Where To Start?

Lots of news from my corner of New Hampshire and I'm not sure where to start.

First up is my Sunday Stash for this week. This fabric is cut and sitting on my cutting mat. I plan to make placemats and napkins for our younger nieces and nephews for Christmas presents. Yea, I know Christmas is this week. I have the next two days off and plan to hibernate in my sewing room and get all my Christmas gifts done.

Leanne posted a photo for all of her northern hemisphere bloggy friends. I thought I would post this photo for all of my southern hemisphere bloggy friends. Yes, this was taken outside my front door this morning.

This is what I saw when I opened my door yesterday morning.

It's even worse tonight and will still be there tomorrow morning!

After all, this has been the view out my window this past Wednesday, Friday and all day today (and even right now). I haven't heard how much snow we have received in the last five days, but I would have to guess it is somewhere around two feet of the fluffy white snowflakes.
I had to work today so DH was home alone to watch football, golf and basketball. He was a happy camper. He made himself a man-town nest so he wouldn't miss any big play. This is how the living room looked when I walked in the front door. Notice his feet in the lower left corner?

This was the view from the kitchen. He looks pretty comfy on the couch, huh? Who wouldn't be if they didn't have to leave the house all day and had two TVs to watch sports?

I've been thinking about my sewing and quilting plans for the New Year. I have a few ideas whirling around in my head. Stay tuned for details.

Happy Holidays!
Sweet P

Secret Santa Honeypot Gift

Last Thursday was a horrible weather day here in New Hampshire. When I got home from work there was a package on my front step. I didn't recognize the return address or the name. I have signed up for a few Christmas swaps and had received those packages so I assumed it was my Secret Santa Honeypot swap package.

Angie, Darlene's SIL, was my swap partner and she outdid herself! Look at the wonderful goodies I received. First up is the gorgeous hand made card. I have hung it on the bulletin board in my studio so I can see it year round.

Next was this exquisitely wrapped gift. I've saved the ribbon and the bell.
They are too pretty to put away.

Inside the wrap was this wonderful box of chocolates.
Yummy! I've had a few of them.
I'm eating them slowly so I can enjoy each and everyone of them.

Then there was this BIG bag.

And, inside the big bag was this gorgeous Santa Claus.
It's hard to tell in the photo, but he is about two feet tall.

Here, is a closeup of his face. Isn't he adorable?

And look at the detail on the doll's face . . .

And on the Gingerbread man . . .

Angie signed this handsome Santa on the tushie. Santa is too modest to show the signature off. He wants me to be sure to let her know we found her cheery words.

She also included a calendar of Wild Australian animals. That will be going into my sewing studio too. I can't to see a new Australian animal every month.

Thank you Angie! Your package came on a cold and rainy night and has brought me many smiles already. I even took him to work yesterday to show off your handiwork. Everyone loves him.

Happy Holidays!
Sweet P

Looking For Country Threads Magazine and Being Silly

Australian Country Threads Stitchery magazine is my ultimate favorite magazine. I stalk the Country Threads website waiting for the next issue to be released. Yet, once released, I still have to wait another 4 - 6 weeks for it to be available in the U.S. I see their next issue is their Stitchery issue.

I'm wondering if any of my Aussie readers would be willing to swap this magazine for an American magazine or some other goodies for it. Pretty please?


Jane posted a link to make your own Elf dance. I couldn't resist. So - here I am in all my Elf glory!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I woke up with a sore shoulder this morning. I guess I overdid the studio cleaning yesterday. The result was worth it. The weather is going to be wet and rainy today so I'm going to go make my coffee and climb back into bed and take it easy this morning.

Sweet P

A Clean Studio!

I did it! With coffee cup in hand, I was in my studio at 8 am this morning. The mission: to clean it up. Five hours later it was done. I cleaned off every surface, sorted through every miscellaneous bag laying around and touched every piece of fabric. I've looked through all my projects and made a mental list of what I want to work on next (after I make the clothes for DIL and PJ pants for DH).

Recently I bought a bunch of the 3M wall hooks. My goal was to use them to be able to hang my growing collection of bags and scarves on the wall in my studio. Not bad for a start. I need to buy more hooks though. What do you think?
I didn't get any sewing done today. Maybe tomorrow. But my studio is ready for sewing and I can't wait to get started on sewing clothes.

