Beautiful quilt and (obviously) a Beautiful friendship - her label wording is written from the heart. I wanted to make a rag quilt this fall, but decided I didn't want to invest all that time and hard energy cutting the "rag". Your quilt now has put this back on my list. Your quilt is so sophisticated - I love it! Your bedroom has the perfect combination of hard and soft. The colors and fabrics are perfect. What fabric did she use for the back? Thanks so much for sharing this!

There are a lot of great papers that you just insert your cropped photos into the open spaces. The one I used still had plenty of space for journaling, too. They still look great and it saves a lot of work. You may want to slip one in here and there since you have 20+ years worth! Might break up the monotony for you. I have also seen a paper piecing pattern for a stocking that was patchwork Christmas papers. Instead of a few of the pieces they had three or four pictures. I can't remember where I saw it, but there's a few places I can look. Even if I can't find it, I think this would be pretty easy to do. Just draw a simple stocking shape that takes up most of the page. Crop a few pages into wedges, triangles, etc. that would fit on the stocking, leaving plenty of space between them. Then use assorted Christmas patterned papers to fill in the spaces to complete the stocking. Finish with holly leaves or whatever around the edges. It sounds confusing, but it's hard to explain. If you can picture it in your head from my explanation, you can do it. I'll look for the pattern and if I find it I'll post it. Good luck and happy scrappin'! -Sarah

Allow me to reinterate what Michael has said - Happy Holidays to all here on this forum - my wish for each of you is peace, love and safety in your lives. My family and I are very excited to have Michael coming to my home for the holidays. There are so many things we would like to do, but only so much time, so we will take one hour at a time and see what happens. I am looking forward to a very relaxing week, to include good conversation, good food, and good company. Again, may joy and peace reign in your household during this Christmas season and throughout the whole year!

I'm going to my second organized scrapbook get-together at a place that sells supplies this weekend. They charge $10 and supply a table, meal, soft drinks and snacks. You can use their equipment like punches, stamps, etc., but have to use your own paper, scissors, stickers etc. Of course, you are free to wander the store and buy more stuff. A friend and I got together at her house last month. We shared our equipment like cutters, etc, but we each had our own paper and supplies. I'd invite everyone over and have a simple snack like cookies and cake and coffee. Ask your friends to brink snacks to share also. Have everyone bring their equipment and personal supplies that they would need. I wouldn't be worried about being to formal or organized about it. Just have fun.