Earthly Angels

I wasn't going to do another post until I had my 4 seasons swap item ready, but this just needs to be said. I know we have all said before about how wonderful bloggers and quilting/stitching women are, but it needs to be said again.
Another blogger, someone who always goes beyond what's needed for others was in search of a certain item, that seemed to be unavailable. Drat..... Time to put the thinking hat on, what to do?
A quick phone call to Australia, (cheap rates in this house, phone calls every week) to see what could be done to the lovely Kim of Honeysuckle Cottage . Several emails and phone calls later and the wanted item is found and on it's way to it's new owner. Thank you so much Kim for your willingness to go the extra mile for someone you've never met and allowing me to help out a friend.
This also needs to be said of Margaret over at A Sampler of Stitches, emails flew between Spain and Japan on her search for that beautiful magazine that I was lusting over, which is now on it's way to my letter box. Thank you Margaret and Choko, your generosity touches my heart.
You just never know who you will meet, remember to treat them with love and kindness, just as you would wish to be treated.

Happy Stitching.

4 Season's Swap

I've been working on my 4 season swap item for the past couple of days and have it done up to the first border. I visited the flickr group for the swap and tried to upload a photo there, but either I'm not in the mood or I'm more computer challenged than I thought, or perhaps it's just one of those menopause days...lol.... It was a pain in the neck, so I decided to give that idea a miss and just add it here.

I'm going to add another plain border and either embroider or applique the extra to that and then perhaps add another pieced edge before quilting and adding the binding.

I did another sort through of the pile of ufo's sitting on the bed in the sewing room and found a quilt top in there that I'd forgotten about... That must be a sign that I have far too many.... Anyway after looking at it I just need to add another row to complete the piecing and then add the border. I've decided that I might try hand quilting on this one, did you see that Bren.....lol... Just because I say I'm going to try the hand quilting on this one doesn't necessarily mean that that's how it will end up.

Thanks to everyone who gave me their ideas and thoughts on the bucket bags, I'm still thinking about that, but have other things occupying my mind at the moment.

Update on that wonderful Japanese magazine, Margaret very sweetly organised to have it posted to me from Japan from one of her blog friends. Thank you so much Margaret, I so appreciate it. I haven't started mailbox sitting just yet.....

Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Happy Stitching.

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Just a little added note to those who take the time to leave a comment. I try my best to reply to each comment, but it's impossible when you have your email set at no-reply. Please, please change your email in your preferences or leave your email address so I can reply. Thanks.

Those Bucket Bags

Bren has suggested to me several times that I should make and sell the bucket bags. So I'd like to ask some advice.
1. If you were not able to make these yourself, would you consider buying one?
2. If so what do you think would be a reasonable amount to pay , remembering the cost of fabrics and time ?
3. What would be your preferred method of selling, eBay, etsy etc?
4. Having looked at them, as a sewer are there any changes you would want made to them?
If you have any ideas or suggestions that I may not have included here please let me know.
Thanks for taking the time to give me your input.

Country Life and Rockers

On Saturday I said I'd be back later with another finish, I got distracted. After commenting on Darlene's blog about how it was too hot to go outdoors, I did exactly that. My rocker was calling to me to put another coat of lacquer on it, even though the temperature reached 96 I had to answer that call. So now I have it to the stage of being able to put it all back together ( I do hope I can remember how that goes) and do the final 2 coats and then add the new cane and it'll be ready to enjoy.
I did finish the Country Life wall hanging earlier in the day and managed to get dh to stand still long enough to take a photo.

I think I'll hang this one in the sewing room. It's a good feeling to see the ufo pile slowly get smaller. I can actually now see the quilt on the bed, rather than just a huge pile of bags filled with projects.

My plans for the 4 season's swap flew out the window. I just wasn't happy to use the swap item as a guinea pig for my free motion quilting skills, or lack of them. So a new plan was needed. Here's a little snippet of what's ahead.
I still need to work out how it's going to be set, have a few idea floating around that void I sometimes call a brain, but nothing definite yet.

Thanks to gwen who has given me a couple of stores in Germany to try and locate the Japanese red work magazine. As it turns out it doesn't look like I'll be able to locate it, always the way isn't it, something you really want is no longer available. So instead I'll have nights filled with dreams of all the beautiful projects that could have been.

Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by and chatting.

