I dream of the White Christmas we had last year… but for a brief moment yesterday I took a break from the day-dreaming to enjoy our rare sunshine. I may be envious of everyone’s snow pics… but it’s hard to top shopping at the Astoria Safeway, popping my bags in the car… and then hopping on to our beloved Riverwalk for a stroll with Mr. Z in the glorious, glorious sunshine.
If this little red riverfront building was mine, it’d be my fantasy sewing & crafting hangout (the boat on the deck is for the pizza delivery and to bring friends).
Astoria has THE best signs in THE best places. I heart my little town of Absurdia.
Rest stop where we can eyeball our next-door neighbor Washington (aka Hawai’i).
Mill Pond Village. A former toxic dump - now a jewel. These homes have magnificent views… sans the views of the bloggers who stroll the Riverwalk with cameras.
There’s something about walking on a wooden bridge. The sound. The feel. The need to peek at what’s underneath. I was hoping to see a troll or a hidden immunity idol.
Time to head back… and back to day-dreaming about snow.
There must be someone out there dreaming of sunshine and snowless sidewalks, right? Can we swap?
No White Christmas like last year… so I stay focused on my tree and pretend. Sipping my hot cider while Christmas with the Brady Bunch plays softly in the background Mr. Zombie’s Mythbuster’s marathon and roaring fire lulls me into staying in my jammies and eating way too much spinach dip.
Again… ham dog Madison wants in the shot.
Showing off her acting skills… Clint Eastwood imitation: “Get off my lawn“. (thanks Heidi and Frank!)
Yawn. I’m boring her.
Merry Christmas from our home to yours! May your day be filled with family, friends, food and frivolity.
And may all your Christmas photos turn out G Rated and your ornaments be well hung.
If there’s a sign with holes in it… Pam and I will stick our heads through it. Priceless. Curious onlookers watching us… that’s gravy.
Did you know that shopping at a kawaii store called Loyal Army Clothing can make you silly punchy? Add adorable Frankie Pancakie to the mix and encouraging us… and you get more then curious onlookers - you get Nordstrom staff calling the Walnut Creek Police Department. Just kidding. Only security was called.
And then there were cupcakes. And coffee. And see-you-real-soon hugs. And then tears.
It all started with the little one for my studio.
And then the medium one for the kitchen.
And FINALLY came the big one from Santa Kohl’s.
It was a week long event. It took only minutes to put the baby tree up. But the big tree… that was a week long chaotic, messy event.
My white Christmas trees are multiplying like little white bunnies. I think I even saw one of the trees smoking a cigarette.
The absolute best part of my my week long decoratingpalooza - was putting all the storage boxes and all the decordoohickies away. I can’t stand anything on my table other than meals and table-bling - so when all the decorating by-product came off the table and the floors - and went back into the garage…. THAT is when sighed and oohed and took a deep relaxing “it’s Christmas!” breath.
Next year’s Christmas… I’m starting next month.
Edited in:
Thank you for the tree-skirt lovin’! Actually, it’s more like tree-pants. It’s just a bunch of basic 9-patch stars set into a big square (I’ll try to make a pattern for it, but it’s really basic). The hardest thing about making this was cutting into the quilt to make the “legs”. Also hard to take pics, as someone kept trying to get in the shot.
Who says it takes days to decorate. I did mine in about 3 minutes.
Before…
After…
Indecision is my middle name. Because Monica Inability To Make A Decision Solorio was much too long.
Before…
After…
And THAT was my Christmas decorating for 2009. ONLY because I’m still waiting for the 7′ white tree I ordered from Kohl’s. They sent me a green one by accident - so I wait for the replacement. Customer service (via their facebook site) was so outstanding in the matter… that I’m all good with the little extra wait. Indecision may be my middle name… but Procrastination is my first name. Plus the MaryKate-mas tree wants to come out of the attic. Just in case.
Darling, darling, darling owl and adorable dress/apron ornament made by my seriously talented and sweet friend Laurie of Old School Acres (and she’s got a wonderful etsy shop!).
December 8th… how did that happen? So here’s the thing. I was going to do a tutorial for a fun little holiday project. I even got the PDF template made. No, seriously. And then all of a sudden… it’s December 8th.
So as if by design and being organized… I’m totally prepared now for Christmas 2010 (mmm hmm). So in the spirit of re-gifting… I’m re-projecting. Re-project Runway. Something fun to put under your Christmas tree, Hanukkah bush or Festivas pole. Or in my case - since Kohl’s shipped me the wrong tree… something for under my old skinny tree (aka MaryKate-mas tree).