Sweet P

Bits & Pieces of December

We had our first snowfall - all 15 minutes of it on Sunday afternoon. It was gone before it started, but I did get a photo of it on the porch railing. We may be getting more snow next week. Woohoo! I am a snow bunny and I can't wait for the first real snowstorm.
I took my first of the month photo. The view is looking bleak and leafless. I can see the parking lot below. When I sit at my desk I feel like I am on display. In some ways it's kind of cool. "Look at the woman in the Patriots sweat shirt working at her desk. She needs a life!"
My sewing studio is out of control. I have never let it get this bad. My sewing table and cutting island are covered with bits and pieces of projects. You can't see it here, but the stool behind the island has three or projects sitting on it. The closet shelves are over flowing with half done projects and scraps from other projects.
The cutting table and the bookcase area are just as bad. Notice the large Jo-Ann bag on the floor. It is full of fabric for projects I want to get done before Christmas. Do you think I can get everything done before Christmas that is on my list? I hope so.
I have completed a few projects this week, all of them for swaps. Here's a sneak peak at what I've been working on . . .
Next week I get two days off in a row and DH is traveling. First up on the list is cleaning the studio. I simply can't work in there until it is clean again. I need to strip it down and rebuild it. Do you think I can get it done in two days? I hope so. I truly need to get it moving on the remainder of my Christmas projects.

I have two new buttons on my side bar. One is for Wildcraft Farm's 12 Tips For Christmas. You need to go and check them out. Janet will be holding a drawing for two gifts on Christmas day.

The other button is for the Giggle Club hosted by Sonya at Giggle Buttons. I purchased some of her buttons last year. Recently I found her blog and from there found the Giggle Club. I can't wait to start receiving the packages in February.

That's all the news from here for tonight. I hope everyone is getting their Christmas list done.
Sweet P

Sunday Stash

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Football, Sunday and the couch - is there any better way to spend the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend?

Here is my Sunday Stash photo of the week. This flannel will become pajama pants for DH for Christmas. I was able to resist the Black Friday sales, especially since I worked 6 am - 2 pm. But yesterday I went to work with my list ready. I bought sewing machine needles, ribbons and rick rack and this fabric.
I did get a little sewing done on Thanksgiving morning. On Wednesday I bought green, yellow and red linen from the clearance rack and made these napkins using Helen's tutorial. You can see them on top of the laundry pile.

It took me about an hour to make them. I still have enough fabric to make six more. The fabric cost me $13.50 for 4 1/2 yards of fabric. That's a little more than $1 a napkin. Not bad. I can envision making these fancier with embroidery on them.
Yesterday DH's electrician friend came over and installed the track lighting in my studio. I wanted the track installed in a straight line. Since I didn't express my wishes to DH, his friend installed it in a curve. I have one light focused on the closet, one on the cutting table, one on the sewing table, one on the ironing board and one on the TV wall. I can't wait to get in there to see how well it works.
We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with the boys and girls. We ate and ate and ate some more. Here's is DS #3 and his GF. We were playing Scrabble and they were kicking everyone's butt. I don't remember the score, but I know DH and I came in dead last.
Last night was dinner and movie night. DS #2 and DIL thought they could sit in my spot on the couch, under two quilts to watch the movie. Wrong answer! They got to use the quilts, but had to sit on the love seat.
I hope you had a great holiday weekend! I'm off to write a review of my Thanksgiving menu on my Home blog. Hope to see you there!
Sweet P

Secret Santa On It's Way

Mmmmmm . . . I wonder what this could be?
Well, you can't find out until my SSCS partner opens her gift on Christmas.

Here's another part of her Christmas gift.
Oooooo . . . I am so excited for her to open her gifts.

There are other items in the box, but you'll have to wait to see them.
How many more days until Christmas?

Thanks, Chookyblue, for hosting this swap. It's one of my favorite swaps.
Sweet P

Sunday Stash and Black and White Challenge

A few weeks ago I followed a link to Tamara's Quarter of an Inch blog. I was intrigued because she shows a part of her stash every Sunday and there is a list of other quilters who show off their stash too. Hooray! A group of quilters who love sharing their stash! How cool.

