prayers, thoughts and strenght needed.....

this post is to please ask everyone to please send prayers to the family of jen of taylorsfarmhouseattic as her nephew has passed away yesterday in a terrible accident and her brother has been hospitalized, grief has overcome him....all the strenght of many will be needed to help heal and guide the family through this horrible nightmare from which they cannot awaken....the shock of it all is so raw right now and i'm sure that they are surrounded and being comforted by many but a day will come when many need and just naturally move on with every day life and they are still struggling with how to have a life again....please keep this thought and reach out every now and then as a reminder that he has not been forgotten.....

not much sewing

quilts wating to be stitched....

not much sewing....

as i was printing off my 12 days of christmas pattern this morning i read a few after christmas posts....what is with all the creativity right after the holidays so fast again, i feel lost & going to be left behind as i sit here with boxes around me waiting to have trimmings put back, house a complete mess, quilts waiting to be stitched and a husband home from work all week how am i to find the time to create!
instead i'll spend the day as i did yesterday having fun shopping at Country Loft with my mom, sister & greg, today lunch again with mom & old friends, tomorrow lunch with thursday's quilt group and think about the sewing stuff after the new year!     enjoy your stitching, cheri

Christmastide

just a reminder to follow along with Temecula Quilt Co.'s blog for their 12 Days of Christmas applique quilt....day 1 was today.....be sure to check it out I'm printing the patterns for a must todo project....
                                                        enjoy  cheri

family

oldest son matthew & family....
matthew, heather, cooper, lisa
portrait handdrawn by cooper age 6

family

middle son todd & family at legoland
          todd, gabby, sofia

family

my son michael who lives in mo., building a new home....
          michael, mareshah, dominic & olivia

family

my youngest katilyn, dennis & nola

family

greg's daughter hannah with a friend savannah
family photos with family hand decorated frames....our most treasured presents this year....my joys are plentiful

baby green worm...

our new baby worm!

tale of the blue worm....

when i told about our family Christmas traditions i did not include that giving of the blue worm since i thought that tradition in an unfortunate accident ended last year & i even had a moment of missing that tradition as greg & i drove to Christmas breakfast with everyone....but the tradition lives on, here's the tale.....
probably seven years ago my creative daughter katie hand drew & colored a gift tag for all, lots of time went into this anyway todd's tag was a reindeer with a blue saddle which someone had asked "what's this the Christmas Blue Worm?"  of course all laughed, made jokes & teased about the blue worm jokingly "todd you'll have to pass the blue worm next christmas"..... well all forgot but todd & he did put a blue gummy worm into ed's breakfast burrito & the tradition was born & has been everything from artwork, on t-shirts to glass blue worms untill matthew's passing onto katie the obituary of the blue worm's passing by being squished sad but funny because it looked like the real newspaper article.....
low & behold left on todd's doorstep for someone to find the baby of the blue & one night stand with a yellow worm....the green worm!!!
everyone was pleased as punch with katie's ingenuity in bringing back the Christmas Green Worm.....gabby found her & will pass her on next year......
our family as usual had a wonderfully funny, loud, cherished Christmas Day   cheri

To you & yours...

A Happy Happy Christmas
and a Merry Bright New Year
       how sweet the
Kind Olde Greeting to every heart and ear
         enjoy it all   cheri

Rain Rain Go Away....

It's raining, it's pouring & it won't stop....this is now where the chickens have to lay eggs, I'm building an ark for me and the animals....water & mud, mud and more mud! Couldn't even sleep last night for the sound of raindrops constant, tossed & turned, fussed & figgited worrying about how bad it would be for the poor animals....mucked the coop, set out buckets, did the best I could supposed to stop sometime tonight, PLeaSe....tootsie is living in a huge mud puddle but she is a pig, they like that sorta stuff....supposed to be dry Christmas Day, this Santa has alot of presents to deliver....

Saltine Toffee Cookie

An easy tasty treat....
Preheat oven 400'
Grease cookie sheet line with one sleeve of saltine crackers
In saucepan combine 1 cup butter & 1 cup dk brown sugar bring to boil & boil 3 mins. Immediately pour over crackers, spread & bake for 5 mins.
Remove from oven sprinkle with 2 cups chocolate chips let melt, spread & sprinkle with chopped pecans
Cool completely & break into pieces

New do....

