Surprise Christmas Gift

This lap quilt was given to me this Christmas by one of my dearest friends and longest friends (I dare not say oldest should I?)  We became friends when I was 13 and a freshman in high school and continue to be good friends that both love quilting.  She has owned a quilt shop for many years.  We sat beside each other in that Home Economics class and decided to make matching outfits in the sewing unit.  I can still picture how beautiful our turquoise wrap around skirts were with the button up short sleeved tops that were made of white and turquoise flowered fabric.  Oh how I wish we had a photo of us in them now.

Back to the quilt….It is made with all batik fabrics and is just beautiful.  I use it most nights while I am sitting in my chair watching TV as it is the perfect size and weight to keep off the evening chill.The quilt is made with two basic units…a half square triangle unit that measures 4” finished and a rectangle that measures 2” x 4” finished.  The units are alternated across the quilt as well as vertically so it is a pretty simple quilt to make but is so stunning.  Notice that one of the triangles is always the same color in each unit.  That way you get the somewhat like hour glass motif marching across the quilt.  As you can see some fabrics on this quilt are high contrast to the brown triangles and others blend but the over all look is fabulous!

One thing I did with the photo I took of the quilt was change the background in my Photoshop Elements 11 program.  As you can see from my original photo the quilt is weighted down with books on the fireplace mantle.  The bricks are various shades of red and grey (not my favorite but that is the way it was when we acquired the house.)  The red bricks detract a bit as they are somewhat the same value as the quilt so I just got rid of them and added a cream colored background instead.  I did leave the mantle and books in the photo as it looked a little strange with no top edge of the quilt. Cropped the photo a bit and that was it.

   

Until Later,

Lynn

Preparing for Christmas....Again

Since all of our Christmas celebrations were canceled last weekend because of the monster snow storm we are going to try again. Will see my mother and extended family on New Years day then will have the girls and their families here over the weekend. We will have to wait until after the first of the year for a get together with John's sister and her family.

We are going to do something fun with the gifts for the grandkids this year. I purchased a few small things for the kids and they will have to find things around the house to get a gift. We have made up the questions and the items they will have to look for and will have them work in teams, rotating the kids to be in different teams each time so the 4 yr. old won't be left out.

To find the larger gift we have for them we have written a series of clues to take them all over the house to find their gifts. The hardest part for us was making each clue a rhyme. The clues will take them to all parts of the house, upstairs and down.

Here are a few of my favorites; for the 4 yr. old...We use rugs in the bathrooms to dry our feet, your clue is under one so please be neat. (clue will be under one of the bathroom rugs) For the big brother...Find what Harry Potter is protecting, and you will find the first clue clue you are expecting. (clue is in Harry Potter video case) For one of the girls....For your next clue we have chosen, to hide it where the ice cream is frozen. (clue in one of the freezers) For the older girl...Look at the many beds so small, your clue will be close to one of them near the west wall. (clue will be near one of my doll beds)

When our girls were in grade school we used to do this and they had more fun following the clues to find their gift so we decided to try it with the grandkids. John and I can't wait as I think it will be so much fun for them too.

The only problem I foresee is getting the clues hidden without them seeing. We may have to have them go to one of the bedrooms where we are not hiding clues and sing Jingle Bells to mask the sound of us walking around hiding the clues.

Will let you know how it all turns out. Keep your fingers crossed we don't have any more snow, wind or any nasty weather of any sort.

Lynn

Best Friends

I have the best friends - you all probably do to. My friend Shirley crocheted this wonderful star ornament for me. It is about 5" across and is starched stiff. It is so pretty hanging on my Christmas tree.

Janet was busy and made these cute things for my purse. The one on the top is a tissue holder and the one on the bottom is a little folding money purse or card holder. They will be so much fun to use.

I made each of the three gals (showed Fays beaded spools in an earlier post.) a beaded bead like the twisted one I made my mother but in other colors of beads. I did forget to take photos of them before I gave them away though.

Got my Christmas letter sent to part of our list - the ones I attach it to an email. That is so easy and so fast, besides saving on postage costs. I still have to mail the rest in the next day or two but need to get more printer ink first. I always try to keep printer ink on hand but didn't get it replaced the last time I used what I had in the cupboard. Have never been this late sending my Christmas greetings but guess they will be read no matter when they arrive.

Still have the two pillowcases to make yet for my sister's grandchildren. I got the fabric washed last night so it won't take long once I get it all pressed and cut out.

My brother is coming here tomorrow. He will be flying into Kansas City and then will have a 4 1/2 to 5 hr. drive from the airport to here. He plans to drive to our home town to see our mother and other relatives on Wed. but he may be snowed in here for a day or so though as a snow storm is predicted for Nebraska Tuesday night and Wed. John and I plan to drive out to be with the family on Christmas day so hope for good weather that day too for us and everyone traveling.

Lynn