I Feel Loved!

Here are all of the Ornaments from the WASIQ Ornament Exchange this year. Only 3 participants, two from WALLA WALLA and one TEXAS. This is the gift my SECRET Pal at Quilt guild got for me. Beautiful! These are the gifts from my Quilting Buddy, Lynn! We exchanged our gifts today, so I could display mine this year. She really loves me, she hand painted the Nativity especially for me. The Heart Ornament is from her also with a cute verse about Friendship and 2 snowmen. This is all my LOOT from the 'Treasure Sale' at Quilt Guild tonight. I got almost everything I bid on...I think I have a few more 'PROJECTS in mind' to do after tonight. We had an Ornament Exchange at Guild to and I got this pretty Pinecone from Michelle, Daughter of Doty. I have my Busiest week, the second week- every December, but it comes with all the Blessings of Friends so it is one of the most FUN too.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY - December 13, 2010

OH, My STARS! I was looking for something to put on the Design wall and look what I found??? My friend, Marilee at the Royal Ridges retreat was making a Bookcase quilt for her brother for Christmas and I really want to make one. I think I've found the perfect piece for the Nativity Shelf... I know it won't happen this year, but I can hope to have it done if I work on it a little each month in 2011. And I also think I've found the setting square fabric for my Christmas Lone Star. It's one of the BIG -- UFO's on my 2010 List. What I really wanted was to have a pieced star in each of the four corners, but I think this gold will work and I can 'quilt' some stars in the space instead. When I looked around for Christmas Quilts to display this year I realized I have only two and one was from my "Christmas Around the World" Demostrator/Supervisor Days- the other is a Postcard scrappy Christmas Quilt I made in a Mystery Workshop at Quiltmania. I made all the Christmas quilts for my children in 2008 except for Jeffery who was in Cuba at the time. I owe him one still. With 12 days left I might be able to get a 'flimsy' ready to show him and have my corners on my Lonestar so I can be done with it, except for the Quilting. I have many Christmas blocks just waiting to to be Quilts from SWAPs and just need to decide on their setting and stitch them together. IN 2011 the goal will be for a Christmas Quilt on every BED! Click on Judy L's Blog to go see other Design Walls and get inspired to create something for Christmas.

Ornaments & Ballet

I got most of the Ornaments done and delivered to the Grandchildren while we were in Tri-cities yesterday. The forecast was for freezing rain in the afternoon so Paul drove me around and safely got us back home. I like when we can go together. It was a busy and FUN day. I thought that Lambs were fitting since Christ uses Lambs a lot in his Parables and we are all His Lambs. My name being "Mary", I like to collect lambs. We missed seeing Coy and Lydia, and I mis-counted and will have to mail Vincent's to him. Ben and Jackson's are already mailed, Christopher and Caleb will get theirs later this week. The Grand-daughters got Angels, mostly because Elizabeth is in the Nutcracker as one of the Angels this year. She did a great job and I'm glad her mother could help back stage too. She wears the photo button proudly of her ANGEL. Here are NaDell Olivia and I waiting for the "Nutcracker" to start. You can see more pictures with Elizabeth on the Ransom Blog. The slushy Snow was falling like a sheet of white as we were getting to the Richland HS. NaDell had her $1 store umbrellas ready to protect the hairdos of the girls. I used my curing iron to make Olivia's curls. It's been quite a few years since we had our first Nutcracker experience, NaDell, Jeffery and Janessa all got the chance to go when we lived in Burbank. It's nice that Andy has gotten to be a part of it the past 4 years. Who would have thought that NaDell would have her family on stage all those years ago when I started giving her the Nutcrackers. My thanks to George, Andy's Father, who pays for the Girls to take BALLET. I had to look in my older pictures to find the pictures of NaDell with Ringlets and my ringlets that my Mother used to put in my hair every Saturday and found a picture of me in one of my Ballet costumes too. The story that goes with this is... Every Saturday my mom, NaOla, would wash my hair and rinse it with vinegar. Then I would have to sit still while she brushed and twisted my hair around her finger to make the 'ringlets', putting 3-4 bobby pins to hold them in place. A scarf was put over my hair so I could sleep without disturbing them. I especially didn't like the fact that I had to sit and watch Lawrence Welk while she did them. I like to watch that show now when I'm able to. Funny how we turn into our Mothers' HUH? I took Ballet from 3rd grade until I got Infectious Mono in the 9th grade and had to quit. My mother made my costume and the pink flowered dress I'm wearing in the picture with her. My mom even had my ballet class perform "Swan Lake" at my sister, Roma's wedding reception. I wish I had the pictures from that.