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A little PS, I just received an email from Margaret over at A sampler of Stitches letting me know she was in the process of tracking down this magazine from Japan. Quilters/Stitchers truely are the most generous people.

I've Been

Lusting after this Japanese Craft magazine for so long, it's from May 2005, (ISSN 1346-955X)?

Inside the magazine.

I first saw it on the angry chicken blog and fell in love with it immediately and have been on a search for it for months and months. So I'm asking you all for help, if you know where I can get it from I'd be so grateful. It's just not healthy to lust after something for so long....

I'll be back later today with another finish.

Happy Stitching.

We Have A Winner - 100th Post

Today's the day to draw the winner of the red bucket bag. I decided to do away with the jelly bean jar and go with a random number generator. So can we have a Drum Roll Please.

The Winner is:

Congratulations Yvonne, if you send me an email with your address I'll get it into the post next weekend. Sorry it can't be soon but dh will be working tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment, and continues to stop by and read my ramblings.

Happy Stitching.

From Flimsy To Finish - Pink Lemonade

I'm feeling like a combination of three of the seven dwarfs this morning. After machine quilting Jenna's quilt yesterday and Tuesday, I'm happy, that it's finished well before the due date, I feel dopey, from sitting up till 2 am to hand sew the binding down, and I'm grumpy, because I had to do some frog stitching. I made the mistake of mixing threads in the machine. I can see now that "Suzie" is very particular about what sort of thread she likes to have running through her. I had 3 spools of Guiterman for the top of the quilt and silly me used Coates and Clark for the bobbin, I don't know why I did that, I know it's an absolutely rubbish thread, and in a lot of places the thread snapped on the back of the quilt, so out with my trusty quick -un-pick, (reminder to myself, don't use ......... thread). You can fill in the blanks.. I've decided after using Suzie for this quilt that I'll put away Jenny Janome for machine quilting and use her for piecing only and use Suzie for the machine quilting. Other than using the wrong thread, it was such a joy to machine quilt on Suzie, the fabrics just slid through her like butter, no wrinkles, puckers or tucks, and no dropped feed dogs or special quilting foot. These old machines are definitely worth their weight in gold. I'll have to remember this when it comes time for dh to build my table, allow enough room for the Singer to fit in the recess. The quilts in the dryer as I type, so I'll be back with a photo once it's dry and fluffed up.

I received my partner for Donna's Christmas swap a day or two ago, and I'm told I can't ask about my partner, unlike Doe who apparently considered a bribe for the disclosure of her partner....lol.... Haven't gotten around to even thinking about what I'll be making as I wanted to concentrate on Jenna's quilt and then make a start on the 4 season's swap, plus I have the PIF projects part done.

Ok the quilts dry and de-threaded, so here it is, Pink Lemonade.
And the label.

Now it's time to clean up the mess I created and think about the 4 season's swap item.

Happy Stitching.

Another Baby

I have another baby that I haven't ever told you about. She's such a sweetie, her name is Suzie. I bet that got you all thinking.....Sorry but it's true. She came to live with me not long after I arrived here in the US. I met her at a church fete and she's so quite I hardly ever notice she's here. In fact she's so quiet I had completely forgotten about her until this evening. I'm sure you've guessed by now I'm not talking about a poor abandoned child, but a sewing machine. I picked this little beauty up at a church fete a few years ago for the huge sum of $30. Every now and then I'll pull her out and work on her, getting her into condition ready to use. This evening as I was thinking about how I was going to quilt Jenna's quilt, I remembered Suzie sitting in the back porch cupboard/closet. As she's so heavy I got DH to get her out for me before he went to bed, threaded her up and had a little practise on her. Oh my gosh she machine quilts so beautifully. She reminds me of my Suzie from Australia that I had to leave in Jenna's care, another Singer. Her stitches are even, and each stitch is the same size as the previous one, she just purrs along.

So here she is, isn't she lovely, a Singer Red Eye.

I'd say from her wear she's been a faithful friend to her previous owner, who I understand was an elderly lady.

She's all threaded ready to hum along tomorrow on Jenna's quilt.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts and comments on my DH, I'm sure you ALL heard me as I let out a very loud YAHOOOO when he came home from the doctor with a medical release to go back to work tomorrow, peace will once more reign in my house...lol.....

Happy Stitching, and please keep your ideas for the table coming, they are all great.

