Merry Christmas!!!!

Each year, my Husband writes a Christmas letter that we send to our family and friends.  As you readers are all my friends, I wanted to share it with you as well.   Here's our 2016 ;)

Dear Family and Friends

            We have now been in Cedar for over 5 years and feel like we should be planning some kind of move or change.  Our older children who have memories of Indiana are starting to see those memories fade.  Their memories of living in Salt Lake, Pikeville, and Yakima have long since faded.  I continue to enjoy working in my family practice clinic alongside my brother as we care for my father’s former patients (with some new patients as well).  I really enjoy my non work time and fill it with running, watching or reading sports, tinkering on and playing on the snowmobiles and atv’s and  of course, hanging out with the family.   

            Melissa keeps herself busy with all things quilting.  She enjoys teaching her patterns at various quilting conferences throughout the year.  I lost track of the number of quilts she has finished this year but I know it is a lot.  When she is not sewing in the basement on her sewing machine (still the best gift I have ever given her) she can be found next door quilting on my mother’s long arm machine.  She has also very much enjoyed her church calling in the young women and attended Girls Camp for the first time in 20 years.

            Spencer (a few weeks short of 14) tries to keep himself busy with school, piano, french horn, scouts, theater, and church.  He has recently been working on his eagle project, which we hope will be finished over the next month.  He keeps us on our toes with his need to have “discussions” over every parental request but luckily we still seem to have some of the correct answers.  When Spencer isn’t busy outside the house, you are guaranteed to find him curled up with a favorite book as he still loves to read.

            Jessi (11) moved from elementary to middle school as she entered 6^th grade this year and has absolutely loved the transition.   She is enjoying playing the flute in the band and improving her piano skills and loves to play Softball.  She spends most of her free time running around the neighborhood with a great group of friends.  Occasionally they decide to spend an afternoon at our house which is always a treat.  And she can’t wait to join Mom in Young Women’s next year and is counting down the days until Girls Camp.

            Kristian (10) is a happy 4^th grader at South Elementary.  We are a few weeks away from his favorite activity of the year when he starts wrestling.  I’m not sure what he sees in the sport, but so long as he likes it we will continue to support him in it.  He also started piano since the last letter and is progressing well, even though it is a bit of a   love/hate relationship.  Hates it the day after lessons, loves it by the day before his lessons. 

            Kamryn (7) is in second grade and is loving school.  She is catching up in her reading and we are so proud of all the hard work she has put in this year.    She gained a new friend next door as a new family moved in.  As our back yards connect the two of them (with Josie in tow) spend ample time running back and forth between our houses and filling the air with shrieks of laughter and lots of joy.

            Jocelyn (5) is enjoying her few hours of preschool 4 days a week.  She is so happy to finally being going to school like all of her siblings.  When my day off falls on a Friday we enjoy having Josie and Daddy’s day of fun.   This often includes lunch with Mom but Josie gets to pick the place.  And we are looking forward to getting some snow so we can get back out on the snowmobiles together. 

We hope this letter finds you all well and wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Love The Corry’s

And I wanted to leave this morning with one final note . . . This year my children's big gift from Santa was tickets to go see the Piano Guys in concert in February when they come to Cedar City.   They are so excited!!!!   There excitement this morning reminded me of this video they made a few years back. It always brings peace and happiness to my heart and I wanted to share it with you.  It is my hope that regardless of where we are from, or what religion we practice, that the Spirit of this beautiful Christmas Season has filled our homes and each of our families hearts!! 

Merry Christmas!!

Summer Solstice Finished!!! (in winter ;)

Yippee, Hooray, and Whoopee!!!!!  I am so excited to be sharing my Finished Summer Solstice Quilt today!!!!   And I even managed to get it done before Christmas :)

Just in case you are new friend, this Summer Solstice quilt is the Quilt Along that I hosted this past summer.  Each of the posts for the Quilt-A-Long will always be on my blog.  You can follow these links to walk you through each step week-by-week on how to make your own Summer Solstice Quilt , just in case you want to make your own.

Teaser Post
Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

Cutting

 Flying Geese

Half Square Triangles

Drunkard Path

Building Blocks
 Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

 Summer Solstice Parade and Grand Prize Winners

There were so many amazing folks quilting along with me and it was so fun to see all of your gorgeous finishes, and I am just so happy to finally be adding mine to the finished group!!!

This was such a fun quilt to piece!!!  I love making giant blocks because they just pop!!!   And I know it sounds a little crazy, but I really did love putting together all of those curved pieces.  The first few were a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it, they are pretty fun.  (at least, I think they are pretty fun ;)

This quilt is for my little brother and his wife, and even though I won't be able to deliver it for Christmas (they live in SL) I can say that I finished it in time for Christmas, and hey, that counts for something right ;)   My SIL  picked the fabrics, followed the progress of the qal while I was piecing, and then got super excited when I posted on instagram that it was on the long arm ;)   And now, these pics can be a few days early Christmas present.  Yippee!!!!  

When it came time to quilt, I had lots and lots of fun with lots and lots of custom quilting!!!   For the background I quilted small swirls in the sashing, echoed paisleys in the corners of the block, pebbles in the corners of the star, and a giant swirl in the center of the star.   Isn't that just so super yummy!!!

