Well, my goodness, things are festive at my house about now! I am planning on spending the day making cookies. Yesterday I took Grandpa for a hair cut in town, and when I got him settled back home, he smiled at me and said "So, what are we gonna to do tomorrow?", like we were BFFs. I said, "Why, we are making Christmas cookies! Want to come help?" He agreed, with an expression of delight.
There are some terrific cookie magazines out on the newsstands right now, and I enjoyed making my cookie making plans while I had my tea this morning. As soon as Eva arrives, we will go to the grocery store and then pick up Grandpa and start baking.
Hmmmm, notice anything interesting in that photo above? Besides the pictures of cookies? No, not my cute Christmas salt and pepper shakers. Up in the left hand corner?
That, my friends, is the new Brannock and Patek collection, "Audra's Iris Garden". Enough for make an entire full size quilt! Oh my, do I ever have plans for this fabric. And I think you are going to love it.
Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts (and creator of the fabulous Fit to be Geese, Fit to be Quarter and other rulers) is organizing a Blogger's Block of the Month, that will run January through June. There will be six block patterns, which can be made in two versions for a completed quilt of either six blocks or twelve blocks. Seven of your favorite quilt bloggers will be working with seven different fabric collections to make seven different versions of this project. There is a peek of it on the right.
Much more information is to come. I just want to get you thinking about kicking off 2013 with a beautiful quilt! It will be done in easy steps, with lots of encouragement, seven different perspectives, labor saving tips, and best of all—IT'S FREE!
30 responses to “Amidst All the Holiday Hoopla….An Announcement”
Nicole, the material is beautiful and I am a blue person. I will be checking back to sew my blocks from January. Enjoy your cookie making tomorrow.
Nicole, the material is beautiful and I am a blue person. I will be checking back to sew my blocks from January. Enjoy your cookie making tomorrow.
I love “free” thanks for the heads up. and I love that fabric… guess I will be doing some more shopping after Christmas.
I love “free” thanks for the heads up. and I love that fabric… guess I will be doing some more shopping after Christmas.
What a delightful holiday tabletop array for you to enjoy as you sip your tea and read cookie recipes.
It’s wonderful that you and Grandpa have such a good relationship and that he’ll come participate in the cookie making. Hope you can find a Kodak moment of Grandpa and Eva together and snap a picture. Perhaps that photo would become framed gifts for Grandpa and others?
Those fabrics are certainly delicious and I appreciate the heads up on the free BOM!! In the past several years I have made several small wall hangings for myself and for friends that are one block framed with borders. I find them a delight to put on table tops, in small wall areas, or on doll beds. I love new-to-me block patterns!!
I’m so excited that tomorrow will bring Ahren and Mary Ann home to you!!!!
Hugs!
Hugs!
What a delightful holiday tabletop array for you to enjoy as you sip your tea and read cookie recipes.
It’s wonderful that you and Grandpa have such a good relationship and that he’ll come participate in the cookie making. Hope you can find a Kodak moment of Grandpa and Eva together and snap a picture. Perhaps that photo would become framed gifts for Grandpa and others?
Those fabrics are certainly delicious and I appreciate the heads up on the free BOM!! In the past several years I have made several small wall hangings for myself and for friends that are one block framed with borders. I find them a delight to put on table tops, in small wall areas, or on doll beds. I love new-to-me block patterns!!
I’m so excited that tomorrow will bring Ahren and Mary Ann home to you!!!!
Hugs!
Hugs!
Your BOM is very tempting. I bet it will be beautiful and you can’t beat “free” but I have another, similar project I am supposed to be doing. It is the Red Crinoline Quilts pattern set, with lots of 5″ blocks, more of a block of the week than month. I just need to get organized for it.
Your BOM is very tempting. I bet it will be beautiful and you can’t beat “free” but I have another, similar project I am supposed to be doing. It is the Red Crinoline Quilts pattern set, with lots of 5″ blocks, more of a block of the week than month. I just need to get organized for it.
It sounds like perfect ‘holiday hoopla’ at your house today! Enjoy your time baking cookies with Grandpa & Eva! The time spent with them will be well worth it! I’m looking forward to following the Bloggers BOM! Have a great day!
