Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Belated Christmas

I know, Christmas is already over and I'm just now getting around to the Merry Christmas post. oops... Better late than never, I present my wall of small Christmas quilts. And Pokey:


Going clockwise from the left: I made the red and purple christmas tree quilt in 1994 from a pattern by my beloved Gwen Marston. I did Joyeux Noel during my time in Paris. I've never shown HoHoHo before on the blog - I made it for the book but the chapter got cut due to page limitations.

Skip the next two and you hit my Noel sampler which IS in the book and then the Joy banner my mom made by hand in the 1970's.

These two are crusties:


Crusty is the name I've given to a technique I learned from Susan Shie. The Better Not Pout girl was made by my incredibly talented friend Rachael. There is a lot of work in it - seed beads and french knots etc. I made the red Christmas tree crusty.

Despite the decor, it hasn't felt like Christmas here. You know the song lyrics "It won't be Christmas without You?" Well, turns out they're true. My husband is away for work so we won't be celebrating until February. I intend to leave the decorations up until then, but I might get sick of them.

So besides having my sweetie home for Faux Christmas in February, I'll also get to "unwrap" my present then. A two-day class with Gwen Marston. Woohoo! It's taking place on the other side of Florida and should be fantastic. Speaking of Gwen, part two of her hand quilting tutorial is up on her homepage.

Another reason it hasn't been Christmas? It's Florida. Palm trees just don't have the right vibe, although I enjoy the kitchy element.  My new flamingo ornament:


Not that I'm complaining about Florida or the weather. Believe me, I prefer this to snow, especially blizzards. I'm so happy to not be in an airport right now... It's finally gotten colder. I actually had to wear a denim jacket out. Here are all four cats getting the first sunlight of the morning: that's Lily on the big box (my new crockpot), Pokey, Howler and Habibi.


Howler had his annual visit to the vet. Woohoo, clean bill of health this year although he has managed to gain an additional three pounds. Yes, Howler now weighs 25 pounds. In the last month he's had a much harder time getting out of the cat tree - and not even the top bit but the round bed. He has to get over onto the window sill and then down...


Hmm, just what is that on the design wall???? Here's another hint, because I just think this pic is a hoot:

Baby Pokey had great news from the vet as well. Her blood work came back the best it's been since we discovered she had kidney problems. Woohoo, she continues to improve just by bitty bits, but improve all the same.

Hope that all of you who celebrate it had a great Christmas. In case I'm a bad blogger again, best wishes, health and happiness in the New Year.

36 comments:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Your Christmas quilts look great up there! I love that even your mother made a JOY quilt way back when...

Em said...

Tonya, Those big blue eyes of Pokey....I love that you posted the Christmas love when you had time and gave yourself a break, you have had quite a year I can imagine! Thanks for sharing your wall o' cheer! Happy Tuesday, Em

Michele Bilyeu said...

Happy Holidays, Tonya...Faux Christmas and all. May your sweetheart be home sooner than not and may the class with Gwen make up for the lonely holiday, now. Blessings.

Claudia said...

So glad Pokey got good news from the vet !
What kind of rug is that the cat is sitting on ?...is it double-knit fabric or cotton?.. LOVE the rug. Any hints on where I might find a pattern/directions for it?

Cindy said...

Love your wall of Christmas. The HoHoHo...really caught my eye...thinking one will be in my future. I received your book for Christmas (it was on my list) and I absolutely love it!! I'm looking forward to wording my way through 2011. Blessings for the coming year and here's hoping the days don't drag by until your sweetie comes home.

Sharon said...

Merry Christmas to you, regardless of when you celebrate. How could you get tired of the Joy or HoHo quilt? I gave myself the same gift you got, 2 days with Gwen in May! Oh, and your new book, it's great. Now I can see how you get uniform sized letters (if you want)

connie said...

Oh, goodness, I love the last photo. I am feeling a bit like that! Merry Christmas!

Bette said...

Tonya,I'm a new reader of your blog. When you spokeabout Pokey it brought me back to my child hood as we had a cat named Pokey. She would let me do just about anything to her..ie:dress her up in doll clothes, etc.
I love the "rug Pokey is sitting on did you make it? If so how? if not where purchased?
Sorry you're alone this Christmas. May Feb come fast and make up for it.
Bette

Tonya Ricucci said...

the rug is a polyester beauty from Egypt - a friend sent it to me. It's made by A.P.E and I found that you can buy such a rug through Ten Thousand Villages, but not in the really cool colors, unfortunately.

http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/shaggy-rag-rug

Kim said...

I remember living in Fla. and turning the A/C as cold as it would go then putting a fire in the fireplace on Christmas eve...(okay I know it was wasteful but it was the )
1970's and I was.....much younger :0)).
Now I am in the middle of the blizzard zone.......!!

Have a ball with Gwen we'll all be jealous! Oh and please take lots of pictures to share....

Merry Christmas whenever you get to celebrate it....we are supposed to keep the spirit in our hearts all year long...right!

Happy sewing....love the Christmas quilt wall!

AnnieO said...

Great little quilt display! I hope to have a display like that in my own house someday. My DD got me your book for Christmas and its inspired me all over again. Great book! Have a wonderful New Year. The cats are all looking very relaxed too.

Clare said...

Shame that T couldn't be with you, but February isn't that far away and you've got a class with Gwen to look forward to. I bet you two will have a blast together!

I've always loved the Noel sampler. One of my favourites andloved seeing it in the book. Pity the Christmas chapter had to be cut.

