Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

My new year is starting out very low-key.  I am making a nice pot of chicken tortilla soup (which I will post the recipe later), some more granny squares, and Michigan football bowl game.  For me, it doesn’t get any better.  Tomorrow is back to work, so I am squeezing every single second out of this last day off!

I thought though, that I would share 2 things that made me very happy this week, along with making me feel very loved and cherished. 

This was a Christmas present from my sister-in-law.  I love it!  I had been wanting a mug this size, and it was just perfect.  Funny thing, she didn’t even know I wanted one. 

While my parents where here, we decorated my new place.  I had this big wall in my bedroom and my Mom suggested awhile ago (at my last place) that I hang the baby blanket she made me many many years go.  This gave me the perfect wall and opportunity to do just that.  I know the pictures do not show the detail but it is completely embroidered.  Every day when I wake up I face this blanket and it just warms my heart.  It is among my most cherished possessions.

Ok, I am off to get my soup started and get settled in for the game!  Let’s GO BLUE!

Keep Simply Delighting!

 

2012 Wrap Up!

Happy Holidays!  Above is a picture of the cornish hens my Mom made for Christmas dinner.  Aren’t they gorgeous?

I am enjoying some wonderful time off.  The company I work for closes during the week between Christmas and New Years as a benefit to their employees, so I am spending some well needed time just doing whatever I want.  I spent the Christmas holiday with my parents at their home, and they are currently in town on their way passing through to Florida for the winter.  This week my parents helped me hang curtains and pictures on my walls of my new place.  It finally looks homey and “together” here at home.

My Mom and I were talking about all the projects I have done this year.  In an attempt to wrap up this year, here is my list of projects for 2012.  Remember, I really only started “for real” quilting this year. 

1. My niece Leah’s quilt

2. My pink lap quilt

3. My Mom’s queen size quilt (top is done, working on the quilting now)–includes shams and 2  12×12 throw pillows

4. My niece Brianna’s quilt

5. My niece Gabby’s quilt (top is done-needs to be quilted)

6. My friend Melissa’s “Believe” quilt

7. My friend Chelsea’s lap quilt

8. My Mom’s Shortcake lap quilt

9. My Mom’s Christmas lap quilt

10. My great-nephew Parker’s quilt

11. My great-nephew Maxton’s quilt

12. My great-niece Baby J’s quilt

13. Several bibs and birth cloths for both Max and Baby J

14. A quilted bag for Baby J

15. My friend Pam’s quilt

16. My Americana quilt (top is done-need to quilt)

17. My Mom’s star quilt

18. The girl embroidery quilt my Mom and I collaborated on (needs to be quilted)

19. My Christmas quilt (top is done-needs to be quilted)

20. My Mom’s purse and sunglasses case

21. My Mom’s crochet hook case

22. 9 ruffle scarves

23. A friend from college lap quilt (top is done–needs to be quilted)

24. My friend Shannon’s lap quilt

WooWee….I think that’s it.  What a list.  As I was making it, I was shocked myself at how much I did.  12 finished quilts, and several others that are done and just need to be quilted.  Amazing. 

I am currently thinking about what projects I want to do this year.  I think I am going to be a bit more intentional about how/what I sew this year.  I am not going to buy any new fabric until my stash is gone.  There are a couple of projects that I want to try or work on…so you’ll see them coming! 

Thanks for making 2012 so great.

And always…always…Keep Simply Delighting!

 

Wonderful Wednesdays for WIP

Happy Wednesday ya’ll! 

Am I the only one that can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas?  We are down to less than a week…where does the time go?  I have not been so productive this week, but have had a lot of things on my plate.  I feel like my mind has been working non-stop.  I need to write all the things down that I have been thinking about, it’s overwhelming me. 

I am looking forward to having a few days to spend the day doing whatever I want…without having to have a deadline.  I will be at my parents house for Christmas, and it’s a great place to just veg out and do stuff.  I have about 4 ruffle scarves I want to make and will be able to get those done at my parents.  Also, I am planning to work on a granny square afghan for myself and I can get a good start on that at my parents. 

I am completely done with Christmas presents (as much as I can do) except for one last thing.  I want to make my Mom a checkbook cover.  I plan on using the fabric below which is from Moda’s Vintage Modern collection.

