Santa's Elves work at Jiffy Lube

The stressors of the season (including upcoming holiday travel) were elevated today when I thought my front passenger tire was low. So over my lunch hour I drove to the Jiffy Lube on 84th and F in Omaha where I was greeted with a smile from the Jiffy Lube guy who listened patiently as I explained I just needed my tire pressure checked.

These guys will not be getting lumps of coal in their stockings this year! Not only did they check the tire that I thought was low, they checked the other front tire, too. Then noticing my windshield was covered with road grime, added washer fluid and washed my windshield. One of the techs remembered my last stop at the Store not too long ago and asked about my son who just returned from Afghanistan.

Thanks guys for the extra TLC!

Enough is never enough!

Last evening I finished the 15th book pocket. After a delightful phone visit with my sister, Margaret, I learn that it is ok to go only to 24 since the 25th of December is Christmas and the count down is over. Armed with that information, I was revived up and ready to go.

After finishing the pocket, I pulled the remaining books close to see which one would go best with fabric from my stash. The possibilities were endless and before I know it - its 12:30 a.m. and I am no where near ready for bed.

Today, over my lunch, I went clothesline shopping. The Country Sampler was just what my tired body needed. Sadly, they didn't have but one bundle of clothesline but I made up for it in the fabric selections.

This evening, when I SHOULD be cleaning before the weekend starts, I plan on sewing, sewing and sewing some more! As soon as I figure out my new digital camera, I will post pictures of the book pockets that are finished and what the process looks like.

Count down until December 1st ~ 17 days - pockets remaining ~ 9.

Stitch yourself something comfy - winter is coming!

I Love Lucy!

Meet my beautiful granddaughter, Lucy! It is her first Christmas coming up and I am carrying on a tradition started 14 years ago by my sister, Pat, when she became a grandmother for the first time and then repeated 7 years ago when my sister, Margaret, became a first-time grandmother.

The tradition couples the anticipation of Christmas with the love of reading. I am working on my 25 Christmas story books for Lucy and have 14 finished. On the first day in December, Lucy will have 25 story books in her own little book chest. The plan is for the child to open the chest, select a book to be read to her and with that have a fun way to count down the days until Christmas.

The pockets of fabric make the book a surprise although some of the pockets give the clue. I look forward to sharing pictures with you as I work on finishing the project. My countdown begins with the 11 remainging book pockets and the chest.

Piece be with you!

Inspiration!

Last night's meeting of the Omaha Quilters Guild has definitely got my imagination rolling. I am anxious to get home tonight and sew something.

Block update - I could have used any color combination of light/darks on my block exchange. I'm learning the rules as I go. I didn't 'win' the block exchange set but did pick up next time's block (February and its a pretty little heart). (Kathy, are you ready?)

Check back later this week for an overview and pictures of the great project I am working on for my first grandchild's first Christmas and, of course, I am starting a set for my second grandchild coming in April of 2010. Its a tradition that you will love and I hope you will consider making your child a set, too.

Pieces of me, counting the hours until I can be setting in front of my sewing machine rather than my computer. Happy piecing!

Lights and Darks

Color hues and intensity has alway been a stumbling block for me when it comes to fabric selection. At last month's quilt guild meeting I decided to participate in the block exchange [courthouse steps]. With all that has been going on this past month, I didn't work on the block until last night [block exchange is tonight :o() so I didn't catch the fact that the block was to be made with light and dark values only. My stash is predominately medium especially in the purple family which is the color of this block. Today, I am making a mad dash to my friend's house to raid her stash and get my block ready for tonight. Bless Kathy for having a balanced stash and a sharing heart!

Progressing nicely ...

As promised, here is a picture of the afghan I am crochetting in memory of Mom for Ms. Roth. I am amazed at the path my thoughts take when I am working the stitches with the hook. I remember when Mom made three of these afghans one Christmas for my older siblings. While playing chess with my Dad, drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette, she would have the laundry basket full of yarn beside her chair and working on the afghan. If I remember correctly, the fall colors went to Pat, the blue colors to Marg and, I think, but am not sure, that Bill's was green or gold.

Memories of home, Mom and Dad, and sibs make working on this project a treasure for me.

A stitch in time ...

Last evening, rather than heading for the sewing table, I curled up in my chair with the quilt over my legs and crocheted a few rows on my 'special project' afghan. Mom taught her girls many talents; one of which was crochet. Earlier this year my sister, Margaret, was approached by an elderly lady from our home town who knew Mom and was wondering if any of the Seier girls would be willing to help her out by crocheting an afghan for her granddaughter. Ms. Roth shared that she had made a crocheted afghan for each of her grandchildren but due to health issues could not do so for her granddaughter. [At this point, we thought she was talking baby afghan. :0)] Margaret assured her she would ask. First, Vickie offered to take on the project but later declined when she found out there was a specific pattern that had to be used. [Vickie doesn't read patterns.]

