2014 Mystery Link-up & Design Wall Monday- December 29, 2104

The old commercial used to say, "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."

Well, I can't believe I am all caught up with the Mystery!

Last week I didn't have much time to catch up. 

This week- I had the whole day to sew while DH worked.

Clue 4- A & B blocks DONE
I did a few "Rip-it's" with these.

Clue 5 A & B Blocks DONE!
It was fun to use those "Coyote" School colors from Columbia Burbank again.

All the blocks on my floor stacked in sets of 10, 5 & 4 accordingly.

 Clue 1 - 100, Clue 2 - 100  Clue 3 -120

Clue 4 - 40 A+ 40 B = 80  Clue 5 - 25 A+ 4 B = 29

429 block parts
Total pieces so far = 2,756

Plus there are 800 bonus triangles from clue 2

I had to buy a new tote to hold all the parts for the 

"Grand Illusion Mystery"

Stacked and waiting for more clues or block instructions next Friday.

Bonnie really has me stumped this year!

Linking up with Bonnie HERE

and Judy L HERE

The Gifts I Gave...Christmas 2014

Because Christmas is the time for "giving" I can show the pictures, now that all the giving is done.

All of my Packages have been delivered to my children.  2  friends might be getting their pkgs today.

I love a Homemade Christmas and have put a lot of thought into what to make for the people I love.

For the Grandchildren I made Beanbags.

I used themed fabrics from "Frozen", the Seahawks, Baseball, and ABC's.

  Our set that was made years ago by Aunt Anne gets a lot of use at Grandma's house.

I found Buckets to keep them in and a Page of ideas HERE for using beanbags off the Internet.

I saw these fun Litter bags for the guys on a Blog tour for Homemade Christmas gifts.
Again with themed fabrics.

Infinity Scarves were made for the girls and I let them choose the one they wanted.
I made enough for me to have a couple to wear too.

Jes was working last Saturday, so he opened his gift on Christmas day when they came.

They boys want the M & M's in the Jar
Jes is reading the paper I taped on.
It says:
As you hold these candies in your hand and turn them,
you will see the M becomes a W and E and a 3.
 They tell the Christmas Story; it's one I'm sure you'll know.
It took place in a Stable a Long, Long time ago.
The E is for the East where the Star shone so bright.
The M is for the Manger where baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the Wisemen bearing gifts; with haste they came
W is for Worship; Angels sang praise to His name.
So as you eat these candies or share them with a Friend
Remember the True Spirit of Christmas and Never let it end.

I have been waiting to make a quilt for Paul with the Shirts that I've culled as the collars wear out.

I made 3 of Bonnie Hunter's "Moth in the Window" blocks and wrapped them

 with a promise for a future quilt. I need to de-bone a few more shirts...

Those are the main gifts I worked on behind the scenes.

It's back to the Mystery and UFO's now.

 I'm linking up again with Bonnie HERE.

My Quilty Christmas...

When cleaning and preparing for the Family to come last Saturday to Celebrate together...

I decided that I needed a little more "Christ" in my Christmas.

I have several Nativities I didn't get out this year.  

I wanted to share a few more with the family and my Blogging friends.

On the shelf is the first Nativity I bartered for when we lived in Mesa.

My Nativity Tree Skirt is on the Rocking chair, Purple Paper pieced Tree Skirt Lynn W. made, House & Tree Quilt from Christmas Around the World, corner of Christmas Postcard Quilt on couch.

Jim Shore Nativity on Table runner like the ones I made for my girls when I worked at Hancock's.

3 Nativities in the China Hutch on a Table Runner made by my DH's Sister Anne.
L-R from Wendy T, a Mini Water Globe Nativty, and silver Water Globe Nativity from Lynn W.

Pillow from Marg in Australia, Postcard quilt from Quiltmania Class.

 Mini Ornaments from Janet O hang above Nativity from Lynn W.

 I put my Wonky Tree Mini I made with Buttons on it to represent Symbols of Christmas above the sink in the Kitchen.

 My Christmas "Sarah's Star" SBS Swap quilt in the toy room.

I already showed the Christmas Lone Star on the Bed downstairs.
My Celtic Christmas Solstice has been on a Bed since Thanksgiving time at Brant & Tina's.

