Friday, December 28, 2012

Reveling!

There is so much to revel in this season!

Family - my twin sister and her husband and two kids came to spend Christmas with us.  My brother and his partner and her two kids also came over on Christmas day and spent the night.  There were presents and food, of course, but also lots of games, some exercise (ugh!  My sister drags me running with her every time we are together.  I HATE to run!  The only good part is the sense of accomplishment afterwards), and lots of laughter.  Plus, my gorgeous little niece wanted to do some sewing.  I was more than happy to oblige.  She made two denim bookmarks, one for her and one for her dad, plus two little 4-patch sachets filled with sweet pea scented rice.
She can barely see over my ironing board!
But she was meticulous about sewing, going a nice even slow speed and sewing a remarkably straight seam. 
Sewing - I was sad to say goodbye to family, but after they left, I realized I could get back down to my sewing room.  My kids were exhausted, and were happy to entertain themselves for a while while I worked on a Hurricane Sandy quilt today, plus made my December Let's Bee Together blocks
Quick and easy sewing - little 4.5" foundation pieced string blocks 
and 5 Block Lotto blocks for January.
Tall Shoo-fly blocks measuring 6" x 9" finished, with white, spring or lime green, true red and black - I like the look of these, and they were super easy to make
When I went to post them today, I realized it is still December - maybe I should make some more of December's blocks while I still have the time.

I also mailed out my ugly, lame-o house block for Beth's Neighborhood House Party over at Love, Laugh, Quilt.

I kept meaning to embellish it, but never found the time.  Sheesh!  I even forgot a window and a door!  Oh well. It probably won't get there in time anyway.

Generosity - people continue to give to the Hurricane Sandy quilt relief project.  An anonymous box of orphan/sampler blocks came
12 B&W sampler blocks
12 fall colored/themed sampler blocks
and a whole passel of HST blocks
plus a quilt that is already sandwiched and ready for quilting.
Some of the shamrocks are already appliqued on, others are just pinned in place. See that round roll of matching binding?  This will be an easy one to finish.  Thanks, Marcia!
Our project is getting some recognition, too.  There was an article in the Republican-Herald newspaper out of Pottsville, PA on the Monday before Christmas and a reporter from the Roanoke Times out of Roanoke, VA called me yesterday and is sending a photographer to my house on Monday to get photos of the blocks and quilts.

Can you guess what I'll be doing this weekend?  Yup!  Cleaning up the sewing room!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! you HAVE been a busy elf!!! I am continuing to be so thankful I came across your blog and the "Sandy Project"!! I have a feeling that we will be seeing many more such needs in the foreseeable future. Thanks and blessings for your role in this endeavor! Happy New Year and hugs, D

Unknown said...

Yay, glad you are getting local recognition, too! (Wonder if the VA paper saw the PA story? Or did someone else give them a nudge?) Just finishing up a crib quilt to send your way, along with copies of the newspaper from here. Happy New Year!! :)

Julie Fukuda said...

Oh my, I'm worn out just looking at what you have done!
Enjoy your break from work and family time!

Shay said...

You really are a pocket rocket Erin. You amaze me with your boundless energy and enthusiasm.