Reflection on 2006

I say this every year, but I'm glad this one is over. Especially after yesterday at work.

Thought I'd try to recap my quilty year. I didn't get as much accomplished as I usually do, but I did some *important* quilts - gifts and helping Judy a bit. A lot of these still need quilting, but my part is done! :) Here's the piddly list:

- Lisa's quilt which still needs a name. Strawberry Fields? Nah ...
- Don's wonky leaf quilt. Guess I ought to give this one a name, too.
- Alex's 2005 retreat quilt
- Alex's 2006 retreat quilt
- Polka Dot quilt
- Judy's Dancing Bears
- Judy's floating nine-patch
- CA poppy string
- Around the Block

Other quilts in progress that were either begun or worked on in 2006:

- Dutch Treat blocks - hit the 100 mark. This may be a lifetime project!
- Jane's crumbs
- Red and white shooting stars
- Another quilt top that is 80% finished - a Judy design

I'm sure there are other things I worked on, but I can't remember now what they are. I know I spent a lot of time cutting strips to have them ready for next year's scrappy quilts. I also have two or three other quilts that are cut and ready to sew up, so that was a weekend spent cutting. I went through a period of a couple of months of not wanting to sew, and I also worked a lot on weekends this year, so I guess that explains why my list isn't longer. But I guess it's quality and not quantity that counts here. :)

One thing that didn't happen in 2006 is much stashbusting. I blame that mostly on the fact that the quilt shop closed and I "tried" to buy it out. I had small binges here and there at other quilt shops through the year, especially at Retreat, but really didn't buy as much as I would have had it not been for the blog ring. See? It worked!

I was going to post a picture of Daisy but Blogger says, "Sorry, we are unable to complete your request." Story of my life!

So, onward to 2007 - with resolve to enjoy this quilty passion to the fullest!

Happy New Year from Daisy and me!

Merry Christmas!

Today was a wonderful day with Jane and her sweet DH. Fabulous dinner, great friends, lots of laughs ... the perfect day!

A very special "thank you" to all my new blogger friends for making this year so special. Merry Christmas!

More Adventures

Jane and I did Antique Row in a little town near here yesterday. Great stuff we found - and also a lot of junk. There was one shop that was SO messy. We were laughing last night talking about it. I'm not joking here -- she had yellow crime scene tape across some areas that were too messy to even walk in! I am hestitating about buying any antique furniture right now because I'm just renting. But if I still had my house, there are a couple of pieces that I would have snapped up!

I found an old secretary yesterday just like my dear aunt had. I always told myself that if I ever found one, I'd get it. Well, I backed off from it yesterday, but I can tell you, it made my heart sing to see it. At least I know they are still around. Maybe next year! :)

I did buy this thread holder. It fits in perfectly with the collections I have. I don't think it's very old, but that's not important. I photoed it laying flat on the floor, but it's going to be hung on the wall. Cute, cute!

Last evening a quilter friend of ours had a birthday gathering for Jane. We had a delightful sit down dinner, and lots of good talk. A really diverse group of women, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I spoke too soon

Seems I've lost my "Comment" button somewhere along the line. This is a test to see if it'll appear on this post.

December Leaves

I'm sure in most of the country, this is just an ordinary sight, maybe even unwelcomed, but here in SoCal, it makes my heart happy to see leaves on the ground. That must mean that our ten minutes of winter is just around the corner. Surely it must! Since the gardner comes today, and these will all be gone tonight, I figured I'd best get a shot of them now. LOL

Tomorrow my friend and I are going to browse antique shops again. My list is a mile long of all the things I want to get .... but not until after Christmas. Maybe someone else will buy them before then! :)

Well, that was easy!

I just switched to beta. I was expecting all sorts of tears and hair-pulling. It took about five minutes for it to capture everything, but I think it's all there.