Ready to go out on the town! Cooper & Lisa did grandma's hair today, don't you think it shows off my best features....LOvE BeINg GraNDma  so so much fun....  enjoy your inner child time

Clean sewing room....

Tomorrow is our trash today so on wednesdays i have to clean all coops, pens & cages, also i had to weatherize for rain so no animals or food gets wet....we may actually be getting some rain here....know that most of you get weather much more drastic, but since it's usually so lovely here rain means preparation time....since i was in the cleaning mode also tackled my sewing room, definitely needed a good vacum....but first i needed to put this quilt top together so the floor would be empty, vacumed, then put some applique pieces on so it's ready for stitching, will still get borders probably and now my floor is ready to be filled up again with new beginings....definetly need to lay out Folkart Gatherings for new additions....got my fire started, all animals fed and ready to start stitching....hope your day was filled with some good accomplishments.....    enjoy cheri

Wrapping, wrapping, wrapping....

Started the process of wrapping, my favorite part but with so many to do it can be daunting & i can procrastinate till right before Christmas....so i told myself one or two a day early on....recycling newspaper for paper, buckets and grocery bags.....still have a room full to go & i've already done the wrapping & sending to son & grandkids in missouri....best get back to task...

small moment or thing.....

i was looking at the Real Simple magazine last night...."what is the one small thing that always makes you happy?"   i'm a ruminator, hhhhmmmmm......my earphones when i have the music going doesn't matter the activity or mood i'm happy!     more ruminating......comfort food definitely pancakes makes me think of my grandma easter......the smell of the pavement when slightly damp after a light rain.....
                                        share the small things that bring you joy.....

Drumroll Please....

I feel like the host of a gameshow!  The winner of the Primitive Crosstitch Ornaments is....Quilting by the Lake....Congradulations!
please send me an email with your address so that i can put them in the mail to you......enjoy, cheri
i will post a primitive giveaway each month next year.....having so much fun giving away treats....

A little glitzy...

All dressed up for Greg's Holiday work party held at the Photographic Museum in Balboa Park...what a fun idea for the party venue....there was an exhibit of K thru 12 grades works that was amazing, thought provoking and even emotional Loved It!  Party was entertaining they had a tango dancers preformance also Sexy!!!  Food was fancy not alot veggie so after we got home had to snack on real food!   It seems like everyday I live in sweats....so it's a treat for me & Greg to get dressed up...doesn't he look dashing!

Ribbon Embriodery

A second closer look!

Christmas Party

Dana made us each a fun little quilt, several decorate my home, I picked one of the more tea-dyed primitive ones....I was also so surprised to receive a couple of thank you gifts for my baking treats on quilt class day, how sweet are Linda & Susan to think of me....a fun little patched quilt and I must admit I almost peed Dana's couch in my squealing fit when I opened this ribbon embroidery piece from Susan, she had made one for her anniversary and I admired her work "so easy" she said  "yeah right" I said, no way could my natually primitive stitching hands produce some that delicate....WoW now I have one to admire every day....FriENdS are wonderful!  Thank you all

Christmas Party

Thursday's Quilt group had our Christmas Party yesterday....I know that everyone has talented quilt friends but I must say I'm always grateful & happy to belong to this group of particularly, uniquely creative women....we crafted, ate, watched our local news broadcast of the "bomb house" in town be burnt to the ground all went well and the house is no longer thank goodness!  Then  came of course the favorite time of all opening gift exchanges Cyndi picked my gift, so I got to go next....checkout my choice a beautiful penny rug, already hanging on my wall yes wall I don't want to take a chance with Spud our kitten who loves wool, this was handmade by Rose who hands stitch the most delicate stitches I could only imagine..... so lucky am I to be on the receiving end of those stitches

Home for the Holidays

Tomorrow Stacy of Buttermilk Basin will finish off our Holiday blog hop I'm sure it will be a perfect end to a perfectly wonderful holiday fest of crafts & cookies....my hat is off to you Stacy for all your good works, keeping all us crazy artists ladies in line and on task!   Enjoyed every minute would do it again in a heartbeat..... cheri

Thursday Quilt Class

This is my teacher Dana's gift....

