It must be 4:00 somewhere!!!

Remember the part in my last post where I said I would be posting to my "Tea and Stitches" blog the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 CST? We are going to change that right here and now. I will post at 4:00. Now I'm not saying if that will be 4:00 my time or your time but I will at least post on the first Wednesday of the month!! You see, there's life stuff that sometimes happens and my blogging is fun but it takes a "back seat" when I need to give my mom a call, do the laundry, clean the house, etc. And speaking of cleaning the house, funny thing happened today.................I was clicking right along. My cold is almost completely gone, had some laundry going, and I was busy making little Snowball cupcakes for the Tea and Stitches post. I had just finished frosting all the little cakes when the maid popped in. She said it looked like the floors were in a fine state and surely needed a good washing and what about those bathrooms!!! Can't let those bathroom bowl rings build up. Don't you know they tell you on TV that you are missing all sorts of germs if you don't clean your bathroom bowl properly!!! So, I said, "fine, get to the cleaning". So there she was whizzing from one place to the other and all I wanted to do was sit down for tea and stitch on my little project. No stitching yet, she said. Fold that laundry and put it away. So, I folded the towels and put them away. And as I went upstairs what do you think I saw......she was at my computer playing a game of Solitaire. Silly lady, I said, you left the bathroom brush in the bowl. Please go finish the job. And so she did. Pretty soon the bathrooms were done, so it was time to wash the floors. I threw in another load of laundry and then guess where the maid was.......she was in front of the TV watching an old Jane Wyman film!! Well, I am not paying you to watch TV, I said, so off she went to wash the floors. "Would you care for a cup of tea?" I offered to which she replied "oh, no time for tea, must get back to my telly so I can watch my show". And with that, she was gone in a flash and muttering something about "Keeping up her appearances?" Wait, I cried out but I couldn't remember her name. Please, when will you be back? And that's when it hit me.........I don't have a maid! The maid's name is ME!! Hee hee!

So what on earth possessed me to write such silliness? Well, as I was scurrying here and there, it occurred to me that cloning myself or having a maid would really be quite nice. And I can so easily get side-tracked (the Jane Wyman movie was good to watch because I loved the costumes!!)! And then while I was making everything pretty for my tea, thoughts of Hyacinth on "Keeping Up Appearances" popped into my head...........and that's when the silliness I just wrote was born. Plus, a few weeks ago, someone asked me if I had a cleaning lady. This person assumed I did because we live in a two story house and it's just me and my husband. Yes, the house is bigger than two people need but when our kids and family come to visit it is just right. In our old house, we began to feel like sardines. When kids are little they don't take up as much space. Then they grow up. Then when you live someplace for 30 or more years, you accumulate all this stuff that also takes up space. And even when the kids moved out, lots of their stuff stayed behind so it was crowded. Now I feel like Baby Bear when he found Goldilocks house and the bed that was just right. As I said, this house is just right. It's okay to be the maid here. :-)

Enough of my silliness. If you click here you will find the little Coconut Snowball Cupcakes and another Snowman design you can stitch. I'm preparing to do it in Redwork but it could be colored and then highlighted with embroidery, too. Take a peek.

Time to turn out the lights. The maid's got to get some sleep.
Sandi

P.S. No offense intended for anyone who is a maid or a cleaning lady. Also, no offense to anyone who is a real baker as I am telling you how to make something with a boxed cake mix. How hard is that?!? This post was all in fun. Also, most of you are probably familiar with "Keeping Up Apperances" but if not, it is a BBC program that airs here in the States on Public Television. The lovely and very proper Hyacinth is just too divine!!!

Fluffy the Snowman has arrived!

Here he is...Fluffy the Snowman!! I think that's a very appropriate name for him since he is made from fluffy polyester batting. The new "chapter" in my blog is ready so if you go here, you will find a tutorial so that you can make a Fluffy all your own.

I rarely throw anything away. I keep scraps of all sizes, all kinds of odds and ends, shop at garage and clearance sales and buy up all kinds of craft stuff. You know me for sometimes I am you!!! This project uses styrofoam balls which you might have to purchase but the rest is pretty much just scraps. He's really fun to make and goes together very quickly. This was a kids ornament class project so anyone can make this snowman!!

Each month throughout 2009, I will post at least one ornament for you to make for your tree or as gifts for friends. I will feature ornaments made from felt, cotton fabrics, clay, wood, etc. My personal collection of ornaments is over 600 and about 1/3 of them are ornaments I made over the past 40 years! If you make any of the ornaments, I would love to see pictures. :-)

One last thing for today - for all of you who are interested in the block of the month that I am going to be offering....................I will be sending out the PDF files for the January Snowman block on January 12th. Thereafter, blocks will be sent to you on the first of each month. I am amazed that there are so many of you that are interested in my project. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for all your lovely comments. What a great way to start a new year!!

