Sunday, December 30, 2018

Christmas Recap......

It's that awkward week in between Christmas and New Years.
I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas, however you celebrated it.
Mine was wonderful, and spent with family.
Here is a photo montage to recap.

We visited with my Aunt Flossie Sue, my mom's only living sister,
in her residential care facility.
I caught this touching embrace between the two of them.
We sang for her, which put a huge smile on her face,
 and we brought her some Christmas gifts.
Things change so much as we age.

The annual reading of the true
Christmas Story by my dad to all of us.

Excited YOUNG children awaiting the festivities.
My Sis and I love to have fun!

This small child found a gift with his name on it!

Mom and Dad's Christmas tree sparkled this year,
adorned with several gifts.

These little girls have been really good Santa!

A family photo with the resident elf.

And another with all of his babies!
Yes, I consider my niece and nephew my babies too!

Mike was a HUGE help in the kitchen this year!
My Momma sure did appreciate it!
We ALL did!

MMMM!  MMMMM!  MMMMMMMMMM!
Just look at that spread!
We were ready to dig in!
The dumplings were made by your's truly.

And, yes, Momma made her famous Streudle!
Sis made her delicious Red Velvet cake.....
I seem to have forgotten to take a photo of that....
it was gone before we knew it!

Merry Christmas everyone!

These girls couldn't wait to open their gifts!

Sophia loves her Paw Paw!
I love this photo of them together!

It looks like someone is reading a quilt label to me?

My niece requested a t-shirt quilt made from her
many FFA and Choir t-shirts she accumulated
during her high school days.
T-shirt quilts are one of my LEAST FAVORITE
types of quilts to make.
So, fortunately, Mike stepped in, and really helped in the
making of this quilt.
He did all of the fusing and cutting.....and even designed the layout.
He actually sewed some of it together!  Go Mike!
I helped finish the piecing, my friend, Ann, quilted it.....
and, it was done for Christmas!
Sugar Doll loved it!

And here is one of my favorite gifts received!
A quilt ladder!
I realize the quilts aren't placed perfectly on here....
but, I just threw them up for a quick photo for you all!
I will share some of the cool gifts I received in some
future posts.

Now.....onto some quilting that I do like!

Bonnie Hunter's
Quiltville Mystery

We were back into the strings for Part 6 of this mystery.
I am using black as my neutral.

Isn't this a delicious mess????
What a wonderful way to use up every last "string"
of fabric!

And here are all of my units together.
I even found that orange polka dot binding
in my black strings bin!
SCORE!
I wonder if this mystery will have a fast and furious
ending as Bonnie's past mysteries have had???
HMMMM..........

Linking with
Mystery Monday Link-Up, Part 6
Make sure to visit the linky party to
see all of the wonderful versions of
this mystery quilt that is being made.


Oh......
several of you have messaged me
asking to return chicken pics to the posts....
so..........
here ya go...........

These are the Royal Palm turkeys almost all grown up!
They are a little over 3 months old now.
Believe it or not, they have 3 more months to mature!
There are 3 hens, and 5 toms in this photo.
I returned 4 hens to my friend that gave these
turkeys to me.  Remember, she gave me 12 poults.
The males are just beginning to show signs of strutting.
They have moved to their permanent coop and run
and really enjoy being outside.
I haven't yet decided how many I will
actually keep, or the fates of those I don't keep.
We shall see?

In closing........


I wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year!
May 2019 bring each of us a brighter tomorrow!
Here! Here!

I hope to see you at these
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 3, 2019
Sinnissippi Quilters, Rockford, Illinois
Bethesda Church
2101 East State Street
Rockford, IL
Lecture and Trunkshow 1PM and 7PM

January 4, 2019
Sinnissippi Quilters, Rockford, Illinois
Swedish American Hospital
1401 East State Street
Rockford, IL
"String Star" Workshop

January 12, 2019
Friends In Stitches, Waterloo, Illinois
"String Star" Workshop

January 26, 2019
"Goodnight, Darlene!" Workshop

February 9, 2019
St. Louis Star Quilt Guild
Salem Lutheran Church, Affton, Missouri
"Sorta, Kinda Amish" Workshop




Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Thanks for being a friend!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter









Sunday, December 23, 2018

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to 
all of you..........


from all of me!

I am thankful for the many friendships made in 2018.
If you helped me in ANY way, THANK YOU!
I am also thankful for the personal
and professional growth I have experienced
this past year during my quilty travels.
Keep on Quilting!

Here's to looking forward
 to a healthy and prosperous 2019!

Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery

Part 5
Mostly Cut......ready to sew.....
when I return from celebrating
CHRISTMAS
with my family!

Linking with
Go to the link up to see all of the beautiful
versions of this quilt by
quilters from all over the world!

Again, I wish you 
Merry Christmas!

