Merry Days, Entry 7...

 Greetings and Warm Welcome to my blog

~ a place where I share all things needle and thread ~

Entry 7....

This blog post is going to be a database dump so apologize from the beginning!

I got busy....

between working at the quilt shop (I work at a local shop called Klaiber's Sewing Center - where I basically help manage, keep the website going, sell machines, teach classes and cut fabric) and all the final work here at home I was running all the time without a place to land. We had birthdays this December. As the kids age it is harder and harder to get a time where we all can be together at once to celebrate (not complaining, just fact). So here are separate pictures of the kids with their birthday cakes. 

The twins had their 21st birthdays on December 4:

Jacob likes cake and we celebrated his birthday on Sunday, Dec. 6 because of his work schedule

(excuse the dirty dishes and countertop clutter....life happens)

Ian celebrated his birthday on Saturday, Dec 5 also because of work schedules. Excuse the clutter AND Ian's outfit of choice 😂

Katie celebrated her 23rd birthday on Dec. 11 

You might have noticed (after you got done looking at the messes all over my counters 😂)

that all of the birthday cakes are weird themes...we do that on purpose...its a family joke - although no one seems to get it except us 😂

For instance....I turned 50 this year. Keith got me a 50th wedding anniversary cake (on purpose - as in HE ORDERED it as a 50th wedding anniversary cake and called it the 50th anniversary of my birth)

 

This summer I purchased another...

ridiculously expensive (although it IS worth every penny AND I get an employee discount)

sewing machine...acutally it is an embroidery machine. It is a Baby Lock Meridian - its the big one fully facing you with the dragon fly stickers on it. I named her "Merry" and she has her tramp stamp there for all to see. She has a HUGE hoop and sorry to say but size matters when it comes down to machine embroidery and hoops. 

I make beautiful things on my embroidery machines - Eunice (the one not facing you above) is a Baby Lock Unity which is a combo machine - sewing AND embroidery - still ridiculously expensive (read: Thank HEAVENS I work there). 

Anyhow...I make beautiful things with my embroidery machines...but the best thing I do on them is: 

quilt my own quilts to make it look like they have been seamlessly long arm quilted.

on this quilt I used a butterfly pattern - I use  Amelie Scott Designs software

On this quilt I also did a flange binding - first time I've ever done this technique and it turned out fabulous! I used this tool Franklin Quilt Co. Binding Tool 

Merry or Eunice can also make quilt labels like this one

This allows me to make quilts from beginning to end ALL BY MY HANDS...which is very important to me as you know since I do everything start to finish by my hands.

This will be wrapped and under the tree for my son, Ian's girlfriend - Edie. She's been a part of our family for 5 years and although they are not married or engaged, we love her and I wanted her to know that by making her a quilt. 

I finished another ornament for an exchange with a fellow cross stitcher:

"Woodland Peace" by Heart in Hand

stitched using Classic Colorworks over-dyed cottons and 32 count opalescent raw linen

Not traditional Christmas colors, but I think having some pops of different on a Christmas tree makes your eye stop and look from time to time.

This Week....

I also finished up the collecting donations, sorting and delivery of the Angel Tree gifts to all the needy families our church has helped this year. I am glad that it is done for this year. That was a lot of work - a lot of emotional turmoil - and physically/spiritually exhausting. I can rest easy knowing: I did a good job. All was delivered, people were fed for at least the next week - I also asked for donations of Kroger gift cards - I brought the light of God to them in the way of help. I can only hope that seeds were planted somewhere along the line.

I have some progress to share on my stitching! (that's why you are here, I know...)

I am working on my Christmas BAP...

in fact I am thinking that 2021 is lining up to be ALL CHIRSTMAS ALL YEAR. I love Christmas/Winter time. It brings me the greatest joy when at Christmas I pull out all the stops and decorate my trees with all handmade ornaments, grace my walls and tables with handmade items....I just love it. I think I would love it all year long if I can add to my Christmas things by stitching all year long on Christmas. We will see...but I'm leaning heavily toward that.

Anyhoo....

here is my progress on Santa of the Forest by Lavender & Lace. Which I'm stitching on 32 count natural with DMC on my scroll rods: Rolaframe

~ My Start on Dec. 6, 2020 - the feast day of St. Nick ~

~ Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 ~

~ Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2020 ~

 

~ Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 ~

Doesn't look like much...but gee whiz its a lot of stitching.

CAN WE SAY CONFETTI HEAVY!!!!

I'm going to get this done - as my Pap used to say - come hell or high water. I want it hanging on my wall 365 days a year and I want to take him to the fair someday.

I think that's about all the trouble I've gotten myself into the past week. 

I am hopeful this week I may be able to film another video....this time I'd like to do it with Ellie and showcase her art. She's fantastic. For example here is a watercolor she finished yesterday: 

 

Let me remind you: she is 15 years old (turned 15 August 5, 2020). Completely self taught...

she is "in" to Korean culture and K Pop music...so much so she taught herself to speak and read Korean. (she's also fluent in Spanish). She's amazing! 

Each one of my children (as I know all parents know) are completely unique and amazing in their own individual ways. Ellie is much like me in the fact that she is sensitive and artsy.....she has always been a "maker" from toddlerhood on  all she has wanted to do is make things. To see her ability grow from drawing my Little Pony all the time to Korean boys all the time is astonishing. Here's a picture of sweet Ellie on her 15th Birthday this year (notice her home made Korean K Pop boys birthday cake toppers that she made for herself 😂):

 

and since you've seen everyone on their birthdays except Keith, here he is with his requested homemade birthday turtle cheesecake 

Until the next time....

Keep a smile in your heart on and one on your face and you just can't go wrong!

Smiles, hugs and love from me to you, 

Vonna xxxx