Where has the week gone?

WOW it has been a packed week. And surprisingly good as well.

 We did Christmas Eve at my brothers with my parents et al and that turned out to be a pretty nice time.
Christmas day DH and I went to my mom's and had brunch. Both my sisters were actually pleasant so it was very nice. We had been going to go to a movie but it was sold out, so that will have to happen yet. My older sister cooked dinner for my mom, and it was actually good! My sister has only recently started cooking much so this was a nice effort. We had shrimp curry since my mom loves Indian, and most ethnic foods. Seem odd for Christmas? Well it is also my mom's birthday so that's what we had.

 On Boxing Day I drove up with my dad and his longtime girlfriend to my grandmother's in Peterborough, about 4 hours away. I had an absolute blast with my cousins, aunts, uncles etc. We packed about 50-75 people into my grandma's house for dinner, which is eaten in shifts, all over the house. Little Bit was dropped off by bio dad around 4 and she did FANTASTIC with the other children. She played with the younger ones until they went off to bed and managed to play with the older ones, with only one or two misunderstandings. I was very pleased.
 It felt awesome to be with family. And you have to understand this is a large Irish Catholic brood, my grandmother had 10 children and they have an average of 4 each, that is loud but loving. I don't know how much is show, as my sisters always insist. It is a very warm loving place to be, not perfect but good. There has been times in the past I wish I had remembered or been as sure of that fact. I would have missed a lot of heartache if I had gone there instead of "home".
While it was a flying trip, we came home yesterday, and I'm really hurting from it, even with the extra drugs the doctor gave me, I'm very happy I went. There is a deep well of something there that I always find fills me in places I didn't know were empty.
 I totally forgot my camera so no pictures but it is something to see.
DH didn't go as he drives for a living right now and wanted some time off, and since he's so large, 6'6'', he doesn't fit in the back well lol.

 Little Bit was eager to come home yesterday and was pushing my dad to leave, which worked better then anyone else ever has. She got to open all her presents that Santa had left, plus mommy and daddy's, and mamaw and papaws. She was very spoiled as Santa left her presents at 3 places, bio dad's, mommy's and a few even at grandma's, which she got tonight.

Her stash at my place.

She had issues with some tape, and was somewhat confused by it.

Princess stocking, filled and holding.

Most of the pictures of Little Bit were blurred, which is ok because it just meant she was tearing into her presents, and that is something that made me so excited. This is the first year this has made any sense to her. It was awesome.

I have to show off the bag my MIL sent me. It is just gorgeous.

It's Vera Bradley, and has lots of nice deep pockets. I've already switched over to it. It easily one of the nicer designed bags. Attractive, but also very functional, which I like because I'm mom, wife and pack mule lol.

And I'll show the shame part of any Christmas with small children.

The waste. Two bags to get rid of the packaging, wrapping, and other non recyclables. Part of the two bags is the down the garbage shoot issue, they can't be packed tight or large. This part always makes me uneasy but I decided that it is necessary to remember the crap that comes with all the crap of Christmas.

  I didn't take a picture but for Christmas my mother bought me an immense amount of sweaters, and a couple pairs of slacks. Apparently she found a very good sale, and was tired of seeing me in clothes that are 2-3 sizes too big. So I now have some nice cold weather clothes. 
And just in time too. We finally got a few inches of snow, and it's supposed to snow on and off all week, today about 2-3 inches is expected. I like it for Little Bit and all the children but I'm worried because DH has to drive in this all the time. And well....people just aren't that good of drivers to begin with, and add snow and things get nasty on the highway.

So I hope all went well with everyone, and you have time to recover.

Merry Christmas

 To all glad tidings and peaceful thoughts.

Little Bit comes home tomorrow or Sunday, depending on if we go to my grandmother's and pick her up on the way or have her dropped of here.
She will see this...well and a few more that haven't made it out yet.

Ok maybe more then a few more and a stocking full of goodies.

 I had dinner tonight (Christmas Eve, but after midnight so you know what ever day) at my brother's, after my mom and sisters prepared everything at her house, took it over there, and they are going to have to take everything back after. How this makes sense, or "less work" I will never understand, but it's what was decided by the great poombas so it is as it was. DH came separately after work and I went home with him. It was one of the more pleasant family evenings though.
 The nieces loved their presents so I'm thrilled.

 Brunch tomorrow at mom's, more gift exchanging, and then DH and I are going to the movies! We haven't been in forever so are planning on seeing the Sherlock Holmes, with Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. I'm very much looking forward to it.
 All Santa presents and immediate family gifts are waiting until Little Bit gets home. Which I'm thrilled about.

