It's that Merry Time of Year Again!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The holiday season is upon us and I want to share some of the special memories I have of  years gone by as I hang the decorations upon my Christmas Tree this year.

My newest Ornament. my daughter Elizabeth sent it to me for my 1st Christmas in Tennessee so I could remember what a REAL winter looks like. LOL like I could ever forget. I love it! it has a opening in the back that I can put a light thru. I choose a blue light and I think it does it justice. — @ My New home in East Tennessee

This little Santa hat is an Ornament a  made by my son Raymond Jr. when he was in kindergarten. It originally topped a baby food jar that had Santa's face painted on it. The Jar broke long ago but the hat has survived. I have replaced the white cotton on the hat over the years and it looks that it needs to be replaced again.

This is one of my oldest Ornaments. A filigree Star that was purchased in the early 1960's at Gimbles in downtown NYC were my husband and I bought our 1st Artificial Tree there. It was in a set of 3 or more, the star, a box, and elongated Ornament that has lost half of itself.. ( you can see it by the Santa Hat in the Picture above.)

This Angel was given to me as a gift for mother's day from my daughter Nancy, Over the years her hands broke off and I did keep them but they seem to get misplaced, (one day I do plan to glue them back on the angel but I haven't found them yet!) Eventually the Angel became an ornament on my Christmas tree.

The Ballerina was bought in Minnesota at the Minneapolis Theater when I took the kids to see the "Nutcracker Ballet", the Blown Glass Ornament I bought at the Glass Factory downtown Hudson WI the Christmas after I had moved there and the White Angel is another of my older Ornaments from the Gimbles Era.  I love seeing these on my tree.  

the Royal Dalton Ceramic Santa I bought at an outlet mall in Florida when I spent a week there with my friend Deb in 2010  It is one of 3 Ornaments I have that matches my China

Earl gave me this Carved Santa with Toys the year he moved back up to Minnesota from Iowa.  I reminds me of my father who loved this time of year and spent his retirement playing Santa at Playtogs in Middletown NY and for the Mall in St Paul MN when he moved there to live with us... 

January is almost over!

Hello again, Janurary is more than half gone.  I feel like I have lost 3 weeks of productive creative time.  I began the New Year with a cold - ended up with pnuemonia and before I knew it 2 1/2 weeks had passed by before I felt up to doing any of my creative projects.  I finally went to my weekly Quilitng class this Saturday.  Friday I visited my local Quilt shop to get my creative juices flowing.  I picked up a great quilt pattern and fabric to start - called Civil War Sampler, a reproducton Quilt from Karen Witt of www.reproductiionpatterns.com.  I am looking forward to starting it. 

1st I do need to finish the quilt I am making for my daughter Beth - I wanted to have it finished by the end of this month - The quilt top is almost pieced together and then I need to layer it and then I can have fun quilting the top...something I do not want to rush on since I want her to have this quilt for a long time and I want it to be my best effort for her.  I am hoping to start working on it this coming week.

Thursday was my 1st day back in my sewing room - I spent the morning putting away fabrics that I had left over from my sewing project for Christmas.  I folded and re-organized my fabric stash - just enjoying the colors and patterns.  Getting back into the Swing of things.  I also worked on some small blocks for my quilting class to be used for the womens sale next fall using fabrics from our stash at church.  I chose some green patterned fabric to make a churn-dash block.  I would like to use a red for the borders but maybe brown would go better. 

Startng with little projects will help me get back into the swing of it and help me to focus better so I can finish my quilt for my daughter.  I am so glad I am over that pnuemonia - I can finally breath better and my cough is gone....Darn winter colds.... I have decided to slow down a bit - since the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas had been so hectic.  I will keep you all updated with pictures of my projects as I go and my UFO's as I finish them.  So by next Christmas I should have my Christmas Wall Hanging done. LOL.

Happy 2012! The New Year is Here

2011 finished in quite a hectic way, exciting but sad too. It has been a very Hectic Holiday Season for me. In Nov we had our Women's Sale and our little group of quilters at The Point collaborated on our 1st Quilt for the Sale...It was a great success and we enjoyed doing it. I will post some pictures of it. The winner of our quilt was quite delighted with it and has been attending the sale each year. I enjoyed a quite Thanksgiving Day hanging out at my daughter, Nancy's house. A simple meal, great movies and quiet conversations. 

 Alan, Aunt Nancy & Rikki enjoying Christmas Dinner

Heather & Echo painting Ornaments

My Son Earl and his Fiance Rikki Hosted our family Christmas gathering this year. The little one's were quite excited and couldn't wait to start drawng and coloring. The Gathering was very noisy, lots of fun and lots of food! Everyone brought a dish to share. Beth's Cheezy Potatoes, Nancy's Ham, Turkey and Dressing, Cookies and Treats made by Rikki and her Mom Bobbi, Green Bean Cassarole, A yummy Cheese Ball & a spicy cheese dip and desserts. Wow! Nancy brought Christmas Ornaments for the children to paint and Paul brought Gingerbread Cookies for the kids to decorate...Earl was so worried that there wouldn't be enough and was pleasantly surprized at the turnout. LOL

My newest Great Grandson - James Russell 4 days old.  My newest Great Grandson James Russell was introduced to his new extended family - at four days old he was so sweet - Johnny and Tawnie are the proud parent's.

Decorating the Gingerbread Cookies with Uncle Paul

Aunt Nancy, Zuri & Ruthie

Nathan opening up gifts

Our Family December 2011

The Quilt our Group made for the Sale 2011

This Quilt needs a home!

In Nov we had our Women's Sale and our little group of quilters at The Point collaborated on our 1st Quilt for the Sale...It was a great success and we enjoyed doing it. I will post some pictures of it. The winner of our quilt was quite delighted with it and has been attending the sale each year.

Gwen  Richardson sewing the Quilt Backing together

Our Teacher Elaine Fredrickson Arranging the fabrics

Frank Johnson Piecing the Trees

Diane Swett Piecing the Stars

Bob Richardson cutting Strips

Diane Quilting the Top

Arranging the columns before sewing

Preparing to Quilt the Trees

Early December was very sad for our family.  My son Paul's wife Jen died after a brave 4 yr battle with cancer leaving my sweet granddaughters, Ruthie & Echo without a Mom and my son without his lovely wife.  They are only 7 and 4 yrs old.  She passed peacefully with friends and family at her side and now is our Angel in Heaven.  Prayers for the family during this great time of grief would be appreciated.

Christmas Day was spent at my son, Michael's house dinner was great and the day was relaxing.  The New Year weekend was spent at home by myself.  I was nursing a cold so the evening was spent quietly - napping, taking decongestants and then watching the ball drop in Times Square at 11pm.  I celebrated with some sparkling Grape juice and crackers and cheese.  The following week was spent at home nursing this horrible cold - now turned into pneumonia.  by thursday the Dr put me on an antibiotic and an inhaler.  I should be good as new by Monday or Tuesday....LOL - well at least it was a quiet start to the New Year...

Today I plan to do a little quilting and am expecting some of my kids to come and visit.  My Grandaughter Heather wants to start a quilt for her girlscout project and my son Earl and Fiance might come to visit.  my daughter Nancy said she would come over too... great!  I am ready for company...
 
I plan to upload photos so please check back.   PHOTOS UPLOADED - ENJOY!