What I'm Reading...

I want to recommend a couple of authors that I have been enjoying.

The first is David Baldacci -- My husband was reading his thrillers and happened upon some books written in a different style. He read a couple and then recommended them to me. I just finished "Wish You Well." This takes place in the state of Virginia and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Another author is W. Dale Cramer. I've read several of Cramer's books and have liked all of them. I am impressed by the different subject matter that he deals with. A very good writer!

What are you reading?

Christmas gifts...

This year I decided to make some stilettos to give as gifts to my sewing/quilting friends. I had received one of these during a Shop Hop and found that I used it quite often.

The materials I used were bamboo skewers, a small glue gun (lower heat), and some craft beads.
Such a simple project -- cut the skewers to the desired length, put a tiny bubble of glue into the hole on the bead and push the blunt end of the skewer into the bead. The glue sets up almost immediately!

The finished stilettos -- I have given all but two away and they were well received!

Mom and her Christmas hat!

I have a little cap that has sequins all over it. My cap is black and my sequins are silver. Mom took one look at my cap and wanted it. I found her a cap of her own -- her sequins are black but they pick up points of light and can show different colors. In the picture above she is picking up lamp light and it looks like gold sequins. She loves her cap and has received many compliments on it. Mom is 89 years old and that is her natural hair color.

Random thoughts on a Wednesday evening...

Christmas came and went. So much preparation -- anticipation -- planning -- and suddenly it is over -- company goes home -- all the decorations have to be taken down and put away so that we are ready to begin a new year with a clean slate.

I got a Kindle this year -- the basic model. I enjoy reading books so much -- I use the public library -- I seldom purchase books because I ran out of shelf space a long time ago. I have put 15+ books on my Kindle, including the Bible and a dictionary. Haven't read any of them, yet, but am experimenting with the download process. Quick and easy! I think I will enjoy using it, especially when I travel. I have explored checking e-books out from the public library -- that may be an interesting way to go. One doesn't have to worry about keeping up with the library copy or about due dates. When the book is due it disappears off of the Kindle.

Only problem may be I won't have a pile of books on my night stand and I may get panicky. The Kindle just doesn't LOOK like a pile of books. It is hard to look at it, to hold it, and translate the small size and light weight into a good supply of reading materials. As with all new things, it will take some getting use to!

How was your Christmas? What was your favorite gift?

A December Update!

Are the days whizzing by at your house? They are here, and I'm running farther and farther behind. But, Christmas is coming whether or not I'm ready so I will just do what I can and then stop and enjoy this special time.

What has happened? Well, our church had our "Celebrate Christmas" -- a Drive Through Life of Christ with live people and animals. We were open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings (Sweetie and I worked every evening) and 1400 people saw our presentation. That was in spite of our having to close early on Sunday due to the rain/mud. If something makes you close then rain is a good thing to do it. We need rain desperately here.

My oldest daughter came for two days and I thoroughly enjoyed her visit while her honey was seeing clients. She and I played with Windows Live -- is that the right name? Skydrive, perhaps, is what I'm looking for. She has tons of her pictures on line and she set me up so we could share pictures. I could spend a whole day just playing with my pictures on-line.

Speaking of that family, my oldest Granddaughter, a student at UNM, called to ask me for some help with a genealogy project. Well, she pushed the right button!! I love genealogy. She did some independent research and, using the info I gave her, and she found a site that I had never seen. Amazingly, I found that my Great-Great Grandfather's name wasn't what I had always been given. Made that change in my Family Tree! This is the same Great-Great Grandfather whose grave I found at the Old Salt Tank Cemetery near Rising Star Texas. What fun!

Did I tell you that I made "stilettos" for my sewing/quilting buddies. These were tiny gifts from me to them. Today at church, a dear quilting friend, age 94, decided that she will use her stiletto as a cake tester! I think I made a picture or two of that project -- will try to post them when time permits.

My Mom has arrived to spend Christmas with us. Since she doesn't do stairs anymore we move upstairs and let her have our downstairs bedroom. It is an odd feeling to sleep in a different room of your house! I have always liked to sleep in my guest room, from time to time, to insure that it is still a welcoming room for guests. Well, we are in the guest room for the next two weeks. Have already made a change.

Our youngest Granddaughter is staying with us while her Mom works a highly irregular schedule. We played Monopoly with her and found that she really needs to get the hang of money -- think this game will be very good for her and will teach her how to figure out making change.

I need to set out alone and do some shopping tomorrow -- I haven't done much. My children were all given "gifts" of agricultural products for Christmas, through Missionary Ventures. OD started this last year when she gave me the gift of "five ducks." through World Vision. I liked that but, after hearing some Missionary Venture speakers at "Colors" this year, I ordered from them instead.
Oldest Son and Daughter-In-Law got 5 rabbits and 5 seed packs. Each seed pack will plant a full acre of land for a family or a village. The rabbits will multiply and will provide a food crop and a cash crop.
Youngest Son got 8 rabbits, and Oldest Daughter got a pig. OD's Mother-in-law gave her a goat and she has named the goat "Tilley" and the pig is named "Percy." Percy Tilley was a dear friend who has "gone home" but I believe he would be thrilled with his namesakes! OD plans to make an ornament to represent each animal to hang on her tree!

See what my busy days have brought about! Lots of things are happening but in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, we need to remember that this season is actually all about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!

Another from the quilt show. . .

There were many, many quilts to be seen and admired at the 2011 Houston International Quilt show. Some won large awards. Some didn't win anything.

The quilt I have pictured below is my favorite of all. As far as I know it did not win any prizes.
However, it was absolutely beautiful and the workmanship was just amazing.
The information in the second picture tells you who made it. Then, the following pictures are close ups of some of the features.

The title is "The Quilt Show. In the middle is a building where a quilt show is being held. Along the outer borders are tiny quilts -- these quilts are so small that each piece may have taken 2 or 3 tiny stitches to connect it to the next piece. I was amazed that these little quilts were made and then incorporated into the larger design. Take a minute to admire the little quilts along the top, bottom, and right side.

These tiny yo-yos were hanging on a clothes line on the left side of the picture, near the tree.

Look how tiny the pieces are in this double wedding ring quilt.

This little basket quilt was offset by an equally tiny fan quilt on the other side. Look at the tiny quilt hanging over the fence in the bottom of the picture.

I love these "Sun Bonnet Sue" quilt blocks.

We saw some really beautiful quilts but to me, this one really embodies the whole idea of quilting!

MY DOG SPOT

This little doggy has come to live at my house -- I found him at a garage sale and I just fell in love. Actually, "Spot" is a candle holder -- there is a door on the other side of his body that opens to allow a small votive candle to be placed inside. The "spots" on his body are cut-outs that will allow the candle light to show through. Pretty neat for $1.00!

2011 Houston International Quilt Show, day 2

A beautiful appliqued quilt.


This quilt is just full of the hexagon shape. My hubby thought it looked more like a rug than a quilt. He didn't see it in person, however, just made the comment from seeing the picture.

There was an exhibit of appliqued quilts. The picture below shows detail from a very large appliqued quilt that is shown below this one. Lots of work went into this.

As usual, the quilt shows include a large number of International quilters. I liked this one.

Notice the quilting -- this quilt would be nothing without it, and would give a totally different feel with a different quilting pattern.

Sorry this is dark -- these are 4-H quilts. My quilting friend, M, used to be in 4-H and said she could never have made quilts like these at that age.

Houston International Quilt Show

We saw some great quilts today -- I'm going to share some with you. These are mostly the art style.

This quilt just blew me away -- I loved it!

I loved this one -- the lion faces was so cute!