Weekend of Table runners

This was the weekend to finish several gift table runners in the making. Two out of three are done- the last while enjoying musical venues on PBS last evening. The first to be finished is a holiday runner that will be given to my sister this year.

The second is a swap runner. This one was requested to be blue and yellow, colors I don't normally work in- unless the blue is a deep, muddy, reproduction blue! Doing floral blue was a bit of a stretch, but I am pleased with the outcome. The third is the same version done in "my comfort zone"- deep red, grayed blue and a multi -dimentional beige- that varigates from very light to very dark. There is no photo of that one yet, but I will attempt to put up photos of the other two.

Other than that it was nice to have a semi- restful Sunday. The Halloween/Fall decorations are put away (finally) in preparation for the Christmas decor. First comes the general room cleaning- but that will wait until tomorrow. The rest of the day is going to be a "Me Day", I've decided. Organizing unfinished projects on Friday left me a bit chargrined over the number of unfinished works -or not as yet started BOM's sitting in the closet. They are now out in the sewing room, on a shelf all their own- happily sitting in those wonderful 14"x14" scrapbooking boxes. They can't escape me now...and today I am going to give myself permission to finish sewing "footballs" by machine (IMA) instead of by hand. They should be all sewn onto their respective blocks by tonight and I can start sewing the blocks together. This will no longer be a UFO by mid-December! I like goals. The other December goal is to bind the large red /tan /gold queen-sized quilt I wanted to use for this holiday season. It can be done if I adhere to some disapline. Again- a simple enough goal, or so I think.

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving! And for the morning anyway, it is all about the parade. This year it is all on TV, we haven't been to the city in years. The kids all have their favorite parade stories...Big Bird (not the turkey, but the one from Sesame Street) always plays front and center in most of them. The extra casserole of stuffing is done, the yams are in the oven, the crandberry relish is ready, and child #3 is happily watching the parade with the father and the dog!

This is the first year she is the only one home for the holiday. Who would she watch the parade with, and dish about who was there, etc.?? She finds it a life changing event. Youth! Has it's advantages, I guess.

We do have much to be greatful for, and losses to remember today.

I am grateful for our family and freinds who are always there for me. I am greatful that we are comfortable in our own home and that my children are doing so well (even when they don't believe they are). I am grateful for a job I enjoy.

This year I will miss a dear friend who lost her battle with cancer. She was a wise woman, and would surely kick me good if I "grieved" on a day such as today (or any other day for that matter), but I still do. But that grief is made less by the wonderful memories we were able to make while she was with us, and by the love she showed her nearest and dearest. It will be a hard Thanksgiving for her family.

Life lessons, gratitudes....they all compound to make us who we are.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A late day for work today. I have a class in machine applique tonight so get a bit of a quiet morning to catch up on some reading and posting. Naturally being a work week, not much is new. I am exicted to have fabrics picked for the new project- Baltimore Bunnies, by Bunny Hill Designs (www.bunnyhilldesigns.com)
My partner in crime, Ms. Patty was excited about helping with the endeavor, and we decided to do two versions of the bom! She wasn't crazy about the pattern border, and i think it is cute. Reminds me of Jeanna Kimball's Rabbit Run. Anyway! We pulled and pulled and pulled fabrics some more and have quite the stack of lovelies! Can't wait to get started on block 1...and have promised myself that i will do one bunny and one floral block (at least) over the course of the next 2 weeks. I HAVE to get the wedding quilt going in earnest if I want it ready for the kids' wedding day next October. This will be on top of my fairly new one hour a day pledge! I do have to keep up with some piecing after all.
This weekend will be busy, what with Julie coming home tonight and our traveling to New Paltz for the much anticipated piano recital. It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is less than a week away, especially since we have been experiencing wierd weather. Yesterday's temperatures reached in the 70's! Not November weather for the northeast at all!
It will be a busy week all around starting today!

Poor leg-less chickadees! I had thought that my McKenna Ryan quilt would be done for this Christmas, especially with all the help I got from Julie who did most of the blocks! When someone commented at work yesterday that December was just a few weeks away, my jaw dropped! How did that happen??? I love this quilt ...Into the Light....and don't want it to be another UFO! I think I need to adhere to the hour a day principle and just get it done.

I also should quilt the top that was lovingly given to me. It was done by a dear friend who lost her battle with cancer a few months ago. It should be hand quilted, that is what she would have wanted, so that will be next season's project.

I haven't been idle however! I should have taken a photo of the table runner that is at the shop right now. it was the weekend project and will make a beautiful gift for my sister- it has all the colors in her dining room and turned out quite elegant. The next few weekends will be quite busy so not much is expected to get done.

I am actually looking forward to this upcoming weekend. Julie and I will be going to New Paltz on Saturday evening for Meredith's senior piano recital. I am as pleased as punch and quite proud of her- like any good "surrogate" mom! There will be a reception in her honor afterwards. Then we will be in full swing for Thanksgiving. I hear the number is up to 16! Won't have to scale back my recipes much *smile*

And as this is a day off from work, I should definitely be off and producing! What first...the table runner that is due to a friend December 1?? I think that would be an excellent idea! Especially since I want to include a topper that will match and can be used in place of the runner when she feels like a change. So many projects, so little time!

My Season

You Belong in Fall
Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you


I loved this! I am definitely a fall person...I love the sites, sounds and smells of autumn. I can't think of anything more beautiful than the colors of the trees turning golden and orange and red..pumkins, apple picking, apple cider and cider donuts! Maybe what I love most is the anticipation of a quieter season. Winter makes me feel as if I can nest. Stay inside...warm and snuggly. Read, sew. ....holiday happiness abounds right about this time of year, starting with Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for. I don't always remember that, but I should.
What season are you??
www.blogthings.com/whatseasonareyouquiz/