Celtic Solstice Update and Christmas Projects

Hope you all had a marvelous Christmas!  We had a house full with lots of love, laughter, wrapping paper all over the place and food, too!

Getting ready for Christmas certainly curtailed my stitching on Celtic Solstice, though I have made some of each of the clues.

I also had to prep 110 angels for my 2 and 3 year old classes. Here is the "grown-up" version I did for my own tree.

 

For the kids, a sparkly star sticker and chenille wire halo were used.  they attached a white cupcake paper for the wings.  On mine I used copper wire for the halo, painted a wooden star with copper metallic paint and used a heart shaped lace doily for the wings.

 

Then there were the "Jingle" pillows I needed to make.  They are Pottery Barn knockoffs.  I made red for the family room.

 

 

Blue for the foyer.

 

 

The other pillows were made other years.

 

 

We just needed a "Believe" pillow to join the Silent Night and Holy Night pillows in the Living room.

 

 

I will admit the "Believe" pillow did not get completed until the day AFTER Christmas.

 

 

And Miss Summer just had to have a tutu for Christmas.

 

So that's why my Celtic Solstice clues are barely started!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Here is where I am on Clue 1.

 

 

A lot cut and quite a few stitched -- but not done!

 

And Clue 2?

 

 

There are actually a few more than this done now, but they were not when I took photos.

 

Clue 3?

 

 

Ditto.  A few more are done than when the photo was taken.

 

Clue 4?

 

 

I actually have quite a few more of these done now.  Love making 4-patch blocks.

 

And Clue 5?

 

 

I think I have about 20 of these done now and more cut and ready to go.

 

So, I am really behind, but hope to catch up this week with New Year's Day off work!

 

 

 

A 3-ring binder helps keep the instructions in order.

 

 

The yellow post-it notes help me find the page I need quickly to check numbers or pieces to cut or units to make of each clue.

 

It is a lot of fun and I can't wait for the reveal when we get to know exactly how all these units will be joined into the quilt.  This is a challenge for me as I like to know where I am going on a quilt.  Hope you are having as much fun with this if you are doing Bonnie Hunter's  Celtic Solstice Mystery.

 

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and productive 2014!

 

xoxoXOXOxoxo

 

Lois

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a Joy Filled New Year!

Dear friends, warm wishes for a joy filled new year!  This past year had it's ups and downs for most of us, I'm sure.  A new year always reminds me of a brand new clean slate yet to be written on.  Fill your slate this year with joy!

 

Even here in the desert, there is a freeze warning tonight.  Hot chocolate sure sounds like a good idea!  This is the tray that I prepared before Christmas as a hot chocolate "station".

 

For the 90 plus volunteers in my Nursery Program at church, I literally gave them "joy" for Christmas, but joy is a year round gift to all!

Using the computer to print a quote and deckle edge scissors to cut out labels, I made labels for a LOT of Almond Joy candy bars.  This is a personal favorite of mine and as it turns out, many of my volunteers expressed that it was their favorite as well.

 

The quote is from Luke 2:10, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for all the people."

 

 

The label was simply wrapped around the candy bar and taped on the back using double stick tape.

 

 

A basket full of JOY!

 

Stay safe, stay warm and above all, stay joyful in 2013.  Good things are coming your way!

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

xoxoXOXOxoxo

 

Lois



 

Happy 2012

A new year!  Every January 1, we get a new year.  A blank year to write on.  What will your 2012 say?

In several circles, people are choosing a word instead of making resolutions that tend to always start, Lose weight, Get organized, etc., anyway.

I've tried to come up with a word for the year.  I came up with three:  Change, Adapt, Create.  There will be a lot of changes in 2012.  We will need to adapt to those changes and then go on a create what is necessary.

So my wish for you is that your changes will be minor, your adapting easy and your creations glorious!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Don't be apprehensive!

Blessings for the New Year!

Lois