Vacation wrap up

While I was on vacation I worked on another sampler. This one is almost done. I just have to finish stitching the background in the top row.

I worked on fixing the wood floors so I can finally install the baseboard. There was a gap in several places. I don't care for shoemolding so I needed to fill the gap.

A fellow at work has a table saw and cut the pieces I needed to fill in the gaps. I had four places I needed to do this. Here I glued the piece in place then after the glue was dried I varnished the filler pieces.

I also worked on the entry foyer to the primary bedroom. I varnished the door and frame, then put a coat of primer on the walls.

I stopped working because my hamstrings and behind were so sore from getting up and down off the floor. Now my sciatic nerve is irritated so I am taking a lot of OTC pain relievers. I hope to get back to finishing this upcoming weekend. I want to at least get the baseboard installed. The foyer needs a coat of paint and the door needs a light sanding and a second coat of varnish.

I'm back

Having two weeks off from work was great. I kept as busy as I could, but when I got tired, I sat down. I will start off by showing Joie in her Christmas sweater that she already had and the tutu I made her. The outfit was a big hit!

I had Xmas with my family on the 23rd. I made pie and we had lots of food. We had a good time hanging out and eating.

I stayed home as much as I could other than a couple trips to the grocery store and to the tire shop to get my tires rotated and new brakes on the car. I did finish a couple cross stitch smalls

fixed my nephew's keyboard bag that I had made him about a year ago. I didn't secure the strap on as well as I should have. I resewed every seam and connection in the bag. I also took measurements in case he needs a new bag for whatever reason.

I completed this sampler. now I just need to frame it

I pulled out a box of pieces, parts, and scraps to make enough blocks for 4 baby quilts. The fourth top is partly sewn together.

I got one top pin basted

I made two scissor pouches and sewed together the odd pieces into pouches I had left from making all those pouches. I sent the odd pouches to my sister to use or share with her friends.

My sister sent me this beautiful small for Christmas.

I will show you tomorrow the projects I worked on around the house.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

We had a little gathering at a local watering hole last evening for the bridge job I am on. There was pizza, nachos, salad, pretzel bites stuff with cheese, and these HUGE tader tots that had cheese and bacon in them. They were so good! Here is my plate with a couple pretzel bites and a cut open tot. I did go back for more!

I received one of the fabulous handmade postcards from Vicki! Here is my collection hung on the top of one of my design walls, so I get to enjoy seeing them all year long.

I also received a package from the Fabric Shack.

I am going to be off work thru January 7th. It will be a nice long break and hopefully I can get some work around the house and some sewing done. I don't have any plans of going anywhere - too much to do at home! Have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!

Trying

After work I had to run some errands. Tonight, I have to go to another company Xmas party so that puts a serious dent into what I need to get done. I did go get snacks for Saturday's Christmas event at my house. I found at a great price for a little crock pot so the queso will stay nice and warm.

I was glad the two stores I went to were not crazy busy, but it was dark by the time I got home. I finally put up the ceramic tree. I still need to put the lights up around the window.

When I was cleaning out one of the closets, I found a bag of materials leftover from making sock monkeys many years ago. I have enough stocks to make many more although I have no plans right now to make any. I sorted thru the stuff, pulled out the ribbon, and put everything back into a box.

Snow, rye bread, and card samplers

These days are going by too fast. I had a dentist appointment Monday morning, and it was a rough one. Had to have a crown removed to fix a cavity. The dentist had a heck of a time getting the old crown off. It's all good until I have an issue with the tooth again. There is not much left of the tooth and the next phase would have to be an implant. No more chewing caramels on the left side! LOL!! We did get about 2" of snow Monday night. I took a few pics of the trees in the backyard; they were so pretty.

I stopped at a quilt shop on my way back to work from the dentist. I need a spool of pink thread to alter a pair of pants for someone. They only carried quilting thread - not a spool of sewing thread on site! I did pick up this end of bolt for only $6.00 a yard.

My brother sent me two loaves of that rye bread from California. You can't believe the smell when I opened the box! Yum!

I did get the blue and the green card samplers done. The blue one is for someone who is a big Michigan fan and the green one is for someone who is an Indy car racing fan. Now I just need to get these trimmed and slipped into the cards.  I did include my signature skull; I stitched it over one!  

I think I will save the red ones for next year and try to make more throughout the year so I have a nice stock of them for sending.

I've been busy!

The tutu is made and in the mail. My brother ordered the bells he wanted and after they arrived on Saturday, I sewed those on, boxed everything up and headed to the post office at the grocery store. I am sure my brother will send me a picture of Joie in her tutu and Christmas sweater which I will post for you all to see.

I also made for my brother and SIL a small project bag for charging cords. I use one for my phone cord and my Apple watch charger. My SIL like the idea of it when she saw my cord pouch during my visit.  They measure 8" x 9 1/2".

I also made my SIL two of those pouches I have me making lately. One more small wall hanging gone!

I am still working on finishing up a couple gifts. I had cross stitched these 2 2/4" monogram pieces so I finally got them stuffed. I decided to make a little tassel for each out of the matching floss. I attached them to the project bags, but they could be easily removed and hung on a tree or whatever.

I made another tassel out of the other half of the floss and tied those on the boxy pouches.

Last week I had gathered up some more boxes from work and used them to wrap more of the goofy stuff I have collected for the What-a-palozza and got the Christmas cards ready to mail.

Lastly I cut up another larger wall hanging on Sunday and made 8 more pouches and two scissor pouches. I have a feeling I was going to need more pouches for quick little gifts.

I was told on Saturday by my son that Christmas was going to be at my house on Saturday instead of me going to their house. Then Sunday they would go to his dad's and Monday the in-laws. Well, ok. I now have to refigure the baking schedule and what gets done, gets done; what doesn't, doesn't.

Today's sewing crisis

I got the project bags done finally. They seem a bit bulky to me, but they will hold up to about anything they are stuffed with! I am not sure I will be making to may more of these. My sister says she prefers the vinyl front ones. The ladies that these are for prefer this style.

I needed to get a label on a baby quilt to gift today. The baby is a couple months old, but I didn't find out about her until recently. I need to make some baby quilts while I am off for the holidays. My stash is running very low.

Then my brother called me with today's sewing crisis. He let me know he put a box in the mail for me. I don't know what he is sending me; maybe more rye bread? He then asked me if I could make a Christmas tutu for the dog like the one I made her for Halloween. He said he was out walking Joie, and one of the neighbors asked if she was going to have a Christmas tutu. My brother said it would go nice with her Christmas sweater. On my way home from work I will have to get some tulle and elastic. I found ribbon in my stash and some jingle bells which my brother requested I sew a couple on the tutu. The tutu won't take long to make. I need to get it in the mail as soon as I can so you know what I will be doing tonight! LOL!!

Have a great weekend!