The printed was cut 18 inches wide and I think I might cut that a bit smaller, also.   If I had not appliqued, it really would have been super fast!  (Click to enlarge)

Project for Christmas

Tucked away in the basement in a container were these little embroideries I did a couple of years ago with the intent of making wallhangings.  Good intentions should be carried out, but, alas, that is not always so.  I also had four kitchen towels I bought way back when that I was going to applique for Christmas, also.  Guess what - that didn't get done either.  The other day I got to thinking about ordering some more towels and doing them Christmasy (is that a word?).  I do a lot of ordering from http://www.ericas.com/ - they are fast and accommodating.  I had a lightbulb moment - why not border the little embroideries and either fuse or sew them to towels which would have nine of them done very quickly.

I have four towels that are white with a red trim and I am going to use four of the figures without the words, etc., on those.  There will be some towels left and I ought to be able to do some simple appliques on those.  So we shall see if I get this project finished or not.   Anymore, I am slower than molasses in January but as long as I keep going, I am content!

(Click to enlarge - this is a different format now so sometimes it doesn't do it, but you can give it a try!)

Sherry and Barclay's Gift to All

This would be my favorite gift this Christmas.  Sherry talked about working on her "project" for quite a few weeks and I had no idea what it could have been.  This was the result - a lovely picture album she put together on Snapfish.  One was made for each of us - the three girls, Bill and Ann, and me.  There are twenty pages of pictures taken over the years from their wedding in 1975 through the eventful 2010 that had Molly marrying Doug and Hannah going to the Peace Corps.

 

Adding to this very special gift was the poetry written by Barclay which is his specialty at each gathering and which is used as their Christmas card each year.  Their friends and relatives look forward to Barc's annual poem. The picture above is on the last page and is the one taken when we all went to Portland for Barclay's 60th birthday in 2009.   I must admit that this gift brought tears to my eyes.  It is beautiful.   Good job, Sherry Kay!   (Click to enlarge)

Back Home Again

I am back from a lovely Christmas with my family in Chicago hosted by my oldest granddaughter and her husband, Norah and Chad.  The trips down and back were just great - good roads and not a lot of traffic.  What a difference in weather from the east coast.  There was a lot of snow fall in Chicago over the time we were there, but going and coming was not affected.  In the picture above of the kid's beautiful tree, you can see the snow through the window of their condo.

The entire family, of course, was not present at least in person.  Here we are all sitting around talking to Hannah in Africa.  We talked to her three times over the holiday and she sounds just wonderful.  She was with some of her Peace Corps friends and had had vegetable lasagna for dinner.  There was also pheasant but she is vegetarian so didn't partake of that.  And she said it was very, very hot there.  She has so much to tell us and it is so sweet to listen to her.  Also there were Molly and Doug, the newlyweds from Portland.   And Bill and Ann from Kansas City completed the family circle. 

A few of the Christmas things - first above is a Christmas dog in her Santa suit.  Her name is Lacey.

Some Christmas cookies - Norah and Molly made and decorated them.  The grocery store was out of regular food coloring so they bought neon.  Don'e they look cool?  And they tasted just great.

The Christmas puzzle - worked on mainly by Sherry and Molly with an occasional piece found by me.

Some darling mittens that look like sock monkey hand puppets that Molly got.  I'm not sure who gave them to her - maybe Ann.

A card I made for each of the four couples using a picture taken in 1957 of Sherry and Bill on Santa's lap in the Block and Kuhl department store in Peoria.  I found the cute little snowmen half price in the scrapbook section at Michael's.  Thought they turned out kind of cute.  In another post, I will show you the "project" that Sherry worked on for Christmas for each of us.  It is wonderful.  Hope you all had a happy Christmas!  (Click to enlarge) 

Bringing Christmas Wishes

We will be in the morning to go to Chicago for Christmas at the home of my oldest granddaughter and her husband.  All will be there except our Peace Corps volunteer and we will hopefully get to talk to her Christmas Day.  Her mom heard from her yesterday after quite a spell and all is going well.  She is in the city where she will be spending Christmas with her PC friends.  I just wanted to put up a wish to all of you who read my blog and who I look in on, also, for a Merry, Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2011 coming up.  This blogging is a joy and getting to know people from all over is such fun.  Take good care of you and God bless.