Thursday Quilt Class

This is the little quilt I made for the gift exchange....

Thursday Quilt Class

My gift is all wrapped up and ready to go....the wrapping is my favorite part, doesn't it look primitive....the idea of wrapping the little quilt around the spool came from the Temecula Quilt Co.

Primitives Giveway

It's my first ever giveaway, so excited!  I stitched up these two primitive ornaments for someone.....will have greg pick a number for me next sunday from number of followers...... thanks to all for making my entry into the blog world such a good experience, cheri

Making Christmas Ornaments

Sofia & Mommy

Making Christmas ornaments

Nola & Lisa getting creative

Family Christmas Ornaments

Our handmade ornament party....pompoms, pinecones and glitter glue always the favorite!

Christmas Spectacular

Such a fun day today took Sofia & Lisa to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes....such an experience
We dressed up "fancy" as the girls would say, went out for lunch and then to the show, arrived early enough to use the restrooms, walk around and find our seats then the wait, the longest 30 minutes for two little girls, only 3 & 4, I kept assuring not much longer the Rockettes had lots of fancy sparkles to put on....then I used the line that we needed to wait for everyone to find their seats, couldn't start the show before everyone was seated  Lisa stood up leaned over the rail and said loudly " everyone find your seat & sit down I want the show to start"  LOL 
The show was spectacular and the excitement, awe & sparkles in my granddaughters eyes brought tears of joy to mine......
Now both girls want to be Rockettes when they grow up....so would I!
Enjoy, cheri

Home for the Holidays

It's day 10..... Tara of Sew Unique Creations has yummy cookie recipe & a snowman penny rug to add to your winter decorations.....hop on over!
       The doll is my newest addition to my holiday collection  "HoLLy" is her name & she's handmade by Sharon from Mustard Seed.....

true words.....

                                       " my soul is fed by needle & thread "

found this simply stitched in a primitive frame on a blog by snippets of a quilter....my feelings too
enjoy, cheri

Home for the Holidays

Counting down the days till Christmas, tomorrow is another blog hop day Ja Patek I believe.....are you excited I am!
In the holiday spirit playing Christmas music & decorating all day long!!!

A content cat

My next life will be a cat.....

Anniversary Surprise

yesterday was mine & Greg's 10th anniversary....he is so sweet & incredibly fun, he gave me a card in the morning with a bag of my favorite mint M&M's...then as the day continued each grandchild or adult would had me a card with bags of more mint M&M's ended up with 14 bags, why that number I don't know but it was fun and sweet plus all those romantic, sweet, funny, emotional...cards, plus I received new CD's to listen too, which what I do while sewing room, Three Dog Night, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton.....how lucky am I to have found him!!!!

New Tree Topper

Broke my tree topper that I've forever a couple years ago, looking but haven't found the right one till today at Home Goods love it fits right in with our vintage, primitive look.....this isn't our tree, just for the picture....

New Thanksgiving Traditions......

this was a different Thanksgiving Day for all of us in the Payne, Saffiote, Moore, Gaudet families....we usually spend the day with all the family but this year it was brought up because their are so many of us, mostly from me & my kids & their kids, anyway we split the families of my mom and her sister, my aunt Sydney which was to begin with strange.... so Greg & I hosted which was my idea as his parents have both passed on this year and he always made their Thankgiving dinner, we delivered it spent some time there visiting then went on to my family's gathering....they were of course always invited but because of age and ailments didn't feel comfortable going with our very large group, so that was our way of being with both....and so I felt having the gathering at our house would keep him busy & cooking, which he loves to do..... everyone got to choose what to bring and since our normal was not anymore they choose different dishes, which was fun & my mom was excited because she didn't have to bake all the pies, got to take it easy.....still a very large group but my sister Barri Sue Gaudet from Bareroots, yes that's my sister incredible I know....she got a bruised ear drum last minute and couldn't drive down another difference never have had a Thanksgiving without her till now, sad but we kept going.....the feast was delicious and the family gathering was entertaining and a good time was had by all.....then as the day wore on into the evening Greg started the player piano going we don't use it much, mostly because it's always covered with photos and such but I had cleared all off for more room in the house and so he got to play it, so much fun we were all singing & dancing around the house.... a new Thanksgiving tradition was born!
a fitting glorious end to the day.....
hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as we did..... 
then with my aunt & cousins we women of our families met for an after Thanksgiving breakfast followed by shopping at Home Goods, another new tradition.....change can be good
dishes are finally done, Greg & I unloaded the shed with all the Christmas decorations, so that is done, got a little stitching ready to go for tonight, warm & cozy by the fire....