Sorry the lighting in the picture is bad.  I need to get batteries for my camera and start using it instead of the camera on my cell phone.

Here is the updated WIP list for December, updates in green:

1. Finish Mom’s queen size quilt and shams-not done…won’t be til after Christmas now

2. 2 throw pillows to go with Mom’s quilt –done

3. A couple special presents for my Mom (very small projects)–All but one is done

4. Granny square challenge–ends today!  I made 12 squares!

5. 4 ruffle scarves-working on them over vacation!

Also, I am putting  a list together of the projects I want to complete over the next year and for January.  Additionally, I am going to put together a list of all the projects I completed for 2012.  It’s been a great first year of quilting and I feel so blessed to have learned and developed this skill and hobby.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday

As always, Keep Simply Delighting!

Wonderful Weekends!

It’s sad to say, but I live for the weekends.  I love having 2 days to just do whatever I want.  It’s glorious.  I love sleeping in and lounging around and making lists of projects to cross off when they are completed.  One of my friends and I share our to do lists to keep each other on track and she told me last time I sent her mine that she couldn’t even fathom a list that long and just reading it made her anxious!  In my defense, many of the things on my to do list are little items.  This weekend I was able to finish up a couple of things but added a few more.  All of them are Christmas related, of course.

Here is what I did:

Made a ruffle scarf for a dear friend

Made a ruffle scarf for a family Christmas present

Finished my Mom’s purse.  Although it’s not a “hobo” style, I am pretty pleased with the outcome.

I have several more projects to finish up before the holiday.  Thankfully, where I work generously gives us a holiday break so I will be able to do some traveling to my parents for Christmas and then they will be down to visit on their way through to Florida for the winter.  This time always saddens me because I won’t be able to see them for 3 months.

I would be remise to also pay tribute to the little lives lost this past week in the terrible tragedy in Connecticut.  I pray for the families and this nation.  Lord Jesus, we need you now more than ever. 

Keep Simply Delighting!

Time for WIP Wednesday!!

It’s that time again…time for an update to my WIP list for December!!!

Here’s what I have been working on this week…My Mom’s quilted hobo purse.  I have some of the fabrics cut.  Also, there is a couple of other goodies I want to make for her that go inside the purse, and I picked out the fabric for those as well.  Sorry about the poor pictures, I need to get my camera working again!!

The fabrics for her purse

The fabrics for the other stuff

Here is the update on my other WIPs…updates in red

1. Finish Mom’s queen size quilt and shams-not done…won’t be til after Christmas now

2. 2 throw pillows to go with Mom’s quilt -done

3. A couple special presents for my Mom (very small projects)-one is done, the others on this weekend

4. Granny square challenge-ends today!  I made 12 squares!

As always…keep Simply Delighting!!!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday!

Crochet Hook Case

So…you know how when you take up a hobby, oh say like quilting, and people know how much you enjoy it….and they see some of the stuff you have made, which really in comparison to others is not spectacular but in their eyes it is….and then they say things like….I would really like this…or can you make me this????

Well…that happened to me last night.  I was on the phone with my Mom, and she said…”I would really like it if you made me a quilted hobo purse.”  I thought to myself….she is crazy.  I cannot make her a quilted hobo purse.  I tried to use the excuse that I didn’t have any fabric.  Her response was “Yeah, right.”  Finally I just told her I’d see what I could do.  So…I am now on the search for a quilted hobo bag pattern.  An easy one, at that.

But this weekend, I was able to create a quick little project for my Mom.  She is an avid crocheter, and she carries her stuff around in a ziploc bag.  I created my own crochet hook case!  Check it out!

I know the pictures aren’t the greatest but it folds down to keep the needles in place and then I put three velcro rounds to hold it together.  I know she’ll love it.

As always, keep Simply Delighting!

 

Saturday Musings…

I realize that this post is going to be a bit off of what I normally blog.

I really, really love my life.  Are there things I wish I had and things I long for, yes.  But overall, I am very content with my life and all that it includes.  I have wonderful people (my family and friends) that surround me with great blessings in the forms of love, connection, support, and laughter.  I have a job that provides my needs and occasionally my wants.  I have intelligence and creativity that brings my passions to life and allows me to experience satisfaction when I see the things in my head come to life in multiple ways. 