Oh, and be sure to stop by tomorrow for "Tea and Stitches". On the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 CST, I will host a little teatime and share a project, a recipe and perhaps a thought for the day or a recommendation for a good book!
Sandi

The Twelfth Day of Christmas!

Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas and that song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is running through my head. According to my Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook, this song is about the gifts given that celebrated each of the days from Christmas Day up to January 6th, the Epiphany. Life was hard then (I know sometimes it seems hard today but it was physically hard then and remember, there was no deoderant!) and the Christmas holiday was a time when there was a wee bit of celebration to forget those hard times. Wealthy landowners often gave there tenants and workers, a gift each day. And as noted in this RD Songbook, even if you didn't get twelve gifts, well, you could sing about it.

Soooooooooo, on that note.............Ha! did you think I was going to sing? Nope, not today but you never know. One of these days I may pop up on YouTube! What I am going to do is start another new little chapter on my blog. That's what I have decided to call each of the blogs that I add to this, my initial blog "A Legacy of Stitches". I love to craft, sew, create and share what I do. I gather in a lot of friends and fun that way!! I've always talked of writing a book and this is almost a book (especially if you were to read all the posts I've made since I started blogging last May). So, the new chapter is going to be a blog about Christmas. I've called it "Christmas is Love - Keeping Christmas All Year Long". And that's just what I am going to do.

The spirit of Christmas is all about Peace and Love. We need a lot more of that in our world today! So, about once a month (maybe more) I am going to post an ornament and some thoughts that will "keep Christmas all year long". You'll find that chapter here ..........I'll be posting the photos and instructions for the first ornament about 4:00 CST today, January 6th. I hope you enjoy it and that you will keep the spirit of "Christmas in your heart" all year long!!

Sandi

What's in Tin Number 1?

I was almost ready to turn out the lights when I remembered that I needed to post what is in Tin Number 1, the round tin. And in that tin.........you will find.........a complete woolfelt kit to make my "Snowflake Penny Rug".

I have loads of penny rugs that I have designed and only a few in pattern form with completed samples. Many of the designs were drawn during times when I was preoccupied with family health issues. I'd draw sketches, whole series of things and tuck them away in my notebook. Now I finally have the time and the space to get out my supplies and make those designs real!!!

Now, I am almost ready to turn out the lights again, but there's one more thing I must do..........I want to wish my friend, Cindy, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Cindy is one of those friends that I treasure even though we don't see each other that often. We crossed paths at a time when we were both trying to get more involved in the arts and creative activities and get others involved, too. She was an encourager to me and because of her, I probably took chances that I wouldn't have had I not met her. Because of Cindy, I formed an arts group and at her urging, I taught a couple of quilt classes that I would not have ventured to teach had she not encouraged me. Do you have friends like that? Someone who brings out in you more than you know is there? Sometimes we need those kind of friends. I know that my friendship was good for her, too. I'll be sending her an e-mail later today and I have a little package to send off to her "just because". If you have someone that was an encourager, I'd love to hear who that was but it's not necessary for getting your name in the drawing. All you have to do for another chance for the drawing for the items in my "Snowflake Surprise" package for the "Whirl into Winter Giveaway" is to leave a comment on this post and make sure you leave your e-mail address if you do not have a blog.

Night all!!

Sandi

P.S. Don't miss the info that I posted earlier on the block of the month I'll be offering in 2009. Just read on and you'll learn all about it! :-)

A Block of the month for 2009!

The Snowman Block of the month is no longer available as a free project in my Yahoo group. The complete pattern series is $12.00. If you are interested in the patterns, please contact me at stitchinglegacy (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!

There are loads of Block of the month projects out there so it occurred to me to wonder if there is a need for another one. But here I am and I am going to share these patterns that I designed for my friends who joined me at my church for Hearthside Quilters. We had so much fun that it would be enjoyable for me to go back through the blocks and recall some of the fun we had as I share the blocks with all of you.
This block of the month series is one I offered in 2003. I cannot tell a lie...........I never finished my blocks. Family health issues kept me hopping that year (as they did for much of 2000 through 2008) but getting together with my friends once a month was an escape from worry. For many in the group it was the same thing - an escape to do something we love - quilting and getting together!! For some it was the release of stress from work, kids, husbands, and for some, it relieved the worry of loved ones serving overseas. I would draw the blocks and got many started but it wasn't until this past year that I finished all the embroidery on the blocks. Now I am ready to sash them and put them into a full-size wall quilt.
If you decide to do the blocks perhaps you'll share photos as you make them. I could set up a Flickr group so that we can all see how differently we stitch and embellish each block.