What A Mess

I'll show you the mess in a minute, but first I want to get some advice. Dh is going to build me a sewing table with the recess for the sewing machine to sit in so that it's flush with the table. Great for machine quilting. Down either side of where I'll sit will be drawers and a couple of cupboards. So here's where I'd like your input. If you were to have such a table made, what features would you want included? I did think of having a cutting table included down one side and perhaps a pull out slider for a pressing mat, saves hopping up and down like a rabbit.


This is the mess I created yesterday. Who would think that 9 little 6 inch paper pieced pinwheels could create such a mess. This was made in the process of getting Jenna's quilt top finished last night, so now I just need to pin it out and start on the machine quilting.
I need to have this finished by the end of the month so I can get it in the post to reach her in time for her birthday on the 13th. I never thought she'd be a pink girl....




I managed to get a few pieces of fabric over the weekend, hopefully some of them will go into the 4 season's swap quilt and also this terrific little book of quilt labels. They are iron on transfers, but as I'm not too fond of iron on's I think I'll copy them to the pc and just print them out as I need them. They lend themselves very well for embroidery, so hopefully I'll have time to use one of these for Jenna's quilt. I didn't find foundation paper for the paper piecing, well actually I saw one package of 10 wash away sheets for $9.00 and decided that I would rather spend that $9.00 on fabrics. If you have suggestions on foundation paper, I'd appreciate it, I may have to order it online.


Happy Stitching, and thanks for popping by and giving me your ideas.

Hanging In There

Things have been very quiet, sewing wise in my house this last week. Dh is still home from work, and driving me nutty. I think if I were a drinker (which I am not) I'd be well on my way to a good hangover by now. I've made many attempts to get things done in the sewing room, but I'm sure you all know what it's like with a sick male in the house, not much gets done other than an extra mess to clean up. He has another visit back to the doc on Monday, so I'm hoping and praying he gets a release to go back to work on Tuesday. I do love him, but just not under my feet, or in my face....lol...
Our visit with Hollie has been canceled due to hubby not being well. To say she was disappointed would be an understatement, so we're hoping we can organise an extra visit into next month some time. I'll keep the giveaway open for the next week and draw the winner on the date previously posted.
I've made a little progress on Jenna's pink quilt and hope to be able to get it to the flimsy stage by early next week, ready to pin out and start on the machine quilting. I'm hoping I can get it finished in time to post to her for her birthday next month.
I've chosen my pattern and some of the fabrics for the 4 season swap. Today as a reward for endurance of dh, he's taking me to a lovely little quilt store not too far from here to shop for the rest of the fabrics for the swap quilt (photo's later). As the centre blocks of Jenna's quilt are paper pieced I think I'll look for foundation paper while I'm there.
We have a forecast of 88 today so if I'm not too pooped from shopping, I think I'll end up mowing the lawn, it looks like a jungle out there and dh isn't able to do it yet and I can't stand to look at it the way it is any longer.
Happy Stitching and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

I received a lovely phone call from "Miss Charlotte" on Thursday to let me know the angels had landed safely at her home.

Comparisons

I was chatting with a friend on Monday and again on Tuesday evening and the topic of ability came up. She was talking about my ability to create and hers. A comment was made that her "item" didn't meet up with that of mine, she was comparing her work to mine,which got me to thinking.

This is pretty much what I told her. Remember I'm talking of stitching here. Each of us have been given gifts and talents from God, whether it is to embroider, applique, machine or hand quilt, whatever it is, it is a gift. I am a great believer that we should not compare our work to that of others and feel that we fall short of the mark. Instead we should admire the work of others. We need to remember that we were all beginners at some point, and it is only with constant exercise of that gift or talent do we improve. I don't believe that any of us were born, quilters, or appliquer's or embroiderer's.

Instead I think we need to continue to encourage those who are new to the craft, giving support and advice (when asked). We need to remember what it was like when we were beginners, asking questions and watching as others created with fabric or thread, and remember how much we appreciated the advice and help that was offered. I know we all do this when someone new comes along, whether it is in our personal life or here on our blog.

I thank each and every one of you who leave such kind remarks and comments on my work, and I want to take this opportunity to let you know that it is very much appreciated and extremely humbling, but also to let you know that it is not my talent, but a gift from God, and I am extremely grateful that He has blessed me with it.

