Sew and Tell Friday and a Giveaway!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!  I've missed you!!!  (Here's where if I saw you in real life I would give you a huge hug cause I really have missed you!) 

It's been crazy busy around here, as always.  There's so much to tell, but I'll start with my Sew and Tell Friday. 

Marsha standing in front of all the challenge projects

So, several months ago Marsha issued our Quilt Guild a challenge.  She gave us each a Christmas fat quarter and challenged us to make something (anything we wanted)  that included the fat quarter.  At the December business meeting/Christmas party (which was yesterday) we would bring our finished projects for a little gift exchange.

I'll have to be honest.  The fat quarter fabric isn't something that I would have chosen, but maybe that was part of the challenge.  I don't know.  Either way, it was a challenge for me to try to figure out something to make. 

I was looking around in my sewing room holding my little fat quarter up against my fabric stash. Hmm. Those red polka dots look cute.  Afterall, red polka dots make anything look adorable.   Then I went to my flickr groups to  clear my head and get away from the stress of trying to figure out what in the world to make to get some inspiration and I just happened to check in to see if any more aprons had been made in Jona's "Apron in an Hour" group.  Then it hit me!  I could make an apron!!!  All it takes is a fat quarter and a half yard of fabric.  Woo Hoo!!!

 Ta Da!!!  Isn't it cute?!!

At the Christmas party all of the finished projects were numbered and pinned to the wall behind us. (Just in case you're wondering...the large ornament quilt behind Marsha wasn't included in the challenge.  It was hung for decoration and I guess someone forgot to take it down!)  Marsha had a bowl with numbers.  She drew a name to see who would go first.  That person drew a number and got a project.  Then whoever made her project came up next.  For example:

Teresa drew the number for the apron.  She was so excited!  Since I made the apron I was next to draw a number.

I drew a number and got a really long stocking.  The little mittens are made from the challenge fat quarter.

Joyce made the stocking so (after getting a huge hug from me) she drew a number and got this:

a stuffed snowman from Terry!  I forgot to shoot Terry's picture with her gift, but I think it was a casserole carrier. 

The Christmas party was a lot of fun.  As with any party sometimes people show up in the same outfits. 

At least we all have good taste! 

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Just in case you've been wondering where I have been, I've had lots of company including my dad and Sylvia (his girlfriend).  I have lived here for 13 years and my Dad and Sylvia have never been to see me.  They both work, so it's hard to get away especially since they live 12 hours (20 if my Dad is driving) away.  He saw great grand kids he's never met ( too many babies to fit in our Suburban for our travels to Louisiana).  It was fun to see him with them.  He said, "Amanda.  Every time you talk about those babies you always talk about how sweet they are.  And you're right...they are such sweet children."  They were good with all of our company here.  I told them one night that I was so proud of them because they had been perfect every time they came over to see us and whoever was visiting.   Alexis walked over to me, winked at me, and gave me "five". 

There have also been a few little changes in our lives.  Change isn't something that I do well, but change is the only constant in the world, so I deal with it as best as I can.  I don't think that I have ever mentioned that my husband took an early retirement in June.  It was either go to Poland or retire early.  He chose to retire early since he has been traveling around the US and Canada for the past 8 years flying home every other weekend to see us. 

I guess you could say that we have sort of been reinventing ourselves.  Steve wasn't really ready to retire, but it was something he had to do.  He has always wanted to learn Auto CAD (Computer Aided Drafting), so in January he starts back to college!  Yay for him!!! 

The other little change is that I have started a business where I could work from home.  It isn't sewing/quilting related because I want to keep that my hobby. I teach quilting, too, whenever I can  so I want to still have time for that, my family, my home, and my friends.   My business hopefully will help support my hobby, which is all I really want (and to re-upholster my couch).   I'll tell you more about it later.  I'm excited about it.  It's deffintely stepping outside of my box, but I think it will be something that I enjoy.

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Now for the Giveway!  I'm going to make it easy.  If you want to tell people, go ahead, or if you want to keep this to yourself that's fine, too.  Just leave a comment by Tuesday, December 8 at midnight CST.    Tell me if you like Santa Clauses or Candy Canes.  Both of these go really well with red polka dots!    I will make you an apron from Jona's "Apron in an Hour" tutorial.  Oh.  And you might pop over to Jona's blog and leave her a comment on how you like her apron tutorial.  Check out her fabric store, too, Fabritopia! 

Good luck!  Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to check and see what everyone else has been sewing this week to share with  Sew and Tell Friday at Amy's blog amylouwho.com. 

Amanda