Christmas Projects

So, now that it's Christmas Eve, I can show the Christmas Quilting I've been working on:

First - the quilt I made for Greg and Rose:

The quilt my hubby made for our son, Jeff: (Now he's made a quilt for each of the kids)

The baby quilt for Doug and Tricia (new baby boy arrives in February!!!):

And finally, my favorite project:

New Christmas Stockings!!!

I love how these turned out, but they took a LONG TIME. So, kids, they are not to leave the premises - EVER.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Family Quilt Night

Every Thursday night for the past few months, we have been having "Family Quilt Night". My daughters-in-law, Tricia and Becca, My niece-in-law, MC and Tricia's sister, Aly have all attended. We have a good time and are all getting lots done! Aly and MC are on their 2nd quilts, Tricia is on her 3rd and Becca got her curtains sewn for her new house. I am getting projects done too. I keep hearing from other family members that they would like to come, but I haven't seen them yet. (I know Brooke is missing them, living in Missouri - we miss her too!) We will be taking a couple of weeks off for Christmas, then back to work! I am sure glad that my studio is big enough for all of us!
We usually work from about 7 - 9:30 or 10, but we've been working late to get all of the Christmas stuff done... It is very fun to teach these girls to quilt - they are all excellent students - A+!

On Sunday night, we had our "close by kids" come over to decorate Gingerbread Houses (Okay - they are really 'graham cracker houses" -but, whatever). Someone gave me a great idea - glue gun those little suckers together BEFORE the party!(My husband always asks why I need to buy SO MANY graham crackers - because they break!!)

Anyway - worked out great:

(Shane is here too - but he is hiding, as usual) Doug really got into the fine detail work on his house: And - I've managed to finish a quilting project (or 3 - but 2 are Christmas gifts - can't show them yet). This is my row quilt that our bee made this year -

I had to take off the last row and put it on the back, so it would fit on my table as a cute topper:

When I got out the Christmas stuff this year, I realized that I had given all of my kids their stockings last year, because I told them I would be making them new stockings this year!! I guess I have a little bit of sewing to do in the next two weeks! (It seemed like a good idea at the time)

Embracing my Inner Granny

I have decided I am too old to wear high heels. I bought some cute high-heeled boots this season and wore them a time or two, but when I looked at them in my closet to possibly wear again, my feet just wanted to curl up and my back started getting achy. So, I gave them to my (young) friend (sigh of relief). Then I hemmed my pants. I also have no desire to wear anything that would entail sucking in my stomach - bleck! Better to go with camouflage. I still will get dressed, thinking I'm "all that" and then I'll catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and realize I'm a kind of lumpy, middle-aged lady - oh well. I go to bed early now, because I don't want to wake up miserable in the morning - I know, pretty mature. I eat fairly healthy, I can no longer eat pop-tarts, coco puffs, etc. they make me feel nauseous - I used to eat them for days at a time. I complain about the high price of items in the grocery store - just like an "old person".

My mom used to complain that her mom drove her crazy, etc. My mom does things that bug me sometimes, but now that I am getting older, I realize that I will do things (and probably already do) that will bug my kids, BUT, I don't care!! (Bahahahaha) It is a great relief to realize that I don't have to work hard any more to be "hip", because I just won't be and it's OKAY! I don't have to pretend to like things because they're 'cool', etc. I enjoy quilting, gardening, jigsaw puzzles, reading, knitting, etc. and I used to think all of those things were pretty "granny-ish" and I didn't want to advertise these pastimes, but it is okay, I'm fine and being a granny is fabulous!!