No, I haven't abandoned my blog.......

I'm still here....just haven't had any time for blogging lately.  I've snuck around to read some of your posts but haven't been able to comment as much as I'd like to.  So what have I been up to?

Well here are some finishes...

It's been less than a month but doesn't Halloween seem like a dim memory already?  I had intentions to blog this but just didn't get it done. I stitched up 3 Halloween ornaments to start a little Halloween tree.  I hope next year to add some more.  I threw a little tree skirt together using some Halloween fabric from my stash - saw the absolute cutest woolfelt one on sale at Etsy but decided that I shouldn't really spend $60 for it. I'm still longing for it though!

From Prairie Schooler - Leaflet #160 "Boo to You"

My Halloween tree

Last week I got another quilt back from the longarm quilter - oh happy day!  I started this quilt back in the late 90's - yes it's a little embarassing but true!  A local quilt store taught a class on the main block in the quilt so I took the class with some friends.  All the applique is done by hand using the needle-turn method.  That took me a few years off and on I think.  Then for some reason I never got around to sewing the border on the quilt - it sat for a few years until I did that back around 2009 ....then it waited in line a few MORE years to go to a professional longarm quilter.  I knew I'd never get it quilted by hand and I wanted a really nice quilting job on it since I'd put so much work into it.  It took me 4 months to get it back from the quilter (she's very popular and busy).  Then I had to sew the binding on it and put a hanging sleeve on the back.  At last here it is - "Christmas Memories" - from a 4-part pattern series by Blackbird Designs, along with some closeups of some of the blocks.  DH helped me hang it up this past weekend on the red wall in our family room - finally displayed for its first Christmas!     I still get happy every time I walk past it.

Since I last blogged I've visited relatives in Colorado, went to Las Vegas for a few days with DH, had visitors from the midwest, and gone to a quilting retreat.  I made this Chrismas table  runner/wallhanging at the retreat.  I'm calling these little reindeer Alvin, Simon & Theodore.  Okay...they've not chipmunks but they're cute!  (and if you don't know who Alvin, Simon  & Theodore are....well all I can say is you are a youngster LOL).  I'm loving all the bright red and lime green Christmas themed items that have started to get popular in the past couple of years.

I also pieced another quilt top at camp...my machine was humming along as there's little time for sleep when you get a whole weekend to sew!  It has soft colors that should go nicely in my sewing room and be a nice 'snuggle' quilt for me on a cold Sunday afternoon.  This isn't the greatest photo and it still needs to be quilted but I like it.

And some recent framing.......

I finished up Lizzie-Kate's Christmas Rules the end of September and it's been at the LNS waiting to be framed.  I didn't take more photos of it finished because it didn't look too different from the last ones I posted.  They tell me it should be done by Dec 10th so I'm anxiously waiting for it and will be posting photos when it comes home.  In the meantime, I picked up this cutie over the weekend.   I actually stitched and got it framed in the same calendar year - it's a miracle!  I absolutely adore the white frame  - I think it makes it look so 'wintery' and I can leave it hanging through January. 

Blue Ribbon Designs "It's Cold Outside"

I'm working on some Christmas tree cones this weekend and will be sharing those soon. I've been quilting more than stitching in recent weeks but have started on Lizzie Kate's "Dog Lessons for People" - it was supposed to be a Christmas gift for someone but it will have to be given in January as there's no way I can get it done and framed in time.

For U.S. readers, have a great Thanksgiving weekend!!