Christmas Mug Rug Swap

I signed up to participate in the Christmas 2012 Mug Rug Swap that is going on at Flickr.  I have been in other swaps that go on there and for the most part have been very pleased with what my swap partner has made for me.

To the left is the mug rug that I made for LeslieCan'tStopQuilting.  I sure hope she likes it.  I'm going to tuck in some extra things to brighten her Christmas, too. 

On the right is the mug rug that GuiltyQuilter made for me.  She also included a few other "goodies" in my package.  I love the mug rug and the extras she sent along was awfully nice of her.

I'm working on a couple of Christmas gifts for the grandchildren, so I'm off to the sewing studio to do that.  Pictures will be coming later!
  

Sick hubby

My sweet hubby has been sick.  :(

He has some sort of stomach virus...I think I'm pretty safe to say that it wasn't my cooking that gave him this.

He came down with it on Saturday night and as of today, Tuesday, he is slowly recovering.  Sure hope he starts to feel better soon.  Hate to see him sick.

Katherine F. Carnahan

Today is a very special day in my heart.  It is my mother's birthday...99 years ago she was born to Bessie and George.

My mom played a strong and important part in my life.  We were best friends as I was a teenager.  When Daddy died in 1966, our relationship changed and we became even closer.  She was always there for me, and I tried to be there for her.

I still miss Mama and she's been gone for 21 years now.  Hard to believe.

If you are lucky enough to have your mom, give her a hug and tell her just how much you love her.

 

Thanksgiving

This year, Thanksgiving day started with the 22nd Annual YMCA Turkey Trot for three generations of Burdette women.  Pictured from left to right is Jennifer, Evelyn, me and Kelly.  We did our 5k...the three younger gals doing the run...me, well I walked most of it, with a little running thrown in to make it a little more interesting!  What a great way to start a terrific day.

When we got home, the menfolk had finished defrosting the turkey, had it in the roaster pan and had set out the makings for the stuffing.  Great men we have in our family!

Our dinner included turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, spinach risotto, red cabbage, green bean casserole, home-baked rolls,  macaroni and cheese (the grand children's favorite), pumpkin and coconut cream pie.  Yep...not very much food!!!  LOL!

Our time together was wonderful this year.  Unfortunately, daughter Kelly has a shoulder injury and isn't feeling very well.  She's a trooper and did as much as she could, but I was really glad to see that she is a smart woman and rests when she needs to.  With lots of help in the kitchen, I put together the stuffing and got the turkey into the oven.  Group efforts on side dishes made creating a wonderful dinner a cinch.

My family is fantastic.  I am so grateful for each and every one of them.  I'm thankful for so much.  Each day is a treasure, isn't it.  We have SO much to thank God for.  To think that my sweet husband (who teases so very much!!) and I started our little family so many years ago.  It's grown and we have such wonderful children, sons-in-law and grandchildren.  Each and every one of those people is so special.  Family is a wonderful thing...through everything, you love.

I'm getting a little "sappy", so I'll close this post with this:

Thanksgiving was such a great time!  Thanks!

Trick or treat?

It's a cold and rainy day.  Sandy (the hurricane/tropical storm/frankenstorm) is on her way up the east coast, coming inward toward Pennsylvania...and me...in Ohio.

Today is trick or  treat but it's so ugly out.  Not many trick or treaters here.

I've got a couple of the grandkids since their parents wanted a little "no littles" time, so I put on some meatball stroganoff and then the girls and I made homemade rolls.  They had a blast!

I don't like the cold, damp, rainy weather...then again it's all part of the "cycle of life".  I'm missing my daughters...all in all, just feeling a little blue lately.  I should stop complaining and think about the quilts I'm currently working on.  After all, happiness is a state of mind that we choose, isn't it.

I can't show pictures of the quilts yet, they are a surprise, but I love the fabrics and am eager to get on with the show!

If you are in the path of this storm, take care of yourself and be very careful.  

