Another Christmas!

Christmas Day has come and gone but the spirit remains. We had a very good Christmas with lots of excitement. First, we had our first White Christmas. We got six inches of snow which started around 12pm on Christmas day. It snowed all day into the night. The last time our area had a white Christmas was in 1968.

Second, my oldest son and his wife who live in Washington, DC surprised us by being here on Christmas day. We had traveled to DC to see them before Thanksgiving and they said they couldn't come because of their jobs and that they would probably be able to come down around the New Year. My number 2 son knew they were coming and kept the secret. It was so great to share Christmas dinner and time with all three children and our two DILs.

Under the tree I had saved some packages that arrived in the mail to open on Christmas day. This one is from Stephanie. She sent vanilla bean flavored sugar, chili seasoning, and a little note pad that has a sweet cover she made and a sharpie pen. Stephanie is so creative in so many different areas.

Look at the close up of the counted cross stitch jar topper. So cute.

Thanks Stephanie for the sweet and spicy Christmas gift. I just love it all but especially the jar topper.
With all the snow we got we decided to make some snow cream. After the snow stopped we gathered up a big bowl of fresh snow and used all the vanilla flavored sugar Stephanie made along with some evaporated milk to make the ice cream. My husband's parents showed us how to do this many years ago.
Another gift I got was from Sue. She sent this Crabapple Hill pattern and Cosmo floss. If you enlarge the photo you will see a bird nest in the flower pot. Sue knows me very well. I love birds as many of you know. Look at the lovely colors of floss. I can't wait to get started on it. The original pattern is mounted and framed. I am trying to think of some unique way to finish it besides framing it, making a pillow, or quilt. Sue, such a thoughtful gift. Thank you so much.
Another gift was these great cards made by Karen. Karen is so talented with paper crafting. These cards are great for sharing a note with a family member. I love the message on the front of the card. Her blog is always an interesting read because she just loves sharing nature with her readers. Thank you so much for the awesome cards, Karen.
Here are some photos of the snow we watched fall all afternoon long.
Check out the books I got from Santa hubby. I gave him a list and told him these were some I would like and if he would like to get me one or two it would be very nice. Well, he got them all. Isn't he great?

These books are full of inspiration and some really great projects.
2010 is almost over. It has been such a fun year blogging and getting to know some of you so much better. I have developed some great friendships. I have been inspired by so many of you.
My wish for you all in the New Year is Peace, Joy, Love, Health, Prosperity, and may you reach all your quilting goals in 2011. :D

My husband is taking the rest of the year as vacation so I will be taking a break from blogging until next year. So until then....

Happy New Year!

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Merry Christmas!

Glory To God in the Highest! And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!
I would like to wish you all Christmas Blessings! May the true meaning of Christmas fill your hearts.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Happy Birthday Jesus! Last Advent reading: Luke 2:8-20.

From the Netherlands

This sweet little ornament came all the way from Simone who lives in the Netherlands. In the back is a pocket where she placed a little note for me. Thanks Simone for the gift.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading:Luke 2:1-7.

Just in Time!

I cut it pretty close this year when it came to finishing up this Christmas gift for my daughter. I had won some fairy frost charms in a giveaway and my daughter loved them. So when I saw the Frosty Flakes Blocks on Dawn's blog, As Sweet As Cinnamon, I knew I would make them using the charms. I had my daughter pick out nine charms she liked the best.

Then I used her beads to embellish the blocks. She has a ton of beads since she likes to make jewelery. Instead of a wall hanging I made her a table topper.
I hand pieced the blocks and added some silver thread trim around the center block.

With the extra two blocks I made her some ornaments. I actually only got one made because I did not have enough of the silver cord to put around the other ornament. It will get finished after Christmas when I can get back to the craft store.
Whew! just in time! You can still get the patterns on Dawn's blog.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading: John 3:16-21.

Advent Reading

Reading for today is from Philippians 4:4-9.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Build a Snowman

How do you build a snowman with no snow? You make them out of fabric. Aren't these the cutest place mats?
Candace made four of them for me and sent them for Christmas. I just love them and they look so good with my vintage table cloth that my grandma crocheted. These will stay out all winter. The little jar is some local honey from where Candace lives which is in Washington state. I tried it in my tea the other morning and it is delightful. Thank you so much Candace for such a fun gift that I can use all winter long.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading: Matthew1:18-25.

Advent Reading

Advent reading for today is from Isaiah 9:2-7.

With Passion,
Carrie P.

Pillow!

I finished my pillow. I appreciate your ideas for finishing it. I did go to Joann craft store to look at the pom pom trim but I did not see any colors that I liked. I did see some trim that was a little lacy that I used and I also made some piping which was also suggested. You can click on it to enlarge it.
The pillow was photographed in Karen Gray's Shop. I hope to teach beginner applique in January using this pattern I created.
Here are some more photos from her charming shop. These little fabric birds were perched over head on some pipes.The wall hanging that you see is one that I did for her to keep in her shop.
Colorful fabrics...
Lovely quilts.
With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading for today: Luke 1:26-35.

Advent Reading

The reading for today is Isaiah 7:10-14.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Last One!

