Happy New Year & giveaway winners

A little late, but Happy New Year to you all! I hope 2024 brings you joy and peace.

This is my first time back on my computer since before the holidays. I’ve been basking in family and all things Christmas. When you have a house full of children and grandkids plus trying to keep them all happy and fed with the addition of throwing a party, well you can imagine how things go. It mostly lands on my shoulders, but that’s what comes with being the family coordinator and host for the holidays. It’s safe to say that I’m looking forward to a calm and quiet January.

I think our oldest daughter feels the same way. She and her family drove from Texas to California in a Sprinter van with four small children. It took a lot of preparation and patience, but well worth the journey. They found snow along the way which Delaney was not too fond of, haha! I’m so thankful they made it here safely and in good spirits (especially their Mom and Dad).

Two more children flew into town and the other one drove. Everyone overlapped by three days, so it we were one big happy family for a while!

I have a lot of catching up to do in every area of my life, but I’m enjoying the peace and quiet of an almost empty house. (Not that I would ever trade an empty house for a full house). Any who, let’s move on to some quilt matters.

Giveaway winners

I have randomly chosen two winners for my Winter Giveaway. There were 480 entries and I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments on their favorite winter or holiday activity. It appears that there are a lot of cookie bakers out there, myself included!

The first winner is comment #71, Deanna, who said…

My favorite Christmas activity is playing flute, ringing handbells and singing in the choir at church.

Deanna

Congratulations! I have emailed you and I’m still waiting for a reply. Make sure to check your spam folder! Deanna will received prize package #1 which includes 12 fat quarters from the Stitched fabric collection by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda Fabrics, 3 spools of Scanfil Organic thread (30 wt.) and 1 pattern (Freesia) by It’s Sew Emma.

The second winner is comment #441, Patty, who said…

Greetings Julie … for me, being British, but living in America and now celebrating Thanksgiving as well – (in England we have a Harvest Festival in September to celebrate the blessing of the Harvest and children bring fruit and vegetable to the church service) but Christmas really is our immediate family get-together time.

Weeks before, the mischievous elves can be found having got up to antics over-night during those weeks before Christmas … and the youngsters have to find where they are and what they have done/Advent Calendar (preferably with chocolates under each opening) midnight carol service if we can stay awake/and in the morning opening presents under the ornamented Christmas tree whilst still in pj’s. Salmon and scrambled eggs, cream cheese and capers on bagels for breakfast … huge traditional lunch of roast turkey with multiple vegetables, Christmas pudding and mince pies then the Queen’s (now The Kings Speech for the first time in my living history) on TV.  Games in the afternoon and evening, enjoying our new gifts and crashing to bed early with very full tummies.

Patty

Congratulations! I will send your package out shortly. Patty will receive prize package #2 which includes 12 fat quarters from the Hope Blooms collection by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics, 3 spools of Scanfil Organic thread (50 wt), and 1 pattern (Marseille) by It’s Sew Emma.

I appreciate all of your support and thoughtful comments over the past year. I’m looking forward to another fun year full of new quilting adventures! I’ll be back soon with more thoughts on that (once I get caught up with all the things). 😉 Happy New Year!