Walking in a Winter Wonderland

You all thought you were going to see snow....not even close! It was 99 degrees last Saturday and while it has cooled off (I am so grateful!) It has still been in the mid to upper 80's this week.

No, I have to make my own Winter Wonderland here....
I *heart* SNOWMEN!
Snowmen take me right back to my childhood, to simple times, to lots of snow in the winter, to warm cozy houses (my house here only seems to be warm in the summer...LOL), to hot chocolate and warm socks.

So when my sister in law offered a snowman quilt kit a few years ago (I'll post the finished tops in the next couple of days..I haven't quilted them yet), I jumped at the chance...okay I didn't jump, but as soon as I saw it in person I was hooked. I have made two different snowmen quilts since then and this is my third...I am behind, I had the kit a year before I started on it but isn't it nice our UFO keep!

Here is the final design (pattern front):

There are 10 stitched blocks, ranging in size from 6 1/2 x 14 to 16 x 24, and lots of varies sized in between. Rena is fantabulous at picking colors and patterns. I miss living close and seeing her excitement for fabric. You can visit her shop website here.

Sorry you can really see the blue marker in some of these. These are raw finishes, meaning I haven't trimmed them yet and I won't wash them until the quilt is finished.

This is the holly leaves and berries...sorry hard to see.

I started this project on our summer trip with the Travelers to Cottage Grove Oregon

This is actually the block I am currently working on. It is very wrinkled, it was *wadded* up in my bag. I haven't had it out since we came home from Oklahoma. I still have a good evening work on it...maybe there will be a good movie on tonight....(a girl can hope!)

Two blocks with words in them. This verse just makes me want to sip hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.
And this one, the first one I did makes me still giggle....Snow angels are just fun!
This block should be dedicated to my first trip down the slopes! No laughing Kimberly and Alex!
This isn't the best picture of all the fabrics, but I don't dare take them out of their designated bag. Like I said Rena is fantabulous at picking fabric combos and this quilt is just no exception to her talent. I LOVE these combinations and am excited to get the patchwork block done....I just made myself a promise I wouldn't start sewing blocks until the stitching was done...two blocks left!

Here was this weeks project! Neck pillows for the four youngest grandkiddles. We are planning a road trip out to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving and thought neck pillows would help the two little ones we will be traveling with. I found this pattern online, can't remember the blog or I would totally give her credit. We didn't use stuffed animals, we used the hand puppets that are currently being sold at Costco.
Here is my little helper modeling his pillow....Have pillow will travel!
Here he is ready for travel in the deep jungles of Africa! He has such personality...he always has something fun to show us!
We are off on ADVENTURE!