And then on the prints, I quilted wavy lines on the star so they would look like "rays", echoed scallops on the star border, and echoed arches on the corner points.   With all that small quilting in the background, I wanted to do something a little simpler on the prints so I just played with changing the basic lines and I love how it makes the prints pop all the more ;)

And then on the border, I swallowed my fear of feathers and went for it!!!   And I have to say, I am so excited with how it turned out!!!  I am still totally learning feathers, (I practiced  when my little ones wanted me to join them in sidewalk chalk fun this this summer )  but doing a giant one around the entire border really cemented it in.   They are not perfect by any means, but that is what practice is for, right :)

It took a while to do all of that yummy custom quilting, especially as this quilt is a monster King size :)  But it was so totally worth it.  It just adds so much yummy textures and all of the different quilting motifs just help to emphasize the fun quilt design.  So fun!!!!

And just in case you are wondering, I was totally laughing the whole time I was taking pictures at the fact that it was Snowing while I photographed a Summer Solstice quilt.   Too funny!!!

And that is my finished Summer Solstice Quilt Along Quilt!!!   And I am so, so, so happy with the finish!!!   Thanks again to everyone that quilted along with me, as that is what makes this quilt so special.  Even while writting this, I keep thinking of everyone that pieced along with me all summer and how much fun that was.  So thank you so very much!!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend with a Merry Christmas thrown in there as well!!

Linking up to Amanda's, Sarah's, and Myra's ;)

Christmas Throws

I am sure it comes as no surprise that every bed in our house is covered with a quilt that I made and that when the kids (or I) get tired of a quilt, they can go to the closet and swap it out for a different one ;)  That is the joy of making lots of quilts each year.   So when this years master quilt got a few additions I just had to smile and share ;)  You see . . . 

A bit ago, my husband brought home a wonderful gift that was given to him by his coworkers.  (which of course he opened early, because we can do that as parents ;)   It was a super soft, super snugly, absolutely perfect for him,  LA Dodgers throw.   And it promptly was laid (although not so neatly ;)  on his side of the bed ready for him to grab when he was watching a game :)

Then a few days later, I got a box in the mail from my wonderful friends at Moda.  And oh my goodness, I was so excited when I opened it to find a lovely Christmas present just for me.   And you guessed it, it was a super soft, super snugly, absolutely perfect for me, Quilt throw!!!  And I Love, Love, Love it!!!!!!    (I mean Eat, Sleep, Quilt . . . It just can't be said any better than that)    

So now, each morning I make the bed and then add our 2 Special Christmas Throws.  And I look forward to the evening because I know I will get to snuggle up in the soft goodness while my husband watches a game and I press the days piecing ;)   They just couldn't be any more perfect!!!!    Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to my husband's sweet co-workers and to all of my good friends at Moda!!!  You sure know us well!!!

And now, I am off to finish up the quilting on my Summer Solstice quilt.  Only 1 1/2 rows to go!!!!  So excited!!!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!   Let's have some fun!!!

First,  we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of 2 Charm Packs from The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.  is . . .   Number #97. . . Congrats  gpc!!! I have emailed you :)    

  

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Intrepid Thread!!  Julie carries an amazing variety of fabrics in her shop and creates  amazing custom bundles that will blow you away.   And along with the giveaway, Julie is offering 15% off everything in your cart to all happy quilting readers, just use the code HAPPY15.   The coupon works on everything, even the sale stuff, but it is only good for 2 days (Thru at noon PST) , so pop over now ;)  

   

Today's  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for this adorable Colette Fat Quarter Bundle by Brenda Walton  !!!  Isn't it just the cutest!!!  That is some precious Fat Quarter Goodness there!!!  (and Julie just happens to be giving away the same bundle at her blog, so you can have a chance to win over there too ;)  

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment telling me if Santa could bring you anything for Christmas, what one thing would you most wish for ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your The Intrepid Thread love. You can follow them on Facebook, Bloglovin,  or Instagram.  You can Sign up for The Intrepid Thread Newsletter (right side bar) ,  Follow Their Blog, or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your The Intrepid Thread love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, December 27th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Is This Thing On???

Sorry it has been a little quiet around here for the past week.  We have just been running like crazy doing all of the Holiday Goodness :)  I was taking advantage of the day when the kids were at school to get some last minute shopping (which I normally don't have to do but I totally forgot stockings somehow this year :) and then everything had to be wrapped :)  And  in the evenings there has been so many wonderful activities, ie . .  . Work Party, 2 Band Concerts, Caroling, a Church Party, and a weekend away to visit for a Family Party one night and then an extended Family Party the next morning.

In fact, this will show you just how busy it has been.   I put my Summer Solstice quilt on the Long Arm first thing last Monday morning so that I could deliver it to it's intended recipient at that aforementioned Christmas Party . . . Well come Friday, I had gotten all of 1 1/2 rows done.  Yup, just a little busy, and I might be a little exhausted, but I'm not complaining because it has been oh so much fun!!!! I just love how this time of year brings people together in love and joy!!!

And now, we have a week and I think everything is pretty much ready . . . Which means, I will be spending some time getting reacquainted with my sewing machine and long arm this week!!   I hope to finish up the Summer Solstice quilt and I am just about done piecing a little secret project using these beautiful Designer Select solids ;)  

And just for fun . . . Doesn't everyone celebrate the holiday with family by playing life size Hungry, Hungry, Hippos ;)     The kids played first, but I think they enjoyed  getting to laugh at their parents trying to play even more than playing themselves ;)  

I hope you all had a very Happy Quilting (or Holiday) Weekend!!!