For all the new ladies who decide to jump into quilting, applique or embroidery, please continue to ask questions. Get the answers that you seek, and remember that we all were once beginners, but most importantly please don't compare, you too have been given gifts and talents that will improve when you exercise them.


Happy Stitching, and thank you for stopping by.

Jenny over at http://welcometobloglandbabygirl.blogspot.com/ is fairly new to blogging, please take a moment and visit her, she does beautiful stitchery.

Taken Flight

The Angels that I was stitching on the last couple of weeks have now taken flight and left for their new home. These were such fun to stitch up and very quick. I wanted something that would stitch up quickly as I didn't want it to turn into another ufo, also I wanted it to get to it's destination quickly. As the last lot of photo's I showed of these were just terrible, I thought I'd take some close ups, also my completed photo isn't the best. Oh dear, what it would be, to be a good photographer.

I seem to have been bitten by the swap bug. I decided to join in on the 4 seasons swap and also the Christmas swap that's being hosted by Chookyblue. I've chosen my design for the 4 seasons swap and just need to work out fabrics and re size it so that it fits into the measurement requirements.

I've also started on my Pay It Forward items, these will probably take the rest of the week to complete as there's ........... in them. Sorry can't reveal what the ......... is, just in case the recipients read this post.

I managed to get another Australiana Red work block finished on Saturday, but stitching has been slow this weekend as my "sweetie" has pneumonia and isn't the best patient, in fact I'm surprised that he's still breathing at all....lol... Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly, but there just seems to be something about a sick male that's enough to make you.......... scream.... get well, and quickly.

Happy Stitching and thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.

They Seem To Be Multiplying

Remember when I showed you these, and on Wednesday I told you that they would be finished by Friday, hopefully. Friday at some awful hour of the night I managed to get them completed. I also asked what you thought they were. Some of you thought that perhaps they were the beginnings of bags, I said in the last post that you were close (I showed you handles). So here they are completed.


They are now winging their way across land and sea to their new homes. These are such fun to make, time consuming, about 6 - 8 hours each, but loads of fun. I think perhaps now that I've made 4 of them that I need to make one for myself...lol... Always the way isn't it? For those of you wanting to make one for yourself, here's the link, in French. http://marie70.canalblog.com/ Go to the left sidebar and click on turotial.

Yesterday these lovelies arrived in my mail box.

I had thought that the fabric on the left had a lovely soft pink background and was planning on using it in the 9 patch quilt for Jenna, but alas when it arrived it had a beige background. Oh what a shame I'll have to look at it and fondle it a bit longer before I decide what to use it in. The blue already has a project chosen for it's use. Keep watching and you'll see it hopefully sooner rather than later.

Friday evening I also managed to get the angels finished but I'll leave that for another post.

Hope your all enjoying your weekend.

Happy Stitching.

Did You Guess ? 100th Post Giveaway

Did you guess what this blurred photo was? A couple of you were close.

I won't keep you in suspense too much longer. This red item is finished.



These are still being worked on. Hopefully I'll have them finished by Friday.




I can't believe that I've managed to ramble for 100 posts. I know when I first discovered quilting/stitching blogs I was totally fascinated and totally hooked, so what else is a girl to do, but jump in on the fun, and yes it's been loads of fun. I've met some wonderful people that I feel blessed to call friend. You have all inspired me with your abundance of talent and your generosity to share your knowledge so willingly. You have welcomed me into blog land with open arms and made me feel so welcome. You have encouraged me when I needed it and given me a pat on the back when something has been finished, my personal cheering squad. So as this is the 100th post and as I'd like to thank you all for sharing just a little bit of my life I'd like to offer a giveaway, and yes the red item is the giveaway. So here it is a lovely carryall to hold your stitching projects. It has 12 external pockets to hold your stitching/quilting tools and and nice large internal area to hold your current projects and magazines.








If you'd like to be in the draw for this, just leave a comment and I'll draw a name on the 24th of this month. Sorry it can't be the week prior, but DH and I will be away visiting Hollie for the weekend. So I'll draw it on the 25th and post it out on the 26th.

Happy Stitching, and thanks for stopping by.

A Step Of

Faith is what it took for me to come to the US. I've been asked by several people how and why I happened to move to the US, and whether I intend on staying. So grab yourself a cuppa if you're so inclined and be warned that this post has Christian content and will be long.