Do you think that one day you and I may be able to get to have a class with Gwen together? Wishful thinking!

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

Your quilts are all beautiful. I have my letters book and once my quilt room is cleaned up I am ready to pounce on some letters!

I have a kitty Cali who has kidney failure too. She is 16 or 17 now and still active. In fact I had to make her let go of a bird from the bushes on the patio this morning........bad kitty, birds are high in protien

Loris said...

Merry Christmas and I hope February comes quickly for you.
The quilts and the cats are beautiful as ever. Such good news on everyone's health check. I guess Howler will be on the treadmill with the rest of us :-)

Nifty Quilts said...

Great Christmas quilts. I especially love that crusty tree and the ho-ho-ho. Sorry you have to spend the season without your hubby. But looks like you've got lots of sweet furry company. Glad they're all getting healthier. That last photo is a hoot! It looks like Pokey is blown away by what's on the design wall now!

Kristin Shields said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Tonya! I just got your book for Christmas and can't wait for a long sit down to enjoy it.

quiltmom anna said...

Tonya,
It sounds like Christmas was different for you too. I love the Christmas wall hangings. It is so fun to learn that your mother was a quilter too. Did she teach you to hand quilt?
My one grandmother was a quilter but she had long passed away. Unfortunately none of her quilts remain either- just the stories of her making quilts.
I hope you have a fabulous celebration when your husband returns to Florida.
We did have snow here in Alberta but the weather was quite mild- around zero so very pleasant for this time of year. We were fortunate not to get snow while we needed to travel. Our son has traveled to the east coast so he and his girlfriend have had some problems with snow and rain.
The cats look to be enjoying the sunshine.
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year.
Warmest regards,
Anna

Judi said...

Wow love your design walls and love your book. I won it when Em was giving it away!

Anonymous said...

Love your decorations and those colorful quilts on your wall look a lot more festive than just the traditional red & green.

Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year.

Gail :)

Cheryl Arkison said...

Alone until February? That plain old sucks!
I'll definitely be thinking of you. Happy New Year!

C said...

Yeah Pokey! Your Christmas quilts look good, Valentines and Christmas together should be fun...

Browndirtcottage said...

HA!! Crazy silly Pokey...he looks like he just got caught with his pants down!!
LOVE the Christmas wall hanging parade!! Of course I am particulary drawn to the 'noel' one...hhhhmmm, wonder why!!

I really came over to tell you I FINALLY received YOUR book! YIPPEE!! I was in agony...it was supposed to arrive earlier but tracking showed it was delivered to the wrong place...WAH, so I had to WAIT some more!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it...well written, great photos and how WONDERFUL I now have a handy reference right HERE IN MY QUILTY LITTLE HANDS!! Thanks for doing the book Tonya!!!!

Carla said...

Tonya, I'm enjoying your book and looking forward to a WORD project of some sort in 2011. Your new project looks interesting. I got a kick out of the flamingo ornament....I have quite a few of them as I belong to an empty nester club called the Pink Flamingos.

sewprimitive karen said...

Pokey looks like she has gotten bad medical news rather than good; what a face!! Aha your quilt wall is very nice.

Anonymous said...

Tonya,

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I scrolled down to your last picture....Pokey made my day.

Love how you decorated for the season...doesn't Bethleham have only palm trees too.

Would the rug work if the strings were made from old, cotton t-shirts instead of polyester? Over here in CA they're our state's required attire....even in winter. Delia

antique quilter said...

glad the news was good for Pokey yeah!
oh it was fun seeing the quilts again , I remember when you made most of them
Love the HO HO HO quilt I have to make one of those!
as a kid that just has a lot of memories for me ...
loved it when I heard HO HO HO!!!!
The Noel Sampler oh those trees are calling me too!
Hope your enjoying the sunshine while I am sitting here looking out the window with 20 inches of snow!
Kathie

Lynda said...

How lovely to see all your Christmas quilts together! they look great!

Cathi said...

Love your kitty pics & quilts. I received your book for Christmas & can hardly wait to start making letters!

Rene' said...

Belated Merry Christmas to you Tonya! I love your Christmas wall of quilts! I'm anxiously awaiting your book. I ordered it well before Christmas and received noticed that it was shipped the day before I left for Montana...for two weeks! Oh, well, it will be there waiting for me upon my return. Happy New Year to you and enjoy your workshop with Gwen.

Anonymous said...

Love the pokey pic. It's fun to see your Christmas quilts up again. I remember following along on the Paris one, in your blog.

Sharon said...

Love that pic of Pokey - just hysterical! She made me laugh out loud. (BTW, the 'r' on the wall behind her is one of mine.)

I love seeing all your Christmas quilts. I may have to do a Ho Ho Ho too - love it!

Oh goodie, you get to do a workshop with Gwen! I'll be doing one this spring too - I can't wait!

A Paperback Writer said...

I like that rug! Did you make that, too?

Chris Daly said...

Wishing you a Happy New Year. So glad to hear your kitties are doing so well!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing such beauty and the pretty kitty too!

You are not the only one celebrating Christmas late. I'll be celebrating in a few weeks when my husband gets back from his deployment. I've been away at my best friends for the holidays. So when I get home, I get to quickly put up all the Christmas decor.

I hope your celebration is a ture blessing!!

Hedgehog said...

Merry Belated Christmas and Happy 2011! I'm really hoping to get back to some lingering projects - some inspired by you!! Hope you're well.

Kat said...

haha..cute cateyes !! :D
love your pics !!

greetings
kat