A tiny fuzzy valentine’s heart for Tim.  In my house, the only Valentine’s requirement is a card.  Everything else is just a bonus, but so far today I’ve gotten a beautiful pair of earrings and a lovely brunch at Uptown Cafe.  I am one lucky girl.  Now back to regularly scheduled Olympic hat knitting.

Lots of love to all my friends and family.

I kicked the year off back in the hometown with my brother and was able to spend a wonderful week with my family.  The food is the best at home.  I was also lucky enough to visit with some high school friends, go to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, see a Genghis Khan exhibit and visit the Tattered Cover (two locations!).  I also spent a few days when I got back with Tim before his new semester started up again today.  10 degrees and snow won’t stop us!

So while I did make a bunch of stuff in 2009, I didn’t make 52.  I did make a twin sized quilt for Middle Way house and several other baby quilts for donation.  I made a few gifts, and tried new things.  And that was the point really.  I can get stuck making quilts with tiny little squares and be in my comfort zone, but exploring other fiber/art/craft possibilities out there is what is important to me.  I did also knit a cable scarf for my mom, cuz she is the best.

I really enjoy shopping for and getting gifts for family and friends.  I love finding that thing that is just right for a certain person.  Its like you are creating a connection across the distances with things, which all sounds sort of cheesy, I admit, but true. I do have some great friends who live in far flung places.   And this year, I have gotten some AMAZING gifts from friends and family!  Handmade note cards (above, complete with coordinating address labels), awesome reindeer platter and plates, a personalized photo book, a book from a favorite author, a beautiful jewelry box, a sweet necklace, and some HONEY from people who keep bees on their land in Texas.  I am freaking amazingly lucky.  I have the best friends on the planet.  Thank you everyone!

I am working most of this week, save for Thursday and Friday, so I hope you all feel bad for me.  However, I am taking 10 days or so off starting next week.  Really looking forward to time both spent at home, and then back in IN with Tim before his Spring semester starts again.

Happy Solstice!

Every time we make these Spiced Pecans, people ask for the recipe.  In fact, people are still emailing Tim from St. Mary’s asking for the recipe almost 3 years later.  They really are delicious and the recipe comes from Miles, Tim’s grandpa who I never got a chance to meet.  The recipe is pretty simple and perfect for the holidays (read: easy and make ahead), so I thought I would share.

Miles’ Sweet Spiced Pecans

1lb pecans

1 egg white

1 tsp water

1 tsp cinnamon

1tsp salt

1 c sugar

Mix the egg white and water together in a bowl.  Add pecans and stir to coat.  Sift sugar, cinnamon and salt together and add to the coated pecans.  Put in a lightly greased brownie pan and cook at 200 degrees for one hour, stirring a few times.

C’est tout!  Bon Appetit!

I was lucky enough to spend a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in Houston.  I spent part of the time with Larissa and her family at her house, complete with delicious baked goods and a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  The other part of the time I spent celebrating the engagement of one of my cousins, in a style I’ve never seen before!  The bride-to-be’s family is from India, and we were treated to a wonderful party.  As an added bonus to seeing cousins, aunts, and my mom, I was able to also see my great aunt and uncle.  I don’t have any grandparents left to visit or hear stories from, so it was especially meaningful.

Of course now, I am feeling generally crappy physically but am downing the oj in a last ditch effort to not get sick.  Maybe its just allergies.  Maybe the humidifier will help.  Right?

is sadly over, but we had a great time!  I’ve never been to Canada before and was due for some time off.  Traveled with my family and part of the way with Tim.  Its always busy getting back home and back to work though.  I need to be making some stuff! Or at least finishing some stuff.

I have one month to finish a twin sized quilt, the infamous quilt made with over 1,200 pieces that is my current cross to bear.  I saw some of the other quilts last night at the quilt guild for the same project and they were made with huge blocks!  It was almost enough to make me want to cry.

Oh, though if you want a fabric basket and care about what color/pattern, let me know.  I love mine and they are fun to make!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, texts, presents, messages and phone calls!  I had a great birthday (despite having to work) and I love hearing from all my friends, no matter how far away.  I don’t really feel any older, but I am a little sleepy.

Today is a quiet day, cleaning, laundry, sewing, and such.  I am sewing, despite the continued lack of finishing stuff.  I am also really looking forward to our upcoming French Canadian vacation!

So it was a little rainy and chilly, but we had a fantastic weekend in Chicago in part for Tim’s birthday and in part for the hell of it.  Andrew flew in to meet us and we went to the aquarium, the lake front, Millennium Park, Blues Fest, Cubs game, shopped on Michigan Ave., architecture cruise and in general had a blast.  It was really nice to get away.

I had big plans to upload all my photos this morning, but our power was out for a little bit, so I am behind.

I also have my Week 23 finished item around here somewhere….and I am busy on Week 24, but that will have to be a surprise for a little bit (even though it is already late for a May birthday).  Pictures hopefully will follow tomorrow.

Me in sunnier days last weekend in Louisville.

I am thrilled with the amount of lush greenery around these parts, but really?  With all the rain?  I could use some sunshine.  I don’t want to use the phrase brick wall, but I am needing some inspiration for new things for the Year of Making Stuff.  Maybe its time to pull out the craft books and the post-its.  Or maybe I should make a list of things I want to make.  I also have a hard time sometimes thinking that people want handmade stuff.  Anyone want anything?  (well, you know within reason)

I was probably 10 when I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and wanted to make my own origami paper cranes.  I never learned.  Fast forward 20+ years, I finally founds some instructions that made sense in a book (go figure!) and now I am a wicked paper crane maker.  These doorways lead to my sewing room and Tim’s office and until earlier today still had a snowflake garland hanging up.  Spring is here, and it was time for new decor.  It took a few tries to figure out best how to hang these suckers (fishing line, finally), but they look colorful and well, spring like.  Week 18: Paper Crane garland.

Also, for week 16:  A bookmark for Regina, complete with her favorite Simpson’s quote.

Tim and I also got to visit Ashley and  her sister in Louisville on Saturday which was a great little road trip after Tim finished his finals on Friday.  The students have (mostly) left and I am in love with Bloomington all over again.  I think it was that first summer I lived here that I truly loved this town.  And tonight a meeting about a new craft group…details to come, but I am really excited!

Also?  My sewing machine cozy ended up on the Sublime Stitching blog…check me out!

Happy Mother’s Day too!