Happy New Year!

Time to get back to work...

The holidays are over here at 3 P and N.  It's time to get back to work and accomplish some of the goals I've made for the year.  I have a lot of plans...for quilting, writing and designing and look forward to an industrious year.  Hope you and your family are enjoying the week and have a safe and happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours...

Greetings from the Christmas City!

Old postcard of Bethlehem, PA.

O Tannebaums....

I have a friend who has 17 Christmas trees in her house.  TRULY!!!  It's always wonderful to check out what she has done.  At Longwood they have a lot of Christmas trees too.. Check these out:

one main fountain

gingerbread man tree

tree made out of blue succulents

more plant combos...

Hydrangea blossoms decorate these

 Trees made by local grade schools!

Fountains at Longwood...

Here are photos of some of the fountains that can be found in the conservatory.  One of my favorites is this one below.  Every now and then, a stream of water from the fountain under the arch would shoot up and ring the bell,  startling but fun!

The creatures in the children's garden were not only shooting water into this pool but donned in their wintery best clothing:

I don't think you can make the hummingbirds out that well but that is what this sculpture features: 

There are more fountains and plenty of pools, waterways and waterfalls throughout the conservatory but these were some of my favorites.  Tomorrow, Christmas trees.....

Longwood Gardens, 2012

I'm doing three installments of photos from Longwood Gardens...for those of you who haven't been there, imagine a place that you can go to in the middle of winter and find an eternal spring.  If you live near Northeast Pennsylvania, you should really take in the experience.  It is always so inspiring and is such a nice pick-me-up any time of the year!  We spent our entire time exploring the large conservatory...really large, like gardens and gardens full....

Busy days

First of all, I'm having problems posting on blogs but I have been keeping up with everyone's photos and news.  Hopefully, blogger will rectify this soon!

In other news....My husband has been on the road for about  46 weeks this year, a lot of time, even for his schedule.  I'm grateful he has work but I am more grateful to have the next few weeks with him on vacation!  We've been keeping busy and are rarely home these days.  Yesterday we went to lunch and a dog show with our friends, Mike and Lu.  Check out the Poodles being judged.  These have the puppy cut which we use on our dogs:

These not so much: 

And let's not forget the dread lock dog (sp?):

Last weekend, we visited our kids and also took in a few museums in our valley.  These pics are from the Boutlon estate which has the original furnishings in and even had carolers singing in victorian dress.  I loved this old fireplace: 

This was from the ladies sewing room:

Tomorrow we are taking my aunt to Longwood Gardens for her Christmas present.  Can't wait to see what that will look like!

Hope you are enjoying this joyous season as well!

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Did you put your shoes out last night?  Sometimes St. Nick leaves a little gift in them!  At least that is one of the traditions we love in our home. 
Things are okay.  Hand is healing nicely:

Husband is coming home tonight! Dogs are good although mother wants Greta to go back to living with her.  Not sure my dogs will handle that well (or Greta) more on that later.

Some good things on the web these days!  First of all check out Sarah's free embroidery pattern for Christmas, I can't wait to be able to sew so I can do one of these!  I love that the little girl is holding a Christmas ball!  Also Allie has a list of free tutorials on her blog!  Kelly has a neat idea on her blog; she is doing a block each week for a year (can't wait to see these!).  I'd love to participate but it will be a while until I am up to that and I already have two projects going here (then again, what is one more?).  I might jump in just to make sure I get a block done every week which would be STUPENDOUS!

Hope you are all doing well and will be catching up as I can.  Take care and keep well!

Under the Wire...

Couple of mug rugs completed...

 And some zippy bags for some sweet little girls...

Hey Sandra, I made the pulls from the fabric, what do you think?  Have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I'm grateful for each of my blog friends!  Have a safe and happy holiday!

