A Whole Lot of Nothing!

I hope that you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with lots of food, fun and laughter - making new memories! We had a wonderful day!


I don't like to shop so I stayed home most of the week end. Did venture out on Friday afternoon to Joann's to take advantage of the sale on quilting notions.


Last night I went to stay with one of the little men in my life, Eli (he's three) while his mom, dad and big brother, Seth went to a concert. He's a real kick so we had a great time together! :-)


I spent today with my newest stitchery project - The Night Before Christmas by Cinderberry Stitches. Two stitched panels done/two to go! Hoping to have it done by the end of the week so I can use it with the other Christmas decorations.


I've been thinking quite a bit about my lack of desire to sew the past few months. I've decided that there are many contributing factors.


1. The stash is overwhelming and paralyzing.

2. I've been chastised and criticized for blogging.

3. Then last week I was criticized for having so many flimsies (aka quilt tops) and quilts.


I need to figure out how to handle the STASH but I can't do that until I figure out how to get past 2 and 3. Right? Well, I need to dust off the heart I wear on my sleeve (I get my feelings hurt very easily) and just continue doing what I enjoy without worrying about what others say or think. So, wish me luck with all of this - LOL!


Yes, yes I promised a surprise! 71 comments were left on my "Rant" post and I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the encouragement, support, words of kindness etc. I'm going to toss all of you (oh, ok, your names - LOL) into a drawing for a few surprise giftees. So sometime tomorrow or Tuesday I'll post the winning name(s). Yes, I do plan to draw more than one name. :-)


In Friendship

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

My family and I wish you and yours a wonderful and bountiful day.

We have so many things to be thankful for and in the daily grind of life we have a tendency to forget. I'm thankful for more than I could ever list here. However, right now I'm especially thankful for the kind and thoughtful words so many of you took the time to leave for me regarding my "Rant". Thank you! More about that later - I have a surprise! :-)

In Friendship!

I Need to Rant!

I'm a little dismayed this evening! :-( And, quite frankly near tears!

I live in a retirement resort with very (emphasis on very) few resident quilters. A few weeks ago I was asked if I'd help start a mini quilting group and offer lessons. What the heck! We met for the third time today and it was great - new quilters are so much fun.

Anyway, back to my rant! One of the new quilters stopped by home to pick up some fabric and such before our gathering. She's never been in my home so she was in awe of all my quilts. I felt quite proud of myself. LOL While we were at our gathering she shared with everyone what she'd seen in my home and the woman who asked me to help asked why I had so many quilts and what were my plans. Well, my plans are to just own them and love them. LOL She was stunned and dismayed with me - saying she didn't understand why I would want to make and own so many quilts. I just smiled sweetly and said I'm just very obsessed by it all and really enjoy it. She just walked away shaking her head and telling the others that she'd never understand.

I don't understand why it would bother her so much that I make so many quilts and that I spend so much time sewing. And, why would she judge me like she did?

Yes, I could give all my quilts to others and/or charity but I do my fair share of charity quilting, I just don't talk about it. And, my friends and family have been recepients of many quilts - again I just don't talk about it. Why can't I just sew for the sheer enjoyment?

Thank you for letting me rant. Obviously this will not help my ho-hum mood!

edit: I had a long chat with my best friend (my DH) and he attempted to help me work through this. We chatted about why I sew as much as I do and why do I own so many quilts and flimsies. It's very simple - it makes me very happy. My quilts and flimsies hold so many memories - shopping for the fabric or pattern; who I shopped with; when and where I shopped, etc. I truly believe that every quilt tells a story and my quilts have many stories to tell. I don't want to feel ashamed of something that gives me so much joy.

In Friendship!

BLAME IT ON THE CHOCOLATE ;-)

Mar says that medication (the chocolate) arrived and that soon I would be sewing. LOL

Look I've been sewing today, although I didn't do a very good job. AARRGGHHH My pinwheels look awful, I had a battle with my Tri-Recs Tools, my iron wasn't hot enough (why does it shut itself off just before I need it???)

