Christmas Sewing & Dinner With The Boys

Hello! I am popping in for a quick post tonight. I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance to read blogs these past few days.  I am busy in my sewing room, trying to complete all of my projects!  Today I finished the aprons for my granddaughters.  My daughter Gennifer is getting them a cooking set.  They have become very interested in cooking with their Mom lately.  Gennifer is a terrific cook too!  I also got them a children's cookbook by Rachael Ray.

For Claire's, I pieced a ruffle for the bottom, and a piece of jumbo ric rac to finish it.  I used 5" squares and prepared them with Steam A Seam.  I made a mock up of each of their names on card stock to determine the correct size of letters to use.  I then freehanded the letters, cut them out, and machine appliqued them with a small zig zag stitch.

For Hannah's apron, I made a pocket by piecing blocks, then I machine quilted it with loops and swirls.  I used my bias stripe binding to finish it, and then stitched it to the apron, sewing a stitch down the middle to create two separate pockets.

I really enjoyed making these for the girls!  I hope that they will like them!

One night last week, I got together with my high school girlfriends.  We were celebrating several birthdays, and also Christmas.  We had such a nice dinner, and then dessert back at one of their houses.  I made each of the girls one of the lined travel bags, and tucked in one of my dishcloths, and a jar of the strawberry jam I made at the end of the summer.

I love these bags, and they are so pretty as well as useful.

I have been sewing like crazy.  My sewing room is a mess!  I am still working on some gifts that are for some of my friends who read this blog.  So I can't post photos.  This coming Saturday, I am going to brunch at one of their lovely homes, and I am so looking forward to that.

Dusty is never far from wherever it is that I am working.  Such a good boy!

Last night I had a very special dinner date with 4 of my favorite men!  My brothers!  I got the idea several months ago, to ask my brothers all to dinner.  Just us.  No wives or husbands!  Our First Annual Siblings Christmas Dinner!  I  made the reservation at a lovely restaurant in Fullerton that my Mom and I go to a lot.  They have these Prime Rib Sandwiches on a pretzel roll that are to die for.   I talked to all of the boys to see if they would like to go.  I got 4 thumbs up, so I picked a date, and sent out a save the date text, and then waited for the big day to arrive.  I thought and thought about what I could give each of them.  Something little, just a momento of the occasion.  But I couldn't think of a thing.  Then one day it came to me.  I would write each one of them a Christmas letter.  I made the cards myself, and left them blank inside.  I composed the letters in my mind, many times.  I knew what I wanted to say, so sitting down to write them was very quick.  The words flowed, and so did my emotions as the date drew near.  I was so excited for this dinner, I was giddy.  I don't know why exactly.  I mean, we see one another pretty frequently.  We are all close.  Always have been.  But  I wanted to have them to myself.  To reminisce about days gone by, our childhood, and the things we did as a family.  The way one can only do with those who share those same memories.  I left for my date to meet them, and they were all there before me.  We were seated at a table by the window, with a view of North Orange County and all of the dazzling lights.  As well as being nestled right next to the fire place, that was aglow on a chilly December night.  The restaurant was decorated beautifully, and there were Christmas gatherings all around  us.  The conversation flowed very naturally.  We talked about so many different things.  I had to laugh when they each borrowed my readers to read the menu.  We also did a fair bit of comparing notes on who took what pills, and what hurts and where, just to compare.  The evening went far too fast.  The meal was excellent.  And they wouldn't let me pay for mine.  That was not my intention!   Before we left, I had an employee take our photo in the foyer by the Christmas tree.  It is with my cell phone, and I didn't upload it to my computer, I just took a photo of the photo from my phone.  So the quality is not very good. 

I got in my car to drive home, and smiled the whole way.  It was a fun night.  One I looked forward to for months.  And by far and away the most special thing I have done this holiday season.  

My brother Mark, he is the one on the far left with the snow white beard, has carried on the tradition of giving me a mouse every Christmas, as our Dad always had done.  It is so special to me, that he does this.  

This year, it was Mouse Slippers!  I love them!!!  So comfy!  I wore them ALL day long!!!  

Tomorrow I will be leaving for a couple of days to ride up to the central coast area with my Mom.  I am also looking very forward to this quick trip.  Just having the drive time in the car, to chat away about anything and everything will be lovely.  

This weekend is chock full with festivities as well.  Saturday is the girlfriends brunch.  Sunday is our enchilada making party.  Life is very full right now.  And I am feeling ever so blessed!

Happy Holidays friends!!

XO  Kris