Santa Came!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

We must have been nice because Santa left these packages.

Abby's color scheme was Kermit the Frog green and red.

Puffball bow. Instructions below.

Cut 7 circles out of wool felt.

Cut two slits in each circle

String circles onto ribbon

You can either leave them like this or

Pull the circles up tight and tie a knot in the ribbon

to make a puffball bow.

Simply glue a Styrofoam ball onto top of package.


Use an old antique belt buckle.


Anthony's color scheme was brown, green and red.
Since I was very late shopping for my gift wrap the good "guy"
wrap was all gone so I had to be creative.

I used my markers to add blue, red and brown dots to the green paper.
Just simple ribbon wrapped around the package - no bow.
This is nice if you have to pack or mail the gifts - no bows to get crushed.



Again, no bow - just ribbon and a pinecone.



Add a bright shiny bulb.

I thought I was being pretty creative however, I think son Anthony might have outdone me.

He wrapped his presents in fabric. Lord knows we all have plenty.

Note from Anthony:
Spray starch fabric first.
Duck tape is the only tape that sticks to fabric.
If you cut the duck tape right the ribbon will cover it.
Iron edges and ends for a crisp finish.
Have your mom add ribbons and adornment.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

From my heart,

Sandy

Blog Hop Day 9

Hello, welcome to Day 9 of the Cross Country Quilt Designer's Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Hop.





On the 7th day (hump day) I was going to do a give away - but I forgot. Last night I was doing my blog at home and didn't have the image of my give away, so today we will have a give away.
Anyone commenting on my blog will be in a random drawing to win this:

Crazy 8 Charm Pack

(Forty-five 5" squares)

And....

This Pattern

#443 Brrr!

Today's featured designer is: Sherri from This 'N' That.

I wonder what project she has in store for us?

I think I will go here and find out.

Today's topic: A kid story, either about your kids if you have any or other kids, even yourself.

I will title this blog Abby's A-ha Moment.

Abby, our second child required very little sleep. Trust me the child never slept.
One Christmas Eve, Bruce and I were nodding off in the family room, while waiting for Abby to go to sleep so we could play Santa. After what seemed like forever, I tip-toed upstairs to see if all were sleeping. Anthony, of course, had been sleeping for hours. Next room, Abby's, yes she is finally asleep. I tip-toed down stairs to give Bruce the go ahead.

As he was carrying the presents from the garage to the house he happened to look up, only to see our Dear Abby standing at her bedroom window.

My question to Bruce - What did you do? His answer - I waved.

I'm not sure how many years Abby had been watching us carry the presents in the house, but I'm pretty sure this was not the first time.

It reminds me of this Norman Rockwell picture.

Norman Rockwell is one of my favorites.

This is another one of my favorites.
Nobody could paint an expression like NR.
Hands and feet are very difficult for me to draw.
Not for Norman Rockwell - just look at those toes!

I love to read stories about kids, so I am off to read the other designer's stories. You should check them out too. Just follow the links below. Don't forget to leave a comment, we love to hear from you.

GE Designs, Pieces of My Heart, Atkinson Designs, Pat Sloan, Anka's Treasures,

Pam Kitty Morning, New Leaf Stitches, Whimsicals, This 'N' That, Miss Rosies,

Rosebud's Cottage, Linda Lum DeBono

Be sure to stop by tomorrow - make a comment and you might win a prize.
Tomorrow's designer is: Carrie Nelson from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.
Tomorrow's topic is: Favorite Gift From a Child.

Some of you had questions about the commenting so I just want to clarify: To be eligible for the grand prize you need to comment on each designers project post. You don't have to do it on the exact day that it is posted, just make sure you comment on all the blogs before the hop ends. So if you missed commenting on my project day, which was Day 2, just scroll down until you get to that post and post your comment now.
Happy Hopping.

From my heart,

Sandy

Blog Hop Day 7

Hello, welcome to day 7 of the Cross Country Quilt Designer Blog Hop. My goodness the days are just flying by.

Kari Carr from New Leaf Stitches is the featured designer for the day.

