Wednesday, November 25, 2009

My hope for you and yours is a safe and wonderful day of gratitude!
In Friendship!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Company's Coming
(the Elves are busy)

A couple of weeks ago I decided I wanted to have a Christmas Ornament Exchange Party! Now you must understand that this is odd for me because I have serious Hermit-like tendencies.
My sweet Ron (he's the sweet DH that's always around to help me) and I got busy making lists and plans.

First up - the invitation! I spotted these cute cards at Wal-Mart and Ron made the insert I glued inside the card. He took pieces parts from the front of the card and using his graphics knowledge put it all together for me! The RSVP's started coming fast & furious - 28 so far. Whew! LOL

Then we started working on gifts - I want everyone to leave with a Christmas gift from us to each and their significant other. I spotted a perfect gift on Terry Atkinson's blog - the Molten Chocolate Recipe made in a mug. We're going to need 50 mugs, 50 bags (made in an afternoon), the ingredients for the cake (still to come), the recipe card (notice the same cuties from the invitation), ribbon for the recipe card and ribbon to tie the bag.

And, in the same picture you'll notice we've made name tags for everyone, too. The invitation cuties are on the name tags, as well. :-)

Still to come-----party favors. I have an idea!

And, I have several games planned - of course a game for the ornament exchange; a game that involves 10 ornaments on a tray with questions about the ornaments & one other simple game. teehee!!!!

BTW, would you like to join us?

Company's coming so we must have a new Christmas quilt to hang on the quilt rack in our entry way. So, yesterday I spent the afternoon working on a new quilt. WooHoo! I fell in love with this pattern, "Cameos" by Fig Tree Designs, when Sherri showed it on her blog a while back. I knew it was a must do. The pattern calls for a Honey Bun with border & background yardage. I had a Holly Jolly Jelly Roll with some yardage so I cut the strips down to 1 1/2" and got busy! Six out of twelve blocks done and plans to make more today, maybe the other six.

I'm having so much fun with this quilt the block is fun to do! If you're looking for a different and fun project this is the one you must do! Thank you, Sherri bringing this cutie to our attention. I'm planning to make it again in some wonderful Spring fabrics after Christmas.


And, in the midst of all this I managed to finish up my Christmas Swap goodies for Simone and will have that package and other promised goodies in the mail on Tuesday!
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Yes, I have been a busy girl but I'm having a ton o'fun.
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I know that most in the U.S. are busy getting ready to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday but I hope that you've still found time for your needle and thread.
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Thank you for visiting with me - I love that you stop by. Come again and come often!
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In Friendship!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wednesday Whine!

Many Wednesdays I read blogs titled "Wordless Wednesday" - well my Wednesday is Whiny!
Bear with me, I need to do this out loud for the world to read. LOL


I discovered a wonderful blog yesterday, Cath's Pennies and I'm quite smitten (I've been using that word quite a bit lately). I have fallen head over heels in love with these designs - HUGE SIGH!!! So, why am I whining? Well, because as much as I love the designs I can't make any of them - BIGGER SIGH - why(?) - I'm allergic to wool. It's not the wool fiber - it's actually the lanolin in the wool. Last Spring Kaaren from The Painted Quilt sent an adorable penny rug to me and I love it but I want more!!! LOL I want penny rugs and/or candlemats for every holiday or season.

Thank you for letting me WHINE. Sigh! LOL :-)
(walking away muttering "I wonder if I should just order a wool project and suffer with the rash & itchies?"

I hope you're finding time to play with your needle and thread - these are busy days with more ahead!

Thanks for visiting - come again very soon!

In Friendship!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

A Week in Review!
(warning - very long post)

Monday - They Made Me Cry - tears of joy!!!
Started out a very hectic and stressful day but ended with me crying (actually sobbing) tears of joy.

I received a huge box full of treasures and gifts from friends in the Land of Blog. As you know my quilting mojo was missing (and I'm still struggling a bit) and I gave some very serious thought to deleting my blog (because if I'm not quilting then I have nothing to show so why keep the blog - this was my thought). Instead I chose to take a 'blogging hiatus' and did very little during that hiatus. While I was on my hiatus friends were busy making surprises for me - yes for ME! This was done in hopes that it would help me find that missing MOJO. Carol from Carol's Crafty Creations coordinated efforts with many blog friends. She collected churn dash blocks and fat quarters, assembled the large quilt, sent it to Mary at Quilt Hollow to have it secretly beautifully quilted. Carol from Brown Quilts 4 Me contributed backing fabric so the decision was made to send the fat quarters to me (love them!!!)

There was a sweet card and letter enclosed that explained everything - when I started reading I immediately started crying. And, then when I unfolded this beauty I had to sit down because I was sobbing. I couldn't believe that bloggy friends from all over the world had contributed blocks for a quilt for ME! I think these ladies know me very well - it's very ME. I was and still am very stunned. My goodness how do I thank everyone involved? I mean really - how do I thank them? But I WILL thank them!

