2013 in Review

Hello, 

After looking over the past year I realized I did a lot more projects than I thought. I tried to load a video of projects done in 2013 but it was taking way too long.  So I deleted it and decided to post the pictures instead.  I have also shared my best tool pick for 2013 and wrapped it up with a short summary of the year.

Projects done in 2013 

QUILTING

Grandmother's Garden

Baby Nine Patch

Winter wall hanging

Maple Leaf

Table topper

Mini Nativity

Quilted checker game

Candle mat

CROCHET

Baby hippo

Colorful dishcloths

Baby penguin

Summer dishcloth

Baby gator

Orange coaster

Heart bookmark

Potholder

Color block dishcloth

Orange dishcloth

Baby girl afghan

WREATHS

Autumn wreath

Christmas wreath

Large Christmas wreath

Spring wreath

OTHERS

Felt fish needle cases

Mini scrapbook on seasons

"Quilted" ornament

Hand crafted gift bag

Free hand embroidery

My pick of the best tool for 2013 is...

Handy seam riper with thread eraser

To wrap up my memories of 2013; I was laid off after 24 years of service with former job, hired nine weeks later at current job, my son graduated college with honors, my daughter accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was awarded Percussionist of the year, and I had some heartbreak, lots of laughter and joy, and blessings that are beyond monetary worth.

Though I couldn't always see it while living through it, looking over last year I now see it was overall a good year.

Hugs,

Sonia

2014

From my heart to yours;

May you, in the New Year, know joy deep within, peace that goes beyond measure, lessons to help you grow and love that overflows.

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Just around the corner...

I'm glad it's the weekend! I'm tired and need to rest, decompress and relax.

I may not get the rest due to things that need to get done this weekend, but if I get them done that will be an accomplishment and in a sense I will get the relaxing and decompressing I'm in need of.

The New Year is just around the corner and I have thought about how I'm going to approach 2014.  I have set some goals and resolve to get them done.  I have tried to set time frames for each one, to help me stay on track.

I have made a list and will start with it.  I think this list will keep me busy all year.

Here's my list.

1. Finish Log Cabin quilt by 01/31/14
2. Make a new handbag by 02/28/14
3. Finish UFO's (unfinished opportunities) depending on the size/detail of the UFO being worked on at the time, I figure it will take 1-2 months for each one.
4. Lose 20 lbs. I want to do it right and not by some crazy crash diet, so I'm not sure how long this will take, but it will be something I strive for throughout the year.

Have you set goals or made resolutions for 2014?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

What I've been up to lately...

Hi, hope all is going well and you are ready for the big day.... CHRISTMAS!

Tonight I enjoyed the company of my quilting friends.   The Logan County PieceMakers had our Christmas party this evening - lots of good food and laughter.  We had a fat quarter exchange, like the "white elephant" or "dirty santa" game.  We are challenged to make something with it to show off at next year's Christmas party.  Here's the fat quarter I ended up with.  I think it is very pretty and am already getting some ideas.

We showed our project from the fat quarter we got at last year's Christmas party.  I made a candle mat with mine.  The light green fabric with fans is the fat quarter I got.  I plan to  use the candle mat in the Sprint.

Our guild president, Marcella, gave each of us a quilted coaster.  I plan to use mine at work, starting tomorrow.  :)

If we got our "Hoffman Challenge" done, we showed them too.  Here is what I made with my Hoffman fabric.  It is a mini Nativity.

I finally got my big wreath redone.  I took all the old balls, beads and colored lights off of it and re-did it with mesh ribbon, white lights and beads.  David hung it up outside for me and also added colored lights around the window the wreath is hanging from.

Our supervisors at work gave each of us an ornament and some hand lotion.  The ornament I received fits right in with the ornament on my tree.

This week has been a very long week for me.  I kept thinking tomorrow is Friday.  Thankfully tomorrow really is Friday, finally.  :)

Are you ready for Christmas?

hugs,
Sonia

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Since I last wrote, a lot has happened...

I survived Black Friday by staying out of the mayhem.  I hope, if you participated, you made it through the day unscathed and successful with bargains.  :)

We kicked off the Christmas holiday with our town's annual Christmas lighting of the town square and the Christmas parade.   The floats told the story of Christmas (Luke 2:1-20).

All lit up

Audre's last Christmas parade with the Paris High School Band

And it came to pass in those days...

And Joseph also went up from Galilee...

And suddenly there was with the angel...

For unto you is born this day...

Last Friday I received this pretty ornament in the mail from Katie, my ornament swap partner.  She made it with dark red paper flower shapes, pearl head pins, and lace to hang it by.  It goes perfect with all my other ornaments on the tree.   Thanks Katie!  :)

Little by little I put my Christmas decorations up this week.  One of the things I like to do is sit with only the Christmas lights lighting up the room.

The tree, ready for packages to go underneath

Here are more of our Christmas decorations.

The Nativity

Christmas town

Santa and Frosty

Stockings hung with care

Snowmen gathering

Yesterday I left work early due to sleet and freezing rain.  I didn't want to drive Hwy 309 in icy conditions, so as soon as I could after the sleet started falling I came home.  This morning I got up my normal time, around 5:00 a.m.  I turned on the t.v. for weather and road conditions and then went to the kitchen to make a cup of cappuccino to warm up with.  It was then I heard a snap, crackle and pop!  A tree limb had broken out of one of the trees in a neighbors yard.   I was able to get a picture after the sun came up this morning.  As you can see the big limb took out a piece of our fence in the back yard.

We were covered with ice, then the snow came.   The snow is so pretty, when I'm not out in it.  :)

I prefer to view from within, like being in a house within a snow globe.  

The song "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" has been going through my mind today.  I like to hear Michael Buble' sing, so I thought I'd share him singing the song with you.

 

If you are experiencing winter in full force, stay safe and warm.  If you are in the more southern regions and not experiencing cold, enjoy it to the fullest for those of us waiting for the warmth to come back.  :)

That's all I have for now and until next time may God bless you and keep you.

Warm hugs,

Sonia