I have prepared a Fashion Friday and think I have it set to post automatically - it's kind of a cute one so I hope it shows up. 

Three Small Finishes

Here is Sven, the little wallhanging I did a week or so ago and it's all done.  He's a cute little fellow and he has two brothers, but they are not quite finished - almost.

The crooked little tree is now all done with a star and some little red ornaments.

And here is my tag for December that will be traded for one from Julie which you can check out by clicking on her name.  She has some other fun pictures on her post.  (Click to enlarge)

Deck the Halls

 I have been putting up some Christmas things today and it's always fun to find the old decorations that have been used year after year after year.  This little girl goes way back to one of our first Christmases.  My Aunt Leah worked in Peoria at the Bergner's department store and she brought this little girl that had evidently been used in the store decorations.  Each year she comes out for Christmas to sit someplace and watch over things.

 These were also brought by Leah.  I think she purchased these.  In the top photo you can see that a boot was 79 cents and it had a Bergner's sticker on it.  It also looks like it was marked down to 25 cents.  These boots have been around forever, also.

Crafty Carol - I made these stockings sometime in the 50's when we lived in Iowa.  They are showing signs of stains now.  They were just for decorations and never held any treats - not that I can remember. 

A wreath I made after I got started quilting.  Fun to see what the fabric was like back then - all small prints but we thought it was wonderful.   Kind of a fun old decoration.  Will post a few more another time.  Best get back to cleaning up my mess - getting slower all the time!  (Click to enlarge)

Christmas Treasure

Debating this year how much to decorate - seems I do less each year but whatever I bring up from the basement has to be returned!  The last three years or so I have just put a swag of lights on my fireplace and decorated the mantel and that is cheery without too much putting things away in order to get my Christmas things out.  To add to the reasons not to go overboard is the fact that we will be going to Chicago to Norah and Chad's and be with all the family but our Hannah in Mozambique.  I have a skinny little tree entirely decorated and covered in plastic in the basement but I think it will stay there again this year.  If I yearn for a lighted tree, I will go down and plug it in!  Just kidding, of course.  However, one thing is certain, this beautiful crossstitch that my husband did lots of years ago will hang in the living room.  His stitches are incredibly small and just beautiful.  This is a piece to be treasured forever.  (Click to enlarge)

Working on Some Small Christmas Projects

We have a new quilt shop in town - Park Bench - and it carries really nice lines of fabric.  It's spanking new and the shelves are pretty well filled up now.  It's a treat for the eyes gazing at the beautiful bolts all lined up along the walls and on tables in the center.  Not a huge shop, but one you will want to keep coming back to for your fabric fix.  They had a little holiday open house this past weekend.  I don't usually buy kits - but one of the girls at the retreat had a cute one she got there.  I found this guy, Sven,  there and

this crooked tree.  They are only six inches wide and about 19 inches long so they are fun and didn't take much time to fuse and applique.  Each of them has some buttons to be added and there is a little embroidery to do on Sven's stocking cap.  Will finish putting them together and do a little quilting and who knows what I will do with them.  I am sure there are members in my family that would not mind having them. 

I found the pdf for this on the web and I am putting it together.  It needs some stars and a kitty in the windows and some snowflakes falling around the house.  Will also put a narrow sashing and a border around it and then quilt it.  I have the two table runners ready to quilt, also, and I know there are two couples that would like to have stockings.  I have figured out a pattern for the stockings and will start on those soon. 

