Monday, December 1, 2025

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange 2025

 The first Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange was in 2013 and there was only one year that 
was missed since then. Thanks to all of you who participated and visited those years!


I've been seriously working through my stash to finish projects. 
I attacked the quilt kits first and have really put a dent in them.
This one was really cute with a vintage look. 
Easy and quick to finish!

It's quilted, bound, and ready to be gifted!



Baking cookies doesn't happen around here since the grandkids moved away.
Though I'd love to eat three dozen cookies on my own, it's not a good idea.
I hope my neighbors are ready for some yummy treats.

Of course, the older I get, nothing is easy when it comes to baking. 
I sometimes forget an ingredient or two. Whoops!

I decided to make a recipe by my niece that my sister shared on her blog.
Yes, they have sugar in them.
Yes, they are not diet friendly.
Yes, they are really, really rich.
Yes, they are incredibly good!

CARAMEL OATMEAL CARMELITA BARS
Recipe can be found HERE


These chocolate chip cookies got a kiss in the middle of them.
I did leave a few unkissed ones for my husband who doesn't love that extra chocolate.


My grandson is serving a mission in Brazil. I love all his email letters!

He told us about his attempt to make cookies in different conditions than he was
used to. The oven and Brazil-type ingredients made some "horrible" cookies.

Monkey Boy #2:
"Yesterday, after making 11 batches of cookies over the course of 5 weeks, we finally made 
cookies that we were proud of and that were actually good enough to call cookies."


As a missionary, he related the cookie fiasco into a spiritual thought:

"Our cookies got a little bit better every time we made another batch, sometimes they even 
got worse,  and just like in life we're living in a constant effort to improve ourselves little by little.
It's hard, but if we rely on the Lord he will continue to give us strength and guidance along the way.
 
Our cookies still have room to improve too. They were good, but they can be better. 
We will also always have room to improve and things to work on, but God will provide a way. 
So don't worry about being perfect right now, and focus on the little things that you can control 
because God will carry you the rest of the way."

I appreciate his sweet thoughts as he serves this mission. 
It's hard to believe Monkey Boy #2 is grown up and living in Brazil!

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Thursday, October 23, 2025

My Day For Out Of The Dark Blog Hop

You maybe didn't know, but Joan and I are totally crazy about Halloween!


I've been slower at coming "Out of The Dark" than Joan.
She's been posting her past Halloween goodies all month.
Be sure to check out all of her pretties!


It's been a nice break from so many years of blog hops and sewing and designing
patterns for fabric companies, but I have missed all my blog hop friends.
It's really fun to step out of the dark to join you today!

I've been obsessed (or maybe possessed) with sewing Dresden's this year.
There is a 48" Dresden ruler that called my name when I saw it.
I love big designs and this ruler definitely creates a monstrously big Dresden!
It seemed like a good idea to use it for a Halloween quilt, so...

Spooky Dresden
65" x 65"


The fabrics are by Benartex and they glow in the dark.
I took this photo at dusk so I think the greens and oranges felt the need to "glow."



The purple minky on the back made this a cozy, not creepy, quilt to snuggle in.


I'm wickedly crazy about J. Wecker Frisch and her fabric designs.
I make at least one quilt a year with her fabrics.
This year I made three this year...yes, I am Wecker Wild!


J. Wecker Frisch is so creative with her fabrics...love them!




Charlie is pleased that I added minky to this quilt back.
He's looking forward to nap time on it.


"The Queens" needed binding and was waiting patiently for a finish.
Thank goodness for blog hops to shove those unfinished projects over the finish line.


This is my favorite queen!


I love all the crowns on the backing fabric.


Sewing from quilt kits isn't my usually thing, but when the price is right, I will grab them 
up and sew away. Some adjustments usually have to be made when it involves a panel.
For some reason panels are usually odd sizes and a bit wonky. 

I hate when parts of the panel have to be cut off to fit the quilt kit's pattern.
It took a lot of Frankenstein piecing to put this one together or I would have lost his feet.
This spooky quilt still needs quilting, but that will have to wait.


Such a dapper skeleton!


J. Wecker Frisch has an incredible imagination when she creates her characters.


It's been an amazing Halloween week of quilts thanks to Joan.
Be sure to visit all the blogs!


