It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The Teacup and Saucer candle Jana and Holly crafted for us this Christmas.

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Some of the ornaments on the tree

Our Christmas tree

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And then there is this tree. You see it when you come up the long drive way to the house. I can see it from our kitchen window and I may leave it up all year! It's so pretty!

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A little Santa wallhanging my quilting friend Betty showed a group of us how to make.

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The mantle in the family room

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One of the porcelain Santa's

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Bald Eagle

While most of my blogging is about quilts, once in awhile it's fun

to blog about other things happening on Timber Hill---like this picture.

Magnificent Bald Eagle (click on pic. to enlarge)

I snapped this picture yesterday afternoon. This Eagle perched at the top of this tall fir tree on Timber Hill for about 3 hours. It overlooks the Laguna at the base of Timber Hill. We are fairly sure he was hunting the ducks that winter at the Laguna.
Laguna

Beautiful Day

Today was a beautiful day on Timber Hill, and we spent most of the day outdoors enjoying the fall weather and doing some chores before the next rain. Here are some pictures of what I am blessed to see and enjoy every day.

Coming up the long driveway home

Colorful maples

Looking east down onto Timber Hill

Last of the hydrangea's

last show of color

View towards the Laguna from our deck

Tractor man

Our Boots. Outdoors is still her favorite spot.

Keeping an eye on everything and everybody

Spash of color at the front deck

Wild mushrooms are everywhere on Timber Hill now

in every crevice and rock

Among the fir needles

Overlooking the back yard and woods beyond

Design Wall Monday Dec. 6, 2010

This is a machine embroidery project I loaded onto the long arm. Maybe I will quilt a feathered circle around the main embroidery or some cross hatching. I haven't quite decided, so each time I pass by the frame I think maybe this motif, maybe that design--

The Patriot's Dream stitching is all finished with the exception of the applique stars down in the bottom section and the blue border than needs to be sewn on. I can't find the original blue fabric in my stash, so I'm off to the local quilt shop to see if I can find a good match. It feels so good to have all the stitching completed!

This picture is looking out across the back yard into the woods from our house. The Japanese Maples are just turning color, and are so pretty.

What's Off the Long Arm

Hot Diggity Dog is finished! It is approx. 64" x 64". I used Soft & Bright batting. I thought it would have a lighter feel, but the quilt is larger and heavier than I thought it would be. Amanda and I made this quilt during this past summer break. "Amanda and Peanut"

What's on the Long Arm

Hot Diggity Dog is on the long arm today---well, actually I just finished quilting it, and it's off the frame. Now, to make the binding and label.

Thankfulness

I feel this picture of our granddaughter perhaps says it all.

We are over abundantly blessed with many things, which included being together to share a tasty Thanksgiving dinner. We did not do much cooking except for a few special side dishes as we opted to purchase our organic turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings precooked at our local grocery.

Some family members expressed some serious concerns with our disregard with "family traditions". I had my doubts too. After all, how could we not go shopping for that perfect turkey, select seasonings, perform ritual brining, slather butter, bake and cube dry breads, chop assorted vegetables, simmer broth, mix, mash and stir everything ourselves? and what if it didn't taste good?

Worry not! The dinner was perfection! Dare I say---perhaps better than what we could have cooked on our own. The turkey and dressing was moist and delicious, the mashed potatoes were buttery smooth! Tender hot rolls and loads of tasty gravy. Baked yams in a decadent orange sauce...oh, and yummy pumpkin pie is included.

It's not that I don't love cooking Thanksgiving dinner---but after many decades of doing this ritual dinner, and discovering that some one else can do it just as well, if not better ( and may I add for less cost)---This Grandmama is ready to embrace pre cooked Thanksgiving dinners in the future with no reservations! Oh my--this is a good thing!

I've not been quilting very much, but working on one of my "forever projects". It's the patriotic redwork & bluework stitchery, "A Patriots Dream".I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as they say, and may actually get this finished by the new year.

A glimpse at some of the different sections.

I plan to do some hand quilting designs on this project to finish it up.

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a Purse!

I recently took a class with Pam Brown at Material Girl, our local fabric shop. There are many purse patterns and classes as you know, and I've made a few. I have quite a few purse patterns stashed for future projects to pursue when the creative bug strikes.

But, this purse is definitely different! And very Fun!

It involves no sewing! and once you get Pam's clever concept of folding, it all comes together, and you can make this purse in about an hour with a few supplies. It consist of fabric and poster board. Some spray glue. Magnetic clasp and corded handle. The magic is the --- Origami! For that part I suggest Pam's purse class.

Pam showing us the fabric and some of the supplies.

Pam helping us put on our magnetic snap.

Pam showing us how to attach the corded handle.

Some of the class purses!

My first Origami purse coming together at the folds.

Ta-da! My folded Origami purse!

I made this second purse after attending Pam's wonderful class. I'm not good with puzzles, but with Pam's printed instructions, and the original class purse--- I did it! There were just a few moments when I wished the patient Origami Wiz was at my side showing me which fold was the "valley" and which was the "mountain". This is a cute purse that will hold some essential things for an evening out or to fill with goodies and give as a giftie.

For more information on making the Origami purse please contact Material Girl and ask about this class with Pam.