4 years ago I was a very content single mother of 4 kids, and managing quite well. I'd just taken a job at the local public hospital working as a telephonist (similar to a 911 operator) and working long shifts. A group of girlfriends from church got together and we posed the question "what would we like in a husband". I thought at the time, what a joke, I'd just come out of a very abusive marriage and another husband was the last thing on my mind or my wish list, but I decided to join in the banter. So we wrote a list of what would be our ideal husband, and prayed about it, and that was that, or so I thought.

I didn't give it another thought until one day as I was doing housework a programme came on the radio, (Focus On The Family) and they were disguising a new online Christian Introductory service, that they were supporting, apparently different from online dating, not that I knew what either was. So I stopped my housework and sat and listened for the half hour. At the end of the programme they stated that their service was free. Well who doesn't like free? I know I do. So I decided to have a look online and see what it was all about. 3 hours later and some 20 odd pages of questions I was done, and then came the last page, payment. What, this was supposed to be free. The personality profile was free, but not the service. I decided that $100 AU was just out of the question, an amount that I couldn't justify when I had 2 kids at home still going to school. So I sent up a quick prayer, Lord if You want this for me then You need to open the door for me. In the meantime my inbox was filling up with possible matches, and I had no way of accessing them as I wasn't a member. A couple of weeks later I received an email from the company e-harmony, offering me a month at half price. I still decided that I couldn't justify it, so sent up the same prayer. Another 2 weeks passed and I received another email from the company offering me a months free trial. Answered prayer, thank you Lord.

The company had their site set up in a way that you had the opportunity of contacting a possible match without giving out your email address. They did suggest that you didn't give out your email, home address or phone number.

There were 3 possible matches, 1 lived in Lightening Ridge, (an opal miner) which is in the middle of nowhere in the Aussie desert and most of the homes are underground because of the extreme heat. I decided to delete that one, living like a mole wasn't very inviting. the second lived on some island in the middle of nowhere, that one got deleted. The third was a man from the States, there was just something about his profile that had me going back. So I took the plunge and contacted him through the site.

Emails went back and forth with great frequency. During those emails we found out alot about one another, where we were from, how old we were, kids, likes dislikes etc. In one of these emails I discovered that he was Inuit. Not knowing what Inuit was I had to ask, his response, Eskimo. So I immediately did a Google search on Eskimo, my memory from school was vague to say the least. My search result brought up a photo of a little man, dressed in a seal skin suit with a pudding bowl haircut, holding a spear in one hand and standing outside his home, an igloo. I'm sure you can imagine my reaction, my immediate thought was "Oh no Lord, not living like that"..... So I asked discreet questions about where he lived and what he did. What a relief to discover that an igloo was not his abode....lol... Just goes to show you how ignorant we can be living in another country.

Emails continued to go back and forth and then my month was just about up, so we did what the company advised against, we swapped email address's. We figured that living on the opposite side of the globe it really wasn't going to be a problem.

I'll jump forward for you so your not getting restless and bored.

Those emails turned into instant messaging with voice activated and international phone calls and eventually swapping of photo's. In October of 2003 I came to the US for a 3 week holiday, to meet him and catch up with some quilting friends.

He proposed, I accepted and after three weeks I returned to Australia.

I couldn't imagine how this was going to work, me living in Aussie and him in the US, but we both prayed about it and decided that I would move. My kids supported me 100% (except for my eldest daughter).

So five months later, having sold all my household possessions which I had only just finished buying I returned to marry him. He truly is an answer to my prayer.

I'll tell you what was on my list.


1. He had to love God more than me.
2. He had to love me, for me, not what I could do for, or provide for him.
3. Love my kids the way they deserved to be loved.
4. Good sense of humor.
5. Gentle spirit.
6. Romantic
7. Tall

I can't remember the rest, but I do remember as a joke adding that he could be dark skinned and from the US. Everything on that list, except for being romantic I ticked off, but what he lacks in romance he makes up for in every other area and so much more. He truly is a gift from God and I feel blessed to have been given another chance at being happy. Do I intend to stay? You betcha....

So there you have it, long I'm sorry, but it was much easier to do a post than write that several times in emails.

Nice Matters

A new Friendship blogger award !

This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award.

So here's my seven:

Bren Because she's such an awesome friend.