I've been looking at Marcie's Trees on the Table topper and thinking about making one but putting if off. Kim issued a challenge recently but I just sat back and watched everyone else make one. It was time to make one. I have a dear friend who loves all the seasonal table toppers that I've made in the past and secretly would love to own one. LOL! I think she'd love to have one of these but not this one! I'll keep this one for our table and make another one for her. Actually, I probably should make two or three more.

Marcie, thank you for providing such a terrific pattern. (Marcie offers this pattern as a freebie on her website http://www.patchalotpatterns.com/)

I hope that you've all had a wonderful week end. Thanks for visiting!

In Friendship!

YUM!

I participated in the Chocolate Swap on Sharon's blog and my sweet treats from Debbie have arrived. Look at the adorable boxes (they're small hat boxes). The small one with the pictures of the M&Ms is full of chocolate Kisses - big favorites of mine. The large Happy Thanksgiving box has goodies from See's Candy and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The small packages in front of the boxes are Chocolovers Eau de Toilette Natural Spray and Chocolovers Creamy Bath Foam (both smell really yummy) Debbie and I have very similar taste in chocolate so we were both able to shop as we were shopping for ourselves. teehee :-)

If you visit Debbie's blog you'll notice how creative she is; I hope she won't be disappointed when she received the goodies I sent because I am definitely not as creative. Maybe it's just about the chocolate! LOL

A huge thank you to Debbie for all the wonderful goodies and to Sharon for putting this fun swap together!

On the sewing and stitching front there is nothing new to report! Still very Ho-Hum! :-)

I appreciate everyone's comments and words of wisdom regarding my Ho-Hum status - you're all so sweet to take the time to leave a comment. I'm just going to ride this out and hope it'll pass soon. :-)

In Friendship!

Ho-Hum!

That's how I've been feeling the past few weeks. I'm not inspired to do anything - nothing, nil, zilch, zero. I told you that my machine has been quiet and my hands very still. I've managed to do a little embroidery but not enough to tell anyone about. I haven't done any hand applique and I don't have an excuse. And, piecing on my sewing machine has not happened in quite a while - OK a little piecing to do along with the little embroidery project but again not enough to tell anyone about. Ho-Hum!

I took a quick stroll through this messy closet looking for the project to inspire me. It was a boring stroll. Ho-Hum!!!!

These are pieces parts of various applique projects that just need to be assembled

or more blocks need to be made. You can see my Pumpkin Hill blocks and my Rabbits Prefer Chocolate blocks are there, too. And more! Not interested! Ho-Hum!!!!!

Yes, I've been visiting all of my favorite inspirational blogs but nothing has called out to me. Ho-Hum!

I had a lightbulb moment! I'll visit my favorite on-line shops and order a whole new project. Nothing inspired me! It was a very dim lightbulb. Ho-Hum!!!

Is it a slump? No, I don't think it is. And, I'm not concerned either but I do want to be busy. So, do you have any suggestions? Can you help me? What would you do?

Ho-Hum! and a big SIGH!!!!! ;-)

In Friendship!

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!!!!!

I've been anxiously waiting for this new book to arrive in my mailbox and there it was today! WooHoo!!!!!

If you've enjoyed Kim Diehl's first two books, Simple Traditions and Simple Blessings, you are going to love her new book, Simple Seasons! I want to make every quilt in this new book. Like the first two books this one has a great mix of piecing and applique.

So, don't walk but run to your nearest store and purchase this book!!!

I haven't been doing much of anything the past few days so I don't have anything wonderful and inspirational to show you. Maybe I should do something out of this new book! :-)

I sincerely appreciate that you stop by to read about all the doings in my little corner of the world. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please stop by again and often!

In Friendship!

Check it out!

