2012 in Review

I've been reading lots of blogs the last few days with round ups of their year. As I was thinking about how creative I had been over the last year I wasn't coming up with much. Then as I was looking back on some of my posts I realized that hey! I did actually accomplish something this year and besides that I took 5 college classes and managed to get A's in every one. It's been a year full of challenges and change. My daughter graduated from college in May and moved to Pittsburgh in October and in November my husband was forced into an early retirement! 

This year I managed to do the following:

I made two table runners - one was a wedding gift for the daughter of one of my wild thread friends Dian and the other one was a fall runner that that I had wanted to make last year! I made a cute pin cushion as a gift for my friend Chris, one baby quilt for the daughter of one of my mom's friends, and six mug rugs as gifts for my aunts. I made a queen size quilt for my daughter as a graduation present that includes blocks made by my friends in my quilting group. I made a 'thankful' quilted picture, painted a tree for my family room wall, made a design wall for my new sewing room, started on a Snoopy quilt for my good friend Melanie, and FINALLY added my sweet daughter in love Megan to our Snowman family.

Praying that you have a blessed new year filled with all the things that make you happy.  Make time for the things that matter: family, friends, neighbors, and the strangers you meet along life's way. Love deeply, forgive quickly, laugh often, be kind and gracious, and pray for others.

Blessings,

My New Design Wall

I know not everyone has the luxury of their own sewing room but if you do you might want to consider making yourself a nice design wall. I purchased a 4 by 8 sheet of insulation at Home Depot for under $10.00. I had to cut mine down to about 6 1/2 feet because of an intake vent high up on the wall. I just measured it and cut it with an exacto knife.  First I bought a package of batting and put in on by taping in on the back with duct tape however I was not happy with it.  It was too fluffy and I wanted it to be more like felt or flannel. I took it off, went back to JoAnn's and I bought batting off the roll. It was very wide so I only needed a yard and 3/4's. I laid the foam insulation on my dining room table, laid the batting on top, and then trimmed it so it was about 4" longer on all sides than the foam sheet. Then I rolled one side up, used spray adhesive on the foam and then rolled out one ended, smoothing as I went. Then I repeated for the other end. 

       

I used duct tape on the back to anchor the edges before it was hung on the wall. My husband hung it for me using nails with a washer into the stud.  

I took a circle of batting (actually the corners that I trimmed from the batting as I was taping it to the back) and using a small screwdriver I just carefully pushed the edges under the washer to disguise them!

Different view of the design wall.   I still hadn't covered all the washers when I took this picture.   

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!

Blessings,

How About Some Font Love?

I know I am a little crazy but I do love fonts. I came across Font Squirrel this morning and have been downloading to my hearts content. I am actually on a hunt for a manuscript font that has a tail on the q for a bingo game at the Montessori school where I work. I have not been able to find it so I will keep searching. Here are a few I downloaded today. Fun right?!

Hope you are enjoying the holidays! 
Blessings,