Seeing Spots!

The truth is, I don't think I've ever met a spot that I didn't like!

When I treat myself to some new fabrics, like I did over the weekend,

it is no surprise that some dotty cloth will be among them...

 My new cell phone is even dressed in dots...

 and who else do you know that has a polka dot powder room?

(I'm actually painting over these red guys,

 but after enjoying them for 4 years 

it's a little bit sad, I think!)

 I really do have a plan for some of these sweeties.

The toadstools and butterflies are just for fun...

'Cause that's what I'm planning on having in 2012!

Hope you are too!!

1st Sunday 2012--Happy New Year!

Glorious Day

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

(Chorus)
Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

Chorus

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

Chorus

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Chorus

Lyrics by Casting Crowns

(Number one song for 2011 on KLOVE)

2011 Finishes

A few big quilts,

A few lap size quilts,

A few little quilts.

Some UFO finishes,

Some challenges,

Some swap quilts,

A Moda Bake Shop quilt...

It was a great Quilt Year at Lollyquiltz!

I can't thank you all enough for coming by so often

to read about my quilting adventures 

and for leaving all of your encouraging comments.

It really means a lot to me.

I wish you all the best in the new year.

Happy quilting,

Carla

Sack Boys

Do you know what a Sack Boy is?

 Neither do I.

 But, that didn't keep me from making one today.....

Actually, I made two...a tan one and a green one.

You see, my grandchildren have me wrapped tightly around their little fingers. 

And that means, that when Oliver and Ezra started  begging  asking me to

go into the boy-doll making business

 they pretty much knew that I would cave in and say "yes".

First, they had to get on the computer and show me what a Sack Boy looked like.

Then, they helped me find a free pattern. Oliver is 7. His brother is 4. 

Good grief.

You can find the tutorial here that we decided on.

 There sure were a bunch of little pieces!

I needed tweezers and cotton balls to stuff the silly things.

Truthfully, making dolls and stuffed animals has never been my favorite thing.

But, then, I'm wrapped around their little fingers. (Did I say that already?!)

I persevered. All. Day. Long. Pretty much.

In the end, these guys came out kinda cute.

(They remind me of The Gingerbread Man, but don't tell the boys that I said that.)

They both have birth defects: one a twisted belly and the other funky hands, 

but, that just makes them even more special.

And, what's a doll without clothes? 

Of course, they needed wardrobes.

I called Oliver to tell him the news that the Sack Boys were ready.

I'm sure if he could drive, he'd be here by now!

Smile.

Unexpected Gifts

It took Rudolph and the other reindeer an extra day to arrive at our house this year....

 but I don't think that it really mattered that much because the munchkins seemed pretty happy to extend the gift giving-and-getting for another day!

Then today, Santa brought a special present just for me. One that I wasn't expecting but ended up really needing at the last minute. It actually would have been nice to have gotten it on Christmas Eve as hubby and I were transferring all the perishables from our refrigerator into Coleman coolers filled with ice and sitting them out on the back deck, happy that the weather was hovering in the 30's.

Yep! My beautiful (ONLY!) four-and-a-half-year-old-French-door refrigerator decided on Christmas Eve to quit. It had been threatening to die for months and we'd been limping along, sans three visits from the repairman. Soooo.... last evening, after all the festivities, we went shopping  and bought a Side-By-Side, which Santa brought this morning (I think that guy was Santa, anyway...he had on a red vest). It was funny running to the deck for ingredients  every few minutes yesterday as we fixed brunch for the 15 of us. You just have to laugh! My mother had the same refrigerator for over forty years! It would seem that appliances should be getting better, not just prettier and fancier, don't you? Sigh. 


Well, anyway,  here's a lovely little gift that my friend, Linda, made for me...

 Isn't it the cutest thing? I'm going to keep my special gift cards in it. Thank you, Linda!

I had fun whipping up a few Dumplings for some special ladies last week. Have you been seeing them around the Internet? They are so cute, fun and easy to make....

 Each Dumpling takes only a bit of fabric and a fourteen inch zipper. Find the free tutorial by Keyka Lou here.

 I used some of my saved selvages for covering the inside seams.

 Using a few of of my new Pez prints, by American Jane, was a kick....

 ...and how fun to find fun companion prints for the insides...

as they were... 

Made With Love!

Merry Christmas!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through Him."

John 3: 16,17

Festive and healthy

My Pyrex bowls can get quite a work out this time of year...usually making something that contains chocolate or cream cheese (seriously)...

but yesterday I cooked up something festive that didn't contain sugar! You might even be able to call it healthy (if you don't serve it over tortilla chips like we did with the leftovers last night!)

 The main ingredient in Festive Rice Salad is this yummy ingredient that I found at my new favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's. This rice product contains barley and radish seeds, (who knew there was such a thing) but any long grain rice will work.

 Here's the recipe just in case you'd like to try it:


Festive Rice Salad
2/3 cup long grain rice
1 1/3 cup water
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 tsp. bottled crushed garlic (or equivalent)
1 1/2 cup chopped chicken
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed
2 medium plum tomatoes, chopped
1 cup salted peanuts
1 Tbs. dried cilantro
2/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 to 1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin
Prepare rice according to directions on the package. Let stand at least 5 minutes, rinse with cold water and drain. Place in a large bowl. In a small skillet, saute' green pepper, onion, garlic, cilantro and carrot in vegetable oil till tender crisp. Add to rice. Stir in corn, beans, chicken, tomatoes, and peanuts. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, cayenne and cumin to make dressing. Pour over the vegetable/rice mixture and stir to coat well. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. This is great just like this, or may be served over crushed tortilla chips or even in a soft tortilla shell. Enjoy!


I always associate good food with my mother. Cooking was her way of showing love to her family, especially during holidays. I miss her a lot. Two of the many ornaments on my Christmas tree decorated my mom's tree for many years. I enjoy hanging them on my tree and remembering her.This plastic Santa was given to Mom by one of her 5 children...maybe it was me, I don't remember....

 My favorite is this little nativity, so sweet and tiny....

 We lost my mother-in-law a few years ago. I helped her trim her tree for many years and always enjoyed hanging this darling angel made from pasta. Now she graces my tree.

I love her so.