It sounds like perfect ‘holiday hoopla’ at your house today! Enjoy your time baking cookies with Grandpa & Eva! The time spent with them will be well worth it! I’m looking forward to following the Bloggers BOM! Have a great day!
Took a close up look at that fabric, and it is gorgeous. Love the idea of the bloggers block of the month. A great way to start off 2013. Hope you get lots of baking done today, I’m starting mine on Sunday.
Took a close up look at that fabric, and it is gorgeous. Love the idea of the bloggers block of the month. A great way to start off 2013. Hope you get lots of baking done today, I’m starting mine on Sunday.
You are the sweetest daughter-in-law! Have fun today baking cookies.
The BOM is very, very tempting. Thanks for the early heads-up, so I can plan to make time for it. I have never participated in a BOM, but with you (and Thelma, I presume) on board, how can I resist? 🙂
You are the sweetest daughter-in-law! Have fun today baking cookies.
The BOM is very, very tempting. Thanks for the early heads-up, so I can plan to make time for it. I have never participated in a BOM, but with you (and Thelma, I presume) on board, how can I resist? 🙂
Nicole, as I was reading your post, it occurred to me that Grandpa is so very blessed to have you in his life. Bless you! It’s easy to love children. The elderly are often so lonely and difficult to be around. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us to spend time with other older family members,too.
Nicole, as I was reading your post, it occurred to me that Grandpa is so very blessed to have you in his life. Bless you! It’s easy to love children. The elderly are often so lonely and difficult to be around. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us to spend time with other older family members,too.
Your description of Grandpa’s reaction brought a tear to my eye as I remembered my Dad. After Mum died, although Dad was pretty independent, he was lonely and I called in twice a day every day. I remember the day he said those exact words (though in Welsh!) and I knew he was just starting to feel there was a bit of sunshine left in life. Bless you. I hope your family and stitching give you deserved joy in return.
Your description of Grandpa’s reaction brought a tear to my eye as I remembered my Dad. After Mum died, although Dad was pretty independent, he was lonely and I called in twice a day every day. I remember the day he said those exact words (though in Welsh!) and I knew he was just starting to feel there was a bit of sunshine left in life. Bless you. I hope your family and stitching give you deserved joy in return.
I can’t wait to start baking cookies! I have had my eye on a couple magazines at the store. I like your fabric collection for the Open Gate sew along. Are you designing any of the blocks for that or is Monique designing all 6? I would love to play along. And pull from my stash… then it would be a completely free project!
Your table looks so festive!
I can’t wait to start baking cookies! I have had my eye on a couple magazines at the store. I like your fabric collection for the Open Gate sew along. Are you designing any of the blocks for that or is Monique designing all 6? I would love to play along. And pull from my stash… then it would be a completely free project!
Your table looks so festive!
You are tempting me again. I am anxious to learn more. Love that fabric.
You are tempting me again. I am anxious to learn more. Love that fabric.
I love your bff! Can’t wait to see a pic of him and Eva “helping” 🙂
I love your bff! Can’t wait to see a pic of him and Eva “helping” 🙂
I am so gonna love watching what you do with that fabric. Karmen
I am so gonna love watching what you do with that fabric. Karmen
I’ve never met grandpa and I adore him!! Put him to work! ;p
I’ve never met grandpa and I adore him!! Put him to work! ;p
How come at this time of year I need to buy food every day and there is always fussy niggeling jobs to be done.Roll on christmas eve we are escaping to a hotel for christmas,no grandchildren, no christmas day at our house then.Come on someone answer our prayers please.Will be quilting more next year might tempt fate and do a crib sized one.Heres hoping.Merry christmas everyone!
How come at this time of year I need to buy food every day and there is always fussy niggeling jobs to be done.Roll on christmas eve we are escaping to a hotel for christmas,no grandchildren, no christmas day at our house then.Come on someone answer our prayers please.Will be quilting more next year might tempt fate and do a crib sized one.Heres hoping.Merry christmas everyone!