My blog post titles sure are creative, aren’t they?    I think that’s the hardest part of blogging for me.    Oh well….on to part 2.

We have a tradition of giving everyone the same gift.   In the “olden” days, it was supposed to be something handmade, but over the years, we’ve done away with the rules and anything goes.  

Remember these that I showed awhile back?

Well, this is what I gave the girls.  (and I made sure all the frames were black).

Done in wool with osnaberg for the background.

Patty gave us these which she made.

All wool with a primitive distressed frame.  So cute.

Janet made these.

Wool on silk matka background.  

Do you sense a theme going here?   I’m so glad I introduced these gals to wool.   It’s fun getting gifts like these. 

Marsha’s turn.

These are fleece blankets with cupcakes on them.   You can’t believe how warm they are.  Perfect for our incredibly snowy winter here so far. 

Last up….Cathi.

Another theme going here.   Snowmen, lots of snowmen.   We all love these
“Sam Snowman” calendars and have to have a new one every year.   

Thanks girls.   You’re the best!  I miss you everyday.  

Every party needs to start with something refreshing, right?  We certainly don’t want to buck with tradition, now do we?

Look how cute the table decorations were.

See those 4 pictures at the end of the table?  Janet made one for each of us as a party favor.   How lucky were we?   Here’s a close up.  

I’m so glad I got her “into” wool.

We had a delicious dinner of prime rib, cheesy mashed potatoes, Caesar salad and probably some vegetable that I didn’t eat.  LOL.  I must have been too hungry by then to think about the camera.  Trust me, it was oh so tasty.  Patty and Marsha (and Janet) did an awesome job on the food.

Through out the night we play games and exchange gifts.  We always start out with stockings.  This year I was in charge of filling them up.   I got to thinking that we needed new stockings because the other ones had been thru many years of being passed around for filling and were looking pretty sad.   Anyway, I didn’t get pictures at the party, but took these at home before I left.

The fronts… 

The backs…

I kinda like the back better than the front.  Oh well. 

Anyway, the stockings were filled with all sorts of fun goodies that I forgot to take a picture of.   Bad blogger!

Then it was on to our “Secret Santa” gifts.

I had Patty and made her this pillow.

I took a picture of it in my house and decided I needed one too, so after I got home, I whipped one up for me.

  I also gave her this tool caddy for her sewing supplies.   Mr. CnW made it.   The color in the picture looks very “red”.   I think it’s darker than this.

Then, Patty gave Marsha her gift. 

Isn’t it cute? Gingerbread men in yellow ware all done in wool.  Perfect. 

Marsha is our resident quilter and she then gave Cathi this fabulous quilt that she made.  

We all wanted to snuggle up in it.   So pretty.  

Cathi then gave her gift to Janet.

It’s a darling mantle cover (I think that’s what they are called), with a pretty red candle and beige candle holder.  

So, guess who is left?   Janet had MY name and gave me this cool lantern and wool angel wallhanging that she made.  

I love them both.   Thanks Janet.  

I was just looking at the lack of makeup on any of us…must have been late when these pics were taken!

Okay, only one more post of the party left.   Next up, the gifts that we gave each other.  

I know…I know… Christmas was over more than a week ago and it’s now 2010, but I needed to share the gift exchanges from the party.

We always either make or buy the same gift for everyone.  We used to make them, but as we’ve gotten older busier we seem to take to local stores or the internet for our purchases. 

This is what I got for everyone.

Patty got each of us these adorable snowman pictures.

Cathi gave us each a treenware bowl with a berry ring and candle.   (you might want to click on the picture to get a better look)

Marsha MADE these adorable little quilts and also gave us the little wooden Christmas tree that I’m holding.

and lastly but not least, Janet gave us these ca-ute plates.

Hmm, looks like we have a smart aleck in the group.  Let’s try it again.

And how old is she?

Third times the charm.   By the way…that’s Patty, our resident comedian!

So, then it was on to our Secret Santa gifts.   We draw names earlier in the year and keep our eyes and ears open for hints from our “person”. 

Patty drew my name and made me this adorable snowman that she framed.   It was too big for me to get on the plane so I’ll have to pick it up the next time we drive to Calif.   I was so bummed because I really wanted to take it home!