TGIF-Making Progress

It's FRIDAY! The end of the first full week of December. My tree has been Uprighted! We had to use a piece of PVC pipe and my Broomstick Lace wooden thing-y taped into the bottom to hold it stable. I have found a way to put some lights up in the Windows on the Inside. Paul and I don't think 'Me on a Ladder outside' is a good idea... He just doesn't have the time with working and Bishop's stuff. The other night I drove right past my house. I had to get some lights in the windows at least so I don't do that again. My progress: ALL Swaps- Christmas Stars, Secret Stocking and Ornament Exchange-DONE Nativities out- DONE Trees up- DONE Lights in Windows- DONE Christmas Picture - TAKEN, BLOGGED and Included with Mailed Newsletter. Newsletter mailed - DONE Far away Packages mailed- 2 DONE, 2 more to GO Goodies made & RS attended- DONE (only have DUP, GUILD, & WARD PARTY next week) Gifts wrapped- just a couple, I know there's more to do, gotta find all the boxes, wrapping paper and tape. Might have to use tags this year...

I still have to finish the rest of the Home-made ornaments for Family. And make something for my Secret pal at Guild. Time for putting away the boxes and making room for company in the week to come. I think my Visiting Teachers come today... so no errands or crafting until after they leave.

MERRY CHRISTMAS- 15 Days to Go...

TIM-BERRRRRR

There was no animal or human to blame for this. I think the base of the tree is the reason it fell. There was a very good reason we bought the Pre-lit tree last year. It is only 6ft but it is a blessing to not have to string lights on it. I did add some blue lights to it since I put the Blue glass ornaments from when we lived in Mesa on it. I bought them at the "Akins" Grocery Store in Connell when it went out of business. I also bought rolls of wrapping paper at that time. I think it is all gone, except for the memories of all the gifts under the tree wrapped in the same paper. I had thought of adding the glass Ornaments to the BIG tree. I debated well into the night before committing to doing the Nativity Ornaments with the White Garland on the smaller tree. I have so many collectible ornament that are not replaceable on the "Nativity" Tree. I wanted to keep them a little out of reach for tiny fingers when they come. My Facebook Friends were quick to console me...It's fixable, I hope with the Metal Tree Stand we used to use...

Trees galore

I decided to fill my Living room with my Nativities and Trees this year. Here are just the part that is done so far. I have more ornaments to Make, find and collect for 2010. I hang the Grandchildren's ornaments on my tree before I give them out. Paul was a big help bringing in and putting the Big tree together. I had to put the lights on twice because I found the right ones after I'd put three sets together and some of them didn't work, they were flickering- not good! I brought out some white garland, Glass Balls, gold beads and ribbons that I used in years past to decorate our Christmas tree. The Big tree has the Ornaments I have been given by the kids and my friends and the SWAP ornaments from WASIQ [my online Quilting group] I used the ecru Angel and the Nativity Tree skirt. I haven't found the Purple one from last year. There is a box or tote I've yet to find this year. It takes me a week or so to decide how I want to use the multitude of decorations that I have collected over the past 34 Christmases. This one has my Nativity Ornaments on it with the white angel and tree skirt. I put it on top of the square end table to make it taller and then we can see the ornaments on the bottom. The two smaller trees aren't quite done yet. If these trees could Talk- they could tell of the many ornaments their branches have held and colored and white twinkle lights.

Design Wall Monday, December 6, 2010

I was looking through my Novelty/holiday fabrics and found several panels that I have been given and some that I bought but didn't do anything with. Are they UFO or PIGS or WHIMMS??? At any rate I put one up on my Design wall for today. I will get it quilted this week so I have one to display with all the Nativities upstairs. It's a shame I keep buying these panels and they just collect in my tote of Christmas projects. 20 days until Christmas...opp's, I mean 19. Times a flying! Check out the other Design walls to see if I'm not the only one who has a few UFOS... JUDY L sponsors this from her Patchworktimes BLOG

1st Sunday of Christmas 2010 Season

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is singing in the background and the Nativities are mostly UP. I am running just a little behind this year. This past week was the slowest ever... with snow and being homebound by my own choice. The "Hallmark Countdown to Christmas" is helping get me in the Christmas mood... Once again there are No children at home to help me put up the Decorations. Paul did his duty and brought in the Bag-o Trees. We put them all in one bag last year to make it easy for him. They are still all squished and need to be fluffed before they get their adornments. It will take most of the week before the trees are all donned with their Christmas finery. Since the annual Nativity Display was replaced this year by a Community Concert, I put some of the Nativities up in my living room on Saturday evening.

