Friday, January 7, 2022

Goodbye 2021 Hello 2022

I think we all hoped 2021 would be a better year than 2020, but between Covid/Delta/Omicron, politics, and some crazy weather, I for one am glad to see it go. Of course, 2021 had to leave me with a nasty case of Covid just to show me it wouldn't be forgotten.


There was no Christmas celebrating with family because of Covid. My family, including all of the Monkey Boys, started dropping like flies the week before Christmas. Luckily, the boys bounced back quickly, but the adults had 10 days or more of fever, cough, headaches, and body pains. No fun! I still haven't regained all my taste and smell.

I was really lucky in December to be a winner of a Quick Zip System by the Quilting Connection. Adam Sew Fun had a drawing and because someone didn't claim their prize I won! I love being a winner of such an awesome prize!


New Year's resolutions don't ever work for me, but hopefully this year will be successful. Losing weight is a must for health reasons. All the stay-at-home eating and laying around has taken a toll. The extra pounds have to go! 

This is pretty much how I look and feel these days.


I fell a few weeks ago because of a unexpected moment of vertigo. There was nothing to grab onto and I fell in the rocks by my daughter's house. My sweet 15 year old grandson was the only one home and it scared him to death when he saw me laying in his yard. He tried to pick me up but that was not happening! 

I crawled on the rocks until I could get somewhere to stand up with his help. He helped me inside and ran to get me water. It took only a few minutes for the vertigo to pass, but I was so thankful for his jump to action and kindness. Luckily, I only ended up with a bruised hand.

My oldest daughter teased me and offered to buy me a walker in a color of my choice. The joke was on her because a couple days later she fell while on a hike. She had to be rescued by helicopter because there was no easy way to get her out. She ended up with a broken ankle and tibia, and needed surgery. She stayed with us for a while until she could function without a ton of help. 

Here she is with five of the Monkey Boys on Christmas day. 
She didn't get Covid like the rest of us and luckily the boys weren't sick anymore. 


You can checkout her helicopter ride on her Instagram page, Vegas Adventures, HERE 


There were over 60 projects, patterns, and classes that kept me busy in 2021. Slowing down and focusing on myself has been my goal for the last few years and I've failed miserably at it until now. I've let go of designing for a couple companies (it killed me) and I'm trying to say "no" to adding anything to my list. I'll still be doing blog hops and the Crackling Stitches BOM with my two favorite partners in crime, Carla and Joan. I'm looking forward to sewing some things that I've pushed aside because of the deadlines I needed to meet.

The blog hop this month is "Polar Bear Plunge" hosted by Joan at Moosestash Quilting. I can't wait to see what everyone makes!


February's blog hop is "Tickled Pink" hosted by Carla at Creatin' in the Sticks. Check with her to see if there are any openings.


Stay healthy!

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

I Am "Tickled Pink" About The Next Blog Hop



It is sign-up time for the February blog hop called "Tickled Pink" and it is hosted by the creatively talented Carla of Creatin' in the Sticks. How fun is this idea! With a baby granddaughter on the way, this is a perfect hop for me to sew for!

Here is the info Carla shared about "Tickled Pink":

What is a Blog Hop?

It's like a "show and tell" online.
Our blog hops feature sewing and quilting and are like joining a quilt guild without leaving home.  Once the theme (challenge) is presented we set to work sewing.
We inspire each other with projects, tutorials, or patterns.
Anyone can follow along.

There are about 2 months to sew something and join in on the fun.  
It's another easy theme that should have you thinking of lots of things you could make.

The Challenge: 

Create something with the color pink in it somewhere.
It's all about pink or being tickled (if you want) LOL
It's the month of love so really anything will do that tickle's us pink.
The theme is really your own interpretation, surprise us!

The Rules:  

Post on your assigned day at 12:00 am Eastern time.
Have a giveaway or don't have a giveaway. It's totally optional!
Visit everyone's blog on the list and leave a sweet comment. Make friends!!!!

Are you in?
Send me an email with the following information:
Your first name
Your email address
Your blog name
Your blog URL

Subject Line: Tickled Pink


I'm in, are you? Please say "YES" and email Carla ASAP to join in!

The blog hop in January is hosted by Joan at Moosestash Quilting and she always
gets us inspired with her amazing ideas! Doesn't "Polar Plunge" sound seriously fun!


Email her to see if she has any openings for you!


Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Last Day Of The Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

What a week it has been! My brain has been filled with so many amazing ideas to sew and bake...great way to start the Christmas holidays! Please take the time to visit each blog and leave a comment. It's always a joy to hear from other quilters.


It's my day to share a project along with some incredibly gifted quilters. 
I had a ton of fun creating "Decorating for Christmas."


The Nutcracker


The presents


The bird and star for the tree


A mischievous hand decorating the tree


Decorated homes


Fabrics: Riley Blake Designs "Painter's Watercolor Swirl" by J. Wecker Frisch


You can find "Decorating for Christmas in my Etsy Store HERE.


When we moved into this house, we were excited to have a Meyers lemon tree in our backyard. It was loaded with lemons the first year, but no thanks to a big windstorm, there are fewer this year. There was still enough to make some Lemon Snowball Cookies!


Lemon Snowball Cookies

1 cup butter at room temperature
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 cups all purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
*1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 3 teaspoons lemon zest (for rolling the cookies in)

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt. Set the aside.
Mix the butter until creamy.
 Mix in 2/3 cup of the powdered sugar. 
Mix in lemon juice, lemon extract, and 3 teaspoons lemon zest. 
Gradually add in flour/cornstarch/salt mixture and mix just until combined.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll dough into tablespoon sized balls. 
Place balls on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2-inches apart.
Bake in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes until bottoms of cookies are lightly browned. 
Remove from oven and allow to slightly cool.
Roll them in the mixed 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 3 Tablespoons lemon zest.
Place on wire rack to cool. 
Roll the cookies in the powdered sugar again, generously coating the snowballs. 
Store cookies in an airtight container.

More of this year's stitching of Christmas projects...

Santa and His Dog
Free pattern HERE


Wreath of Joy
Free pattern HERE


Treats for Santa mug rug
Free pattern HERE


It's such a pleasure to blog hop with all of these quilters...check them out!

December 6

There's a Pinterest page for this year's Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange HERE.

There's a giveaway, too!
I love the Quilt Taffy store and one winner will get $20 to shop there...fun!



Christmas 1956...can you guess which one is me?


Thank you for stopping by!
Merry Christmas!

Riley Blake Designs Make It Modern Project Tour

Picking out fabrics for my "Wreath of Joy" Christmas quilt was easy once I saw Riley Blake Designs "Painter's Watercolor Swirl" by J. Wecker Frisch. All the amazing colors totally rang my bell! 

50" x 50"


Fabric used in quilt is Riley Blake Designs Painters Watercolor Swirl:
Medium Green, Aged White, Dark Red, Gold, Charcoal



Painter's Watercolor Swirl in Dark Red is my favorite!


The Gold is so bright and perfect for this!


 Make it Modern projects in December:

12/16 - Sewl Sister

Riley Blake Designs blog has so many great and inspiring projects you can make.
Check it out HERE!



Appliqueing the "wreath" was simple thanks to my favorite iron-on adhesive,  
The backing paper peels off so easy with no scoring of the paper.



You can find the PDF pattern for "Wreaths of Joy" HERE.


Thank you for stopping by!

Monday, December 6, 2021

Ugly Sweater Mini Quilt

Would you believe I've never been to an ugly sweater Christmas party? I've never even owned an ugly sweater to wear to a party! Do you have one? 

When ThermOWeb challenged some of their designers to make an ugly sweater mini quilt, I was totally in for it! You'll have to check out ThermOWeb's blog HERE to see the other ones. I'm really excited to share this challenge with Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks and Joan from Moosestash Quilting. 

12" x 14" mini quilt


Fabrics used: Benartex Blushed Houndstooth and Benartex Cotton Shot
Front and back: 1/2 yard or 2 fat quarters Cotton Shot Platinum
Applique – Fat quarters: Blushed Houndstooth Salmon and Leaf
Applique – 10″ x 10″ squares: Cotton Shot Red, Pumpkin, Cotton Candy, Licorice, 
Pearl Wedding Cake, Mint
Binding: 1/6 yard Blushed Houndstooth Salmon


I love doing applique, especially when I use my favorite iron-on adhesive!

Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive or Heat n Bond Lite EZ Print Sheets



You can find the pattern for "Don't Call Me Ugly" HERE.



Do you have an ugly sweater?

This week is the "Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange" that is full of wonderful quilting and baking ideas. Check out all the amazing bloggers sharing their talents!

Dresden Carnival Goes To Sweden

 I love Dresden quilts and this one was even more fun with a 48" center. Dresden Carnival 76" x 76" My friend in Sweden, Brit...