December - Monthly Review

I was blessed and was able to bless others during the month.

I finished this mug rug and it's been given to a sweet neighbor lady. 

We enjoyed hearing the Claflin University students perform at our Christmas Cantata at OLC, in Orangeburg, SC. The little church in Summerville got a new paint job this year. I love seeing the sunshine pouring through the window and the reflection on the wall. While we were at Whimsy Gift Shop in Santee we saw this wintery scene on a mantle display. Whimsy's inside Clark's Restaurant. 

Two of my grandsons helped with the work on intarsia ornaments. The family sells these online and at Arts & Crafts fairs. I was able to help out two of my friends with their Christmas gift giving projects by getting the two quilts onto my longarm machine and back to them quickly. 

I've started the mystery quilt project with Bonnie Hunter. On Ringo Lake, is a beautiful name for a quilt that will be made using some of my favorite colors. I fell a little behind after the first two clues, so at present, I'm collecting the information. In January I'll work on it and hopefully have a completed project by the end of February.  

We attended another 'tea party' at Baker's Pond and Garden Center where I was warned by their fire.  A few days later we were off to Sunrise Bistro and I found the 'duck omelette' to be amazingly delicious. It was a big step away from my norm to even try it, but I'm glad I did. 

I took a bunch of leftover pieces from other quilts, stitched them together in a 'whatever happens' method. It came out nicely. I then used a portion of left over jelly roll strips for the binding. The backing was made by seaming two pieces of Batik together. They had the same pattern just different color ways on each. I may end this year with having this as my only 2017 finished quilt left in my house! But there are still 3 days to get through before that's a reality, and God has His plan,,,,

During the month we visited Middleton Place and the camellias are blooming profusely. Earlier we went to Anderson, SC (George had a class). On the way up it started to rain, then got colder, turned to ice pellets, and eventually snowed! Obviously the roads were slick and lots of vehicles spun off when they hit a spot of ice. We moved slowly and after getting to our motel, we walked next door to a Cracker Barrel for supper. I spent the next day knitting on a project that I hope to finish for a January show 'n tell. By noon the snow had melted, sun was shining, and the few vehicles that had snow on them were usually in a dealership parking lot. 

When I took my 'faux' tree out of the attic this year I decided it was time to start the clearing and cleaning of the clutter that always accumulates. I took out about a dozen containers of various sizes. I sorted through 3 boot-sized boxes and tossed 75% of all the pictures and paper stuff that was in them. Some of it I have no idea who the people were or why I kept the 'notes' in the first place. I'm now down to a very small basket of memories of my kids' lives, and a few of my youth. I have a plan to make hard bound books and then toss the actual snapshots and papers. Something similar to my blog books I make yearly. I found an assortment of holiday tins and when a friend of mine mentioned that she was baking for her neighbors and would need to get to the store in hopes of finding tins,, well, you know what, she got these and they saved her the trip. I love it when God orchestrates things like that. I invested time with the Design Your Destiny for 2018, with Kim at Sublime Reflections. After finishing the 5 weeks of worksheets, I have a 'plan' for accomplishing several of those leftovers from prior years. 

During the attic clean out I realized that I've saved quite a few 'cloth' items. The only thing is, they've yellowed over the years. I ordered more Retro Clean and when it arrived I got started on taking the 'dingy' out of a large rough tote full of keepsakes. Some of these will be used in an online class I'm taking with Linda Matthews called Assemblage Dyeing. It starts January 15, 2018. 

This was one of the gifts I received. I will really enjoy this pen, in my favorite color, with the words 'Wonderful Grandma' on it, wrapped in owl paper, and a fox label on it. Life is wonderful! 

May God bless you with a peace filled finish to 2017 and May He fill your heart with His desires for you during 2018.  Love to you all, Luann.