make sure you check out Lynda's primitive santa pillow, the newest Home for the Holidays share....
                                      enjoy, cheri

Happy Thanksgiving

So once in every we throng upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song in thankfulness of heart.....
Aurthur Guiterman

Home for the Holidays...

Getting ready to post a note to remind everyone to check out Lisa Bongean's blog for her sharing of holiday goods & I realized I just purchased her new book Nine Patch Gatherings last week....inside she has a method for making positive & negative 9~patches, different than my normal, thought I'd give it a try.....pretty easy & fast....posted is a photo of how mine are coming along....to be used in little quilt gifts....so remember to visit her blog for the Home for the Holidays & give her book a look see......  enjoy cheri

Sewing day....

Totally got so busy cutting & cutting forgot to mention today is a Home for the Holidays day....Plum Cute Designs with a Christmas Candy Cane stitching design, very cute I would say....I find each day too short for all the quilts I want to make.....cheri
This is one that I started today, of course will still receive the applique touch when blocks get sewn together.....

Dresden Turkey

The dresden turkey block is from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. They have a how to video on YouTube....check it out I did, fun.....

A Quilter's Turkey

My quilt class teacher returned from a New England visit with this turkey block....LOVe It! Thanks to Linda now we all in class want one or a whole quilt of them....maybe Simply Libby will share where this quilt block came from.....

Got a Package

On my to spend the day playing with Cooper & Lisa, stopped at the post office to pickup a package for me.....flea market finds purchased from Pineberry Lane, vintage wire basket, big old pins, coffee pot & old black wool   too fun, don't you think!   Well off I go grandkids are a waiting..... cheri

Home for the Holidays Blog Hop day 5

it's day 5 of the Home for the Holidays..... A Sweet Winter Angel is on the list from Liberty Star, really wish I could make dolls right now....so hop on over to Renee's blog & if you're feeling ambitious you could make me one too!    Sew Many Winter Wishes  cheri

Just Thinking....

I notice as I go on a blog journey ..... Oh My Gosh there are so many over whelmingly talented & prolific ladies out there, what an amazing world to have joined.....anyway back to my original train of thought, if I was to do a giveaway (just ifffing at this point) as I see being done on other blogs....how do you do that, put followers names in a hat?   Just wondering, answers, ideas or thoughts when you have the time.....it's a beautiful Sunday here spending my day in jammies at the sewing machine       enjoy your day cheri
                         As you can see mint M&M's have been opened

Country Loft Christmas

All is wool & merry.....

Country Loft Christmas

All is bright.....

Country Loft Christmas

Today is a day with lots of, can be rather sad emotions....it is the 4th year of my stepson's passing....Greg flew out for business in China today...left alone with my thoughts, remembering is good dwelling too much maybe not...I thought what better way to lighten the soul but a quilt shop.....Country Loft is in full holiday spirit & a few Christmas presents for our home were found.... spools of tinsel, chenile and flannel garlands lovely little SewBeIt angel and tiny little ornaments.... the snow branches with the lights are an awesome find....talked to Greg before his flight took off & he's hanging in there, excited to see the purchases.....
Greg got to be so close to Casey today....flying in the clouds & heart full of memories....

