Just Let Me Quilt: December 2015

Thursday, December 31, 2015

It Looks Like We're Off To 2016 No Matter What

It's a new year. Really? I think I missed a few days somewhere in 2015.

Can I have a do over on some of those missed days? Please!

No do overs?
Darn!
Oh well...Happy New Year, anyway!

I didn't do any sewing the last two weeks. It was family and Monkey Boys all the way.

But now let the sewing begin!

Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy is hosting her first blog hop starting in February...way to go, Amy!

Here are the details:

This is a Block on the Month.

11 different bloggers will share their patterns with you for free

during the month that the pattern is been released.

We will give you an opportunity to make 2 blocks,

one that is appliqued and one that is traditionally pieced.

The blocks will be released on the first day of each month.

There will be giveaways, too, from amazing sponsors!

Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

There's even a Facebook group page
HERE.

Look who will be creating blocks...

February

Amy – Sew Incredibly Crazy

March

Carol – Just Let Me Quilt

April

Doris – Quilting Queen Online

May

Carla – Creatin’ in the Sticks

June

Sue – Super Mom No Cape

July

Joan – Moosestash Quilting

August

Kris – Kris Loves Fabric

September

Pat – Life in the Scrappatch

October

Vicki – More Stars in Comanche

November

Lana – It Seams to be Sew

December

Jan - Sew and Sow Farm

January

Amy – Sew Incredibly Crazy– Final Blocks and wrap up

It all starts February 1st...I better get busy creating and sewing!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

My Best And Favorites Of 2015

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs has a linky party going on for sharing our "Best of 2015"

projects so I thought I'd join in the fun. Lots of amazing quilts in the shared links!

One of my favorites was working on the EQ7 Seasons Row-A-Long. This quilt and the

process involved making it was both educational and extremely fun.

This year I was really into making heart quilts to show my love for the recipients.

This one was for a sweet guy battling cancer. I just love him so much!

He loved his "Let Me Count The Ways We Love You" quilt.

Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts made me go a little crazy with this Dog Gone Cute quilt.

I've always been a dog lover, so this quilt was my kind of project!

The owls on this quilt were so dang cute!

Margie at Ribbon Candy Quilt Company stole my heart with her sweet patterns.

This is my version of Hoots Hollow.

Ending 2015 with my favorite guy, The Grinch, was a blast. He makes me smile!

I created this quilt after seeing the Grinch hand pattern by Angie Padilla. The rest of the

quilt was created by me drawing and playing around with applique pieces. I "embroidered" his

face using my machine and one of it's special stitches. I totally enjoyed making this quilt!

Thanks, Cheryl, for letting me share a few of my best and favorite quilts.

Here's to 2016 and even more creativity for all of us!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Grandma's Apparently Make A Great Gift

It's wonderful to know I'm a jolly good grandma...

I had this conversation with the six year old Monkey Boy sitting on my lap:

Me (sounding like Santa):
Sooo, little boy, what do you want for Christmas?

Monkey Boy:
Grandma.

Me:
Grandma?

Monkey Boy:
I want Grandma for Christmas because she'll give me anything I want.

SMART BOY!

I hope you get everything you want this holiday season!

Friday, December 18, 2015

Rudolph Meets The Grinch

I finished the Grinch quilt so that meant a photo trip for hubby and me. Fun!

The Rudolph quilt also came along to hopefully get a better photo of it.

We ended up in Snow Canyon and Upper Galoot for quilt and Christmas photos.

Yes, I'm late getting our Christmas cards mailed. Very, very, very late!

Dang that camera timer! I couldn't seem to run fast enough before it started taking photos.

The Grinch and Max

I didn't hand embroider the face. I used one of the special stitches on my machine to make the lines.
Much easier on my hands!

Poor Max! That Grinch may just drop the ornament on him!

A little better photo of Rudolph and his buddies.
White background fabric is tough to photograph.

This roadrunner entertained us for a few minutes. He was bobbing his tail up and down,
fluffing up, and keeping a watchful eye on us. I think he was posing for the camera!

My sister's emergency preparedness book, Prepare Your Family For Survival,
has finally been published. Woohoo! It's a great book to have on hand or to give as a gift.

I'm all done Christmas shopping. How about you?

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

A Little Grinch-Y Today

I love the Grinch. Yes, I really, really do.

Maybe because I'm a little bit like him?

I love Christmas too much to be a Grinch, but I do adore him anyway.

A year or so ago (time flies) I saw a mug rug by Angie Padilla with the Grinch's hand.

Had to have it, of course!

But, can I make anything small? No!
I used the Grinch hand and added a bit more to make a small quilt.

Seriously, I love that Grinch guy!

Lots more to do on this small quilt and I'm not sure it will be done in time for Christmas.

If not, maybe the Grinch will steal New Years!

Friday, December 11, 2015

All Of The Other Reindeer And Rudolph

I finally finished the reindeer quilt using that adorable little guy created by Lorna at

Sew Fresh Quilts. The reindeer were pretty easy, but for some reason I totally messed up the borders

(one was wavy...ugh!) and I had to do a lot of ripping. Then I accidently cut one of the borders in a

wrong place and had to do some rearranging. What the heck was going on with this quilt!

I was beginning to think Santa had it out for me and I was on the Naughty List or something.

Then it was cloudy, rainy, and dark outside...indoor photo time!

The quilt measures about 45" x 47" and has machine embroidery lettering.

Plus...

Rudolph definitely has a shiny nose.

I used a little of Therm O Web's red Deco Foil to make that happen.

I even washed it and his nose is still shining! Love it!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

It's The Last Day Of The Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

I've been in sweet treat heaven this week!

Have you been loving all the recipes that were shared during the

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop? I have!

It's the last day (darn!) and I really wish everyone had come to my house to exchange cookies

so I could taste those treats right now! What's a few extra calories among friends!

Thank you, sweet ladies, for sharing your recipes.

Well...now it's my turn to share some recipes!

I love chocolate.

I love oatmeal.

I love nuts.

I love anything with the above combination, so...

I made some Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies!

Layering the ingredients in a one quart Mason jar makes for a great way to share them with others.

Baking instructions:

*Right click on the candy cane framed recipe and instructions to save them to your computer.

Hints to make adding ingredients easier:

Wash bottles and make sure they are completely dry.

Use a wide mouth funnel to add ingredients.

Be sure to tamp each layer down firmly before adding next ingredient.

Using the flat bottom of a narrow glass works for tamping down.

Use a spatula or paper towel to wipe bottle edges after each addition.

Want a little variety in those gift bottles?

You could replace the walnuts and chocolate chips with...

M&M's

White Chocolate Chips

Peanut Butter Chips

Almonds, Craisins, Chocolate Chips

I ran across an easy recipe using Ritz crackers, which were yummy in the recipe I made a couple

years ago using them with chocolate and mint (find it HERE.) These were pretty darn good, too!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies

It's surprising that a Ritz cracker can taste so good as a sweet cookie!

The Monkey Boys made some, too. The little monkey ate his own cookies,

because for some reason no one wanted the ones he made.

One more cookie recipe...

My side of the family came from Norway, so I grew up eating lefse and hearing my
great-grandmother talk with her heavy accent. I thought we were the only Norwegian's around!
Then I met my hubby and learned his family was also Norwegian.
His mom had a recipe from "Aunt Emma" for Norwegian Butter Cookies.
They are delicate cookies shaped like a wreath or pretzel. Mine never turned out so good.
Of course, my mother-in-law's were always perfect.
I gave it another try for this hop and tada...success! Okay, a little lopsided, but still good.