Oh and I got my cousin's baby quilt quilted and the binding made. I still have to attached the prairie points and sew on the binding. I'm hoping to be able to at least have that done by Boxing Day, assuming I'm still feeling like I can make the trip. If not it can wait until after New Years as the baby is not due until January, and the baby shower will be after then.

Hmmm not a very Christmasy post but I don't think Christmas will be here until Little Bit is home. Can you tell I miss her? Though sleeping in tomorrow will be pretty sweet.

 Merry Christmas and be safe and happy, doing what ever brings you peace and joy.

I still exsist

  So this has been a crazy week. Not much better then last but I'm half way through my time without Little Bit.

We went to a family dinner on Sunday at my uncle's just outside of Hamilton, about an hour away. It was great to see lots of cousins, and the growing brood of cousins children. We tallied it up and there are 10 girls and only 2 boys, 3 if you include my son, of the cousins children, even odder is that of my generation there were 11 girls and 3 boys, so the girls are still taking over. On my dad's side it is pretty even my younger sister and I are thinking.

On Monday we buried my son's brain. It was hard but I'm glad it is done. I put a little praying bear in the velvet bag which held a sealed container and DH lowered it into the hole ontop of his grave. DH also stayed back with my brother, dad, and cousin to fill in the spot. His family, being in NC, weren't able to come which is 100% ok with me, it is too far at this time of year for 15 minutes.

Yesterday a whole lotta nothing happened which is good. Well I did get the doll quilt for my other niece finished. I used cuddly fleece for the back, it's sold for like bath robes and pajamas. Very snuggly. I also bought some in blue for my cousin's baby quilt.

The picture makes it look very unsquare but it actually is pretty good. I should have smoothed it out a bit more before taking the picture.
I haven't washed either, which occurred to be after I'd wrapped them in my marathon of wrapping this afternoon. I'm debating opening them up and washing them, I just love the crinkly softness and I think the girls will too.

I'm a bit worried there may be a fight about the pink one. I did not think of this until after of course but if it looks like there will be I think I may offer to make the younger one a pink one too.

 I know my lines aren't all that straight but seeing as I didn't do any drawing or guides it's not too bad, and I'm improving on the stippling and the binding. Still not great but better. Practice making perfect and all that.

I've got 6 of 12 rows done for nephews quilt. I missed a direction here but no biggie. This is not a final layout, just throwing them down for now. I'll arrange them better later, hopefully having no two fabrics touching.
I love these fabrics more and more.

I've got to run and try to at least baste the baby quilt this afternoon or it will never be done for Boxing Day, which is when I'll be heading to grandma's and will see my cousin. I want to have it done for then but it's not a must.

Has this ever happened to you?

  Yesterday my sister took my daughter out. She wanted to get her a few things, she falls into the since I don't see her often, when I do I will buy her. It's kinda harsh but the truth unvarnished too.
 She bought her one of the dolls, Belle, that Little Bit has been wanting, even wrote and asked Santa for it. And Santa got it for her well over a month ago. And has been building the anticipation for it. And now its ruined. Well that part of it is anyways.
 DH is furious, but I'm just really disappointed. I know my sister wasn't trying to be mean but the thoughtlessness seems a bit much, not that that is anything even remotely new or to be honest unexpected.
 Am I being silly or does it seem like a really stupid/inconsiderate thing to buy a kid a present right before Christmas without asking her parents? I can't afford to  buy a ton of presents so I really put a lot of thought into them, what does she really like, want, will remember,or will be useful.

I feel even more bummed about Little Bit being away now. I at least had her face when she opened her dolls to look forward to, now only one of them.

FYI seems red is the dominate choice for the binding, which would really make the stars the focus. My only thought on black is it would give the whole thing a frame...I still can't decide, not unusual for moi lol

A productive day

 So after my little bout of self pity etc I decided what I really needed to do was some destruction. So I took up my rotary cutter and slashed a bunch of poor innocent charm squares. They were cut up without mercy as I deposited my emotions. So then I had to actually do something with them.
 But back to the fabrics. See I have a problem. I don't like cutting into fabric. Especially precuts.
I know,  I know it makes no sense, but I'm always afraid of ruining them, especially when they are so pretty. But because of my mood yesterday I was able to more or less just grab and go. So I've cut up one of my Rouenneries charm packs, the one I bought for Cindy Lou Who but didn't arrive in time.

 Anyways, I had seen this pattern on Happy Zombie and loved it so figured it could work with Rouenneries. It did. LOL. I had planned on having the red and lights reversed but the numbers worked perfectly this way, and not at all the other so this way one.

I'm still trying to decide on the binding, which is why there isn't any on there. I have a red from the line, or a Hoffman fusion black, or I suppose I could sew the black charms together to make a binding but that would be a massive pain so no that is not an option. I also think I have a flat, solid black somewhere but I'm not a huge fan but it is an option.

