A Sweet Gift

 A Sweet Gift

This year I was commissioned to make two very special gifts for the loved ones of two of my friends.

This bear is made from a shirt of my friend's father who passed away.

The Bear is a gift for her mother who is terminally ill.

I was asked to make this memory quilt for a friend's wife. Their son was killed in an accident 10 years ago on the 16th of December. The quilt is made from t-shirts printed with special photos of their son and the t-shirts and clothing that were special to him.

I was and still am very honored to have been trusted to make these special heart felt gifts.

December Is Always Busy and Bright

 December Is Always Busy and Bright

I'm a December baby, so even though my birthday is the 15th, I begin celebrating on the 1st. For the past 5 years I have been gifted a wonderful Advent Calendar by the Stitch Supply Co.

This gift has become the highlight of each December.

The Stitch Supply Co

really goes all out. There are so many notions and personalized gifts. Each day brings a new little box with a truly special gift.

Blessed - Thanksgiving 2024

 Blessed - Thanksgiving 2024

Family, food, games, and so much fun and love.

I love these people so much.

Handmade

 Handmade

Naturally, I love handmade gifts. As it turns out both my sister and my daughter are phenomenal handmade gift givers.

These soaps are gifts from my daughter, one from her trip to Hawaii and the pottery soap dishes are gifts from my sister. 

Island Lavender soap

I love hand crafted soaps ... my skin loves them even more.

These soaps are gentle and make my skin feel soft and clean.

My sister has an eye for beautiful handmade things. Actually she has a wonderful eye for home decor and fashion that I have forever been so envious of. 

She has a knack for beautiful things.

Such as the handcrafted pottery she has gifted me.

 

Mornings and Faux Fireplaces

 Mornings and Faux Fireplaces

Netflix, Prime, and probably other streaming services provide hours of fireplace sites and sounds.

I have been spending my morning quiet time with these fireplace videos. This morning it is The Witcher fireplace complete with the pop and crackle sounds and a few Celtic tunes for the show, The Witcher, on Netflix.

Coffee and a Celtic fireplace

I love my morning quiet time.

Emotional Support Chicken

 Emotional Support Chicken

My daughter signed us up for a class to crochet Emotional Support Chickens and yesterday afternoon we completed our chickens!

I cannot begin to tell you how much fun we have had crocheting our chickens!

The class was sponsored by The Bees Knits

An amazing local yarn shop.

The pattern for making an Emotional Support Chicken can be found HERE

on Ravelry

My daughter is already working on her second Emotional Support Chicken.

Who knows ... we may end up with a chicken coop full of crocheted Emotional Support Chickens.

🐔🐔🐔

Tuesday Night Lights

 Tuesday Night Lights

Tuesday night bowling league has begun again ... 

I'm a creature of habit and I love routine. 

Bowling league with family and friends is a routine I cherish. Just being together and enjoying each others company is the best part for me but that's not to say that I don't enjoying WINNING!

🎳🎳🎳

Houston We Have a Problem

 Houston We Have a Problem

... the problem

While doing a bit of deep cleaning I found that I have a problem. The problem being that I purchase hair clips. Lots and Lots of hair clips. Do I use them, most certainly but a huge bowl of them is a bit overkill.

I think the problem centers around the fact that I remove the hair clips and set them down wherever I am at that moment. Nightstands, coffee tables, dressers, in my handbag, in my car, in sweater and coat pockets and then can't remember where I put them and end up buying more.

I would guess that I have at least $100. worth of hair clips in the bowl pictured above and sadly that is probably not even close to all of the hair clips I own.

YIKES!!

The Freedom of Travel

The Freedom of Travel

Recently I have been considering destinations I would love to travel to and see. With my years in the Navy I was able to travel extensively. I want to do that again. 

World travel takes planning ... and the funds and of course, a passport!

Yesterday, my brand new Passport arrived.

So many destinations before me.

The Freedom of Travel

 

Back In The Game

 Back In The Game

This past weekend I had the pleasure of teaching and playing mahjongg with two very good friends. And just like that, I'm back in the game.

Impulse Buy

 Impulse Buy

Every now and then I will come across an item that I just have to have ...

On a recent Walmart run I came across these McCormick sugars. I purchased these three flavors but there are several more flavors as well.

Instead of cinnamon toast ... I'm going to try these sugars instead.

I also think they will be wonderful as toppings on whipped cream atop pies and hot cocoa.

Or atop frosting on cakes or cupcakes.

Oh and what about sugar cookies ... 

Sometimes impulse purchases are worth it. No buyers remorse here my friends.

Election Day 2024

Election Day 2024

No matter your choice of candidate, I hope that you will cast your VOTE.

 

Emotional Support Chicken ???

Emotional Support Chicken ???

Yes, you heard that right ... Emotional Support Chicken

Me and my daughter are crocheting an emotional support chicken. We've signed up for a class at a local yarn shop and we are having a great time crocheting our masterpieces.

We have a couple more Saturday afternoon classes to finish our chickens.

This will be one colorful chicken!

 

Easter Baskets

Easter Baskets 

I enjoy crocheting an Easter Basket for my daughter each year. I pick a theme and go from there. This year a theme is eluding me. That being the case, I've decided to just start crocheting a basket.

I just picked up a skein of yarn and started crocheting. 

The basket and handle are now complete and an idea for a theme is forming.

I will keep you posted!

Quilting - Machine Quilting

 Machine Quilting

It has been a goal of mine for many years to learn how to machine quilt on my domestic sewing machine. 

The thing about goals is ... you have to do the work to achieve them.

My first machine quilted quilt of 2024.

I'm diving in ... practice makes progress in achieving one's goals.

November 2024

November 2024

Such a beautiful time of year.

The leaves this year are bright and brilliant.

 

Finally

 Finally

I'm not sure why but for over two years now ... I have been looking for a recliner for my living room. But I just couldn't make a decision and commit to actually buying one.

Yesterday was the day! I made the decision and purchased a recliner.

I purchased this recliner from a local Wholesale Furniture store. From the clearance section no less ... probably the reason I was able to commit to this particular recliner. However I was worried that the chair would be to big for my living room.

My house was built in 1964, at that time both furniture and people were smaller.

I was pleasantly surprised that the recliner fits perfectly.

I predict many happy relaxing moments in this recliner.

And, not an ounce of buyer's remorse.

WINNING!!! 

Glow Ya Little Glow Worm ... Shimmer, Shimmer II

 Glow Ya Little Glow Worm

... Shimmer, Shimmer II

A progress report

Blocks completed from the first Shimmer quilt that I made.

At this point every surface in my sewing room is covered in every piece of Tula Pink fabrics that I own.

It's magical!

Sorting through my Tula Pink stash. Sorting and coordinating fabrics into colorful block combinations.

One of the happiest places on earth for me is in my sewing room with fabrics scattered about. I can do this for hours and hours.

49 blocks are required for the size of quilt that I am making, so I have spent quite a bit of time cutting the fabrics needed for this project.

This makes my brain feel good and my heart very very happy.