Keepsake quilt for a friend...

This is my newest finish -- this quilt was made for a woman that I used to work with, to honor her mother and her grandmother.   The quilt is made from curtains that hung in her mother's kitchen.  I deconstructed the curtains, used part of the fabric and a lot of the lace.  The dresser scarves were hand embroidered by her mother.

The sun was so bright when this photo was taken that the green from the dresser scarves is kind of washed out.  They are a very pretty light apple green.

She was so very touched and shed tears when she opened it.  I feel so blessed that I have a talent that can bring joy to others, as well as myself.

Now, on to other projects in the works, and in the planning stage.  The holidays are soon approaching and I have so much I want to do.

Coffee...a yummy necessity

  

This morning Rick has gone golfing and I am puttering about the house, just planning what I want and what I need to do today. After checking on the peaches I bought yesterday, not quite ready for eating yet, I spied my espresso maker and decided I'd like to have a tall frozen mocha cappuccino!



The idea reminded me that I hadn't posted any pictures of my "mug rugs" that I have recently made. I joined a mug rug swap over on Flickr and my partner is getting two of these, but this first one is going to be mine. A couple of reasons why I'm keeping this one...first of all, I love it! Secondly, it's a tad larger than the maximum 8 x 10 inches that is stipulated in the rules of the swap. So..."Give me a coffee and no one gets hurt" will stay here with me!


This ultra-bright mug rug will be going to my partner.  She wrote that she liked orange, lime green and tan, so I came up with this.  The flowers have some 'raw edge applique', that is what makes them look all fuzzy and ruffly.  It's awfully bright, but I hope she likes it.








This last one is also going to my partner.  I bought a half-hexagon template and this is an idea I have for a quilt I plan to make in the not-too-distant future.  It's peach and turquoise and white-on-white fabrics.  I think she will like this one, even if it's not too "exciting

Now, I think I'm off to get "dolled up" for my day!

Starring Treva

See this cutie to the left?
It's Treva!  A pint-sized tornado!

This is a granny-square quilt I made for Treva.  She's the youngest of 6 grandchildren and somehow I got waaay behind in making quilts for the two youngest!  However, I got this done and given to my cutie.  I think the old adage is true...better late than never!







The backing is minkie...I love it for baby quilts as it gives such a cozy and silky cuddle.

A little close up photo of the label.





I sure hope this quilt reminds Treva how much Mimi loves her long after Mimi is gone.

Starring Vivian

This little girl?  Her name is Vivian, but her mom and

siblings (for some reason...) call her "Bad to the Bone"!!

She's one energetic 2 year old and she sure gives all

a run for our money!

I'm very late in making Vivian's quilt, but I

finally completed it and gave it to her yesterday.

She surprised me with her enthusiasm for it and

that made me feel just wonderful!

 This picture is a close up of the label.  It should be turned to the left...sorry, but I can't figure out how to do that right now.

I sure hope this quilt reminds Vivian how much Mimi loves her long after Mimi is gone.

Did someone say "cook" to me????

If you know me, you know I'm not much of a cook anymore.  When the kids were little, I made everything from scratch, but not anymore.

There have been some interesting things that happen while I'm in the kitchen -- or maybe I've stepped away from the kitchen when these "umm...events"  have occurred.  Remind me sometime and I'll post one or two...I don't want to tell all of them!!  :)

I have an easy recipe for "The Easiest Beef Tips Ever" that my uber-picky hubby enjoyed.  It takes a long while to bake (4 hours), but it's great cause you can stick it in your oven (or if you wish, your crock pot) and have your main part of the meal complete without any fuss.  Here's the recipe in the event you'd like to try it:

Easiest Beef Tips Ever

Preheat oven to 275F

Bake for 4 hours

2 lbs beef stew meat
2 cans french onion soup
2 cans cream of mushroom soup

In an ovenproof casserole dish sprayed with Pam, add all ingredients and stir. Salt and pepper well. Bake uncovered for 4 hours.  (Note…I didn’t use salt due to the amount of sodium in the canned soups.)

