Miniature Armoire

This was a handmade gift from my Mom. Isn't it the cutest!

Complete with fabric. I called her and told her I've always wanted an armoire. Now I have one.

From Black to Blue

There are some tasks I just don't want to do. Can you guess?

I've lived here fifteen years and I think I've cleaned the oven three times. Should I even tell you that?? Forty-five minutes later:

Things I learned for next time:

Loosen the screws that hold the heating element in the back and lift it up and out of the way, easy!
Have something to *kneel* on, after the first 20 minutes on that linoleum floor, my knees were killing me.
Wear a face mask and long rubber gloves, man the *fumes*.
Don't wear your favorite cream colored tee-shirt that says, "Quilters Come With Strings Attached" You will inevitably splash some of the midnight black sludge on your front.
When you're done, heat the oven to about 300 to burn off the residual cleaner from the oven walls.
Don't wait so long, the spray-on cleaner really did cut through the lighter stains and they wiped away. The heavier stains had to be scraped away with a knife!
Now I can sew away the afternoon without guilt. What did you do today?

Gifting

There's a special feeling to a quilt made in secret for someone you love. All the time you're working on it, you're thinking about them, sending prayers their way and holding them in your heart as you choose a pattern, select colors, cut out the fabrics and piece the blocks. This quilt was just that sort of gift.

I used fabrics from my stash and Su's, pieces she'd given me to add to my scrap bag.

Last night I gave Su the Love Ring - Bowtie... to give to her grandson, born earlier this year. When she opened the box, her eyes were lit from within.

There's no greater gift you can give a quilter, than a quilt, for they know all that making one means.

Set to Ship

I've finished the holiday cookie baking and candy making. I was waiting for the stocking stuffers I ordered on line to arrive so I could put them in the boxes, but I can't wait any longer.

Got to get these to the East coast in eight days. Gee it looks like we give Amazon and the local shoe sellers a lot of business. =D

Trimming the Tree

Frank always strings the lights for me.

Lila helped too. We recently bought her a cat mat, one of those pet bed heaters, but she won't lay on it. Her new favorite spot is under the tree by this gift. Somehow she must know how special that particular package is.

Holiday Baking...

... and candy making has begun. Last night was Snowballs and Almond Roca; tonight will be Oatmeal Scotchies and Spiced walnuts.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. =D