Happy 18th Birthday, Melissa

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you were all able to spend a wonderful day with family and friends.  Our Christmas was very quiet.  Rich had 2 seizures a couple of weeks ago, so we've been taking things easy.  Well, as easy as we've ever taken anything.

5 days after the seizures, was our youngest daughter's 18th birthday!  We are in absolute shock that we have all adult children now.  Just another reason for much introspection!  Melissa challenged me to make the most adorable, dairy free cookie that I could come up with instead of a Birthday cake.  So, I present to you the Birthday Llama, complete with party saddle and flower wreath.  I had a terrible time with the food safe pen.  They blob or they melt your frosting.  Takes some patience.

Melissa and I went to see the Moscow Ballet perform the Nutcracker earlier this month.  It was amazing!  She was so dazzled by the experience that she asked for a quilt to memorialize the snow fairy sequence.  This is the first time she's ever shown any interest in my quilting what so ever.  I can NOT screw this up!  So, I asked a few questions.  What it boils down to is that she wants a low volume, pieced quilt that is simple and "elegant".  Okay, okay, I can do that.  I'm calling it Sparkle and Shine.  This is as far as I got before I ran out of background fabric.

So far, she likes it.  But, thinks the key print fabric is a weird choice.  Trust me, that's as close to a compliment as I'm ever going to get.  I'll take it.  The way I'm making the blocks gives me 2 half square triangles per block.  Trimmed, they're 3.5".  I think they'll make a great baby blanket when I'm done.

I also made a display table runner for Jackman's Fabrics.  I remember taking the picture but can't find it now.  So, another time.  Actually, you know what?  I did work a little on the t-shirt quilt.  I made the backer.  Maybe over the new year I'll get it sandwiched and quilted.  Maybe.