The thing I love most about my life is that I have a Savior, and His name is Jesus.  And especially right now, this season, we celebrate His birth.  Tonight, after a day of productivity, I was sitting at my dining room table, eating dinner, and I was listening to some instrumental Christmas music, and the song Silent Night began to play.  And as I sat there, in the glow of the Christmas tree, my home spelling like freshly baked bread, I reflected on this season and how I had spent the day working on Christmas presents for my Mom.  And I thought to myself, thank you Lord, for this season, not only to celebrate with family and friends, not only for the pretty packages and twinkling lights, not only for the amazing goodies and wonderful family dinners and parties, but for Your Son.  So I say now, again, thank you Father, for Your Son.  Your Son that became flesh so He could become the Savior of the world, that He would bear on His body our sin, our inflictions, our wounds, our sickness, our selfishness, our everything, so we could be reconciled to You, Father, and for those who accept You as Lord and Savior, have the gift of eternal life.  To me, there is no better gift.  I just had to get that out and off my heart.  

So…on to what took place today!

P.S. I love that I made a decision when I moved into my new place that Friday nights were gonna be cleaning nights.  Now when I wake up on Saturday, I have the whole day to do whatever I want!  No pressure to clean.  Trust me, it’s so worth it to clean on Friday night.

Here’s what my Saturday looked like:

  I baked some homemade bread.  From scratch.  Here’s the recipe:

6 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast

1 1/2 tablespoons salt

3 cups lukewarm water

Stir all ingredients in a bowl until just combined.  Cover with a piece of foil or plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray.  Let rest for 2-5 hours.  Divide dough into 3 pieces, cover with flour as you shape into a ball.  Place on baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray and let rest another 30 minutes.  Bake at 450 degrees for 30-35 minutes. 

I only baked one loaf and froze the other two.

 

I made a sunglasses case for a Christmas present.  It was super easy to make and only took about an hour.  I was so impressed with myself. 

 

 

And I made two 12 x 12 throw pillows for my Mom’s quilt/sham set.  The last picture is of the back…it should be very easy for her to slip in the pillows she already has on her bed to change them when she uses the quilt I made her.  I am happy about the way they turned out.  And it was a great way to use up some scrap stash. 

Keep Simply Delighting!

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Matthew 16: 15-16

 

WIP Wednesday!!

It’s hard to believe that Wednesday is here again…it’s like the days and weeks run together!!  Here is the main project I have been working on…my Mom’s queen size quilt, complete with shams and throw pillows. 

This isn’t a great picture of it, but I love this quilt so much, I would love to keep it for myself.  It’s just sooo cheerful!  I am planning to give it to her for Christmas (don’t worry, she knows).   So…I am in a panic (almost) to get it done. 

Here is the rest of the WIP list for December:

1. Finish Mom’s queen size quilt and shams

2. 2 throw pillows to go with Mom’s quilt

3. A couple special presents for my Mom (very small projects)

4. Granny square challenge

Linking up to WIP Wednesday.

As always, keep Simply Delighting!

WIP Update

So it’s been a while since I have updated my WIP list for November.  So…here goes–updates in green!

November WIP List

1. Baby J’s hand quilted quilt-Finished and given to Baby J’s Mama!

2. Baby J’s quilt from her GMama.  My sister crossed stitched a baby quilt for Baby J, and she needs me to quilt and bind it.-Finished and given to Baby J’s Mama

3. My Americana quilt-baste, quilt and bind-No progress

4. Scrappy Quilt for me-Change in plans–I turned my king size quilt top into a throw top and this became my scrappy quilt, which is now done and being used. 

5. Mom’s bed quilt-baste, quilt and bind-This has become a Christmas project

6. Mom’s star quilt-baste, quilt and bind-No progress

7. Mom’s special embroidery quilt-baste, quilt and bind-This quilt top is done and the back piece is done, as is the binding.  I just have to baste, quilt and bind it–this weekend it will be done!

Here are some pictures of the special embroidery quilt:

My Mom did the embroidery on the girl pictures and I did the blocks in between and then assembled the quilt top.  I will post pictures when it is finished, and also of my scrappy replacement quilt.

Until then,

Keep Simply Delighting!

This should be my Christmas Card!!!