Yep! this is the last sewing caddy I am making. I have made 7 of these and I am done. My daughter saw the ones I made for my DIL's bridesmaids, one for our quilt show boutique, and one for a friend. She kept asking when is she going to get one?
So here is the front and back of her new sewing caddy. She chose the fabrics and the vintage button. The flowers were left overs from a quilt I had made. She is very pleased with it and more pleased that I did not wait until Christmas to give it to her.
If you want to make your own or many like I did you can get the pattern from GinaBean Handmade. Look for the tutorial on her sidebar.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading:Luke 1:67-80.

Santa!

Here comes Santa Claus!
Isn't he cute? I made this little guy for a friend who has already gotten and opened her gift so I can finally reveal him.
If you look close at this photo of the Homespun magazine you can see him and just above him are some other Santas. I really had fun making him. Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading: Luke 1:46-66.

Advent Reading

Todays reading is from Luke 1:18-45.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent Reading

Todays reading is Luke 1:5-17.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent Reading

Today's Advent reading comes from Mark 1: 1-3.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

In the mail

Look what Sew Cindy sent to me for Christmas. Look at the sweet angel ornament and the lovely cross book mark. And of course a card with her sweet pups on it. Thank you so much Cindy for such a sweet gift.
You can go here and see all the other cute ornaments she has been working on.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading--John 1: 9-18

The winner is...

Marina from Maisie and the Boys all the way from Australia. Congratulations Marina! Have a Merry Christmas. Thank you all for the Christmas wishes. I wish you all the same.
If you have a minute go by Linda's blog and see her gingerbread spice boys. Really cute. My guys are a little bit more formal looking.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Your Advent reading for today is John 1:1-8.

Birdhouse Ornament

This past summer Stephanie attended a quilt show and she saw this little patten and thought of me. Thank you Stephanie. The pattern comes pre-stamped and colored ready for you to do the embroidery. I made mine and found another one at my local quilt shop, embroidered it and now it is on it's way to a friend for Christmas.
You can see more at Chickadee Hollow Designs. I just went to the site and saw that she is offering 20% off everything in the store through Dec. 10. Just in case you are interested.

I'll announce the winner of my giveaway in the morning, so stay tuned. (giveaway mentioned in yesterday's post)

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading--Malachi 3:1-6

Holiday Giving!

If you read my post from yesterday you know that I finished a tree skirt just in time for Christmas this year. Look what I made out of the circle that was cut from the center of the skirt, a mug rug.
I am going to have a Christmas giveaway. You could win the mug rug plus the two winter patterns, the star, and a a fat quarter of snowy fabric.

If you would like a chance to win this giveaway all you have to do is wish me Merry Christmas and make sure I have some way to get in contact with you. If you don't have a way for me to contact you I will pick another name.
I will pick the winner on Friday, Dec. 10.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading for today: Micah 5:2-4

It's done!

Yes, the tree is finally up and decorated with the help of my husband and daughter. Here is my newest ornament for this year. Isn't it sweet?
I have a UFO finished. Some of you might remember seeing this as I was working on it last year. I made this in my applique group. The applique is all done in wool. This is a pattern from "You're Invited" by Blackbird Designs. I added the extra points to the square after I saw a tree skirt made this way in a magazine.
Here it is under the tree ready for Santa to come and cover it up with presents.

Some more Christmas decorations. My mom made the wall hanging and the table runner many years ago.
I got a Christmas card with this button card in the mail today. It came from my North Carolinian neighbor, Mary at Quilt Hollow. Thank you so much Mary for my sweet little gift.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Advent reading: Zechariah 6:12-13.

Quilt Around the World

I was going to show you my tree all decorated but I have been very frustrated today. I won't bore you with the details but it involves the lights on the tree. No lights yet which means no decorations. Hopefully tonight the tree will be dressed up for Christmas.
Instead of my tree I will show you a block I made for Jane who is the hostess of the Quilt Around the World blocks. I finally got hers. I saw the above photo in last years Quiltmaker's 100 blocks magazine. It was very intriguing to me so I thought I would make it for Jane using Christmas fabrics.
These are the other blocks that have been made for Jane by ladies from around the world. It is going to be a great quilt when it is finished.

And look what I won from Bunny Hill Designs. Anne had a giveaway for these tiny squares of Lily and Will II for Moda. Aren't they sweet and she also sent some taffy. Thanks so much Anne!

With Passion,
Carrie P.

Advent reading for today is Isaiah 11:1-10.

It's beginning...

to look a lot like Christmas in North Carolina. As you can see we did get snow. It was snowing when I took this picture yesterday.
Here it is today. Sunny, cold, and windy.
We did make it up to the mountains to get our tree. It was 23* but the wind was really blowing up there so I am sure the temperature was in the teens. But it was so beautiful as you can see.
Here is a "before" picture of our Christmas tree. We will get it decorated tomorrow. (the one with the ribbon on top)
My newlywed son and his sweet wife went up to the mountains with us and bought their first tree together. My son is such a comedian. Ever since he was a little boy he has made us laugh.
With passion,

Carrie P.

Your Advent reading for today. Psalm 89:1-4