Cookie Exchange

I look forward to the cookie exchange every year, but this year snuck up on me.  I had so many things going on I almost didn't get cookies made in time.  I went with 2 previous tried and true recipes: Creme de Mint cookies and PB and chocolate pretzel cookies.  They weren't pretty but they were tasty.

I just quickly snapped pictures before we ate and chatted.  It's pretty low key but a lot of fun.

2022 Ornaments

This year's ornaments:

Little Man's love for running made this ornament an easy choice.  Little Guy wanted a piano ornament.

The trumpet ornament is perfect for BB.  He loves the trumpet so much!

Little Lady chose this ornament with the piano as well.  She's becoming such a good pianist.  She really loves her new piano teacher.

MG wanted an Oklahoma ornament, because his trip with us for 4th of July was his first time leaving the state.  He loves Oklahoma now and keeps talking about the next time he can go back.

The last 3 ornaments are from vacations:  We've got a South Dakota ornament, because the whole family loved it there so much.  We also had 2 firsts this year: first time skiing, and first time in Canada.

 

Another Finish

A second finish in under a month feels a bit like overachieving after so many months of not sewing.  I finished it with hours to go before the baby shower, so I felt even  more accomplished.  

I used this stitch because it reminded me of the chevron patterns in the fabric.

Chevrons and Airplanes

 Tis the season for baby showers!  I put together a baby boy quilt using some airplane blocks I had made way back in Oklahoma.  They finally had a good use!

A Baby Girl Finish

 Stella wanted to be in the pic with the quilt...

Baby Girl Quilt Top

 I was looking for a fun way to use scraps, and I came across a picture of this quilt.  It looked rather straight forward, so I whipped up a quilt top for a baby girl.  There's something really satisfying in digging into your scrap pile and created something with it. 

It amused me that my walls perfectly match the background fabric of this quilt.  I have a couple of days until the baby shower, so I've got to get sewing to finish this in time!

Book Hoarding

In most instances it brings me great joy to throw things away.  I'll watch an episode of hoarders just so it motivates me to clean out something.  I don't usually get overly sentimental about objects, because I prefer a picture to bring back the memories.  The one exception I am finding to be true is books.  I have a really hard time donating or getting rid of books that have sentimental value.  There are several books that my children have "loved" in a way that the books are now completely falling apart and/or are missing pages.  

As the kiddos get older I know they don't need as many picture books anymore, but I still can't bring myself to get rid of most of them.  I even have a few of mine from childhood that should have been long since thrown out, but I can't do it. 

I love that my old land line telephone number from Clovis, California is written in the book.  My mom used that book to put together a Strawberry Shortcake birthday for me back in the day.  These 4 books all have bindings falling off.  Little Lady loved on them, too, when she was younger, but she's well out of the Strawberry Shortcake phase.  I admit I still put them back in the bookshelf. 

I guess I'm just going to have to clean everything else out, so that I have enough room for the books. 

Finally a Finish

It's been a really long time, but I finally finished a quilt.  This is one of the do.Good Stitches quilts from last Spring.  Wahoo- it feels good to finish one of my projects, but I have so many quilts on my list that keeps getting longer.  

The fabric for the back is a nod to my childhood.  Anyone else remember this adorable fabric that was so popular?