So, I offered and asked Margaret to get the yarn/pattern from Ms. Roth. This is when we discovered we were working on a full-sized afghan in the Ripple Stitch pattern. In comes the yarn --- black, neon green and hot pink. I told Margaret I would have to work on this one with sunglasses on.

The deadline to complete is early April 2010. My goal is to have it to Ms. Roth by Thanksgiving or the latest, Christmas. I am happy to share that the colors - while shocking when the skeins are in the basket by my chair, are playing nicely in the afghan. I have approximately 18 inches crocheted.

My cat has a great time chasing the yarn or attacking the hook while I am trying to work on the afghan. I'll post a picture when the aghan is longer and you can see the project at its best.

As promised, here is a picture of Anna modeling her poodle skirt. Anna, hope you have a fun day today in school.

Last evening found me snuggled under my favorite quilt in my comfy chair, feet up on the ottoman, cat planted firmly on my chest and a glass of white wine clutched firmly in my hand trying to stay awake watching television. I didn't make it to 10 p.m. before I went to bed so there was no sewing, no crocheting, no projects completed. BUT, I am rested and ready for the evening to begin so I can do another book pocket or two tonight.

Bad hair day!

Last evening I did what every great aunt in the country would do if the opportunity presented itself - I made a poodle skirt for my great-niece, Anna. I hope to have a picture of Anna to post tomorrow showing how the skirt turned out. Not bad for a fast night's worth of creativity.

This morning though was a different story. Hitting the snooze button too many times resulted in a less than stellar hair day for me. While I haven't a picture of what I look like this morning, I do see a striking similarity between me and this little guy.

A tisket a tasket - Linda has a basket!

The finished project! Now, for the next project on my list ...

Linda's basket nearing the finish.

The best part of a quiet Sunday is realizing something can be checked off your to-do list. The picture above is my gift to Linda Aldrich. I am to the point where I get to decide the embellishment. I love my yo-yo maker and searching the button box for the right flower centers. Off-center yo-yos make the best leaves. I'll post of picture of the finished basket before it goes to Linda's home.

I did it!

Two major things happened this weekend. I let Katie cut my hair SHORT! and I cleaned up and rearranged my sewing area. I now have my area staged with projects and organized for short bursts of sewing times.

Planning stage ...

With approximately 8 months until the 2010 quilt show, my planning time is getting shorter by the day. This year's theme is intriguing. "Spoken without a word - the message within the quilt." So many possibilities that would express the poignancy of the theme. I have always believed that a picture is worth a thousand words and quilts can be that -- a snapshot of the artist's thoughts. Every quilt I have ever made starts from a emotion. The emotion dictates the direction I go with the color and pattern. Throughout this past year, through the offering of classes from the Omaha Quilt Guild, I have learned techniques that enhance the options I have in mind for my quilt entry.

My planning board right now is a hodge podge of jumbled thoughts and ideas waiting for that one burst of insight- that unspoken message - that will tell me what my quilt for 2010 wants to say. Right now the message is garbled. Keep checking back to see if I had to get a translator on board or if by sitting quietly studying the board my heart allows my ears to hear the unspoken word.

Stitched with love, given in friendship, cherished forever ...

Kathy Coleman stitched together a fat quarter baby quilt after spending the weekend with my daughter and granddaughter. The beautiful pinks and the exquisite stitching create an incredibly lovely quilt. As you can see by the expression on my beautiful granddaughter's face, its a comfortable, comforting, cozy quilt. Thank you, Kathy, for giving my grandbaby a keepsake as well as a security blanket that will go the distance a baby can carry it.

Friday's are for planning ...

On Friday mornings I like to think about how many of my projects are going to see some work done on them over the weekend. I have recently noticed my projects list getting longer and the progress of completing getting slower. It must be the season as I seem to be gathering fabric and thread and storing away for the long winter months.



My sewing area is in dire need of a clean up and put away session. Getting ready for the annual Elgin Craft Fair (always held the first Saturday in October) in Elgin, Nebraska has everything in disarray. It was a very successful craft fair. I made fabric baskets from the Its a Wrap book as demonstrated by June Vogltance (Vogies in Dodge). I love the technique and find the process to be very rewarding. It was hard to see my baskets leave the booth. :0) Mark you calendar for October 2, 2010 and google your trip to Elgin, Nebraska. You will enjoy the trip!



If you are planning a road trip to Kansas City soon, add Prairie Points Quilt Shop to your itinerary and you wont' be disappointed. Linda Potter was the Omaha Quilt Guilds guest speaker this month. Her technique for handquilting was so interesting I wanted the book and had to show my sister, Margaret, what was going to revolutionize my handquilting. Google Prairie Points and Linda Potter. You won't be disappointed! Prairie Point Quilt Shop is located at 7341 Quivira Road in Shawnee, Kansas.

Enjoy the day!

Didn't Make a Dent Quilt 2009

2009 Quilt Show entry. 3" log cabin blocks (over 10,000 pieces of fabric from my stash) and I didn't make a dent.