Sunday, September 27, 2009

My Friends New Blog


My Saturday started with an early hair appointment at 8:30am and just as my hairdresser was finishing a teacher from work came in for her appointment and we started talking. I stayed an extra 1/2 hour visiting with her. After that I headed to the store to buy some Liquid Soy Lecithin to use in a new roll recipe I'm making today for Sunday Dinner.

By the time I got home it was after 11am and when I walked in the house my husband told me my friend Rae Ann had called. Just as he finished telling me, the phone rang and it was Rae Ann, she wanted to know how to leave a comment on someone's blog. She's been thinking about starting her own blog for a while now and she had asked me a few weeks ago if I had the time to help her start a blog. I told her I'd be happy to help her out.

I didn't have anything big planned yesterday other than sewing and laundry but I was willing to drop everything to help her out. So, we arranged to get together for a few hours and do that. Before we started Rae Ann showed me the projects that she finished while she was at her cabin last week. Hopefully she'll show them to you on her new blog. Anyway, we set up her blog, took pictures for her header, and took pictures of one of her quilts for her first post. Then we went to the fabric store and out for an early dinner at 4pm. What a great day we had together! Friends, Fabric Shopping, Lunch, Visiting, Looking at Quilts and Blogging. What could be better?

It was really fun showing her the blogging ropes and getting her started. She's an excellent quilter and you'll enjoy getting to know her. If you get a chance, go check out her first post on her new blog and leave her some blogging love, thanks!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Red & Aqua

Red & Aqua. . .
Aren't they such happy colors?


Ever since I joined Jane's 2009 Disappearing Nine-Patch Swap I've been buying more fabric to add to my meager collection of AQUA Fabric. Of course, I couldn't help buying more RED fabric while I was at it!!! LOL! It's been so much fun looking, shopping, and buying fabric. I think I've been to at least seven different quilt shops. It's interesting but there really isn't as much Aqua fabric in the stores as I thought there would be.

I have all of my fabric cut and now I'm working on sewing them back together again.




I have six blocks done and 19 more to go. I should be able to make the November 2nd deadline. Easy Peasy!!! Come join the fun if you're so inclined. I think my DD Kenna's going to want this quilt when she sees it done.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Amy's Cupboard Club

I recently joined a new group at American Quilting called Amy's Cupboard Club. We will be meeting monthly. Here are a few pictures from our first meeting. I'm hoping I got everyone's names right as I tried to take notes as I took pictures.

Now for Show N' Tell. . .

This is Ashley showing us her Husband's Great Aunt's YoYo Quilt. It's a Kingsize quilt. I can't even begin to think about making all of those yoyo's. It's pretty amazing closeup. I wonder how many yoyo's it took to make this quilt. I counted 81 yoyo's per square (inside the green borders). Okay, I started to count them and there are 7 blocks across by 5 rows down. So that's 35 yoyo sections of 81 x 35 = 2,835 yoyo's not including the green yoyo's. Maybe I'll have to count those later.



This is Verlene's Thrift Store Find. Can you believe how pretty this Grandmother's Flower Garden is?



This is Debbie's husband's Grandma Daisy's quilt. I love how it's hand pieced and if you look close you'll see how even some of the pieces are pieced. She really used every scrap of fabric that she had available to her.



Deanna's Grandmother's Aprons


This is Elizabeth, Amy's Mother (Amy's Mom) showing us the quilt that she just finished not too long ago. I love the applique and how she set the blocks in the quilt.



Rae Ann loves vintage fabric and has been collecting it online and at various garage sales and thrift stores. Here are just a few pictures of what she brought with her that night.


I love this sweet and happy flower.
Aren't the colors wonderful?



Rae Ann brought this adorable vintage butterfly hot pad.


Diane is modeling a vintage gingham apron her grandmother made.


Becky made this gorgeous Feathered Star Quilt. I don't know the name of the pattern but I really love it.

Here's a closer look at the star in the center.


Diane is a very talented seamstress and shared with us these dresses that she's made for her children.

Look at the beautiful detail on this outfit.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

200th Post Giveaway Winner

Winner of my 200th Post Giveaway is. . .

Dawn from Piece & Love.


Congratulations on winning the Buttercup Bag, matching earrings and the itty bitty ditty bag. You were the 48th comment as seen below.

True Random Number Generator
1
162

48
Powered by RANDOM.ORG


Saturday, September 12, 2009

itty bitty ditty bag tutorial

Updated 9/14/09

I'm sorry to do this but, I've taken down my tutorial. I've just been notified by a fellow blogger that there is a pattern that is extremely similar to the one I put up on my blog so I'm taking it down out of courtesy to the other pattern maker. I'm so sorry if this causes any inconvenience for you, but you can go here to buy the pattern and guess what? It even comes in three different sizes, too!


Here's my itty bitty ditty bag with the matching Buttercup Bag that I finished making for my 200th Post Giveaway. I will announce the winner tomorrow.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Finding HOPE 9/11



In Remembrance of those that gave their lives on 9/11 and for those survivors that are living their lives after 9/11. Enjoy this touching new Mormon Messages video, "Finding Hope," in which a man describes his journey from tragedy and trauma to hope, healing, and renewal through Jesus Christ.

Monday, September 7, 2009

200th Post Giveaway & More Incredible Women

Hi Everyone!!!