What do you think?

How is this ready for binding already you ask? Well you didn't ask but if you know me you know I'm not exactly known for full finishes. I'm not comfortable with my quilting skills and I can't afford to send them out so I end up with a lot of flimsies, not a lot of quilts. Though I'm getting better so maybe there will be more in the future.
Back to this one though. Can you guess? Of course you can. I did quilt-as-you-go. I sewed the the blocks into rows, and then sewed the rows together on top of the batting and backing, which was a piece from the sides of DH's quilt that I had actually remembered to save, and was able to find. Which is impressive for me.
 I may add some more I'm not sure, probably not. Hmm....needs an iron.

Hey, do you think this could use some applique? If so what and where?

 I made these two mugs up, with the molten chocolate cake mix. This is yummy, the only problem can be the microwave times, over cooked and this is not so good. And splenda drys it out. Just saying...
One went to the bus driver and the other is going to Little Bit's teacher, along with an apple pin and earrings. I hope she likes them, she's pretty young so maybe not, but Little Bit picked them out so that's what she's getting lol.

I added some candy canes to the bus drivers. And if I can find some more or if I remember to get some when I go get my meds, will add them to her teacher's too.

   Little Bit is playing hookie with her Aunt Laura today. She rarely gets to see her as Laura has a crazy job in Toronto that rarely lets her get away. She's just got a transfer to another division which is not so crazy, or so she hopes. Seeing as Little Bit is soon to be taken off the regular curriculum and put on and Individual Education Plan, I don't see much harm. She's supposed to take her teacher's gift over later on but if not it can wait until they go back.
 Little Bit also goes off to see bio dad tonight for a week, which she doesn't want to do, so I figured let her have today to do what she wanted, and that was stay with Auntie.

Blah, Blah, Blah

 That's kind of all I feel I have to say today. I've not worked on my second doll quilt for Christmas.  I just can't get into it. I don't know if it's because I can't decided whether to use an old block I have, or to break up one of the charm packs for it, but I just have no inspiration or motivation.

 I think I'd use one of the ones that can't go into a larger quilt, because, well....these were made quite a while ago, and the seams look to be off some. At least two of the blocks, but then I could have been just using up scraps at the time to finish them. Or maybe I was asleep when I made them. I don't remember. They are many, many blocks ago. If I do use on I think I'll just add white borders, or maybe a white and then a pink polka dot I have in my stash. I do have to decide soon.

I did manage to cut up my perfectly good layer cake for the nephew's quilt.

Where I had 40 nice 10" squares, I now have 160 5" squares. I'm waiting for a charm pack, which only has 35 squares, in the mail, and I should be able to make this thing about 51x58 or 48x63, depending on the rows and if my math is at all correct. I think 15x13 or 14x14 rows will work best, and I should be able to get away with only adding a square or two of other fabric. It's harder to figure out the sizing when I'm not dealing with something like squares or rectangles. I don't know why but my layer cake (which came from e-bay) didn't have the cardboard back so I will either have to swipe a charm pack one or do something else to make the template for the...you guessed it! Tumblers! lol. I promise this will be the last one for awhile.
I love the colours in this line. Very boy without being jarring. This quilt doesn't really have a time date, seeing as baby is already 10 months old or something like that. I haven't even met him.

 I know one of the reasons I'm so not feeling things is I'm __(insert emotion here)___ about Little Bit being with bio dad for Christmas, and the all of next week, and the fact that I have to bury the rest of my son's remains on Monday that the hospital (illegally/immorally/unethically) kept after his autopsy. I'll be glad for it to be done but nothing can fix that I've had to relive all of this. If you wish you can read more about it here and a bit more here, if you don't, don't feel bad. This is my quilt blog but every once in awhile life sneaks in here too, just ignore if you please.

Letter to Santa

 Dear Santa,

  I've been reeeeally  good this year, well ok, only mostly good. Life would be no fun if I was good all the time.
And my stash would never grow, and growing my stash is good for the economy didn't you know? So it can't be naughty to sneak in a piece or two here and there, especially those always needed basics.

If I was being good and only asking for something small I'd ask for a dessert roll, maybe this one?

Or a layer cake perhaps? Like this one? 

But mom always said to put something bigger on there, just in case you had some extra room in the sleigh, so I'll mention this,  because it's so pretty but well, it just isn't in the cards for me right now.

 This gorgeous and fun kit, if you could include the backing that would be awesome.

 So Santa if you could see to bringing me any of these I'd really appreciate it. But just knowing you're out there granting some wishes this season is a wonderful feeling.
Those awesome elves at FatQuarter Shop and the Jolly Jabber are forwarding these letters to you Santa so make sure you remember that they have been super good this year!

Have a safe and fun trip this year Santa,

Cara