Re-project from 2008 - Pennie Pockets:
I’ll do just about anything to create an opportunity for some ding-dong-ditchin’… and that’s how the Pennie Pockets came to be. A crime craft of opportunity. Two versions/two ways to make the Pennie Pockets - a PDF on my blog, or a tutorial version at the Moda Bake Shop using Layer Cakes. You should see what my pal Thimbleanna made!
Re-project from 2007 - Jingle Jolly Table Runner: I’m a charms nut. Love, love, love charms… so I got my jollies making this little table runner. The little Jingle Jolly finishes at 16” x 40”. The PDF pattern and the Post of Christmas Past can be found here.
I hope you enjoy (or re-enjoy). Happy Re-holidays!
LITTLE did I know when asked what everyone was having for dinner on the previous post… that I would actually MAKE someone’s dish. I was all settled in after treating my hubby out to a fine Kosher meal (the Costco hot dog stand), reading all the wonderful comments left for me… and then I read Vanessa’s. She was taunting me to go see what she made for dinner. Vanessa’s version of ding-dong-ditch. Ding-comment-ditch. SHE GOT ME!
I went.
I saw.
I HAD to make.
I think I said ohhemmgee about 20 times when I first saw it. If you’re ohhemmgeeing too… hurry. That little craft-minx Vanessa is dangling the fabric carrot for only a limited time - so order her pattern NOW.
I added a few potatoes to mine. Just a 6” circle stitched yo-yo style and then stuffed. The carrots and potatoes were a good TV time project. Though I should have paid better attention to what I was doing… I accidentally took a bite out of the Thanksfabrigiving turkey. And now I’m stuffed.
Supersizeme’d Thanksfabrigiving photo 1 & photo 2.
Thank you all for the sweet comments on the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks giveaway. I wish I could have responded to them all - so group hug and thank you! It was fun to see what was for dinner and what people’s fave color combos are at the moment. Ramble, ramble, ramble… the meat and potatoes of it all (or turkey and potatoes) is that random.org picked Dorothy of Doki Quilts. Congratulations, Dorothy!
Also on the pattern front - my “Two Happy” freebie-4-youbie pattern for Lecien, featuring Lecien’s ADORABLE new “Old New Fabric Collection 30’s” fabric… is now available on Lecien’s website on their FREE PATTERNS page.
One pattern. Two Quilts. One for Momma, one for Baby.
There’s only one thing more fun then being in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks issue… and that’s being featured with lots of friends and rock-star quilters - and I’m so honored to be amongst them! I kind of fudged a little… I’m using the alternate cover image that features Camille, Laurie, Elizabeth, Pat, Pamand me AND ME!
You can follow along on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour, and even have a chance to win prizes and an issue. Tomorrow (9/13) is my day on the tour, so leave me a comment - and for jollies tell me your favorite 2-color combo. Or tell me whatcha makin’ for dinner. I’ll draw a name from all the entries posted by 12:01am PST Nov. 14th, 2009 (that’s right, mmmm-hmmmm… I’m not messin’ around with Friday the 13th), and the winner will be sent a copy from the nice folks at Quiltmaker. It’ll be so fresh off the press you’ll be able to sniff it like a ditto.
Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block (#90) and my block (#89) use the same fabrics (Sweet, by our pals the Urban Chicks)? Is it a coincidence that Pam’s block and my block are great companion blocks and look Sew Happy Together?
I don’t know who the genius is who thought up the QAYG method and I learned this second, maybe even third hand - but this is how I do my QAYG. Previous post about the stitchery is here.
1. For my 4-block quilt, I used two 1¾” strips (then folded) and two 1⅛” strips - the length of the backed and quilted block to make my rows. To join my rows, I have one long 1¾” strip (then folded) and one 1⅛” strip. After I measure my completed rows I will cut the strips to that length.
2. Join a 1⅛” strip, rights sides together on top of the block and the 1¾” folded strip the back of the block (raw edge to raw edge). Join by stitching a ¼” seam.
3. Flip top strip over. Press.
4. With right sides together, I join the next block to the top strip.
5. Raw edges together, join by stitching a ¼” seam. Flip block over and press.
6. On back side of row, flip over folded strip and stitch with a slip-stitch. If you love stitching binding down… you will love this. The technique is the same.
7. Join your rows in the same manner as joining the blocks into rows.
50 Comments 
Posted by Monica in I Heart Oregon 
Thank you all for the sweet comments on the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks giveaway. I wish I could have responded to them all - so group hug and thank you! It was fun to see what was for dinner and what people’s fave color combos are at the moment. Ramble, ramble, ramble… the meat and potatoes of it all (or turkey and potatoes) is that 
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
