I’m late! I’m late!!

For a very important date.

No time to say “Hello!”.  “Good-bye!”

I’m late!  I’m late!  I’m late!!

 

TRIVIA QUESTION:

What movie is that line from? 

 

Now for the answer to WHAT I am late for…

Why the New Year’s Eve SIL Retreat, of course!!  Bags are packed (for the most part), taco soup is ready to take, laundry is washing/drying, so things are well under way.  BUT I wanted to be there EARLY today, and that is not going to happen. 

Now to go throw my grungy self into the shower, then throw a few clothes in a bag and I’ll be ready to roll out of here.

So…. WHAT am I working on??

Nose to the grindstone, focused on the goal, I-don’t-break-for-anything sewing will occur this evening and tomorrow.  I have 5 of the 25 blocks done.  I would LOVE to come home with most of these blocks pieced.  They are already cut out, so it goes pretty fast.  We will see…

I think lots of coffee will be in store for me this evening.  I didn’t sleep well last night so I know I will want to crash early this evening.  I CAN’T DO IT!  MUST sew!  MUST sew!!

I’ll give you a progress report when I return.  And of course I will show you what the OTHER SILs accomplish, too.

Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve, and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

KAT

UFO Challenge Projects

I finally have taken the time to sort through my UFOs to see which projects I want to finish for Judy’s Patchwork Times UFO Challenge.  Truthfully, I was surprised that I did not find more things!  I do have several small UFOs tucked away that I did not even consider.  I am going for the GUSTO!  I want to get these larger projects out of the way, and then I can throw in a small one if I finish my monthly project early (HAHA!  AS IF!!)  So here’s what I am planning…

1.  Jeremy’s Milky Way quilt… piecing (I have 5 of the 25 blocks done.  Then there is a pieced sashing around all the blocks…. lots of work in that, plus pieced borders.    And I also just remembered… I still have not found the fabric I want for the pieced sashing, so I better get to work on that!  This will take a while!)  *This was started about 5 months ago.  It was intended to be his Christmas present but I just could not get it done.  It will now be his birthday gift (end of March) so no matter WHAT number Judy draws I will work on this one first!   I LOVE how the blocks are turning out.  I think I will need to make another one of these after I have completed his.  After all… I must do SOMETHING with all that shirt fabric I have been collecting!

2.  Jeremy’s Milky Way quilt…. quilting and binding

3.  Blue 4-Patch Posey …. quilting and binding  *This is for the bed at the lake camp where we have our SIL retreats.  I would love to have it ready for the next spring retreat.

4.  Green 4-Patch Posey … setting blocks together and borders  *This is for MY bed.  Blocks are all made, but I have not decided how I would like to set them together.  I want to do something different, but I just don’t know WHAT!

5.  Green 4-Patch Posey…. quilting and binding

6.  Glorified 9-Patch …  quilting  *The top was finished at quilt retreat about 1 1/2 years ago.  Time to get the quilting done.      

7.  Glorified 9-Patch …. binding (This is a scalloped binding.  I figure it will take me a whole month to hand-hem this baby!)

8.  Jelly Roll Diamonds quilt…  quilting and binding  *This top was pieced about 2 years ago.  It was my first jelly roll quilt and was loads of fun, but I never did decide how I wanted to quilt it.  Time to make up my mind!  I think this will be a great place to practice on custom quilting with the IQ.

9.  Balloons Stack & Whack… piecing  *I think most of the blocks are cut out, but none have been sewn together.

10.  Balloons Stack & Whack… quilting and binding

11.  Floral Stack & Whack… piecing  *I think all of this has been cut out and 2 or 3 blocks have been pieced.

12.  Floral Stack & Whack… quilting and binding   *Both Stack & Whack quilts were begun as examples when I taught a class on how to do these.  They have been hanging around for about 8 years now!

Now Judy, here is the thing…

I MUST get Jeremy’s quilt done first, so no matter what you draw, his quilt gets priority in January and February.  And IF you draw a number that is one of my quilting projects but the piecing has to be done first, obviously I am going to have to do some switching around a little.  Please don’t send the quilt police after me!!

SOOOOOO…. If I am able to keep up with this I will complete 7 quilts next year.  It will feel very good to have these UFOs done and given as gifts or used in our home.  I work best under pressure, so hopefully I can keep this going all year.

Are YOU up to the challenge?  If so, hop over to Patchwork Times and sign up!

KAT

My Christmas Card to You

Luke 2:1-21 (KJV)
    And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

[8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

[14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

good will toward men. [15] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. [16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [17] And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. [18] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. [19] But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. [21] And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus,

which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

1 John 4:10 (KJV)
    Herein is love,

not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Are You Up To A Challenge?