Doll quilt

I'm posting another vintage find because I haven't taken pics of anything newer this week.  Here is a small doll quilt I picked up.  It is only 13 inches wide and less than 2 feet long.  But it is cute and obviously well loved. 
I've been preparing for some time off after I get my carpel tunnel surgery next Monday.  From what I was told my only challenges with this surgery is going to be swelling and not to ripping out my stitches.  Anyway, I'm going to take about two weeks off from sewing until I get the stitches out. 
Anyway, I hope to get more recent pics of projects up soon, possibly today since it is going to rain.
Have a great day! 

corduroy

There was a lot going on here on 11-11-11: a wedding, a trip for my husband and a new baby born to our friend's daughter.

 Apparently, it was also corduroy appreciation day...I know this because our local news team reports things like that.  I didn't think much of it at the time.  According to the Corduroy Appreciation Club, that date was perfect for corduroy celebrations because all the 1's put together most resemble corduroy.  I also so this was reported and discussed on a number of blogs but I can't remember which ones. 

So just because the textile gods like to jar me, I found this the day after Corduroy Appreciation Day:

Embroidery on Corduroy!!!!!!!!!   I've never see anything embroidered on corduroy! 

Anyway, it certainly is a dear little piece, it even has a satin binding.  The little boy seems so stoic about the little girl's intentions to kiss him :)  The embroidery is done really well but it makes me wonder...did the child or the maker really love corduroy?  Why that fabric and was it for a baby?  I love the mysteries of some pieces...

Sandra is in town!!!

One of my favorite things in the fall is the opportunity to see my friend Sandra when she visits from Canada.  Besides bringing me some goodies, she always gives me refills of Canadian maple syrup (mmmm liquid gold).  This week we have been shopping and also teaching each other techniques:

Sandra taught me how to make a zipper bag!!! Yipppeee!  I am going to use this to cart Seamus' things when we are doing dog therapy, it's perfect!

Then I showed Sandra techniques on the embroidery machine like applique and how to make a berry purse :)

Mostly, of course, we just gab and carry on.  The third member of our trio is always Sandra's husband who is a saint and so patient with two blabbering women who are always stroking fabric in quilt stores!  Thanks Dennis for being such a good sport!!!!    Tomorrow night I hope to get to see them again and make a nice dinner before they leave on Saturday to head home.  I am sure they are exhausted at this point but I am so grateful I got to see them!!! 

Placemat Queen

I know a lot of people like to make fancy placemats for their table.  As for me, it has more to do with my love affair of fabric.  I feel like placemats really can showcase fabric I love.  For a few years I've had stacks of fabric put aside that I wanted to "someday use" in my dining room.  Yesterday I worked on Thanksgiving/autumn placemats:

 I had enough fabric left for a topper on the hutch:

However, my husband said I am three days too late.  We celebrated our Thanksgiving on Tuesday because my husband is going to be overseas for the next month.  Still, I will enjoy these for the next few weeks.  Today I am off to a wedding and tomorrow I have to attend a tea.  I"ll get back to sewing sometime next week because SANDRA is coming to town!!!!!!!  More on that later :)

Getting caught up

A few weeks ago, I attended the Keystone Quilters Guild show. This guild always has one or two rummage rooms that allow you to pick up some things at minimum costs. I didn't buy much but I did pick up a stack of these squares. After many washings, they finally looked bright and cheerful.  The colors remind me so much of my Pennsylvania Dutch style kitchen,

There was a time when I didn't appreciate these primary colors but now they appeal to me in a nostalgic, cheerful way.  So yesterday I used them up.   I made a table square:

 And a set of lined napkins:

 And then I finished these placemats that had been on my to-do list of years:

Actually, I have a long list of placemats I've wanted to make and hope to get some of them done this month.  We'll see how that goes!

Fun shower!

We had lots of fun at the shower yesterday!  Martha had asked to see what these babies look like up close, so here is one that I made using a piece of edging from a torn linen I had (can't throw anything out here).

In addition to the other gifts I made three bundles for the baby; each bundle had blankets I made for the baby, bibs, burp cloths and toys.

One featured dogs which included a bib that said "Poodles love me!"

Winnie the Pooh is their theme so I did a set in some leftover fabric I had from years ago:

And one featuring boats, including a bib using fabric that featured Naval symbols (Drew is a Naval officer):

I just love LOVE making baby things! :)  Don't you?