Stocking for Me!

I ran a Secret Santa Stocking Swap with guild again this year. Mary Lu really wanted to participate but knew she wouldn't be at the meeting since her and her husband are sailing for six months. Her worry was that the person she got would be disappointed they didn't get a stocking in December, so I gave her me. I didn't care when I received a stocking. As it happened, she mailed it out a couple weeks ago. I opened mine along with everyone else and look what I got!! It is perfectly me! I am in love with this stocking and I won't be hiding it away all year. The fabrics are from a shop in Grenada called Art Fabriks, The lining fabric she found in Puerto Rico. She pieced it in a crazy quilt fashion. I am sure she doesn't know that I am a Pisces, but the two fish add the special touch! Thank you ML!

I can't believe this is the only pic I took of the stocking I made for Bethany, but it is. I used my hand dyed fabrics from the class we took this past summer with Val Schultz. Beth was in the class too. The trim is vintage (yes, Lori, vintage, not old!) organza from a curtain, and notice I sliced the measuring tape to show 25 in front! The hexi piecing was a blast. Love the contemporary look, hopefully just right for a twenty something Bethany.
We welcomed Marija Vujcic to our meeting yesterday. She showed us how to make a poinsettia with fabric and use it for gift tag, to add to a table runner or use as decoration. Then Marija really wowed the crowd with her take on bargello the easy way.

She used a printed gradated color fabric for this one. I am hoping Martha or Elaine got pics of the other quilts since I was walking them around and didn't get pics! I will add link when we have posting.
This quilt is stunning. She uses the backgrounds for fused applique, then adds beautiful thread painting and quilting.

Check out Marija's blog...she has many projects and information worth perusing!

My dear friend Tracy J made a very precious gift for me...

Two years ago, at the silent auction at our quilt show, Tracy outbid me on a little embroidery of a cat on a pile of fabric I believe it was. I have not let her forget it! I will never mention it again. This is already displayed prominently by my entrance door. I LOVE this. A lot of work and apparently, wine, went into piecing those tiny pieces of the pillows.
And my dear friend and fellow union sister, Melanie, (we work for same company) made this little guy on her embroidery machine.

Such detail on him. Love.

When Terryn showed some of her jewelry pieces that she sells on Wild Nelly's World, I thought of Nicki and Colleen right away. Nicki dyes and sells her gorgeous laces on etsy. Colleen makes and sells jewelry in Nebraska. This piece was really wonderful. I could see it with a simple velvet jacket or dress. vintage buttons finish it off. Terryn is very talented. Check out her jewelry.

I have learned:

1. A new and novel way to remember horizontal vs. vertical. Most of us, I think, use horizon for horizontal. My DIL, the artist, uses (warning, rated PG-13 at least) whorizontal, yes, whores lay down...and virginical, virgins stand up. Very interesting look into her psyche!
2. Michael is reading on his time off. A lot. He is even reading novels. He started with a Bladacci. So I went to Sally Ann's and sent him Deville, Clancy and more Baldacci. I found a hardcover on the history of the Vietnam war that will be going in the mail tomorrow. All the guys share the books. Nice thing to send a soldier.
3. I was gifted what appears to be 2 sets of quilting frames. They are wrapped in early 70's newspaper. The wood is a truly delicious mellowed color. Since not many people use these anymore, I am going to come up with a project for my home that will incorporate the special wood. Maybe a table? I will be looking on Pinterest for idea's.
4. Check out Bustle & Sew for a sweet free pattern. I actually subscribe to her emag.
5. I really, really, really want an iPad. I have been trying NOT to want one for so long too.