So I only thought I was done with the first block

of Scandinavian Christmas! How could I have missed these little cuties!

Aren't they sweet?! They are 3" finished and I want to make a big quilt out of itty bitty churn-dash blocks now!
Anyway here is the complete first block of Lynette Anderson's Scandinavian Christmas

I even made a couple of the hearts for the border of the quilt.

Looks like I need to work on the bottom of my heart a little bit...not very pointy, are they? LOL
Oh and one more LIB block stitched.

I have so much fun making these little cuties!
Now for something a little different from my normal, standard fare. When I sew with a large group I usually have a little trouble concentrating, so I try to take something easy peasy so I don't mess it up. I finally finished up this quilt that I started at the last silly sew at the local quilt shop.

It's made with a partial layer cake and although it's far from my favorite quilt I've ever made, my girls love it so it will make a good snuggle quilt for them.
Okay, time to get ready for work! ranette

Just popping in for quick update!

Well college football season has started and that takes over my life this time of year for the most part. Not because I like football, but because I sell cute Oklahoma State stuff to people who do like football...lol Also the birthday season continued through August because my baby turned 17! Sniff...cannot believe it. Allie, Kara and I celebrated with a girls day in Oklahoma City and we had a great time even though we were worn out! Allie also started her senior year at the high school, mildly traumatic for all of us... :o) Things have settled down now, thank goodness!

It hasn't been all work and no play for me though. Although I haven't been able to sew anything big, in the evenings I have been stitching and I finished up my first Scandinavian Christmas block by Lynette Anderson. I need to get busy sometime this weekend and prep a couple more blocks. This was so much fun to do and I may have said it before, but the instructions and keys are wonderful.

I also made a couple of JanieBright blocks on the new Featherweight...Fun!

Poor quality photos, but it was dark...sorry!
Here's another LIB block, though I think I've made several that I have no pictures for.

These little blocks are sweet and fairly quick, plus the sayings make me feel good. Can't wait to get started on the piecing part of this quilt.
Oh and I did join in on the excitement of Chookyblue's SSCS 2010 swap (it's closed now) so I've got to get busy and make my secret person something....what shall I make...hmmmm
Well that's it for now. I may not always leave a comment, but I do check in on all of my favorite blogs from time to time...keeps me going some days actually!
Have a great weekend!
ranette

I know, I know....

enough about my birthday already! LOL I just had to show you one more gift that I received and before you say or think it, I know that I am spoiled! My friend Sharon gave me a Singer Featherweight....see....

Isn't she pretty? Long story short, I had one once and sold it and regretted it ever since and Sharon, who cooks way more than she sews, gave me hers! Sharon is probably the most generous person I've ever known and is such a blessing to me and my family. Thank you girlfriend! p.s. the picture was taken with my new Iphone...thanks honey :o)

It's going to be a busy few days around these parts....Dear Jane support group is tonight and "sew silly" is Friday night at the Quilting Post here in Stillwater. Saturday is my Allie's 17th birthday! Can't believe my baby is that old....geez seems like just yesterday.......anyway, we've got a "girls day" scheduled so I'll tell you about all of that later.
Enjoy your day! ranette

Presents in the mail...woohoo!

I have been very Blessed by my friends, both blogging buddies and here in Stillwater for my birthday. Oh and my family too, but today I'm going to show you what my sweet friends Miriam and Dianne sent me for the big day. Can you see the cute little babushka peeking out from these packages that Miriam sent?

Look at all of the red and white loveliness, scissor fob, red silk thread and a cute little babushka needle keeper.

I love it all, thank you so much Miriam, you are such a sweetie!
Dianne sent this beautiful cake plate...I had commented on hers months back and she took note of how much I liked it.

Here is a top view.

It goes great with my dishes and since I love red and I love cake, it will be put to good use! Thank you so much Dianne!
I am so glad that I took the plunge a few years ago and started my blog. I've met some really awesome and talented people and I think I've been challenged in my quilting. Did you know that I didn't care for applique a few years ago and now I LOVE it.
Okay here's my Hexie quilt all finished and just out of the dryer. Please do not judge the machine quilting...I don't like doing it and I'm not very good at it, but I'm determined to get better.

