Basketing Around

So this has been simmering along for a good while (think years) ...

And now I am ready to quilt it I think.

So I set up the dining room table for some machine quilting...

And I got busy - well a start any ways.  With Christmas coming and me hosting Christmas Eve this year I better get to it.

Row Along

So I visited Bee in my Bonnet's blog and was totally seduced by her cute row along.

I think this is row four.  Ok, not, it's row two.  I am using the fabric that the Sew Sisters sent me last month as part of their bargain club.  each row goes to gether well with Lori's straightforward instructions.

Smells of the season

I found a recipe for spices to add to mulled wine for the Christmas season.  I liked the sound of it so I filched the idea for my christmas tree.  (Normally I would link you here to her site but I saw it on Google reader and my history button doesn't show where I have been.  Darn it. )

I do not have a real tree so I thought I would hang a small pouch of spices on it.  It works really well.  The smell isn't predominant all the time but it comes and goes.  I like that.  Yesterday evening it was nice and spicy - maybe cause the furnace comes on more.  But this morning I'm not smelling it so much.  Suits me.

Here's my recipe:  6-8 whole cloves
                             6-8 whole allspice
                              6-8 whole cardamom pods, slightly crushed
                              a cinnamon stick

I made a small cheese cloth bag like you would for bouquet garni in your stew pot.  I put the spices in, splitting most of the pods open.  Then I tied it shut, adding a cinnamon stick on the outside.  Don't forget the cardamom it is really important to round out the fragrance.

I will leave you with a picture one of the beautiful ornaments my mother in law made me before she passed away.

My Niece was here how Nice

Caroline came for a visit and some sewing.  What fun.  She was imagining some new Christmas stockings for her and her guy and thought I might be able to help.

After some work on her part drafting up her ideas...

Then a quick lesson in paper piecing...  She was a quick study...

What a great start.  I hope I get to put up a picture of the finished project....

Look what's in my mailbox

Oh Boy, oh boy, oh boy oh boy ohboyohboyohboy !!

Those folks at Sew Sisters are pretty prompt.  I love this.  Can you tell that this is the first time I have ordered fabric on the internet.  What great results.

Let it Snow

It's Saturday, why talk when a picture will do.