Good bye 2018 - Hello Clairol, Maui Jim and Photoshop! Out with the old, in with the older...but with a little more help this year (Clairol), I might be able to keep the grays at bay. With my new shades (Maui Jim) I'll be able to Jackie O around town without the crows on display and with my new found computer skills (learning Photoshop is life-changing!!), it won't be long before you people...err, online folks, confuse me with Dorian Gray! That's my goal this year - to look like I did in 2018 in 2019...to not age, or rather to not show my age! I plan to employ all kinds of new creams, lotions, ointments, etc., so my skin will be dewey soft and youthful...I'll float my kidneys every day with cool, mountain water so I'll be hydrated and glowing and each morning I'll memorize some kind of self-affirming quote that I'll repeat throughout the day instead of banging my head against the wall and I'll walk...outside every day, rain or shine until I'm high on endorphins! And I'll eat better...healthier...maybe even go Vegan! I feel better already!
Not to worry, just kidding, I'm still the same ol' sarcastic, cynical person I've always been...and while I will employ Clairol and Maui Jim, because I'm not stupid, I will also do whatever I can to erase any lines that dare to show up in my pictures, that's what I call dieting! I will not be drinking water all day because then I would be spending my day in the bathroom and I won't be repeating happy little thoughts to myself, I prefer head-banging, I've got that down and no worries about me walking, oh I'll walk because little Rosie needs to walk around the park every day, 12 minutes tops, I'm a busy person, who's got time to spend hours outdoors...in the rain?? And Vegan??? Just thought you might need a laugh...I'm still Christmas calorie diving! I'll stagger into 2019 just like I did 2018 and the year before that...I'm too stubborn to care about making any big changes, might have something to do with wrinkles causing brain malfunction...wrinkles pull the skin and cause tension which causes headaches and irritability and eventually brain malfunction. I read that on a magazine cover while standing in the grocery check-out line. It's true, look it up.
Okay, about the above picture...Janet is making this adorable quilt - just needs to add borders, which I think are going to be a red plaid. I LOVE this quilt, I'm thinking I should make a few of these for gifts for next Christmas...hahaha...I crack myself up! I think I made ONE quilt this year...I'm pathetic! This was not part of our Christmas gift exchange, Janet just brought it to make us drool!
Denise made this beautifully framed paper-pieced picture. Everything about it is perfect. I don't know who was lucky enough to go home with this - how nice it will be to put this up every year during the holidays...I might even leave it out! That's Marsha's perfect nose peeking out from behind the picture...I may have learned photoshopping but I stink at cropping!
Gnomes are all the rage this year so I half expected to see one turn up at our gift exchange, I even thought of making one myself. Diane though, she went the extra mile because she's Diane and that's what she does! This picture doesn't really show the details Diane put into her gnome...the shoes/slippers are hand-embroidered, as is the hat - so, SO cute! Diane also included The Tomten book about gnomes and a package of Swedish Fish...so fun. And what a great gift this would have been for my grandkids!
Jenny has mastered mitten-making so she made this adorable pair of mittens for her gift. They are made from an old wool-sweater she found at a thrift shop and I love the details she put on them - they are super warm. Jenny also included three wool dryer balls - which help your clothes not come out of the dryer as wrinkled - very clever!
Mary made this - it's woven...each strip is sewn and then woven and stitched into place. It's really quite remarkable and I CAME HOME WITH IT!!!! Oh HAPPY day!! I love this! Thank you Mary!!!
This little pillow was made by me!! I started it in November 2016, hoping to get it finished in time for the gift exchange that year...didn't happen! I put it away and in 2017 I took it out again, in November and worked away on it but still didn't get it done! This year, well, I started early...I took it out in October and I got it done, all but the finishing touches...while the mister and I were in Orlando over Thanksgiving, we Ubered over to Hobby Lobby so I could buy a few little things to finish this pillow...a little bell, a little button, and a bit more floss. Finally, after two years it was done in time for our exchange! Don't know who took this home, but it has to be the gift that took the longest time to make! Procrastinating is one of my talents!
This framed beauty was made by Helen. It's not Christmasy - but that's okay - as long as our gifts our hand-made or quilt related (or even store-bought because we really have no rules!) anything goes. It's kind of nice to get a gift that can be used at other times of the year!
Barbara has a unique style and when this gift was opened we all knew she had made it. So cute - perfect stars, perfect snowman. Another great gift idea for next year!
Deborah bought this when she was at Quilt Market in Houston - it's a little purse. Those little yo-yo's are just the cutest! The beautiful red flower was part of the gift - it would be so cute attached to a bag. I would want to frame the little yo-yo's because they are just so fun!
Stephanie made this - or rather she framed it - the hand-stitched circle piece is removable so it could be worn on a jacket or a bag and then repined on the frame. Very clever! The detail on this is just amazing.
I think Kareena made this - it's a panel that has been bordered, quilted and bound. We've all seen plenty of metal and vinyl signs that say these kinds of things but this is the first one I've seen out of fabric and I love it! It's soft! And it can be hung up on the wall or used to wrap up in - it's a great reminder in either case.
Janet made this. The eyes are the coolest! And Santa's hair is little knots - so awesome. Now that I see this again, I remember thinking I should make some of these for gifts next year...maybe if I say that enough I'll do it? Naw...that's like saying some self-affirming thing...head-banging works better! But I do love this pillow!
Gosh now I'm confused...I think this was part of Barbara's gift...it's a Christmas card she decoupaged onto a block of wood and attached a ribbon and a bell...so cute and again, so clever! This group gets really high marks in the Clever Department!
Well that's it...that's what we gave each other for Christmas this year. Our little group has been going strong since 1996, so 22 years of quilting, creativity, inspiration, friendship and lots of laughs. We are a small group and have stayed small because we meet in each other's homes. Over the years we have had many people come and go from our group and we've been made better by all of them. Thanks for another great year girls! See you in 2019!
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