Posted on by agilejack

Finally… Christmas!

December tends to be a very busy month for fundraisers. I know it’s OUR biggest month of the year. And that means a lot of work and stress. So when Christmas finally arrives, it’s a chance to take a breath before we’re back at it for one final big week.

If you celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas! If you don’t, all our happiest season’s greetings from me and Rico and Bender!

I was really happy to get to spend Christmas Eve and dinner today with friends. These are the friends I made the blue KFC 16 patch quilt for.

I made the label for it this afternoon. I had planned on making another label with my sewing machine, but for some reason the letters ended up almost 1/2 inch tall and I couldn’t figure out why. So I looked for a tutorial for printing labels on my inkjet printer and found one. It was really quick and easy. Now, I just hope that the ink won’t wash off.

It didn’t take long to make the label and have it affixed to the quilt. I love the way it turned out!

My friend saw this quilt top when I posted it on Facebook earlier this year and went on and on about how much she loved it. Her favorite color is blue. Here it is in their family room tonight.

She promised me they would actually USE it!

I cooked dinner and had some friends over last night. My family always had our big celebration on Christmas eve. So I’ve had a tradition for quite a few years to have friends over on that evening. Since I only had me and two other people, I was able to pick out all the red and green from my Fiesta Ware to make a pretty table.

I made that centerpiece from Douglas fir boughs and berries from heavenly bamboo shrubs in my back yard!

I made a ham, au gratin potatoes, roasted cauliflower, a really good spinach salad and a cranberry apple crisp for dessert. It all turned out great and I think it’s the first Christmas dinner I’ve ever made where everything was cooked in the oven! It was really easy and my kitchen was really clean by the time my company arrived.

Even though the last couple weeks have been stressful at work and terribly rainy, I’ve managed to keep walking my dogs. On our walk on Christmas Eve, we did a full five miles in the morning because I thought it was unlikely that we’d get out again later in the day. We had rain for the first mile and then sunshine for the last few miles! It was a beautiful walk!

We did actually get out again after dinner for a nice two mile walk to wind down before bed.

I’ve also made a few things since my last blog post. I worked on some more of the night time snow ornaments, but didn’t finish them.

I plan on finishing these up tomorrow, or else I may never get them done!

I also made a bunch of key fobs from some of my KFC scraps.

I’ve been wanting to make some of these for some time and finally purchased 50 pieces of the hardware and a crimping tool last week. They arrived yesterday. I had made the fabric portions and was just waiting for the hardware to arrive and got them completed pretty quickly.

If you’re looking for something that is a quick, easy, and inexpensive gift that you need a lot of, this is a great option.

I’m planning on taking a long weekend next week to recover from my stressful month. I’m hoping the weather will cooperate. There are tons of tutorials on Youtube for making these, but this is the one I used.

We have snow in the forecast for tomorrow. It looks like it won’t amount to much. But my plan is to sleep in and then I’ve love to walk my boys in a lovely snow storm. And then I’m going to spend a relaxing day watching movies and sewing.

I’ve received more Frankenbag from blog readers over the last couple of weeks. This first two were made by Birthe Aust. She might have made as many of these as I have! I just love this blue one with that big blooms on one side and the scrappy piecing on the other. And I love her bold black and white fabrics on the second one.

This next bag was made by Mary Griffiths. I just love her bold bloom on one side and that shoal fabric on the other. Such a fun combo of fabrics!

This next one is from Poppy Maclean. Don’t you just love Brandon’s Shoal fabric in black. Every time I see something made from it I get very sad that there is none of this in my stash and that it’s nearly impossible to find. . . and is really expensive. It’s a fun addition to this bag. And look at that fun doggie lining! So much fun!

Again, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Seasons greetings to everyone near and far! And have a happy and safe new year!

30 Replies to “Finally… Christmas!”

  1. Merry Christmas Anne. Thank you for sharing your life and your creations with your followers. You and the pups inspire me in so many ways. I had pretty much abandoned sewing/quilting, but all those beautiful bags, quilts, cards, key fobs, etc. have changed that. I dug into my stash and created a Franken Bag and plan on making more. And I love seeing your devotion to your fur babies. I hope you get that well deserved rest next week and you get a fun amount of snow to play in. We got several inches today where I live and my dogs went crazy playing in it. Best wishes for a safe, sane and healthy New Year.

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    1. Wow, Valerie! That’s so amazing. I can’t tell me how wonderful it makes me feel to know that I helped you get back into a creative place! And we wake up to some snow this morning… not much, but enough to make it pretty for a few hours.

      We’re heading out for a walk when I finish the cup of coffee I’m working on.

      Happy new year!
      Anne

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  4. Merry Christmas to you and the boys! Sorry it’s been so crazy busy. Even still you’ve managed to get some pretty cute stuff finished. The key fobs are pretty fun. I’ve got some of the leftover hardware myself so I know what I’m doing today!! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I’ve been enjoying small projects that are quick and easy to finish while I try to get my quilting mojo back! My plan is to finish some projects that have been sitting for far too long. then strike out on something new.
      Anne

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  7. You sure do get a lot done! Beautiful table and that meal sounds so yummy! Those boys sure do keep you active, too! I have just made my first Frakenbag and can’t wait to show you! The recipient was very happy with it. i had the most fun making it and there will be more in my future!
    Hope you get that walk in a lovely snowstorm!

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    1. Woke up to about an inch of snow this morning! I’m just finishing breakfast and a couple cups of coffee and will head out for a walk soon. Gonna have to bundle up!

      Can’t wait to see your Frankenbag!

      Anne

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  9. Merry Christmas, Anne, Rico and Bender! Thank you for sharing your quilts, techniques and your life with us over the past year! I so look forward to reading your posts, Anne!

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    1. I have some of the red fish fabric but I’ve looked for years and haven’t found any of the black. Well, not true… you can find it but it’s expensive… like $20 for a fat quarter!!! If I ever see some in a store I will buy all of it!
      Anne

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  11. Merry Christmas, I’m always amazed at how much you get done! Would love to know more about the key FOBs you made. Suggestions on good hardware? Did you follow a specific youtube to make? Thank you!!

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  12. I thought a fabric in the quilt looked familiar—the frankenbag I made for my sister for Christmas—it’s my favorite of thrones I have made. I also adapted the bag to make doll carriers for my two youngest granddaughters.

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  13. Merry Christmas to you and the pups! Love the new key fobs – darling and clever use of small pieces of our fav fabrics! Wondering where you ordered your hardware?
    Thanks much – Happy New Year full of good health and happiness!
    Grace Nielsen

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  14. Merry Christmas…I can now share some of my frankenbags, awesome presents, thank you for your generosity throughout the year Sharon

    Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

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  15. I’ve missed you, Rico, and Bender. Your blog entries are always so fun to read and uplifting also. There is so much negative out in the world now that it’s great to know where I can go to miss it all. Good to hear you had a nice Christmas and that table setting is so joyful. Also good to hear that you will be getting a bit of rest soon although I don’t think the dogs will be letting you slouch around the house all day!

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