January?

The past few days I've been watching my daffodils start to come up. It is still January and this really shouldn't be happening. No, I am not complaining by any stretch but our weather has been really weird. The other day it was in the 60's and then down to the 30's and this week we will hover around 50. So very bizarre. It has been good for our heating bill and snow removal budget but just doesn't feel like winter.

The snowmen and all Christmas decorations have been put away. I think I mentioned that with this weather the snowmen just looked out of place. I put everything back in its place and it is nice to see it back that way again. I am missing three things that normally are out and think they must all be in the same spot. Now, if only I could remember where that might be. Hmmmm.

Next in line is the sewing room. Some things need to be put away and then I think I will get to sew!

Hope you have a week of wonderful sewing ahead. 

Do you remember these?

Library pockets and library cards that is. I would assume that these are a thing of the past in most places. And look at how The Library Faerie has recycled them. I got this package in the mail today and just loved the packaging. It brought back a flood of memories of going to the library when I was growing up and checking out books with my library card. Remember? My thanks to Anna for that memory.

This is the darling bracelet that I ordered at her Etsy shop. Don't you love the colors! It is very lightweight and feels really nice on my wrist. I think I have to wear it right away. Thinking what I can wear with it tomorrow. How many of you out there start with jewelry and go from there?

These are the earrings I got from her too. I love the two-tone ones on the left. Now I can't wear them with my multi-blue bracelet so they will have to wait another day. The red ones were free as a Valentine's Day special. Thank you again, Anna!

If you're an Etsy lover like me, you'll have to go and check out the cute things in her shop. You can find her at The Library Faerie. Actually her shop's name is a little longer but you'll have to go there and see for yourself.

I had a self-declared snow day today. I needed one day at home that was not interrupted by other demands. This allowed me to finally start putting away Christmas! Usually I leave snowmen up longer but they are getting put away too. Our weather has been so warm that they are starting to just look silly. I finished Phase 1 today and will continue over the weekend. I had to wait for someone to help me bring the storage tubs in from the garage. I'm still not allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds.

Here's hoping for that task to be finished and time for sewing to appear on my horizon. I can dream, can't I?

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Snow Days

This weekend we had our first snow since Halloween and even though it was less snow than at Halloween, the cold made it more dangerous. In our area we only had about 3 inches but it kept me home for two days. They were glorious. I was very lucky that a terrific neighbor came over and shoveled my sidewalk and driveway. I am following my physical therapist's orders to not even touch a snow shovel.

The temperatures stayed below freezing today so there was still ice on the roads. I decided not to take any chances and stayed home all day. It was really wonderful to just look outside at the white snow.

While I didn't get to any sewing I did finish a project. I know someone who is retiring and doesn't want anything special done for her. We are going to shower her with cards and notes to let her know how much we appreciate her. I volunteered to make a special box for the cards. What started in my head as a box covered with wrapping paper became this -

It was a really fun project. I bought the box at Michael's and after painting it I used ModPodge to apply the fabric swatches and cover it many coats over. I used a pile of buttons in the middle instead of a handle. I can't wait to give it to her.

Thanks to my sister for the idea. I think I shared this before. This is the box she made for me on my 60th birthday. I loved that and thought it would work with fabric too.

Now that this is finished, I hope to move on to sewing! So many projects on my list.

Have a wonderful week of sewing!

Wordless Wednesday

Just a little taste

One of the advantages of working so much before the holidays was not being able to visit quilt shops. Yes, I did go to a few shops online but it is more dangerous to see the fabric in person! I still haven't gone to any fabric shops in person but did succumb to online fabric last week.

I love the words on circa 1934 and what is not to love about Rouenneries Deux.

I really didn't do that bad since I just stuck to getting a little taste with these charm packs. I love being able to get just a little of a fabric line, don't you? Of course, once I see it, I want more. I think it is a little like eating one potato chip.

Reunion by Sweetwater, what can I say? And now more Redwork fabric is out. I love it! Must really make something with that. 

No progress yet on taking down the Christmas decorations. I do have some outside lights on my bushes that really have to come down. The rest of it can come down when I'm ready since it isn't bothering me. I really want to do something fun tomorrow and have a special project to work on. More on that next time.

Have a fabulous week, everyone!

