100th Post

Wow, I just realized that this is my 100th post. I guess that I had better have a giveaway. Not sure what I'm giving away yet, but if you leave a comment you will be in for one chance, and as per the usual rules, a link to my giveaway will get you another chance. I wish that I had thought ahead and had a pretty picture of the prize to display, but as usual I am not completely with it. Since I have to have time to think, I will have the drawing next Wednesday, August 13th, how's that. I can't promise handmade, but I do promise it will be something quilty and nice.

Giveaway

Marit is having a giveaway on her blog Marits Hobbyblogg for her 100th post. As you can see, it is for a beautiful set of potholders and napkin holder. Her blog is very charming and worth a visit just to look around.

Turning Twelve

I've been working on my Turning Twelve (Twenty), and figured since this is my first attempt at FMQ I'd better take a picture now, as this may be the best it ever looks (lol). The sock monkey is machine embroidery, and seemed to go along with the backing material since he's playing basketball. It's about 48 x 62 inches, and that is hopefully a good size for a 4 year old boy, and won't be outgrown for a couple of years. Now, next step is set up my machine for FMQ and practice, practice, practice. If my meandering is bad, I am thinking of doing circles all over using my quilt halo, and if my back stitching looks bad, I may get out the walking foot, and stitch in the ditch. I have plans A, B, and C depending on how my practice goes.

50th Post Giveaway

If you haven't been to Farmyard Crafts in a day or two it's definitely worth a visit. She's celebrating her 50th post, and had added a new wrinkle to the celebration. She has a winner, a runner up, and a surprise present. Hmmm.

Mail, Turning Twelve

Yesterday, I also got 2 other things in the mail, but didn't have the picture handy on the magazine, and just had a cardboard box on the desk. I got the magazine on Amy's recommendation, she made the cover quilt, and plus it has one of Bonnie Hunter's quilts included. I haven't read it yet, but may tonight while my husband watches his Red Sox. The little desk is a cheapie from Target for my Janome Jem. I wanted to keep it in the family room for when we have company using my sewing room to sleep in.

Also, I have picked out the fabrics for a Turning Twelve quilt that I'm making for my dentist's four year old son. I'm going to try to quilt this one myself, worse comes to worse, I guess I can tie it (lol).

Granddaughter, Gifts, Giveaways, and Mail

What a wonderful day today. At 9:00 AM this morning my granddaughter Tabitha came over and we tried to do some crochet. Since it has been years since I have done any serious crochet, and I'm right handed and she's left handed it was a struggle, but she is starting to catch on in spite of me, and I think will be adept soon. She stayed about 6 hours, and it was great to be able to visit with her and have lunch together. DH was here too, and he also enjoyed it, and checked her oil and did manly grandfather things. While she was here the mailman came, and I got to show off a bit. The top picture is a lovely gift from Amanda who has turned into a dear friend. We will probably never meet, as traveling doesn't look to be in the cards for either of us, but it sure is easy to feel like you know her. I'm borrowing the books to learn more about Bath, which she recently visited and the stitchery was a wonderful surprise. It was beautiful on her blog, but even more so in person. Another package was The Quilter's Homecoming and a really pretty fat quarter (I love butterflies) from Erin of Hannie's Annie's. Quilter's are the most generous people in the world. I had won a giveaway on Doni's blog for a fat quarter, and it came today, too. 'Life is good' Doni, and I love the fat quarter. It reminds me of ticking, which I love, and will add to any quilt. Not too many such good mail days around here.


I almost forgot my package that came from Connecting Threads. I got two fat quarter samplers, you can see a sample in the last picture, and also a little gadget to hold rulers steadier, and some Chaco Liner pens to try. Whew, you know it was a good mail day when I forget my Connecting Thread order.