I can't wait to see what she has designed. Hop on over and check it out.

Topic for today is: Decoration/ornament, something you love/loved or were given.

Waaaay back when before I designed greeting cards, patterns or fabric I designed and sold finished craft items to a few shops in our area. The Cottage in Ft. Dodge Iowa (a fabulous shop but no longer in business) and The Hen House in Spencer, Iowa - still in business. I did this "crafting" in the basement of our very old, cold and damp unfinished basement. Daughter Abby spent a lot of time sitting beside me while I made my products.

I made dozens and dozens of these little cuties.
Wood and calico.
It was the thing back then.

When Abby was about 10 years old she made this Santa all by herself.

I can still remember her drawing the pattern free hand on unprinted newspaper.

She hadn't quite grasped the concept of right sides together, stitch and turn.
I don't know if you can see in the picture
but she used a stapler to attach all of the various body parts together.
(Click on picture to enlarge.)



Now there's a face you gotta love.
She drew it with color crayons.


Abby's Santa has some neck issues - it is unable to support Santa's head.
He always has to sit in front of my little red cubby
so I can tack his hat to the cubby.

Every year I display this Santa with the rest of my Santas. Each Santa is special in a different way. Someday I will re-gift him back to Abby.

Although I do not do a lot of Santa dolls, (that is my sister's specialty) I have designed several Santa quilt patterns over my 15 years of designing.
Here are just a few.

#192 Santa's Christmas Card.

This pattern was designed in 2001

and it is still one of my best selling patterns.

Second only to #230 Trees Up! Lights On!

#155 All Things Christmas

#195 1890 Santa
I use this as a rug in my living room at Christmas time.

Now hop on along to the other designer's blogs to see what ornament or gift has found a special place in their heart.
GE Designs, Pieces of My Heart, Atkinson Designs, Pat Sloan, Anka's Treasures,
Pam Kitty Morning, New Leaf Stitches, Whimsicals, This 'N' That, Miss Rosies,Rosebud's Cottage, Linda Lum DeBono

Tomorrow Day 8 Terri from Whimsicals will be the featured designer.

Make sure you stop by her blog. Don't forget to leave a comment.

The topic for tomorrow is: First Christmas on your own.

Happy Hopping,

From my heart,

Sandy

Blog Hop Day 6

My oh my it is day 6 - the blog hop is half over!




Our featured designer of the day is Pam, from Pam Kitty Morning. Just looking at her cute photo assures you that whatever she has designed - it will be fun and fabulous.

Topic of the day: Family Tradition.

Can it be a family tradition if you once did something, but no longer do it, and it was a Thanksgiving tradition to make something for Christmas??? I'm saying yes.
The tradition would start by gathering at the farm for Thanksgiving dinner. After we had all eaten too much and the kitchen was cleaned up, the men would retire to the basement to watch football. We girls and mom would go to the sewing room to make a Santa.

Mom, Linda, Brenda and Me.

Lucky for us, my sister Brenda, of Country Stitches, would bring her newest Santa pattern and the supplies needed to make him. We all brought the fabric of our choice. We would giggle and laugh about how even though we all used the same pattern each Santa had it's own personality. My sister Linda is left handed so her Santa was always the opposite of the rest - his bag in his left hand instead of his right. Brenda's Santa would always have the best looking face - the eyes placed just right. Mom's eyes were usually too big. Mine always had some sort of a lump in his leg or arm, or a kink in his neck - I have always been very bad at stuffing.

When our Santas were finished,
we took them upstairs and set them on Mom's hutch.
We would sit at the table, eat Mom’s homemade pumpkin pie
heaped with whipped cream and admired our work.

Why don't we still carry on this tradition??? Well it seemed the older we became the slower we became. Each year it took us longer to get the project done.

We decided before we had to resort to a Popsicle Stick Santa
we should just quit. Kind of the "quit while you are ahead" theory.

However, we did make Santas long enough
to acquire quite a nice collection.
I display them on my antique counter each year

This guy fits perfectly in a grapevine wreath.

Be sure to hop on all of the designer’s blogs to read about their special tradition.