I have them, you have them, we all have them!  They are UFOs or UnFinished (quilting/sewing) Objects.  Judy L. at Patchwork Times has issued a challenge to get them done in 2011.  Do YOU want to empty out those project boxes so you can use and enjoy those hidden treasures?  If so, go HERE and read what she has planned for the coming year.  It is a simple challenge with very few rules and no UFO POLICE involved.

I’m in!  I don’t have nearly as many UFOs as I once did, but I still have more than I want to think about.  I sometimes reach the point where I feel very guilty about starting something new when I have these TIPS (treasures in plastic sacks) sitting around my sewing room.  I’m sure I won’t have any trouble coming up with 12, one for each month of next year.  I have several that just need quilting (four, I think), so those will for-sure go on the list.  And then there is the quilt I started for Jeremy for CHRISTMAS that only has 6 blocks done (6 of the 25 I need.  SHEESH!) … think this one will be a birthday quilt instead of a Christmas present!!  The end of March deadline sounds a lot better to me right now.

SOOOOOO…. are you ready to join in?  Come on… you KNOW you need to finish up those things. 

Sorry for the picture-less blog again. No time… I’m trying to get things ready for next weekend’s Ellzey Christmas at my house before I head back to the big city to stay with Mom.  I hear it keeps you young to stay busy… I must be getting about a year younger per week right now with all that is happening around here!!

MOM UPDATE:  No surgery for now.  Her lung functions are too low for them to safely do surgery.  All prayers for improvement in her lungs would be greatly appreciated.

Have a blessed week, and please, consider joining Judy’s challenge.  Finishing up those UFOs feels SOOOOO good!

KAT

Progress Made

1.  My girls (Katie Bug and her mom, Jenn) got moved in yesterday.

2.  Katie Bug is now at her new school.  We carried her this morning and met her teachers.  I was very impressed with the school.  This appears to be a very good change for her.

3.  Bindings are sewn to 2 quilts so I can work on hand-hemming them while at the hospital with my mom.  Plus, I have turned the heel and picked up gusset stitches on my socks… it will soon be “home stretch” on those.  I don’t think I will be bored.  (Plus, I have the new Jan Karon book in my bag, just in case.)

4.  I’m headed to the “big city” today to stay with her.  Surgery may happen as early as tomorrow afternoon, or sometime early next week.  Please keep her in your prayers.   We are so blessed the doctors have determined what was causing mom’s problems and feel they can fix it. 

5.   I’m completely over my “tizzy” about Christmas preparations and have taken the “oh well” stance.  This year Christmas will be what we can easily do, and we won’t worry about what is not easily done… there will be other times to get totally wrapped up in our traditions, but this will not be the year.

6.  God is good, all the time!  He is the Calm in the storm, the Anchor of my ship, the Light in my darkness.  (Now I will probably be singing the “God Is Good All the Time” song all day… it is stuck in my head!)

Have a blessed weekend, and I will check in when I can.

KAT

Welcome to My Crazy Life…

How quickly our situations can change!  This week we have discovered…

One child and one grandchild will be coming to live with us in our tiny, overcrowded home.  That is OK… we will know they are safe, warm at night, and have food to eat.  In order to make room we will get back to de-cluttering and tossing junk.  Now we have a  good reason to tackle that job we have been putting off.

We found today that my Mom will soon undergo open heart surgery.  This means many trips back and forth to the “big city” to stay with her while Pop gets to come home and rest regularly.  This is OK…

I am thankful that doctors today have such knowledge and technology that they can diagnose and treat things that were fatal not-so-many-years ago.  I am thankful that I have a job that is flexible enough to allow me to help.  I am thankful for a supportive husband who takes up the slack at home when I have to go out of town.  I am thankful that I only have one more quilt that absolutely MUST be done by Christmas… the rest can wait until I can get to them.

Christmas will be different this year.  That is OK… this all has reminded us about what really IS the most important thing about the Christmas season… remembering THE GIFT that was given by our Heavenly Father. And remembering that all the decorating, shopping, cooking and hectic things really are NOT necessary…  being able to spend Christmas with my Mom and other family members is so much more important that all the other things we have labeled as “Christmas”.

But I am MOST thankful that when life takes us on twists and turns, My Lord is there!  When the unexpected arises, HE reminds me that He holds me in the palm of His hand.  When we are unsure about situations He reminds me that He has given me HIS peace.  When fear tries to come in He reminds me that He has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.  When I wonder if others understand He reminds me that surely, He will never leave nor forsake me.  When life changes quickly, He reminds me that Jesus Christ IS the same yesterday, today, forever.

Now those are some POWERFUL promises to stand on!!  I am so thankful I have them to strengthen me this week.

1 Thes. 5:18 (KJV) 
    In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Be blessed this week!

KAT

PS:  Lots of sock knitting in my future!  I finished my socks for Judy L’s sock knit-along, promptly started another pair, and am almost half-way through with them.  Pictures coming later, when I have time to deal with the camera.