And I had a lovely surprise today.  The phone rang - and I heard this young lady say, "Grandma, this is Hannah!"   How wonderful to hear her voice  -  she sounded just like she was calling from Washington Street!  The box I had mailed weeks ago and one her sister, Molly, had sent her, had finally arrived.   Sherry had e-mailed me a little earlier that they had arrived.  She could not talk long but it was amazing to be speaking with her from clear across the world.  She sounds happy and bubbly just like always.  We will talk on Thanksgiving, too.  What a bright, bright spot in the day!  (Click to enlarge)

Christmas Tabletopper and Runner

Here is a tabletopper I finished quilting and now have part of the binding sewn on ready for stitching.  I do my binding two sides at a time and don't use bias.  Have done it so long that way and probably will continue to do so.  I have done continuous binding a couple of times but seem to prefer this.  What is your favorite way of applying the binding? 

I really like the way the back looks - it shows up better than on the front.  This time I used the #60 thread and the knots on the back don't pile up like the thicker thread.  Wish I had become more comfortable with machine quilting years ago but I'm glad I am able to do what I do now.

This is a work in progress with more of the Christmas fabric from Moda and Joann's.  It will be one of at least two tablerunners.  The green background and the very top one with candy like circles came from Joann and the rest is Moda.  How about that for a blend.   Sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy when it's enlarged - must have jiggled the camera or had it on a wrong setting.   (Click to enlarge)

Merry Christmas from Funoldhag

A sweet Christmas picture of my three granddaughters in about 1994 - all looking cute in their bangs. How the time has flown by - in a little more than a month, Hannah will turn 21. They have been such a joy in my life and in their grandfather's life also. Merry Christmas to all my friends out there in the land of blogs. And best wishes for a happy 2010. Take care and God bless. (Click to enlarge)

Back Home Again

Returned home late last night from Kansas City after a great weekend with my family. My new grandson's mother spends time house and pet sitting in a wonderful home overlooking the Country Club Plaza which is lit and ablaze with Christmas lights on Thanksgiving night for the season. On Friday night, she had us all down for wine and snacks - what fun. It was almost like a repeat of Norah and Chad's wedding on Mackinac Island in September. Here are my three granddaughters - I kind of like them!!!! Will post more later. Hope you all had a great holiday, also. Now on to Christmas - and it will arrive quickly! (Click to enlarge)

To the Art Fair

Sherry picked me up this afternoon and we went out for a nice lunch then over to the art fair at the Center for the Arts that is held every year at this time. The artists are juried in and all of the booths are filled with lovely goodies to buy - I am sure much Christmas shopping is done there each year. There are lots of ceramics, jewelry, wood carvings--and some of the most beautiful felted wool articles in the way of tams, flowers, vests, scarves, jackets, etc. If I were young and wealthy and thin (I don't think that's going to happen!) I would love to wear things like that. However, I can still enjoy looking at them and dreaming a bit. I usually don't buy much of anything, but today a booth with this beautiful candle holder and other great items caught our eyes and I really just thought this is one of the prettiest things I have seen in a long time. I love candles and especially ones that twinkle through mosaic like exteriors. Can you see the real flower that is integrated in the holder somehow? Isn't that just the coolest thing? Sherry wanted to buy it for me, but I will let her find something else and call this a Christmas present for me from me. Merry Christmas, Carol! (Click to enlarge)

Two More Christmas Stitcheries

Two more of the blocks for the Christmas stitcheries for a total of six completed.

I have one more almost done and two more in the wings for the total of nine that I want to make into small wallhangings for my three favorite granddaughters. The first two or three I did are not quite as neat as the later ones so each will get one that is not so good and two that are better. Altogether, though, I think they will turn out okay! (Click to enlarge)

A Christmas Project

Last year I found the lovely toille shown here at Joann's and couldn't resist it. Found these cute patterns to embroider and I actually have done five of them now. Working toward getting nine done. With the exception of a small wallhanging I did several years ago when redwork became popular again, I hadn't done "fancywork" in a long time except for counted crossstitch. I also want to do the Polka Dot Girls patterns that I bought at the show in Chicago so this is good practice. I am kind of switching to another stitch and getting a little better at it. With these little Christmas blocks, I will either make one 9 block wallhanging or 3 - 3 block hangings. Most likely it will be three smaller hangings which I can give to my three favorite granddaughters! (Click to enlarge) Don't tell them!