Tyler's Lots of Squares

Since I did a post for the sheet quilt I made for Jessie, it seems only fitting that I do a separate post for Tyler's sheet quilt.

These were Christmas presents, and I procrastinated BIG TIME on this one. Seriously, I was up until about 12:45 a.m. Christmas morning getting this one done. And I still have the outside 4" all the way around the quilt to quilt. But the pieced binding (from my stash) is on and he can use it. Which he has. Continuously.

I haven't washed it yet to get it all crinkly, because I haven't finished quilting it, but I had to sneak it away from him just now to take a couple photos - Tyler loves his blankets.

It measures 49" square. And I quilted it in a big square pattern, starting from the center. Since I started quilting it Christmas Eve about 3:00 p.m., and had to break for 4-5 hours for family Christmas and also take a break to finish wrapping presents and put out all the gifts, I had to do something quick. The top is all sheets, and the backing is blue camoflauge.

I loved making these two quilts for the kids. I just might have to find a couple more kids/babies to make some for. So soft and cuddly!

Kris

Wild Zen

Another quilt top:

It measures 46" x 61". I would have liked it to be a couple rows bigger each way but......I worked with what batiks I had on hand, and this is what I could get out of them. The plain squares finish 6 1/2" by 10" - those take up lots of fabric.

I need to find a batik for the backing - hopefully I'll get another quilt top or 2 done, and I can go to the quilt shop or JoAnn's. I do have a bunch of little pieces of these batiks left - I'm thinking I need to do a pieced back to use them up (maybe with a solid blue batik).

Off to the next quilt top in progress that is going to get finished.....

Kris

I started another quilt.....

but this one is going together quick.

Todd brought me (or rather, I brought myself for him and the kids to give me for Christmas) some civil war reproduction fabric and a quilt book:

But I am so darned wishy washy on making up my mind about which quilt to do first!

Then Mom gets me a magazine and some sewing notions and I see this project:

Not my style, not my colors, but.....I have about 6 yards of batik fabric that I brought for Jessie's flip flop quilt that has been sitting there. The fabric isn't even calling my name saying use me. But I thought - maybe I can get it out of my stash (and then I can go buy more civil war reproduction fabric) and I can think on what special quilt I want to make with the fabric that Todd and the kids wrapped up for me.

Of course, Jessie comes into my sewing room, and says she would like this quilt for on her bed. Not sure if I have enough fabric to get it big enough but.....maybe.

Kris

Fantastic

I'm back. And we had a FANTASTIC Christmas. Of course, I had to run here and there every day before Christmas but....it was great.



We had my parents, brother, grandmother and uncle over Christmas Eve. The kids got a Wii from my grandmother, and are having so much fun with it. Jessie got the High School Musical III game, and it does lots of dancing - she works up a sweat doing it! I'm thinking of getting the Wii Fit set sometime here before too long.


We were home Christmas morning which was nice. We typically get the kids 1 big present (in the $50 range) and then get them 4 or 5 littler presents, plus their stockings. Due to some great deals, Tyler got an MP3 player for $14, Jessie got a cordless mouse for $12.....The kids LOVED their sheet blankets, although I was up until 12:30 finishing Tyler's, and there is about 5" around the very outside that I still need to quilt.



Then in the late afternoon, it was off to Todd's parents for more food, more family and more presents.



It was a fun filled two days, but I am so glad it is over until next year. Now we'll see if I can leave the tree up until New Years, or if it will come down this weekend. I love Christmas, but I want my house back.....

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Yesterday we had to take our inside dog, Abby, to the vet. She has been coughing and hacking over the last few weeks, and then Christmas Eve she just coughed and passed out a couple times. So off to the vet we went, where we found out she has extreme Congestive Heart Failure. She is old (11 1/2) so it's really no shock to us but today I will be going to Wal-mart to get her some medicine (they actually give dogs human meds for this condition) and we'll see what happens. She still gets outside and chases the guineas and rabbits so....

I'll be back later with my homemade Christmas presents and a new quilt that I started last night!

Kris

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Just a quick stop here - I still have 2 presents to finish sewing today.....a house to clean and a last minute trip to Buehler's grocery store. My SIL called yesterday - asking if I wanted to go in on a gift certificate so they can go out to eat at the local grocery store restaurant - and to be honest, the adults on that side of the family normally don't exchange gifts, unless they are handmade - YIKES - who forgot to tell me??????

Oh - and Todd put in a request for more Whoopee Pies - so I'll try and quick get them done for him - since as of this point, his Christmas present has not arrived:(

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!!! I'll be thinking of all of you as we celebrate tonight with my parents, my grandmother, uncle and brother - but I don't think my sister will be here:(

Back later,

Kris

0 degrees

It is freaking freezing here. When we got up this morning, 0 degrees. We had to jump start Todd's truck. We've know the battery was getting weaker but.....you tend to put things off that aren't an absolute necessity - especially in the winter and at Christmas time. Today he will go buy a new battery.

Yesterday was extremely cold. Come to think of it, Saturday was cold here too.

Saturday was spent at play practice - and cleaning and doing a little sewing. I'm making headway on the gifts. Todd also went hunting and shot an 11 point buck - at 8:30 a.m. Which was perfect - then he didn't have to sit outside all day!

Our church's Christmas Play was yesterday - here is a video of 1/2 of 1 of the songs they sang. I would have so loved to video the entire thing - but I left the video camera sitting at home on the kitchen table (when I put it down to go get the camera - rather than put it in my pocket!?!)

Afterwards I tried to get a nice picture of Jessie and Tyler in front of the tree they decorated during the play - and this is what I got:

Afterwards, my parents came over because we had seen these birdies. Mom cut them out, and I sewed them. Then Jessie wanted one - so I did the bright pink one for her. They are now sitting in our Christmas tree on the branches - but I forgot to get a better picture. Hopefully my Mom took better pictures (of both the Christmas play and the birdies!)

I would show the gifts I have finished so far, but someone showed Jessie how to get onto my blog, and she was reading back posts and I don't want to show what I have finished that is hers or Tylers. So on the 26th I will do a show and tell of every single present I've made.

And next year.....I'm so starting this in January. or February.

Kris

Where have I been?

I've been at play practice (the performance is on Sunday and this is going to be hysterical):




I've been canning venison (6 quarts so far - hopefully 12 more to go):



I've been at Tyler's school Christmas Party:

I've been making sugar cookies for Jessie's school party that was for today, until they canceled school. (OOPS - don't have a picture of the cut out cookies).

And we had calling hours last night for a friend's dad (again, no pictures).

I am so grateful it is Friday - I only have to work til noon, and then work Monday (8-2) and then I am done working until next year.

YIIIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!
Kris

P.S. And I have been tagged for a picture tag - I'll get to it this afternoon when I'm home from work:) Thanks guys!