Sad But True

I hate saying goodbye. I don't know anybody who really does actually.

The last of the kids left just a bit ago and while tears are streaming down my face for the recurring emotional departure, a part of me breathes a sigh of relief for a successful holiday season. Nobody was put in the hospital and all seemed to enjoy being and sharing together.

And then there's that part of me jumping up in excitement. Certainly not because the kids are gone. No, I miss them already and will continue to worry about them until I see them again.

The excitement is for what comes later this week. Quilt Camp!

Yes, there is such a thing. Where quilters, crafters, and artists get together for four days to talk about the holidays. the successes, the not so successes and all that goes with the season.

It's a way for the ladies (because I haven't seen a guy come yet) to reward themselves for the preparations and work needed to ensure all the friends and family who come during the holidays are well received and have a good time. It's a way to unwind from the holiday and gear up for our quilting months ahead. It's a way to catch up with old friends to see what their lives have been like over the past year. And, it's a way to pack on those needed 20 pounds to get us through the upcoming winter, because we eat like nobodies business while we're there.

Here's my pile waiting to get put into the Jeep.

Waiting for Camp

The studio was basically tore down during the holiday's to make room for the 12 of us to sleep. I have plenty to do in here to make it all better again and to give it a test drive to make sure it is functioning as I want it to prior to leaving for camp. And, believe it or not, I received a customer top to work on the long arm.

Oh, and my brochure needs a  little updating. So, since I'm off work, I'll take advantage of the quiet house for the next two days and look forward to camp in the meantime.

From my family to yours, we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

The DeGroot Family

Sunny Sampler

Sunny is finally getting off the frame later. Work this afternoon, so I don't know if it'll be today yet, but tomorrow for sure.

My pics aren't wanting to load this morning...maybe because it's 14 degrees outside and everything is frozen.

Meanwhile, here is DW in action doing the cross hatching on the tops of the pillows I made for everybody at work.

DW making cross hatches

 Okay, photos have decided to thaw out.

Sunny Sampler

This was a fun piece to quilt. Lots going on and a few of the blocks were just pieces of a panel so there were no seams to have to deal with. Not sure yet who this is for or whether I'll just post on the sale site.

Finally, The Sunny Sampler

Today was spent in the studio. Unfortunately, it wasn't doing much quilting stuff. I did get the gift pillows stuffed because the inserts showed up after lunch.

But after wrapping presents all day in here, I decided, with a few productive hours left, I would finally get the Sunny Sampler loaded. It's been hanging on the loft rail for over two months and it's time to get it off of there.

No More Sweat. Back to Sweet!

As of yesterday, my studio is back to being sweet again. The last of the gifts are pretty much done. I just have to wait for a few things in the mail over the next week and do a few final touches. But here is what was accomplished Wednesday and Thursday.

Making the cross hatches.

Before squaring them up

12 of them waiting for their inserts to arrive in the mail

How I mass produce these on the long arm

And after these were completed, I decided to do something for just me for the rest of yesterday. Isn't this cute?

Dresden Christmas Tree by MSQC

I photographed it on the wall because it's already hung at the bend in the stairwell. 

Perhaps, now that the Christmas push is nearly over, I can start working on my tops again and take some time to assess what and where I left off before this whirlwind month took over my life. It's been fun! Jim thinks sometimes I put too much on my shoulders making sure everybody at least has something under their tree for Christmas morning. But, it's so worth it!

Santa's Sweat Shop Studio

Yep, not sweet, but sweat. With these damn hot flashes it does get pretty warm in here at times.

And Christmas is quickly approaching. I always think I have an additional week more than I really do. But, I'm about 2/3's of the way through project Ho-Ho-Ho and here's last nights results.

Any ideas what these are? And I wonder who they're for? 

This customer quilt is coming off the frame this morning and I'm going to try to tackle the last phase of project Ho-Ho-Ho. BUT, there will still be a few little projects I need to also get at before the family eventually arrives on the 27th-28th.

Customer quilt leaving me today

Yep, our Christmas is going to be a few days late this year. Jim and I are used to this since our previous years' jobs required us to be flexible in the holiday celebrations. Onward Rudolph.

This Week

Only one quilt completed on the frame this week.

Making a simple quilt a little more snazzy

I didn't long arm much because these blocks took three days to complete. Getting caught up was my goal this week because present-wrapping has now commenced. Meaning, the studio is kind of looking like Santa's workshop right now. Bows, ribbon, paper, boxes, tape, and scissors everywhere.

Leah Day Friendship Blocks 12 and 13

Most of the wrapping will occur this weekend with all the trickle in gifts being done in another few weeks. Then I'll have to really take to messing up the studio because when all the kids come up, everything will get pushed to the side to make room for all 12 of us. For two days. I can't wait!

If Anything

If anything at all was done in the studio it was just this small project. But only after getting the house decorated and having to put it back together after the holiday festivities.

Now everything returns to normal for a few weeks at least and then another family invasion swoops in; this one will be even bigger than the first.

Ho, Ho, Ho...

Joyful Santa

Today I have quite a bit to work in the studio and I'm just getting in here...already about an hour later then I wanted to. Gotta make up for lost time.