Quilt Top Done!

I took a quilt class yesterday. The class is a Christmas Gift from my Mom. I haven't quilted in a few years so I'm rusty - ie a little slow. The class was fun! And today, I took an hour and finished sewing the blocks together. There is one more step before the top is really done - that is some hand-stitching. I'll explain that later.
I am not the most accurate with a sewing machine as I prefer to hand stitch, but time required the machine. I also prefer to hand quilt, so it will be a while before the wall quilt is that - a wall quilt! I think I may go ahead and hang it in the living room for the season anyway.
It was a very enjoyable day and was fun meeting the other ladies! Oh - my little Janome sewing machine didn't know what happened - it was actually being used!

BJ's Album - My First Mini

This was my first Mini! I made it for my oldest son for Christmas 2009. I kept the flowers and female decor down to a minimum since it was for him - even though all the Grands are girls! He loved it!
I used a stripped children's board book as the base and covered all the pages with mostly papers from K & Company. Some Prima flowers and Bling. Lots of pockets so he can add photos if he wishes. And some mini-mini books in pockets. I tried to pretty much fill it with photos I had taken that he had not seen!
I thought it was about time I put this album on the blog - after a year! Sometimes it takes me a while to get around to it.... See the rest of the album in my Flickr here.

Time For A Makeover!

My blog now has a new look! It's about time, too. The Holidays are catching up with me - or am I catching up with the Holidays??? Confusing, isn't it? [LAUGH] I have so many things I want to do I don't know which way is up! House cleaning is taking priority this week so I can relax next week and enjoy family and friends. Gifts are wrapped (most of them) and under the tree - which is all lit up and looking good (even if I do say so myself!). I didn't get the yard decorated this year - have to prioritize my time right now. Next year will all the more fun, though!

I've been trying to make Tim Holtz 12 Days of Christmas Tags - I've made 4 and have others in progress. I'm placing them on the tree as I finish. The one on the left I am especially proud of. I had to improvise the "roof" of the pin and do love the way it came out!

The background stamp I used was just the perfect thing! It's called "K1652 Holiday Birdhouse" and it's put out by Hampton Art Stamps, Inc in 1999. I don't know how long I've had it but it might still be available. Try Google, at least to see what it looks like. I was thinking about taking the pin off the tag and hanging them close to each other. I just love Tim's ideas! He is brilliant!