SECRET SANTA

I am participating in the Secret Santa hosted by the Colorado Lady. Hop on over and join the fun. Christmas is just around the corner! It's going to be FUN! Sign-up is open until the end of October.

A Wacky Christmas Outing

Every year, the Wacky 6-Pac quilters get together. It started out we met at a member's house, exchanged gifts, ate, and laughed till we wet our pants. After our dear Jerri became sick, we went to a restaurant so it would be easier on Jerri (and the rest of us). This year is our first Christmas without our dear friend. For those who may not know, Jerri went home to Jesus last March. There are only 5 of us Wackies now, but we continue to keep the name "Wacky 6-Pac" 'cause we will always be six -- Jerri is constantly with us in spirit.

This year we decided to take a road trip to our favorite quilt shop, Common Threads in Waxahachi, Texas. So, we meet in town and off we go............

Lo and behold, there were racks of fabric 50% off. Did I say 50% off???????? Oh, how we quilters love a good sale on fabric. Our member, Molly, (you know her from Molly's Place) was looking for fabric for her red/green quilt. Here she is so focused on all that sale fabric!!The girl just couldn't decided what she wanted....Here she is again trying to escape the camera!

As I walked around the shop.....talking about the PRECIOUS baskets that both Molly and I have (the others don't have one...hehehehehehehe.....), caught Rhonda redhanded looking at the books -- like she needs 'one more book'.
This is just ONE of the darlin' displays the shop has. Check it out. They reproduced an antique quilt and displayed the antique quilt in an old window frame. Now, just how cute is that?????

Looks like Rhonda hit that sale fabric too!!! Here she is getting all her beautiful fabrics cut.

As I continue my journey around the shop, I spy Kathleen (on the right) really concentrating on some fabrics....'should I get this?" And then there is Annie (on the left) -- she looks "perplexed" about something! I'm sure that we were NOT embarrassing her!! NO, NOT THE WACKIES!

We oogggleeed, awwwwweeeddd, and drooled at the mouth over this quilt and the quilting that was done on it! OMG, the picture does NOT do it justice. It was one of the many Block-of-the-Month's the shop offers.

Annie has made her selections and here she is getting fabrics cut. The lady to the left (sorry, but I didn't get her name) was not too sure about this "disturbed group of quilters" -- LOL!!!!

We all checked out with our purchases and decided there was not a better place to take our annual Christmas portrait than at our favorite quilt shop. So, here we are -- the Wacky 6-Pac Quilters ---- L-R: Annie, Me (Kathy), Rhonda, Molly, and Kathleen and the angel flying around is Jerri!

We took our purchases and loaded them in the back of Molly's car and we take off!

We head on over to the "Dove's Nest" for some lunch. This is a great place to eat and has lots of unique gift items. Check out there Christmas tree -- so different and full of sunflowers.

A view of the "Dove's Nest" --And here we are -- doing what we do best (with the exception of quilting of course) GETTING READY TO EAT!!!

After eating, we headed to the movie theater and watched "The Tourist" with Johnny Depp and Anglina JoLee (not sure I spelled that one right!). It was a cute move. We had an awesome time on our annual Christmas outing. Our next planned outing is in January when we will get together at the "deer camp" for some serious quilting.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope all of you are getting ready for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that I am. The tree is decorated, gifts wrapped (well some of them), and I can't wait to see my grandchildren's eyes when they open their gifts.

I didn't do much decorating this year. In fact, not much at all as I have done in the past. Years ago, my house always looked liked someone had "vomited Christmas". LOL! I just wasn't "in to all that decorating" this year. I lost both of my parents during December and that always puts a damper on things.

Last night we had our Christmas with my hubby's family. It was fun. I made quilted Texas flags framed under glass for the brother/sisters. They loved them. I didn't get pictures made of them though -- shame on me! They turned out really good and now I have two people wanting one. I'll get some pictures to post.

Well, all you folks have a wonderful Sunday afternoon. My hubby is going to watch football and I am heading out to my studio to do some serious sewing!

Looky Here Now--I really wasn't that good!