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=171795

Leo - July 23 to August 23 (I'm a Leo to a fault - LOL)

Being one of the most creative signs Leo quilters make wonderful masterpieces. I certainly wouldn't call my stuff 'masterpieces'. LOL

As they are generous and warmhearted their friends and family are usually lucky recipients of their beautiful creations. Not true - I've been called selfish. :-)

They love to read all the patchwork and quilting magazines looking for ideas that they can use. They are always up-to-date on the latest crazes. That's definitely true about me!

Although they know quite a bit about their chosen craft and can usually discover straight away where a quilter has run into problems in their projects, they tend to be too bossy when attempting to help fellow quilters. ROFLOL

They are great as companions to go fabric shopping with, as they know where the best deals are to be found. They are also great help in selecting coordinating material but be prepared to go along with their decisions or suffer the wrath. They don't like to waste their precious time providing opinions that get ignored. If we're going to help you spend your money then you must be willing to listen. LOL

It's Time!

Having to pull out the old rake again to clean my sewing room. Every surface has a pile of stuff and now I'm piling on the floor. AARRGGHH!!!

I was telling my Sweetie this morning that I was going to rake my room again and he said I sure have a lot of weeds. I seem to be raking very often lately. LOL I have to admit that he's right. :-)

The past few months my sewing machine has not seen much action. I've really been enjoying plying my needle and thread by hand however my sewing machine has been tugging my heartstrings. So, I'm hoping that after I rake out the mess I'll feel very inspired to pull out a machine project. I have two projects that are very near completion however maybe I need a new project. HMMM - something to ponder while I'm raking. :-)

I knew I could count on YOU!!!!!! Thank you, thank you so much for all the great ideas you left yesterday regarding my little stitchery project. I should have it finished very soon and I'll post a picture.

Enjoy your Friday! And, thank you for popping in!

In Friendship!

More Playtime!

Yes, I've been playing again. teehee This time I need YOUR help ....... is it too plain? What does it need? It's only approx 8" x 10" so I don't want to overload it but.....

Please help me!

In Friendship!

Quiet Machine and Still Hands

Things have been a bit quiet for the past fews days in my sewing room. I haven't had much desire to do much piecing so my my sewing machine has been very quiet. And, I don't have anything prepped for hand sewing i.e. hand applique or stitchery so my hands have been very still. This is very unusual for me however I'm not concerned because I'll get back in the swing of things soon. Just need to figure out what's next.

Making plans

Today, I'm going to quilt the cute doll quilt I made recently for my blogging friend who's smitten with doll quilts and wants to start a collection. I can sit tonight and sew down the binding and pop it in the mail this week.

I have a list of promised giftees that I need to make and get out the door. Since I plan to mail the doll quilt this week maybe I should finish those giftees and make one trip to the post office.

I need to spend some time with my recent applique and stitchery projects and do some much needed prep work . BTW, I don't like prep work :-)

The picture is a sampling of 3" finished 9 patches that Wendy and I have been swapping since August. We swapped 15 in Aug and Sept and because we're super excited about this project we raised the number to 20 each month for Oct, Nov and Dec. The 180 blocks that we'll have by the end of December should be plenty to make a nice sized quilt. I did make the 20 blocks for November already so those need to go the post office this week, too.

I think I have a good "to do" list to keep me busy the rest of the week. :-)

And, I need to wish my Sweetie a very happy birthday today!

Thanks for popping by to see what's happening in my corner of the world!

In Friendship!

Playtime!


If you've been reading my blog for awhile you might realize that the tagline in my header is my all time favorite saying!

I decided that I wanted to make a small wallhanging for my sewing room to make a statement to all who walk into my 'haven'. :-) After I finished the stitching it still needed a little something but what. HMMMM - I pulled out my Clover Yo-Yo maker and made those three really cute yo-yos that I will stitch in place after it's quilted! Maybe the yo-yos need buttons? Something to ponder. :-)

Thank you for your wonderful comments and compliments on my Quilter's Journey flimsy! I appreciate that you took time to say something! Stop by anytime and please leave a comment!

In Friendship!