Love Those Humbags!

About 10 years ago I bought a pattern for something called "Humbug  Bags" by Nancy Restuccia for Make It Easy Sewing & Crafts.  I think over the years I have made at least 60 of them for various gifts.  They are so easy to make and everyone I have given one to has exclaimed how cute they are.  I usually put a little something in it like candies or scented hand-wipes or whatever.  I personally use them for all kinds of things.  I keep our charging cords in one for traveling.  I keep one in the car with mints.  I put sewing supplies in them.  There are endless uses for these bags.

Over the last two days, I've made two of the medium size bags to give away.  One just got delivered today and sadly there is no picture.  It was very cute with Shasta Daisies on it.  This evening I made another one for my son for his upcoming birthday.  I'll fill it with his favorite Jelly Bellys and then he can use it in his car for carrying whatever he wants.  He loves music.  Hence, the music fabric that was used.

Humbug Bag for Jon

What a fun gift to make.  I have gotten so good at these that I can usually sew one up in about an hour.  One time I needed to make 12 of them for gifts and I created an assembly line to do them.  I never seem to tire of making them.  The other thing I like about them is that they provide a great way to practice machine quilting.

Always Remembering

...your smile, your laughter, your music, your art........everything about you from the day you were born to the day you left for Heaven.  I will never forget you and will love you forever.  Mom

These hands.  This talent.  So missed.

Sometimes You Just Get Inspired

Finally the cold has abated. Having woken up this morning feeling better than I had for the last week, I attacked the day with enthusiasm.  Sewing and cooking were the order of the day.  And the results are: 

Nine Postcards almost ready for mailing

Valentine cookies ready for celebrating.

Postcards and Projects

Road to California seemed to inspire me to new things.  I got wise this year and only took two classes.  I gave myself a whole day to see the show. It was much more relaxed that way and I really got to slow down and see the incredible workmanship and design of the quilts.  Of course, I visited the vendors but I really didn't buy much.  

So now I am home, and itching to sew.  I brought home a UFO from my Micky Depre class.  It is called "Fish Nets".  It is a design she uses to introduce her students to the delights of Decor Bond. I only need to quilt and bind it and it will be done.  I'm going to donate it to a fund-raising auction at my DGDs school. 

Wonky Fish designed by me

                                

First up on getting home was to get back to DGD#2's birthday quilt.  It was started in November last year.  I'm actually to the quilting stage now.  I'm plugging away at a grid pattern.  On a domestic machine this takes some time.  Goal is to have it done today to the point that I can take it to share and tell at my quilt guild meeting tomorrow afternoon.

not quite finished but getting closer

grids take forever!

Then there are postcards to be made.  On a whim I joined a fabric postcard exchange on-line through a Bernina owners group.  By the end of Februrary, I need to make and send out 9 fabric postcards.  I've experimented with two and have come up with the idea for my nine to send.  I just have to get down to work and make them. 

Giving the technique a try #1

Trying it out #2

Celebrating Six Years

Darling first grand-daughter had a birthday party today.  Her real birthday is next week.  It seems that when you are small, the birthday party is counted as the real birthday no matter if it is before or after the anniversary of the actual day you were born.  

A Jumpy House filled the entire front yard and there was plenty of food, decorations, and games to keep everyone active and happy.  Counting adults who came and stayed, there were over 20 people milling about.  The weather didn't always co-operate and off and on we had to let down the Jumpy House.  The biggest hit of the day was face-painting and the pinata that refused to break.  Finally, the adults moved in and gave it a good rip so the contents would come spilling out.  Everything was planned for outside but at cake time, the drizzle came back so we moved the folding table inside and managed to feed cake to hungry 5-6 year olds.  Amazingly no drinks spilled.  

The typical toothless grin of a six-year old.

Who can resist a kids birthday party?  The kids had a great time.  DGD declared it "the best birthday ever" (well, since last year's party) and the adults and grand-parents are exhausted. 

Aquarium = Quilt Inspiration

We just got back from a trip to Monterey.  We had great weather, cool but sunny.  Even with a stop in Santa Cruz at Natural Bridges State Beach/Park, we were able to be in Monterey by 2:00 p.m.  We walked down to the wharf and back, an easy stroll from where we were staying.  

Natural Bridges State Beach - Santa Cruz, Califronia

The shorebirds did such a nice job of posing

 

 

 

Looking down from the wharf area in Monterey, California

 The next day we headed over to Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We hadn't been there in probably 25 years.  Since we were last there, a whole new wing had been added.  The whole aquarium was amazing but we especially enjoyed the jellies and the seahorses.  Inspiration abounds in an aquarium. 

Just one of many beautiful sea animals

The colors alone scream "quilt"

This is a seahorse that camouflages itself to look like seaweed.

 

 On the way home we took a short detour through San Juan Batista.  It is a quaint little town and is home to one of the California Missions.  Once upon a time, I thought that a neat goal would be to visit all the California Missions.  I figure that I've seen more than half of them but not all of them.  Again, we had lovely sunshine.....perfect for pictures. 

Classic picture of a California Mission

It Snowed. It Blowed....An Adventure in Soda Springs, CA

What fun it all seemed when we were making plans to go to the snow after Christmas with Jon, Lissa and the DGDs.  We had such fun last year in Tahoe for Jon's birthday.  So........on Monday we packed the snow gear and the food,  bundled up and headed north on I-80 to Soda Springs where a lovely cabin awaited the 6 of us.  Unfortunately, Jim and I got off to a late start and after a stop to buy "insurance" (read - CHAINS), we finally arrived in Soda Springs but after dark.  What did we do before cell phones?  It took a call to Lissa who had to come and get us and lead us to find the cabin.  Otherwise, we'd still be driving around in circles.

So there we were.  Enjoying a warm fireplace and exuberant little girls.  We all turned in early so we'd be ready for snow fun the next day.  And here we are having fun, fun, fun.

That night we were tired.  We watched the original Toy Story with the girls and then everyone turned in early.  We woke up to find our cars buried under at least 15" of snow.  So this is the next days activity.

A great time was had by all.  The girls sledded and made snow caves.  The adults shoveled out the cars.  It took all day and a neighbor's help to get the cars out of the driveway so the snow plow guy could clear the driveway.  We went to bed praying that it would not snow overnight.  It didn't.  We packed up quickly the next morning and headed home.  We're actually thinking of doing this again in March.  We'll see.......