Happy New Year!

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

Star Crazy December BOM

I was so happy yesterday to have an opportunity to work on Star Crazy.
I really didn't think there would be time in December, but now with Christmas over, I snuck in a day of "do what you WANT to do, not what you HAVE to do."

Four Patch Stars & Quad Stars
The last 6 blocks are now complete and ready for their placement along the outside borders.

And the inside Irish Chain is sewn together.

I love how this quilt is coming together.

Sue Garman really did a great job with the design.

My thanks to The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims for letting us participate in their Block of The Month 2010.

And remember all those 1 1/2" half square triangles we have been making each month along the way?

I think there are 320 of them all together.

I've started sewing the 8 rows needed for the borders.

A little tedious and time consuming, but I put on a good movie and I was in my happy zone.

Remember Star Crazy will eventually grow up to look like this.
Star Crazy has been such a great quilt to make together with so many of you. This is the first time I have hosted a group, and I have been inspired by your work! And, it's been delightful getting to know quilters from around the world.

I have a feeling we are going to be seeing a lot of wonderful posts about Star Crazy in January.

Happy New Year!

The Best Presents Ever

We arrived home this evening after spending several wonderful days in Phoenix for Christmas.
The happiest of moments where we could be together as family with 4 of our 5 children. (We missed you Scott!)
We played games, watched movies, cooked a truck load of food, and then proceeded to eat more than should be allowed by law.
Thank heavens for that warm Arizona sunshine that beckoned us outside for long walks with the grandbabies.
And a BIG thank you to my children who traveled, took time off work, hosted, cooked, cleaned and made it possible for all of us to be together.

One of my favorite presents came wrapped in green, gold and red bows.

Yes, angels with halos do appear at Christmas time.

We felt very privileged that our grand daughter waited for our arrival to take her very first steps.

Her body language spoke volumes.

"You can let go of my hand now Papa."

"My daddy will catch me if I fall."

"Three big steps all by myself! Yay!"

And I'm not sure who was more excited about playing with all the new Superhero toys, our grandsons or Mr. Cactus.

Star of Hope

"The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ."

(~D. James Kennedy)

Merry Christmas!

HAL LE LU JAH

There have been many versions of the Hallelujah Chorus on the Internet lately. People bursting into song in the middle of a crowded mall, or airport.
They make me weep, and bring to remembrance the true meaning of Christmas. My favorite You-Tube version was shared by Annie Unrein.

The 5th graders of Quinhagak, and Yup'ik Village, Alaska have captured my heart.

A big thank-you to teacher Jim Barthelman who spent 10 hours of filming.