Winter Wonderland...

I woke up this morning with a splitting headache - not to mention that I didn't even fall asleep until 6:00 AM! Then, I looked out the window and much to my pleasure and surprise was a winter wonderland! Suddenly, I felt much better. In fact, I thought it was so pretty that I put my boots on and ran out and took these pictures - yes, in my bathrobe! I must have been quite a sight! But, that's the benefit of living out in the country - no neighbors!

It's amazing what you'll do for a picture...

Getting Ready for Christmas...

...sometimes a joy - sometimes a burden. I guess that's up to us to decide individually. It probably boils down to whatever you make it, like everything else.

We'll be hosting Christmas again this year up north with all of the kids and grandkids that can make it and I always really look forward to that. I worry too much about having everything fair and perfect I know, but I realize that the most important thing for me is actually having my family around me. It's not always possible to have them all be there at the same time (our family is pretty big), but to me, that would be the perfect Christmas.

I'll start making cookies soon - so not much time these days for the Boutique. I've finished placing the Christmas items in the shop that will be there. All items moving forward will be from other than holiday projects... Gee, do you think I'll ever get to that "Verna" project again? LOL - I've managed to turn that project into a giant mental block! But wait and see, it will probably turn out beautiful when it's finally finished, and then I'll wonder why I waited so long to finish it! Probably.

A Worthy Cause...

...No, I am not talking about finishing the Christmas Nine-Patch Pizzazz quilt I blogged about last time. Although I would have liked to finish it in time for Christmas selling, it's not to be...sigh. Perhaps next year.

In the meantime, I thought I'd show you what I am working on - to meet a deadline.

These are parts of some scarves that I've pledged to make for the Special Olympics - Wisconsin. These are their colors and instructions are given on what yarn, what colors, and a deadline for creating these scarves, which will be worn by both the participants and coaches, etc. It's an event of "unity" to be wearing the scarves during the Special Olympics activities. The deadline for shipping the finished scarves you've pledged is January 14th. They may be crocheted or knitted and may include specific phrases.

If you have any interest in this project, you may visit the Project Guidelines page (for Wisconsin), at www.shopredheart.com/default.aspx?PageID=424&ProjectID=3+ (You can probably navigate out of there to your particular state for colors, etc.)

A Sneak Peek...

...at a holiday fabric family that I am currently working on for a project for Christmas. Yes, I know, I'm pushing the envelope on this one! But then, when don't I?

The first photo reveals one of the 9-patch squares that I will be using as "dancing" blocks in my Pizzazz style quilt, which are meant to get your eye to "travel" through the piece like a painting on a canvas.

Ah yes...the second photo reveals a little three-dimensional "pucker" project I've decided to include in this quilt. Won't that be fun?

The third photo shows the red I will be using to create a border around the piece when finished.













A little more detail in the last photo reveals the type of greenery - lots of long pine needles - that will be scattered throughout this Christmas piece.

The Joys of Owning a Doxie...

...it's called "Doxie Moxy"! And, anyone who owns a Duchshund knows exactly what I'm talking about!

In this first photo, "Daddy" has created a "cave" on the couch next to him for Teddy to sleep in while Daddy watches TV. Well, that also happens to be my spot!

Not lifting his head when I come into the room - he is pretending to be asleep so "Mommy" doesn't make him move! But wait!...the second photo reveals that he is indeed awake and trying not to be noticed! (When have you heard of a Doxie not lifting his head or greeting you when he hears you come into the room??)


 
Uh-Huh...I can play this game...so I grabbed my camera to catch this little actor and he still did not lift his head! (He also does not want to go outside to piddle - it is snowing after all!)









Putting the camera right in his face - and he still does not lift his head - his eyes are open but he still won't look me in the eye! Now how "Doxie" is this?!

(I'm laughing.)

Attracked to the Flame - Part VI

I just finished taking some finished (annealed), beads off of their mandrels, and thought you'd like to take a peek...

The ones with "fish eyes" and black bumps are a continuing series I'm making for a jewelry project for my boutique Poladora. The other beads are my attempt at some "Christmas" beads.

I wanted to make some wine stoppers for Christmas...I guess I'd better get going - huh?

Golden Harvest is finally finished!

Golden Harvest is now offered in my Internet boutique Poladora!

Since the last update below, I have quilted the front to a backing of coordinating fabric - a beautiful and elegant leaf patterned fabric in the same color way as the top, with golden outlines of some of the leaves. This fabric made up some of the pieces in the top as well.

The bias binding is made from another coordinating fabric that I also used on the top, with swirls and golden dots.

To see close ups of the detail of the embroidery and beading, click on Poladora and take a peek!