Darlene Because she has such a generous heart.

Solstitches/Margaret Because she's so willing to share.

Connie W Because she's willing to be flexible.

Screen Door/Melanie Because she has such a sweet spirit.

Rose Because she always see's the happy side of life and shares it with the rest of us.

Leigh and all the other Aussie bloggers. Because they generously give me glimpses of home.
There are so many other ladies who I consider a friend, but I need to leave it at 7 so others have an opportunity.
Thank you ladies for allowing me and others to come into your lives and share your love of stitching and life and sharing your knowledge and experience with others.

If you have not been selected yet, but would like to award someone please do so that is what it is about!

This is where the award originates from http://bella-enchanted.blogspot.com/
Happy Stitching.

Recovering

Thanks for all your kind words on my sunburn, shame with all the comments about you all feeling my pain that it didn't leave, but I'm happy to report that it's much better today. I'm sure it will peel but as long as I can walk again I'll be a happy little sewer. Rose Marie commented that I matched the bright fabrics I bought for Hollie,, too funny, but Rose Marie I wasn't going to do the colour test to see which was brighter.
I spent all day today in the kitchen, we bought a foodsaver on Saturday and a freezer and bulk grocery shopping yesterday, so I spent today packaging up and vacuum sealing meats and vegetables. Now my problem is I have nowhere to put all those groceries...lol.. DH is shopping tomorrow after work for table saws and other boys toys, and I have a list already of the items I'd like him to build for me. First on the list is a set of shelves to put in the laundry room for all the excess groceries. I'd also like a blanket box. My Nana left me one after she passed away. A beautiful chest that was Cedar, it was left in New Zealand with a friend never to be seen again. Then next on the list is a slat base bed frame. I'm not used to sleeping on a box spring bed ensemble, with a dicky back I just love the slat base, it gives support, firmness and no movement. I'm sure DH won't enjoy sleeping on it for the first few weeks, but I'm sure he'll get used to it...lol...
I'm almost half way through the restoration of the rocking chair, the new rattan has been ordered and I'm waiting on DH to get a vise so I can do a little minor repair to a piece of the timber, then it will be a final coat of lacquer and the new rattan added and it'll be ready for use.
No photo's today I'm sorry, nothings at the reveal stage yet, but I hope to rectify that by the end of the week.
Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by.

Can We Say RED

I know I can, we had a fabulous time kayaking, although I feel like I have orangutan arms from all that paddling. We opted for the shorter 6 mile trip and I'm so pleased we did. I was absolutely starving by the time we'd finished, I'm sure I wouldn't have managed 12 miles, plus there were so many people on the river. I don't think I've ever seen so many drunks on the water before, and to think that they were going to get out of the water and into their cars. If I remember right I said I had to remember the sunscreen, yes I did remember, but I started out my paddle in my swimsuit and a pair of 3/4 pants. Five minutes into paddling I decided I was going to cook with those pants on, so off they went, but I forgot to smother my thighs with sunscreen. That's where the "Can we say red" comes into the post. Have you ever been so sun burnt that you're sure the skin your wearing was from when you were a foot shorter, that's how it is today, my skin doesn't fit me any more... How's this for a touch of sunburn, you'd think at 50 I'd be old enough to know better, wouldn't you?....


I did some serious fabric shopping Saturday afternoon and yesterday. Aren't these happy fabrics. Hollie's asked for a rag quilt for her graduation and we saw these at the quilt store not too far from the school several months ago for $9.00 a yard. I found them yesterday locally for $1.45 a yard, what a bargain. So I think I have enough to make a start on her quilt.


I also managed to pick up some more pinks for Jenna's pink 9 patch that she asked for at the beginning of winter, oops sorry Jenna, winter's just about over.

And these pretty mauve's for a project that's ready to be put together. Look Bren, purples...lol...
Time for some more Aloe gel on those lobster legs, then into the sewing room.

Happy stitching everyone, thanks for stopping by and saying hello.

Just A Little Tease

Today we head up to Kansas, Oklahoma to have a visit with Miss Hollie. I've phoned ahead and booked 3 Kayak's for a 12 mile trip (3-5 hours) down the Illinois River, loads of fun. I do hope my arms hold up for that long. Must remember the sun lotion and the bug spray. Then it's out to a very late lunch and shopping for volleyball shoes and back to the school and then head home.