So, what did you get for Christmas??? Did you get something you were really wanting, needed, or just flat didn't want? LOL

Our family had a GREAT Christmas. We spent Christmas Day with our DS#1 and his family. DS and DIL cooked for us and made the day very special. We played with the three grandchildren and their new toys. DS#2 and DIL were with us in spirit as they were unable to come home for Christmas (from Virginia.)

Well, I say...I did fare well! I received a quilting charm "Bee Quilting" to wear as a pendant. I also received two charms for my charm bracelet -- a cute little bow and a pair of scissors. AND, I received a gift certificate to The Fat Quarter Shop -- yummy! Then I received one of those digital photo frames -- I LOVE IT! It is so cool. I got one of those electric foot massager thingys....awwwww.....feels good.....A really cute snowman to use in decorating next year, a box FULL of cute socks......lots of socks.....really cute ones with all different themes....got a scrapbooking kit......a Brighton necklace and matching earrings....a little compact Bible that fits perfectly in your purse or tote bag AND it has a darling red leather cover on it with a flower fastener. It matches my red camera case. Also got the DVD "Mama Mia". Yea! My Wacky Sisters went to see it one day and I didn't get to go. I have already watched it -- GREAT CHICK FLICK. I also got a new little puppy -- a dachshund named Toby. He is a chocolate color and is already ROTTEN! I'll be posting pics later.

Yes, I got lots of goodies, material things and I'm appreciative of each and every one. BUT, the most wonderful gift I received is knowing the real meaning of Christmas -- the birth of Jesus Chris and the gift of forgiveness. I hope that each of my friends here in the blogging world had a Blessed Christmas as well.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, The only one sleeping was Quilter's dear spouse. The Log Cabin stockings were almost completed, "Just a few stitches left, "our sweet quilter repeated, "Then I can hang them and head off to finish The pillows I'm making, fulfilling Mom's wish For something "quilty" to put on her couch", As she pricked her poor finger, our quilter yelled, "Ouch!"

....When from out in the kitchen there arose such a crashing, She sprang from her work , and she dropped all her sashing. Away to the doorway she flew like a plane, Wondering just what was happening and who she could blame. When what to her wondering eyes should appear, But Old Mrs Claus and her bag of quilt-gear.. .. ....With her elves bearing gifts, through the kitchen she came, She directed and pointed and called them by name. "Now Elna, now Pfaff, now Bernina and Viking, The Hoffman and Mumm should be just to her liking. To the sewing room - there, it's just back of the hall, Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

"My Dear," said The Claus (as she liked to be called), There really is no need to worry at all. Your projects will all be completed this night, I'm terribly sorry we gave you a fright. Sit down. Have some tea. It's relaxing, you'll see. My friends and I've come a long way to help Thee.

She thought she was dreaming, our Dear Quilter did, In fact she quite feared that she'd near' flipped her lid! But the flash of the needles and twist of the thread soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread. They spoke no more words, but went straight to their sewing. How the work went so quickly she had no way of knowing. The stitches, how tiny! The corners, how straight! This Claus-woman' s talent was awfully great. They finished the pillows, then started a quilt. Before they all knew it, the whole thing was built!

...Now old Mrs. Claus, she knew quilters real well, And she knew they'd need help on this night most of all So she said to our quilter, "Just move over, dear, I've brought my own needle. We'll get done, never fear. I told dear old Santa about what quilters do. How they plan all these projects but have other work too. So he taught me his magic for doing things fast. There, that pillow's done. Now this is the last."

They tidied their thread snips, and picked up the scraps And chased our dear quilters six cats from their laps. They left behind gingerbread (just to be nice) And the whole house smelled sweetly of Christmas and spice. As they scurried away with their thimbles still gleaming Dear Mrs. Claus paused, her cap ribbons streaming. "Merry Christmas, my dear, now just have a ball! Relax and enjoy. Happy Quilting to all!"

Note: The above was writtne by Brenda Groelz, Kathy Rockbugs, Marilyn Root, Cindy Swafford (courtesy of one of my quilting lists)