Finishing Touches

So nice to have Christmas Eve off work tomorrow.  Mom and Dad are visiting and we will probably sew and cook all weekend.  Nice!

Last Gift is for my Gramma who found only recently that she loves embroidery. I made this little wooley needle case for her.   Kinda looks like it got socked in the eye but ok.  I will place this in a box with gobs of other embroidery goodies, like floss and an organizer box and on and on.

 Mom said the butterfly should be in color, but the butterfly was an after thought, he's lucky to be there at all    

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  I hope you all get to visit with family and share the warmth and joy ....and food that family can bring.  

Peace on Earth to all y'all.

Love

Aunti

Kitty Proof Ornaments

Yesterday I took a drive over to Signal Hill to visit Rose Hughe's RavenSpeak Exhibit!  The exhibit was beautiful and inspiring and I can't wait to start using all the bead packs I picked up.  Ran into some friends and friends of friends there.

When I got home, I started my first attempt at making ornaments that my Willie can't destroy. I found this tutorial on Make Stuff http://www.make-stuff.com/projects/quiltball.html.  Of course I had to make up my own rules, but this tutorial helped me get the general idea. 

Here is the first one, smaller 2" ball - made 2 the same...ish.

Then there are a bigger 3" size and I made 2 red and 1 green so far.  I think the white makes them stand out more.  I think I will have to keep going!

So are they working?  Well...he does seem to think I am making them for him to play with but at least he can't break them when he takes off with them.  There is a point in the process where I have to put the ball down and fold the next piece and he would sneak up, grab it and run.  It was pretty funny the first 50 times.

We are off to the movies to see the new movie with "The Rock" fweet fweew!  (my best wolf wistle).  Pete is going because he is assured that stuff'll get blown up.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Aunti

Nicole

She's a my birthday too!

My birthday is actually Monday, but Mom and Dad sent a package early and Willie made me open it early.  He is so impatient.  So even though the card said No Peeking!, Mom said I could.

And lookie, its a Vera Bradley bag and I just love the colors and its huge in side!

She also sent a special matching pen and mechanical pencil set and a little tin mints box to complete the set or....Accessorize!

Don't you love it!  Can't wait to shop!  Its great having a quilter mother, she knows the perfect gift!





 Truth is...Willie actually just likes the box and the paper in side.  He is always amazed at how much stuff he can destroy pull out of the box toss into the air and not get yelled at.

But get on one little table with food and its.....WillieNo! Git Git Git!  All Hell breaks loose!




Have a great weekend!
Aunti
Nicole

Mystery Present

I'm back from a business trip in Las Vegas.  Every year I speak at Autodesk University in Las Vegas.  This year, Autodesk University was at Mandalay Bay.  I think I walked about 5 miles a day from the hotel to the convention center.  But the food is fantastic and the people always a pleasure.  Autodesk University is a 3 day training event for Autodesk software users to come and gather as much knowledge as possible in a short time, just like a quilt show.  Always fun and exciting, but am glad to be back and get a chance to sew this weekend.

Yesterday I took a class at the Orange Quilt Bee.  I can't share with you the end result yet, because I made a Christmas gift for someone who watches my blog.  You'll have to check back after Christmas to see the end result.  But I can share the supply pile with you.

Oooo.....is that a zipper in that pile?

I don't know.......

Class was a ball and mostly made up of other instructors from OQB.  They are loads of fun and it was great getting to know everyone in class.  Everyone in the class managed to finish their project and had a great time doing it.  Lisa was amazing and has a lot of patience.  Everyone was sewing at difference speeds, me being the slow poke in the crowd.  But Lisa, was willing to do each step 12 times, once for each quilter.  Good grief!

What are you all making for the Holidays?  Would love to hear from you.  You can post a link to your blog, or send me a picture and I'll post on my blog.

Hope you all get to sew this weekend.  

Love 

Aunti

Nicole