I think I need a few Mini Christmas Themed quilts to go under some of my Nativities.
I haven't counted lately low many TOTAL Nativities that I have collected.
It's nice to have something to Collect and surprising how many you acquire from friends who know you love them.

Thanks Bonnie for another Quilty Link-up this Christmas.  Click HERE to see more.

Wishing Everyone a very Merry, Quilty Christmas from our House to yours!

2014 Design Wall Monday- Grand Illusion Mystery Link up

It's Christmas week!  

I only got a few Clue 4 blocks completed.  

Family time on Saturday cut into my stitching time. 

I need 40 of each of these for clue 4

Here are the 1st 2- one of each-

I got a few more Purples Greens and Pinks to add into the blocks for a more scrappy look.

I cut too many of the Black Neutral units for clue 2 so I changed the Pink to Purple and thought I'd make just one block like this to remember it. 

 So many of the guesses from Facebook are great blocks. 

I still think these will be in the border somehow.

Now I really have NO IDEA where this mystery is going.  Bonnie has me stumped!

Linking up HERE with Bonnie.

I posted my Block from Jenny Doan's Tutorial last Friday.

I went to see if the LQS had some of the Downton Fabric. 

They only had the new line with Rose and the Lord & Lady Collection.

 I would like make a whole quilt with just the "Mary" Fabrics.
They are from the first line so not as readily available.

DECEMBER GOALS

1- Cascadia QAL-Hope it gets to the Flimsy stage- not done- Lori's having a Link-up HERE this week.

2- Siggy Squares- Famous fellow quilters...Keep playing with layout. - Still waiting for the final blocks.

3- Guild Lotto Block - the letter V - Done

4- Grand Illusion Mystery-  Keep up with the clues and link-up on Mondays - Done

5- Finish Christmas gifts before Christmas Eve -Done

6- My Sister; Roma's DWR--- as time permits- Nope

That's my Mid-Month report... Linking up HERE  for Design Wall Monday with Judy L

2014 Crowther Christmas

Christmas came to my house this year, at least 4 of the 6 families that could come.

The others were missed, but we were wall to wall Crowther's.

I'm not sure where we could have put them.
Joe and Paul played a little "Smell the Stick" while we waited for everyone to get here.

Dinner was Homemade Sub's and Kori's Sausage Rolls with Jello and veggies and chips.

I think the children ate mostly chips.

I filled the Mini stockings with Lifesavers.

The stockings are too little to fit much else. I don't think they really know why I do it.

I've outgrown my shelf again.  Need more Hooks!

Grandpa got a new Christmas Story book to read to the Grandchildren.

"The Christmas Train"

Just a few of the snapshots taken with my camera and a couple borrowed from Janessa's Facebook.

.

Distracted again by Jenny

Jenny Doan has done it again.  See her NEW tutorial on the Disappearing Hourglass 2 HERE.

I should be making Christmas gifts for the Family gathering tomorrow.
 I had to go downstairs and get my DOWNTON ABBEY Fabrics and try this Block out.
I used it for a Leader/Ender of the Grand Illusion this morning.

I think these are from the "Mary" line

The NEW Clue for the Quiltville Grand Illusion Mystery is ready to sew too.

Link is HERE.

I FINALLY got all of the Clue 2 Parts all made and trimmed.

Ready - Set - CUT & SEW!!!

Here are Broken Dishes Blocks 2 & 3 for Clue 4

Back to the Christmas Gifts... Kids and Grandkids are coming...

Did you miss a Posting on Wednesday?

I didn't have anything I could show-
I was busy trying to get our Christmas Newsletter out and making more of my Truffles with DD #2

I forgot to show these cuties with thier ornaments in Wyoming.

Tina knew how to make my day, Her daughter is wearing the crocheted Dress I made for her and I got to make and dress the Baby that morning.

I got some goodies from my Blogging Quilter friend, my Illinois Friend and my Quilt Buddy.

From Janet O

Goodies from Lynn

I haven't opened the gift from my friend Wendy.

The wrapping was torn and I know what it is though.  LOL

It's a good day, I just got news I WON a Giveaway over HERE
Mickey D is a friend of Bonnie Hunter. 
It was my 1st time to enter her Giveaway days.