getting the string blocks going

Can I tell you that I was shrieking when I finished and trimmed my first block?!!! I have 9 done so far! Maybe during nap time tomorrow I can get the other 12 done. They aren't hard to sew together really, but boy, cutting the strips took a long time! I love love love them!

Round 4 Circles

I spent most of the day hacking up the rest of my "I Believe in Santa" and "12 Days of Christmas" fabrics for the round 4 quilt along. It is a mess in my work area, and I'm not even halfway finished cutting the strips for the string blocks. I'm getting really excited though! The Hubbs has tomorrow off so maybe I can get the cutting finished and perhaps start sewing the strips together. I am anxious. And I am extremely nervous about trying applique again. If you happen to read my first blog I had a picture up of that horrific elephant. Gulp. I'm sure with that steam-a-seam stuff I bought it should be much easier. **Fingers-crossed**

Saturday Sampler Blocks

I've been working on them again. Sixteen done so far!

Here is Swamp Angel

Spools and Bobbins

And the horrible Forrest Path. I will NEVER EVER EVER make one of these ever ever ever again!

I told you

See how organized I am! Birthday gifts for the little nieces and nephews, wrapped, and ready to ship when the time comes. AND I plugged in reminders on my Yahoo! calendar so they will send me an email reminder to mail them out early enough to arrive ON TIME! And no one will be forgotten this year! I always hate when I remember one niece then forget her sister a couple months later. I feel so terrible. NOT THIS YEAR!

Go me!!!

The big present that isn't in a shipping box happens to be for this little guy. He turns 2 in a few weeks!

A Fresh New Year

It feels like things are starting off great. The weather here has been delightful for the past 3 days. Springlike. It makes me feel like everything is fresh and new.

I have been getting birthday cards in order for 2010. Its a big ordeal for me to remember everyone's birthday, and I always forget a few people and feel like a jerk. We have 11 siblings between us, and 9 sibling-in-laws, 6 parents, 4 grandparents, 9 nieces and 4 nephews. All of these people qualify for a birthday card in my book. So last week, I went and got birthday cards for everyone, and a small pack of pretty blank cards to use for the anniversaries.

I bought small gifts for the nieces and nephews and got the shipping supplies together for the gifts. I'm on top of it eh?!

Then today while I was fetching the last of the shipping supplies I picked up new sharpies and pens, which I desperately needed. And while I was there I found a pink file cabinet. AND when I got home my new kitchen rugs had arrived. Its like everything is coming together and making life feel fresh and new.

I have a basket that I keep cards and letters and pictures I receive in the mail throughout the year. I LOVE real mail! I emptied the basket the other day. Everything from last year went into a labeled Ziploc. One day when I'm dead I'm sure someone will go through those bags and say, "What the hell, did she keep every piece of crap that come in this place?!"

Along with all of this new year organizational fun, I've finally got my Juki humming. I've started quilting the Filmstrip Quilt, and I finished 3 blocks of the sampler. The Doves in the window block was a real pain in my rear. And I'm avoiding Forrest Path because it looks just as bad. But I like the way they all look.

Well Received

I think all of my homemade gifts were enjoyed by their recipients.

I'm already starting to think about projects for next Christmas.

It was given to me

While I was in Michigan for the holidays my favorite aunt gave me 3 bags of fabric scraps! And in with the scraps was this top! It was like hitting the jackpot in Vegas!!

I went to Monday night quilting twice while I was there. The Strip Teasers are always so fun, and I learned a few new dirty jokes. I wish I could transplant them to Clovis. I could use that kind of fun every week.

Tomorrow ends this single parent stint. My hubby is due back tomorrow night. Thank God!