Happy New Year!

Clock tower-downtown Denver

New Year's Eve

Photo by Carl Gehring

Wow! It's hard to believe that it's almost a month to the day since I posted! December turned out to be a very busy month for me and I was "off the grid" until this week and now I am playing catch up. I was just over on Joan's blog, Ouvrages d'une Acadienne, and she mentioned that she was inspired by other bloggers to get her sewing room organized as they were doing. There must be something in the air because I've spent the last week doing the same thing! My room isn't quite finished yet, but I can say that the light is shining at the end of that tunnel. I'm a notorious fabric addict (I don't call it woven crack for nothing!) and my fabric collection was wildly out of control. Half the time I had no idea where something was but only that I could remember buying it. Something had to be done! As soon as I'm finished, I'll post pictures of my reorganized sewing room. I am very happy with the results so far and wish that I had done this a lot sooner. Being a member of Charming Girls has really played a part as the more I worked on projects, the more I became frustrated by the disorganized state of my work area. I also discovered that I have amassed a number of quilt kits and patterns/fabric the past couple of years and have vowed that 2010 is the year that I get them done!

SECRET SANTA!

This is the lovely Secret Santa gift that I received from Carol of Carol's Craft Creations! Isn't it just lovey? I especially adore the embroidery and since red is my most favorite color, it's a real hit with me! Carol had posted a picture of the embroidery when she was working on it and when I saw it, I was so hoping that she was my secret Santa because I loved it so much. And isn't that hanger just too cool? Carol also made me a wonderful pin cushion that is now at home on my ironing board as it is the perfect size and shape to nestle up next to my iron and unlike other pin cushions, it does not roll all over the place. As soon as I finish up my reorganization project, I'll include a picture of it.

A close-up of the wonderful embroidery of Ohio Star blocks hanging on a tree:

I popped over to Peggy's blog, Bienvenue Chez Moi, and discovered that my Secret Santa has finally arrived at her home. Peggy lives in Ireland so it took a while to make its way to her. I was pleased to see that it made it safe and sound!

This is the candle mat that I made for her using Mary Engelbreit fabric that I had in my stash. I did the embroidery with my machine and adjusted the colors to coordinate with the fabric. I think by now it's no secret that I love embroidery and I pretty much try to work it in one way or another on my projects.

I also made Peggy this free-standing lace snowflake ornament with my machine. You stitch it out on water soluble stabilizer and then rinse it way when it's done and voila, you have lace!