Winter Birds

I made this quilt a month or so ago. I just love cardinal fabric and was given 2 different kinds. So I decided to make one of my favorite and easy patterns. It is on the back of my couch for chilly nights while reading or watching TV. This one stays here.

Christmas Fun

When I was browsing one of the million online quilt shops.....I found Beatles fabric. DH is a total fan of them and has been for Years.

So I made this quilt for him. I also bought the new DVD and CD collection of Paul McCartney from Starbucks. That is an amazing DVD to watch this old Beatle that still looks and sound fabulous.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER IN IRAQ , LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

This poem was written by a Marine.

American The Beautiful

I just cannot think of one thing I need to say to add to this picture.

Comfort for Fort Hood

Quilts of Valor will be sending quilts for a very special ceremony to honor the medical personnel at Forth Hood. These are the brave and wonderful people who had to step up and take care of the dead and wounded from this horrible tragedy.

I have 3 quilts to send off for this endeavor. I try to keep a small stash of ready made ones for just an opportunity like this. They were all quilted using my wonderful Handiquilter.

The ceremony will take place January 7. I wonder if our news people will be able to stop talking about Tiger Woods or the White House party crashers long enough to cover this story????

Quilt for Piecing Hope

I found about a wonderful church making quilts for children in Africa who have lost their families. It is very compelling and I signed up to make one. Tabitha is her name. Joel is still waiting for someone to make a quilt for him. Would that be YOU???????

http://www.piecinghope.org/index.php

I found a wonderful panel full of pictures of native people and other fun stuff from Africa. I just framed them with bright fabric and put black in between the rows. I did this without a pattern which is VERY unusual for me. It was a perfect way to use my bright fabric.

The center is done and just needs borders. I put it away for a bit and will finish is in a week or so. I was tired of it and know enough to stop when I feel that way. I will get excited to finish it in a couple of weeks.

The girl's favorite color is gold and I found some perfect fabric for the backing with gold and brown.

I am grateful I taught myself how to quilt to help with all these wonderful causes.

I can watch TV and hear over and over how Tiger Woods is in a mess, people are fighting all the time over politics and who is RIGHT--or I can go make a quilt. Easy choice for me. How about your time?

Strip Tube Fun

When I went to my North Carolina retreat, one of the gals was working on a quilt using the book and ruler called Strip Tubing..I think. She had an extra copy of the book for me and I found the ruler in a quilt shop on the way home.

This was really fun and I used up some Fat Quarters from a fabric line. This quilt is destined for the local nursing home. I see more of these in my future.

Quilts For Kids and Downey

I sent away for a quilt kit from Downey Fabric Softner and the organization Quilts For Kids. It is very cute and easy. The fabric was a nice quality and most of the cutting was already done. Here is how cute this turned out.

It was very quick to quilt as it is small compared to what I usually make.

Quilt Retreat

I just returned from our second annual online quilting friends retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. It is a beautiful place to spend several days sewing, eating , and visiting with friends.

Also DH was able to install the new tension assembly with a little help from HQ tech support. I have at least 8 tops waiting for quilting so I will be busy with them for a bit.

Too much travel in a short period of time but I would not have missed it for anything.

In Conclusion

Mary--my traveling companion--and I were off to the airport and home. It was a very long day.

I would have to say HQ could not have possibly done anything more for us. I hope this ad campaign works out very well for them. They are a fabulous family type company.

I would love to go back there to one of their teaching retreats. I am not sure that will ever happen due to economics but you just NEVER KNOW.