Sunday's going to be a big shopping day, fabric, fabric and more fabric along with tools, groceries and a freezer. I did do a little online fabric shopping yesterday, hmm another lovely parcel on it's way to my letterbox. So I imagine I'll be absolutely pooped by the end of the weekend.

The other day Bren showed us a photo of her cutting table and the mess she had created. So today while I'm away I thought I'd share the mess I made while creating this, which by the way is purposely blurred....
And another little tease, just a little something I've been working on this past week. Got any ideas what either is?
Another week and you'll see the end result.

Happy Stitching, and have a great weekend.

Mail Love

Oh don't you just love it when lovely special parcels arrive at your mail box? I know I do and today was no exception.

Look at this lovely, all the way from Darlene's home to mine. I just love the fabric that she used on this, lovely dragonflies and daisies, so bright and cherry and oh so soft.

Thank you Darlene, I just adore it and it was very sweet of you to spread around the birthday love. Now you'll need to tell us all where you got the crushed walnut shell from.

Happy Stitching.

It Doesn't Take Much

To distract me from my ufo list. Like so many other quilters I find I get bored very quickly working on the one project from start to finish. I need a variety of things to hold my interest. I like the freedom to be able to choose according to my mood, whether it's piecing, machine quilting, embroidery or applique. I seem to have been bitten badly by the embroidery bug, I love to quilt, but I must admit I get more pleasure (at the moment) embroidering. I love watching the design come to life in front of me, and then my thoughts go to how I'll put it all together with other blocks, what type and colours of fabrics I'll use for sashing and borders, how it will be quilted and of course what the label will say.

Most of my embroidery tends to leave my home, winging it's way to it's new home and it's new owner, and I just love to hear, or read how it's received. As I was pondering what to write today my thoughts went to a quilt I made for my daughter, Jenna last year, (photo previously posted, but now repeated) "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and the effect it had on her when she opened it on Christmas morning. At this point I should say that Jenna admires the time and work that goes into a quilt, but she's just not a quilty girl, although she has asked for two more quilts. All this aside I decided I wanted to make her a quilt that would tell her exactly how I felt and how much I missed her. Just thinking about it makes my eyes well up. As I was saying, I wanted this quilt, which is actually a wall hanging to be special, I wanted her to know how much I love her and miss her. I chose blues for the houses and the borders, her then favorite colour, and a bright green for the trees, the background is kona snow, although it shows up as a yellowy cream in the photo. Along the top of the border I embroidered "I'll Be Home For Christmas and along the bottom "If Only In My Dreams".

I really didn't know how she'd receive it, I thought that perhaps she may think it was sort of cute, but the phone call on Christmas morning dismissed any doubt that I may have had. After the usual Christmas greetings I asked what she thought about it, poor girl couldn't speak for the tears. So you can imagine it didn't take more than a second for my tears to flow, not only because I missed her but to know I had chosen well, just as she had with her gift for me, simple but so Jenna. A lovely mug with the words across it "All I want For Christmas Is My Mum. She and I are so alike. So when you make the decission to make a quilt, or anything else for that matter whether it's a quilt or a bag or a stitchery, whatever it is, for someone else you put a part of yourself into that project, and the person who receives that gift knows that it's stitched with memories, thoughts and love.

Happy Stitching Everyone and thanks for stopping by.

We Have A Winner

If you go over to Bren's blog http://piecesfromme.blogspot.com/ you'll see what I got up to yesterday in between making up a very cute project of my own. What a giggle it was, trying to explain the bag making procedure over the phone, particularly as I'm a totally visual person and so is Bren....
Bren successfully finished not one but two of the little bags and managed to get to bed at a decent time, while I stayed up till 1.30 am finishing up the new project that I decided would be a lovely giveaway for my 100th post, only another 7 posts to go.

So I won't keep you in suspense any longer.

Well no helper or on-line randomizer here, just the trusty Jelly Bean jar, emptied and filled with the names.

Hmm I think that perhaps I should have washed it out first, so please disregard the fingerprints.....

Thanks to everyone who popped by and put their name into the draw. I sure hope the winner will enjoy all the lovely projects in the book and show us her finished items.

Drum Roll

And the winner is:

Congratulations Margaret, I hope you enjoy the book. Please email me with your mailing address so I can get the book into the post to you.

Happy Stitching Everyone.