StashMystery

Small things amuse small minds, so even though it is just one more little step, I am proud of myself for not being behind on the StashMystery. I even have another week before the next clue. Since it is getting closer, the gypsy in my blood is feeling like maybe it needs another color or two. My thoughts are go with plan A and just do green and purple, plan B is add a narrow yellow border before the regular border, and plan C would be to do something like a piano key border with yellow and blue added. Now back to reality and the real lag-behinder me, maybe I can get back working on my Carolina Crossroads.

Donna's Beautiful Quilt Arrived

Yesterday was a wonderful mail day. I got this squishy envelope, which I instantly knew what was inside, but controlled myself a bit, so I could share. My instinct was ooh, ooh, ooh, and rip, rip, rip, but I slowed down, and grabbed my camera instead. Even the paper was special, as Donna from Donna's - In The Attic had scanned the label fabric and used it for a cover letter. That and her pretty card just added to the anticipation.

As you can see, the quilt is even more exquisite than the letter and if you were in person, you could see that it is even more beautiful than the pictures. The label is beautiful (how does she write so tiny and so neat) the fabrics are beautiful, and the quilting is perfect. My husband was nice enough to hold it up for me, so I could get the entire quilt, front and back.

I thought it looked pretty on the back of the family room couch, but when I went in my sewing room I realized that I couldn't see it, so I went and got it and put it at the end of the bed. It looks pretty there too. I'm not sure yet where its actual home will be, but it is so pretty that it will look nice anywhere. I think that I am very very fortunate indeed, and it will always be treasured.

Thread Stand With Thread

A few people said they'd like to see the thread stand with thread, including my brother, and since he donated a small part of his pinky finger to the cause, I felt it only right to honor his request. I tried to use a variety of sizes of thread, from embroidery to large, right on up to serger cones. It took all sizes well. The pegs are 3 inches apart. I also numbered the pegs, but the thread is covering it up. Just used a sharpie pen.

Hens and Chicks, Baby Quilt, Sewing Manuals, AC

Today has been long and tiring, but a lot has gotten done. I started the day early, and looked out my back window to see what looked like 2 large foxes in the field behind my house. I am almost 100% sure that they were coyotes, and that they live under the tree in the field about 50 yards from my back yard. After seeing them, I realized that I don't see stray cats anymore, and I have been missing my quail, and I wonder if the coyotes ate them, if so I'm not too fond of coyotes.

The two pots of hens and chicks are new to me. I had mentioned how much I like them, and Julie of Julie's Blog was kind enough to send me the plants in the pot with the mushroom, some real beauties, and the plants in the pot with the gnome I ordered from Mountaincrest Gardens. I had to wait a little while, but I ordered 2, and they sent 4, so I was very happy. Aren't they great, and it was so nice of Julie.
This (below, and in the closet) is a picture of what took all day today. We had 2 workers here working from about 9 am until about 6 pm installing our new AC, and they will be back tomorrow morning about 9 am to finish. They still have to do some odds and ends, and some attic work. Since we live in Central Florida, the earlier they get started the better, as the attic can be brutal. I hate that we had to spend the money, but it will be so nice not to be worrying practically on a daily basis about our old one breaking down.
The notebook is a project that I thought of, and hope I don't regret. I have several machines now, a serger, an embroidery machine, a Janome Jem, my old trusty Bernina 1130, and I seem to never be able to find the manuals when I need them. I made copies of the ones I could, so if I ever sell them I will have the manuals individually still, but I took the copies to Kinko's and had them put them all in a spiral binding with dividers. Now I have a big manual all in one place, I hope that it will simplify my life. If you ever do anything similar, copy what you need first, as they don't copy anything copywrited.

While the workers were working, I was working, too. I started and finished this baby quilt today, I'm still amazed by myself. It is a simple little quilt, but for me it was an accomplishment. I embroidered the back, and got the binding ready, too. It is another Crazy Big Block from the Stashbuster workshop pattern. DH is holding it up, and the border is a lighter purple than it looks like in the picture. It's 9:20 pm, and I still have more to do, I hope to mail the baby quilt and OC off tomorrow to the longarmer and need to pack it up and do my click and ship. That is what inspired me to work work work on my baby quilt today.