FNSI, Giveaway and Thanks!

Last night was the November Friday Night Sew-In.  I had BIG plans to bind my placemats, work on my Snowman quilt, and maybe some stitching.  Everything was ready.

Earlier in the week, I worked on taking my graph paper drawing of my snowman quilt and doing the math involved in making this quilt a reality.  How many of each size squares, rectangles, and HQT in each color? Most of the pieces were cut before FSNI.
The binding for the placemats was also made. Just needed to be stitched on to have a finish.

So what did I do? 

I  made my Snowman quilt!  It is only a flimsy right now...needs to be sandwiched and quilted but I do love how it came together.

What do you think?

On to announcing...

the winner of my giveaway for the potholders and some other goodies is Finn over at Pieces from my scrapbag.  Send me your smail mail address and I will get a package out to you.  Thanks for playing.

Now for an over due THANKS!  I was the winner of 2 bags of scraps!  The first came from Kate over at Swim, Bike, Quilt.  Just look at this pile of yummy scraps! What fun it was to sort these!

The second package came from Emily over at Em's scrapbag.  These scraps came in this adorable little drawstring bag.  

There is so many scraps stuffed inside.  I can't wait to get going on my scrap quilt.  I just need to get some things off my list before I can really get started.  In the meantime, plans are swirling in my head.  Thanks again Kate and Emily!

The rest of the year and a giveaway for the holidays!

Well it is time to finally post about the final goals for the year for the Charming Girl's Club.  Here is a brief summary of my last goals and the new ones:

Reading: continue to read at the 'school year' pace.  Just finished Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas and currently reading another Debbie Macomber book.  

Exercise: I have averaged 2 -3 times per week at the gym.  Continue to commit to 2 - 3 times per week. Seems more realistic than 4 -5 times. Yikes, what was I thinking!

Quilting: I really failed at the Free Motion QAL by Christine at A Few Scraps.  I know that practice makes perfect but I rather be doing.  I felt like my girls when they were told to practice piano.  

My daughter's wedding quilt is coming along nicely.  Blocks all pieced and sewn together. Now to add borders. Here is a peek.

2nd wedding quilt for my d2's best friend is also almost finished.  The top is all pieced and so is the back.  Now to sandwich and quilt.  No pictures yet.

3rd wedding quilt for nephew2  is planned, fabric and pattern purchased.  Still in holding pattern until after the Holidays.

Baby quilt for nephew1 is completed.  Needs a label.

I have drawn a snowman quilt pattern that I would like to make for the holiday season.  Make it a reality!

Make 6 placemats to coordinate with this table runner.

Stitchery project by Hugs from Helen.

Scrappy quilt for the Sew Scrap Along by Pleasant Home.

Christmas gift project like mug rugs and pot holders.  Here is my first mug rug!

This is also my first attempt at wonky (or liberated) quilting!  Very Fun!

Speaking of potholders...I made a set for a giveaway!  Here they are.  Thought they might help with someone on your Christmas list.  Of coarse there may be a little something more in the package.  If you would like to win them, leave me a comment telling me you would like to win.  For a second chance,  become a follower or tell me you already follow my blog and leave me a second comment.  I will select a winner on November 20th at noon.

Sorry about the poor picture quality. You can see another set here.

Friends and Family: Spend great holiday times together, make memories and share traditions!

Tomorrow I'm off for some girlfriend time!  

Good food, wine, shopping, games, catching up, good times! 

Catch you later!

Where has the time gone?

Well it is already into November and I'm just finding time to post about the new theme for the Charming Girl's Club.  Check it out!

This is one of my favorite times of year because it is full of family, friends and traditions!  

Thanksgiving [which is quickly approaching] is a time to reflect on all the blessings in our lives.  We get together for the traditional Thanksgiving feast - turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberries, rolls and of coarse pumpkin pie!  My grandmother used to make the pumpkin pies for the holidays and she passed down her recipe to me.  I am now the family pumpkin pie baker.  I do love pumpkin pie!

Once Thanksgiving is celebrated, Christmas is right around the corner.  Although the stores think Christmas starts in October, I really start my Christmas shopping on Black Friday.  I am not one to get up at 4:00 am to run out to the stores and stand in line for one item and then head to the next store (although I have been out shopping early on occasion). I tend to look thru the ads and determine if there are items that are on my shopping lists.  If not, I stay at home and enjoy the time with family.  Do you go out early shopping on Black Friday?

We love getting together with friends [that we don't see often] to celebrate Christmas.  One of the events is what we call the Troll Stroll.  This is a progressive dinner with some of our Norwegian friends.  We have 3 stops - appetizers, dinner and dessert.  It is nice to visit their houses to see how they decorate for the holiday.  We also have a crazy tradition of the 'Nisse Lady'.  She is the bearer of gifts to the children. 

Dressed in traditional clothing, she come knocking on the door bringing gifts. 

We also set a date to attend the Julebord with some more Norwegians friends.  Again, we have delicious traditional food like herring, flatbread, salmon, cheeses, and of coarse desserts.  

There are so many more traditions during this time of year.  

A real tree! 

Kransekaker!

I will be share more later...goals to come too!