Merry Christmas and Happy New

Greetings All.....I just noticed my last post was Dec. 8.....where have I been, and how fast does time fly!   I have been quilting, cleaning the studio....neverending....and quilting some more.  I had hoped to quilt 3 of my own pieces over Christmas, but the one with peacocks took a week on the frame, so that idea went out the window!  I am finally putting the binding on the peacocks....my tired old eyes are having fits with black binding, black backing, and black thread.....not much fun.
My helper Trish came and we put in a counter I had stashed in the barn....trying to clean up around the design wall, or as I often call it the bulletin board.   Opal says that is my problem....I have to quit thinking of that space as a bulletin board!!   It is a great design wall...two sliding boards with insulation board covered with batting....it is a total of 8 by 8 feet...trouble is that I had about 18" on each edge plastered with important stuff!  So the design wall was slowly shrinking.....now I have it all clear so I put up the newest kaffe quilt...just have to add a row on top and bottom.   I had extra blocks so decided to make it bigger.  The more to quilt, my dear!

We had a quiet Christmas at home....went to my brother's the Sunday before Christmas.  Just rain...no snow....I am thinking good thoughts that we have not one flake of snow this year, or at least any that stays on the ground.
I got the Christmas cards in the mail DEC. 24....usually it is after Jan. 1...so this year I was ahead of schedule....just finished making my annual banket pastry, and will finish it up later today.   It is  a yummy almond paste pastry.  I got the recipe from my  lovely old Dutch ladies who could cook wonderful goodies.    I have had the recipe over 25 years already...can't believe it. 
I decided to make some Christmas cut-out cookies so got the dough ready last night for cutting and baking today.  It has been a few years or more since I did cut-out cookies....too many cookies makes for too much Judy.
Well, gotta get going into town on errands...will try to post pictures of the bake shop later! 

 one of my patriotic ornaments.....I have a huge collection and my tree is covered with red, white, and blue.

 who doesn't need some pumpkin pie?

 Part of my matrushka dolls I collected from my Russian mission trips....early on I traded some m and m's for them!   I am thinking of doing a qiult!   (in my spare time!)

 I used to make mohair teddy bears....fun.

 Another kaffe quilt...headlights!

 This peacock quilt was made using Sara Nephew's  triangle ruler....super 60.....the peacock feathers took forever to quilt.

Have a wonderful few days before the new year.   I hope you get some piecing in between all the parties and foodies.....judy

HI Jenny

Hi Jenny......just checking to see if you are reading my blog....since you gave me  a  jolt to write again!  Jenny is one of our youngest members...a busy mom....expecting a little boy in February, and a very creative and talented member of our long-arm group. 
We had our long-arm meeting today, about 14 gals who love to quilt and share and EAT!!
Always good foodies at our every other month meetings.  If you are a long-armer, I hope you are able to meet with other gals in your area...we are truly blessed here to have that privilege.  We share lots of ideas, ask for ideas, share books and classes we have enjoyed, and just plain  encourage each other in many ways.  I have been a part of this group almost 10 years, since  moving to WA. 
Today Jenny Pedigo shared more about her trip to Houston and her great ruler.....makes curves and a myriad of designs can be created with this fantastic ruler.  I will try to figure out how to post her blog info....I think if you just type in Jenny Pedigo up will pop all kinds of great info....sewkindofwonderful might do the trick, too. 
JoAnn Blade shared her great new felt foodie patterns for kids....and big kids too.   They are great fun, and can be easily made on the long-arm. 
I guess I am the oldest, longest quilting member in the group now...Barb Dau has quilted a year longer than I have!....we started in the days when we had no classes, no books, no manuals for our machines, and no nuthin!.....it is sooooo much better today from that standpoint.
I am still quilting on a 16 year old machine with no stitch regulator, but I do have the needle up and down...which I love.   I have never done pantos....just   quilting designs totally free-hand and no marking.....well, I guess the new computer machines would put me over the edge for sure.   I tip my hat to all those young kids who can figure them out  and make all those amazing designs with them.
Today we spotted a little snow on our way to the meeting...don't like that one bit.  

This week will bring a couple more guild Christmas parties, a class, and  a field trip with my Goof Balls to the La Conner Museum and the Material Men exhibit.
I even quilted two of my own quilts  in the last few weeks, and have one of Freddy Moran's ready to start on Monday morn....will try to remember to post a picture.  It is a big, colorful tree!

One of Stephanie Davis' quilts....the modern style! 

Another Freddy chicken!

A goofy flower I created for the museum challenge last Quiltfestival.  I covered the whole top with black tulle just for fun!

Decided to share an old sunset shot that I thought was so beautiful. 

Hope you all have a great week, and will try to post some more pics of my messy studio as my friend Trish comes Monday to help organize another area....I think it is hopeless.....have a great week....judy