A couple of years ago I started making 4 of the quilts pictured. I just finished the 3rd one today and have a larger one to finish machine quilting. The quilt in the picture is one row less than the pattern picture shows. I wanted them to be more of a lap quilt than a twin size. They are not show quality, but are just nice cuddly quilts. I put the triangles shapes on squares using invisible machine applique with MonoPoly thread by Superior Threads. My daughter in Seattle is finally getting hers this year. The quilts are made from a free pattern by Moda named "Gatherings". The fabric as well is called "Gatherings" and is probably no longer available. You will notice that I have pretty much duplicated the quilts from the original pattern picture. I have a very hard time imagining a quilt done a way other than pictures from books and patterns. I am a good copier! Moda, like many fabric manufacturers, have many free patterns on their respective websites.

Top Chef

This is our granddaughter Lexi preparing breakfast for us. She had to pick out an occasional bit of an egg shell from the bowl, but she did a good job.

Christmas in Mexico

Here are a few pictures of the Seattle part of our family as they spent three weeks in the Yucatan Penninsula climbing ruins and being pretty much beach bums in luxury resorts. They have been sharing a blog throughout the trip.

Folded Star Trivet

For a long time I have wanted to know how to make something using the folded star technique. I came across this website recently - http://lieslmade.wordpress.com/2006/11/18/folded-star-hotpad-tutorial/ - and made an attempt to make a trivet. The first one I made didn't come out quite right, but this one is pretty satisfactory. It is an interesting process and I think I will make some more - good way to use up small pieces of fabric. You can make them as large as you want if you just keep going round and round. They do get pretty heavy!

Who would believe that this bowl of mashed carrots would make such tasty cookies!

1 c. Crisco or half Crisco/margarine (not butter)

3/4 c. sugar

Cream the above together til fluffy

Add: 1 c. mashed carrots (a small bag of baby carrots does the job)

1 egg (may need 2)

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. coconut

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix well then drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Frost when cool with:

Juice of 1 orange

1 Tbsp. butter

1 cup powdered sugar

When looking through my UFOs I came across a Christmas quilt I made nearly 2 years ago in a Strips That Sizzle class with Margaret Miller at our guild's retreat. I failed the class miserably so I renamed the quilt "Sizzle and Burn"! I had forgot about it until the other day and discovered that I only needed to put the binding on - and the binding was right there folded up inside. Well, there is always next year.

The next picture is of a reversible table runner I made last year from the Holly Jolly collection by Moda. I made several other items from this fabric - so bright and cheery including the Vintage Santa!

This is part of my Jim Shore Christmas collection. The quilt on the table was one from a Nancy Halvorsen book that I finished a couple of years ago and this year I decided to use it on the table rather than hanging it up.

Whoops!!

Here is the result of using the wrong measuring spoon when making pumpkin bread! Triple the amount of salt and spices! Guess the home teaching families will get their treats late!

This time of the year brings back many memories and refreshes my memory of our children when they were much younger. They may not appreciate the photos I have posted, but I love them! Susan and Leslie with Santa and Scott and David with Santa! Those were really fun times!

Last week we attended the preview of the new Red Robin in St. George. We took 6 kids - they had a ball! Red Robin let us pick anything we wanted from the menu. Of course the kids ordered the tried and true chicken nuggets and fries!

Here is the newest addition to our list of Grandchildren. Beck Sidlow born 12/21/08 in Salt Lake City. He is the baby son of David and Stacia! Can't wait to see him!!

Last week there was a rare winter snow storm! For the first time in 10 years the schools were closed! Hope this doesn't happen again in our lifetime!