Country Loft Christmas

Snow branches with twinkling lights....ready to decorate, hurry up & eat I'll say to my Thanksgiving guests I've got decorating to do, haha not really I can wait a day!

Home for the Holidays blog hop

Home for the Holidays day 4.....for some Christmas JOY go see Kathy Schimtz blog & cookies too!!!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Seasons Greetings

The sight of scraps in reds&greens is a sure sign that the Holiday Season is upon us....I love celebrating with homemade gifts and homecooked treats....our family has for several years exchanged handmade gifts with each other, these are not only from the hand&heart but definitely unique in their individuality....
                  Very Merry Christmas to you & yours all the year through....

Quilt Layout and Appliques

Sugar Cookies

 

Christmas Sugar Cookies

I'm sharing with you our family Sugar Cookie recipe that has been baked & decorated by our family every Christmas Holiday since I was a small child.....pictured are my most treasured sugar cookies made by our children & grandchildren for me and Greg to have as Christmas Tree ornaments every year, as the real ones get gobbled up very quickly.....of course I cried tears of joy, so touched by these handmade cookies....and they have continued making a special family gift for us every Christmas, my favorite tradition I think......we have the most wonderfully special family, makes holidays even more meaningful for all.....


                                                             Christmas Sugar Cookies
                                                            * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * *
1 cup soften butter....1&1/2 cups confectioners' sugar.... 1 egg.... 1 teaspoon vanilla.... 1/2 teaspoon almond extract......mix together thoroughly

2&1/2 cups flour.... 1 teaspoon soda.... 1 teaspoon cream of tartar.... add dry ingredients and mix well

                                                             cover & chill 2 to 3 hours


preheat oven 375 degrees.... roll out dough on lightly floured surface....cut into desired cookie shapes....place on lightly greased baking sheet.... bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light brown.... let cool

                                  decorate cookies with food colored frosting & fun candies

Holidays at my Home

Christmas is a magical time of the year....it always inspires me, especially in decorating our home....memories unfold as the boxes of decorations and trimmings are unpacked and the decorations are placed ever so thoughtfully in their special place....some in the same traditional spots, others find new homes as our antique Christmas collection continues to grow, after the house is decorated which takes a few days let me tell you I have a lot of stuff...the Holiday Traditions begin....first I shop for Christmas Mint M&M's, my FaVoriTes, then we gather together and make handmade Christmas ornaments, cookies...I buy more M&M's....we take the grandkids to the 99cent store for their family Christmas shopping, it's the funniest, honestly....still have fond memories of shopping at the five&dime store right before Christmas Eve, back to now....oh yeah need M&M's....Christmas Eve is&has always been at my Aunt&Uncle's house, Greg plays Santa Claus for the kids always funny and sweet.....Christmas morning is brunch at one of our son's house, then unwrapping, sharing, ohhhing & ahhhing and tasting (our theme this year is edible presents) everyone's talents....then after Christmas sale, you guessed it mint M&M's.....
                                Holiday Greetings to All&Good Wishes

Folkart Gathering

Folkart Gathering block 4 is done!  Pattern available on my website 
                               www.qulitsbycheri.com
Remember tomorrow is day 3 for Home for the Holidays Blog Hop....you'll be visiting my blog for holiday goodies.....see you then

A Little Applique info....

The stitch used going down the rows is the feather stitch, I used 3 strands of black floss and do the stitching after quilting is done...
Printing percentage I've been told works is multiple applique page 120% & single applique page 75%.....
  
                                              *  *  *   *   *  * *

Finished....

My soot&ashes has all it's stitches stitched, been quilted & washed....posting the applique pieces, mine are all in wool but of course it is your choice to use whatever material & placement works for your quilt....applique pieces were scanned original size should be two 8&1/2" x 11&1/2" pieces of paper.....enjoy appliquing, look forward to seeing posts of finished quilts  cheri

Applique for soot&ashes

Remember....

Home for the Holidays Blog Hop & Cookie Swap
         Day 1 arrives 12:01 cst  Nov. 2nd
   
With cookies, holiday themed projects & inspiration
             Brenda Gervais starts it....... November 2nd
       
                           See you there!  Cheri