Serve over rice or noodles.  It's delicious!

Back from vacation...

These two lovebirds are standing aboard the Star Princess ship in front of the Sawyer Glacier in the great state of Alaska.  We had a fabulous trip and as a little bonus, we escaped the 100 degree temperatures at home!!  Woo hoo!  More details to come.

Look what came in the mail for me today!

I took part in a "July 4th Mug Rug Swap" on Flickr. My swap partner was Lisa, from Alabama and she does some pretty fantastic work. She tells me she's new at this, that this was her first applique and that she has never done free motion quilting before! Well, she surely has some talent, that's for sure.  Thanks SO much, Lisa!

To the left and to the right are the mug rugs that Lisa received from me.  They look a little "wonky" in the photos, but they aren't.  the one on the left was just an exercise in creativity.  The one on the right is made with the "convergence" design by Ricky Tims.  I made another quilt a while back with his guidance and I do love the way things turn out.  A lot depends on fabric choices, that's for sure.  I do hope Lisa likes what she received from me, too.  (She DID write to me and express her appreciation.)

We did it!

This morning, Akron Walks for Autism had an event.  My daughter Jennifer and I walked in support of the organization.  This photo was taken just after we registered, before the walk.  We had our McDonald's coffee in hand, still relaxing before our 1 mile.  We were going to do the 5K, but Jennifer has poison ivy and isn't feeling tip top.  Anyway, we walked, we enjoyed and we supported!

"Sea Mist"

It's done!  She's been washed, dried and held up for the camera.  She's earmarked for someone special.  I'm off to purchase either a gift bag or box for wrapping!

Gracie

Yesterday Gracie went to the groomer for her spa day.  Gracie doesn't enjoy a spa day as much as I do, however, she got her summer "do" and her bath and her nails done.  (And any residual skunkie scent is now completely gone.)  She also received an adorable girlie kerchief.

We were outside working in the yard today and Gracie was guarding us.  She's so good at that...we weren't attacked while we were outside.  She's VERY good at her job!  She's a sweet girl, very calm and gentle, but if she felt we were in any danger at all, she'd be charging her boundaries and keeping unwelcome intruders at bay.

Help me name this quilt, please.

This quilt is ready for quilting and I'll be starting it tomorrow.  I've done some practicing and am ready to roll.

I always seem to have problems with naming a quilt and was wondering if you could give me some ideas of what you might name this quilt if you were naming it.

Your help would be really appreciated!

Mmmm, delicious!

I (along with my daughter, Jennifer) took Wilton Cake Decorating classes at a nearby Michael's store this last couple of months.  We had a blast (the instructor was great and the group of ladies were super-fun!).  Now, I know you may think..."Wow, that Helen is one fantastically domestic goddess!".  As much as I hate to disappoint you, well, maybe I'll just let you think that.

Here is the cake that I just completed.  Making all those flowers was fun and many laughs and fun times were enjoyed while making them.  When it was time to enjoy the fruits of my labor, I divided this baby up and shipped a little bit off to six of my neighbors.  Not a big piece for anyone, but a treat to be enjoyed that night after supper.  I had rave reviews that the cake was tasty, and I can attest to that fact as I had a small slice myself.

This is Treva!

Last week was my youngest granddaughter's (Treva's) birthday, she turned 2!

Here are a few pictures of us making her cake...his name is Larry Boy from Veggie Tales.  Lots of time was spent creating Larry Boy and our efforts were appreciated, as Treva was delighted with him.  (Plus, for a cucumber, he was one mighty-tasty cake!

This is Jennifer, working on Larry Boy

I'm working on Larry Boy

                                       

Evie in back, Hadley, Nathan, Viv and Anna

Hadley, Jennifer & Treva

Larry Boy