Log Cabin

I started a Log Cabin Quilt in the summer of 2011, but after messing up a few of the blocks I put it on the back burner -rather the back of the craft closet!

I really want to finish up some of these old projects so I pulled it out, fixed the blocks, and started laying it out.  The log cabin is such a simple block, but I love how complex the end result can be!

Take a look at the different layouts. ("Quilt in a Day: Log Cabin" by Eleanor Burns is the book I used.)

I've decided to go with this one...

I Quit!!!

I'm quitting my job!

I've been wanting to focus on Gate17 full time for about 9 months now and I'm finally there!

You know, I did the accounting and found out in the first year of business we've cleared a couple hundred dollars profit so it seems like the perfect time to quit my full-time job! Ha!!!

If you don't risk anything you can't gain anything, so I'm risking it here, but I'm very confident.

Plus, a great new opportunity has presented itself to me -helping to maintain some of my stability.

I'm going to start babysitting two cute little girls who love to do crafts! If that isn't just my cup of tea I don't know what is!!!!

I'll be spending about 12.5 hours a week with the girls, giving me time to teach more sewing classes, host more pinterest parties, and develop new things for Gate17 Etsy!

I can't wait to see what comes in the new year!

Kissin' Tine

Every year when I see my parents in December my Stepdad hugs me and says "Merry Kissin' Tine!"  Back in my olden days this is how my sisters and I proclaimed that it was Christmas and time for Santa to come see us!

Here is our Kissin' Tine round up for the year!

After a fun mess of wiggly eyes and mini red pom-poms in the floor we were able to produce this lovely stack of Christmas Cards!

To celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple we made Mr. and Mrs. Reindeer cards!

Unfortunately many of the wiggly eyes popped off in shipping making for lots of blind reindeer. However, our recipients were gracious enough to remedy the problem, either with another touch of glue or a sharpie!

A Christmas Tradition! Making a pallet in the floor one night to watch a Christmas movie by the light of the Christmas Tree!  This year we watched "Holiday Inn". It is one of my favorites! Josh said he didn't like old black and white movies so I found a re-digitized color copy!!! It's not exactly what he meant, but he was a good sport and watched it with me anyway. Next year he can pick whatever goofy Christmas movie he wants. 

Christmas Eve we went to Josh's Parents to celebrate.

Christmas morning I made us French toast like his mom made for him.

And Christmas night my parents and grandma came over to celebrate.  I even cooked my very first ham. (picture is before it was cooked lol)

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I hope you had a great Kissin' Tine with your family!!!

December Pinterest Parties

This month I had three private Pinterest Parties!! They were so much fun.

I'm also excited to announce that Owl and Drum and The Gleeful Peacock are planning to have month Pinterest Parties!  More details coming in 2013!!!

Kendall Time

I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with my niece, Kendall, lately, but yesterday I took her to Target with me. It was so much fun! At the very grown up age of 6, she has definitely developed a personality of her own.

Sometimes its a bit demanding and temperamental, but that is easy to overcome with some productive interaction....

Like helping me get a few groceries, and adding to my list because she is learning to read and write!

She has a bit of fun spunk in her too! It is so awesome to watch her grow up and be able to talk to her like a grown up. (Okay so not exactly like a grown up, but grown up stuff on her level like why she can't get a $15 toy when she only has $10. *smiles*)

Winter Wreath

After a few curses at the hot glue gun and bandaging my wounds I proudly present this year's winter wreath!

(Note the love birds. *smiles* Keeping up with the "just married" theme.)

Working on the Railroad

So Josh has been applying to work for the railroad for at least 8 months.  He really loves aviation and working at the airport, but the railroad will provide so much more for us as we start thinking about having a family.  Plus the job security is pretty awesome all by itself.

Well he finally got the job!!!

He is going to be working around moving train engines back and forth or something like that! He starts on December 3rd. We are so excited about it.  He hasn't decided whether or not he's going to keep the airport job part time to maintain flight benefits, which is why we had to squeeze in our trip to the Atlanta Aquarium. Either way this is a great opportunity for our family!