So this is a test. I went back and was able to post a picture to my last blog. If this posts, then I'm a happy camper! :)

Finished Gift Quilt Bindings

I'm so happy that these quilts are ready to wrap, box and mail next week. Since I know they open gifts when they arrive anyway, I've given my nieces "permission" to go ahead and open them the moment they get them. Kyra's quilt, the pink/green one, has been finished and folded away in the closet for three years. The other two were recent finishes. I know Don and Kyra will love their quilts. Kyra is so soppy and sentimental. Honestly, it could be made out of old bedsheets and she'd love it just because I made it. Lisa is hard to read most of the time. I will tell them both that I'll take them back and make another one for them if they don't like them. :)

Am I the only one that bonds so fiercely with quilts? There were fleeting moments while making all three of these that I was considering keeping them and making something else for them. They'd never know, right? I'm so bad.

As I sit here looking around my sewing room, I see a lot of things that need to be boxed and mailed out. In addition to Christmas packages, I've got some 1st Weekend prizes to mail (very long overdue), and also a few Retreat gifts that I forgot to put in my suitcase. The little post office in the town where I work will see a lot of me in the next week or so. I've just got to remember to put my car keys in my pocket!

For those of you who commented on my last blog and sent me such wonderful, supportive emails, thank you. My friend has unconditionally forgiven me for my slip of fingers. That means everything in the world to me, but that is the kind of person she is, truly someone who practices what she preaches. Doodlebug was correct -- an innocent comment fell into the wrong hands. While it saddens me to think that this can happen, it doesn't surprise me, especially in light of who is attached to those hands. I have learned such a valuable lesson from this. Again, thank you for your understanding and support.

The two little trees outside the front door of my condo are going through a change of leaf color. After the hard rain we had last night, the ground is ablaze with beautiful red and gold leaves. Daisy isn't quite sure what to make of it ... she's tiptoeing through them with much coaxing from me. What a wussy she is! Maybe I'll take the camera out there and try to get a picture. I'm still having trouble editing my photos, but I'm determined to figure it all out.

Off to make the binding for my Christmas quilt. I hope to have it on the bed by next weekend. Thank you, Judy, for getting all of these done for me. I owe you massive favors!

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Well, picture won't post, no matter what I do to it. I'll try again later.

Going Offline for a While

I learned a hard lesson today. I betrayed the confidence of someone who is so very dear to me. It was not done maliciously nor intentionally. But it happened all the same. My blog is not my private journal. It's on the internet for all to see.

Until I can sort this out and come to terms with what I've done, the loss of respect from someone I love like a sister, I need to be away.

Christmas Decorations? Anyone?

I haven't done anything yet, but a lot of my friends are already decking the halls. I saw that Jeanne has her beautiful Christmas quilts out in her bedroom.

I thought it would be nice if everyone could post a picture as they get decorated this year. I'm thinking that might motivate me! :)

I've been doing work stuff all day at home. A little quilting later if there's time.

I did get the binding finished on Don's quilt. I have two more that I want to bind next week, but if I just get my niece's done, I will be happy. My finger is so sore. It wasn't until I had almost bloodied it that I realized I didn't have my thimble on. Pushing that needle through batiks is tough. You'd a-thunk at this ripe old age I would have learned a thing or two. But Daisy Dog was really happy that I sat next to her on the sofa all day yesterday!

Next week I also plan on getting all my Christmas presents wrapped, boxed up and ready to mail. No last minute lines at the post office this year! Funny story ... Two Christmases ago I went to the little post office in the town where I work to mail off my secret quilter's package. I was in line a good 20 minutes because we only have one postal clerk in that branch. Well, got the deed done and walked out to my car. No car keys. No car keys anywhere. OMG, I didn't do what I think I did -- did I? Well, I sneaked back in there and caught the eye of the clerk. I asked her if I could have my package back that I had just taped shut. She retrieved it for me. Everyone in the place was really quiet and watching me. I shook the package. Yep, my car keys were inside. There's not a month that goes by that I don't run into someone in line at that post office who doesn't remind me of that package! I would have been moritified if I had had to call Kathy in Florida and admit that I was her secret quilter, and could she please not wait until Christmas to open that package! Sheesh, you can't take me anywhere!

Hope Jane is feeling better today ....

Gratitudes:

* My friend is buying a new house, and I'm absolutely delighted for her!
* A wonderful box of candles that I discovered in the china chest drawer!
* Even though I'm behind in my quilting, behind in my housekeeping, I'm in a really happy place right now!