Just Because Quilts
Quilted Delights
Songbird Designs
Crazy.bout Quilts
                           Quilting Between the Rails (on Facebook)
SelinaQuilts
 
Thursday Oct 23


Do you want to join the Virtual Christmas Blog Hop?
Let me know!



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Monday, October 20, 2025

Come "Out Of The Dark" For Joan's Blog Hop

 She's back!
Joan's got a blog hop happening this week that will have you screaming with excitement.
Why? Because it's all about Halloween!


Check out my ghoul friends blog posts:

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Thursday, July 31, 2025

Jeepers Creepers Is It Halloween Yet?

 I sew a lot slower these days, but it is really a nice change.
There were times I was whipping out 7-9 projects a month. Way too much!
Now I sew what I want and I'm having way more fun.

I couldn't resist this spooky Halloween fabric by Quilted Treasures.
"Jeepers Creepers" was calling my name!


Nothing like a windy day to make photo taking a breeze.



Isn't she adorable!


Time to be quilted...hopefully before Halloween.


In case you didn't know, Joan and I have come out of hiding for two blog hops.
One for Halloween and one for Christmas.

Let us know if you want to join in the fun.




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Monday, July 28, 2025

Blog Hop Shocker - We're Back!

 Joan and I have been missing you!

It's been a much needed change for both of us, but with Halloween and Christmas
coming (our favorite holidays), we decided to come "Out of the Dark" for two blog hops.

That wickedly wonderful Joan will be hosting the Halloween blog hop, "Out of the Dark",
and I'll be hosting my annual Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange blog hop.


What is a blog hop? 

It's like a "show and tell" online or like joining a quilt guild without leaving home. Joan from
 Moosestash Quilting and I post a challenge on our blogs and those who want to join in email us 
with their blog, Instagram, Facebook URL/info. After we get that info, we assign a date for them 
to post their project. The idea is to visit the first blog and then go to the next blog/IG/FB, etc.
 
We give everyone plenty of time to sew something, usually two months. 
We inspire each other with projects, tutorials, or patterns. Anyone can follow along! 
Projects are posted on each blog and include the other participants. 
 
These are the "rules" for being a participant:

​It is important that you post your project on your scheduled day.
You can preset your blog post to go live any time after 11 p.m. MST.
It's okay if it pops up early...that's better than being late.
If your project isn't quite done, show it anyway. 
People remember if you're a no show...we don't want that!
Above all, have fun and enjoy the sweet fun of a blog hop!
​If you're posting on IG/FB, make sure your post is live by 11 p.m. MST.

Want to play along?

Email Joan for the Halloween "Out of the Dark" blog hop to say you're in.


Email me for the Christmas "Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange" blog hop to say you're in.


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Saturday, May 17, 2025

Dreadful Dresden Or Beautiful Dresden

Hello, it's me!
I haven't been blogging for a while...just needed a break. Don't we all need a break sometimes?

After being a quilting slug, I started sorting my fabrics and realized I'd never be able to sew
 it all in my lifetime, but I could hopefully put a dent in it. Not much of a dent, but at least 
something is better than nothing, right? I started with gathering the UFO's into one spot.
Thank goodness there weren't that many! 

This quilt hasn't been a UFO for very long, but it needed to be finished.
It was a pattern I created to sew with two of my friends using Benartex's
 "Not Your Mama's Garden" by Sew Yeah Quilting.


The center Dresden measures 48" with the whole quilt being 76" x 76".
It is big!


Making a Dresden block used to scare me...they do look a bit frightening! 
I always called it a "Dreadful Dresden."
In reality, they are so easy. 

While having a sewing day, I finished several other quilts that needed binding.
Pictures of those will make there way here eventually.
Have a beautiful day!
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Wednesday, December 25, 2024

T-Shirt Quilts For Christmas

 It was a busy three months sewing t-shirt/memory shirt quilts,
but I made the Christmas deadlines and got them all done...whew!

I made six t-shirt quilts for my friend, his wife and three children.







This t-shirt quilt was for my niece


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Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange 2025

 The first Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange was in 2013 and there was only one year that  was missed since then. Thanks to all of you who p...

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