Early morning

I am convinced that one of the greatest luxuries in life is waking up naturally. No alarm clock and nothing to rush around and get ready for. Aaaaah. Since I don't have to be anywhere until 11:30 today I thought that I would sleep a little later and wake up naturally. The second part did happen but why did it have to happen at 5:49 this morning? But then I heard the siren call of the computer and decided to check out a few things. Which lead me here and the realization that I haven't posted for a bit.

I do think that all posts should have some kind of picture and just went to look for one. Isn't this a great rooster pic! A friend of mine is in Key West right now and she took this in a parking lot. I did crop it a little to get the cars out of the picture so now it really is perfect. I'm glad that he isn't what woke me this morning.

I really thought that by now I would be caught up and have some time to get sewing. That just hasn't happened yet. My Christmas decorations are still up and I still need to organize my sewing room and projects just a little. Where does the time go? Luckily, I don't mind my decorations and they might just stay up a little longer.

Even when I get my Christmas things put away, I do leave the snowmen out. One friend will usually start begging me to put them away since we have so much snow and she feels I am responsible. That is not happening this year. We had a lot of snow Halloween weekend but no more so far. We have had very strange weather. Hardly cold enough to wear a coat on some days. Not a complaint, just an observation.

Now, before I end, I'm going on record to say that it's okay if we don't get tons of snow. This was from last year and I have pictures to look at and don't need to see this. But I did hear that we are getting snow in February. How do they know that?

Time to close. I think I should have put a warning at the beginning. Something like, "It's early morning and my thoughts are meandering." They sure did today. If you got to the bottom of this post, thanks for sticking with me. Hopefully, I'll be back very soon with some sewing or fabric at least. Right now, I may just go back to bed, it's still dark outside!

A lovely day

I had a lovely lunch with a dear friend today. It wasn't too cold out so after lunch we did a bit of shopping. Lucky for us we were on the tail end of the Christmas sales so not too much was left. This little leather tag just made me giggle so I had to buy it. Can you just hear the tone in the question? I don't feel that way but it still made me laugh.

I had to miss the Good Enough quilters meeting the other night but fortunately Fran took pictures and sent them to me. These are a few more of the bug jar blocks for our charity quilt. Don't you just love the lizard on Laura's block? This was a good reminder for me since I have to make mine by the next meeting. I do believe that will be my first sewing as soon as I get a chance. I think this will be such a cute quilt. 

Dru made this little twister wall hanging for Christmas. I love the colors and the back of the quilt too. I hope you enjoyed this during the Christmas holidays, Dru.

This was another quilt that Dru made for a baby quilt. This fabric looks so cute. That is one lucky baby.

Lynn made a new tree skirt from the charm pack she won at our last meeting. Great idea to use them for this.

Lynn was also very busy. She made a Christmas quilt for each of her children! They look great and I wasn't there to see them in person but I think she actually finished them before the holiday! I am very impressed.

I really do plan to get started sewing but this weekend I'm having some company on Sunday. And I have to finish a book by Monday night for my book club. My book club is reading The Devil in the White City - about the Chicago World's Fair. I really need to finish before our meeting since I'm the hostess and have to lead the discussion! The best thing is I have some special snacks planned for the meeting. I'll tell you about them after we have them. I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Happy Sewing everyone.

Nancy

Let me recommend

I wish I was posting with some sewing to share but my catching up hasn't included any of that just yet.

First, I had to tell you about these amazing caramels. A friend gave me a little bag in my Christmas presents. I have to tell you they were simply amazing. Very soft and chewy and covered with dark chocolate. Heavenly. And as luck would have it there was a website listed on the back. In case you feel like checking them out, here it is. Abdallah Chocolates  The first thing you see will be the caramels. Sorry mine are all gone and I can't share.

If you look carefully at the group of snowmen, you will see one of my newest snowmen. The round roly-poly snowman is a gourd. I met Karen Myers at our Craft Show this year and just had to have one of her snowmen. The painting on the gourds is amazing. I'm not sure where she is going to be in the next few months but you can see more of her work on her website. Emajinit Gourds

Now to a little sewing info. I forgot to mention that at our last quilt group meeting, we had a gift auction. The little project bag above was what I won. My plan had been to make it by our next meeting but that is not going to happen since our meeting is tomorrow night. Maybe next month?