More Lettering

And here are the mini quilts I gave my sisters for Christmas. They do check my blog, so I waited to post these. Merry Christmas!

I Have a Brother!

I never mention him, but I do have a brother! He just doesn't quilt (ha, ha, whose does!), and since this is a quilting blog, he doesn't come up that often. Jeff was 16 when I was born, so we haven't had a lot of time together growing up. He lives in the Portland area, where he manages a horse boarding and training company, which is also where his family lives. I never would have imagined his life would take him here. It's so fun to know that everyone's lives are a journey and you never know what different phases our own personal roads will turn up.

For Christmas this year I made his family one of the mini quilts with lettering. I've stitched beading in fun places on them. I don't like hand-work because I feel like I'm not good at it. And as a result, I never try - terrible, I know. I'm not saying I'm good at sewing these beads on, because I'm not, but I want so badly to have a little bit of traditional womanhood in me. The kind that can sit and stitch something wonderful and treasured. So this is as close as I come for now.

My Mother's Update

For Christmas this year my parents are coming to Utah. We've never had them here on Christmas morning, and I have great memories of my own grandparents coming down the stairs on my Christmas mornings past. I think I'm more excited for that experience for my own children than for the presents I've been working on.
One of the things I've made is this mini quilt for my mother. (She doesn't read my blog, so I'm safe, lest you were worried.) I've been fascinated by the quilt lettering Tonya Ricucci has been doing, and wanted to try it myself. She's coming out with a book all about it this month and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

My mother, who I mentioned has cancer, is doing phenominally well. Our family has witnessed a modern day miracle this year that none of us will soon forget. Each day is a treasure with our loved ones, but when you think you are going to lose one of them soon, you realize this cliche statement burns deeper than you thought. Her health has been preserved, thanks to so many prayers of faithful friends and family. I don't talk about religion a lot on my blog, and mine does mean a lot to me. But I would be ungrateful if I didn't take a moment to publicly thank my Heavenly Father for this year with my mother. And, as it looks like now, next year as well. I know He has a plan for all of us, that he knows and cares about each of us. I know he hears our prayers. And I am grateful.

Easy Christmas Quilts

My friend Linda needed some quick Christmas quilts with her stash, so this is what I came up with. She had beautiful fabric saved up from years past and it was really fun to work with.

Merry Christmas everyone!