Christmas miscellany

Christmas Eve day found me busy with last minute preparation and full of anticipation.

The mail brought me a Pay It Forward package from Sarah Fielke.

 A lovely Christmas Eve surprise!  Thank you, Sarah!

We had a delicious Christmas Eve family dinner at my sister's loft, and

 then attended the 11:00 Christmas Eve service of our church (Solid Rock), which was held in downtown Portland at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.  It was a fabulous way to celebrate and begin Christmas Day with family and friends!

Molly's fiance, Peter, spent the night, so it was a joy to wake up after a few hours of sleep to have him open presents with us.  And then the extended family arrived to spend the day, from brunch till dinner, with a few margaritas in between.  What a day!

(Table runner made years ago by my MIL)

The "kids": future SIL Peter, daughter Molly, niece Lauren, nephew Mark, son Michael.

Did I mention that it turns out my that husband is a pretty good liar.  And the kids are in cahoots with him!

(1) He went shopping with Molly at 4:00 a.m. on Black Friday (I know!) and came home with a Cusinart Food Processor for her.  I said that I wished I had known, because mine is so worn out after years of heavy use, that you have to hold the pieces together and push down on the whole thing just right to get it to work.  Of course, he said that they only had a limited number, the sale price was only for a limited time, etc.  I didn't think anything more about it, until I opened the package Christmas morning.  The tag read, "Merry Christmas -- I lied!"

(2)  He started emailing me earlier in the month about Juki sergers -- were they good, would I want one, etc.  Then when I asked him about it, he told me that he had a chance to get one for an incredible deal, but that he had not had the time to respond during his work day and lost the deal to someone else.  It was donated to a radio station fund raiser by a local sew and vac store with lifetime sewing lessons.  It was an amazing deal, so it made sense to me that someone else got it before Steve.  So, I was really surprised to get this (from Michael, Molly, and Peter).

 So, apparently, I live with a bunch of liars.  Thank goodness!

Just between us, I'm thrilled with, but more than a little intimidated by this beautiful machine.  I can't wait for my first lesson!  

Do you own a serger?  Have you ever used one?  What projects have you used it for?

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

For Cathy (and all my lovely blogging friends)

I have been functioning on survival mode (for oh soooooo many reasons), but have started sorting through 1000's of unread blog postings and have been thinking about making a post or two myself; however, I just don't seem to have anything new to show.  Just a few ALMOST finished things. (Stay tuned for a my finished Wonky Log Cabin [aka Amy Butler Extravaganza] quilt.  It's back from the quilter's and just needs binding!). Then this morning I was reading Cathy's latest posts (Cabbage Quilts), and I just had to show her a few things.  You don't mind -- do you?

Cathy was my introduction to blogging.  I found her blog through pictures she had posted to the Kaffe Fassett Collective group on Facebook, and I wrote her an email asking how I could follow or subscribe to her blog.  She was still fairly new to blogging herself and wasn't sure how to help me, but I finally figured it out and Cabbage Quilts was my first blog subscription.  And it remains one of my favorites.  If you follow Cathy's blog, you know what I mean.

Anyway, Cathy and I share more in common than just quilting, so without any further ado, Christmas pictures for Cathy and everyone else:

I love all things blue and white.  Always have, and probably always will.  Cathy has recently shared some pictures of her blue and white pottery.  I have more china than pottery, but it's in just about every room of the house.  Right now most of looks like this (storage)...

...so that I have room to put out this...

I guess I also have a thing for Spode (Blue Italian, Blue Room, Christmas Tree, Trapnell, Billingsley Rose...) -- it's all good!

And, I also love nativity scenes.  Cathy and I have this same one by Willow Tree on our pianos.  Here are a few others from around the world:

Cathy also posted a picture of a wonderful old spool she found.  I have some old spools, too, and usually use them as candle holders.  But I love the colorful ribbon that she keeps on hers.

I have some spools that are more similar to Cathy's with the large, flat ends, but they are at the beach cottage right now.

And, of course, we both share a love of arguably one of the most beautiful fabrics ever designed (by Kaffe or anyone else):  August Rose.

Thanks, Cathy, for introducing me to blogging, making such gorgeous, inspiring quilts, and giving me something to post about today.  I'm back!

With wishes, true and kind for a wonderful holiday season with family and friends -- Joan