This is My "Tradition"! As a family we would attend the Sattelite broadcast of the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional at the Church, then go home and put up our NATIVITY. Each child would place a piece of the Nativity on the mantle or where ever we put it that year. I'm glad to have the big bookcase upstairs that Paul built so the Nativities can go in there this year. That is the first picture. The second one shows the Nativity that Jeffery sent from Cuba on the right. I have over 30 up high, down low, around the room right now. I have to clear a big space to put up my Nativity from Mexico. I think there will be Nativities scattered through more of the rooms this year. I have acquired a few more this year with Lynn's help. When we go on our little Road trips to Portland, we find them... The rest of the Nativites will be on one of the multiple trees I plan to decorate this year!

Today is a very special Day for our Grandson SETH! He is one year older and we love him! I hope he gets to listen to our Prophet tonight and that he enjoys the Celebrations that are part of his Birthday month. A few years ago I made Christmas Vests and Bow ties for the 2 Grandsons. I think Christen requested them...and I was happy to oblige. Don't they look like they are singing??? FA-La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Post Sunday- Had to have our holiday picture taken by the Beautiful tree at the Church tonight. It is always a work of ART- Thanks to our Friend Mignon!

My LUCK is Holding...

While I was BLOGGING this afternoon... NaDell sent me an e-mail telling me I'd won a prize from her friend's BLOG contest. This is what her Blog says: So without further ado, the winner of the awesome game Trek to Zion, created by my dear cousin Jen, is... Mary who wanted to win it for her daughter. Congratulations Mary! (And NaDell) And I have to say Thanks to Alicia at her BLOG I like winning prizes so much I'm doing another Blog Hop with the Henry Glass Fabrics Company's Designers Henry Glass participating designers Anka"s Treasures-Heather Mulder Peterson Brenda PInnick Designs Buggy Barn- Janet Nesbitt & Pam Soliday Fresh Cut Quilts Pattern Co.-Kari Ramsay Jillily Studio-Jill Finley Kati Cupcake Pattern Co.- Amy Hamberlin Kim Diehl Lazy Daisy Cottage-Dana Brooks Linda Lum DeBono Little Quilts-Mary Ellen Van Holt, Alice Berg, & Sylvia Johnson Lizzie B Creative- Liz Hawkins & Beth Hawlkins Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.- Carrie Nelson Pink Fig Patterns- Chelsea Anderson QuiltSoup-Barbara Jones Rose Cottage-Laurie Bird The Noble Wife-Jacquelynne Steves The Whole Country Caboodle- LeanneAnderson

Ready to Bind, LYNN...

Believe it or not, I've finished 4 of the quilts I brought home from Lynn's. I tried to do something different on each one and get my practice in. "I think I've got it!" to misquote Dr Doolittle. I think he said, "I think she's got it... " These quilts will keep some babies WARM this winter. I'm glad I could help a little bit to get more done for our Guild Charity. I still have a couple more. It's been a Crazy week, I can hardly believe it is Thursday already. I stayed home a lot and the days just blended all together. NOT trying to RUSH the Season, honest! I got my Secret Santa Stocking in the Mail and Mailed mine off ON TIME and the Ornaments for the Exchange are all done. YES, I will be waiting to open it on CHRISTMAS DAY! Thanks to 'Sue Bucholsky' from my WASIQ online group. Isn't it a pretty one??? I have 1-4 more Ornaments to collect from Marilee when she gets the rest in the mail. I like making the Ornaments because it gives me an idea of how bad do I want to make MULTIPLES of them before I commit to making them for everyone. I'll show them on here after I deliver them this week-end. I hope I can get the ones in the mail so the FAR-Away families have them early enough to enjoy on their tree too. I know NaDell and Janessa have their trees up, haven't heard from Christen, Kori and Tina, but in the past they have beat me every time since I wait until after the 1st Sunday of December at least. That reminds me, I need to put up my Advent Calendar.