The Space Between ...

 The Space Between ...

December 26 - December 31

Setting Goals for 2024

Organizing my Christmas bounty

Puttering around in my sewing room ...

I made a couple more Preppy Whales

I got my new bowling ball drilled and bowled a game just to test her out.

She is a beauty ... A vanilla smelling Tropical Surge in green, black, and purple.

Hello Storm Nation!

Making bread for our New Year Dinner

Christmas 2023

Christmas Day 2023

Bella and Beau

From their new home.

On December 1, 2023 their parents purchased their first house!

My daughter hosted yet another glorious Christmas Eve / Christmas Day extravaganza!

Champagne cocktails and dinosaurs were on tap!

No makeup but lots of love and joy.

It was a wonderful Christmas!

Even though this was my birthday gift and not a Christmas gift ... it was the birthday gift that kept on giving through to Christmas morning!

The 2023 Advent Calendar from Stitch Supply Co. 

This is the 4th year that I have been gifted the advent calendar and every year it is my favorite gift. For a quilter this gift does NOT disappoint!

 

So ... This Happened

 So ...

This Happened ...

I celebrated my 60th Birthday

My sneaky little momma ... with the help of my sneaky little daughter ... surprised me with a birthday party!

My family drove 7 hours from South Georgia to be with me on my birthday.

I was completely SURPRISED, I never even suspected this family birthday party.

Happy Birthday!!!

As you can see in the picture, I am embracing my naturally curly hair and this shorter lengh. I've decided that 60 is going to be about embracing the "real" me. Good and bad, the curly hair, my weight, my creativity and talents. All of it.

As Popeye would says, "I am what I am..."

Red / White String Pieced Quilt - Hand-Quilting Project

Red/White String Pieced Quilt

Hand-Quilting Project has begun ... 

I used to do a bit more hand-quilting but piecing quilt tops is the quilting process I enjoy the most. Fortunately, I have a brilliant and wonderful friend who also is a brilliant and wonderful machine quilter. In my efforts to slow life down a bit I've decided to hand-quilt a quilt this winter. I'm learning to relax  ...  hopefully ...

Having the floor space to put the quilt "sandwich" together is a chore but when I was rearranging the living room in order to put up my Christmas tree, I took that opportunity to get my Winter 2023/2024 quilt project ready for hand-quilting.

Backing and batting ...

The pieced quilt top ... 

Pin basting ... lots and lots of pins ...

Marking and framing ... and now the quilt is ready for hand-quilting ...

Here we go ... wish me luck!

Congratulations!!! New Homeowners

 Congratulations!!!

New Homeowners!

This morning my youngest and his beautiful bride will become homeowners.

Congratulations!

I pray many years of LOVE, peace, and joy in your new home.

Thanksgiving 2023 - Festive Mugs

 Thanksgiving 2023 - Festive Mugs

My daughter coordinated this great activity, amazing memory, and wonderful keepsake.

Life with these beautiful souls ... I am so blessed!

Festive reindeer mugs and champagne cocktails

Our activity coordinator painting her festive reindeer mug.

Thanksgiving 2023 - Dinner

 Thanksgiving 2023 - Dinner

Another wonderful Thanksgiving with my children.

Thanksgiving was hosted by my son and his beautiful bride at their home in North Carolina

My son is an excellent cook!

I am so blessed! 

Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt #21 - 16 Patch

 Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilts

Scrap Quilt #21 - 16 Patch

#1

#1 - the OG - the actual beginning of my scrap quilt journey

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18a

#18b

#19

#20

Little Red (and White) Houses

 Little Red (and White) Houses

This one is going to be a labor of love ... 

Red/White quilt LOVE!!

I've pieced all of the rows, I will be stenciling on the motifs that I want to embroider, then I will piece all of the rows together.

There wil also be a border.

Yep, a labor of LOVE

Little Comforts

 Little Comforts

I had a wonderful evening enjoying a few of my favorite most comforting and relaxing pleasures.

For the past few evening after a long day at work, traffic getting home, and a quick dinner, I've been spending time looking through some of my quilting books.

It is the perfect way to center myself and just relax.

Peppermint tea in one of my favorite cups.

Last night I binged a bit of Netflix, The Crown", season 6