Challenge quilt done...and...the year in review,

We are in the middle of creating our challenge quilts for our annual guild challenge. This year's challenge was called "This Was Then....."  based on the year you were born.  Nobody reveals until January when they are submitted.  Sometimes we give teasers....here is my teaser,,,,for which you will garner nothing as to the finished product.   

Surprisingly, I am done...early, most are completing the week they are due, sometimes even the morning of!!!   I was totally uninspired until a chance photo sent by a friend intrigued me enough to do some experimenting to see if I could convey it In fabric.   It just happened I decided to turn it into a challenge.   More next month!

My friend Martha  always posts what she accomplished during the year.  I decided I would keep track.   I lost track of it part way through, but think I have remembered most.

-   2 birch tree art quilts...."Then...the Crocus" - for RAFA show, winner of art quilt award at GVQC               "Autumn Candles" - winner in art quilt category at Old Forge quilt show

- 2 quilts for Gem and Mineral show in Rochester.   "Footsteps" & "Where I "Stand" 

- "Inflorescence" - digital printed and quilted, hung in GVQC show and RAFA show

- guild challenge - "Butterflies and Bottlecaps", literary challenge

- ice dye challenge, stained glass windows for ArtCGirlz!

- 2 Mandela challenges. - "Where Words Fail...Music Speaks" and "Butterfly" For ArtCGirlz.

- 2 pulpit banners for Church

- quilt for a  very good friend in Florida - a portrait quilt of his mother

- "Out on a Limb" from Wendy butler Berns workshop at guild

- row by row guild project....yet to be a finished quilt.

- silent auction donation , quilted tulip panel 

3 mug rugs,  3 purses, 3 fabric cards

- made blocks for and did the machine quilting on a comfort quilt for a very dear friend going thru chemotherapy....one of the highlights of my year.

- took part in Iron Quilter at GVQC.  Finished quilt in 3 1/2 hours.

Whew, I think I accomplished quite a bit....and there might be a couple more I didn't remember.

Here's to another successful year in 2014!

Merry Christmas! From me and Longwood Gardens

One of my "favoritest" places ever!   Longwood Gardens, decorated at Christmas!

Merry Christmas Blog Readers!

It's an Icy Day in Batavia!!

We've had an ice storm overnight! I love my Japanese Maple Tree.....here is stark contrast from Last Sunday to this Sunday!

The dogwood in the back yard.

And, the new little redbud tree trying to stay strong!

The neighbors tree before it went down.

Mr. Snowman is supposed to look like ice cubes with his white wicker dressing.   He looks even more icy.....icicles dripping from his hat!

Vox Lumine concerts

My husband belongs to a singing group called Vox Lumine.   It is a lovely choral group, small and madrigal sized that sings all different varieties of concerts.   Right now they are in the midst of their Christmas concerts and it is a very lovely "get you in the spirit" type of concert.   Because he is still on driving restrictions after eye surgery, I have had to drive him to all the rehearsals and concerts.   

Here is part of the group performing last night.

They also performed on WXXI.org classical radio station in Rochester yesterday morning,   You can hear the concert at 1:00 pm on Sunday December 22 if you go to WXXI.org click on radio and click on "listen live".

Tonight, Dec. 20, they are performing in Batavia, NY and Saturday in Orchard Park, NY.

So.....not much quilting the past few days, but hope to get back to it soon!

.....and still it snows! It's pretty, but.....

We have had snow almost every day of the month.   And.....it is cold!!!   Last night, this was the temp at midnight!

These are pictures of our property!   I always think Christmas lights look the best with a dusting -or more- of snow!!!   

Mug Rug exchange in guild!

Yesterday was our guild Christmas party.   As part of the festivities, Chris, our program person, arranged for a mug rug exchange.   Most of us had never made such a thing,   Coasters.  Yes!  Placemats?  Yes!   Mug rugs?   Not so much.   Described as larger than a coaster, smaller than a placemat!   Large enough for your mug and a snack!

This is the one I made for the exchange!

These are the ones I received!   The Christmas star mug right along with a mug full of chocolates, a Christmas ornament and a deck of playing cards were my gift in the exchange!   The tulip mug rug was  a gift from my good friend Martha, who had really gotten in the spirit and made many extras!   I love them!   One sits next to my recliner, the other in my quilting room!    I am now making a few for gifts!

It's very wintry here..... There is at least 12 inches on this bench in my front yard.   My lighted snowman is quite buried also....he sports a lot of attitude!

My winning gift has arrived!!!

A couple of weeks ago I posted that I had won a give away from Connections by Karen Musgrave, a blog I consistently read and follow!  I feel a real connection with her and was excited to be the winner of one of her journals!!!

Front and back!

Inside ready to insert my own notebook!

Thank you Karen, I will put this to good use!

Happy Retirement Day!

Yesterday was my husband's big retirement day after 30+ years in the insurance profession, the last 27 years, 6 months and 25 days as an insurance adjuster with New York Central.   They will sorely miss him as his work ethic is unparalleled these days.   He has been a faithful, loyal, conscientious and dedicated employee.  

I am so glad I arranged for a retirement "card bombing" idea for him because the party was small and because he had had a miserable week with the eye surgery etc.   It. has given him something very fun and positive to think about.

These are a couple of photos of Longwood Gardens right now....my favorite place and it is lovely at Christmas.   We were supposed to be there next week.....but that won't be happening after my husband's eye surgery.   Best case scenario, maybe we get there right after Christmas but that is very iffy unless he is able to drive by then.  <<big sigh>>

What a week!

This week was supposed to be so much different than it has turned out so far!   This is how it started!

I planned a party to get the family together to celebrate my husband's 65th birthday,   We had a great time and it is always fun when we are together.

My gorgeous granddaughter, Samantha!

My middle grandchild, Aaron,

My youngest grandson, Jcob!

From there it all went downhill.   Monday, the actual date of his  birthday, we spent in doctors and specialist offices because it was discovered my husband had a detached retina,  at 5:00 he was taken into surgery for repair.  A gas bubble now sits behind the retina, on top of the optic nerve to hold the repair in place.   Other than shapes, colors and forms, he sees nothing out of that eye.  As the bubble dissipates on its own (a 4-6 week process), he will gradually see more and more, to where we hope original or close to original vision is restored,   The days are now filled with keeping his head down at 90 degrees for 30 min, of every hour, and a bizillion eye drops at varying times throughout the day,  we both had a full week of activities,,,,All cancelled.   Vacation next week....cancelled!  Amazingly, he is in good spirits....probably better than mine.

Tomorrow.....Friday.....is his retirement day.   This was supposed to be a week of excitement as he winds down his 30+ year career in the insurance field.  He is still excited,  but it has taken on a whole different tone.