This week I decided to start showing parts of my stash. Below is my meager black and white fat quarter stash - all three of them. Why I am showing my black and white fabrics? Because this past week Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works announced a year long Black and White Quilt Challenge. The rules are simple: sometime during the year create something with black and white fabric and add only ONE color.
I spent the last few days trying to decide what type of project I want to work on and what color do I want to add to the black and white. As I walked into the kitchen tonight the perfect idea came to mind. Do you see the blank space above the kitchen cabinets? DH does not want to use the space for storage. I think the room looks unfinished. What did I decide to do? I'm going to make a series of coffee cup blocks to hang across the wall. I'm thinking of using cranberry as the third color.
Why coffee cups, you ask? Well, five years ago I made this Coffee Time mosaic for the back splash in our previous home. The mosaic now sits behind our kitchen sink. It was the source for the name of both my blogs and over time I've some to think of myself as Coffee Time. Therefore, I think coffee cup blocks are the perfect choice. Don't you agree? DH thinks it's a great idea.
So now I have a little over one month to start planning my first block. I'm excited to begin working on this project, but I must wait to finish my Christmas gifts first. Then it will be time to play with coffee cups.

Would you like to join me in either the Sunday Stash or the Black and White Challenge?
Sweet P

Serious Studio Time

Today I devoted myself to working in my studio. I have several swap projects with deadlines looming and I needed to get moving on them. This morning I wrapped 44 fat quarters for a birthday swap with one of my on-line groups. Then I was off to my studio for the afternoon.

First up is Project A for my Secret Santa Christmas Swap partner. Aren't the colors wonderful? I've had these charms in my stash for a couple of years. I'm so glad the right project finally came along for them.
Project B was a truly impulsive project. I was digging through my cupboard trying to find my muslin when I pulled this pile of four inch squares from a Challenge I gave myself earlier this summer. They spoke so strongly to me I had to work on them. This is where I am at on the project. Five long strips of the blocks have been sewn. Now I need to finish the project.
Projects C, D and E are all made for a friend. Not all of the projects are done, but soon they will be done and out the door.
I still have three more swap projects to work on and get out on the mail before December 6. Then I can concentrate on DIL's new clothes.

I have been keeping up on the reading of blogs, but not keeping up on commenting. Everyone is working on such wonderful projects. I have more than 100 blog posts marked on my Bloglines to leave comments. Someday soon I'll get a chance to get caught up on the comments. So, if I usually comment on your blog and haven't for some time, don't worry. I'm still reading and I'm still inspired by all the wonderful projects out there in Blogland.

Sweet P

Now I've Done It . . .

DIL and I did our shopping excursion at Jo-Ann's tonight. It was a lot of fun. We started out in the pattern area. Simplicity patterns are on sale this week 5 for $5. The top row of patterns are baby items. The first one is for a diaper bag, bib and boppy pillow. The middle one is for nursery items. I'll be using it mainly for the rocking chair cushion covers. The last one is for carriage covers. The first two patterns in the second row are maternity clothes. The last one is for pajamas. The bottom pattern is car organizers. The pattern caught our eye because of the Patriots fabric. It is more of a fun pattern for us. I can't believe the patterns were only $1 each! What a great deal!
I told DIL I would make her a dress for Christmas. The pattern is a jumper with a dress underneath it. She chose the green fabric as the jumper and the purple fabric as the underneath dress. The black dots on the fabric are actually dark green sequins.

I also told her I would make two tops for her. I'll be making the two long sleeved tops in the pattern for her. The purple and black fabrics are knits and will become a slightly stretchy top. The pink and green are cottons. The pink is the main fabric of the blouse and the green is a contrast and tie color.
So what have I really done? I've moved beyond quilting into sewing clothes. It's been years since I've sewed clothes. Wish me luck! I'm excited to get started!
Sweet P

Do You Have Room For More Christmas Goodies?

Janet at Wildcraft Farm was moaning because she had missed out on Christmas swaps and was looking for Christmas spirit somewhere out there. She asked if anyone wanted to swap a Christmas package with her.

Of course I replied I would love to swap with her! Janet was my swap partner in Chookyblue's SSCS last year and we've been friends ever since.

