A Merry Christmas!

I used to hide Santa's presents from my son. It was a little hard.
I was wrapped different paper from my presents to him.
Put a glass of milk and chocolate cookies in front of the chimney.
A cookie had one bite on it.
It was my Christmas Eve's work.
I know no more Santa presents between us, but I'm expecting my Santa is coming.

We don't do Santa's presents anymore, but we do little surprise in our stockings.

Tomorrow night - Family party. I need to wrap all of them.
25th --- we are going to Skiing.

Exquisite Journey. Grafton Quilt Retreat!

Michele, Victoria and Hoodie's journey to Grafton.

Lunch at Brattleboro.

Jan's (Delectable Mountain Cloth) Christmas window display.

Look their faces, so realistic!
We could not meet with Jan. She was in NYC at the day! Sad!
Click here to my other post of Delectable Mountain Cloth.

More Christmas window display in Brattleboro.
Adam and Eve (They were naked - looks cold! ha) - Lamb as a star

I want to keep CAMPBELL SOUP ROBOT as my Santa Present!Frances and her doggies were waiting us to come!

First night at Frances's after dinner. We were at Frances work-shop house.
Starter was ice dyeing ! Girls prepared for dye powder!!!

What color is this?

Wait until tomorrow morning!

Second day's starter was checking ice dyeing fabrics.
"Look at this, Georges."We put all colors, Avocado, Indigo, Scarlet, Pink, Lemon,,,,,
But most of the fabrics were very greenish! We did not see Scarlet, Pink, Lemon,,,
But all ties got Scarlet, Pink, Lemon and blues.
Huuuum,,, we don't know why???

Then we moved upstairs and started The Executive's Journey projects.

Oops, I forgot to take pictures since I started the project.
It was not easy to decide my theme of Journey and technic for sawing.
Please go to Victoria's Blog! She posted most of the pictures from our second day.

These pictures are the last day of our retreat.
Three girls are broad member of The Alliance for American Quilts.
Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Michele Muska, Frances Holliday Alford. We were working on our own projects until the time was up!
Actually Frances was making something else in this picture.

Frances's Journey was on the wall.
She spent three weeks in Korea in October.
Can you see what was in her mind?
Korean pink was HOT. So we all use the HOT PINK into our journey.
Many Korean language were on her quilt.

Victoria rolled her work up, but she got ideas and went back to sewing again!Michele was working until the last minute!I worked in my favorite room!
I have a lot of homework. The models of our ice dyeing project.
Two Hoodies.
DaphnieDaisy

They slept with me one night, cuddle!
I forgot putting one more friend, Delilah.

P.S. Frances will invite two members to join our Exquisite Journey. It will be 6 panels for one. I can't wait our finish work!

Felting class by Michele Muska @ the ETSY Labs on DEC 5th.

We came early for setting and interview.

Michele and Brett had the meeting before shooting.
Michele showed all samples and how to use the machine.

• Bottom - Michele's felting quilt. The picture is on the box of Needlefelting Machines.
• Top - Felting on soft felt.Cut it stripe that can be a bracelet.
  

• Top - Dogie cloth was using Simplicity pattern.
• Middle - Felting on Silk Chiffon, Gorgeous!
  
• Bottom - Felting on the black felt and cut the based felt. It was cool looking.

Felting a large felt and cut it the shape like socks, ornaments, tree.
Any shape you want!
For Christmas ornaments. Even you can use it for a Christmas card.

Simplicity donated 6 Machines.
12 needle felting machine is powerful. Truly, I love this machine.
You can enjoy felting @ Etsy now.
Michele was a great teacher.

The needles were easy to break. It is not necessary 12 needles on the machine.
It can use any number of needles.
Santa Ornament, is this great?I couldn't do my projects much because I was dealing with broken needles.
Then needles were run out.
Hope I can make something from here!This camera was watching our fun time @ Etsy Labs. My friend Jennifer who are living in the same town where I live.
She is a writer and craftster.
Finally, she could make the night with me.
We can come here often to get fun!Check it out, The ETSY Blog

Three of us went to Eataly for our dinner. Well, well, well, We were so happy at there!!!!
We were "LA PIAZZA" Check it out!!!!!

Instant December Calendar

Ginger Cookies

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
• 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses

Directions

Combine first 6 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar, shortening and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets 1 minute.

Carefully transfer to racks and cool. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)