Monday, December 5, 2016

Giving thanks for My Blog friends-YOU are Special to ME!

 A year ago my two friends and I were in Neuremberg drinking Glugwine. Ick, I drank hot chocolate (the best!). Germany is the place for Christmas adventures. No one does Christmas like the Germans!
I wanted to share this beautiful wreath done in my wreath class in Las vengas (I think). I have lots the ladies name who did this. but isn't it wonderful. Playful and fun and happy! Bet it is on her wall right now!
Here is a fun cat quilt from my book. I am waiting for the publisher here in town to do "Hoochy Twochy" my new book on hoochy quilt easy piecing with dogs and cats and hats and all kinds of new fun things along with pages from Hoochy Mama Quilt book and Flower Power. I expect that they cannot get it done until right after Christmas. I am down the line for their project list.
Here is a fun cat quilt from my book. I am waiting for the publisher here in town to do "Hoochy Twochy" my new book on hoochy quilt easy piecing with dogs and cats and hats and all kinds of new fun things along with pages from Hoochy Mama Quilt book and Flower Power. I expect that they cannot get it done until right after Christmas. I am down the line for their project list.
I have some real changes coming in 2017! My oldest daughter and her 15 year old and her son age 12 are moving in with me. I have plenty of bedrooms so I am so happy. Both kids are straight A students and volunteer for our community and real leaders. They are also very sweet as is my daughter who works for surgeons.

  Beacuse they are teenagers, I rented a new studio space and move about 50 boxes and loads of furniture that will go to my new studio with clean painted walls of yello gold in the sewing room and the other space is a gorgeous turquoise. My furniture and things will be so pretty and my studio is only four minutes from home! I will be showing photos in my next blog entry for you. Eventually I will have a SMALL retail space in there and may do some private workshops for people who live close. Plus I will have some time this year to get more story quilts done. Makes me giddy thinking about it!
I purged alot of things and that lightened up my mood and now my Grandkids will have a nice Family room to bring their friends to. Its a win win.
O my goodness did I ever have the buttons to move! I have loads of fabric but it doesn't touch what I have in buttons. Some of those will be packages and sold and rickrack too. I love both for whimsy in my quilts!
    Many people ask where I got all of the buttons. I have bought alot on the road but my Father used to go to garage sales and look for them for me. I plan to do a quilt called "Button Man" about him. He was a very sweet guy. One time my friend went to a garage sale and she was fighting with what she called "an old guy" over these buttons. He got them and she was so mad. Then we found out if was my Dad and we all laughed. Haha.
I was thinking about Christmas's from Other years and this is a photo of me and my new doll. I always had my eyes shut and I still do when there is a flash. I am very sensative to light. But this was a very happy Christmas for me.
Remember Minnie Pearl? I am working on self portraits and the idea is "who you are on the inside" so it doesn't matter what you choose to look like. I really want to do a Minnie Pearl lady. She was so cute and whimsical!
I love Polish folk art and see alot of it in Sante Fe. I am hoping to go there in a couple of months. This should inspire someone to do a cool Nativity. I have a couple that are drawn and hope to give it to a friend who is willing do sew it. :0) Would be so nice to have one to hang this time of year.
I am hoping to teach more about manipulating blocks so they are not all the same in borders. It is fun to be surprised at how things look one you cut them different. It is always a nice surprise!
These blocks above will be included in the new book. Quite whimsical and fun- by kathy in Idaho.
This is to encourage you to say positive, upliftig things this month! Don't express negative, downer thoughts to your friends when you can give compliments, laugh at funny things, share sweet memories and give a hug to someone who needs it!
     Let's make the New Year our best and happiest so far. I know that 2017 is going to be special and full of happy surprises for all of us. Looking forward to be positive and happy. Isn't that what we all want? Thank you for stopping by dear friends. I plan to be better about putting things on here including some give aways.