Thanks for your support over at Kara's "Really Incredible Women" Blog. She is so happy that all of you came by to say hi and left some comment love. I'm so happy you enjoyed learning more about me. I really worried quite a bit about it. Silly me! You are all so wonderful and incredible yourselves. I really have LOVED getting to know a lot of you and follow you on your blogs. You are ALL so inspirational to me!!! Thanks!

I sent Kara the picture of what I made special for the giveaway on her blog. She will be posting it today. So go check it out and remember to stop by each day until Saturday. Kara had me answer a total of 10 questions and you just may be interested in my answers. Also, I had a chance to finish my advice that you'll find on her sidebar. It's listed under Advice for Women and Advice for Moms. Hope you're inspired.

Now for my 200th Post Giveaway!!!

Are you excited? You should be....

You know how much I love my signature Black & White and Red All Over Fabric, Right?

Well...

I made this really cute "itty bitty ditty bag" and Darling Earrings and I'm trying to finish making the a matching "Buttercup Bag" to finish off the set for the winner of my 200th post Giveaway. I'm also giving away another set over at Kara's Blog but done in different colors. Go have a look.

Just so you know it's been a really crazy busy day for me so, I didn't quite get The Buttercup Bag made for my giveaway but I will add a picture of it later in the day or the next day (just in case I can't get it made). Anyway, you can imagine what it will look like right? Right!

Thanks for understanding . . .

Now here's how you can enter the giveaway. . .
  • Leave one comment on this Blog Post for ONE entry.
  • Leave one comment on Kara's Blog for today's Post for ONE entry.
  • Then come back & leave me another comment telling me that you did it.
  • The Giveaway ends on Saturday, September 12th.
  • Make sure I can contact you by email or by responding to your comment.
  • If I can't get a hold of you I will pick another winner.
Thanks again for being a FOLLOWER of my blog and WELCOME to any new visitors. I hope you enjoy your visit.

Really Incredible Women Blog


So, I'm the Really Incredible Women this week over at Kara's new Blog so go check out her blog and become a follower. Why you ask? Well, there's also a really fun giveaway I'm sponsoring to help increase her readership and add a bit of fun to the whole thing. All you have to do is 2 things, become a follower of her blog and leave a comment on her blog. Thanks for joining in the celebration of women.

In honor of Kara's New Blog and my 200th POST which is coming up next, I'm going to have a second giveaway which you can read more about tomorrow. I hope you enjoy learning more about me and while you're at it you can read more about the other four "Incredible Women" too.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Our Day at the Zoo

The weekend is already zipping by and I've been trying to get to my sewing room but we've been having too much fun spending the day at the ZOO together.

Come join me for a personalized tour given by my grandson, Benjamin.

We start here at the beginning.
We need to remember to pick up our Map.
We don't want to get lost!!!
That's for sure!

A map is very important.
It tells us where we are and where we need to go.

First Stop...

The Noisy Scary Elephant.
I don't like him very much, infact, he SCARES ME!!
Run fast before he chases you.

We also stopped to see the Elephants because there's. . .

A new baby elephant.

Are you having FUN yet?
I am!!!

Look at these two cute girls we met along the way.
They were both very nice.

We met this handsome guy, too, relaxing by the zebras.
Gramp'in came with us to the Zoo today.
It was lots of fun.

Hey, you're not a kid anymore!!!
Kenna was trying to sneak a ride in the wagon!

The bears were posing for all of the photographers today!

This is so much fun . . . let's keep going.
There's a lot more to see.

Look at this unusual turtle from Madagascar.

Ooooh, who's this I see?
Why it's my parents, Nick & Natalie.
Hi, Mom & Dad!

We spent a lot of time looking at the new Baby Giraffe.

Isn't he cute?
He was born on July 30, 2009

The Baby Giraffe is curious and he's checking out the birds in the bush.

This is a new variety of turtle that we've not seen before.
A two headed turtle that smiles.
How interesting is that?!

It's amazing what you'll see at the zoo!

And look at this HUGE spider.
Here let me get him out of your way!

I'll save you Abby.

Help!!!!
We're caught in the spider's web.
Save us Benjamin!!!!

Oh, dear!
I found my sister playing in the water.
What a fun toy to play with.

You can see my grammi in the reflection of the ball.
Isn't she the best? I love my Grammi!!!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A BIG Announcement!!!!

I have a Big, Huge, and Stupendous
Surprise to Announce!!!


My Grandson Ben expresses it the BEST!!!

"We are very excited to ANNOUNCE that our daughter Natalie. . .



. . . has been signed by a Famous LITERARY Agent!!!!!

And you can read all about it on her Blog !!!!!!


Join me in congratulating my daughter for all of her hard work and sticktuitiveness. Here Mantra has been "Go Confidently in the Direction of your DREAMS!!!" (by Thoreau).

She has lived by that saying. It's been a very long hard road and she stuck with it having great determination deciding never to give up on her dream of becoming published. We are so very proud of her!!!

We LOVE you HONEY!!! What a GREAT DAY and a GREAT REWARD for all of your PATIENCE, DILIGENCE and HARD WORK!!!

Let the CELEBRATING begin . . .


We took the family out for dinner last night and enjoyed hearing the details of her life changing phone call. What an exciting time for her and there's lots more work ahead as she prepares her manuscript for submission to publisher's with the help of her AGENT, of course. He is so totally awesome!!!