What a Year!

To Auld Lang Syne, for days past....   These last 365 days of 2010 have been so great, from the little things I take for granted like having a warm roof over my head and food on my table, to watching my grandson Vince two days a week and seeing him grow into this little boy who goes to preschool, seeing my granddaughter Kenzie once a week or so, and especially the big event of being Blessed with another granddaughter Aleena, just days ago.

It feels so good to look back on this year and see so many gifts I have been given, like Woolin Rouge coming out with our very first patterns, visiting with family in Michigan, having my grandchildren so close I can hug when ever I want, having a healthy loving family, and having the greatest working relationship with Traci Marvel and Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. I could go on for days because I am so Blessed. I have friends who I can tell my secrets to and a husband who loves me even though I'm sure I drive him crazy at times. Well, lots of times. He not only puts up with my Compulsive Sewing, he supports it. What more could I ask for.

So what will 2011 have in store for me? I know I will watch my grandchildren grow, sew with friends, create new Woolin Rouge patterns, love my family and friends, oh...and learn to hook rugs. (Got to love that wool!)

For you? I pray that God protects you and gives you what you need. I pray for health and happiness for you all. 

Happy New Year to all my friends and family and anyone reading my blog. I love you all! 

Holly Birdie is Ready

Holly Birdie pattern by Woolin Rouge (Traci Suzanne Marvel and myself), for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company is NOW READY!!!!

The bird and holly leaves is done in felted wool but as a quilter, I'm sure you know you can take artistic freedom and do it with batiks, cottons, or anything you want! What I really like about this pattern is that it is so easy for a quilt shop to use any of their Holiday fabric without feeling like they have to make it exactly like the pattern. Speaking of which, the fabric used in this set is Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas by Moda.

It goes without saying that I used Aurifil thread. The wool was appliqued with Aurifil Lana Wool Thread and the rest was sewn and quilted with Aurifil 50 wt cotton.  Bigfork Bay Cotton Company is a Distributor for Aurifil so quilt shop owners, give them a ring.

I hope you enjoy this new pattern from Woolin Rouge. We had so much fun designing it. This is the pattern that was in Magic Patch, a French Magazine.

New GrandBaby Aleena

I would like to introduce my new Granddaughter Aleena Michelle Diaz. She came to meet us at 4:03PM on 12/11/10.  These pictures are within a couple hours of when she was born. 

My daughter Shelly had been experiencing labor pains for an entire week. I can't even imagine going to work with labor pains, but she did! 

Grandpa Alan was at Aleena's birth. He said that he is 67 years old and he had experienced a lot of death because of war and experiences in his life, but never life. He was so excited when Shelly told him he could be there to see his granddaughter come into the world. I'm not sure if he ever realized before that it was an option for him. When my Grandson Vince was born I was there and talked about how it was the most amazing experience of my life. I think Alan realized that he had missed the most beautiful gift on Earth.

Alan is a hunter and Shelly loves elk meat so Alan felt it was so important to make sure she had an elk before the baby was born. Strange, I know. He and a friend, Ron Meyer went out hunting, shot elk, and still made it in time for the birth of Aleena.

Shelly did an amazing job giving birth and her husband Anthony is so great. I have always felt so Blessed with the family I have and life continues to show me how truly Blessed I really am. No matter what I get for Christmas this year, nothing will compare to the gift I received on Saturday and the feeling of having all my family around to enjoy this experience.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!