Quilt Tops

Recently I made a couple of quilt top, 51 x 72.  They would be more for the bottom of a child’s bed.  Anyway, I sold both of them on Etsy.  I have to tell you, I think they turned out darling. 

At a glance, they probably both look the same, but this first one has a dark/light color scheme.  Example:  Hot Pink and then a softer hot pink, Bright Lime green, then a softer lime green.  Of the two quilt tops, this one is my favorite, but both are darling and I’ll probably make another with the remainder of my leftover scraps.  Yes, these two quilts were made with my scraps!!!

The second quilt top is below.  Can you see a difference between the two quilts?

The pattern is a variation of one that I found on line.  I quite like the look of this quilt.  I’m trying to decide if I want to make one for me to keep!!!

2011 Christmas Card

Dear Family and Friends,

This year, our Christmas letter is electronic! With all of this technology, it seems like the best option. (Not to mention that I can tell that cards are just not going to get mailed this year!)

What’s been happening with the Christensen’s in 2011?

In February, Mike’s father passed away. He was 90 years old. Mike served as an excellent care giver to him. All of Mike’s siblings came to Blanding as well as other family members. While a sad occasion, it was enjoyable having them all in town at the same time! Mike continues to care for his mother. He is so kind and patient with her. Sidney continues to learn so much…

In April Mike and Sidney took a mini-vacation to Colorado Springs to visit Sidney’s brother, Dave, and his family. We had a delightful trip. One of our favorite spots was stopping at Glenwood Hot Springs. So fun!

We worked on several ‘projects’ this year.

• We painted the ‘junk room’ aka the room where Mike’s dad kept everything. Mike’s mother wanted a guest room and graciously allowed Sidney to move in her sewing machine in as well.

• We had a bountiful garden this year. Sidney kept busy canning tomatoes any way she could. Mike has suggested we not plant as many tomatoes this year (we had 18).

• We also sold all of our rental properties this year and no longer have any rental units. We are actually glad to be out of the business as it too difficult to manage from long distance.

• We painted the living room and entry way of his mother’s home in October. His mother chose the color, sage green. A bucket of paint goes a long way in transforming a room!

• Mike painted our bathroom after the living room was painted. Sidney could not stand the thought of ONE MORE PROJECT and thus, watched.

Sidney decided to participate in the local Farmer’s Market this summer. It was a new adventure and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fun to come home each week with a little cash in her hand. Spending money is nice to have.

Mike’s been having success as an author, here in Blanding. He was invited to the local book group where he talked about his novel, The Tomb of the Devils.  Sidney also sold several copies of his novel at the Farmer’s Market. Mike has listed his novel as an eBook on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Humble as ever, Mike is always surprised when ANYONE purchases a copy of his novel. (Sidney here… This is one of the reasons I love Mike, he is a very humble man.) He continues to SLOWLY work on his second novel.

In September we traveled to Northern California to attend Mike’s 45th Class Reunion. Even though we had a tire blow out the first day, the rest of the trip was uneventful, so-to-speak. After the reunion, Mike continued to fulfill Sidney’s dreams of going to The Hearst Castle and Solvang, California. Even though those places were interesting, the highlight of that portion of the trip was viewing hundreds of elephant seals along the coast. It is interesting that nature always seems to win out!

Throughout this past year, we have been continually reminded of the many blessing our loving Heavenly Father has blessed us with. We are so grateful for the atoning sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, as we celebrate the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior.



With love,



Mike and Sidney Christensen
88 W. 200 So.
Blanding, Utah 84511
435-678-2941
Email: sidney7705@gmail.com or mchris1966@hotmail.com

Quilt Tops

I’ve sold a couple of quilt tops lately.  Even though I am not keeping these, I still like to take pictures and keep a record of items I have made.

 

The first top I named “Oregon Coast”.  It reminded me of the colors of the coast when we visited last summer.  This quilt measures 74 x 90.

 

The second quilt I titled “Goin’ Camping, II”  I had scraps left over from a previous quilt of the same name and pieced together this brick looking quilt. It goes together so quickly that it is worth the time and effort I take to make and sell it.  It measured 62 x 84.

I still enjoy selling items on Etsy, although I haven’t been a diligent in recent months.  Maybe things will change after Christmas. 

What Was I Thinking???

I’ve been telling Mike for the past month that we are done with projects for this year.  Then, Mike decides to paint the bathroom.  Well, I did it again, I decided to have our carpets cleaned in the front room…  Why???  It was another project…

Our empty living room, minus the two chairs we were having cleaned.

 

Our kitchen, now a storage area…

 

Caroline, always the good sport, was relegated to the back porch yesterday.  We had two small space heaters running and I must say, the back porch was mighty warm yesterday afternoon!

I am sure that I will be grateful for clean carpets once we have the living room put back together today, but honestly, I’m dreading moving the furniture back in the room.  I am just sick of projects!

Bookin’ It Book Club

Mike was invited to Blanding’s Bookin’ It Book club this morning to discuss his novel.  He was GREAT!  It was so fun to watch him talk about this novel and then have Kay Jones interject comments, as she’d read the novel.  Kay definitely understood what Mike was trying to communicate.

Afterwards, they had a luncheon, as is tradition for their group.  It was fun and Mike even sold three copies of his novel, even though he told everyone, “I would just prefer that you check it out of the library.”  Thanks to Kay Jones for inviting Mike to participate!

The “P” word…

I mistakenly mentioned to Mike last week that next year, I’d like to paint our bathroom.

Mike decided he wanted to get it over with…  I couldn’t bear to watch, especially because I still haven’t completed painting the trim in the entry way!  (I’m still suffering from painting burnout!)