She has received several responses to her swap so she decided to host a Christmas Swap. If you have room for one more swap package, hop on over to her blog and sign up.

See you there!
Sweet P

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas . . .

I finished my mini Christmas quilt tonight. I pieced the quilt last year. I did the big stitch quilting on it last month. Today I added snowflake buttons in the border and added the binding. The finished quilt is a little smaller than a fat quarter. The pattern is from Lori Smith's Fat Quarter Quilting: Four Fabric Quilts.

Here is a close-up photo of the white snowflake buttons I sewed in the border.

There are 12 of them around the quilt.

I'm happy I've finished this little quilt as my Christmas Cactus is about to bloom.
Won't this be a gorgeous photo in a day or two?

While I'm on the topic of Christmas, please visit Hanne's blog. She is having a giveaway for a Christmas tote bag she designed. Wouldn't it be fun to go Christmas shopping with this bag on your shoulder?

DIL and I are going to branch out from making quilts into making other items for the baby (and maybe for us, too). On Tuesday we are going to hang out in Jo-Ann's after I get off work to get some ideas. I can't wait!
Sweet P

Sewing on Thursday

I had fun sewing with D yesterday. We spent about 8 hours playing with fabric and eating Chinese food. Her cat was fascinated with my sewing machine traveling case. She kept hopping in and out of it a few times.

This is what happens when you've been sewing too long. You grow fabric ears!

My first project of the day was storage cubes from Crazy Mom Quilts. Instead of using the vinyl as a place to put a label I added one of my stitcheries and sewed it in. I started a second basket, but had problems with the vinyl and need to do some unsewing on it.
Project #2 was grocery totes. The pattern came from Valori Wells. I had three of them ready to sew, but only made one. I added a pocket to the front of it for keys and a phone.
This last tote was a pattern I purchased from Jo-Ann Fabrics. The pattern was easy to follow. I'm not quite done with it yet. I'm going to add some applique to it. I quilted it instead of using interfacing. I thought the bag would be stiffer. It isn't. It is roomy though and will make a great shopping bag.
Sunday I have the day off and will spend it playing in my studio. Yippee!
Sweet P

Election Challenge

I didn't get started on my Election Challenge last night. I was experiencing vertigo from changing some meds and didn't think a rotary cutter and a sewing machine would be good tools to be using.

I was up bright and early this morning and started cutting my patches for the Election Challenge. I have the blues cut. Tonight I'll work on the reds. Those are tumbler blocks. I'm still working through the options in my head before I start piecing.
Click here for the results of the states. So far there are 27 states that are blue and 21 that are red with three still processing results.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Maine for a sewing day with a friend. I'll be bringing my Election Challenge with me but I have a list of other projects to work on first.

Have a great day!
Sweet P

First Photo, Sewing and Election Night Challenge

It's the 2nd of the month and I have to post my first of the month photos. Here's the view from the right side of my deck. The parking lot at the bottom of the hill is starting to show through the empty branches.
The mill building is very visible now. The leaves are falling fast around us. By next month I bet the trees will be bare.
DIL and I spent time sewing today. DH came into the studio and took this photo of DIL sewing away. We tag teamed on a baby quilt. I cut the pieces. She sewed. I ironed and pinned.
Here is the completed baby quilt. We used one of the baby fabrics I bought while in MN.
A quilter on one of my Yahoo groups asked if anyone is doing an Election Night Challenge. My brain immediately clicked into high gear and thought what a great idea! So I'm issuing an Election Night Challenge. I don’t want to get bogged down with lots of rules about the challenge so I’ll keep it simple.

The completed project should have at least 51 blocks. The blocks can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Each one needs to “read” red or blue. There should be one block for every state that votes red (Republican) and one block for every state that votes blue (Democrat).

The project should be done by November 30, 2008. If you'd like to join in the fun, let me know and blog about it. The more, the merrier. On December 1 I'll post photos of all the completed projects and host a poll to pick the favorite. I'll award a prize for the project with the most votes and pick a winner from those who vote as well.

I've already chosen my fabrics and here they are. I wonder what I'll make . . .
Don't forget to vote on Tuesday!
Sweet P