Very fun little quilt to make....thanks Pam :o)
Well a "cold" front just moved into Oklahoma...Yeah! Wish I could stay home and sew, but not today. Did you all see my new button on the side? Yep I've started Scandinavian Christmas by Lynette Anderson. I worked on the embroidery on the first block last night and it's sooo darn cute. If you click on the button you can see a picture of the entire little quilt....love it!

Have a great Tuesday! ranette

And the kit goes to....

Linda D. The random number thingy picked #18...cool huh?! I couldn't get it to copy and paste on my blog, so you'll have to take my word for it....lol
Linda send me an email with all of your details and I'll get the Fig Tree kit out this week. Congratulations!

I'd like to thank all of my blog buddies for the sweet birthday wishes for me and my sister. It's like I was able to extend the celebration around the world! My friends and family came over for a steak and chicken fajita dinner, with homemade tortillas and several different kinds of cake. Everyone was too kind and I'll be showing you a couple of my awesome gifts in upcoming blog posts.

I've been sewing a little bit in the last few days and I managed to finish my Kaffe Fassett Diagonal Madness quilt...

Not a wonderful picture, but it's huge! I'm thinking about trying to "big stitch" quilt this myself, but I'm just not sure if I can even baste it. I spent several hours basting this little quilt earlier today and it just about wore me out...lol

If anyone has any ideas of how to hand quilt in the white area with the embroidery, I'd really appreciate it. I can figure out how to do the blocks, but I'm lost on the rest of it.
I did machine quilt my Hexie quilt that I made a few weeks ago and I'll show a picture when I'm done with the binding. Quilting my quilts myself really takes me out of my comfort zone. I much prefer to send them off to my favorite long arm quilter, but my husband still hasn't found a job, so I really need to quilt them myself.
I started a new project, but I'll wait for a different day to show that one!
ranette

Well the big 50 is finally here ...

and I'm going to bore you with more pictures of me...lol...
Here I am on my 1st birthday.

I think I'm 5 in this picture or maybe 6.

Would you look at the hair when I was 7?!?! Too funny!

Okay...that's it, enough of me, but look at this...remember I told you God was going to cool down the weather...here are the clouds rolling in on Monday.

Isn't it wonderful?! Our temps have cooled by 10 to 15 degrees and we've had some pretty major rain in the last couple of days...I LOVE it!

Thank you so much for all of the sweet and kind birthday wishes for me and my sister. To clear up any confusion...I was born August 18, 1960 and my sister Pamela was born August 16, 1962...so you see we've always shared our birthday's and just partied for several days or the entire month, if I can get away with it :o)
Also if you haven't received a reply from me it could be because you are set "no reply" or because I got a new phone for my birthday and I can do my email on it, but I think I've messed up and lost a few emails.

Since everyone has been so patient and kind about birthday stuff, I'm having a giveaway for this quilt/wall hanging kit. The pattern and all of the fabrics for the top and binding (I think) are included. It's the same pattern as the wall hanging I made for Pam, only bigger and it's all Fig Tree fabric.

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a winner on Sunday! Oh international is fine.

Have a Blessed day!
ranette

Happy Birthday dear Sister!!!

My sister Pamela has a birthday today! Pamela is one of the sweetest, kindest and most generous woman that I know and I've been Blessed to know her most of my life. Pam was actually my second birthday present...seriously and she has been my very best birthday present that I've ever received!

It's hard to find a picture of Pam without me in it...lol, but I managed to find this one. I think she's about 8 or 9 months here.

Here we are at Christmas time...we're probably 4 and 2 years old.

Pam are you 6 in this picture?

I'm thinking Pam's about 8 or 9 here.

And here's my gorgeous sister now....

Have a great day Pam....love you, ranette