The painting mogul!

Hard at work

Finishing in two days, he can now RELAX!

Now Available on Kindle and Nook: The Tomb of the Devils by Michael D. Christensen

The Tomb of the Devils is now available as a Nookbook (Barnes and Noble) for .99 or as a as Kindle book (Amazon) for $2.99.

OVERVIEW...

NINETY-FIVE YEARS ago the enormous interplanetary space vehicle, the Pacifica, with a numerous crew, suddenly and inexplicably disappeared as it neared the planet Pluto. None of the probes directed towards the planet after the disaster found any evidence that the vessel and its crew had ever existed.



Now, a century later, the wreck of the huge ship has been sighted, lying shrouded in the hazy-black starlight on the Plutonian surface. A shuttle has been fitted for the dangerous journey to the ninth planet, with three crewmembers aboard, and has made the first attempt to reach Pluto since the loss of the Pacifica. As the shuttle approaches the planet, it also "suddenly and inexplicably" disappears and is lost.


Although the crew of three is believed to have perished, they have not, and will carry on with their mission: to determine how the Pacifica met its fate. The truth, however, may be found only beyond reason, or even beyond imagination, and the three astronauts may wish that they had never sought an answer to the great mystery.

Kindle & Nook now includes The Tomb of the Devils by Michael D. Christensen

Well, it's official.  Mike's novel is now an e-book.  It is available for both a Kindle  (Amazon.com) or  Nook (Barnes & Noble).  We'd price it the same, BUT Amazon won't let us.  So, the Kindle book is 99 cents and the Nook book is $2.99.


I've had them listed for a few weeks and he's even sold a copy from each store.  I love it!  The other good news regarding the Author, Michael D. Christensen, is that he's been invited to speak at the local book group here in Blanding in November.  I'm kind of excited about this.  (I think he is too, but he won't admit it!)  Mike is too humble to get all excited.  He just can't believe people are even will to buy his novel.  But, I'm not.  It is a good book and worth it!

Okay, I guess that's enough self-promotion for the day on my wonderful husband!  If you know anyone who reads, pass this along to them!

P.S.  Thanks Brenda for making me aware of this months and months ago!

Rainbow Quilt

“His Promises are Sure” is the title of this rainbow quilt.  I am giving this to a friend in town for Christmas.  These quilts always turn out so cute, that is, if you like scrappy type of quilts, which I do!!!

Jeri Montella machine quilted the quilt for me in a stipple design. 



The back…

Day 5 of Painting the Living Room

Well, Mike came home from the temple yesterday and said, “I just need to start painting.”  So, he finished painting/rolling the sage green in the entire living room.  

 

This was great, because this morning, I woke up and started finishing all of the edge work. And now, the front room is 98% complete.   I just need to do the trim work around this window – the one with sheets.  Because it faces south, I’ll need to do it first thing in the morning or about 3:00 in the afternoon.  This will be come next weeks project!  (Our couch from Salt Lake will go in front on this window.  Somehow, we need to get it to Blanding in the next month or so!  Any ideas???)

We’ve moved back all of the furniture.  Caroline is staying in the same spot!

Drapes are up on the west window and chairs are arranged.

 

We’ve moved the grandfather clock.  In moving the piano, we discovered an outlet.  This was exciting news!

Mike is now painting the entry way sage green.  But, we welcome visitors.  Drop by and see our new living room!!!  IT IS DONE!!!!

Day 4 of Painting the Living Room

Today Mike was took a needed day off.  While Mike went here… Sidney arose and painted the west inside window white – it took about 1.5 hours.  She also painted the baseboards on one wall.

Sidney painted around the other two windows with sage green so tomorrow morning they will be dry and ready for the white coat around the inside windows.

Quitting time for Sidney – 12:30pm.  She’s taking the rest of the day off!

Day 3 of Painting the Living Room

We both awoke thinking that this project was WAY TO BIG and would we ever be able to finish it?  (You always think this in a the middle of a project!)

Muscleman Mike moved the piano ALL BY HIMSELF.  This was Mike’s nemesis, but he CONQUERED!


Caroline was relegated to the corner for a while.  No, we were not ‘putting her in her place’.  She was a good sport about it!

Mike, vacuuming to make ready for the piano placement!
  
The piano in its new spot and Caroline returned to her regular spot.

 
Oops, a little paint was dropped on the carpet and Mike diligently cleans it up!

Just in case you are wondering about what was accomplished on Wednesday, here’s the scoop.

1. Piano Moved (big accomplishment)
2. Lots and Lots of prep work
3. Mike painted the remainder of the ceiling
4. Sidney painted the upper walls against the ceiling and the baseboards on two walls.

By the end of the day, both of us felt that this project was doable and that we are way past the mid-way point.  We are hoping that by the end of day Friday, painting will be completed!

Day 2 of Painting the Living Room

It must be stated that Sidney’s effort to paint the living room are limited.  A chest cold is forcing her to be an onlooker.  Mike gets ALL the credit for the work!

Beginning of the day…

About 30 minutes into the work….

Closer to the end of the day…

Time to relax and it is well deserved…

The days work…  (Hey, that sheet looks great against the wall!)

Tomorrow’s goal:  Paint all the edges and trim work on the two plus walls that have been paint, move the piano over to the other side of the room, and be ready on Thursday to do the last half of the ceiling and paint the rest of the walls!  Quite ambitious, but hopefully, Sidney will be joining in the fun.

Okay, now for the paint color:  Caroline wanted a Sage Green color.  After looking at samples, she chose True Value’s Delicate Leaf.