The block for January is, of course, a snowman. My kids loved to make snowmen. Living in Minnesota there was, and is, almost always an abundance of snow. I got to wondering about who might have invented the snowman and so.......I googled it. Lo and behold, someone did "invent" the snowman. A dear man, Mr. Vernon Paul of Eau Claire, Wisconsin (another state with an abundance of snow) made a snowman for his daughter, Yetty Paul, that would frighten away the Boxing Day elves. This all took place in 1809. Believe it or not, the New York Times dispatched a writer to check out the "snow people" being made in the town and so the humble Snowman was born and provides us with an eternal sign of winter fun!!

Note: There is a reason for the words "Let it Snow!" on the pattern page. I'll tell you what those are for when I post the February block and give you more details on the quilt top.

At the first of each month, I will post a scanned photo of my block and the two pattern pages. As with other patterns that I post, if you cannot save the pages to your computer, just e-mail me and I will send you a pdf file. I would like to start a list of those that would like to receive the blocks and then each month, I can just send you the appropriate block. I will still post here on my blog but that way you will have the right file from the start. Please leave a comment on this post, with your e-mail address, if you would like to have the patterns e-mailed to you each month.

Well, I must close for tonight. I appear to finally be getting over my cold am consuming fewer cough drops, sneezing less, etc. I apologize for being late with posting about this block of the month but the cold just kept me in a fog and I really couldn't think well enough to put together the thoughts I've just shared!!

Time to turn out the lights!

Sandi

Thanks for the "Snowy" comments!

Well, I am just amazed at the "blizzard" of comments that I have received so far. Turns out most of you have seen snow and most of you like it until there's too much of it!!! I would agree!! More snow is expected here tomorrow and I am sure it will be lovely as it falls. And I am just glad I have no where to go!! So if you are like me and you're staying home while it's snowing outside, here's a little project you can try. This is a pattern I gave to my friends a couple of years ago when we gathered to stitch in January. I led a group of friends in a block of the month at my church and we had a great time stitching together. The group was called Hearthside Quilters because we met in the Hearthroom at the church. Wow, the quilts the gals made were amazing. Show and tell was a big part of the gathering. And there was often food, too. And laughter. All the things that friends enjoy!
Many times I draw a design and never get it stitched - this is one of them, but I bought some Kona cotton last Friday and I am going to put it to good use. I'm thinking I will do this design either in Redwork or else I'll color it and then highlight with embroidery stitches and probably some glitter. I love a little sparkle in my life. ;-) If you do stitch this up - totebag, pillow, whatever - send me a picture. Have fun!





Tomorrow I'll be posting the Block of the month project for this year. I had a tutorial I was going to post yesterday and had taken all my photos except the last one when I realized I had made a serious error in my sample. I think it might be because of this cold I have. My brain was just not fully "engaged". I'll fix my problem and get it posted as soon as it's fixed.
Have a good day all!
Sandi

P.S. To print the pages, just save the file to your computer and then you can print it out. I can also e-mail you the PDF file so just send me a note if you need that. Sorry but blogger does not have an option for loading a PDF.

One hundred comments and counting!!!

Oh, fun! I am thrilled at all the comments and love to read them. I will try to respond but no guarantees here. My cold is better but I am still "not fully engaged". Example........I was getting ready to start a little project but my mind is just a bit fuzzy and then I realized Kaiser was missing. I went in search of him and found him by my nightstand. Every once in a while he reverts to puppy behaviors and he managed to chew a pencil and eat my "faux pearl" earring. My pencil must have had traces of cookie on it. Last night, I forgot to take my earrings off and put them away and when I realized it, I just put them on my nightstand. I was too tired to get up and put them away. Not wise on my part. In the rush to get to the pencil, Kaiser must have knocked the earring on the floor and then scarfed it up. There is no trace of it. It's not the first time he's eaten one of my earrings. Good thing I don't wear large hoops or anything or we'd be off to the vet. Ah, this too shall pass...........Sorry, couldn't resist. Blame it on my addled brain and the cold, flu thing that has it's grip on me. :-)

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say "THANK YOU" to all of you who are leaving comments. Obviously, there are a lot of places with a lot of snow this year!!
I'll be back later on with a little something to share.
Sandi

P.S. My "Block of the Month" will begin on Saturday, January 3rd. I had planned to post it on Dec. 30th but this cold "threw me for a loop" and it will take me a couple of days to get "back on track"! This will be a "two-part" BOM and is one I shared with friends who joined me at "Hearthside Quilters" in 2002 and 2003 to make these blocks. They are tried, true and simple blocks that are "ready to go" so stop back on Saturday for the first block. :-)