A Most Unusual Year!

Friends at my Bag of Love Group

The Brides, Rikki & Nancy

Grandma Marie with Caden

Amelia turned 2 

Family - Wanda, Bro Ed, Me, SIL Patty, Br Bobby, BIL Chris

Lisa, Javiar & Baby Cayden

Mr & Mrs McLaughlin

Mr & Mrs Swett

Winter in Tennessee mid February 

My Beloved Brother Bobby

Plants on my Porch

My Daughter Anna and Family

I enjoy crafts of all types and this year my goal was to make a few dolls, something I haven't done in a very long time.  The Year started out lazily for me - I was enjoying my 1st winter here in East Tennessee, as a transplant last May, May 11th 2014 from Hudson Wisconsin the milder weather here was a pleasant change from the winter of 2013-2014 I had experienced back in the upper mid west.  I was enjoying the warmer temps, little ice and snow and the ability to come and go without the worry the harsh winter weather of Wisconsin/Minnesota.

Reality came crashing in with a shock, My youngest brother Bobbie died on Jan 30th after a short illness and I needed to go back to upstate NY to be with family.  The weather was cold and harsh, more like MN-WI weather then NY,  there were storms all up and down the east coast so I took a flight out of Knoxville TN.   I was there two weeks and returned to winter down here in the south.

I was home only 6 weeks when I received a call from my Children that my oldest daughter's husband died on April 1st suddenly.  I drove back to be with my family for two weeks in Feb feeling deeply saddened and overwhelmed.

life returned to some bit of Normality before the Summer when I planned to travel back to Wisconsin/Minnesota to spend some time with my children and enjoy 2 weddings. My youngest son Earl and my daughter Nancy were getting married within a week of each other.  One in Iowa and one in Wisconsin.  It was a fun vacation and I got to see most of the children and grandchildren during my 4 week stay.

I returned home mid July and enjoyed the rest of the summer watching my garden flowers grow and enjoying the warmer climate.  I kept a busy schedule but I was never able to get back to my goal for dollmaking or do much in the way of quilting, sewing and making jewelry.  Ive had several more additions to my large and expanding family this year as well!  I feel so Blessed.

Now that winter is here and christmas is around the corner my projects have taken a more focused gift oriented view. I have a large family and I love to make them things so they know I am thinking about them.  Well off I go to work on my projects.  I'll post them after christmas as projects that I've completed for this year.

Gourd Painting with my friends

Baby Hugh

 

My Niece Kim and her little Vinnie

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

All in all it was a very blessed year

My Tennessee Home

Girl's Night Out Retreat then Off to Tennessee!

Winnie The Pooh Baby Quilt Top

Flannel Baby Quilt with Trucks & Froggies



Dr Seuss - Cat in the Hat & other Characters

Flannel Baby Quilt with Froggies and Cute Baby clothes & Rattles



I feel so excited today and in the midst of packing for my Road Trip to Tennessee with my friend Valoriea, who is moving to Tennessee.  I will be driving her pickup truck down while she drives the 26 ft. U-Haul with all her belongings.  We just picked up the U-Haul and I must say she handles it very well.  Her Truck is comfortable and I see no problem driving it down.  We plan to take our time and sleep overnight in Ill. before heading on to Tennessee.  We also are going to make a side trip to visit a quaint Amish Store that she has been to before and then stop in Paducah KY at the Quilt Museum.  I am
taking my Camera along to take photos of my journey. 

Last week was an awesome week at the quilt retreat I went to in Hudson WI for our LQS "Sew Little Time" Ladies Night Out.  I was able to go Tues Eve thru Sunday and did get a lot done.  I made 5 baby quilt top, 2 are already sandwiched and ready to quilt.  I made 2 of  baby flannels that had ducks and frogs and puppies in them.  One quilt was created using a vintage fabric of children picnicking in the park.  I used soft greens and greys for this one with a very simplistic pattern of Charm Squares and Rectangles.  Dr. Seuss was the focus of another quilt where I used 6" squares of  Dr. Seuss patterned fabric surrounded by bright colorful crayon colors of blue, red, green, orange and yellow.  I enjoyed making this magical bright quilt and plan to give it to one of my great grandsons.  Winnie the Pooh fabrics were my next focal prints in soft pastel.  I think this one is my best so far and I loved the way it turned out.  I used a disappearing nine patch pattern with Pink, Blue and 2 different Pooh fabrics as the outer squares. 

Summer Fun, children picnicking in the Park

I Had A Very Nice Saturday!

Today it was a rainy December day here in Wisconsin.  I was invited to breakfast at Perkin's for my daughter Nan's Birthday, went Christmas shopping afterwards with Nan and GD Zuri.  We had a nice time and I was able to complete my Christmas shopping, enjoyed Peppermint Latte's at Starbuck's, then returned home just in time for the 5 O'clock news.... It did seem a bit strange tho to be out and about in the rain in Mid December.  I enjoyed it tho - winter will be here full force soon enough.  I hope everyone had as nice a day.

Farewell to Christopher!!

Chris wearing the A lace Agate wrapped in sterling on Leather cording.

My Grandson Christopher is going to go to Army Boot Camp in two weeks, he has been visiting us Here in MN & Wisconsin for the past several weeks and it sure has been nice - we do miss him and his dad since they moved down to Fort Dodge Iowa several years ago.  I was thinking of some gifts I could give him that would remind him of all of us here that love him.  I am giving him a camping knife that his grandpa got from the "Marlboro" points that he had saved up.  I like that knife and I also am attaching a Minnesota Agate that his Aunt Marie polished from stones she had gathered from her  driveway in north Minnesota, I wrapped it with copper and attached it to the knife.  I also gave him another Minnesota Agate wrapped in Sterling on a leather necklace that  made to remind him of me. and then a pack of cards so he could keep himself busy in his down time.  Ha!  I really don't thing he will have much downtime tho... All my prayers will follow him as he goes forward as they have done so since his birth.  He is truly an answer to this grandmother's Prayers...long long story but I do know God is faithful.  It is proof every time I look into my children and grandchildren eyes.

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!