Marsha got this gorgeous treenware bowl with berries and a candle from Cathi.

Janet got this wonderful snowman and quilt that Marsha made for her.   She was quite overcome with emotion. 

I gave Patty some spools, sheep, a wool penny rug kit, and a stitchery pillow that I got from Karen at Farmhouse Woolens.

Here’s a close up of the pillow. 

And Cathi got all this loot from Janet.   Janet made the darling gingerbread wall hanging.  (her own design).  

We also got stockings but I didn’t get a picture of them.   I think we were just so wound up that I forgot.  

The party lasted until the wee hours of the morning.  I think it broke up about 2:00am.   We have so much fun.  laughing, eating, sharing gifts, eating, playing games, eating… LOL   I think you get the picture.  

Thanks girls…I love you all!

Hugs, Anne

A couple of weeks ago I got a couple of packages in the mail.

Candace of Squash House Quilts sent me this Hello Joe Joe that helped sell her house. It was sent to her by Monica, Happy Zombie, after her house sold using St Joe. So, now I have it and hopefully it will help us sell my Mom’s house in Calif. Thanks Candace.

I gave it to my brother to take back to Calif with him. I’m a little worried about it actually making it to my Mom’s house since his house is also on the market. LOL

Then, I got the nicest surprise from Mary at Quilt Hollow.

My, what could be lurking in that cute little sewing pack?

Check it out! The card had a packet of hot cinnamon spice tea. Perfect for a cold snowy day. There’s a spool of thread of a packet of Foxglove Cottage “sharps", a nail file and note pad. Now, how sweet is that? Thanks Mary! (It won’t be long till we can share our little venture…wink, wink.)

Bloggy friends are just the best!

As you might know, I wasn’t able to go to Quilt Market in Pittsburgh this year because Mason was due the day before we were supposed to leave.   One of the most fun things to do when there is to go to Sample Spree and I was really sad to know I was missing it.

Well, I got a phone call the night of Sample Spree from Anne telling me that I needn’t have worried about it (which made me think that maybe there wasn’t anything there I would have wanted – Horrors!). Oh no, that wasn’t it at all.   She shopped for ME, mailed the package from the convention center and I got it just as they were all coming home from another successful market.   Now…  how’s that for having a great friend?  

This is what she picked up for me. 

All the new Jo Morton fat packs (sitting on a Moda bag, LOL)

Lecien’s new line of Civil War fabrics  

4 great new books  

and a pack of Carol Hopkins’ Civil War Legacies patterns.  

Thanks, Anne.   There isn’t one thing that I wouldn’t have bought if I’d been there.   It was ALMOST as good as going but…not quite.  

On another note, last week was my birthday and when Brenda and Nadine asked me where I wanted to go for lunch, I surprised both of them when I said I wanted to go to Pilot Butte Drive-In.

Sorry I didn't get a picture of our lunches. I think I was so overwhelmed by the size and HEIGHT of the burgers that I completely forgot. Hmmm, maybe I'll have to go again just to get some pictures! Gotta take care of my bloggy friends. Oh, and yummy fries too.

Hubby and I went up there today to get some pictures for you but the skies were a bit overcast so there wasn't much contrast between the snowcapped mountains and the sky.

The above picture is Mt Bachelor which is a great ski area.

Here's a panorama of some of our mountains. Next time we have a crystal clear day, I'll go up and take some better pictures. (click on the picture to see it better).

Now on to the best part! :-). Giftys!

Brenda gave me these wonderful rolls of wool that she got at The Buggy Barn on her last trip up that way. They are luscious and I just love them.

Nadine made me this tote out of Kansas Troubles fabric (my favorite). It's her own design and I think she mentioned that she's going to have it available as a pattern soon. Right Nadine?

And look what she did on the inside pocket. So, don't anyone think they can "steal" it from me. LOL

The real shockeroo was getting this fabulous wool framed project from Karen. I didn't even know she knew when my b'day was. I think Brenda and Nadine may have had something to do with that! The fact that she's in the process of building and moving into a new house, with NO extra time on her hands, made it a very special gift.

I also got lots of phone calls and cards from all my family and friends. So, I just want to say "Thanks" to all of you! It makes getting older just a tad bit easier.