What's in a Year?

The answer is - more sewing than last year!

Welcome to my 2012 Roundup! Last year at this time I was ogling enviously quilt blogs that I follow as they showcased their 2011 Roundups in those cute little photo collages. I wanted to do that, and more importantly, I wanted to actually sew this year, get some projects completed, renew my creativity (tall order maybe, but I was up for the challenge).

So I am very happy today to share my 2012 Roundup (I even found out how ti make the cute collagey thingy - thanks to Janice for her help!)

First, the quilt finishes

And because I was having fun with collage toy, here are the Stash Bee Blocks I made this year

Now I must admit, I wanted to have like 6-10 quilts done this year. However, since this is supposed to be fun, and not work, and considering my day job keeps me pretty busy, I am very proud to finish what I did. Plus, I have two finishes just around the corner, so I know that even in January I will be ahead for the year for my 2013 roundup!

Happy New Year!
Adrienne

It's Christmas!

The snugly day has arrived. Perhaps I was a bear in a previous life, but I am so down with hibernating once snow touches the ground. Christmas Day is the best day to snuggle inside, by the tree and your hubby, play with your new toys and maybe watch some Christmas themed movies. My hubby and I are not feeling 100% today, so looks like we are going to miss Christmas dinner. But we are nevertheless snugly on the couch soaking up Christmas goodness. Here is a peek inside our house...

 

The Tree - I am trying glass ornaments this year. Was not sure about our wee Penny (kitty kat) the last couple of years, but she seems to leave the tree alone. Well except for last night when she tried to eat the garland...

 

The Food - I make this sinful Bacon, Potato and Cheddar tart each year, and only once a year. It will likely kill you, but it is sooooooo goooooooood. If you want to make it yourself, here is the recipe.

The Kids - We are blessed with three "kids", Sally (dog), The Orange Cat (self explanatory), and Penny (kitty). When Orangie wants to be loved, he makes his presence known, even if you are trying to play computer. Sally has been guarding the tree...and the presents.

 

The Husband - This is Max in all of his glory on  Christmas morning. Each time he got a new piece of clothing, he would strip off the old and put on the new. He is looking decidedly Canadian with the cammo hat, elk jammies, and of course the t-shirt. I feel it is my duty to remind him of the Canadian part of his dual-citizenship.  

The Inspiration - My friend Jenn broke out some ribbon  candy last night in memory of her grandmother (who always had it out for the kids). I am not sure how yet, but this feels like a quilt pattern to me...

The Us - A terrible picture (snarling Max and all), but somehow I like it. My new year's resolution is to actually take more pictures of us together (which will make the new camera lens that was under the tree this morning very handy). We have one picture from when we were 15 years old, our wedding picture and then this one. Not good! It will be a fun resolution at least. 

So that's my house at Christmas. 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas and a Creative Quilty New Year!

Adrienne

What's in a label?

It is a snowy day here in Ottawa and I am cosy in my sewing room, Christmas lights atwinkling. Last couple of weeks has been full of stops and starts. Does that ever happen to you around the Holidays? Blogs I follow have been posting like it is going out of style with all of their Christmas handmade goodies. Have I made anyone anything this year? Nope. I think that if I was going to do that I would need to start in January! On the bright side I now have a list of things I would LIKE to make for next Christmas. See, there is always a bright side.

All of that being said I did do some sewing this weekend. I completed some Bee Blocks. As you know, I am part of Stash Bee, and recently I joined a second  Hive so I have a couple of bee blocks per month. It's fun!

So here are a couple of Improv Log Cabins (you can find the tutorial here)

and some Arkansas Crossroads (tutorial here).

An exciting bit for me to share with you today is the arrival of my quilt labels! Not sure about you, but labelling quilts has been the exception to the rule for me. Not quite sure why, but I just never did it. So with this blog and my internal plans to get more serious about my quilts, I splurged and ordered my very own labels! From Lilla Lotta they are custom cotton tape which you just cut one sew one...

Of course, I have this roll of goodness in my hand and no quilts at home in need of a label. Completely sucks, since I like to use newly purchased items ASAP! Then I had a brainwave, a  quilt that I made for my friend's 40th birthday this year, just happens to live in the bedroom next to my sewing room (said friend also happens to be my roommate!), so I have stolen it and labelled it quietly this afternoon. A treat for her later.

So do you label your quilts? And how?

So off I go, not to make last minute Christmas gifts, we have already covered that, but maybe to at least pin some rows together on the Foreign Currency quilt. Perhaps I could get that top done this week. Wish me luck!

Adrienne

Saturday Night Fever

No, I am not going to break out in Bee Gee's and sport Farah Fawcett winged bangs. So you are safe. But, I found myself home alone on a Saturday night. What to do?

Shocker right? Yeah Right. Put up some twinkly Christmas lights, pop in a good movie, crack a beer, and plop down to the sewing machine to work (wine and music works too, I'm not fussy. But it's not really work is it? Quilting for me is relaxing. I guess that's why it counts as a good Saturday night activity

The other side benefit of all this "relaxing;' is the the blocs are coming down off the design wall to join their buddies in the top!

Perhaps Foreign Currency will have a completed top by Monday!

So, when you have a quite night at home, do you end up at the sewing machine?
Adrienne