GE Designs, Pieces of My Heart, Atkinson Designs, Pat Sloan, Anka's Treasures,

Pam Kitty Morning, New Leaf Stitches, Whimsicals, This 'N' That, Miss Rosies,Rosebud's Cottage, Linda Lum DeBono

Don’t forget to leave a comment.

Tomorrow we start day 7 - all down hill from here.
Featured designer will be Kari from New Leaf Stitches.
Tomorrows topic:Decoration/ornament, something you love/loved or were given.

Should be loads of fun.

From my heart,

Sandy

Blog Hop Day 5

Hello, and welcome to Day 5 of the Cross Country Quilt Designer’s Blog Hop.
I must say I am totally amazed at how many people are following our hop. Do you enjoy getting to know us - or is it the prize you are after? Let me tell you I would be after the prize.

1st Prize A gift bag worth $250
2nd Prize A gift bag worth $70
3rd Prize A gift bag worth $40


To be eligible for the prize you need to leave a comment on all 12 designer's blogs.
Some of you have had trouble commenting on my blog, and others. Some of you said you can only do it anonymously. If you have to do it anonymously, please just put your email address at the end of the comment. That way if "anonymous" wins we know who to contact.



Today the featured designer is the very talented and pretty Heather from Anka's Treasures.
Hop on over to her blog to see the project she has created for you to make.

The topic of the day is: A Santa Story.

Santa Claus always came to Christmas at Hank and Evelyn's house. (Our surrogate grandparents.) We would have a huge meal with two kinds of meat and all the trimmings. The rule was all of the dishes had to be done before Santa Claus could come. (This was their way of getting us kids to help with the dishes.)

After what seemed like FOREVER

our fingers were shriveled and the dishes were done.

Now we could pass out the presents.

Suddenly there would be a rap on the big picture window.

All of us kids would run from window to window to wave at Santa.

He would go completely around the house before he came in the back door.

As soon as Santa came in I would run and hide.

I was really afraid of Santa Claus, therefore

we do not have any pictures of me and Santa.

It is amazing, as an adult, how often I need one.

I grew up, married, had children and started our own tradition. Every Christmas Eve we would go to the children’s mass where a story about Baby Jesus was read. After church we would drive around and look at all of the pretty Christmas lights. After the light tour we headed home for a light meal of soup and appetizers. (Served on my green plaid dishes.)
Then it was off to bed so Santa could bring the gifts.

All to soon the kids grew up and no longer believed in the big guy. They are now 29 and 27, but we still wait until they go to bed before we put the presents in their chairs.

We do not put the presents under the tree.

Instead I display my antique toys under the tree.

Bruce’s old train circles the tree.

The Krazy Ikes are the ones that Mom gave me.


Anthony meeting Santa for the first time.

Abby meeting Santa for the first time.

(When you are the second child there are never any pictures of you alone.)

Looks like Santa could use a brow bleaching.

Guess what Santa brought this year?
Oakley sunglasses - they asked - Santa delivered.

We had planned a Christmas ski trip and they wanted to look cool on the slops.

They look pretty cool standing in front of the Christmas tree.

Anthony looking very pleased with the digital camera that Santa gave him.

Abby looking very festive in her red and white polka dot pajamas.

She has taken the ribbons from her packages and tied them in her

hair and around her neck. Silly girl.

Even though the kids are all grown up, we still go to the Children’s mass on Christmas Eve. I never tire of hearing the Baby Jesus story.


After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about? - Baby Jesus and Children.

Visit all of the designer’s blogs to hear their Santa stories.

GE Designs, Pieces of My Heart, Atkinson Designs, Pat Sloan, Anka's Treasures,

Pam Kitty Morning, New Leaf Stitches, Whimsicals, This 'N' That, Miss Rosies,Rosebud's Cottage, Linda Lum DeBono
Don’t forget to leave a comment.

Tune in tomorrow when the topic will be: A Family Tradition.

The featured designer will be Pam from Pam Kitty Morning.

Happy Hopping

From my heart,

Sandy