Between the Years

I love this time of the year. The week between Christmas and New Year's day is always very relaxing. Breakfast, lunches with friends and family, a little shopping too.

December 24, 2011

Luke and Fran

John and Casey

Countdown

The countdown for Christmas is on. I've decided to really enjoy this week,  trying not to panic because Christmas is almost here, and I'm so not ready.

The girls went to Christkindle Markt yesterday. We enjoyed Gluehwein and Schnitzel, of course. And went on to Macy's to check out the beautiful Christmas tree. Then hopped back on the train and had a wonderful dinner in Geneva.

Today we went for a wonderful little quilt shop hop and lunch at Maggiano's! Tomorrow is knitting bee!

Deb, Fran and Nancy

MaryBeth and Leanne

Fran at the Nativity

Macy's

Macy's Christmas Tree in the Walnut Room

Cookie Express

Every year my friend MaryBeth stops by with a huge plate full of home made Christmas cookies. They are delicious. I've been sneaking several already. Now If I just had Gluehwein to go with it!

I still have a couple of customer quilts to finish before this weekend. Then the house has to be cleaned and gifts have to be wrapped.








Here are pictures of some of the quilts I finished:

Christkindel Markt

I'm sorry I haven't posted lately, but things are very busy around the House. I'm still working on finishing quilts for Christmas for my customers. Thankfully John and Casey are working on Christmas decorations inside and out! Today we had a wonderful dinner with our old German friends Rudi and Anne.

Yesterday we went to  Christkindel Markt on Dailey Plaza in Chicago. Little did we know that the rest of Chicagoland went too. What a crowd! But the Gluehwein was excellent, so was the Schnitzel.

As always, there was drama on the night train back to Elgin.

One more week of quilting for customers, then we'll enjoy Christmas with family.

Thanksgiving (a week later)

I can't believe it has already been a week since Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful turkey dinner. Our SIL Luke made a fabulous turkey (on-line recipe) and yummy stuffing from his mom's recipe! Too much food as usual.

I have finished at least a quilt a day, and I'm on track to finish customer quilts before Christmas. There are still some trickling in, and, no worries, they'll be done too.

Last Saturday was Shop Small Stores (I forgot the exact wording), and I went to shop at 'Material Girl' in Chrystal Lake. You always need fabric to finish a project.

Here are some pictures of the quilts I've worked on lately:

Quilting Retreat at the Hampton Inn

Once again the retreat was wonderful, lots of laughter, food and sewing projects. Here are some impressions:

Yes, these are little cakes from The Cakery

Carol is admiring her Halloween quilt we made for her upcoming big birthday!

Claudia is working on a basket weaving project!

Moda Fat Quarter Bundle from Fall Market

Too pretty to open!

I've been better!

Winks' Halloween project, almost done!

Nobody had the pattern for this kit!

Claudia made this adorable wall hanging. I forgot whose pattern it was. LOVE the border batik.

Jill is working on a quilt, the pattern is from Modern Quilt Relish

Anthology  batik strips. I'll post a picture of the quilt when it's done!

Karen's very own design! Stunning!

Carol draped in her Halloween quilt!

Elvira's Quilting Services LLC

This month marks the 2nd anniversary of my Quilting business. It's hard work but time flies when you're having fun! A big Thank You to all my customers!

MaryBeth and Leanne came over and treated me to champagne and appetizers. THANKS GIRLS!

I'm packing my Bernina and quilting projects to spend the next four days at a bee retreat. It's a little break before the Christmas quilting marathon begins.

One Block Wonder

I love this pattern. My customer Louette used a beautiful fabric for this quilt. I love her 'hollow cubes'. We both took the same class with Connie P. several years ago. Of course, mine is not finished. I wasn't very happy with my fabric choice. But, as you can see, Louette's turned out fantastic!