Everyone involved sent a label so Carol sewed them together and made a BIG label. The ladies involved are: Carol (Carol's Crafty Creations), Mary (Quilt Hollow), Carol (Brown Quilts 4 Me), Nancy E (no blog but regular commenter), Kim (Creating by the Lake), Stephanie (Loft Creations), Stina (Kviltstina), Terry (Terry's Treasures), Karen (Quilts a Lot), Lori (Humble Quilts), Carrie (A Passion for Applique), Mary (Mary on Lake Pulaski), Paulette (Sweet P Quilting), Lisa (Salem Stitcher), Candace (Squash House Quilts), Wendy (Snippets of a Quilter), Cathi (Shakerwood Primitives), Kaaren (The Painted Quilt), Kim (Stillmeadow Quilting), Kelly (Charming Chatter), Michelle (Dresden Quilter), Kim (Magnolia Bay Quilts), Caryn (Pieceful Chaos), Kathy (Kathy Quilts), Karen (Log Cabin Quilter), Millie (Millie's Quilting), Katherine (Quilter Going Bananas), Jocelyn (Happy Cottage Quilter) & Sherri (A Quilting Life)

After I read all the names on the label I unfolded this cutie. I started laughing, crying & saying "oh my goodness it's a quilt for the Wabbit Daze Gang". Carol machine embroidered the wabbit laying on the carrots (can you say CUTE?)

Tuesday - I have decided to have a Christmas Ornament Exchange party later this month so I spent most of the day working on those plans. I'll share more later - cute invitation my sweet DH, Ron, made and party favors I'm working on.
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Wednesday - Veteran's Day

My DH is retired from the US Air Force and he's very involved in a veteran's association here in our community so we were both busily involved in a ceremony. I surveyed the attendees and totaled up the number of years served by vets and we have over 600 years served in our Armed Forces - isn't that awesome?
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Thursday - worked on getting my Christmas Swap package ready to go to Simone. This will be a second package - the first one never arrived. Ugh! (yes, I'm very late)
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Friday - More of the Christmas Swap package. Hopefully I'll have it in the mail by the end of the week.
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Saturday - Wide awake at 3:00 am!

After a little computer time, one cup of coffee, and my morning walk I decided to sew! WooHoo!!! I sewed practically non-stop. This was a "Quilt du Jour". LOL

I saw a sample of this quilt on Jocelyn's (Happy Cottage Quilter) blog a couple of weeks ago and knew it was a must do! This was one I cut during my cutting frenzy awhile back :-) It's "I Can't Believe It's a Beginner" by The Pattern Basket. It's made with 90% Jo Morton fabrics and a few others thrown in. It doesn't fit on my design wall very well so please excuse the wrinkles and such.

I hope that you've had a wonderful week - thank you for stopping by! Please come again and come often.
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In Friendship!
(i'll be back tomorrow to do all the links)

Sunday, November 08, 2009

"Between Friends"

Do you remember this quilt - it's my own pattern and came about completely by accident a couple of years ago. I had numerous people ask me for the pattern but there was no pattern - I made this up as I went along. :-)


My friend, Carol at Brown Quilts 4 Me asked for some basic instructions. So, with instructions that were probably 'clear as mud' she created the quilt and was thrilled with it (says it's one of her favorites). She basically tested my rough instructions. LOL Lizzie asked for the pattern as well and she was able to make not one but two beautiful quilts with very basic information. Check out her blog to see pictures of "Darlene's 16 Patch".

In the meantime I've had numerous people ask me to please write the pattern. So, after many promises it's done - I made the quilt again with "Simple Abundance" by Moda and yes with lots of help from my sweet DH, Ron I have written the pattern

"Darlene's 16 Patch" is now called "Between Friends" and I am dedicating it to Carol Crago at Brown Quilts 4 Me because she was very instrumental in getting this pattern written. She tested my rough instructions and then proofed the final pattern. Carol - thank you so much for your encouragement. I need to thank Lizzie, as well, she's been incredibly encouraging. Ladies, YOU ROCK!!!

One of the first things you'll notice about the pattern is that it's Fat Quarter, Jelly Roll, Layer Cake and Charm Square friendly. I'm a huge fan of Moda fabrics and have often referred to myself as the Poster Girl for Moda LOL Do you think the Movers & Shakers at Moda will notice that my pattern can be made with so many of their precuts? I'm just a little fish in a big pond so it would surprise me if anyone notices. Big Sigh! :-)

The free pattern for "Between Friends" is available here
If the link doesn't work please send me an e-mail and I'll forward the pdf directly to you. The pattern is FREE however I hope that you'll give me credit when you use it. Thank you!
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Disclaimer: I'm not a pattern designer so please bear with me if you happen across an error in the pattern. Be gentle we tried!
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I appreciate your visits - please let me know whether or not you've opted to download our pattern. And, I'd love to see a picture when you finish the quilt.
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In Friendship!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Got Scraps?!?!?!?!

My "MOJO" is back and it's back with a vengeance :-)

When my "mojo " disappeared a designer said she might be able to help me find it - would I be interested in working on a sample or two for her. Absolutely! On Thursday I worked with "Snippets" on a sample and now I'm just waiting on border fabrics. I have to admit that I sewed and sewed and I didn't stop until I had the quilt top assembled. I was having so much fun! WooHoo!!!!

I've also worked on a project that I'll reveal later this week - a little teaser with Simple Abundance. I hope you'll be excited. :-)

Using the 100+ two inch strips that I cut during my cutting frenzy; these sweet little piles are lined up waiting to become scrappy four patches.

Scrappy 4 patches + fabulous Jo Morton red = "Moose Munch" by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co (Carrie Nelson). You won't find this pattern on Miss Rosie's web site; presently it's only available as a download from All People Quilt as a class download. I have it on very good authority (Carrie told me - teehee) that the pattern will be available in "Miss Rosie's Spice of Life" by Leisure Arts due to be released in April '10. Carrie's new book "Schnibbles Times Two" from That Patchwork Place (aka Martingale) is also due to be released in April '10 (you can preorder at Amazon)

I've been very, very bad and have not responded to your comments :-( I promise you'll hear from me very soon - I've been sewing!!! :-)

Your visits are important to me - thank you! I hope you'll visit again and often.

In Friendship!
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