I hope to see you at these
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 3, 2019
Sinnissippi Quilters, Rockford, Illinois
Lecture and Trunkshow 1PM and 7PM
January 4, 2019
Sinnissippi Quilters, Rockford, Illinois
"String Star" Workshop

January 12, 2019
Friends In Stitches, Waterloo, Illinois
"String Star" Workshop

January 26, 2019
"Goodnight, Darlene!" Workshop

February 9, 2019
St. Louis Star Quilt Guild
Salem Lutheran Church, Affton, Missouri
"Sorta, Kinda Amish" Workshop

Thanks for being a friend!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter


Monday, December 17, 2018

From Thanksgiving til now........


Whoever said, "Time Flies" sure said a mouthful!

How did we get to now since my last blog post?
A MONTH AGO!!!!!

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone.....I hope yours was as good as mine?

Here is a photo perspective of my last month!


10 Quilts of Valor from the block drive
were awarded to deserving Veterans
at the November meeting of the 
Jefferson Star Quilt Guild in
Arnold, Missouri.
All of these QOV's were presented on behalf of 
Quilts of Valor, Eastern Missouri.
And, couldn't have been possible without
all of you quilters out there
that participated in this block drive!
And a very special thanks goes out to 
Portia in Arkansas who volunteered to
donate the batting and backing, and quilt
these 10 QOVs!
THANK! YOU! SO! MUCH! PORTIA!
Look at these smiling faces!
Veterans being thanked by those in attendance.
An appreciation line for the Veterans.
It turned out to be a really nice presentation.

Then..........Thanksgiving!
I was not able to host Thanksgiving Dinner in my
home this year due to some extenuating
circumstances with extended family not
willing to drive a far distance.
(I am not referring to blood relatives here...Oh, Well!)


My Sis hosted, and it was still wonderful!
Dad carved the turkey while sis finished up
some cooking.
Look at Sophia!
Here eyes are definitely bigger than her stomach!
MMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
PawPaw!  This tastes sooooooo good!
LILLY MAE!!!!!! LOLOLOL
My niece and nephew hanging the
Christmas ornaments I get them annually.
I am glad they still get excited to receive them.
Sophia Annabella helped me play our
Thanksgiving Scrabble game.
Curtis won this year!
REVENGE IS MINE SAYETH UNCLE KEVIN!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Everywhere you GO!
(Get it????? LOLOLOL)
AHA!  Christmas shopping with the parents!
I never tire of this, nor my Dad's shenanigans!
I think Father Huffman approves of Mom's
choice here? LOL
Lilly Mae visited Santa!
She really has been a good girl this year!
I hope she asked for something good for me too!!!!
The Cave Quilters met for the first time
in November, and got a lot of work done
Star Spangled Sprial.
It is a really striking pattern!
We all gathered once more to complete
the top.
Cherie of Quilted Jonquil
and myself make up the Cave Quilters.
Jan sewing in the last few stitches to complete the top!
(I didn't a good shot of the completed top!!! DOH!)




AAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDD
Bonnie Hunter released her first clue for her
Mystery Quilt!
I have been playing along with this mystery with
my quilting friends Sue, and
 Heather of Peachy Pages.

The following is my progress thus far,.....
Clue #1
Clue #2


Clue #3...........where did those photos go to?????
LOL
and......

Clue #4

Linking up with

You all KNOW I am loving this mystery.....
especially with the string piecing in Clue #4!

This quilt is destined to be my Halloween Quilt!

Look who came to visit me at the Quilt Cave!?!?!?
She had several of her girlfriends with her......
but, this gal seemed to be most curious.
She wanted to know what
I was sewing!

Mr. Valentino has been snoopervising.....
and I love it when he does!
At the very least, he is 16 years old.
I have had him for 14 of those years.
He is such a good boy!

Look at how important Lilly Mae looks in this pic!
She finished another marathon with my friend Mike!
LOLOLOL
Better them than me!
(And, you all know that by me saying she finished a
marathon means she ran the last few yards to the finish line
with Mike.)




The next shot may not be suitable for young children....










THIS is what a TRUE Bonniac 
(Bonnie Hunter Fan) 
looks like when
they receive her latest book! 
LOLOLOL
Go ahead....make fun of me......I can take it!
Pure joy, unbridled excitement, enthusiasm.......
throwing a fit??? LOLOLOL  
How about all of the above!

I hope you have enjoyed this time of year.....
I have a few short weeks left before I have to 
go back to work.......insert face from above.....

I hope to see you at these
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 3, 2019
Sinnissippi Quilters, Rockford, Illinois
Lecture and Trunkshow 1PM and 7PM
January 4, 2019
Sinnissippi Quilters, Rockford, Illinois
"String Star" Workshop

January 12, 2019
Friends In Stitches, Waterloo, Illinois
"String Star" Workshop

January 26, 2019
"Goodnight, Darlene!" Workshop

February 9, 2019
St. Louis Star Quilt Guild
Salem Lutheran Church, Affton, Missouri
"Sorta, Kinda Amish" Workshop


Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Thanks for being a friend!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter